£78,000 grant helps family farm compete in challenging dairy industry

A family-run dairy farm near Northallerton has turned to robotic milking thanks to a £78,000 grant.

The new technology at the Deighton farm has been installed to streamline the milking process and improve milk production; helping the family compete in what is currently a challenging market.

Hambleton District Council’s external funding officer helped the dairy farm business access the Rural Development Programme grant – one of seven farms currently looking at updating milking processes.

The farm has been in the Henry family since 1954 and had been using traditional milking methods which are now considered outdated and inefficient. Thanks to the grant the milking parlour has been replaced with two robotic milking systems costing almost £200,000.

The new system has meant the number of cows has been reduced but the volume of milk yielded increased – increasing profit and reducing labour costs.

“The move towards robotic technology will allow the farm to compete in a very challenging market sector,” said Jayne Cranston, external funding officer.

“It means overheads have been reduced, animal management improved and turnover increased.   And it means the family can look to the future with more certainty.”

She said that another six farms are looking at accessing grants from the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) Countryside Productivity Scheme which aims to improve farm productivity.

For more information contact Jayne Cranston at; Jayne.cranston@hambleton.gov.uk