Act now to save dairy business NFU

23 February 2000



Act now to save dairy business — NFU

By FWi staff

A LACK of marketing muscle has contributed to the current dairy industry crisis and producers must react now, farmers will be told on Wednesday (23 February).

NFU deputy president Tim Bennett will tell producers at a Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers conference the industry must respond to issues like the rationalisation of processors and retailers and further reform of the CAP.

“The scale of the crisis facing dairy farmers is clear for all to see.

“We have taken a 27% cut in the average price of milk since 1996 and a 76% drop in incomes since 1995.

“And this is all despite the fact that we have some of the most efficient farms in the EU.”

Market-led processing investment and meaningful partnerships with private processors are among the ways forward, he will tell the annual conference in Malvern, Worcestershire.

“The challenge is to create a new marketing structure and attitude for the dairy industry, which will bring the benefits to British dairy farmers that they deserve.”

Mr Bennett will tell farmers they have the ability to shape the future of the industry. “It is a challenge that the NFU will not shy away from.”