AHDB and NFU respond to Farmers For Action criticism

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) has hit back at claims it is “not fit for purpose”.

Farmers For Action (FFA) chairman David Handley made the claims in an exclusive interview with Farmers Weekly on 27 November.

Mr Handley said AHDB and AHDB Dairy in general were “not fit for purpose” and said MPs and the government should have jurisdiction over the levy body.

See also: EU dairy prices projected to hover around 23p/litre until 2020

He said the AHDB should be judged on its success and whether it makes a profit “like any other commercial body or consultancy”, with its leaders held to account.

In a statement, the AHDB said Mr Handley’s comments “should not go unchallenged”.

The levy board encouraged Mr Handley and FFA members to join others and make every effort to shape the future of the industry.

Farmers with an active interest in the dairy industry can put themselves forward to join the AHDB Dairy board.

“As farmers and levypayers ourselves, we have a real interest in making sure that hard earned levy money is used well and not wasted,” said an AHDB spokesman.

“We listen to other dairy farmers and their respective organisations’ views and opinions before deciding the best way of getting the maximum return from every pound spent.”

The proposed business plan for AHDB Dairy is available for comment now through to mid-January.

AHDB chief executive Jane King has an activity review under way, inviting levypayers and other interested parties to shape the levy board’s longer-term objectives.

An online questionnaire is available for people unable to attend one of 15 meetings between November and January across England, Scotland and Wales.

In the article, Mr Handley also accused the NFU of “backing off” in the fight for fairer milk prices.

However, NFU dairy board chairman Rob Harrison said the union was committed to finding constructive solutions to the dairy crisis, rather than engaging in tit-for-tat rows over what organisations have and have not done.

“The NFU will continue to work with all organisations to do the best job it can to represent its members and it will continue to fight and work hard for members,” said Mr Harrison.

“We have done a huge amount of work with retailers over the summer. We continue to work with processors, food service and the whole supply chain to try and get more equity, better value and fairness for dairy farmers.

“We’re also campaigning for a futures market and risk management tools which will help processors to manage volatility in the future and give processors more security.”