Irish and Scandinavian dairy farmers decline
echoed a trend that appears to be taking shape in Ireland. Figures
released on both regions suggests that there may be a shortage in
European dairy farmers in future years, if the trend is to
continue.
Arla Foods has released statistics which have revealed that their milk producers are declining in Scandinavia. For the 2002/2003 period Sweden registered a 6 per cent fall in the number of co-operatives. This amounted to 406 members of the co-operative.
In Denmark 6.7 per cent or 478 members left the milk industry in the 2002/2003 period. This means that total Arla Foods has 12,700 co-operative members against 13,600 the previous year in Sweden. In Sweden the annual supply rose by 17,000 kg to 341,000 kg.
A survey that was carried out by the Irish Agriculture and Food Department Authority has revealed that 15 per cent of dairy farmers have said that in the next two years they plan to exit the milk production industry.
The Department predicted that there would be a drop in the number of dairy farmers. The organisation says that by 2012 only 18,000 farmers will remain from the 26,500 farmers that are at the moment present in the Irish dairy industry.
