# Anyone know why milk is so cheap in Omaha, NE **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 11, 2022, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-why-milk-is-so-cheap-in-omaha-ne/962692 "2022-04-11T23:03:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dougrb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dougrb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougrb)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2022, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-why-milk-is-so-cheap-in-omaha-ne/962692/1 "2022-04-11T23:03:21Z")
I’m in NE KS and about three years ago I started going to a Baker’s grocery store in Omaha with a buddy of mine that drives there every weekend for work. The original enticement was cheap booze, but milk is also cheap. In the last three years the range has been $1.69 to $1.99/gallon. It’s pushing $5.00 at my local store and my mom told me that’s what it is in NE MO. This is the only thing I can find and it’s BS. [https://www.zippia.com/advice/gallon-of-milk-costs-each-state/](https://www.zippia.com/advice/gallon-of-milk-costs-each-state/) ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2022, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-why-milk-is-so-cheap-in-omaha-ne/962692/2 "2022-04-12T01:30:19Z")
In my hometown, the supermarket chains have cut milk prices down to match WalMart/Costco/Aldi/etc. In other parts of the state, prices are different. Maybe they’re doing that in Omaha. ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2022, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-why-milk-is-so-cheap-in-omaha-ne/962692/3 "2022-04-12T01:36:17Z")
I pay a bit over $3 in NE Wyoming; is there maybe better supply around Omaha (a major livestock area)? ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2022, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-why-milk-is-so-cheap-in-omaha-ne/962692/4 "2022-04-12T02:01:54Z")
It’s where the cows are? ---
**Author:** ![dougrb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dougrb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougrb)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2022, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-why-milk-is-so-cheap-in-omaha-ne/962692/5 "2022-04-12T02:16:15Z")
There are cows everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2022, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-why-milk-is-so-cheap-in-omaha-ne/962692/6 "2022-04-12T02:17:26Z")
Perhaps there are minimum milk prices at the state level? ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2022, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-why-milk-is-so-cheap-in-omaha-ne/962692/7 "2022-04-12T03:34:02Z")
> [@Kron](#): > > is there maybe better supply around Omaha (a major livestock area)? Omaha is (perhaps more accurately _was_) a major meat packing plant center-beef and pork mainly. Different end product than dairy cows. I live here and I am not aware of a surfeit of dairy operations. I think it’s much more likely related to the brisk competition between major grocery store chains, with several recent new competitors who are angling for market share with loss leaders like milk. My smart ass answer? Somehow our Gov. Pete Ricketts, or his family, make money off of milk prices or the manipulation thereof. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2022, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-why-milk-is-so-cheap-in-omaha-ne/962692/8 "2022-04-12T03:50:39Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > It’s where the cows are? Smartass Joke: Those aren’t cows, they’re Bulls! Rebuttal to the Smartass Joke: Bull semen is probably worth a load (hee hee) more than milk, so the joke doesn’t really work for those in the know ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2022, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-why-milk-is-so-cheap-in-omaha-ne/962692/9 "2022-04-12T03:51:35Z")
This is why I’m no fun at parties. Well, that I and I never get invited. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2022, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-why-milk-is-so-cheap-in-omaha-ne/962692/10 "2022-04-12T03:58:34Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Well, that I and I never get invited. Next Saturday, 7pm. Bring pizza and milk. No semen. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2022, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-why-milk-is-so-cheap-in-omaha-ne/962692/11 "2022-04-12T04:02:06Z")
> [@BippityBoppityBoo](#): > > Next Saturday, 7pm Not sure if I can comply with that last stipulation. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2022, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-why-milk-is-so-cheap-in-omaha-ne/962692/12 "2022-04-12T04:03:23Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Not sure if I can comply with that last stipulation. Bull. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2022, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-why-milk-is-so-cheap-in-omaha-ne/962692/13 "2022-04-12T04:06:03Z")
I’ll try. But if you see me in the bushes at 6:55 with a pizza box balanced on my head and a jug of milk in my left hand, please don’t call the cops on me! ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2022, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-why-milk-is-so-cheap-in-omaha-ne/962692/14 "2022-04-12T04:20:12Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > But if you see me in the bushes at 6:55 with a pizza box balanced on my head and a jug of milk in my left hand, please don’t call the cops on me! That depends on what your right hand is doing. Besides, in my neighborhood the cops probably wouldn’t show up. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2022, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-why-milk-is-so-cheap-in-omaha-ne/962692/15 "2022-04-12T04:22:14Z")
> [@BippityBoppityBoo](#): > > That depends on what your right hand is doing. Complying with the invite? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2022, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-why-milk-is-so-cheap-in-omaha-ne/962692/16 "2022-04-12T04:26:39Z")
> [@BippityBoppityBoo](#): > > I live here and I am not aware of a surfeit of dairy operations. I think it’s much more likely related to the brisk competition between major grocery store chains, with several recent new competitors who are angling for market share with loss leaders like milk. This seems to be the most likely explanation to me, as well. As you note, Nebraska isn’t a big state for milk production ([it ranks at #25, and produces less than 1% of the U.S.'s milk supply](https://beef2live.com/story-milk-production-ranking-state-0-111564)). Beef and milk come from the same species, but different varieties are raised depending on the intended primary output. As you also note, grocery stores have traditionally used several staples (most notably milk, meat/poultry, cereal, and soft drinks) as “loss leaders” – categories that they are willing to make little (or even no) money at, as they are products which most households buy regularly, and are often willing to switch stores for a better price on them. In other words, they’re pricing milk low, to get people to buy their groceries there (including, they hope, other groceries on which they’ll make more money). This’ll be particularly the case in a market where there’s a lot of competition for grocery shopping. ---
**Author:** ![dougrb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dougrb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougrb)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2022, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-why-milk-is-so-cheap-in-omaha-ne/962692/17 "2022-04-12T22:32:34Z")
It must be the competition. We frequent two different Baker’s within 3 miles of each other and searching google maps for grocery stores in Omaha turns up 60 (10 of which are Bakers). Kroger owns Baker’s.