US-based dairy Associated Milk Producers Inc. (AMPI) has announced it is to discontinue production at two of its plants.

AMPI’s milk plant in Arlington, Iowa, and its cheese plant at Rochester, Minnesota, are to be shut as a result of what the company describes as “the continued decline in dairy farm numbers and milk production in the region”.

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The decision will impact some 124 employees across the two sites.

AMPI said it is exploring options for the facilities’ future.

Milk previously processed at AMPI’s Arlington and Rochester locations will now be routed to other plants in the surrounding area, including the company’s plant in Blair, Wisconsin.

AMPI said it will “continue to meet customer needs for dependable supplies of high-quality dairy products from its other manufacturing plants”.
 
In a statement the company said that since 2008 Minnesota has lost 40% of its dairy farms while Iowa is down 50% in the same time period.

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