High Forage Costs Limit Expansion

WEST LAFAYETTE - Sep 24/07 - SNS -- High forage prices are limiting the ability of dairy producers to respond to high milk prices by increasing production, argues Purdue University dairy specialist Mike Schutz.

"Short forage supplies may be limiting production gains in Indiana despite modest improvement in production per cow compared to a very hot July 2006. While milk production would seem ready to explode because of favorable milk prices and moderating feed costs, forage availability, especially in the Eastern Corn Belt and upper Midwest; evolving milk handler and retailer attitudes about the use of a bovine somatotropin in herds; and extreme summer heat over large portions of the United States will hold back the accelerating production to a degree."

Bovine somatotropin, also known as BST, is a supplement used to increase milk production. Milk co-ops are asking their patrons to sign a pledge not to use BST in their dairy operation in hopes they will see a premium from retailers.

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