THE ECONOMICS OF MILK PRODUCTION

British agriculture continues in a state of stagnation and turmoil staggering from Government indecision to Government mis‐direction including the best selling fairy story the White Paper ‘Food from our own resources”. Few new dairy units will be built until either milk price is significantly increased or building grants raised. Current return on investment in new dairy units less than 10 per cent. Rotary parlours still in need of further development and greater reliability. Most expensive to maintain is the rotary herringbone costing in repairs alone almost £ 2/1000 gal of milk produced. Manufacturers appear to be continuing to use farmers as guinea pigs. A major problem facing dairy producers is the constant threat of a brucellosis breakdown, the threatened abolition of the service house and increasing costs in all sectors. The solution to problems can really only come from intelligent Government leadership.