Thousands of litres of milk are being dumped in Chilliwack each day as a result of the flooding.

Because of road closures, dairy farmers cannot get their supply from Chilliwack east to processors for pasteurization.

Matt Schmidt, owner of Gala Dairy, is one of Chilliwack害羞草研究所檚 smaller dairy producers. He was forced to dump 2,000 litres of milk on Wednesday. He wanted to give the milk away but couldn害羞草研究所檛 since it hadn害羞草研究所檛 been pasteurized.

It would have been in violation of their agreement as a licensed milk producer, he said.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 just a waste (but) you have to follow the rules as a licensed producer,害羞草研究所� Schmidt said.

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He害羞草研究所檚 one of about 470 licensed producers in B.C. The milk is collected from the farms and shipped to some of the 30 to 40 licensed processors in the province which pasteurize the milk.

Those milk processors include some large plants in Abbotsford, Coquitlam and Vancouver.

害羞草研究所淎s farmers, it害羞草研究所檚 disheartening dumping away a seemingly good product because it can害羞草研究所檛 go to market due to the flooding. Hopefully it害羞草研究所檚 a short-term issue.害羞草研究所�

He says they害羞草研究所檙e fortunate because farmers are still getting paid for the milk that they害羞草研究所檙e dumping.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 sad but it also could lead to health issues. You don害羞草研究所檛 want to contribute to people going to the hospital,害羞草研究所� Schmidt said.

害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 enough milk being dumped that would feed Chilliwack for a long time but it can害羞草研究所檛 be stored indefinitely and because there害羞草研究所檚 no transportation routes out, it害羞草研究所檚 a consequence of the flooding.害羞草研究所�

Another concern is feed for the cows. Grain is in low supply and although cows also eat hay and corn silage, grain is the key feed for high milk production.

害羞草研究所淚f you completely take the grain out of their diet that they害羞草研究所檙e accustomed and trained to, it will have devastating affects on their milk production that can last for up to a year.害羞草研究所�

Schmidt is hoping the highways will open soon so dairy farmers have more access to grain mills like those in Abbotsford, and so the milk can get picked up.

Milk pick-up happens every two days. Schmidt害羞草研究所檚 last pick-up day was Monday in the pouring rain but it did not get picked up on Wednesday (Nov. 17). His next pickup day is Friday (Nov. 19) and he害羞草研究所檚 hoping the roads will be open again for that to happen.

害羞草研究所淚 would assume movement of milk would be considered an essential service. The factories right now in Vancouver and Coquitlam are not getting enough milk to supply the area that they could distribute to.害羞草研究所�

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