The dairy coalition is calling for the urgent reinstatement of the money taken away from dairy farmers during the price cuts in May and June and for evidence that those retailers who committed to the delivery of more sustainable pricing models will be met.
Today’s call comes just two weeks after SOS Dairy went to the Livestock 2012 event in Birmingham to keep up the pressure that has seen the campaign successfully fight for dairy farmers.
Results have seen the planned August milk price cuts rescinded, the launch of the first voluntary code of practice which will help to redress the balance of power between milk processors and farmers and the start of a dairy database to help likeminded dairy farmers explore the formation of producer organisations under the forthcoming EU dairy package.
As well as calling for historical price cuts to be paid back to farmers, the coalition of dairy organisations including the NFU, NFU Cymru, NFU Scotland, FFA, the TFA, the WFU and the RABDF, will also be scrutinising all market movements to ensure that market increases are reflected in farm prices.
Speaking on behalf of the coalition of dairy NFU President Peter Kendall said: “It’s becoming increasingly apparent that some customers of dairy farmers are yet to be convinced of market dynamics.
“Rest assured, we will be writing to engage with those key players in the coming weeks to ensure that any market increases are reflected, as they should be, in the price paid to farmers.”
“The coalition will continue to meet regularly with key processors and the food service industry to ensure they understand the cost pressures on farmers.”
