19 October 2010

2 minute read

Europe

The inaugural meeting, held at NFU headquarters in Stoneleigh, brought together the dairy industry’s leading farmer representatives to focus on the key policy and market issues impacting on the dairy sector, now and in the future.

Mr Raymond said: “I couldn’t have hoped for a more constructive and informative session with the group. We may supply different milk buyers and, at times, have different perspectives on how the world should turn. But we are united in our desire to represent dairy farmers and are professional, progressive and passionate about advancing the British dairy industry and creating the right conditions for farmers to be profitable.”

The meeting agenda included a presentation by DairyCo on the current dairy market situation, a review of the responses received so far by the NFU to its Great Milk Robbery report, input into the second edition of DairyCo’s Company Strategy and Performance Report, and a discussion around the opportunities for British dairy farmers that may emerge when the European Commission begins work on the recommendations made by the High Level Group (HLG) on milk.

Mr Raymond added: “The role of the farmer representative is undoubtedly going to become one which carries much greater power and responsibility as a result of the HLG. It is therefore vital that farmer representatives not only understand the HLG’s recommendations on contracts, and the potential implications, but are also one step ahead in anticipating how milk buyers may react to any legislative proposals or a code of practice.

“Farmers need their representatives to be in the driving seat - proposing and anticipating changes, not waiting for ‘done deals’ to be proposed by milk buyers, which will no doubt offer the bare minimum required by the Commission.”

TheCattleSite News Desk