The dairy industry is struggling to cope with the surge in veganism as 2,731 dairy farms went out of business in the US last year.

The cow milk industry is failing to fight off competition from plant-based alternatives as consumers become more conscious of the environmental impact and ethical reality of dairy.

Last year dairy milk sales plummeted by $1.1 billion, while plant-based milk sales have increased by 61 percent since 2012.

This threat has lead many businesses to fold altogether. The USDA has reported that licensed dairy farm numbers decreased by 2,731 – equivalent to 6.8% of the country’s dairy farms – in 2018 alone.

That means there are now 37,468 dairy farms in the US, down from 40,199 they year before.

Declines in the industry were widespread across the US, including in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan and California.

Not a single state reported an increase in dairy farms, while only 12 states remained on the same number of farms.

By percentage, Michigan had the biggest chunk taken out of its dairy industry, losing 230 farms to leave 1,520 – a decline of 13 percent.

Wisconsin had the most closures with 590 dairy farms shutting their doors for the final time.

Statistics released by the Dairy Farmers of America found the industry to be worth $13.6 billion in 2018 compared to $14.7 billion the year before.

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Oli Gross

Oli’s career and personal ethical values both help shape his reporting of the diverse world of veganism. His background is in local newspaper and magazine journalism, and his work has included reporting court cases, celebrity interviews, business analysis, food and drink features and government legislation.

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