The NFU dairy team brought together farmer representatives and advocates from 18 milk pools across the country in December to discuss fair dealings and strengthening the voice of farmers in the supply chain.
The last summit meeting was held in 2023, ahead of the implementation of the FDOM (Fair Dealing Obligations (Milk) Regulations), to discuss how they might impact upon producers and affect their contracts/relationship with their milk buyers.
Following the implementation of the FDOM24 regulations, the second summit was a timely opportunity to discuss (under Chatham House Rules) how this process had gone for different milk pools, what had and hadn’t worked, and how the regulations could be used in the current market downturn to improve trust and transparency between processors and their suppliers.
NFU Dairy Board Chair Paul Tompkins said: “It was an absolute pleasure to host the second UK Dairy Farmer Representatives Summit.
“The NFU is committed to the continual professionalisation of representatives in the dairy sector because I believe that those farmers and milk buyers that work most closely together are the most resilient and best placed to meet their customers’ demands.”
Producers fear retaliation
The new ASCA (Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator), Richard Thompson, was in attendance and producers were given the opportunity to question him directly and hear his impressions 18 months into the role.
The adjudicator acknowledged that there is an issue in the dairy sector where many producers do not feel confident enough to raise their concerns directly with their buyer without fear of retaliation or even contract withdrawal.
The NFU has a clear ask that the powers of the ASCA should be extended, in line with those of the GCA (Grocery Codes Adjudicator), to allow his office to proactively investigate potential regulatory breaches and respond to third-party representatives, such as farming unions, representing farmer concerns.
“The summit reaffirmed the importance of collaboration between producers, processors and policymakers.”
ADPO Chair Rory Christie
The adjudicator said that he had received a number of complaints, either directly or via his new in-confidence inbox, relating to processor behaviour.
In order for a complaint to go through the formal ASCA process, a producer must first use the dispute process stipulated in their milk contract.
The in-confidence inbox allows for more informal concerns to be raised, which help the adjudicator to build a bank of evidence regarding industry practices – even if these are not directly covered by the fair dealing regulations.
Professionalising farmer representation
The ADPO (Association of Dairy Producer Organisations), chaired by Rory Christie and founded by Davidstow Creamery Direct, the Milk Suppliers Association, Selkley Vale Milk Group and MMG Dairy Farmers, presented on the formation of the group and its ongoing work to help train and professionalise farmer representation.
Three of the four dairy producer organisations have been formed since the implementation of the regulations.
Interested producers were encouraged to form more formal representation structures within their milk pool (even if they don’t jump straight to dairy producer organisation status) to help ensure fair and transparent dealings for the whole milk pool.
“The NFU is committed to the continual professionalisation of representatives in the dairy sector.”
NFU Dairy Board Chair Paul Tompkins
The ADPO, alongside the NFU, stated that they would be happy to support the set up of such groups or organisations, but the initial commitment had to come from the farmers themselves.
ADPO Chair Rory Christie said: “The summit reaffirmed the importance of collaboration between producers, processors and policymakers to secure a fair and sustainable future for the UK dairy sector.
“Delegates left with a shared commitment to working together toward transparent contracts and stronger representation for dairy farmers nationwide.”
It is clear that the dairy industry is facing into some serious challenges over the winter and into the spring of 2026, and these challenges were reflected on the day.
However, this is the first time that the sector is experiencing a downturn under the oversight of an officially appointed adjudicator who has significant powers to act and penalise wrongdoing.
Farmers need to be aware of rights
It is important that farmers are aware of their rights under the new regulations and the industry acts to ensure compliance.
It is also important to note that the current regulations must by law be reviewed by 2029.
The NFU will continue to work with the adjudicator and farmer members to identify non-compliant behaviour or behaviour which is not ‘in the spirit’ of the regulations and which can be used to strengthen legislation in the future if necessary.
