Dairy prices have rebounded dramatically because farmers quickly adjusted their milk production and consumers boosted retail demand as government purchases kicked in to help offset lost food-service sales, said Peter Vitaliano, chief economist for the National Milk Producers Federation.

“That has resulted in a very, very rapid change in the market price outlook,” Vitaliano said in an NMPF podcast released today. “The markets currently are looking like there’s going to be a very strong rebound, and prices will get to a more normal level in the second half of this year,” he said.