Plans for a controversial dairy farm generated heavy opposition from locals, animal welfare and environmental groups. The farm was to be a 4,000-cow dairy farm in the village of Nocton in Lincolnshire, generating widespread concerns that it would be the first in a wave of US-style mega-dairies.

The farm will no longer be going ahead due to the unacceptable level of risk of pollution to local water supplies. An alliance of groups, including Friends of the Earth and Compassion in World Farming, supported the World Society for the Protection of Animals ’Not in my cupa’ campaign opposing the farm. The campaign highlighted the risks to animals, human health and the environment associated with introducing mega-dairies to the UK.

The Ecologist reported that the farmers behind the Nocton proposal, David Barnes and Peter Willis, said they still hoped to see large-scale, US-style, dairy farming in the UK and challenged others to 'stand up to' opponents of the system. Another farmer, David Alvis, has recently been reported to be looking to set up a 2,000-3,000 cow unit in Cambridgeshire. The Soil Association is also battling plans for an intensive indoor pig unit of 2,500 mother pigs (sows) and around 20,000 piglets, being proposed in Derbyshire.