The Bullvine

E272 Why Can't Processors Forecast Memorial Day Demand?


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Every Memorial Day weekend, while Americans fire up their grills, dairy farmers watch millions of gallons of milk get dumped because processors can't master basic demand forecasting. In this hard-hitting episode, we expose the systemic failures that transform the predictable spring flush into an annual financial disaster, costing farmers millions while processors shift the blame. From AI-powered solutions that already exist to the policy vacuum that enables this waste, we break down why this crisis persists and what farmers can do to fight back.

🎯 Key Topics Covered

The Spring Flush Reality Crisis

  • Why the 6-7% production surge from March-May catches processors off-guard every year
  • How 2024 data proves this is a recurring management failure, not a market surprise
  • The biological reality that dairy farmers can't control vs. corporate incompetence

The Four Systemic Failures

  • Perishability trap: Racing against the 72-hour countdown
  • Processing capacity bottlenecks: 85-95% utilization leaves no surge capability
  • School closure demand crater: 7-10% of fluid milk consumption vanishes overnight
  • Transportation chokepoints: Just-in-time routing fails during peak periods

Technology Solutions Being Ignored

  • How Milk Moovement manages 15% of U.S. dairy market with AI-driven forecasting
  • Why AI systems can cut food waste by 30% but dairy processors still use 1950s methods
  • The retail agriculture innovation gap that's costing farmers millions

Financial Impact on Farmers

  • The Federal Milk Marketing Order "pooling" scam that spreads losses to all farmers
  • How dumping events cost 1,000-cow operations $4,200-$5,600 daily
  • Why every gallon dumped steals money from your milk check

Read the full article here https://www.thebullvine.com/dairy-industry/why-memorial-day-is-killing-your-dairy-farm-and-how-smart-farmers-are-fighting-back/

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