The Farmers Mart Dec/Jan 2015 - Issue 37 | Page 47

DAIRY

WORKSHOPS DESIGNED
TO EXPLORE POTENTIAL
The future looks worrying for dairy
farmers but for those who are
determined to carry on, DairyCo is to
hold a two day residential workshop
on 28-29 January in Hampshire and in
the North of England in March 2015.
The Planning for Profit workshops enable
dairy farmers to work through real financial
and management scenarios for their
businesses and test options for change.
They are aimed at those who have
already started to consider making
changes to their business, whether

expansion, changing calving pattern,
boosting milk from forage, planning for
business succession, or just looking for
more general
ways to improve profitability.
Rachael Chamberlayne, DairyCo senior
product manager, says: “Experienced
specialist consultants are on hand to
provide support and advice tailored to
your needs and guide discussions with
other producers to share ideas and
develop the shape of your business and
personal goals. “Being away from the

day-to-day farm tasks provides a chance
to focus on the potential of the business.
We encourage two attendees per farm as
this gives the benefit of sharing thought
processes, plus an understanding of
equired actions,post -workshop.”
Call 024 7647 8788 or visit
www.dairyco.org.uk/PlanningforProfit

FARMERS ‘DISGUSTED’ AT
LATEST MILK PRICE CUTS
The latest milk price cuts by
processors including Arla, Dairy
Crest, First Milk and several smaller
processors, are a “another kick in the
teeth” for dairy farmers, who are now
making “a significant loss for every
litre of milk they produce”, says
NFU dairy board chairman Rob
Harrison.
Thousands of British dairy farmers are
now being paid 8-10p/litre less than in the
spring. Nearly 500 First Milk members on
liquid contracts will be paid 21.7p/litre.

Farmers For Action (FFA) chairman
David Handley said he was “disgusted” by
the price cuts. He said the FFA’s peaceful
protests against milk processing plants
and supermarket depots would continue
until farmers were paid a fairer price for
their milk.
“We would be keen to find out what
happens to the money when it goes from
the retailer to the processor and what
margin is going to the processor.”
Giving evidence to the Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs (Efra) committee,

farm minister George Eustice said he
understood the frustrations of dairy
farmers, but insisted the industry’s longterm prospects were bright.
But the Global Dairy Trade index has
now more than halved since February
2014.
Milk supplies remain high, with UK daily
production running 4.7% up on the year
and the EU producing 4.6% more milk
in September than it did in 2013. But
globally, there is not the demand for the
amount of milk being produced.

Dairy Industry Honours
at UK Dairy Expo 2015

The John Dennison Lifetime
Achievement Award is returning to
Borderway UK Dairy Expo, held in
Carlisle, for the third year running.
The award is in memory of the life
time industry contribution made by
Cumbrian dairy farmer and highly
regarded breeder, John Dennison.

To read more, visit www.farmers-mart.co.uk

Winner of the 2014 award was John
Gribbon, a key figure in the UK Holstein
success story.
This award is given to the nominee
judged to have the perfect combination
of ability, sportsmanship, integrity and
character within the Dairy Industry. The
winner will be announced and presented
with their award at the 4th Borderway UK
Dairy Expo on 7 March 2015 at Carlisle
Exhibition Centre.
The show case for the UK dairy cattle
industry includes Champion Cattle

Classes, the International Dairy Youth
Championships, and a trade exhibition.
Teaming with the event, Total Dairy will
also present a dedicated dairy seminar on
the afternoon of Friday 6 March at Carlisle
Race Course.
To make a nomination send a brief
resumé on the nominee by 2 February
2015 to the John Dennison Lifetime
Achievement Award, Harrison &
Hetherington Ltd., Borderway Mart,
Rosehill, Carlisle CA1 2RS.

FarmersMart Dec/Jan 2015

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