Challenge to Grazing Dairy Farming: Aiming for pastoral dairy farming suited to our land

As of 2024, Japan's dairy farming is facing a challenge due to the global surge in grain prices since the 2020 pandemic. This has disrupted the long-standing structure of sourcing inexpensive feed from grain-producing countries like the United States. The Central Dairy Farming Council (Chuo Rakunou Kaigi) reports that 85% of farmers are operating at a loss, with 58% considering quitting. Despite these challenges, there are opportunities for transformation. Our farm is advancing towards transitioning to grazing agriculture to improve self-sufficiency feed and stabilize management. This report evaluates the feasibility of this transition based on lessons from Nuffield Japan, discusses the value of pasture farming, possibility using non-agricultural land such as bushes, and outlines our journey since deciding on this transition in 2020. While this report is initially completed, ongoing revisions and improvements will be made based on continued experience and insights.