Prince Charles meets dairy farmers affected by price drop

More than 90 dairy farmers from across the UK met Prince Charles yesterday as part of an initiative to tackle market pressures plaguing the industry.

The number of dairy farmers in England and Wales has halved in just over a decade with 60 farmers giving up producing milk in December alone – a rate which will see fewer than 5,000 dairy farmers left by 2025.

The event, organised by the Prince of Wales's charity 'Business in Community', ran the Prince's Dairy Initiative to give business support to dairy farmers in Britain.

“Dairy farming will always involve commitment and long hours, but if the Prince’s Dairy Initiative assists in ensuring the key financials are strong enough, then other rewards such as the satisfaction of running a healthy herd and looking after the land for future generations can be enjoyed," said Ray Gibbins, Prince's Dairy Initiative Alumnus and farmer of a 153 cow herd in Cullompton, Devon.

"Our business faces so many challenges – in the short term, maintaining a healthy herd and paying the bills, and looking further ahead, finding the personal belief and external backing to invest in improvements for the business and make us more efficient for the future. Sharing our data with other farmers has helped us identify our strengths and our weaknesses, and look hard at our current practices. From a personal perspective, meeting HRH The Prince of Wales, and realising the passion he shares with us to maintain the family farm, was a privilege and hugely reassuring."

The Prince of Wales was at yesterday's event in Highgrove and talked to dairy farmers who attended.

The Initiative has now completed its second year and is being rolled out for a third year in five new regions across the UK. There is an alumni programme which supports those who have taken part in the first two years. The dairy farmers taking part are gaining valuable expertise from participating.

Last year, The Prince of Wales thanked the organisations involved for their support and the successful outcome of the pilot year. The Prince’s Dairy Initiative now has the commitment of all major UK dairy processors and aims to engage more farmers over the next 3 years.

Falling milk prices are causing financial worries for many farmers and can even contribute to a sense of isolation and even increase the likelihood of depression.

Milk prices in the UK are currently at their lowest level since 2007 and there are fears that they will fall further when the European Union quota system ends in April, with some farmers being forced to quit the industry as a result.

Jonathan Russell, a past president of the UK200Group, said: “This is a challenging time for farmers. Milk prices are falling as a result of world dairy prices over which they have no control and it is easy to feel helpless in such circumstances.

“Farmers already have to deal with some very specific pressures, including long working hours, the impact of weather or pests on crops or animal disease.

“Financial worries can contribute to a sense of isolation and even increase the likelihood of depression.

“The reality is that it makes sense to take action rather than struggling on alone. Talking to your accountant or your bank and reviewing and adjusting budgets – and doing it as early as possible – can help to provide a breathing space while the market becomes more stable. It can also start the process of reviewing your options for the longer term.

“Being able to share your problems – whether it’s with a family member, a fellow farmer, a professional adviser or a support service – can be a big step towards moving forward. Worrying about the unknown can be far worse than the reality.”