Right strategy needed for future of dairy industry
“The imbalance in the income to cost structure facing the dairy sector is a cause of great concern to our members across Wales.”
This was the message from NFU Cymru President and dairy farmer, Dai Davies at this year’s Denbigh and Flint Show.
Speaking from NFU Cymru’s stand at the show, Dai Davies stressed that the mass of impending legislation such as the water framework directive, waste regulations and the Nitrate Vulnerable Zones were likely to worsen the crisis in the dairy sector, and impact unfavourably in terms of increased cost on the industry.
He added, “Because of the nature of dairy farming, the sector in particular will be hard hit, creating serious environmental challenges in coming years.”
“We are conscious that the Welsh Assembly Government is in the process of further developing their strategy for the dairy industry and it is vital that this strategy is forward thinking and tries to mitigate the impact and consequences of increased environmental costs for the industry - We need the dairy industry in Wales to be both economically and environmentally sustainable.”
“As work has already commenced on the successor Rural Development Plan (RDP) for Wales, it is vital that early thought is given to how this strategy can deliver for the dairy sector under the various axes of the RDP.
“Information and guidance are important, as is tangible assistance with investment in infrastructure to deal with slurry and manure, the collection and storage of silage effluent, parlour washing and so on, given the relatively high level of rainfall in Wales.
“This investment will provide no increase in market returns and as such will be regarded as dead money by an industry already under serious financial pressure.”
Mr Davies concluded, “It is therefore of the utmost importance that the Welsh RDP provides measures that can be utilised by milk producers in Wales to limit the burden of additional costs, and that all the Stakeholders involved work closely together to achieve a strategy that provides maximum benefit at minimum cost.”
