Lost markets take toll on Idaho dairies

Efficiencies of scale usually give large dairies an edge in weathering downturns in the market. But that’s not the case for Box Canyon Dairy of Wendell and others in Idaho that have lost their market entirely. Box Canyon is set for a complete herd dispersal sale on Dec. 14. The owners declined to comment, but the sale will include 17,000 head — 9,000 milking and dry cows and 8,000 heifers — according to the Toppenish Livestock Commission in Washington state, which is handling the sale.“They lost their market,” Rick Naerebout, CEO of Idaho Dairymen’s Association, said.The brokerage Box Canyon was selling milk to let the owners know in early fall it would no longer be able to return the value of the milk. The broker would still buy the milk but at distressed prices. There isn’t a viable market for the dairy’s milk, and all the other processors are full, he said.“They had to make the tough decision to disperse their herd. It was a shock to the entire industry,” he said.