Dairy economists: Not a lot to be optimistic about

The government shutdown left a void in market data for the dairy industry, with no reports on milk production, stocks, prices, world supply and demand and exports. Markets have been struggling for four years, with 2018 the worst for milk prices and dairy farmers, Bob Cropp, University of Wisconsin dairy economist, said.The effects are increasingly being felt, judging from conversations with dairy producers and bankers, Stephenson said.“The persistence of this downturn is really starting to take its toll,” he said.Farms are exiting at an increased rate, people are getting discouraged about the dairy industry and cow values are really low, almost at cull cow prices, he said.