By Liv Thomson

An Industry in Trouble?

Since 2020, with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, farms in Scotland have struggled to maintain their businesses. Costs have risen everywhere, particularly in the farming industry, and with the ongoing cost of living crisis here in the UK, there seems to be no end in sight for the financial hardship that farms are facing.

One report has claimed that almost 25% of farmers are currently “unsure ” if they will continue to produce milk come 2025, with another 9% of farmers certain that they will have left the business entirely by then. Increasing fuel, energy, and production costs are therefore undoubtedly having a severe impact on the viability of dairy farming, particularly as government policy and support remains unclear and insufficient.

Dunlop Dairy

Dunlop Dairy is an Ayrshire institution. First established in the 1700s, the farm is renowned for its award-winning cheese and traditional production methods.

However, Dunlop Dairy has not been immune to the financial troubles caused by both COVID-19 and the cost of living crisis.

Ann Dorward, Dunlop Dairy’s owner, has revealed how rising fuel and energy costs have been “hitting [us] hard”, and how they have “never fully gotten back” to the level of business they enjoyed before the pandemic hit in 2020.

Ann went on to say that the work she and other farmers do is “not easy”, and involves tireless effort “every day, every weekend”. When asked if she thought financial support from the government would be helpful to ease the strain, she said “obviously it would be helpful,” but that she understands that the government cannot possibly “support every business.”

“[Farming] is a different way of life.”

Julia, employee at Dunlop Dairy

The Future of Dairy Farming

Community support is “very important” for farms, according to East Ayrshire Councillor Ellen Freel. One show of this community support, praised by Councillor Freel, is the upcoming Yuletide event hosted by the Stewarton Initiatives charity group. The event will comprise of local businesses taking over the town square to promote their businesses and products to the tight-knit community of Stewarton. Though not involved this year, Councillor Freel stated that Dunlop Dairy, along with other farms, ought to take part in this type of event, to “let people know that they exist and that they have something specialised.”

In addition to recognising the importance of local support, Councillor Freel also noted that farms are “not getting the right money for the milk that they’re producing”. Could this be something that the government could address going forward? There are already several funding schemes put in place by the government to aid dairy and other farms, but as the statistics are showing a decline in business against rising costs, it is clear that more needs to be done to save the industry going forward.

Liv Thomson, UWS News.

Set featured image and other images are courtesy of Liv Thomson. No changes were made to these images.