Dairy industry representatives from NFU Scotland, the English NFU, NFU Cymru and the Ulster Farmers’ Union this week confirmed they want to see better structures and more co-operation in the milk sector following a summer of discontent, demonstrations and protest meetings.
Central to their agenda for the future is the voluntary code of best practice for dairy Contracts which they hope will deliver better deals for their members.
Following the two-day meeting in Cardiff, NFU Scotland milk committee chairman Gary Mitchell said: “Now is the time for farmers to collaborate and pull together.
“Collaboration can take many forms, from working with producer representatives, exploring the opportunities of membership of a producer organisation or joining a co-op. The bottom line is that there is strength in numbers and now is the time to work together to optimise returns from the market.”
His counterpart in the English union, Rob Harrison, added: “With the voluntary code of best practice for dairy contracts being implemented farmers should expect the market to deliver on a sustainable price for their milk.”
ANDREW ARBUCKLE