Dairy outlook gloomy despite optimism in beef and sheep – survey

Following hot on the heels of an ADAS survey showing growing optimism and improving profitability within the industry, more evidence of a general mood shift has been presented by the National Farm Research Unit (NFRU)

Its latest survey, featuring 6,532 farmers across the UK and Ireland, reveals that nearly one-third felt more optimistic about the future of their business than they did a year ago.

That compares with 22 per cent who said they were less optimistic than last year and 46 per cent whose outlook had not changed.

While the mood of optimism is farm universal across the industry, NFRU’s Jim Williams said it was significant that there are now more farmers who see their glass as half full, than those who feel it is half empty.

Tellingly, there are stark differences in mood between the sectors. Following a period of good prices, 40 per cent of sheep farms and 35 per cent of beef enterprises are more optimistic now than a year ago, significantly outweighing those who felt more pessimistic (15 and 20 per cent respectively).

But only 16 per cent of dairy farmers felt more optimistic, compared with 37 per cent who felt less being less so, reflecting the market conditions and various other hurdles the sector is facing.

Arable farmers are, on balance, feeling more upbeat, with 30 per cent more optimistic against 21 per cent who were more pessimistic.

There were also regional variations, with Welsh (39 per cent) and Scottish (37 per cent) farmers more optimistic than farmers anywhere else in the UK.

Farmers in the South west, the West Midlands and Yorkshire and Humberside were the most optimistic in England, with about a third feeling good about the future.

But farmers in Northern Ireland had the gloomiest outlook within the UK.

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