News Release Archive
AGRICULTURE/MARKETING--NOVA SCOTIA MILK PRICE TO INCREASE ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Nova Scotia Dairy Commission has approved an increase of two cents per litre in the price of fluid milk, effective Aug. 25. The increase is divided equally between dairy processors and dairy farmers, and follows the commission's annual review of costs for both sectors of the industry. In the processing sector, increases in packaging costs, as well as employment costs such as EI premiums and Workers Compensation, led to an increase of one cent per litre for processors. At the farm level, major increases in the cost of feed grains --- the main input in milk production --- have squeezed producer margins significantly in the last few months. Feed grain prices are not expected to decrease in the short term. The one per cent per litre increase in the producer price will offset a portion of the increased feed costs. The dairy industry is the largest sector in Nova Scotia agriculture. The province's 455 dairy farmers produce 165,000,000 litres of milk annually, with a farm gate value approaching $100 million. In addition to fluid milk, the processing sector produces a full range of dairy products. The Nova Scotia Dairy Commission regulates the production, processing, distribution and pricing of dairy products in Nova Scotia. -30- Contact: Gabriel Comeau 902-893-6455 trp July 30, 1996 - 2:25 p.m.