Farmers, dairy experts meet for summit amid 4th straight year of low milk prices

JAY, Vt. — As dairy farms continue to go out of business around the country, farmers and industry experts are meeting for a two-day summit in Vermont to discuss steps they can take to improve business.

Farmers are in the midst of their fourth straight year of low milk prices.

The number of dairy farms in Vermont has dropped from 1,100 in 2008 to 694 last month. Wisconsin lost 691 dairy farms last year alone.

Vermont Agriculture Secretary Anson Tebbetts said Tuesday, April 2 that the event was formed to figure out what can be done to support agriculture and dairy, recognizing that some of what's going on in the dairy industry is out of farmers' control.

About 150 dairy farmers are attending, including farmers from around New England.