The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020 exacerbated existing issues and vulnerabilities experienced by dairy farmers. We evaluated the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the dairy industry by analyzing dairy market trends, interviewing dairy farmers, cooperatives, processors, vendors, and surveying consumers. We found that the shifts in demand due to unpredictable and dramatic societal changes lowered the price of milk, disrupted the supply chain, and left the dairy industry lacking in government support. We recommend short-term financial relief and long-term stability measures.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Rutkowski, Nathaniel G.
• Mulvey, Connor F.
• Peters, Ryan G.

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-051220-153145

Keyword

• Economic Growth, Stability, and Development

Advisor

• Kumar, Uma T.
• Shockey, Ingrid K.

Year

• 2020

Center

• Mandi, India Project Center - IQP

Date created

• 2020-05-12

Resource type

• Interactive Qualifying Project

Rights statement

• In Copyright