March 18, 2025

UK - Demand from EU and US helps drive UK dairy export value to £1.8 billion in 2024

EU and US demand helped drive the value of UK dairy exports in 2024 to £1.8 billion. Despite a challenging trading environment, the total value of UK dairy exports broadly matched 2023, with export values to the EU and US increasing.

More than 76% of the UK's total dairy exports were shipped to the EU - our closest and largest market - and were worth £1.4 billion, up 5.6% on the year. With total UK cheese exports hitting the highest level since 2020 at £887 million, 72% of shipments worth £641 million headed to the EU - up 9.8% on the year.

The US is the UK's single largest export market for dairy outside Europe and 2024 saw shipments increase by 5.7% on the year. The bulk of UK Dairy Exports to the USA is cheese, worth £75mil in 2024, an increase of 13.5% compared to 2023.

Lucy Randolph, AHDB Head of International Trade Development Manager (Dairy), said: "UK dairy exports fared well in 2024 against a backdrop of challenging trading conditions which impacted our competitiveness on the global stage.

"The performance of our cheese exports to the EU was particularly encouraging and included an impressive 71.8% increase in value of shipments to Germany worth £48 million. We intend to build on this through our extensive programme of activity, which includes our dairy team taking part for the first time at Anuga in Cologne in October."

Elsewhere the appointment last year of AHDB representatives in-market - roles co-funded with the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) have paid dividends with Victor Willis in the US, Adil Khan in the Middle East and Karen Liao in Asia.

Lucy added: "Cheese exports to the US showed impressive growth in 2024 and the demand for high-quality table butter is growing. The work of Victor on the ground will continue to play a pivotal role in building on this growth. While the threat of tariffs looms across agri-food products, the industry has successfully weathered tariffs on dairy products to the US in the past and we remain quietly confident of the value of our quality dairy products to this critical market. With major events on the horizon, including IDDBA - a premier dairy show that moves across the US - and our recent reception at Winter Fancy Foods, the US remains one of our most important markets.

"While the total value of dairy exports to the Middle East fell, there were notable gains in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar, up 18.9% to £36.2 million and 15.3% to £6.5 million respectively. Cheese exports to the UAE soared by 52.5% to £23.4 million, and to Qatar by 47.7% to £3.3 million, reflecting the positive impact of events like Gulfood and the Lulu Qatar retail promotion where AHDB had a major presence.

"We felt the challenges of trade to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait but expect our exports to grow in both markets in 2025. This will be supported by Adil's market insight and participation at events like the Saudi Food Show and focused in-store activities in both markets.

"While trade in Asia also presented challenges in 2024, not least with tight economic conditions impacting demand, good opportunities persisted in high-income countries with an established UK dairy presence like Singapore. We will also be at Food and Hotel Asia in April, alongside five dairy exporters, to tap into this large, affluent market and bolster exports to the region.

"It's exciting to explore new markets such as Thailand, identified as a priority market for dairy exporters following the UK Dairy Showcase last autumn, with our first trade presence at Thaifex in May and retail promotions planned for later in the year.

"With the support of Karen Liao, who joined our team in October, we will continue to help our dairy exporters maximise opportunities in the region with in-store retail promotions planned and an enhanced presence at tradeshows.

"AHDB will continue to work with industry and government to help ensure our world-class dairy produce thrives on the global stage in 2025 and beyond."

Further details about export opportunities for dairy can be found in the AHDB analysis Prospects for UK agrifood exports.

UK - Tried and Tested: Wearable technology

In November, we announced a new service for British Dairying readers, offering independent farm equipment reviews by farmers, for farmers. Our first survey is now live, so please do get involved and share your experiences - every entrant has the chance to win a £100 voucher.

Investing in new farm kit can be a minefield - which brand offers best value for money, is best suited to your system, or provides the highest animal welfare? In our survey of British Dairying readers last year, there was a clear desire for independent farm equipment reviews. So we've joined forces with Kingshay to offer exactly that - unbiased reviews of dairy farming equipment, animal care products, and services - rated by real farmers who have tried them out themselves.

Kingshay has offered its Tried and Tested reports to members for many years, helping farmers make informed, evidence-based decisions on everything from diet feeders to calf jackets. "The reports are composed from farmer surveys specifically designed for each product, and report on durability, ease of use, maintenance requirements, efficiency, and, where possible, cost-effectiveness," notes Sarah Bolt, Kingshay's Technical Knowledge Exchange Manager. "Each product is scored, with clear rankings and recommendations to help farmers make positive choices.

"Reviews like these give farmers a sense of confidence in their purchases," she adds. "This is especially valuable for big-ticket items where mistakes can be very costly. Peer reviews offer first-hand insights into how products perform in the field."

The first in the series of British Dairying and Kingshay's new Tried and Tested reports will cover wearable technology. Starting out with pedometers for heat detection, there is now a plethora of kit on the market, from ear tags and neck collars to smart boluses. Many of these new sensors provide individual cow monitoring for production, nutrition, fertility, and even behavioural indicators.

"Our aim is to cut through the noise and get down to what really matters for your farm's productivity and profitability," says Sarah. "You will get a clear view of the pros, cons, durability, cost-effectiveness, and benefits of each product. These are the kind of honest insights that sales pitches can't deliver."

If you have purchased any wearable heat detection, mobility, lameness, rumination, calving or health monitors in the past 10 years, please share your experiences. We can't do this without you, and all entrants will have the chance to win a £100 Amazon voucher as a thank you. Take the eight-minute survey here forms.office.com/e/FzTnTXm5aD.

UK - Understanding signs of pneumonia in calves with lung scanning at Bentley Ford Farm

Alongside a current study with Shropshire Farm Vets, AHDB are hosting an event at Bentley Ford Farm to explore how lung scanning can help farmers assess lung damage caused by pneumonia through calves scoring 2 and 3 and understand its impact as calves transition into the milking herd.

During this interactive workshop, Shropshire Farm Vets will demonstrate lung scanning techniques, looking at the causes of pneumonia in calves, detecting lung damage through scanning, managing pneumonia and its long-term effects, and exploring the key considerations for calves showing signs of lung damage.

Join the Higgins family on 7 May in Shropshire to learn more about the signs of pneumonia in calves.

Find out more at ahdb.org.uk/events

UK - Meetings hosted by inspirational Women in Dairy farmers announced

Lorna Burdge, Waterhayne Farm, host of the Devon event, April 2nd.

Join Women in Dairy for three on-farm meetings this spring, all with inspirational women working in the dairy industry and designed to 'Connect, Share and Inspire'; the three core values of Women in Dairy. "We are really pleased to be putting on these open days, all with inspirational trailblazers who will doubtless have much of interest to discuss with visitors," said Lauran Barber from Women in Dairy.

North: Wednesday, March 26th from 10:00am - 2:00pm; Torpenhow Farmhouse Dairy, Park House Farm, Torpenhow, Wigton, Cumbria.

With 2024 Dairy Industry Women of the Year Award finalist Cumbrian farmer and regenerative trailblazer Jenny Lee. Jenny grew up on her family's dairy farm and went on to pursue a career in teaching. It was not until her parents stepped back from the farm that she felt the pull to return. She and her husband Mark run a very successful pasture-based, organic operation and are now leading the way when it comes to regenerative practices - focused on showing how an agro-ecological farm is good for the land, wildlife, cows and its people.

South: Wednesday, April 2nd from 10:00am - 2:00pm; Waterhayne Farm Yarcombe Honiton, Devon. Hosted by first generation and Dairy Industry Women of the Year Award finalist, Lorna Burdge. Lorna has a passion to educate people on where their food comes from whilst showcasing the work that goes into food production. As part of her pledge to educate others, Lorna is involved in the NFU Schools Programme and Farmertime which sees her holding farm visits and calls with children.

West: Wednesday, April 9, 2025 from 10:00am - 2:00pm; Gwarllwyn. Rhydlewis Llandysul, Ceredigion. With new entrant and farm business consultant, Anna Bowen from West Wales - who is also the holder of the Dairy Industry Women of the Year Award. Anna grew up on a dairy farm, but it wasn't until meeting her now husband - who was in a contract farming agreement (CFA) - did she start to work on the farm of which she now owns a third. As well as delivering on the CFA, Anna works as a consultant, specialising in dairy and nutrient management planning. She is part of NFU Farmers for Schools and Farmertime and was also a Nuffield Scholar in 2020. In early 2025, Anna joined the AHDB Dairy Sector Board.

Each open day will be facilitated by Women in Dairy Founder, Sarah Bolt or Becky Miles, who will be joined by vet Becca Cavill from Women in Dairy's National Sponsor Boehringer Ingelheim. Becca will talk about how the Optimax approach can help motivate change within a business - being receptive to change has played a major part in the success stories, personal lives and businesses of each of our finalists.

Lunch and refreshments will be provided and there will be plenty of time for networking and discussion. The event is free for Women in Dairy and RABDF members, and £15 for non-members go to https://www.womenindairy.co.uk/events to find out more.

UK - GB milk deliveries: February provides another boost to volumes

GB milk deliveries are estimated to have totalled 956 million litres in February, with an average of 34 million litres per day.

Due to the leap year, February 2024 contained an extra day, so we will compare this year's volumes to an equivalent of 28 days only. This results in an increase of 1.2% year on year.

For this year's milk season far (April-February), production totalled 11,331 million litres, a 0.9% increase compared to the same period in the previous milk year.

Year-on-year growth in deliveries has occurred since September as farmer confidence has been supported by favourable dairy economics. March milk price announcements have mostly held steady, though some cheese contracts showed signs of easing.

The milk-to-feed price ratio remains favourable for continued growth in production. Our upcoming Milk Forecasting Forum will discuss the next developments, which will be published later this month.

The GB dairy herd recorded a 0.9% year on year decline in the latest BCMS data. Most of the decline came from youngstock, who are not yet contributing to milk yields, but may impact output long-term. Much of this change is likely a result of greater use of sexed semen, with over-serving dairy semen in 2022. A decline of older cows also points towards greater efficiency.

Drier than average weather in February, which continued into the beginning of March, should boost forage quality and quantity. As we approach the spring flush, a continuation of good weather would allow cows to get out on the grass earlier.

USA - Trump's dairy tariff threats have NY farmers watching bottom lines

New York's dairy farms - the largest segment of the state's multibillion-dollar agriculture industry - are closely watching the exploding trade tensions between Canada and the Trump administration.

President Donald Trump's tariff tit-for-tat could soon expand to a new target. The president is teasing potential new tariffs on Canadian dairy products, which could trigger retaliation by Canada.

"Canada has been ripping us off for years," Trump said in the Oval Office recently. Farmers in New York and around the United States have long voiced frustration with Canadian policies protecting that country's dairy farmers from foreign competition.

"The more we can export and have access to international markets, the better," Allyson Jones-Brimmer with the Northeast Dairy Producers Association told Spectrum News. "Also, Canada is located very close to us, making them a very ideal market for our products."

Canadian policies include a trigger that allows Canada to impose tariffs of more than 200% if milk imports from the US hit a certain threshold. The President has repeatedly cited that figure, although the US is currently not hitting the required threshold.

Economists say that the best-case scenario for this sort of tariff threat would be to get Canada to open the door to more US products.

Gary Hufbauer with the Peterson Institute for International Economics warns, "The more likely outcome is that the US puts on some new restrictions, new tariffs. Canada likely just mimics them. Instead of dairy trade increasing, [it] goes down."

Caught in the middle are New York dairy farmers, who are already feeling the impact of the broader tariff whiplash of the past few weeks. A dairy farmer from Clinton County told Spectrum News some of his feed comes from Canada. "What's going on today has certainly increased some of our inputs and decreased the price we get for milk, which has an impact on our bottom line and our family farm for sure," he said.

As of this moment, he said he is probably looking at a 7-10% change to his bottom line for the year - and "not in the positive."

Whether President Trump will move ahead with additional tariffs on Canada and the dairy industry is unclear. He is, so far, expected to launch a broader reciprocal tariff push early next month.
SpectrumLocalNews.com

UK - High mycotoxin risk from last year's silages

Poor silage growing and harvesting conditions last summer may be the reason we're seeing more mycotoxins in silage clamps this year, says ForFarmers' Philip Ambler.

"When you grow and harvest in conditions which are not ideal, like the ones we've seen over the past few summers, the risk of mycotoxins rise for grass, wholecrop and maize silages," explains Philip.

Mycotoxins are formed by fungal pathogens or moulds. If plants are stressed by factors such as rain or flooding they are more susceptible to the fungal attack.

Philip says: "Clamps that contain crops with high levels of mycotoxin don't ferment well and heat up early. "Cows are usually able to manage some level of mycotoxins in their diet but as the load grows so does the risk. It tends to be at times of stress that cows will be affected most but these can be as small as a routine foot trimming or vaccination," he adds.

"By the time you see the effects of mycotoxins, such as swollen hocks, temperatures or reduced intakes, milk yield will already have suffered," says Philip.

To identify a mycotoxin risk, Philip advises getting a regular silage analysis which will also assess indicators of rumen function, such as cudding rates and dung consistency.

He says: "If faced with high levels of mycotoxins in silage, move through your clamps quicker, open one clamp at a time to help reduce exposure to oxygen and think about using a mycotoxin binder. Of course, prevention is better than managing the situation. Those farmers who used a silage inoculant last year are seeing the benefit of it now. We're seeing more stable silages amongst their silage analysis," concludes Philip.
ForFarmers

Time to start thinking about your Cream Awards entry

Put yourself forward, or nominate someone you know. www.creamawards.UK
Look out for the awards brochure in your March British Dairying and posts on social media.

UK - Four Monitor Farms to trial revolutionary virtual fencing technology

Revolutionary virtual fencing technology - which could transform managing hill and upland suckler herds - is to be extensively trialled in field conditions on four Monitor Farms over the next two years. The aim is to assess the cost-benefit of the system on commercial farms.

These farms will be amongst Scotland's early adopters in trying the innovative system, which uses an app to remotely set and manage flexible virtual 'fences' or paddocks which are grazed by cattle with GPS-equipped collars. It means cattle can be contained on unfenced hill land, for example, and that the location and activity of individual cattle can be seen instantly.

Christine Cuthbertson, Monitor Farm regional adviser overseeing the trial says: "This technology has potential to revolutionise suckler management on hill and upland farms. It could help retain cows in these environments as it tackles many of the issues facing herds.

"The four Monitor Farms involved have already highlighted opportunities for the environment, farm profitability, welfare, and well-being by using virtual fencing to manage their suckler cows as it should allow them to optimise grazing and improve herd management. We will be looking at the labour savings from the technology, as well as assessing the training and support needed to implement the system."

For example, Argyll Monitor Farmer Craig Archibald hopes the technology will mean he can successfully summer 25 cows and calves on rough pasture, so his improved ground can be saved for later grazing or cut for more silage. If the system works well, he is considering using it for autumn/winter grazing by cows on similar pasture. "Longer term, the technology might help us keep more cows and sell more calves," says Craig.

For South Ayrshire Monitor Farmers John and David Andrew, the technology promises significant benefits, particularly during calving when daily checks over six weeks currently take three hours per day on average. "Being able to locate the cattle easily via the collars and app will also reduce fuel use for the farm bike, which usually has to go right around the hill to locate cattle," says David.

The trial will use technology supplied by Norwegian virtual fencing specialist Monil. The company's head of farmer success, Ann Elinor Aasen, has already spent time on the four farms assisting with set-up and training.

Overseeing the trial is independent consultant and livestock specialist Dr Tony Waterhouse. He says: "It's fascinating to see how the farmers already plan to use this new technology to improve their cattle and grazing management. The goal is to see how this works out for them, and how it helps them in the challenging job of keeping cattle in Scotland's hills." QMS

UK - Top tips for nutrient management planning

Vogelsang trailing shoe application parts grass to place slurry directly on to soil.

International tariffs and import costs are likely to push fertiliser prices up, following a period where prices had been reducing from the 2022 peak. For farms looking to guard against spending unnecessarily, a well-researched nutrient management plan to make best use of slurry is essential.

Eurofins Agro testing, soil health specialist, Shane Brewer, and Vogelsang's Andy Hayhurst, offer advice to farmers looking to save by making better use of existing nutrients.

1 "Soil testing, prior to slurry application, can establish the total microbial biomass, fungi, bacteria and protozoa present, and this represents the baseline from which to work. Once the pH and biological health of the soil has been established, an accurate assessment of what needs to be added to improve soil health can be made," says Mr Brewer.

Whether using natural or artificial fertilisers, he suggests it is important to first understand what the soil needs to support the crop.

2 "Good chemical and physical soil health are crucial to stimulating grass growth. Once a soil test has been taken, the Eurofins Fertilisation Manager test can highlight the plant available nutrients, soil stock nutrients and supply capacity of the soil in relation to the crop," he says.

If growing conventional grass mixtures including fast growing rye varieties, a pH of at least 5 is considered a suitable benchmark. This can be higher, 5.5, if clovers or legumes are included.

3 "It is possible to monitor grass during the season using Soil Crop Monitor. This test measures the nutrients in the crop and compares it to what is left in the soil to offer advice on what level of additional fertiliser would be beneficial throughout the growing season. This is especially important for farms in a multi-cut system looking to make best use of slurry before the winter," says Mr Brewer.

Vogelsang's Andy Hayhurst suggests that making best use of slurry can both improve grass quality and reduce farm costs.

4 "Testing slurry to accurately measure its nutrient value to the soil and the crop is essential. Equally important is the use of a separator to make a more homogenous slurry that can be applied more evenly and accurately. This also prevents dry matter being left on top the grass. Using a slurry meter will enable operators to apply the right volume of slurry based on calculations made using soil and slurry test data." He suggests that to balance speed and accuracy of application; a trailing shoe is the best option for grassland.

5 Trailing shoes separate the crop and prevent slurry from contaminating the leaves, which also enables more nutrients to be absorbed by the soil and reach the roots. Vogelsang's lightweight unique trailing shoe hose layout ensures the same amount of slurry is distributed regardless of the distance from the distributor. Whether using a UniSpread for smaller working widths, or the 12, 15 or 18 metre BlackBird, the same goal of efficiently applying slurry with minimal nutrient losses can be achieved with a trailing shoe," says Mr Hayhurst.

UK - Boost maize dry matter yield and offset conventional N with biofertiliser

Maize growers can boost dry matter yields by 3.6t/ha by substituting a portion of their crop's conventional N with a biofertiliser application. That is the advice from ProCam's Simon Montgomery who adds that biofertilisers can also be used to compensate for reduced soil mineral nitrogen levels following another wet winter.

"After a year in which the combination of a wet spring delayed drilling, and low summer temperatures plus a lack of direct sunlight resulted in some maize crops performing below par, growers will be keen to ensure this year's crop performs more reliably in order to replenish reduced forage stocks," explains Simon Montgomery, Technical Lead for ProCam's Field Options Performance Seeds.

"Last year's crops were also impacted by the wet autumn which hampered harvesting and resulted in some crops coming up short in terms of dry matter, starch content and energy value. Only time will tell how this year's season will unfold, but growers can mitigate some of the risks associated with weather volatility by using a biofertiliser to improve crop performance and consistency."

Simon explains that although maize is very efficient at utilising nitrogen and can produce a high dry matter yield from a relatively low fertiliser input, additional N might be needed this year to make up for reduced levels of soil mineral nitrogen.

"Heavy and excessive rainfall could have washed a significant amount of nitrogen out of the rooting zone, with fields which were left bare likely to be affected more than those which were cover cropped," he explains. "The highest yielding varieties could therefore require an amount of additional N, with crops also requiring sufficient P and K to produce a strong root and to get up and out of the ground rapidly. It is therefore advisable to test the nutrient status of soils prior to drilling, and to seek relevant advice from a FACTS qualified advisor."

As an alternative to applying a higher rate of granular or foliar N to replace soil mineral nitrogen, Simon explains that more maize growers are using biofertilsers to boost nitrogen availability. "Applying a biofertiliser spray treatment such as Encera has proven successful in trials as an effective way of topping up nitrogen levels and boosting crop performance," Simon describes.

"Encera complements other, more conventional sources of nitrogen including farm yard manure and slurry, by introducing endophyte bacteria into the plant. Once established in the plant, these bacteria fix atmospheric N and make it directly available within the plant's cells. This not only aids crop development, but, because the N is converted within the plant, also reduces the risk of N uptake being adversely affected by excessively dry ground conditions later in the season."

Trials carried out by ProCam over the last three years have shown that maize crops treated with Encera not only looked healthier, but also produced an additional 3.6 tonnes of dry matter per hectare compared to crops treated with a standard application of conventional N. Metabolisable energy yield was also boosted by an average of almost 5,000 MJ/ha when Encera was used to replace 25kg of N.
Procam

UK - Dairy product availability Q4 2024

Key trends

Milk powders in excess for another consecutive quarter
Increase in production and imports, coupled with lower exports, boosted cheese and butter supplies

UK milk deliveries in the fourth quarter of the calendar year 2024 amounted to an increase of 3,727m litres (4.4%) year-on-year. The spectacular growth in milk deliveries during the period was in response to high milk prices, lower feed costs and favourable weather conditions. Overall, the increase in milk deliveries boosted the production of all dairy products during the fourth quarter of 2024.

Supplies of cheese boosted by higher production and imports

Cheese availability improved in the fourth quarter. Both production and imports remained on the higher side lifting supplies. Notably, cheese imports from New Zealand picked up in 2024 following the trade deal, which increased by a whopping 185% (9600 tonnes) compared to 2023. However, most imports came from the EU followed by New Zealand. However, the pace of imports from New Zealand slowed in the fourth quarter compared to the previous quarter as cheese in the UK was price competitive.

Cheese production increased by 1% (1000 tonnes) and imports edged up by 3% (3000 tonnes). Exports also declined by 5% (3000 tonnes) during the period, thereby uplifting supplies. Good demand in the domestic market fuelled imports.