The Decline of Milk Production in Galicia Despite Favorable Prices

Between January and June, Galician farmers delivered 0.5% less milk compared to the same period last year. This decline is attributed primarily to structural factors, particularly the ongoing reduction in the number of active farms.

Galicia is nearing a critical point, with fewer than 5,000 dairy farms remaining, a number that now represents only one-third of the farms that existed two decades ago. The primary cause of this decrease is generational succession; the lack of interest among young people to continue their parents' work and the scarcity of labor in rural areas are constraining the sector's ability to boost production, despite the economically favorable conditions.

The region faces an intricate challenge, maintaining high market prices while production diminishes. The solution may lie in addressing the generational and labor challenges that the sector faces. As the number of farms dwindles, the future of dairy production in Galicia hangs in the balance.