We have fewer than 10,000 dairy farmers now. At the the current rate we may not have a dairy industry in 10 years, according to NFU Shropshire Chairman Richard Yates.
"The government must look after local farmers while we still have them," he said ahead of the NFU conference in Birmingham.
The NFU is calling for urgent action to tackle the current crisis in the dairy sector.
NFU President Meurig Raymond said: "Obviously in the short term there are more pressing concerns. We’re calling on Government, banks, processors and retailers to fully recognise the severity of the current situation and call for relief measures such as immediate payment of overdue SPS payments and a lifting of the EU dairy intervention price.
“On the supply chain we need to implement the recommendations of the voluntary code review and develop more balanced ways of managing risk in contracts when quotas are removed. Milk buyers have a responsibility to provide fairer, more transparent contracts to their suppliers and not use this market situation to take advantage of them.
“Farmers also need to understand that there is strength in numbers, and working together in producer groups can benefit all through stronger negotiation and bargaining power. Government can help promote the positive aspects of producer groups to encourage uptake."
