Decline in the count of dairies in Thuringia escalates - Dairy farm count in Thuringia sees a reduction
Dairy Farming in Thuringia: Decade-Long Decline and Persistent Challenges
A dramatic dip in the number of dairy farms in Thuringia has been observed over the past ten years, as revealed by the Thuringian Ministry of Economics in response to a query by AfD state parliamentarian Melanie Berger. In 2023, only 280 dairy farms remained compared to 500 a decade ago.
Simultaneously, the number of dairy cows has decreased by almost 24 percent, falling from 109,000 in 2013 to 82,900 in 2023. However, this decline is not as pronounced as the one in dairy farm numbers, according to the Thuringian Farmers' Association, which attributes the trend to a number of factors.
One of the primary explanations is the tendency for farmers to either abandon dairy farming or expand their operations, often incorporating larger stalls and more automation. This shift is partly due to the pronounced shortage of skilled workers in agriculture, noted Andreas Ritter, dairy specialist of the Thuringian Farmers' Association, in talks with the German Press Agency. Overall, this trend has led to an increase in the number of animals and milk per farm, despite the decline in the number of dairy farms.
Surprisingly, despite the reduction in dairy farms, milk production has seen only a minor decline, with Thuringian dairy farms in conventional agriculture delivering 770,000 tonnes of milk in 2022, as per figures from the Federal Statistical Office.
A notable exception is the organic sector, which hardly saw a change in Thuringia over the past decade, despite the nationwide growth trend. There were only 20 of the approximately 4,890 organic operations with dairy cows in Thuringia in 2023. The reason for this is the shortage of dairies in the region, which must maintain strict separation between conventional and organic production, according to Ritter.
This tale of two sectors presents a complex picture of Thuringia's dairy industry, where conventional farms are consolidating and increasing production, while organic farms struggle for growth. As the industry navigates these challenges, policymakers and stakeholders will be crucial in fostering sustainable practices, addressing rural demographic shifts, and ensuring economic viability for both large-scale and organic farms alike.
The decrease in the number of dairy farms in Thuringia has resulted in an increase in milk production per farm, despite the decline in farm numbers, indicating a shift towards larger, more automated operations. Conversely, the organic sector in Thuringia remains stagnant, with few dairy farms and a lack of regional dairies, hindering growth in this segment of the dairy industry. This dichotomy underscores the need for policymakers to support sustainable practices, address rural demographic shifts, and ensure economic viability in both conventional and organic dairy farming. Furthermore, community aid and finance could play a significant role in fostering the production of milk and milk products, addressing the challenges faced by the dairy industry in Thuringia.
