Governor Andrew Cuomo answers questions Thursday during a press conference at the Robert H. Jackson Center. P-J photo by Sharon Turano

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday announced a new initiative intended to stop the wasteful dumping of milk by area farmers struggling during the coronavirus pandemic.

Due to supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, some farms and dairy cooperatives have been forced to dump milk before it can make it to market in the past several weeks. This problem has occurred during a time when food banks are seeing increased demand for services.

“Some farm cooperatives are actually dumping milk because the market can’t consume it,” Cuomo said during his daily press briefing. “This is just a total waste to me. We have people downstate who need food. We have farmers upstate who can’t sell their product. We have to put those two things together. It’s just common sense, but we have to make that marriage between product upstate and need downstate, and we are going to launch a special initiative to do that.”

Cuomo is looking at ways the state can purchase excess milk from farms, which can be turned into dairy products such as cheese and yogurt, and be distributed to food banks. His administration also announced $25 million in emergency funding for food banks in need.

“We’re also immediately, to stop this dumping of milk, going to work with industries in our state who can use the milk and get it to people who need it,” Cuomo said, citing cooperation with Chobani, Cabot Creamery and Upstate Niagara Cooperative. Milk dumping is being addressed at the local level as well, with dairy farmers coming together with local charitable organizations to distribute dairy products to the public.

“I know they’ve done it in Sherman and Clymer so far,” said Greg White of Cahbi Farm in Clymer. “I think any way that we can divert milk from being dumped is a positive. If (Cuomo) has got a good plan in mind to do it, that would be great. I know that our co-op personally, we’ve donated the equivalent of 2.15 million pounds of milk. Converted from disposal and donated by Dairy Farmers of America. This is since April 9. So that is equivalent to approximately 250,000 gallons.”

5 & 2 Ministry and the Future Farmers of America have both aided food distribution efforts in the area, which are expected to continue during the coming weeks.

“Any way that we can divert milk from getting dumped and get it into the hands that need it is a positive,” White said.