NFU President to travel to Cumbria to meet frustrated dairy farmers
There is growing concern that Cumbria's dairy industry is plunging into crisis as the price paid to farmers for their milk continues to be cut.
The average price paid to farmers for a litre of milk back in July 2001 was 20.43p. In July 2006, it had dropped to just 17.17p. A fall of 3.26p.
With this in mind, the NFU's President, Peter Kendall, has agreed to speak to the county's dairy farmers. The theme of the meeting will be 'What can we do about milk price?'.
The meeting will take place on Tuesday 31 October at the Shepherd's Inn, Carlisle starting at 10.30am.
Recent cuts have again demonstrated that the way in which the dairy supply chain is operating, is to the detriment of dairy farmers.
NFU's North West Senior Policy Adviser, Adam Briggs, said: "Processors are quick to use the falling commodity prices as an excuse to reduce the farmgate milk price but when the commodity markets rise, the increasing value is never passed back to the dairy farmer.
"The way in which the supply chain operates is pushing many producers to the wall. It is up to everyone who wants to see dairy farming continuing on Cumbrian farms to take action."
The NFU has already produced its 'Vision' document which clearly sets out the key actions required in order to secure a profitable dairy industry. This document is available by contacting the NFU regional office on 01695 554900.
Cumbrian dairy farming has seen some recent positive progress with farmer owned co-op First Milk agreeing to acquire the majority of the private label cheese operations of Dairy Crest – a move heralded as a step in the right direction by the NFU. This means the Aspatria creamery on the west coast of Cumbria is now owned by First Milk.
The deal may help the county's dairy farmers take greater control of the market by giving more power to the co-operatives.
Mr Briggs added: "Despite the recent tit for tat price reductions the long term prospects for the British dairy industry are potentially positive. Both retailers and processors must recognise the need to change.
"However this will only be achieved if farmers play their part in bringing collective pressure to bear on the milk buyers, processors and retailers."
