A DAIRY farmer is quitting milk production because the bureaucracy associated with his business means he sees too little of his young children.

Philip Prickett is 37 and the third generation of his family to farm at Clover Hill, Solva, a 101-acre Pembrokeshire County Council holding.

Next month he will surrender the tenancy and sell his prizewinning herd of pedigree Holsteins as a direct result of the large volumes of paperwork farmers must now deal with.

"The final straw was when the paperwork regarding the new single farm payment and cross-compliance guidelines arrived during Christmas week. I was torn between ploughing my way through that or going to the children's carol concerts and other activities,'' said Philip.

It coincided with another cut in his milk price from Dairy Crest to 17p a litre. Philip has the full support of his wife, Bella, and importantly to him, his parents.

"I felt I was letting down my grandfather and father but my parents could see the stress and pressure I was under from all the paperwork.

"At the end of the day I am a dairy farmer, not an office administrator,'' said Philip, who joined his father on the farm after leaving school at 16. He spends hours in his farm office every week, sorting through livestock movement passports and dealing with other issues.

He has got so bogged down with it all that he has often missed important deadlines.

"Since I made the decision to give up farming I feel as if a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. What has also been apparent, from the conversations I have had, is that other farmers feel as demoralised as I do.''

He has no immediate plans and Bella's job at Window on Wales at Solva means he can take some time to consider his options.

For the last ten years the Solfach herd has been placed among the top three herds in Wales in the National Milk Records production and inspection competitions.

The average yield of the herd is 9,000 litres, 4,700 litres produced from forage.

It will be a sad day for the Pricketts when the cows are sold at Carmarthen Livestock Mart on February 28th.

"It is going to be a tough day. We have enjoyed milking good cows,'' said Bella.