Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB)

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) is a pivotal entity in the United Kingdom's agricultural landscape, particularly in the dairy industry. It is headquartered at Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire. This levy-funded organization collects approximately £60 million annually from stakeholders across the agricultural supply chain, which is strategically allocated to research, market development, and knowledge transfer initiatives.

Significant Events

In 2024, AHDB recorded a notable increase in the sales of organic cow's milk, with a 4% rise in the 12 weeks leading up to May 18, followed by an additional 5% increase in the subsequent 12 weeks, highlighting a growing consumer demand for organic dairy products. Earlier in 2020, AHDB partnered with the National Farmers' Union (NFU) to launch the GB Dairy Calf Strategy, which focuses on improving dairy calf welfare across the UK.

The first half of 2025 saw a 20% surge in UK dairy exports, driven by increasing global interest. AHDB's participation in international events like Anuga has been instrumental in promoting British dairy products worldwide. A notable achievement was organizing a dairy export mission to the Middle East through the UK Dairy Export Programme, in collaboration with the UK's Department for Business and Trade.

Company Plans

AHDB is committed to supporting the dairy sector with initiatives focusing on sustainability and productivity. As a key member of the Dairy Roadmap steering group, AHDB aims to maintain competitiveness within the EU market. It provides resources like genomic evaluations and the Herd Genetic Report to assist farmers in optimizing their operations.

The organization is actively involved in the UK Dairy Carbon Network project, identifying emission sources and exploring reduction opportunities. Their 'Let's Eat Balanced' campaign has been successful, generating £28 in retail sales for every £1 of levy invested, promoting the nutritional benefits of British dairy and sustainable farming practices.

AHDB's ambitious plans include enhancing British dairy exports, particularly in North America, by emphasizing heritage and provenance. Initiatives include partnerships with retailers like Lulu Hypermarket for British Dairy Promotion and efforts to promote products in Kuwait. The organization is also piloting a new Farm Data Exchange project with 18 farm businesses to improve data control and sharing in the beef and dairy sectors.

Further Developments

Senior livestock analyst Becky Smith from AHDB reported an increase in cull numbers due to declines in milk prices, adding economic pressure on dairy farmers. AHDB is responsible for the April 2026 AHDB rankings, which saw Peak Powerhouse named the leading Holstein sire, focusing on health and efficiency in dairy cattle breeding, while Denovo 22750 Lorenzo leads in enhancing daughter fertility and udder health.

The UK recorded a landmark in milk production for the 2025/26 season, maintaining levels despite financial challenges. However, the number of UK dairy farms dropped to a record low of 7,010, down from 8,310 in 2020, alongside a decrease in dairy cow numbers to 1,590,000 as of April 2026, a 2% drop from April 2025. AHDB forecasts a decline in British milk production to 12.91 billion liters for the 2026/27 dairy year.

AHDB noted a 3.4% decrease in milk deliveries in Ireland in April 2026 compared to the previous year, highlighting challenges faced by British dairy farmers experiencing a difficult year with falling farmgate prices since August 2025, attributed to a global milk oversupply.

The AHDB is organizing a Bluetongue meeting for farmers, providing levy payers with access to industry specialists and practical information on the Bluetongue virus. AHDB also manages a Bluetongue tracker and hotline for farmers.

Data from AHDB indicated a 3.2% year-on-year decline in milk deliveries in Great Britain in July.