To use this site, please disable the ad blocking feature and reload the page.
This website uses cookies to collect information about your visit for purposes such as showing you personalized ads and content, and analyzing our website traffic. By clicking “Accept all,” you will allow the use of these cookies.
Users accessing this site from EEA countries and UK are unable to view this site without your consent. We apologize for any inconvenience caused.
The Yomiuri Shimbun Cows are seen in a barn in Nasu-Shiobara, Tochigi Prefecture, on June 29.
The Yomiuri Shimbun
11:22 JST, July 9, 2022
More than 90% of dairy farmers said they have struggled financially over the past year due to the weaker yen pushing up livestock costs and declining demand for produce amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to a survey by the Japan Dairy Council.
The Tokyo-based association conducted the online survey from June 9-14, receiving responses from 197 dairy farmers across the nation.
In the survey, 92.4% of respondents said their respective businesses had suffered financial difficulties over the past year.
Regarding business performance in the past month, 65.5% of respondents said their figures were in the red.
When asked to give reasons for the deterioration — with multiple answers allowed — 89.8% of respondents cited the weaker yen, followed by 85.3% who referenced the Ukraine crisis and 84.3% who flagged high oil prices.
The survey results show that soaring prices of animal feed and fuel oil due to the depreciation of the yen and the situation in Ukraine have adversely affected business operations.
In the survey, 70.6% of respondents blamed the pandemic for the drop in demand for dairy produce, while 48.2% pointed to the suspension of milk servings as part of school lunches.
Some 55.8% of respondents said they would be unable to continue dairy farming if the current business environment continues unchanged.
