Farmers have been hit hard by the massive increase in the prices of milk and butter. In the midst of a cost-of-living crisis in the wake of last week’s energy price hike, industry leaders fear that rising food, fertilizer and fuel costs will soon increase milk production.
Dairy producers held crisis talks in Brussels last week about rising costs and supply chain delays. Mail Online reports that according to Kite Consulting, a leading advisory firm for UK dairy farmers, milk can increase by 50% and butter by 30%.
The war in Ukraine is also believed to have affected the growing growth, with four liters of milk going from about 1.15 pounds to 1.60-1.70 pounds, and butter from 1.55 pounds to two pounds. Experts say cheese prices could go up by 20%, from £8-8 to £10/kg, because milk is an important part of the production process and yoghurt may be affected.
Michael Oakes, chair of the dairy committee at the National Farmers Union, told the Daily Telegraph: “I was paying about 7,000,000 for the article. [articulated lorry] Loaded with fertilizers and this year there are 28,000. “It could have been a little shorter before Ukraine, but it took another big jump, because we’ve already seen a rise in gas prices that affected fertilizer costs.”
This is happening with the British Egg Industry Council (BEIC) saying there could be a shortage of eggs in “a few weeks” due to higher production costs. As farmers lose money on every egg due to rising feed costs, 25-30p in the top ten, it is estimated that 10-15% of farmers could leave the industry due to the unprecedented costs.
Source: Belfastlive
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
