Great milk debate in Glamorgan
The National Federation of Women's Institutes (NFWI) and NFU Cymru have teamed up to launch the Great Milk Debates, where dairy farmers, milk processors and retailers are brought together to debate the future of the British dairy industry. Glamorgan WI members and farmers are holding their debate in Cowbridge Town Hall at 7.30pm on Wednesday 25 April 2007.
British dairy farming affects people, the environment, countryside, food quality and security, local communities and the economy. These debates will provide the public with the chance to put forward their ideas and solutions to the current crisis.
Marylyn Haines-Evans, Chairman, NFWI Wales Committee, who will be chairing the event said, 'The British dairy farming industry is in a desperate situation. Unless we stop the decline, our communities and the environment will suffer enormously. These debates give everyone the opportunity to contribute to the action we need to take to ensure that everyone receives a fair deal from farmers to consumers, so that we can continue to enjoy the fantastic products produced by our dairy farmers.
"Glamorgan county federation are delighted to welcome Dai Davies NFU Cymru President, Emma Rutter, Tesco Agricultural Communication Manager for Dairy Products, Rhys Lougher, a milk farmer and processor to the debate, as well as local politicians to speak at the event."
NFU Cymru President Dai Davies said, 'The message we are trying to convey is that we need profitable dairy farms with the confidence to invest in the future - but that is going to be unachievable unless buyers and retailers pay a higher price for raw milk. A key element to achieving this is to raise public awareness of the issue – which is why we welcome this debate with Glamorgan WI.'
The aim of the launch is to highlight to retailers, processors and consumers that farmers cannot be expected to produce a product at a loss. Farmers are losing four pence or more on every litre of milk leaving the farm, however, there is profit being made on every litre being sold in the supermarkets.
In 1995, there were over 28,000 dairy farms in England and Wales. By the end of 2006 there were 13,000. A further 31% of dairy farmers plan to leave within the next two years.
WI members voted at their AGM in 2005 to raise public awareness of the unfair difference between the retail prices of milk and the price paid to the farmer.
