Exit, Voice, and Loyalty in the Case of Farmer Associations: Decision-Making of Dairy Farmers during the German Milk Conflict

The abolishment of the dairy milk quota, increasing fluctuation of milk prices, and the ongoing structural change in the European milk sector led to the so-called milk conflict. Farmers reacted with protests, membership resignation from the German Farmers’ Association and milk delivery strikes. The study analyzes dairy farmers’ decision-making under pressure with respect to their association membership and their participation in the strike with a qualitative research approach. Data includes 34 personal, in-depth interviews with farmers and experts. Results show that rising dissatisfaction and exerted pressure by members of the Federal Dairy Farmers Association resulted in decreasing loyalty and voice, and a higher likelihood to exit from the German Farmers’ Association.