Why Does Milk Cost More in Missouri Than Almost Any Other State?

I will admit there are a lot of things in life I don't understand and this is just one more thing I can add to the list. Did you know that milk costs more in Missouri than just about any other state and it's a complete mystery to me as to why.

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Full disclosure: my grandma who had a farm in West Ely, Missouri was a dairy farmer. Our family did not lack cows or milk when I was growing up. Her situation was not unique. That part of Missouri is full of dairy farmers as is the state in general, so why does milk cost so dang much in the state?

Homesnacks just did a breakdown of how much a gallon of milk costs in each state. On their map, the darker red the state is, the higher the milk price is. Look how beet red Missouri is.

Why does milk cost so much in Missouri when there are so many dairy farmers in the state?

Homesnacks broke down the milk prices with metrics they say include a "complex interplay of regional dynamics, economic factors, and consumer preferences". Their methodology includes regional supply and demand, transportation, processing costs and dairy farming practices and costs. I am honestly still scratching my head as to why any of these would cause Missouri's milk costs to be so much higher than other states.

Perhaps this is clearer to you, but as for me I'll continue to be mystified with the Missouri milk dilemma.