Dairy UK Statement on Dairy Summit

There can be no doubt that the meeting clearly demonstrated the strength of feeling amongst milk producers at the moment. Dairy farmers’ frustrations are wholly understandable. The recent price cuts are regrettable, but we have to remember that industry pricing is market driven and that it is to the market that we must look for solutions.

Forecast demand growth for milk and dairy products is very positive, so the last thing that that the dairy industry needs right now is any restriction in its supply base.

As the Minister said earlier today, the discussions on the voluntary code have undoubtedly made significant progress and Dairy UK is fully committed to seeing these through to a conclusion as quickly as possible. The many advantages of agreeing a voluntary code are fully understood and will go a long way towards addressing the concerns that have been expressed by dairy farmers today.

The current situation is extremely frustrating for everyone involved in the dairy industry, but we have to accept that the UK industry operates in a globalised market environment that is enormously volatile and we cannot insulate ourselves from world market trends.