Poor profitability drains out Lancashire's dairy sector

Lancashire, a non-metropolitan county in the northwest England, has lost 300 of its dairy farms for the past nine years due to poor profitability.

Many dairy farmers have turned their attention to other ventures as milk production is unprofitable, said Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans.

Evans has called for a parliamentary debate on the state of farming after the figures were revealed.

Data from the Lancashire County Council showed there were 678 dairy farms operating in the county, down from 990 in 2000.

Ribble Valley currently has 134 dairy farms, down from 206 in 2000.

Evans said the dairy farmers are not paid what they deserved and many receive less than the cost of production, while milk products are imported into England even though the country could produce much more. 

The UK's milk production is now at a 40-year low, and the industry could be badly affected if the trend continues, he added.