According to The Wall Street Journal, dairy farmers in the U.S. poured out tens of millions of gallons of excess milk following a “massive glut that has brought down prices and created a surplus.
The article states:
More than 43 million gallons’ worth of milk were dumped in fields, manure lagoons or animal feed, or have been lost on truck routes or discarded at plants in the first eight months of 2016, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That is enough milk to fill 66 Olympic swimming pools, and the most wasted in at least 16 years of data requested by The Wall Street Journal.
This massive milk dump comes at a time when dairy consumption is at an all-time low. According to a 2013 USDA report, dairy consumption has been on the decline for decades. In fact, it has fallen a whopping 40 percent since 1970, with each generation consuming less milk than the one before.
This past summer, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack bailed out the dairy industry by using taxpayer dollars to buy 20 million dollars’ worth of cheese. The government hoped this would alleviate the tense situation, but it seems it didn’t.
Additionally, industry marketing firm Dairy Management Inc., which is “paid for by America’s 43,000 dairy farmers, has invested millions of dollars to work with companies such as McDonald’s Corp., Yum! Brands Inc.’s Taco Bell, and Domino’s Pizza Inc. to create milk-heavy new menu items. These include McDonald’s McMuffins with more butter and Taco Bell’s cheesy “Quesalupa.
It’s a shame that the government, farmers, and corporations aren’t listening to consumers. Dairy production is not only dangerous for our planet but also terrible for cows who suffer immensely on dairy farms.
Watch for yourself.
Thankfully, you can join the millions taking a stand against this destructive and cruel industry by switching to a compassionate, healthy, and delicious vegan diet. Enjoy one of the many plant-based dairy alternatives currently on the market. Click here to see our ultimate guide to nondairy milk.
Click here for tips on making the transition to a cruelty-free lifestyle.
