Dairy industry freed from shackles of milk quotas – but at what cost?

The shackles are off the dairy industry as it pumps out ‘white gold’ in the new quota-less era. First introduced in 1984, milk quotas were touted as a solution to help curtail the EU’s infamous ‘milk lakes’ and ‘butter mountains’ as production fast outstripped demand.

Dairy Trends: Milk Prices Soften, Butter Climbs

Dairy producers should expect some counter-seasonal market movements heading into fall, says Mike North, Commodity Risk Management Group. That’s particularly true if cheese buyers move to take advantage of recent prices averaging $1.65 for blocks and barrels.