Sustain response to dairy farmer crisis

In response to the news that around 60 dairy farmers in the UK have left the sector in the last month alone (December 2014) and producers are getting less than the cost of production for their milk , Vicki Hird, Policy Director at Sustain, provides five reasons why we need action to support local sustainable dairy producers in the UK:

• Fairness: Processors and retailers make a profit from milk sales – either directly or as a loss leader it entices customers into their stores. Yet dairy farmers are having to sell it for less than it costs to produce it. They have so little choice of outlets and suppliers to sell to, that they are forced into unfavourable deals.
• Local Economy: If you give farmers a decent wage and a good regulatory framework, they should be able to farm in ways that protect the farmed environment and have high livestock welfare standards.  They will also play a key role in the local economy. It is particularly important to make sure we get more money into rural areas, and that people can make a viable living in the countryside.
• Security: Ensuring local dairy producers are viable supports better food sovereignty. Whilst we will always need to import foods – and we should trade fairly - reducing reliance on imported dairy can help to reduce our global environmental and social footprint, including energy, water and land.
• Environment: We have more grass fed cows in the UK than many other parts of the EU, a system which is good for welfare of the cows and uses less imported soy and grain, where as the increased demand for soy for animal feed is a major contributor towards deforestation and biodiversity loss globally.
• Standards: Where possible consumers should buy organic or similar low input pasture fed products to reduce the use of antibiotics and artificial fertilisers which can harm grassland biodiversity. A fair trade mark for dairy could be considered to allow customers to make informed choices.

Vicki Hird continued, “Whilst consumers can do their bit to support local dairy producers, there is only so much they can do, and what we need more than ever is action from government to save this threatened sector by reducing inequalities and unfair play in the dairy supply chain.”