British dairy farmers produce nutritious, farm-assured milk to world-leading standards of quality, hygiene, welfare and environmental care.
Dairy farming is intrinsic to British agriculture and the British landscape, making vital contributions to the nation’s countryside, economy and consumers. Dairy farming is a major British industry. There are more than 12,500 dairy farmers in Great Britain, milking 1.56 million dairy cows and producing more than 11.5 billion litres of raw milk annually. Britain’s dairy farmers are committed to the long-term future of the industry. They are enterprising in the face of adversity and incredibly hard working.
The NFU is extremely proud to represent more than 7,800 dairy farmers in England and Wales and is committed to ensuring a profitable and sustainable sector.
The key issues facing British dairy farmers are the core focus of the NFU national dairy board.
Our recent work includes:
- The NFU campaign ‘It’s Time to Back our Dairy Farmers' successfully raised contracts to the top of the EU and UK agri-political agenda. As a direct result we have the option to push for mandatory contract terms and conditions under the EU Dairy Package.
- Here in Britain, the NFU is in negotiations with Defra and milk purchasers to develop a Voluntary Code of Contractual Best Practice to redress the balance in relation to ‘buyer’s discretion’.
- The NFU has successfully placed dairy at the forefront of The Green Food Project, a new government initiative which is systematically identifying the barriers to sustainably increasing British dairy production.
- We've taken a firm stance on defending the industry's environmental credentials. In addition to responding strongly to the Defra NVZ consultation, our dairy board has played a lead role in initiatives like the Dairy Roadmap and the Environmental Plan for Dairy Farming.
- Following our lobbying and direction, the Cattle Health and Welfare Group successfully launched and published its one-year progress report on the Dairy Cow Welfare Strategy.
- Following lobbying and support from the NFU's 'next generation' and national dairy boards, work is now underway to develop a Continual Professional Development or CPD scheme for the sector.
- The NFU dairy board is fully committed to redressing the balance and ensuring a more equitable dairy supply chain. In partnership with DairyCo, research is now underway looking into export market opportunities for British milk and dairy products, with a particular focus on small and medium-sized dairy enterprises.
Meet your NFU Dairy Board
Chairman - Mansel Raymond, MBE
Mansel was elected national dairy chairman in March 2010. He farms 3,400 acres near Letterston, Pembrokeshire, in partnership with his twin brother Meurig, their wives and ‘next generation’ son and nephew. They have two dairy herds totalling 620 cows plus youngstock and a herd of beef cattle. Arable cropping consists of winter barley, winter wheat, oilseed rape and malting barley as well as potatoes. During the winter up to 2,000 store lambs are fattened. Mansel has held a number of NFU positions, including vice chairman of the NFU milk committee and chairman of the Welsh milk committee. He is vice chairman of the Copa-Cogeca dairy committee, sits on the EU Commission advisory group for the sector and attends regular UK Dairy Supply Chain Forum meetings.
Vice Chairman – Rob Harrison (South West)
Rob, a previous chairman of the next generation dairy board, was elected South West chairman in January and national vice chairman in March 2012. He farms 430 acres in North Gloucestershire in partnership with his wife Emma and their three young children. Milking approximately 220 Friesian x Red and White cows on a predominately extensive system, the focus is on maximising grazed grass. All milk is currently sold to Freshway’s. As a passionate ambassador for British dairy farming, Rob is keen to maximise the opportunity his new role represents to promote the interests of next generation dairy farmers and to ensure the industry capitalises on growing global demand. Rob is an enthusiastic environmentalist who enjoys a spot of cooking when time allows.
Ken Proctor (East Anglia)
Ken, a former president of the Holstein Friesian Society, farms near Thetford, Norfolk, in partnership with his wife Rebecca and son Robert. Milking more than 400 cows, with a further 400 followers, most of the milk is sold to Arla. Ken’s interests are wide and varied but centre around advocating the strong environmental performance of dairy farming in relation to NVZs, trialling innovative new technologies for recycling sand, irrigation and foot trimming and promoting dairy cow welfare.
Michael Oakes (West Midlands)
A tenant farmer on the outskirts of Birmingham, Michael is married to Anne Marie with two grown-up sons and a teenage daughter. Running a closed herd of 180 pedigree Holsteins, milk is sold to Milk Link, ending up at Cadbury, with surplus heifers sold at calving. Michael has held various roles within the NFU, as Worcestershire county chairman, West Midlands regional board chairman and council delegate. Outside the NFU, he was a DFOB farmer director, was on the board of Advantage West Midlands, the regional development agency, and is chairman of the West Midlands Sustainable Food and Farming Strategy.
Brian Dalby (East Midlands)
Brian farms 545 acres near Pailton, Rugby. Milking 100 pedigree Friesians, the farm also looks to sell a good number of freshly calved heifers each year. Milk is sold to Arla, but several years ago the decision was taken to diversify the business and a home-made ice cream business was established to take a percentage of the milk. Brian’s key interests lie primarily in animal health and combating and eradicating livestock diseases. Interests outside of farming include being a local school governor and fly fishing. Industry positions include past chairman for Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland and chairman of the Heart of England Fine Foods Group.
David Shaw (North East)
David farms at Elvington near York. A fourth generation farmer, he grew up on a mixed farm. For the past 43 years however David has specialised in dairy and currently farms more than 400 acres and milks 320 Jersey cows in partnership with his wife Anne. David was chairman of Quality Milk Producers for seven years, and is currently a QMP board member. David’s key interests lie in ensuring North East dairy farmers have a strong voice and in advocating the strong environmental performance of dairy farmers through initiatives such as Tried & Tested. He has also been a council member of the Jersey Cattle Society for 15 years.
Mike Gorton (North West)
Mike farms in Alderley Edge, Cheshire, on the edge of the ‘golden triangle’ in partnership with his parents. Farming in such a prestigious area, Mike has the dual dinstinction of running the only remaining dairy farm in Over Alderley and having the professional footballer Wayne Rooney as a neighbour. Milking 70 Holsteins on 130 acres, all milk is sold to First Milk and the long-term aim is to slowly move towards Dairy Shorthorn-Holstein crosses. Mike’s key interests are farmer cooperation, eradicating bovine TB, CAP reform and ensuring fair and sustainable dairy contracts.
Jeremy Burdett (South East)
Farming on 320 hectares of Weald land in mid-Sussex, Jeremy runs an organic herd of 220 dairy cows, rearing replacements and running around 100 beef cattle. The organic herd is block calved and milk is produced largely from forage. In addition to being the South East dairy board chairman and South East representative on the NFU national dairy board, Jeremy is chairman of the Chailey NFU branch, and sits on the membership committee of OMSCO as the Milk Link representative.
Aled Jones (Wales)
Farming 300 acres in Caernarfon, North Wales, Aled runs a herd of 260 pedigree Holsteins in partnership with his son Osian. All milk is sold to South Caernarfon Creameries and sold under the Dragon brand. In addition, a small pedigree flock of Texel’s is kept with progeny sold as breeding stock. Alongside the primary livestock enterprises the farm also caters for the local tourist trade with a holiday cottage and a touring caravan site. Industry positions held include, chairman of the NFU Cymru Milk Board, vice chairman of the Gwynedd NFU branch and as a North Wales representative for Holstein UK.
Duncan Pullar - DairyCo Director
Duncan Pullar became a DairyCo director following Ken Boyns' move to AHDB. He was previously Eblex head of research and development and is a co-opt on the NFU national dairy board who brings a wealth of expertise and industry knowledge.