Vermont Dairy Crisis Deepens | Burlington News

Burlington News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 12, 2026 · 1m

Vermont’s dairy industry is in crisis as three processing plants shut down in just two months, driven by soaring costs and aging infrastructure. Farmers are hemorrhaging nearly $8.65 per hundred pounds of milk — worse than in 18 other states — while California dairies profit $2.49 per hundred pounds. One farmer’s monthly overhead alone hits $72,000, made worse by costly transportation due to poor roads. With more closures looming, rural jobs and local economies are at risk. Solutions are being explored — from new legislation to tapping into protein market trends — but the urgent need is to…