Next month marks the 10th anniversary of Women in Dairy, with the celebratory conference taking place at the Stoneleigh Abbey on Thursday 19th September. This year’s event will highlight the significant achievements over the past decade, showcasing the progress in breaking down barriers and increasing diversity in the industry.
Women in Dairy has played a pivotal role in uniting women within the sector to foster development and encourage the future of UK dairy. The core values of share, connect, and inspire remain as relevant today as they were when the initiative began 10 years ago.
RABDF members, don’t forget that you are eligible for a 25% discount on the WID Conference. Stay tuned for more updates on the conference, including details about this year’s Dairy Industry Woman of the Year, in next month's newsletter.
For those interested in developing their skills in people management, business, and taxation, and looking for ways to innovate and advance their business, the Entrepreneurs in Dairying course might be of interest. Applications are open until the end of this month, but spaces are limited. More information is available at https://www.rabdf.co.uk/entrepreneurs-in-dairying
Events like the WID Conference and EID offer excellent opportunities to stay updated on the latest innovations and news, as well as to discuss concerns and share ideas. Attending these events is particularly important given recent statistics from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), which indicate a 5.8% decline in the number of dairy producers over the past year. As of April 2024, there were approximately 7,130 dairy producers in Great Britain, a decrease of 440 from the previous year.
While there has been a steady decline for many years, this recent drop may be attributed to tight margins, challenging weather conditions, and forage shortages. Additionally, there is evidence that farm sizes have increased over the past year.
On a positive note, the upcoming milk price increases should provide some relief to producers. Arla has announced price hikes of 0.74 ppl for both conventional and organic milk, bringing prices to 42.44 ppl and 53.31 ppl, respectively. Similar increases have been reported by Müller (1.25 ppl) and First Milk (1 ppl).
Wishing you a good rest of the summer,
Robert
Robert Craig, RABDF Chairman