Danish dairy farmers facing tough times

About 10 percent of the nation’s dairy farmers are staring into the abyss

Last year 60 Danish dairy farms went out of business, according to national statistics keeper Danmarks Statistik. That’s twice as many as the year before.

According to the Knowledge Centre for Agriculture and the Danish Pig Research Centre (SEGES), a further 340 Danish dairy farmers – about 10 percent of the nation’s dairy farmers – are teetering on the brink of bankruptcy.

“The Danish dairy producers are in a very, very difficult situation,” Klaus Kaiser, the head of business economics at SEGES, told DR Nyheder.

“Many of them have huge debts at the moment and depend heavily on how much credit their banks are willing to give them.”

READ MORE: Denmark’s largest dairy farmer in conflict with trade union

Milk price woes
In particular, it’s the record-low milk prices that are hurting the farmers. Dairy giant Arla, for instance, paid its dairy farmers over a kroner more per kilo two years ago than the 2.11 kroner it currently pays.

According to SEGES, the low price of milk is largely down to three central factors: Russia’s sanctions against food products from the EU, China’s partial withdrawal from the global market and the end of milk quotas.

TOP STORIES

  • Danish Intelligence Service: Threat from Russia has intensified

    Danish Intelligence Service: Threat from Russia has intensified

    In the internal Danish waters, Russia will be able to attack underwater infrastructure from all types of vessels. The target could be cables with data, electricity and gas, assesses the Danish Defense Intelligence Service

  • Denmark to explore screening citizenship applicants for anti-democratic sentiments

    Denmark to explore screening citizenship applicants for anti-democratic sentiments

    A few weeks after Alex Vanopslagh’s comments about “right values,” the government announced that an expert committee would be established to examine the feasibility of screening citizenship applicants for anti-democratic attitudes.

  • The Future Copenhagen

    The Future Copenhagen

    The municipality plan encompasses building 40,000 houses by 2036 in order to help drive real estate prices down. But this is not the only huge project that will change the shape of the city: Lynetteholmen, M5 metro line, the Eastern Ring Road, and Jernbanebyen will transform Copenhagen into something different from what we know today

  • It’s not you: winter depression is affecting many people

    It’s not you: winter depression is affecting many people

    Many people in Denmark are facing hard times marked by sadness, anxiety, and apathy. It’s called winter depression, and it’s a widespread phenomenon during the cold months in Nordic countries.

  • Crime rates are rising, but people are safer

    Crime rates are rising, but people are safer

    Crime in Denmark is increasing for the second consecutive year, but it is more focused on property, while people appear to be safer than before. Over the past year, there were fewer incidents of violence

  • Novo Nordisk invests 8.5 billion DKK in new Odense facility

    Novo Nordisk invests 8.5 billion DKK in new Odense facility

    Despite Novo’s announcement that its growth abroad will be larger than in Denmark, the company announced this morning an 8.5 billion DKK investment for a new facility in Odense. This is the first time the company has established a new production site in Denmark this century.

Connect club

Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.

Sign up here

Career

Want to advertise your job with CPH Post?

Contact us

Jobs