Livestock Event 2014: 200 dairy farms set up since 2012
More than 200 new dairy farms have been set up in the UK since April 2012, according to figures from the Food Standards Agency revealed at the Livestock Event.
Rob Newbery, NFU chief dairy adviser, said the statistics showed there was optimism within the sector moving forward.
“There are real signs that farmers are putting their money where their mouths are and investing. There’s real positivity among farmers about the future,” he said.
See also: Welsh dairy farm incomes set to rise by 88%
In addition to the new dairy farms, many other businesses had expanded their production, he added.
Global demand for dairy produce is forecast to grow by 2.5% per year over the next 10 years due to population growth, increased wealth in developing nations and changing dietary habits.
The dairy sector has recently set itself the target of reducing the UK trade deficit in dairy products by 2025.
This will need farmers to produce 4bn litres of extra milk, through yield improvements and at least half a million more cows.
See also: All the news and photos from the Livestock Event 2014