Who's not eating enough cheese? Prices drop for Wisconsin farm products
WASHINGTON (AP) — Wisconsin farmers are seeing prices drop for milk, beef, corn and other staples. The National Agricultural Statistics Service says prices for 10 basic agricultural products are expected to drop from August to September and, in the case of milk, will be lower than last September.
As of mid-September, Wisconsin dairy farmers were getting an average $17.30 per hundredweight, or hundred pounds, of milk. That’s $1.10 less than the August average and $4.10 less than last September’s average.
Prices for steers, heifers and cows along with corn, oats, soybeans, potatoes, alfalfa hay and other hay also dropped from August to mid-September.
Still, the NASS report released Wednesday indicates the average prices for those products will likely be higher this September than last.
However, farmers are now paying more than ever for feed for their animals and fuel for their equipment.
Oct 6, 2008 at 6:38 p.m.
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Wow, I rarely agree with Bill, but he's right.
For the record, I live in California right now. I've lived here since November of last year. Yes, I have tasted their produce and dairy. I still think California dairy comes no where close to competing with Wisconsin dairy.
Oct 6, 2008 at 12:09 p.m.
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Right on billnewbie!
Oct 6, 2008 at 10:17 a.m.
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Change happens alright. And change is coming (sounds like a campaign slogan, doesn't it). Soon, the population of California will be over 40 million. They are already running short of water for the people they have now (about 36 million). When the politicians are faced with the choice of using water for agriculture or thirsty voters, those happy cows are going to want to start walking back to the dairy state as quickly as their dehydrated legs will carry them. Wisconsin snow quenches thirst a lot better than California dust.
Oct 6, 2008 at 9:50 a.m.
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I love my Wisconsin Cheese, and it pains me to say this, but Vermont Cheddar is DELICIOUS!
Oct 6, 2008 at 8:17 a.m.
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thekai........Have you tasted California farm products as compared to those from the Badger State? California veggies and fruits are far superior. Don't be offended.....change happens.
Oct 6, 2008 at 12:38 a.m.
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NVgrf,
California may have a better reputation than Wisconsin mathematically, but I would argue that they are -not- a better farm state. Just last year they had over 300 million pounds of beef recalled due to maltreatment of livestock. Please explain to me again how their cows are happier...
I am very proud of Wisconsin and our dairy products. California only produces more dairy and other agricultural goods because they sacrifice quality for quantity.
Oct 5, 2008 at 9:58 p.m.
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It's my fault.... Been skimping on the cheese and drinking soy milk.... I'm so ashamed of myself.
Oct 5, 2008 at 8:21 p.m.
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California may produce more as a state, but Wisconsin will ALWAYS be the dairy state!
Oct 5, 2008 at 7:57 p.m.
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Price goes up, demand goes down. Demand goes down, Price goes down. Price goes down, demand goes up. Boing boing boing goes our capitalistic system.
Oct 5, 2008 at 7:04 p.m.
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Yields are higher this year. Could that explain the price decline?
Oct 5, 2008 at 5:40 p.m.
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California's agricultural acreage is by some measures larger than the entire state of Wisconsin, so that's not really surprising.
Oct 5, 2008 at 5:12 p.m.
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California posted total record sales of agricultural commodities of $36.6 billion in 2007, an increase of 15 percent over the previous year's total of $31.8 billion, according to a report issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service and Economic Research Service. California is clearly the #1 farm state.
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