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Got milk? 2 of country’s top milk producers file for bankruptcy; Georgia feels impact

HALL COUNTY, Ga. — Two of the nation's largest milk producers are facing hard times.

Dean Foods and Borden Dairy both filed for bankruptcy.

Georgia dairy farmers are also feeling the hurt. Scott Glover's family has been in the dairy business for nearly 70 years.

He said several factors have been hurting the industry.

“When I started milking cows with my wife 20 years ago, there were 340 or 350. Eleven or twelve in this county alone. Now we’re the only one left,” said Glover of Glo-crest Dairy.

There are just 120 still in business statewide, and now, the biggest names in the industry are on the ropes.

A few months ago, Dean Foods, the nation’s largest milk producer, filed for bankruptcy.

A few days ago, Borden Dairy, maybe best known for mascot Elsie the cow, did the same.

"We've been preached to for quite a few years that the fat is not good for you. ‘Milk is not good for you,’" Glover said.

Glover said the industry can cite plenty of research that proves quite the opposite. But the damage has been done.

He said it opened the door for nut beverages to muscle their way in and grocery chains like Walmart are now processing their own milk and pricing it at a loss, making it very difficult for Dean and Borden to compete.

Four generations of Glovers have been in the dairy business since the 1950s.

Glover has 230 cows that roam 300 acres in Hall County.

He said all milk producers, big and small, have to work together to convince people to put a carton back on the breakfast and dinner table.

"I think we’re all in the same boat. We are all trying for better times ahead,” Glover said.

Glover said the industry has to do a better job of telling people milk is good for you, like the ‘Got milk?’ campaign did all those years ago with celebrities with the milk mustache.