Fears over approaching meltdown on UK dairy farms

Commenting today on the open letter to The Prime Minister setting out the dire plight of UK milk producers, BVA President Dr Freda Scott-Park, herself the wife of a dairy farmer, echoed the concerns expressed.

"We ourselves" she said "have had to explore every conceivable form of diversification in order to ensure the future of our small organic diary herd. Despite producing quality organic milk and selling organic beef from crossbred calves at Farmers' Markets, 10 years of small or no surpluses have meant that there has been little investment in the fabric of the farm and holiday accommodation would appear to be the only way to ensure the survival of our own small family run farm.

"For non-organic producers, whose milk price is approximately 10 pence per pint, the situation is grim; the belt can only be tightened so far and whereas every other business providing services to the farm can put up their costs, dairy farmers have to accept a fixed farm gate price for their milk that is lower than their production costs.

"I wholeheartedly endorse the concerns outlined to The Prime Minister by the signatories to the letter, which includes BVA Honorary Members Lord Plumb of Coleshill DL and Lady Winterton MP and join with them in calling on Government and consumers to redress the situation before the UK becomes totally reliant on imported milk."