A dramatic increase in the price of hay and corn and low milk prices are putting some New Mexico dairies out of business.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that Dairy Producers of New Mexico President Luke Woelber says that he knows of five dairies in the state that have closed amid the tough conditions.
He says the dairies were all in the eastern and southern part of the state and had to close in the face of feed costs that have doubled in the past few years.
The higher feed costs on top of higher fuel and transportation costs means it costs dairies more to produce a gallon of milk than they can sell it for.
And dairies' inability to raise prices in the face of global competition means their higher costs haven't shown up at the grocery store.
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Information from: Albuquerque Journal, http://www.abqjournal.com
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.