THE number of dairy farms in Cumbria has decreased by 28% over the last ten years, according to figures from the independent House of Commons Library.

There are currently 784 dairy farms left in Cumbria, compared to 1089 ten years ago. In the last year alone, 17 dairy farms in Cumbria have closed.

South Lakeland MP Tim Farron has called on the government to do more to support dairy farmers, as the latest figures show that the number of dairy farms in Cumbria has dropped by over 300 in the last ten years.

He said: "Farming is essential to our area and our communities, and it is extremely worrying that the number of farms has been dropping so rapidly. Many local dairy farmers face the prospect of significant losses and debts, and more farms will close unless the government acts now.

"Dairy farmers face a volatile world market, but the government should be doing more to support them at this difficult time. The government should be doing more to ensure fairness in the supply chain – I have called for the Groceries Code Adjudicator’s remit to be extended so that dairy farmers can get a better deal in their negotiations with processors and supermarkets. The government should also be doing more to support the marketing and export potential of dairy."

The NFU has warned that many dairy farms are operating at a loss and are unable to receive any more finance from banks.

A "perfect storm" is leaving British dairy farmers making a loss on every litre of milk they produce, forcing many to leave the industry.

Factors contributing to this hostile climate in the industry include supermarkets using milk as a loss leader; the end of the European milk quota; economic sanctions against Russia and a fall in demand in China and government encouragement in recent years to expend and produce more to supply these now unavailable markets.