The Quiet Decline of Britain’s Dairy Farms
(And Why It Matters More Than Most People Realise)
For decades, dairy farming has been the backbone of rural Britain. But today, that backbone is weakening. According to the latest AHDB figures, the number of dairy producers in Great Britain has fallen to around 7,040 farms as of April 2025, a drop of 190 farms in just one year. That’s a 2.6% decline, continuing a long-term trend that has seen numbers fall from 46,000 farms in 1980 to just over 7,000 today.
Below is a quick snapshot of the situation:
| Year | Number of Dairy Farms | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 46,000 | Start of long-term decline |
| 2019 | 8,720 | Significant contraction |
| 2024 | 7,200 | Accelerating exits |
| 2025 | 7,040 | Nearly 200 farms lost in a year |
Sources:
Why Are Dairy Farms Disappearing?
Supermarkets play a huge role in the decline. Their business model relies on driving down prices, often below the cost of production, leaving farmers with razor-thin margins or outright losses.
Key pressures include:
- Supermarket price wars: Retailers compete by lowering milk prices, pushing farmgate prices down.
- Volatile milk markets: Prices swing sharply, often falling “lower than is realistic,” according to the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers.
- Rising costs: Feed, energy, labour, and winter housing costs continue to climb.
- Consolidation: Larger farms survive; smaller family farms disappear.
- Lack of long-term contracts: Many farmers have no price stability, making planning impossible.
Sources:
The Human Cost Behind the Numbers
Every farm that closes isn’t just a statistic—it’s:
- A family business lost
- A community weakened
- Local jobs gone
- Generations of knowledge disappearing
And yet, despite fewer farms, total milk output continues to rise because surviving farms are forced to scale up to stay afloat. This creates a system where only the biggest players survive—exactly the kind of consolidation supermarkets favour.
Why Doorstep Deliveries Exists: A Better Way Forward
At Doorstep Deliveries, we believe the future of dairy shouldn’t be dictated by supermarket spreadsheets. It should be shaped by:
- Fair prices for farmers
- Local supply chains
- Fresh, high-quality milk delivered directly
- Sustainable farming practices
- Stronger rural communities
By working directly with local farms and processors, we help ensure they receive a fair, stable price—one that reflects the real cost of producing exceptional milk. No middlemen. No supermarket squeeze.
This isn’t just good for farmers. It’s good for customers who want to know where their food comes from and support the people behind it.
What You Can Do to Support Local Dairy
- Buy direct from local dairies
- Choose doorstep delivery
- Support small producers at markets
- Share the story of local farms
- Ask supermarkets to pay fair prices
Every small action helps keep local dairy alive.
