Northern Ireland-Dairy farming.

NORTHERN IRELAND-Price rise welcome,

but more must be done to help dairy farmers – Elliott

The Ulster Unionist Party’s Agricultural Spokesman, Tom Elliott, has said that while he welcomes the small rise in price of milk at auction it is vital that more is done to help Northern Ireland’s dairy farmers increase profitability in the long term.

In a statement the Fermanagh and Tyrone representative said: "The rise in the price of milk at this month’s auction is certainly a very welcome development. At 19.15ppl it is the highest price that local dairy farmers have received this year and this is a trend that everyone wants to see continue. To help ensure that it does it is my belief that more must to be done to help local dairy farmers increase profitability in the long term.

"This includes the need for a visible cut in the price of goods such as fertilizer and meal, meaning that the farmer would therefore receive a greater share of the overall profit. At a time when we are all facing economic hardship we must do what we can support our own community and that includes the dairy farmers as part of the agricultural community which is the backbone of the Northern Ireland economy."

While welcoming the price received at the auction, Mr Elliott also noted that when compared with the same auction last year the price was down some 3.5ppl and said that this should motivate those with the power to cut the price in goods to do so.

The deputy-Chair of the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee went on to say: "There are people who will have to take some big decisions regarding the price of goods. Just as farmers support them by buying their produce they should also support the farmers at this time of severe economic difficulty by lowering their prices.

"Putting money back into the pockets of farmers by increasing their profitability would not only be a welcome sign of support but would also mean that more money would be pumped back into the local economy in general meaning a positive knock on effect across the board."

"Undoubtedly, every member of the agricultural community across Northern Ireland will be relieved to see the increase in milk prices.

"Now we must work together to make sure that overall profitability is increased and farmers receive more profit from the produce they are putting out."