After attending dairy sector meetings in Brussels this week, UFU Dairy Vice Chairman Andrew Addison commented;

“Retailers in these countries have injected extra revenue back into the supply chain to ensure milk production is maintained. In Belgium, over the next six months, an extra 14 Euro cents for every litre of liquid milk sales will be passed into the supply chain by retailers for distribution among all producers who have not exceeded quota. This equates to 2 Euro cents per litre of milk being re-distributed monthly to the farmers. We need similar innovative action here and the UFU will be progressing this.

“Regarding the French, a three tiered pricing structure has been agreed whereby most dairy producers will be paid between €272 and €280 per tonne. The highest rate will be paid by dairies whose main output is high value-added consumer products such as yoghurts and cheeses with special origin labels. Those suffering the worst will be producers who supply dairies that mainly manufacture industrial products such as milk powder and butter. They will be paid €262 per tonne due to the recent price drop on the world markets.”

Referring to ongoing policy decisions being made in Brussels, UFU President Graham Furey said; “Finally we are beginning to see a reaction in Brussels to the dairy crisis. The UFU welcomes the EU Commission’s plans to extend intervention purchasing. This is in line with the UFU Dairy Roadmap.  The EU Commission have also recently increased export refunds on two occasions and the French and German Governments are now urging the Commission to suspend planned increases in milk quota.  Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel has said that if prices stay as they are, the dairy sector is heading for disaster.  We will be continuing to progress our Dairy Roadmap, seeking more action from the EU Commission and significant changes to the structure of our supply chain in Northern Ireland.”