A NORTH Yorkshire dairy farm is looking forward to a bright future after a disastrous couple of years.

A breeding difficulty coupled with poor milk prices and workforce problems saw milk production plummet.

But brothers John and Mark Smith are now full of enthusiasm again with new staff and improved production.

In November last year, yields at Crosby Grange - between Northallerton and Thirsk - had dropped to a daily average of only 26 litres per cow. Today, it is back to almost 34 litres.

High somatic cell counts peaked at 400,000 but are now down to 120,000 to 130,000.

The brothers and their parents moved to Crosby Grange from a farm on the edge of Bradford in 1980. They arrived with 60 Friesian cows and over the years, invested in good genetics to build cow numbers.

They had an excellent herdsman but when he left to go into construction, the brothers found themselves looking after 270 cows, a 350-acre arable enterprise mostly producing crops to feed the herd and 250 acres of grassland.

John Smith said: "We just could not find staff, there is a national shortage, and we took on three Polish workers."

However, there were problems, and at the same time the farm suffered a major setback with bought-in semen resulting in the loss of many heifers. The low milk price also took its toll.

"We were beginning to lose interest," said John Smith. "We had invested in a new parlour and cubicle housing and wondered why.

"There was so much gloom in the industry. Its amazing how quickly you can get into a downward spiral, but now we can see a way out of it all."

The farm has a close relationship with KW, and it was Dr Mark Marsden, technical manager, and Steve Allen, local sales specialist, who urged the brothers to act.

A specialist recruitment company came up trumps with Mick Spears, herd manager since November.

They also joined Jonathan Statham, of Ripon-based Bishopton Vets, who provides detailed proactive advice.

Crosby Grange also became KW's first Compass Farm, a project which helps a struggling farm to meet its full potential.

KW works closely with the farmer, staff and vet, particularly on feed and health, and holds regular open days to explain progress to other farmers.

John Smith said: "I think we have a positive future now. We always had good genetics and they are showing through. Our average is already back to 10,000 litres per cow.

"Commodity markets, which drive the milk price, are improving, so we hope to see the price we get going up."

The 320 cows are now milking so well that the brothers are to invest in another tank and plan to increase milkers to 350 by the end of the year. They also want to increase quota from 2.25m litres to 3.5m litres.

Mr Smith said: "We want to build the herd and get a reputation for breeding good heifers for sale. We already have good genetics, quite a few of the cows are giving 15,000 litres."

Mr Spears, whose wife, Bridgett, rears the calves on the farm, is also enjoying his role and says much of the rapid improvement is down to attention to detail.

He said: "It is heart-warming that John and Mark have such interest and enthusiasm for dairy farming."