EU dairy sector continues struggle with disease, regulations

Published Dec 23, 2024

Tridge summary

The dairy sector in the EU is currently struggling with slim margins due to high input costs and low milk prices, as indicated by a USDA GAIN report. The milk price peaked in 2022 and has since dropped and partially recovered. The sector in Western Europe is also facing multiple production limiting factors such as restrictive environmental regulations and disease outbreaks of the Bluetongue Virus and Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease. These factors have led to a reduction in the dairy cow herd in countries like France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium in 2024. Wet conditions in spring and early summer of 2024 have also negatively affected local fodder production in Northwestern Europe.

Disclaimer: The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

Throughout the EU, the dairy sector is facing slim margins due to high input costs and relatively low milk prices, according to a recent US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) report. The milk price peaked in 2022, dropped in 2023, after which it only partially recovered this year. At the same time, is the sector in Western Europe facing multiple production limiting factors related to restrictive environmental regulations and disease outbreaks. In the Netherlands, the loss of the EU derogation to spread a surplus of manure on pastures prompted farmers to slaughter a part of their dairy cow herd. In Ireland, a reduction in applicability of the nitrate derogation has led to a cut in the beef herd in favour of maintaining the dairy herd. Another factor is the outbreaks of the Bluetongue Virus (type BTV-3) in mainly Northwestern Europe (Northern France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and recently Denmark) and Epizootic Hemorrhagic ...

Source: The Cattle Site