RABDF calls for 30ppl for Welsh dairy farmers
21 October 2008
Dairy processors and retailers have been urged to pledge 30ppl farm gate milk price from immediate effect in order to stem the rapid decline in Welsh dairy farming, by RABDF chairman, Lyndon Edwards.
“Dairy farmer numbers have fallen by 50% in the last five years to just over 2,000 head, while between 2004 and 2007 there was a corresponding 5.7% fall in dairy cattle numbers to 395,000 head, trends that are finally impacting at processing level,” he told the Welsh Dairy Show pre-event dinner in Carmarthen, on Monday 20 October. “For example, last month First Milk announced a 10% cut in staff at its Haverfordwest creamery.
“We’ve been talking about an industry in melt down for the last three years; the reality of the situation is in the here and now. Milk supplies have seriously dwindled to the extent the UK is now reliant on importing daily one million litres of liquid milk.
“Added to that is the fact alternative opportunities for land use are already emerging on the horizon. For example, just one acre of perennial ryegrass taken in three cuts has the potential to supply 0.5KW of electricity in to the National Grid, an amount of energy worth £500 per year,” he said.
“However, I believe that Welsh dairy producers are in a unique and privileged position to produce milk cost effectively, from grass and other homegrown forages; add to that their skills and they are quite clearly among the most efficient milk producers in the world, able to turn on the tap and increase production, if given the necessary price incentive.
“Therefore, I would urge processors and retailers to grasp the nettle and wake up to the fact farmers need to be paid a fair price of an average 30ppl now. Welsh dairy farmers also need to be guaranteed a price structure which will inject some timely confidence in to the industry not just for tomorrow, but the next five to ten years, otherwise with new alternative sources of farm income emerging, the dairy sector could find itself with a greater milk shortfall on its hands than ever forecast,” he said adding: “We need a fair and adequate reward - a sustainable milk price, one that is sufficient for essential reinvestment purposes, and to encourage the next generation."
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