THE union for Uttoxeter farmers has welcomed a multi-million pound European Union deal for the UK dairy industry despite it being slammed by a Tory MP.
Checkley, Tean and Alton MP Bill Cash branded a proposed £250 million deal for the European dairy industry as a ‘sham’ stating that it means Brussels wants to continue using the existing system.
However, the Staffordshire National Farmers Union (NFU) has ‘cautiously’ welcomed the short term measures but is waiting to see what EU finance ministers say.
NFU regional dairy board chairman Mike Madders said: “Farmers know and understand that Bill Cash is a well known Euro-sceptic and therefore his views do not come as a complete surprise.
“The proposed support measures are short term and aim to help the sector through a period of unprecedented volatility.
“The measures aim to protect the whole sector from damage from unsustainable prices and do not mark a return to long term subsidising of inefficient dairy farms.
“I also believe it is vitally important for UK farmers that the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) remains common as any re-nationalisation of agricultural support is likely to disadvantage our producers.
“We want a CAP that helps to deliver a competitive, productive and profitable agricultural sector that, over time, can be less dependent on the public support.
“Competitive and realistic milk prices are still needed at the farm gate to ensure the long term future of the sector and the NFU is working hard to get a better deal for its members.”
NFU regional spokesman Oliver Cartwright said that many farmers were only paid 23 pence a litre for milk on average and this can been seen on supermarket shelves for up to 85 pence a litre.
He said: “Some supermarket contracts offer up to 26 pence a litre based on the costs of production so prices below that show up the disparity in the industry.
“This also highlights the fact that many farmers are forced to sell milk for less than it costs them to produce because they are tied into inflexible, lower priced contracts.”
The NFU has launched a new dairy campaign to drive for lasting changes to milk contracts and farmers are urged to take advantage to allow them to be better equipped when they hold discussions with milk buyers.
A Contract Health Check is also available to all NFU farming members. More information is available at www.nfuonline.com or by telephoning NFU CallFirst on 08708 458458.