The Farmers Mart Feb/Mar 2014 - Issue 32 | Page 38

DAIRY

RABDF NEW TRAINING PROGRAMME
AIMS TO HELP DAIRY PRODUCERS
A new training programme from
the Royal Association of British
Dairy Farmers (RABDF) will enable
producers across England not only to
strengthen their businesses but help
them secure a long term future in the
dairy industry.
The launch of the RABDF Foundation for
Collaboration followed its successful bid
for support from Government’s £5m Dairy
Fund package.
The venture will help dairy farmers to
increase their competitiveness, access
new markets, strengthen their position in
the dairy supply chain.
To be officially launched with a major
conference in April,* it will be followed by a
series of regional training meetings, group
workshops and study tours to established
European Producer Organisations.
Access to funding will also be available
to farmers demonstrating commitment
to collaboration including help with

business plans, feasibility studies and the
legal costs involved in setting up legally
constituted Producer Organisations.
RABDF chief executive, Nick Everington
commented: “We are pleased to have
been able to secure substantial support
from the Dairy Fund package which
has been available to the sector under
the Government’s Rural Development
Programme for England (RDPE).”
“The RABDF Foundation for
Collaboration will help the Association to
continue its overall aim - to encourage the
development of a successful, sustainable
and profitable dairy sector which can
be achieved in many ways including

redressing the balance of power in
the supply chain through farmer cooperation.”
He adds: “We believe this opportunity
is very timely. With milk prices at an alltime high and processors keen to secure
supplies, it’s now that farmers should think
about how they can maintain a strong
negotiating position and not when milk is
at the bottom of the price curve.”
*The RABDF Foundation for
Collaboration national conference
will be staged at the National
Motorcycle Museum, Bickenhill,
Solihull on Wednesday 2 April.
For confer [