Your columnist Geoffrey Lean is not the only one to pose the question about the possibility of introducing Fairtrade milk here in Britain (Premium pintas from family farms would save our cows, page 30, January 24). Consumers regularly raise this issue when they ask us, “How can we support British dairy farmers?”
The NFU believes ALL farmers here should be getting a fair price for the milk they produce to cover their costs, make a living and to ensure their businesses are viable. We would encourage the public to keep buying and asking to buy British dairy products, including British cheese, butter and yogurt, look out for the Red Tractor logo and continue to back British farming.
The current crisis facing dairy farmers is not all the retailers doing – and we have not presented this as the case. The awful crash in farm gate prices is caused by a ‘perfect storm’ of global increases in milk supply, alongside a Russian trade ban and slowed purchasing by some big global players. Unfortunately this has coincided with retailers using liquid milk as a battleground as they compete with the discounters. The NFU will continue working hard on behalf of our members, supporting them by working with all aspects of the supply chain to increase prospects now and for the future sustainability of the sector.
Sian Davies
NFU chief dairy adviser