Despite a decline in dairy farms in Vermont, agriculture officials say milk production is constant and farmers are getting record-high prices for their milk.
Diane Bothfeld, deputy secretary of the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, tells Vermont Public Radio the demand has increased for dairy products, especially overseas. She said the prices also are due to flat milk production in the U.S., because of drought conditions in the West and Midwest.
Bothfeld said the current price is the highest ever, going back to records from 1977.
The USDA says farmers are receiving a minimum of $23.57 per hundredweight for their product. In 2009, prices were under $12.
