Bosnia and Herzegovina: Milk Production Faces Decline Amid Rising Costs and Extreme Weather Conditions

On the Semberija agricultural estate, daily milk production has fallen from nearly 10,000 liters to just 8,000 liters, despite efforts to mitigate the effects of high temperatures through cooling systems and adjusted livestock nutrition.

Farmers across the sector are feeling the pressure. Miko Rikanović, an agricultural producer, emphasized the challenges in preserving livestock under these conditions, noting that the poor corn crop is a significant blow. “The problem will be to feed the livestock, and the livestock fund must be preserved,” he said.

Similarly, milk producer Radenko Arsenović expressed concerns over the quality of this year's corn yield, which has lost much of its nutritional value. “That corn has no energy value, no nutrition. The people will start selling cattle and reducing production,” he said, warning of a potential decrease in livestock numbers.

Despite these difficulties, dairy industry representatives, such as Duško Cvijetinović, owner of a local dairy, reassured consumers that there is no immediate expectation of milk price increases. “The last price increase was at the beginning of the year, and this price has remained stable,” he commented, although he acknowledged that the industry is under pressure.

However, the overall outlook remains concerning. As farmers face a combination of low purchase prices, expensive raw materials, and labor shortages, many are being forced to reduce their milking herds, signaling that the decline in production may persist.