By Amber Ali

Farmers across Scotland are still being hard hit by the aftermath of COVID-19, the cost of living crisis and high inflation rates.

 The latest AHDB Agri-market Outlook produced every six months warns that farmers are facing high input costs while trying to match consumer prices on the market.

The increasing cost of living in Scotland has made it more challenging for farmers and their families to recover post-pandemic. The Dunlop farmhouse previously supplied big quantities of dairy to various hotel chains and this halted once the pandemic started.

Ann Dorward, owner of Dunlop Dairy said:

“Post-pandemic for a while wasn’t too bad, although sales dropped. We were supplying different hotels and they stopped overnight, and they have never got back up to the same level. We haven’t got back to the same level we were on.”

Consumer trends are also impacting farmers’ dairy businesses. There have been major shifts towards plant-based alternatives and an increased popularity of veganism. The demand for dairy alternatives such as almond milk, oat milk and soy milk has surged. This shift in consumer preferences led to a decline in the demand for traditional dairy products, negatively impacting small community farms.

Ann went on to say:

“We are not highly mechanised, not highly modern so we are doing stuff from a way back then.”

Dunlop farm has now opened a café and is beginning to expand the shop side. This will also contain a viewing window where you are able to see the creation of cheese.

Councillor Ellen Freel urged businesses to support one another and believes that the concept of farming should be taught to young children. She said:

“I think you have to get into primary schools first, lots of children don’t know where their food comes from.”

Stewarton will be hosting its popular Yuletide event from 6pm to 8pm on Thursday, November 23rd. Small businesses and stalls will be open in the town’s central Avenue Square. The event is organised by the local charity Stewarton Initiatives. For more information, please click here.