Local Dairy Farmer talks spilled milk

Waste doesn't happen everywhere

Research recently published in the journal Ecological Economics found that over six billion litres of milk has “vanished” from Canadian farms since 2012. 

But one local dairy producer wants to clear the air and set the record straight: It doesn't happen everywhere.

To learn more, we spoke with Kevin MacLean, owner of Ripplebrook Farm in Greater Napanee.

MacLean is well connected with the local dairy community and has not heard that this is an issue locally. So it came as a shock to read that Canadian farmers had dumped $14.9 Billion worth of milk over 10 years.

In the last 20 years, MacLean says he's has only dumped milk once. That was due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

MacLean knows all 28 dairy producers in Lennox and Addington County personally and says he's never witnessed any of them dumping milk or has heard that they had a problem and that they had to dump milk. 

When asked why a farmer would dump their milk, MacLean said the simple answer is they're not a good manager. 

There are alternatives to dumping milk. Most farms use that milk to feed their calves, some will feed their pigs with it, and as mentioned earlier, MacLean made cheese. Another alternative is to donate it to the Ontario Provincial Foodbank System. 

If you want to learn more about the dairy industry, you can reach out to MacLean, who'd be more than happy to give you a tour of the farm and answer any questions. 

He also recommends reaching out to any other dairy producer you may know if you have concerns. 

Story by Emily Chatwood