Up to three Yorkshire dairy farmers are quitting the industry on average every single month, compelling proof of an urgent need for clear dairy labelling to help shoppers choose products made with British milk.
The Yorkshire Post is leading a new campaign calling for clear labelling of dairy products to make it easier for shoppers to buy British and support hard-pressed farmers, new figures reveal that North Yorkshire, the region’s dairy industry hotbed, has seen 23 farmers give up milking in the last 12 months alone.
And the sharp, continued decline fuelled by the withdrawal of China and Russia from the export market is being felt across the county, notably in West Yorkshire where nine farmers exited dairy in the last year. There is also one less farmer milking cattle in both East and South Yorkshire than there was a year ago.
In total, 34 fewer dairy farmers are operating in Yorkshire compared to last November and there are just 674 still in business now compared to 1,999 at the turn of the century - two-thirds of Yorkshire dairy farmers have quit since the year 2000. National figures tell of a wider demise.
A prolonged tumble of farmgate milk prices that has encouraged many farmers to walk away from dairy, price Cuts since February last year have created dairy farming’s worst cash crisis for a generation.
As part of the campaign in support of British dairy farmers, The Yorkshire Post wants retailers and processors to make it clear where the milk used in dairy products is from.