Dairy crisis churns up collective action

Members of the Women’s’ Food and Farming Union (WFU) are conducting a survey to look at “middle ground” retailers to see if they are selling milk too cheaply.

The development comes after a sustained period of pressure on large-scale supermarkets and dairy processors from continual cuts to the price farmers are paid for milk, prices frequently less than production costs.

Consumers are being urged to log on to the WFU’s website and download a milk survey form before popping into their local shop, garage or small supermarket to check the price and label on the milk they sell.

WFU Nottinghamshire president Helen Bower said “It’s easy to do and your help will enable ‘Milkminder’ to have up-to-date information on prices and origin of the product. The difference in price between outlets will amaze you.

“How can this be? By filling in a survey you can help identify the culprits.

“Women’s Food and Farming Union started retail surveillance 32 years ago and the members are all keen to help the dairy farmers by filling in a Milk Survey form.

“I don’t know of any other industry that does not set the price for the products they sell, in agriculture our price is so often dictated by others.”

Meanwhile the Dairy Coalition as it has become known, a collaboration between the National Farmers’ Union, Farmers for Action and the Tenant Farmers’ Association among others, has agreed a revised strategy to tackle the crisis.

A 10-point-plan has been drawn up which the coalition claims will “build a fair and functioning marketplace” by targeting three areas – exposing bad practices, redefining and empowering the farmers’ role in the supply chain and ensuring it is transparent and fair.

NFU dairy board chairman Mansel Raymond said: “The first priority of the Dairy Coalition of organisations is to see a fair and functioning market place for the UK dairy industry.

“We firmly believe that all farmers should receive a fair and sustainable milk price; one which at least covers their costs to produce milk. This is the only way we will be able to ensure shoppers have the choice of British dairy products on supermarket shelves.

“What is very clear is that the dairy market has failed. Market highs have not been passed down to the farm gate. We need to see all milk buyers developing their own appropriate and transparent milk procurement and pricing models that are equitable for all parties and cover farmers’ production costs.

“I firmly believe that the British dairy industry can have a very bright future. We need to have every part of the dairy market working to capture present and future market opportunities both here and abroad. We have a growing demand for fresh, British, quality dairy products from a growing world population and we must be in a place where we can respond.”