Strong backing for national milk trade body

By Robert Harris

MOVES to form one national trade body to represent milk producers received strong support at the recent Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers annual general meeting in Somerset.

Tim Brigstocke, RABDF chairman, said there was a desperate need for a single association to mirror the Dairy Industry Federation, which so effectively represented milk processors.

But a new, positive attitude was needed to break down barriers.

Only then could the many, varied milk-selling groups across the country unite and address several pressing needs.

This can only happen if direct selling and quota-holding groups come together and if the existing producer bodies and organisations stop trying to protect their own patches and work for the common good, said Mr Brigstocke.

The RABDF would be prepared to act as an independent facilitator to help the process, and to lose its identity within an all-embracing trade association, he added.

Its premises could become the hub of a new organisation.

The association is already providing administrative support for the recently launched Federation of Milk Producers, and is fully supportive of the new Federation of Milk Groups which now represents both direct suppliers and quota-holding organisations.

He also announced that the RABDF was taking over the administration of the British Cattle Breeders Club.

These moves build on our expertise and we hope to announce further alliances soon.

We must be the only major milk-producing country in the world that does not have a strong dairy board to represent primary producers interests. It is vital to have this if the UK is to compete in a global market.