Can Steel Frame Buildings Help You Gain From Dairy Boost?

There are many ways an agricultural steel frame building can come in useful. It may be used for grain or hay storage, as a shelter for machinery and vehicles, or as a barn for sheep or cattle.

Such versatility is a reason in itself to install one, as it can be adapted for different uses. Right now, one very good reason could be to house cattle.

The reason for this may be gleaned from the Soil Association’s Organic Market Report 2026. This highlighted the fact that dairy has led the way in the continued growth of the organic food market.

How Much Is The Organic Food Market Growing In The UK?

Sales of organic food and drink rose by 4.2 per cent in 2025, making the market worth £3.9 billion. However, this varied by sub-sector:

·       Dairy rose by 5.3 per cent and accounted for 27 per cent of the organic market

·       Meat, fish and poultry were up by 2.9 per cent but only accounted for 2.6 per cent of the market

·       Fresh produce was up by 2.3 per cent and accounted for a third of the market

·       45 per cent of organic farmers said their sales were up and 40 per cent reported stable returns

Hailing the new figures, organic farmer and Soil Association advisor Adrian Steele said: “The continued growth of the organic market reflects the strong consumer demand for nature-friendly food.”

The fact that dairy is leading the way suggests that this is a very strong area for organic farmers and those with the capacity and land type to do so may want to switch land use to dairy farming, or, if they are already dairy farmers, to expand.

How Much Land Is Used For Organic Farming In The UK?

According to the survey, only three per cent of agricultural land in 2024 was used for organic farming, with the amount of land being converted for such use rising by seven per cent that year.

However, this has since stalled following the withdrawal of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), which, according to the Soil Association, is the first time in 30 years that there has not been any government help to convert land for sustainable use.

This may deter some from making the conversion, but those who do look to expand a dairy herd and acquire a steel-framed building to accommodate more cattle may also benefit from the versatility of such a structure.

What that means is they may acquire something larger than currently needed, perhaps using some or all of it for other purposes, before adding to their herd as market growth continues.

Among the areas where organic dairy is popular is cheese, with this being a major product area for retailers such as Waitrose and Tesco, as well as many independent retailers.

Not all of the organic cheeses stocked by such retailers are from the UK and many are made from the milk of goats, sheep and buffalo, but the UK share may grow if organic farms can produce more milk to facilitate increased production in creameries.

After 14 successive years of growth, organic produce is clearly a major growth market and with dairy leading the way, even the end of the SFI should not put off farmers from investing in the buildings and equipment they need to enable them to expand their herds.