NFU President, Meurig Raymond has leant his support to a Midlands children’s school farm that is under threat from the current dairy crisis.
Mount Pleasant School Farm provides a unique opportunity to give city children an insight into food, farming and the countryside, and is one of the few dairy farms remaining so close to Birmingham.
It’s owned by The Worgan Trust which was set up by the Cadbury family in the 1960s as a means of teaching inner city children about farming, food and the countryside. Since then more than 400,000 children have enjoyed and benefitted from the experience.
As he toured the site Meurig discussed the dairy crisis with Mount Pleasant’s tenant farmers Peter and Emma Charles, and learnt of its knock-on effect on the school farm. He promised to take Mount Pleasant’s message to the highest level and to stress the importance of the dairy farm, the classroom and the educational value.
While the dairy industry is in dire straits he reassured Peter and Emma that the situation will eventually improve. He said: “There’s no doubt about that. The big question is when. Hopefully the milk price has stabilised, demand will grow and that demand should rise by 2-3 per cent per year.”
Peter highlighted the volatility of the situation saying: “We’re making significant losses and there is not enough money coming in to pay the bills. It can’t carry on as it is, we can’t be in a situation where every two years we are left in a loss making situation. It has either got to be viable and steady viable rather than just a profit one year in three.”
Worgan trustee Julian Salmon said: “Dairy farming has been at the heart of this unique educational experience enjoyed by Birmingham's inner city children for over 40 years. It has also been at the heart of Britain's agriculture and unique pastoral landscape for Millennia.
“To lose it would strike a blow for core values in the new curriculum. We urge schools to support this wonderful educational facility and consumers to support the dairy industry.”
