MILK ON THE TURN

摘要

Many milk producers are poised to expand their businesses, according to a major survey released this week. Has the dairy sector turned the corner at last? Milk production is set to rise over the next two years as the number of farmers planning to invest in and expand their dairy units grows. It is the first time in its six-year history that DairyCo's Fanner Intentions Survey has predicted an increase in Britain's milk pool. Of the 1000 farmers quizzed for the survey, 35% said they intended to increase output over the next two years, twice as many as in 2009. Many intended to invest significant sums to do so, with nearly one in 10 reckoning on spending at least 250,000 pound in the next five years. Fewer planned to leave - just 9% of producers were loolking to go in the next two years, five points lower than the previous year. If the findings were borne out, milk output would rise by 2.1% by 2011/12, "That would equate to a rise of 231m litres, taldng production to 11.2bn litres," said DairyCo director Ken Boyns. "That may not sound a lot, but it suggests a significant improvement in fanner confidence and optimism compared with 2009."