February 18, 2011

UK based Nocton Dairies cancels plans for mega dairy farm

UK's Nocton Dairies have written off plans to construct the country's biggest 3,770 cow dairy farm at Nocton Heath, Lincolnshire, faulting the Environment Agency for the decision.

Nocton said, "The sole reason for cancellation of the plans is the response of the UK's Environment Agency, which has maintained its objection to the proposal, the farm said in a statement.

"The environmental services said they lack information about the risks to the water-bearing layers under the farm and the uncertainty about the benefits that will bring to the soil when building such a farm. Nocton said they dislike the cautious attitude and requests for new information from the Environmental Agency and said it reflects the ignorance of agriculture in general and modern dairy farms in particular.

The three farmers behind the plan wanted to invest GBP4.5 million (US$6.13 million) more to in waste management 'but because there is not enough relevant research available to us we cannot give the certainties wanted by the Environmental Agency". Nocton Dairies' initial plan was to create a super dairy of more than 8,000 cows. After reversion of this plan, the permit application also led to more than 14,000 appeals. The dairy company said it only cancelled its plans due to lack of cooperation from the Environmental Agency.

The National Farmer Union is disappointed that the plan has been withdrawn. Chairman Mansel Raymond said the project was innovative and still sees opportunities in the UK for this kind of investments. Sector analyst and quota trader Ian Potter even thinks that within 18 months a new plan will arise, somewhere in the UK.

According to Potter, large scale dairy farms are inevitable. This week figures were released showing that almost 4% of the dairy farmers in England and Wales have ceased their business, which brings the total number of dairy farmers in the country below 11,000.