NFU's Raymond becomes new dairy vice-chairman

NFU dairy board chairman Mansel Raymond has been elected vice-chairman of the European agricultural union’s milk and dairy products working group.

After being elected to the Copa-Cogeca working party, Mr Raymond, who farms in Pembrokeshire, said: "The current priority of the working group is to show leadership in the EU dairy sector by ensuring the recommendations made within the EU’s High Level Group on Milk are taken forward by the Agriculture Council at their next meeting on July 12.

"The NFU has already submitted its views on the recommendations which cover contractual relationships and bargaining power of producers, transparency within the dairy supply chain, the use of existing market instruments and a potential dairy futures market, information on quality, product marketing and labelling and innovation to make the sector more competitive. I made it clear that the NFU expects agreement on the need for fair and transparent milk contracts and for price, and how it can be varied, to be written into that contract.

"Copa is agreed that the ultimate goal of EU dairy policy should be to maintain and enhance the incomes of European dairy producers which allows for long-term investments, offers better prospects for the future and encourages young dairy farmers into the industry. The milk working group of Copa-Cogeca has a vital role to play in ensuring this and together with re-elected chairman Henri Brichart, of France, I am keen to ensure the meetings of the working group are lively, informative and, more importantly, are of benefit to European dairy farmers."