Hard-hit Orkney dairy farms will receive a cash boost after the exodus of an “ageing workforce” caused a milk shortage on the island.
Orkney lost three herds in the first six months of 2023, as numbers dropped across Scotland.
By last month, the drop in dairy farming meant the Tesco in Kirkwall stopped selling local milk.
But now, the council has agreed to provide a cash life-line to keep the remaining operations going.
What was agreed?
The council’s development and infrastructure committee has endorsed the Orkney Dairy Support programme.
This money will be used to “enable dairy farmers to implement modern efficiency measures”.
This would boost local milk supplies while also reducing the sector’s carbon impact.
The proposals follow complaints around the challenges and pressures being felt by the wider milk supply chain in Orkney
What does farmer say about Orkney milk shortage?
There is still a question mark above how much cash might be headed towards the county’s dairies – as the council says the amount will depend on match funding from “partner agencies.”
Graham Bichan is the managing director of the Orkney Creamery, and explained why the industry is in crisis.
He said there are now fewer dairy farms in Orkney, meaning less milk for his company to purchase.
Mr Bichan said: “I think retirement has been the main reason for people coming out of dairy farming.
“It’s an aging workforce, so people are exiting the industry. That’s the main driver behind it.
“The shortage has meant we have had to drop customers. We can’t access enough milk.
“So, we’re having to retract our business a little bit.”
Why did Tesco stop selling Orkney milk?
Last month, Tesco Kirkwall’s store manager, Matthew Johnstone, confirmed that Orkney milk would no longer be available from the supermarket.
“They decided to withdraw sale from Tesco due to not being able to supply the orders we were generating.”
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