It looks like we are to get yet another cut in our milk price. In the year to March 1997 we received 25.2 pence per litre for our milk (14.2 pence per pint). In the year to March 1998 this fell to 21 pence per litre (11.8 pence per pint). In the year to February 1999 the price has fallen to 18.9 pence per litre (10.6 pence per pint). This is a price cut in 2 years of 25%. Has the price you pay for your milk fallen by 25%? I doubt it.
It is fair to say that 2 years ago we were receiving a very good price, and that in the last two years some of our costs have come down. These savings only help slightly and most Dairy farmers are now struggling to break even and in many cases they are making a loss.
In the past year we have made our workman redundant and have increased the cow numbers to 100. I have prepared a budget for the next two years and there is barely enough profit left to service loans, live on and make adequate reinvestment back into the business. I am beginning to think that, despite my comments, my neighbour has got the right idea with his tree planting scheme!!
I get very annoyed when the Government say they want to cut even further the support given to farmers, claiming that they want to reduce the price of food. By all means do something to reduce the price of food, by cutting the excessive profits made by supermarkets.
Over the years, the number of hours that have to be worked to earn enough money to feed a family get less. Therefore, contrary to popular myth, food is not expensive, but it becomes expensive because of the huge price supermarkets charge to make it into convenience foods because many housewives are either too busy or too lazy to do some good old fashioned cooking.
We turned the cows out for the first time this year on 10th March. I know some think I am mad, but I always like to see the cows out early if possible. It saves costs and the milk yield rises, so it must be right. The only problem at the moment is the cold weather has stopped the grass growing, and the cows are grazing it off rather fast.
The glorious weather we had this week (14 to 19 March) enabled us to get some field work done, and to admire the wonderful views we have from here to Dartmoor, Exmoor and Bodmin Moor. Days like these make you realise what a wonderful life we have, and to forget your troubles.