Factors Affecting the Seasonality of Marketing Manufacturing Milk in Eastern South Dakota

The problems involved in the marketing of milk are numerous and often complex. One problem facing both the South Dakota producer and processor is the seasonality in production and marketing of manufacturing milk. This has been a problem of long standing in the dairy industry. The fluid milk industry has made some progress in bringing about a more even flow of milk to the market through the various price incentive programs. Seasonal pricing has played a leading role. Little has been done, however, to alleviate the problem in the manufactured milk segment of the industry. . . . The specific objectives of this study are the following: (1) to determine factors affecting the seasonal pattern of marketing manufacturing milk; (2) to determine the necessary price incentives or the adjustments needed for increasing production during seasonally low months; (3) to identify significant obstacles causing the seasonal supply of manufacturing milk