Ag economist sorts through changing dairy market

University of Missouri Extension ag economist Scott Brown says dairy producers have been dealing with profitability and demand challenges in 2023 so far.

“On the dairy front, it’s been sluggish on the first half of the year,” he says.

Brown says feed costs have remained high while milk costs have been relatively low. He says the Dairy Margin Protection program has been making payments.

In his career, Brown works with the Missouri legislature to help them understand the impacts of policy on agriculture, and he has testified in front of the U.S. Congress several times about dairy and ag issues. He also works with MU’s Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute to help provide ag economic projections and the impact of policy on the industry.

In the next federal Farm Bill, Brown expects more minor adjustments to federal dairy policy.