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Dairy farmers quitting the industry in high numbers.

Location
Devon
Where will the Milk come from going forwards?

In my own very local area 3 dairy farms have gone or are about to sell the herd in the last 12 months, all three have been driven out by the low returns for the amount of work and/or the investment needed to carry on milking not being worthwhile for the work/ returns from milking cows.

One herd the owner would be around the 50 year old age with family coming on.

One farm is mostly going into stewardship/ low input sheep farming, another a mix of that and beef farming with some rented out and the other most of it is going under the plough for crops to feed a local AD plant...

Where is the milk/ beef calves going to come from if this rate of exodus from the industry carry's on??

Very sad to see such well run farms/ well looked after dairy herds being forced out of the industry after decades/ generations of milking cows.
 

som farmer

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
somerset
devon/Cornwall seem to have a few exiting all the time, selling them as they calve, rather than full dispersals. For many, a clear TB status, is the option. There would be a lot more, if it wasn't for TB.
On the other hand, herds from 'away' are bringing their herds to the S West, because the demand is there. And we have supplied big bunches of cows, for new set ups, in the last 2 yrs.
And prices are good, for sellers. Quite a lot of young dairy hfrs, go through the mkts, to fund more cows ?
2 serious number reductions, at Exeter, one could presume staffing difficulties.
Staff must be a problem for many, us included, we have dropped 150 head, so we can 'cope' on our own. 9 close neighbours have sold up, leaving just 2 of us.
With all that is coming, prices, regs etc, for many, its to much, and who can blame them.
 

Werzle

Member
Location
Midlands
We won't have a dairy industry before long, shocking to see so many people packing up but understandable with all the pressures. Alot of cows will be being culled to fund buying better cows too so dont think that numbers arent dropping.
 
Last edited:

nonemouse

Member
Innovate UK
Location
North yorks
This is the last dairy farm in this parish, fifty years ago there were 7 dairy farms in the parish, still planing to be out of dairy by the end of the year. Red tractor rubbish, new slurry rules and getting older are the driving forces.
Some areas are still expanding, heard yesterday that a friend of mine who manages a dairy unit in SW Scotland was celebrating breaking the 50,000 litres a day. So in less than 2 weeks he produces more milk than I do in a year.
 

Bald Rick

Moderator
Moderator
Location
Anglesey
I think once the All Wales NVZ is confirmed and we know the exact details, measures like that will accelerate the decline of dairy farms here but I suspect that the more modern units will look to take advantage.
Off the top of my head I can think of 15 completely new dairy set ups on the Island within the last 10 years ... and nothing under 200 cows.
It will be the older farmers without succession or who need to invest bigly that will pull out
 
I think once the All Wales NVZ is confirmed and we know the exact details, measures like that will accelerate the decline of dairy farms here but I suspect that the more modern units will look to take advantage.
Off the top of my head I can think of 15 completely new dairy set ups on the Island within the last 10 years ... and nothing under 200 cows.
It will be the older farmers without succession or who need to invest bigly that will pull out
But apart from you, all 15 have been grass based grazers?
Guthrie won't want the calves from them. Good job the milk is great
 

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Webinar: Expanded Sustainable Farming Incentive offer 2024 -26th Sept

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On Thursday 26th September, we’re holding a webinar for farmers to go through the guidance, actions and detail for the expanded Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) offer. This was planned for end of May, but had to be delayed due to the general election. We apologise about that.

Farming and Countryside Programme Director, Janet Hughes will be joined by policy leads working on SFI, and colleagues from the Rural Payment Agency and Catchment Sensitive Farming.

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