Dozens of dairy farmers from across the state drove to Grand Isle on July 2 with the intention of talking about a recent dairy plant closure. Instead, a larger issue emerged: Some dairy processors are giving up on Vermont, and the state is failing to cash in on a national investment in dairy amid a craze for protein. A recent wave of three dairy plant closures in just two months has highlighted pressures facing the local industry, including high overhead costs and aging infrastructure. As large processing plants move West, where land is cheaper and production is more dynamic, Vermont farms are buckling under consolidation, increased prices and low profitability. The result? Vermont dairy farms are being left in the dust by the competition from states like Texas where the economics of dairy farming are more favorable. VTDigger analyzed U.S. Department of Agriculture data and found that dairy farming costs exceed sales by the largest margin in Vermont compared with 18 other states. Vermont farmers face a $8.65 loss per 100 pounds of milk produced, while California farmers, for instance, see $2.49 in profit. For one Vermont farmer, the costs of overhead stack up to as high as $72,000 per month.