Next generation committed to dairying dependent on profitability
21 September 2009
The dairy sector has a future with 60% of agriculture students expressing an interest in a dairy farming career, according to succession survey conducted by the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers. However these youngsters’ firm commitment is dependent on dairying being a profitable sector which calls for processors, retailers and foodservice alike agreeing to a consistent fair and sustainable milk price, RABDF chairman, Lyndon Edwards told a breakfast briefing today, Wednesday 16 September, at the Dairy Event and Livestock Show, Stoneleigh Park, Coventry.
“Continuing fall out from the industry coupled with the fact the alleged average age of dairy farmer is 55 years, led us to question does UK dairy farming really have a future, a national herd and critically, enough people to manage and milk it?,” Mr Edwards explained. “To find out for ourselves, last month RABDF conducted two surveys, one for dairy farmers and one for students. We received an overwhelming response from 320 farmers and 100 students.
“In the first instance, the findings indicated that the average age of the farmer is 49 years and the average age of the herdsman a sprightly 42 years, while 48% of farmers indicated they knew who would succeed them. However, just over 60% of agriculture students said they were interested in a career in dairying with 80% of those actually committed to milking cows. However, 61% of farmers did not know anyone under 25 years old looking for a career in dairy farming while 64% indicated they would be interested in taking a student placement which suggests there is a need for a marriage bureau to bring the two together.
“Surprisingly, lifestyle was the main attraction to dairying for these students; working with livestock came top at 97%, working outdoors, 82% and way of life, 63%, while just over half of the students appreciated the sector’s daily new challenges.”
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