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含羞草研究社檚 smaller dairy producers. He was forced to dump 2,000 litres of milk on Wednesday. He wanted to give the milk away but couldn含羞草研究社檛 since it hadn含羞草研究社檛 been pasteurized.

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

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 just a waste (but) you have to follow the rules as a licensed producer,含羞草研究社� Schmidt said.

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He含羞草研究社檚 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.

含羞草研究社淎s farmers, it含羞草研究社檚 disheartening dumping away a seemingly good product because it can含羞草研究社檛 go to market due to the flooding. Hopefully it含羞草研究社檚 a short-term issue.含羞草研究社�

He says they含羞草研究社檙e fortunate because farmers are still getting paid for the milk that they含羞草研究社檙e dumping.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 sad but it also could lead to health issues. You don含羞草研究社檛 want to contribute to people going to the hospital,含羞草研究社� Schmidt said.

含羞草研究社淭here含羞草研究社檚 enough milk being dumped that would feed Chilliwack for a long time but it can含羞草研究社檛 be stored indefinitely and because there含羞草研究社檚 no transportation routes out, it含羞草研究社檚 a consequence of the flooding.含羞草研究社�

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.

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

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含羞草研究社檚 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含羞草研究社檚 hoping the roads will be open again for that to happen.

含羞草研究社淚 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.含羞草研究社�

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