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FUW senior policy officer Dr Hazel Wright[/caption]
The Farmers’ Union of Wales has given oral evidence on dairy farming in Wales at a one-off Welsh Affairs Committee session, held earlier this month in London.
The evidence session explored issues such as the impact of recent dairy commodity price falls and price volatility on Welsh dairy farmers, the challenges particular to Welsh dairy farmers and the competitiveness of Welsh dairy farms in comparison to farms in the EU and beyond. The session also explored the relationship between Welsh dairy farmers and major milk processors and purchasers.
FUW senior policy officer Dr Hazel Wright, who represented the union, said: “The Welsh Affairs Committee session provided the FUW with the opportunity to discuss some of the most important issues facing the Welsh dairy sector directly with MPs. Given the current level of volatility in the dairy sector it was essential that the FUW provide MPs with information on those issues which we believe could help mitigate some of the current problems faced by producers.”
Dr Wright told MPs that the Welsh dairy sector is one of the most efficient in the EU and that the current situation has functioned to devalue a product of high nutritional benefit.
“The union was given the chance to discuss the impact of changes to the Basic Payment Scheme on dairy producers in Wales, alongside issues such as the problems that could occur following the abolition of milk quotas in a few weeks, and the impact of the Voluntary Code of Practice.
“Amongst other issues, MPs were told that the Groceries Code Adjudicator should be able to launch investigations, rather than waiting for producers to provide sufficient evidence, and that indirect suppliers should also be covered by the adjudicator’s remit,” added Dr Wright.
MPs further heard that transparency was essential in the dairy supply chain and needed to improve in order to allow producers and processors to be well placed to maximise those opportunities that will arise in the export market.
The evidence session further included evidence from Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Farming, Food, and the Marine Environment, George Eustice.
The evidence session can be viewed on UK parliament TV: http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/welsh-affairs-committee/news/dairy-farming-in-wales/