WSJ
It was still dark outside at four o’clock on a recent morning when a tanker truck poured 6,000 gallons of milk into a manure pit on Nancy Mueller’s Wisconsin dairy farm.
The milk, collected from Mueller Dairy Farm’s 1,000 cows, should have been hauled to dairy processors across the state for bottling or to be turned into cheese. But the coronavirus pandemic is disrupting all that, closing restaurants and schools that buy the nation’s dairy products—and forcing hard choices for farmers like Mrs. Mueller.
Milk, eggs, veggies intended for schools and restaurants are being destroyed. The argument is that the canning/freezing companies and the food banks can't handle the onslaught. Meanwhile, there is like 25% unemployment, and long lines for food aid, so there is a disconnect. Smater targeting of the stimulus funds might have been directed towards buying some of the surplus to give as food aid. Also, our school systems are preparing "free" school lunches and handing them out on a drive through basis. I live in a relatively affluent area, and I was shocked to see the lines.
I've been ordering delivery or picking up orders online in the parking lot. Saturday, we had to go to Target to pick up a prescription from CVS. It turned into a grocery shopping trip. Why? Because we discovered that there is a disconnect between what is allegedly not available online and what is actually in the store. To be sure, some areas are still sparse: tortillas, pasta, and some canned goods. We noticed more beans on the shelves than previously; frozen foods were good; meat and produce were in strong supply. Cereal was good; dairy and juice were fine. TP and cleaning supplies are still emptied off the shelves. That becomes a self-fulfilling shortage, as the moment they appear, those that didn't get in on the first round of hoarding feel the need to grab with both hands.
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