THIRTY years ago, dairy farms were dotted all over Huddersfield.

Milking time was big business in the town.

Now, according to the National Farmers Union, less than 10% of dairy farms have survived.

To put it another way, more than nine out of 10 have disappeared.

It's a decline that's accelerating too, says spokesman Tim Coy.

"Margins for dairy farmers have been squeezed and squeezed," he says. "There used to be two dozen dairy farms in the Holme Valley in the 70s.

"Now there are four. If you think about it, you see far fewer cows in fields."

The money, it seems, has gone out of milk for many.

Mr Coy continues: "There are some traditional producer-retailers left.

"But years ago, a farmer and his son could make a living from bottling and selling the milk from their 30 cows.

"The decline is down to economics. If the turnover and the profit isn't there, it doesn't pay. Farmers have said to me that they're sick of dipping into savings to make ends meet."

Mr Coy says the rate at which farms are disappearing is increasing.

He doesn't think the tradition will die out all together but he says: "There's a great deal of concern.

"More and more farmers are having to go out and find second jobs. Others have retired and their farms have shut."

The future for some local producers looks brighter.

With foot and mouth firmly behind them, certain farmers are seeing better times.

Robert Nobles of the NFU says: "Things have improved for the sheep and beef men.

"Slaughtering during foot and mouth means demand is outweighing supply, and prices are better.

"But for dairy farmers, prices remain poor.

"Feelings among the farming community are mixed. Some are optimistic, some are pessimistic."

Effects of Government policy reform are a big worry to farmers.

From next year, a new subsidy system is being phased in over an eight-year period. It means farmers will get paid per hectare of land rather than per head of livestock.

Mr Nobles says: "It's difficult to know at this stage how this will affect people individually.

"But some farmers are worried it'll mean a cut in their subsidies.

"There are more unsettled times ahead."

Now, the chances are the milk on Huddersfield families' breakfast tables, did not come from local cows.

And if things continue the way they are going, cows in our fields will be even fewer and further between.