(Columbus, OH) Low milk prices are forcing some Ohio dairy producers out of business.
There are reports the price of milk has dropped almost 40 percent at the grocery store since 2014, because of a glut of milk on the market. Some dairy farmers can no longer cover the costs of their cattle and that's forcing them to shut down their operations or liquidate their herds.
According to the Ohio Department of Agriculture, there's been a drop of 59 licensed dairy farms just over the past five months.
One Ohio State University Extension educator says smaller dairies have to increase their size to remain profitable, but the investment is too much of a risk right now.
State agriculture officials still expect more dairies to close in the future, as the excess milk production continues elsewhere and the law of supply and demand keeps prices low.