Dairy Farmers Call for a Joined-Up Approach

"It is absolutely infuriating that dairy farmers need to register with three assurance schemes, before their cattle and milk are deemed fit for public consumption. Why can't the inspecting bodies work together, rather than duplicate cost, paperwork and on-farm inspections?" asked Eifion Williams, NFU Cymru Oswestry Branch Chairman at a recent on-farm meeting at Llansantffraid.

Dai Davies, NFU Cymru Vice President, a dairy farmer himself, was at the meeting to address numerous agircultural issues with Montgomeryshire farmers: "I totally agree that the various agencies need to work together more closely and move towards a harmonised assurance inspection regime across all farm commodities. We have been calling for this joined-up approach for a very long time."

Dai Davies explained the background: "The relaxation of the Over Thirty Month rule in early November will lead to a significant quantity of additional beef from the dairy herd, essentially from cull cows, being allowed into the food chain for the first time since 1996. There is a general market expectation that this beef should comply with all relevant assurance requirements and the question of how the assurance of this beef is to be achieved has been the subject of much debate and activity in recent months."

An estimated 95% of dairy farmers in the UK are subject to a farm assurance inspection under the National Dairy Farm Assured Scheme (NDFAS). This scheme has been in place since 1999 and covers critical points in milk production practices to assure the safety and quality of milk produced on-farm; the welfare of the dairy cow; traceability and a degree of environmental protection.

"Dairy farmers wishing to sell beef cattle direct to slaughter to a customer requiring farm assurance are required to join a Red Tractor licensed beef assurance scheme, typically in Wales, Farm Assured Welsh Livestock (FAWL)," explained Dai Davies.

"This is where the duplication comes in," explained Dai Davies. "NFU Cymru are calling for NDFAS to be deemed equivalent to the beef schemes, therefore reducing bureacracy and cost to dairy farmers. Assured Food Standards, the body responsible for co-ordinating farm assurance schemes has agreed that both beef and dairy assurance schemes will work together to reduce the costs of assurance to dairy farmers. Work is also underway within AFS to determine the gaps between the two schemes so that, ultimately, all the necessary additional beef requirements can be properly embedded in the dairy standards and certification.

"NFU Cymru has been working hard during the last few months to liaise with the different parties involved to seek a solution that will reduce the costs to dairy farmers, whilst protecting the integrity of the beef assurance schemes. Paramount in this whole matter, is that the confidence of the red meat industry is not undermined at a critical moment in time, explained Dai Davies.

Eifion Williams, the Branch Vice Chairman thanked the Griffiths family for hosting the farm meeting at Cilthrew, Llansantffraid. The 320 acre beef and sheep farm is farmed in partnership by brothers Wyn and John Griffiths and their families. The holding carries 150 cattle for finishing and 450 Texel Cross and Welsh Mule breeding ewes. There are 32 acres of cereal and 8 acres of maize also grown on the farm.