Full Breakdown
Dairy Farmers of America Idles St. Albans Plant Amid Widening Vermont Dairy Downturn
6/19/2026, 5:55:32 AM
The Idling Decision and Immediate Impact
Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) announced on Wednesday that it will “idle” its St. Albans processing plant and the adjoining St. Albans Creamery & Supply, effective Monday, August 17, 2026. The move will eliminate roughly 80 jobs. The plant, which turns milk into cream, condensed milk and powder products, has supplied regional brands such as Ben & Jerry’s and Cabot Creamery. DFA said a small maintenance team will remain on site and that milk will continue to be processed at other DFA facilities.
Regional Dairy Downturn: Background
The closure follows a broader contraction in New England’s dairy sector. Earlier this month Franklin Foods announced the loss of nearly 100 workers; Perrigo laid off 161 employees in Georgia; HP Hood shut its Barre plant, affecting 50 workers. Over the past year Franklin County has seen about 600 job losses at dairy-related plants. DFA acquired the St. Albans facility through a 2019 merger with the St. Albans Cooperative Creamery, a deal approved by a 99-9 vote, and subsequently invested $30 million in the plant and $5 million in its trucking operation.
Key Stakeholders
- Dairy Farmers of America – national farmer-owned cooperative.
- Curtis Clough – Teamsters Local 597 representative for plant workers.
- Anson Tebbetts – Vermont Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets.
- Tim Smith – Executive director, Franklin County Industrial Development Corp.
- Matthew Staebner – Dairy farmer from South Glastonbury, Connecticut.
- Peter Welch – U.S. Senator (VT).
- Andrés Rodríguez – Resident of Swanton, VT.
Data & Statistics
- 80 employees slated for layoff; plant’s final day Aug 17.
- 600 total dairy-related job losses in Franklin County (2025-2026).
- $30 million plant investment + $5 million trucking investment.
- Other recent closures: Franklin Foods (~100 jobs), Perrigo (161), HP Hood (50).
Implications for Vermont Dairy
The idling removes a long-standing processing hub, threatening market access for regional dairy farms and reducing in-state capacity to turn milk into value-added products. DFA’s plan to route milk to facilities in New York, Massachusetts and Maine may preserve supply contracts but could increase transportation costs for Vermont producers.
Official Statements & Responses
DFA described the action as part of “broader operational and network changes needed to best serve our farmer-owners and customers,” emphasizing that the decision does not reflect worker performance and that transition support, including severance, will be provided. Secretary Tebbetts said the announcement “came as a surprise” and that the state is meeting with economic-development officials to explore repurposing options and to assist displaced workers. Tim Smith noted that the region has not seen job losses of this magnitude since the 2013 Energizer plant closure.
Criticism & Opposition
Union leader Clough said workers were informed only 15 minutes before the public announcement and expressed that “we’re not happy about this.” He argued the closure is unrelated to recent union activity and urged DFA to reconsider. Farmers such as Staebner warned that the loss will “negatively affect all the dairy farmers in New England.” The plant’s 2025 strike over wages and a city-declared public-health hazard (sulfur odor) were cited as possible, though unconfirmed, contributors.
On-the-Ground Reports
Local resident Rodríguez described the layoffs as “money, money, money… a bad thing to hear about.” Smith emphasized the difficulty of absorbing 600 jobs in a county of just over 50,000 people.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
DFA claims the plant still has sufficient business to justify continued processing, yet union officials describe the scope as “surprising.” No timeline has been given for a possible reopening or for repurposing the facility, and the precise role of the earlier strike and health-hazard concerns remains unclear.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Both the plant and store have been foundational parts of the St. Albans community for generations,” — Dairy Farmers of America, statement
- “We’re not happy about this. We’re doing everything we can to help our members figure this out,” — Curtis Clough, Teamsters Local 597
- “We think this is a continuation of some pretty deeply ingrained difficulties in the milk industry in Vermont,” — Curtis Clough
- “We’re all very concerned about the employees that are impacted by this,” — Anson Tebbetts, Vermont Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets
- “It takes one more option off the table for processing milk in the state,” — Anson Tebbetts
What’s Next
Union representatives will meet with DFA in July and have already contacted Senator Welch. DFA says it will keep the facility “as we evaluate what makes sense for the future,” while state officials continue to seek new occupants or operators for the site. Milk from Vermont farms will be processed at DFA plants in neighboring states pending any further developments.
