Minister to have his say at crucial dairy summit

Dairy farmers from across Yorkshire are being urged to take part in this year’s Northern Dairy Conference, scheduled to take place on Tuesday, December 9 in Skipton.
Crucial industry talks are due to be held at dairy summit in Skipton.  Pic: Anna Gowthorpe/PA WireCrucial industry talks are due to be held at dairy summit in Skipton.  Pic: Anna Gowthorpe/PA Wire
Crucial industry talks are due to be held at dairy summit in Skipton. Pic: Anna Gowthorpe/PA Wire

The half-day annual conference is especially important this year given the severe problems affecting the sector in 2014, the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) said, with debate continuing to rage about the best way of responding to and planning for the crippling market volatility that has left many dairy farmers fearing for the future.

At the start of the week, NFU representatives held talks with Environment Minister Elizabeth Truss to discuss ways of easing volatility in the milk sector and said it was a “constructive exchange”.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“As always, a solution that would work for everyone is difficult to achieve in such a complex sector, but all are agreed that this is a vital discussion to protect the industry going forward,” said the NFU’s regional dairy adviser Laurie Norris.

“With contracts still at the heart of the problem and only very few milk buyers taking direct action to put safeguards in place to secure future supply, it is now crucial that all sectors of the industry pull together.”

The line-up of speakers at next month’s summit includes Farming Minister George Eustice, chairman of the NFU national dairy board Rob Harrison, who will set out the NFU’s future strategy for the industry, and the new chairman of Dairy Co, Gwynn Jones, who will look at the role of the levy board in supporting the development of a profitable dairy sector.

The event is free to attend and will take place at the Rendezvous Hotel, Skipton from 10am.

To book a place, contact the NFU’s regional office on 01904 451550 or email [email protected]