– We would like to build new barns, but the way the economy is today, it is not affordable for many of us, says Marit Anna Morken. She runs a farm with her husband and is a leader in the Verdal farming association. From 2034, all Norwegian barns must be built so that the cows can roam freely inside them. Already from next year, the barns must have a separate pen for calving. The purpose of the free range requirement is to strengthen the welfare of the animals and the farmer’s working environment. – I don’t think you will find a farmer who doesn’t want good welfare for his animals, but we can’t afford it. Marit Anna Morken and her husband have run the farm in Verdal for ten years. They took over from the man’s parents. The mother also works as a nurse alongside the farm. Photo: Eivind Aabakken / news – Many will close In 2021, approximately 3,000 barns had already been built in this way, but according to the Norwegian Institute for Bioeconomy (Nibio), around 4,000 dairy barns would have to be rebuilt or replaced if the farmers are to be able to operate according to the requirements. They estimated that it would cost between NOK 18 and 22.8 billion in total. – The most important thing that these producers have to decide on is whether they should do it. In other words, whether they should go for an investment or not, says Lars Johan Rustad in Nibio. He explains that it is a big investment, and for many it will mean building a new one. – Making such an investment binds you to production for many years to come. Being a milk producer is a way of life, he adds. Morken fears the requirement will lead to many farmers shutting down their production. – Many say they will close down within a short time. Some say they will hold on until the demands come and then stop. In the barn in Verdal, the cows stand firmly in stalls when they are inside. The same applies to more than 4,500 other barns in Norway. Photo: Eivind Aabakken / news For her and her husband, a new barn will cost around NOK 17 million – if they are sober. – We have built up for ten years to take that promise of both building up a herd, increasing the milk quota and bringing in enough land. If she and her husband choose to invest and build a new barn, it will be a cooperative barn for milk production, together with a neighbour. – But when we don’t make money from the milk we deliver as of today, we can’t spend the 17 million we don’t have on building a new barn, she says. Facts about stall management in Norway In 2019, 47 percent of Norwegian dairy cows were in stall barns. This accounted for 37 per cent of milk production. In 2004, it was decided that all dairy barns should have free-range operation for the cows by 2024. In 2008, it was decided that barns built between 1995 and April 2004 had the deadline postponed until 2034. More than 4,500 producers with stall barns must change operations by 2034. the overall investment requirement is estimated to be between NOK 18 and 22.8 billion. A normal stall space is approximately 1.2 meters wide and 2 meters long. According to current practice, cows in stalls must have a 12-week “holiday” during which they roam freely. During this period, they have a break in milking for approximately two months. Figures from the Kukontrollen show that the cows perform better when they are allowed to roam freely, especially when a milking robot is used in the barn. Then the cows can to a greater extent choose for themselves when to be milked. Source: NIBIO/Norwegian Farmers’ Union – Too little Norwegian milk Minister of Agriculture and Food, Sandra Borch, says she understands the challenges farmers face. – After all, Norwegian food producers are extremely important to Norwegian consumers. We must not take for granted that we have Norwegian food production in this country, says Sandra Borch. Photo: Tordis Gauteplass / news – I understand that it is difficult. And it will probably feel even more difficult this year when we have seen the cost growth that has taken place. Then we hope that things will stabilize, but we will help to increase the pot of investment funds. She still hopes that more people want to invest further in the industry. She sees achieving this as one of the most important tasks she has as Minister of Agriculture and Food. – There has been financial insecurity in the industry for many years. We intend to reverse that course. Both when it comes to investment funds and that we must deliver an escalation plan that will help to close the income gap between farmers and other groups. Despite this, Morken fears that the requirement for free-range farming will contribute to more farmers ceasing farming and that this in turn will lead to too little Norwegian milk being produced. – It probably opens the door for more imports. Then we have less control over animal welfare, less control over the use of antibiotics and pesticides, and it is more difficult to trace where the food comes from.
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Marit Anna Morken fears it will be difficult to meet new requirements for dairy barns – will cost 17 million – news Trøndelag
