Former U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, who is now president and CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC), is hopeful about the future for the nation’s dairy industry despite current struggles.
“Domestic consumption of dairy products has, for the first time in a long while, equaled the production of dairy,” said Vilsack during a Newsmaker Session at the NAFB Convention in Kansas City Wednesday. “94 percent of American households have fluid milk in their refrigerator which suggests a continuation of a healthy 100 billion dollar industry.”
Dean Foods, the nation’s oldest and largest milk producer, filed for bankruptcy this week citing “challenging operating environment marked by continuing declines in consumer milk consumption.”
Listen to Vilsack’s remarks followed by questions from farm broadcasters:
NAFB19 Newsmaker Session with Tom Vilsack (58:00)
2019 NAFB Convention Photo Album
