DEFRA minister Paice pledges support for dairy farmers

Farming ministers on both sides of the border have pledged to work with the dairy industry to develop a code of practice which will re-balance power and give greater protection to milk producers.

Both Scotland’s rural affairs secretary Richard Lochhead and DEFRA farm minister Jim Paice have pledged their commitment to finding fairer conditions for farmers following the cuts in milk prices announced last week.

The issue was raised at a meeting between DEFRA and devolved ministers in London, after which Mr Paice said there was a need for the industry to agree on a “robust” voluntary code of practice that would improve contractual conditions and therefore the “balance of power.”

Richard Lochhead welcomed the commitment:  “I was pleased to hear that the UK Government shares my concerns about the recent cuts in milk price by some processors at short notice.  This reinforces the need for a robust industry code of practice and we agreed to put our collective weight behind getting one in place.”

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