28th November 2018
Paul Tompkins
NFU Dairy Board Vice Chair
Whilst briefing a local Labour MP on the Agriculture Bill I was reminded of the now immortalised phrase ‘we have more in common than divides us’ and with the rhetoric being ramped up on dairy contracts, the sentiment behind the phrase has never been more pertinent. It is clear to me that the dairy industry is best served when we are all pulling in the same direction however the prolonged wait for the launch of DEFRA’s consultation on dairy contracts has allowed room for uncertainty and misconceptions to proliferate.
As yet we are still unclear as to what the consultation will cover, whether it will propose regulation based on the EU Milk Package (CMO) or use powers set out in the Agricultural Bill aimed at ensuring fair dealing obligations for first purchasers. As the NFU we are not fixed to either scenario so long as the proposal works for the UK dairy sector, is flexible and corrects the imbalance of power within the supply chain.
For too long, dairy farmers have shouldered much of the risk in the dairy market and in many cases have been subject to unfair contract terms and trading practices. Regulation provides the opportunity to correct some of these practices and create a level playing field in the way farmers are treated. We wish to create a UK dairy market that is fit for purpose, commercially focused and competitive.
This is not about price setting by the government or others and it is important that processors continue to have flexibility when it comes to pricing mechanisms. However, we need to see transparent pricing to foster trust and ensure a professional, two-way relationship between farmers and suppliers. It is vital that this applies to the whole industry. The NFU dairy board is completely supportive of cooperatives structures but as a board we do not see the need for exemptions when it comes to improving fair dealing terms for producers.
As we wait for the government’s consultation on dairy contracts to be issued we are using this time to consult with our members extensively. We want to understand your views and experiences on dairy contracts and our final response will be reflective of this. As always, the contact details for your dairy board and your local NFU office are available for members to see online and use. Once the official consultation has finally launched, we will be taking further steps to ensure all members have the opportunity to make their voice heard.
9th November 2018
The NFU Dairy Team recently travelled to Korea for the 2018 IDF World Dairy Summit. The Summit is a chance for delegates from around the world to meet and explore the key issues and opportunities facing the dairy sector today. Unsurprisingly, even in Korea Brexit was still a hot topic, with speakers from across the world warning of the global significance of a “bad” deal between the UK and Europe.
Speaking after the Summit, NFU Dairy Board Chairman Michael Oakes said:
The conference was a really good opportunity for those working in dairy around the world to come together and discuss those issues that actually affect us all, whether that’s trading relations, consumer trends, the environment or supply chain relationships. Ultimately I felt that we all took something away and looking at the growing demand and consumption of dairy around the world, particularly in Asia, the need to continue innovating and championing dairy going forwards and learning from one another is vital - in Korea we saw “Einstein” milk for babies and milk based hangover products for adults! Congratulations to the AHDB/Dairy UK Department of Dairy Related Scrumptious Affairs Campaign which was shortlisted for the IDF IMP Trophy.
Ian Harvey
Dairy Board Appointee
This last week has been interesting. I normally milk 4 out of 14, but with no herdsman (left 10 days ago) this stretched to 9 whilst my assisting herdsman was off on bereavement leave. As is the case everywhere, securing and retaining good dairy herdsman has become increasingly difficult, and will no doubt become more so post-Brexit. As farmers the knock on effect of being understaffed is generally taking on additional work until the job is done. A vital message from the farm safety campaigns is to not overwork ourselves; that is when accidents happen. I needed to remind myself of that this week as, after finishing milking and spending two days tracking down, retrieving and quarantining straying livestock (that as always felt the “grass was greener”) I then made time for two meetings of the Dairy Crest Direct producer board with our milk buyer. Talk focused on expansion plans for the creamery and the need to ensure a stable growth in the milk field to meet extra demand. At the launch of a public consultation event on Friday, we felt it was important to be there and speak to local businesses about the expansion to make sure the importance of this project to farmers is heard.
7th September 2018
Tom Dracup
NFU Livestock Adviser
This week, the NFU hosted the Traceability Design User Group (TDUG) alongside key stakeholders in London, including Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Rural Affairs Lord Gardiner. The event provided an opportunity for AHDB and Defra to update the industry as to where the new livestock movement’s database (The Livestock Information Service) project currently stands, while also releasing the new NFU commissioned film explaining where we see the benefits. This event is another key milestone in the Livestock Information Services journey, with both AHDB and Defra communicating how through working in partnership with the entire livestock industry, there aim is to deliver a simplified movement service, with the opportunity to build on this core traceability with more information. Hear more about the day and further information about the livestock information service here.
10th August 2018Gemma Smale-Rowland
Dairy Board Appointee
As the 2018 drought continues to take hold across the UK, and we all start to tuck into winter forage stocks, milk processors are seeing an increase in production. Pressure on forage supplies, along with the drop in the pound are pushing the prices of imported feed supplies higher, which will only mean a greater need for the Great British weather to return. Advising milk processors of the potential problems we will face later in the winter, acting now on pricing could help. Alongside the drought we are now ever closer to a no-deal Brexit and this week the Red Tractor have announced an increase in unannounced inspections. With all this it’s easy for the stresses of farming to get on top of you. But remember you are never alone, this week we have seen the best ever #Farm24 campaign take place creating 114.2 million tweet impressions, it was an excellent showcase of British Agriculture and the community that surrounds it. So don’t forget we are all in this together, surrounded by friend, neighbours and colleagues facing the same challenges. So pick up the phone, stop in for a cup of tea and ensure no one is struggling as we start to look toward a challenging Autumn.
28th July 2018
Michael Oulton
East Midlands Dary Board Chairman
Forgive me for talking about the weather but it seems to be the major talking point on Farm and out and about at the moment. Tuning cows out to burnt up fields and and watching your winter feed stocks disappear feeding the them as we approach August is a sobering place to be. Add to that the effects of heat stress, falling stock prices as people offload animals and rising concentrate and fodder costs and we have an almost perfect storm of industry problems in what looks to be the driest summer since 1976. On the upside supplementary feeding cows holds milk yields up but heat stress affects conception rates and there will be less spring calvers next year. What would I wish for apart from the obvious of rain, would be for arable farmers to bale there straw as it will be needed, and for a milk price going forward that will pay for what is going to be an expensive winter. On a lighter note my wife Jo says we have been invited to a barbecue next door this weekend, better enjoy the nice weather while it’s here.
13th July 2018
Gareth Richards
Welsh Dairy Board Chairman
This week the Welsh Government produced their consultation document “Brexit and our land, securing the future of Welsh farming" outlining their plans and objectives for what is to follow the current RDP funding after 2020. I spent most of Thursday being interviewed by Meinir Howells from FFERMIO (the Welsh farming programme) on this issue, which will air on Monday 16th on S4C. The Welsh Government will be looking at support going forward after 2020 to have 2 main components: Economic Resilience and Public Good. I would urge all Welsh farmers to respond to this consultation document as Government will take more notice of individual responses. This new system needs to be simple to administer and manage to ensure extra cost and bureaucratic burden does not outweigh the benefits. Find out more here
29th June 2018Tim Lock
Dairy Board Appointee
recently joined the National Dairy Board as an Appointee and I have been very impressed with both the number and calibre of people at our Stoneleigh HQ who are working very hard on behalf of members across a whole range of issues that face our industry both now and in the future. Apart from all the obvious and huge issues surrounding our impending withdrawal from the EU, there are a number of other areas that we need to focus on and, perhaps, the most important of these is the Defra Clean Air Strategy aimed at reducing Ammonia emissions. This strategy will have far reaching effects on the Dairy Industry. We will be surveying members on their views in July ahead of the consultation closing on the 14th August. I would urge you all to respond so we can build up an accurate picture of the situation on farm and the likely impact of these proposals. One other issue that I know your organisation is fighting very hard for is the current disgraceful situation with regard to Countryside Stewardship payments. The delays in the scheme are quite unacceptable and the irony is the Natural England call us customers, I think that if they were a business and we were their customers they would have gone bust a long time ago!
15th June 2018
Verity Richards
NFU Dairy Adviser
This week the Dairy Environmental Issues Group met to discuss the Defra Clean Air Strategy which has recently been released for consultation. The Group were extremely concerned over a number of the proposals set out in the Strategy, particularly the proposal to introduce permitting for “large dairy farms”. Defra have provided little detail on how this would work in practice and how many farms would be affected – we have only to look at the experience of the pig and poultry sectors to see how big the ramifications of permitting could be. With the majority of cows on grazing systems or kept in well ventilated sheds, the effectiveness of measuring the impact of permitting on ammonia emissions is questionable. The NFU Dairy Team are in regularly communication with Defra on this issue and will continue to work with other industry stakeholders and talk to members to develop our response to the consultation. Please find out more below.
1st June 2018
Verity Richards
NFU Dairy Adviser
Happy World Milk Day!
First established in 2001, World Milk Day is a global celebration of the important contributions the dairy sector makes to sustainability, economic development, livelihoods and nutrition. We are encouraging all our dairy farmer members and anyone who is involved in the dairy industry or who simply enjoys a glass of milk to show their support by tweeting or retweeting positive messages about the industry on social media and taking pictures and videos of yourselves "raising a glass of milk" alongside the #WorldMilkDay and #raiseaglass The idea is to get #WorldMilKDay trending at number one and to raise awareness of the amazing nutritionally rich, natural and delicious product dairy farmers’ work all year round to produce.
Find out more about how to get involved here and follow @NFU_Dairy to keep up to date with our celebrations!
17th May 2018
David Brookes
West Midlands Dairy Board Chairman
The Defra consultation on the future of British agriculture has now closed. Thank you if you were one of the 40,000 who responded, either directly or through the NFU’s short-form service. Several thousand farmers used this service which helped ensure the views of real farmers are heard. The NFU’s response to the consultation can be found here.
Personally I felt the consultation failed to highlight the importance of food security. As farmers we are part of the biggest manufacturing sector in the UK, a sector worth an estimated £108bn, no Government can afford to ignore such a vital part of the UK’s economy. The sun might be out now, but not long ago we saw empty supermarket shelves following “the beast from the East” which highlighted just how quickly food supply chains can be interrupted, a reminder to everyone about why secure domestic product is worth valuing.
The real work is now just beginning, the National Dairy Board, alongside the NFU as a whole, will continue to work with and lobby Government to ensure post-Brexit we are left with an agricultural sector which works for British dairy farmers and helps deliver a productive and profitable dairy sector.
4th May 2018
Andrew Branton
South West Dairy Board Chairman
The deadline for the Government’s consultation on the future of farming is almost here. Now is your chance to really make a difference and help ensure government understand the importance of a thriving British dairy industry. If you can’t find the time in your busy day to complete the Defra form, the NFU have put together a much shorter version to enable you to get your key messages across to government. It really is important that the views of NFU dairy farmer members are included in the consultation response. This is a once in a generation opportunity to influence the future of British farming. Have your say here!
6th April 2018Jamie Butler
South East Dairy Board Chairman
Last week saw 12 members of the Defra Air Quality team pull on their (very colourful) wellies and come out on farm to talk all things ammonia. I for one hadn’t realised that reducing ammonia emission in the dairy sector was so high on Defra’s agenda; however it was apparent that this is an area that poses a challenge to the industry. With practices such as feed rationing and cattle housing all contributing to emissions, as well as slurry storage and spreading, it was important to get the message across that these management decisions are performed with cow welfare and milk production in mind, not just the mitigation of emissions. With Defra planning to consult on a Clean Air Strategy later in the year I think it is essential that we continue to engage with government to ensure any future policy works with farmers to deliver cost effective solutions which keep in mind the practicalities of running a profitable, productive farm business. Find out more in my blog below.
23rd March 2018
Michael Oakes
National Dairy Board Chair
Following my re-election last week as National Dairy Board Chair I would like to thank the board for their support; I am proud to be able to continue representing British dairy farmers for the next two years. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the outgoing board members for all their hard work, it has been a rollercoaster of a journey but the board has worked hard and stuck to the strategy set out at the beginning of the last term to:
- Build better, fairer supply chain relationships
- Create the right business environment for farmers and ensure farm competitiveness
- Promote the best of British and encourage consumption at home and abroad.
look forward to working with the new dairy board and revisiting this strategy. At a time when it is crucial we have strong national, regional and local links with our members, the board will work hard to ensure the views of dairy farmers are represented in the NFU’s response to Defra’s command paper and throughout the Brexit negotiations of the next few years.
Joining the National Dairy Board:
Now is an exciting time to join the NFU Dairy Board with an opportunity to influence and guide future farm policy. We are looking for four enthusiastic dairy farmers to join the sector board as appointees from May 2018. Applicants should be active dairy farmers with a good general understanding of the dairy industry and strong communication skills. Being part of the National Dairy Board is a really satisfying and worthwhile role which gives you the opportunity to provide a positive contribution to the British dairy sector.
The deadline for applications is fast approaching, if you are interested in applying for an appointee role visit NFU Online . Applications need to be sent to TmFuY3kuRnVsbGVyQG5mdS5vcmcudWs=">TmFuY3kuRnVsbGVyQG5mdS5vcmcudWs= by the 28th March (next Wednesday).
8th March 2018
Christine McDowell
Food Chain Adviser
The NFU have long been lobbying for fair and transparent supply chains. Defra’s recent announcement of its intention to consult on new food chain measures was a strong indication that our messaging is getting through to Government. By the end of March, we are expecting to see the launch of a consultation exploring the benefits to statutory codes of conduct, and the need for formal guidance on contractual good practice between processors and producers. In the dairy sector, the NFU have been calling on Government to introduce a minimum standards contract which incorporates the principles of the Dairy Voluntary Code of Practice. We therefore welcomed the move to consult on the benefits of the VCOP following the NFU’s submission to a review of the Groceries Code Adjudicator.
In the short term, Government plan to introduce compulsory written contracts in the dairy sector, under the EU CMO Regulation. Whilst we see this as a move in the right direction, we don’t believe this goes far enough. Government need to be aiming to deliver a compulsory dairy code of conduct overseen by an Adjudicator to give producers confidence in the strength of the code and in the dairy supply chain.
22nd February 2018
Verity Richards
NFU Dairy Adviser
NFU Conference 2018 was a huge success with over 1500 farmers and industry representatives coming together at the ICC in Birmingham to celebrate British farming and discuss the future direction of the industry. Secretary of State Michael Gove addressed delegates on day one in a speech which saw him commit to ensuring a successful, productive and profitable farming industry post-Brexit, a comprehensive review of farm inspection procedures and a promise that no trade deal would be signed which would undercut British farmers when it came to animal welfare. The dairy breakout session saw a focus on a range of topics including risk management, price reporting, the environment and labour. Chief Dairy Adviser Sian Davies said "What was quite clear today is that the issues we’re facing here in the UK are the same in Ireland, Belgium and further afield. We don’t need to find these solutions ourselves, we need to engage with others to learn what has worked elsewhere and put it into practice here" Find out more below.
1st February 2018
Rohit Kaushish,
NFU Economist
Having attended the NFU Business Symposium in January - an event which saw the meeting of minds of a range of professionals who support agriculture – I heard a lot about the oppo
rtunities for farm businesses to take on the challenge uncertainty presents. A central message was around empowering farmers to better plan for what the future may hold. We know however that understanding and planning for the market our Dairy farmers operate in isn’t so straight forward. We benefit from an array of market commentaries which give us a flavour of things to come but as a sector, the limited availability of timely and robust market information limits the ability of farmers to respond to changing market conditions. With or without Brexit this has long been an issue where farmers continue to operate without knowing the supply chain pressures which may loom on the horizon. The good news is that many are becoming aware of this challenge. Having recently presented on the market transparency issue at the NFU Cymru Brexit conference it’s evident that this is something both industry and Government are looking at closely. It’s also clear that this issue is not unique to dairy. On our part, the NFU continues to work to lift the fog on what drives value within our supply chains to allow our farmers to better see what lies ahead. With transparency comes accountability and trust. With trust, we can collaborate and innovate to build a competitive and resilient dairy sector.
18th January 2018
Gail Soutar,
Chief EU Exit and International Trade Adviser
I recently attended the Semex Conference in Glasgow where I discussed the key ingredients needed to make Brexit a success for the UK Dairy Sector. Ensuring that the industry has good access to labour, measures in place that manage price volatility and access to free and frictionless trade within the EU is vital to maintaining and growing the dairy industry within the UK. Primarily it is essential that all options, and the role of Government in supporting solutions, is fully considered in the forthcoming command paper on the future of farm support policy once we leave the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). With 2018 being a key year for Brexit negotiations, we have been offered the opportunity for change, to build a bold and ambitious policy environment for the future. I know that there is a significant amount of uncertainty on dairy farms across the country. But I also know that dairy farmers are up for the challenge.
5th January 2018
Sian Davies
Chief Dairy Adviser
Happy New Year all. This January will see a number of regional dairy board elections take place as well as the deadline for nominations for NFU officeholder positions. This could mean a wholesale change to our National Dairy Board come March and to date there had been change in Wales and the North West. I’d like to thank both Aled Jones and Mike Gorton and for their hard work representing dairy farmers in their regions and look forward to working with their replacements. Obviously alongside the elected representatives there is an opportunity for any NFU dairy farming member to join the National Board as an appointee. Get in touch with Verity or myself for details. We’ve got a busy few weeks ahead – this week board appointee Abi Reader spoke at the Oxford Real Farming Conference, we’ve caught up with AHDB on cow health and welfare, NVZs and ammonia and we’ve been supporting individual members with Red Tractor queries. Next week we’re holding board media training followed by the National Dairy Board meeting as well as meetings with Muller and First Milk. I’m also lucky enough to head back up to Cumbria for member meetings – hope I’ll see some of you there!
21st December 2017
Verity Richards
Dairy Adviser
As the NFU office prepares to close over the Christmas period, I am conscious that for our dairy farmer members’ work will continue over the holidays as it does every day, 365 days a year. It is partly due to your hard work and dedication that I am so proud to work in the industry and represent the interests of our dairy farmer members. Sian and I will be heading back to our own family farms over the Christmas period – although Sian will be on call from the 27th- 29th - before normal working hours resume in the New Year. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support throughout the year and wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
8th December 2017
Paul Tompkins
Dairy Board Appointee
It is paramount that dairy farmers work closely with their milk buyers to ensure our voices continue to be heard. For this reason, during the last two years I have represented the NFU at DairyUK’s Farmers Forum, advising on policy matter affecting farmer sustainability. This week saw the culmination of many months work as the Farmers Forum developed our key priorities for a post Brexit Domestic Dairy Policy. During the final edit I was struck by how much we indeed have in common with DairyUK and much of the content of the final version is reflective of the NFU’s published position. However, whilst supportive of collaborative lobbying for a shared vision on future policy, it is where our views differ that we need to remain charged and steadfast. I was troubled this week by announcements of price cuts, which will no doubt begin to affect us all. Market indicators have been suggesting a rebalance in the markets but I was certainly caught out by the timing and depth of some of these cuts. It acts as a reminder that we need to utilise our position and continuing pushing for meaningful farmer representation and increased fairness and transparency within the supply chain. We need to build an environment where producers are consulted and equipped to read market indicators and informed of changes with as much notice as possible to ensure cash flow shocks on farm do not happen.
24th November 2017
Abi Reader
Dairy Board Appointee
Dairy herd health and welfare continues to be top of the priority list again this month. AMR is an issue for society as a whole and the dairy sector must play its part in reducing usage. However, caution must be taken to ensure usage is reduced in the right way; by altering management practices to improve cow health resulting in lower antibiotic use. In the long run this saves time and money, two things none of us can afford to waste. Setting just a few achievable targets, such as lowering incidences of lameness or calf pneumonia, is less overwhelming than trying to do everything at once. Even just having a chat with your vet to see if the antibiotics you are using are best suited for current farm issues can potentially lead to better usage – as little as possible, as much as necessary is key. It would be a very positive story for dairy producers if we could all make headway on this.
17th November 2017
Michael Oakes
National Dairy Board Chairman
The IDF World Dairy Summit - A Dairy Focus Newsletter Special
Whilst it is an honour to represent our membership, one of the perks of the role is attending various industry events. Alongside the NFU Dairy Team, I was recently lucky enough to attend this year’s International Dairy Federation’s World Dairy Summit in Belfast. The summit brought together farmers, processors and policy makers from all over the world as well as an impressive line of political and agricultural speakers. These included our own Secretary of State, the Right Honourable Michael Gove, the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan, representatives from the World Bank and many others. The challenge of ensuring consumer confidence was raised by industry leaders from the UK, China, Japan and Australia. The need to counter the threat from ant-dairy campaigning and to get the message out that milk is still one of the greatest sources of foods and part of modern day life was repeatedly emphasised - it is time to join together to debunk anti-dairy myths and support our industry. Throughout the summit were a serious of diverse workshops ranging from nutrition, dairy policy, marketing, food safety, animal health and welfare, dairy science and technology, sustainability, farm management and AMR to mention a few. All these issues are relevant, wherever in the world you milk cows. Follow the links below to find out more about this year’s Summit.
10th November
Janette Prince
National Dairy Board Appointee
There are now over 13.8million of them in the UK, but sadly very few of us on the Dairy Board fall into this category! What am I talking about? The Millennials, those aged 18-34 and a new report out last week shows clearly how important this sector of consumers is for us in the dairy industry. They gravitate towards natural, healthy food and drink and dairy products resonate with them, as long as we get the message right. It is therefore great news that the promotional campaign which was launched on 9th November by AHDBDairy and DairyUK, hits right at the heart of this target audience. The campaign will start slowly and grow over the next few months, it may not always appeal to us farmers – but it’s not supposed to! But don’t let it pass you by, our potential Millennial customers love to share their shopping habits and opinions via social media, so let’s engage, use this promotional platform we’ve been given, tell them our story, invite them to care and share and who knows we may just come out of it rather well!
20th October 2017
Phil Latham
NFU Cheshire County Chairman
There are two issues that loom large this month. TB is still a growing problem in Cheshire with 100% increase in reactors in the last 12 months. Hopefully the wildlife issue is being addressed and this year's badger culls will soon be at end, and we’ll have to see if the targets have been met. Locally the news looks encouraging and despite protestor activity there’s been no serious safety issues and the company are confident that they’ll hit their target. We must ensure that the enormous efforts of the cull companies are not undermined by cattle movements and I urge every cattle buyer to assess the risks bought in cattle can pose and trade responsibly. Secondly there seems to be an acute lack of dairy labour. We must lobby to get dairy on the Home Office’s ‘shortage occupation’ list to access non EU labour or we’ll lose some of our UK dairy productive capacity.
6th October 2017
Christine McDowell
NFU Food Chain Adviser
A delegation of Finnish farmers is visiting the UK this week to gain more of an understanding of UK agriculture and how connected with the retail sector UK farmers are. There is a particular focus in Finland on fair supply chains and the group are keen to know how we tackle this issue in the UK. As many will know the Groceries Code Adjudicator does this to some degree, but for the majority this tool has little impact on the relationship between farmers and processors. We have heard many issues from members about how their processor retrospectively applies changes to contracts, charges on volume or indeed provides little notice of price drops. I'll be presenting to our Finnish friends on how much impact the dairy voluntary code has had, and on calls from the NFU to bring the principles of this code into stronger force and be overseen by an adjudicator. It's a subject area many member states have long been calling for and look to the UK for best practice examples. There is currently a lot of EU activity around fair supply chains - let’s hope our UK government recognises this too.
25th September 2017
Verity Richards
NFU Dairy Adviser
Wednesday 27th is World School Milk Day. The day provides a focus on the importance of supplying milk to schools. The NFU are keen to promote the consumption of school milk and ensure dairy products remain affordable and accessible to young children to help support future consumption trends. This week farmers across the country are getting involved by going into schools & arranging farm visits to talk to children about dairy farming and the importance of including milk in their diet. The NFU have also launched a survey for schools to fill in focusing on current uptake of the EU School Milk Subsidy Scheme and future interest in a UK Scheme. We are asking members to encourage their local school to fill in the survey - the results will help form part of the NFU response to the Defra consultation on a new UK School Milk Scheme. For more information see below or contact your regional office.
8th September 2017
Tom Rawson
NFU North East Dairy Board Chairman
What a difference a year makes, I was looking at milk statements for our different units the other day and looked back 12 months to compare the figures. The litres sent were within three percent however the total amount paid into the bank was sixty percent up; this is serious volatility by any standards! Interestingly our milk price ranged in the last 15 months from a low of 14ppl through to last month (August) when we received 33.8ppl with a guaranteed rise in September. So how can we manage such extreme price variation? For some businesses the right option would be the forward fixing of milk prices - this was initially pioneered by County Milk and Yew Tree Dairies and is now being bought into the mainstream by Muller and Crediton. Forward fixing is an excellent option for many and should help to level the price to nearer the five year average; the skill will be knowing when to fix. Monitoring the markets and second guessing commodity cycles is seemingly yet another skillset to add to a dairy farmers CV.
25 August 2017
Mike Gorton
NFU North West Dairy Board Chairman
The interaction between farming and the environment is currently very much in the news; whether that’s looking at the structure of farm payments in a post-Brexit era or how under investment can put environmental strategies at risk. This week I had the opportunity to visit a farm in the beautiful Forest of Bowland where Organic Dairy Farmer John Alpe puts the environment at the centre of his farming strategy. With most of the farm made up of moorland John has entered into schemes to help encourage wild flowers, regenerate heather and create wild flower meadows with an emphasis on preserving species. He engages with the RSPB to undertake bird number audits and has put in footpaths to encourage disabled access. His belief that industry engagement with these organisations and environmental schemes in the future is increasingly vital is a take home message we would all do well to reflect on. My thanks to John for being such a wonderful host.
11th August 2017
John Torrance
NFU East Anglia Dairy Board Chairman
No matter what part of the country you are from, what system you use to produce our natural, vital product, milk, cow welfare is king. Happy, healthy cows are paramount to every dairy business, both emotionally and economically. As an industry, we need to reconnect with our consumers. Getting involved in Open Farm Sundays is a great way of doing this. This week I had the NFU and Defra on farm to talk about key policy asks for the future and show them around my housed herd of Holstein Friesians whose health and welfare is paramount to our business. As individual farmers, we can all do our bit to counteract negative representation of our industry and put out positive messages. We need to start shouting proudly about what we do so well. If you want to get involved, please send pictures or video clips explaining why you are proud to be a dairy farmer and showing excellent cow and calf welfare, good environmental practice, beautiful landscape features or positive interaction with the community to NFU Dairy Adviser dmVydHkucmljaGFyZHNAbmZ1Lm9yZy51aw==
14th August 2017
Sian Davies
NFU Chief Dairy Adviser
Dairy has rarely been out of the headlines over recent months and unfortunately it’s not always been good news. The vegan lobby have really upped the ante on their campaigning and have focused on denigrating the dairy industry and making consumers think badly of our hard work. Bad news sells and it’s extremely hard to explain to consumers why we do what we do on farm – think dehorning, artificial insemination and removing calves soon after birth. At the NFU we’re not shirking away from our responsibility in educating consumers and general public about dairy farming – that’s why I was so glad to see so many dairy farms take part in Open Farm Sunday and dairy members get involved in Countryfile Live. The vegans will continue their campaigning but we shouldn’t get despondent – at the moment 98% of consumers drink milk; 95% eat cheese and consumption of yoghurts and flavoured milks are increasing, so it’s a really positive story. We can’t get complacent either and we’ll be asking dairy farmers to get involved in a positive, proactive campaign to talk about why they are proud to be dairy farmers – more details to follow.
28th July 2017
Brian Dalby
East Midlands Dairy Board Chairman
I was reminded again this week of the need for the industry to continue to sell itself to the general public. My cowman returned from a holiday on the east coast, where he had visited an animal rescue centre which presented dairy farming as a cruel and heartless enterprise. Initiatives like Open Farm Sunday help to counteract this, but we need to continue to do more as an industry and as individual farmers to show how humane and considerate we are, producing a very healthy and nutritious product.
Humane is a word that has been back in the media, following the ASA not upholding a complaint about a recent Go Vegan World advert. Clearly their adverts were an inaccurate, appalling representation of the British dairy industry and we will continue to fight against this nonsense – the Dairy Board has been vocal in as much media as possible over the last two days, including one of our Board members featuring on BBC Radio 2.
14th July 2017
David Brookes
NFU West Midlands Dairy Board Chairman
I am very lucky at home, I have something that many unfortunately don't have and that is enthusiastic children. At least two and maybe three of my children want to be, or become involved with the farm. Many dairy farmers aren't so lucky and with domestic skilled labour being a rare commodity and migrant labour not as plentiful, many are turning to robotics and automation. Innovation and future research into dairy production is vital for our sector's future, especially following Brexit. Whether it's innovation in equipment, or improvements to genetics, in the UK we not only have to catch up with our neighbouring competitors but need to be able to leapfrog them to stay ahead in the marketplace. That's why innovation and research are featuring prominently in the Dairy Board's activities and will be on our agenda next week. We as farmers need to be assured that our policy makers are able to quickly adapt to the changing and challenging times that may lie ahead, and to be able to help us to deliver a sustainable future for the dairy industry.
30th June 2017
Sian Davies
NFU Chief Dairy Adviser
Today is National Cream Tea Day, and whilst we at the NFU are encouraging consumers to buy more British cream, we’ve little to celebrate at farmgate. Whilst we see another significant monthly increase (of 21%) in the bulk cream price (now at £2,370) and the processor cream income jump from 6.4ppl last June to 13.84ppl, there’s been little move upwards on milk price. We’re regularly hearing about new records being broken for the price of butter and cream – yet very little of this is filtering back to farm. This is why the NFU, here today in our latest UK Farming Union dairy meeting, is strong in our call for the need for better market information – both on prices and volume. It seems that everyone agrees with us so to me it’s a no-brainer – the Government need to regulate to ensure that this data is both provided by all milk buyers, audited and trusted.
16th June 2017
Nigel Stacey
NFU South East Dairy Board Chairman
There does seem to be an irony in the present state of politics and through the election there was always an insecurity on all matters European. For all the lambasting the European Court of Justice takes, just as we come to leave the party, they have decided that only foods from mammalian sources can be marketed as milk, cheese and butter. The false description of certain foods as dairy has been particularly irksome and will come as a real vindication of the provenance of the fruits of our labour. If our political masters cut us adrift I hope they will consider what legal safety nets and processes need to be put in place to guard us from pernicious attacks such as misleading labelling in the brave new world, after all the ECJ is a lot simpler than the WTO Appeals Panel process.
2nd June 2017
Andrew Branton
NFU South West Dairy Board Chairman
Yesterday was World Milk Day, which each year gives us a chance to celebrate nature’s true super food. Thousands of years of evolution leading to milk being the single most complete food to nourish young and old. The mutual benefit of cows being cared for in return for the production of this wonderful, nutritious and versatile foodstuff. It is this message that we should use to address the issue of falling consumption amongst the young, especially girls as they are the mothers of the future. Maybe as they get older and have their own children they will realise the many benefits of dairy but WE have to tell them. Milk has so much more to offer than some almonds (2-3%) in a lot of water with added sugar.
I would like to thank the many dairy farmers and others, who supported our #HappyCows campaign yesterday, but emphasise that World Milk Day needs to be just the start.
19th May 2017
Michael Oakes
NFU Dairy Board Chairman
Having spent two days at the DIN conference this week I’m pretty confident that milk prices are stabilising and we should start to see positive price movements soon. UK milk buyers have been warning of increased supply but variable weather has impacted on recent grass growth and will no doubt impact on volumes. What really struck me at DIN was Sophie Helaine, the EU Commission’s Dairy Market Analyst’s comments that EU (and UK) butter prices are now so high that milk price can be remunerated even with low skimmed milk powder prices, and stock levels increasing. Traders also indicated that there was more interest in the protein (SMP) market. We need to see farmgate milk prices more closely match market indicators, and if they can’t processors need to explain why. What came out loud and clear was the need for better market data on volumes and prices. This is something the NFU has raised for the last 12 months but now even milk buyers, traders and manufacturers are joining the party. It was also positive to hear the plans of Arla and Muller to address issues we have faced recently with the image of milk, this is something the whole industry should get behind.
5th May 2017
Abi Reader
NFU Dairy Board Appointee
Next week’s Dairy Board is centred around animal health, which is important given the focus by industry on responsible antibiotic use. Along with two fellow Board members I am part of an NFU antimicrobial focus group, which has highlighted the many areas to think about when considering overall antibiotic reduction. Before this, we must start to seriously think about what we use on farm and why. Five years ago I pledged to reduce on farm usage, the road has been rocky and was not undertaken lightly, but the gains made on my farm in terms of cost savings and a refreshed attitude towards animal health have been great. My attention has recently turned to the use of apps (smartphone software), to help record problems on the go and reduce the length of time in the office – there are a variety of apps out there but how useful are they? More on this area of work to follow!
13th April 2017
Paul Tompkins
NFU Dairy Board Appointee
I am reliably informed that it's now trendy to admit to being a geek, someone unfashionable and without mainstream interests, so I make no excuse for opening the newsletter this week with the thought provoking subject of futures markets. Last week saw the NFU at its full potential, bringing together over 80 stakeholders from across the dairy supply chain and wider industry at its Considering Futures conference.
Futures markets may not currently feature on the endless list of skills needed to be a dairy farmer, nor excite us all when the lengthening days turn our attention to the growing list of jobs to be done. But I am left in no doubt, the way in which we sell our milk has the potential to fundamentally change and gazing at the certainty of future volatility, all the price management options we can make available to farmers cannot come soon enough.
30th March 2017
Janette Prince
NFU Dairy Board Appointee
Sometimes when we solve one problem, we end up creating another. Not that long ago we saw milk production go into over supply, with terrible consequences for price. Much of that milk, in fact 350,000 tonnes was put into storage as powder to help alleviate the problem. With only 40 tonnes of that powder now sold – what do we do with it? Bring it back on the market too quickly and we will see that price disappears again, but we can’t store it forever. Apparently more than 800 million people in the world go hungry every day, how can we solve that major headache? In the UK alone we give over £12 billion pounds in overseas aid, money some would argue that we haven’t got. Is it really beyond the wit of man and the powers that be, to be able to create a programme that allows SMP to be given to countries that need it, as part of that monetary value? Bureaucracy stifles so much, of what could be so good.
17th March 2017
Christine McDowell
NFU Food Chain Adviser
Last week I, along with two national board members (dairy and livestock) met with George Eustice and Margot James, Business Minister to press the concerns we have of unfair trading practices within agri-food supply chains. This follows the Government consultation on why there is a need for the Grocery Code Adjudicator’s office to be extended to regulate the trading relationship between farmers and processors. Many NFU members have raised their concerns that buying power within the supply chain pushes risk and costs onto farmers, who have limited ability to mitigate these. Such examples include exclusivity clauses, short notice of price changes, openness and transparency in price mechanisms and unreasonable notice periods. We are calling on Government to make the principles of the voluntary codes compulsory, and for the Grocery Code Adjudicator to enforce these principles. Margot James, who is also an MP for Stourbridge, was interested to learn how the dairy industry operated with its dairy farmers. We stressed that there was a real need now more than ever, in the face of Brexit, for a level playing field where farming businesses can trade fairly and lawfully with their dairy processor. I would encourage all dairy members to raise these issues with your local MP, so we can gather political momentum to drive change for the long term good. I will continue to ensure Margot James and George Eustice have these issues at the forefront so any future outside of Europe has the right tools in place for farming businesses to prosper.
3rd March 2017
Sian Davies
NFU Chief Dairy Adviser
No-one knows their cows better than a dairy farmer, and hence they are best placed to know the needs and preferences of their own herd. Even in the UK there is a huge variety in our dairy herd and dairy farms, from Guernsey cows to the black and white Holstein Friesian, from small family run mixed units to larger more specialised dairy enterprises. This is what makes the UK dairy industry unique and there is no one size fits all for dairy farming. It gets even more complicated when you consider dairy farms produce milk for different dairy products, some of which can be stored and others that are sold fresh.
20th February 2017
Aled Jones
NFU Cymru Milk Board Chairman
I was reminded lately of two things, 'if you do not affect change, you'll always get what you've had' and 'dead fish flow with the current'. I confess being unable to swim but I have no intention of being a dead fish and neither should anyone else involved with the dairy industry. Members of the Dairy Board have had delegated roles to contribute to and my own has been part of a group to improve producer representation, working closely with those striving to improve dairy contract terms, these two key issues fit like hand and glove. There is a huge need to improve on these areas, we have seen countless examples where there has been no or minimal consultation procedures before implementing or dictating milk supply contractual terms. As an example, we have seen A and B contracts come and go without little consultation, not that I am against A and B fundamentally - where properly constructed and transparent they can work, but terms must be negotiated with producer representatives. We have seen contractual terms presented to dairy farmers at hastily arranged meetings expecting numb ratification, sign on the dotted line! This brings me neatly to our work on improving dairy farmer representation. Let us not fool ourselves and underestimate the scale of work required. We as dairy farmers need to step up to the mark, we need to share and understand a vision of how our industry can improve the efficiency of operation, take actions based on sound information, understand our processors/markets as good if not better than our own business and become professional effective communicators. In Wales, a group of farmers have been working quietly to raise awareness of the dire need to improve representation by PO's or whatever means. It has to be a grassroots upward movement, moving from a shared vision. We must not be deflated by negative comments but be prepared to give an answer to any critic. There must almost be a war time call 'Your Industry Needs You'!
6th February 2017
Tom Rawson
North East Dairy Board Chairman
In my role as Vice Chairman of the National Dairy Board one of the highlights so far has been the opportunity to chair the NFU’s Dairy Development Group. This is a group of enthusiastic young people that have been picked from an encouragingly large list of applicants for a training programme set out over eight sessions. So far we have had an introduction to the NFU at headquarters, along with AHDB Dairy and Red Tractor, followed by visits to NML, Muller Milk & Ingredients at Droitwich, a talk from the Co-op and finally a day of media training. I was lucky enough to be on the first next generation many years ago and ended up as Vice Chair; Rob Harrison went one better and became Chairman so it is hoped this bright set of young dairy farmers will go on to be future leaders of our industry!
20th January 2017
Mike Gorton
North West Dairy Board Chairman
As we enter a new year, those well intended resolutions could well be slipping away one by one. We must, however resolve to learn lessons from the recent dairy crisis. One of those lessons may be the value of collaboration. The Dairy Board have recently had the opportunity to take a close look at the dairy industry in Ireland, and saw at first hand just what can be achieved when all parties work together with a single outcome (a competitive dairy industry) in mind. There is much talk about Producer Organisations and their role in the dairy industry. For me, it is about collaboration, producers and processors working together to achieve a competitive dairy industry. The NFU has an important part to play in facilitating early discussions, when the initiative comes from grass roots dairy farmers. It is vitally important for processors to buy in to the concept of collaboration, because it has the potential to improve the lot of the whole dairy industry. A Producer Organisation, that is unrecognised by a purchaser will not be able to achieve the same level of outcomes as one that has good buy in from all sides. This is another area where the NFU can help in holding discussions with purchasers to prepare the ground for further discussions.
6th January 2017
Sophie James
NFU Dairy Adviser
Here we are in the first week of January and as with every other year, it’s all about health – how many of you have a New Year’s resolution to be healthier? A quick search online or scan through some of the papers and the options are bewildering. Should I drink coffee before exercising, home cook all of my meals or start one of the many bizarrely named diets? I know how healthy milk is for me, I grew up on a dairy farm, but now with so many products and ideas to compete with it’s important to ensure that that positive message gets across to consumers.
Dairy promotion has been much discussed this week, and I have written a short blog considering plant based alternatives and the positive messages we seek to promote – it begins as above but anyone interested in reading further can find the link below. Planning for our dairy campaigns in 2017 has already started and this week we met with Dairy UK, in part to discuss how we can support each other in promotion. We also have other meetings upcoming with key stakeholders.
23rd December 2016
Ken Proctor
Outgoing East Anglia Dairy Board Chairman
"The mood of dairy farmers in East Anglia seems to be one of pure frustration with this very annoying lag in the rise of milk price beginning to wrangle. With only two milk buyers in this region, producer options are very limited. The impending closure of one of our processing plants is also a challenge. We have the continuing loss of herds, both large and small, and many farmers contracting their farms out to large arable units. In my five years as regional chairman I have seen many changes, prices highs and lows, increased legislation and continuing threat of disease (Bluetongue, TB etc) have all challenged this industry but the one thing that always impresses me is the resilience of our members. Let's just look at the plus side of being a dairy farmer in the east, although being under NVZ restriction, manure is under great demand by arable farmers, maize is a very easy crop to grow, disease risk is lower and the weather is nice and dry so sometimes I think we must pinch ourselves all is not bad. With that message it gives me great pleasure to hand over the chair to my good friend John Torrance. John is a very good farmer from inside the M25, his high yielding Curtismill herd is known throughout the world, his knowledge of the industry and enthusiasm for it is second to none and he will be a great asset to the Board. I must also take the opportunity to thank the Board and staff for all the support they gave me over my five years, it is a great experience and given the chance everybody should accept it."
9th December 2016
Brian Dalby
East Midlands Dairy Board Chairman
"Now into December, a busy month for everyone. The East Midlands being the home of stilton cheese it is very hectic for the number of small dairies producing this product from local milk, the need to keep customers happy with an excellent product is foremost in their aims. As well as year round and Christmas sales in the UK this product is a prime example of the exports that can be achieved with high quality dairy produce. The US being one of the biggest customers. On a more sombre note, there is much concern from dairy farmers in the region about the lack of producer representation and certain changes that are being implemented in established groups. Given the present climate where many dairies are recruiting, we have an opportunity as producers to press for fair, independent representation and this needs to come from the ground up."
25th November 2016
David Brookes
West Midlands Dairy Board Chairman
"Mid-November saw Dairy Board members travelling to Dublin to meet up the Irish Dairy Federation, ICOS, Ornua and the IFA. This visit allowed members a valuable insight into how our neighbour and nearest competitor operates and their thoughts and concerns on the result of the referendum. Ireland imports as much UK agricultural produce as it exports to the UK but post Brexit there will be real issues with Northern Irish milk (processed in the ROI) and carrying the EU logo. There are 130 Irish co-ops selling £12 billion of dairy products and processing 97%of the Irish milk pool. The liquid portion (8%) has a separate pricing structure to ensure supply continues over winter. Whilst Irish processors are still bullish about their ambitious expansion plans of 50% growth by 2020, meeting IFA representatives gave the impression that this was an aspiration that had hit some practical limits at farm. Now their focus is to lobby for a positive trading outcome with the UK post Brexit."
11th November 2016
Nigel Stacey
South East Dairy Board Chairman
"This week in the South East we held an excellent meeting on the value, formation, and experience of Producer Organisations (PO). Now is the time to act for farmers who want better supply chain relationships, with milk in short supply farmers have leverage in their negotiations. The practical experience from James Smith, Avalon Produce in Kent was inspirational and left farmers in no doubt of the benefits of collaboration. The NFU can act as a catalyst in the formation of POs, it is farmers themselves that can make them a reality. We heard about what can be achieved, it rests on individuals having the courage and passion to bring about change. Having gone through a terrible crisis in dairying over the last 18 months, POs offer an opportunity to many farmers to help secure a more stable future. It will be so frustrating if in a few years we look back again at a missed opportunity, and cry over spilt milk."
28th October 2016
Sian Davies
NFU Chief Dairy Adviser
"What a whirlwind fortnight it’s been for the NFU dairy team of Sophie and myself with meetings from the North West to the Netherlands. Sophie’s just back from a week at the International Dairy Federation conference in Rotterdam, we’ve held member meetings in Carlisle, Garstang, Skelmersdale and Holmes Chapel and we’re just back from a Copa Milk meeting in Brussels. These meetings are varied but vital and we keep you members updated with what we’ve learnt through this newsletter, NFU online, getting articles into BF&G and the new NFU_Dairy Twitter account.
We’ve also had a number of recent upward price movements from the industry’s big and small players. The NFU has met with Muller, Arla, Freshways, Yew Tree Dairy and Butlers Cheese over the last week alone as well as supporting farmer representatives in their work. A huge success has been news that Freshways is no longer penalising farmers for undersupplying A litres with suppliers receiving that news today. Over the next few weeks we’ll be focusing our efforts on getting the TB consultation response finalised and starting to canvass member views on the new Red Tractor Dairy Standards consultation."
14th October 2016
Andrew Branton
South West Dairy Board Chairman
"I met a lot of you at the Dairy Show last week and there was plenty to discuss, including how the latest EU funding should be spent to benefit dairy farmers. Defra has put forward several suggestions, but the general feeling from farmers in the region was that the money should go towards animal health, which we have included in our consultation response. Dairy farming is vital to the South West region’s economy worth £3.3bn annually and supporting just over 13,600 jobs both directly and through the wider supply chain, as demonstrated by the report we commissioned from Duchy College Rural Business School.
We met with Muller at NFU HQ this week and it was good to hear that Muller are planning to meet with their farmers next month to discuss their business strategy and future farmer representation. I would urge farmers to put themselves forward for the roles of forum and board members. I also attended the Dairy UK Exports Forum with Secretary of State Andrea Leadsom yesterday and was pleased to see strong representation from dairy businesses looking to maintain and increase dairy exports."
30th September 2016
Michael Oakes
National Dairy Board Chairman
"There was a key meeting of NFU Policy Board this week and I was there representing dairy in discussions about Brexit, prior to NFU Council next month. Alongside our membership consultation, we are and will continue to engage with other stakeholders in the dairy sector. Today, meeting with Meadow Foods on Brexit, milk prices and futures. Engaging with other stakeholders, it’s clear the huge impact that Brexit might have on labour, with so many EU nationals working in the wider dairy supply chain.
With new milk contracts being offered to producers across the sector, the dairy team and I have recently been dealing with numerous contract issues, particularly this week the variation in terms by First Milk. There’s help and guidance available to members on contracts through our CallFirst team and legal panel firms and achieving better, fairer supply chain relationships through contracts is a priority for us."
16th September 2016
Paul Tompkins
Dairy Board Appointee
"Lets face it, you get more conversation from my milk cows than a London commuter so rather than engage in small-talk I used my time on the cramped underground train on Wednesday morning to contemplate the previous day at a supermarket in Leeds.
Along with other NFU members and the wonderful ‘ Ladies in Pigs’ I had spent the day talking to shoppers to drive consumer awareness and understanding of British, Red Tractor Assured food.
I was astonished at the sheer number of people at Aldi supermarket and was delighted by how many do attach traceability and high standards to their buying decisions. However, I was equally perturbed by how busy everyone’s lives have become and unlike us farmers, agriculture is not always at the forefront of shoppers minds.
So whilst being jostled around on the underground I realised it is reasonable for my fellow commuters and indeed my intended audience for the day, that in busy lives farming can be overshadowed by other issues.
I tried to remain mindful of this when I joined my fellow dairy board members Brian and Nigel, other commodity board members, national office holders and the crack NFU political team outside the Houses of Parliament to bring the Back British Farming message to the heart of government. The spectacle of three tractors, model livestock and a fruit, veg and flower stall drew a lot of attention from tourists, other lobbying groups, media and members of both Houses of Parliament. Throughout the day there was not a moment without an MP being reminded of the importance of farming to the food and drink sector, the wider economy, employment, environment and of course all whilst producing the food we eat.
I felt that each of the MPs we spoke with went away with a refreshed view of farming, understanding of the importance of agriculture and hold British farming in the highest esteem when Brexit negotiations start.
As the carrot tops and tomatoes wilted towards the end of one of the hottest September days on record I reflected on the last couple of days with a passing member of a marine lobby group who confided in me that they have difficulties gaining an audience with one MP so have watched with amazement the NFU drawing large numbers of MPs out of their offices.
From Leeds to Westminster, Aldi to Parliament, talking with this lobbyist made it is clear to me that the NFU is well placed with excellent members and staff who must continue to take every opportunity to promote the Back British Farming message in order that we can create an environment where farming can thrive."