Dairy UK’s Farmers Forum chairman Roger Evans issued a stark warning about future milk production levels when he met the Farmers’ Union of Wales’ milk and dairy produce committee.
During the meeting in Aberystwyth, Mr Evans, a former chairman of First Milk, told the committee of his concerns about the ongoing decline of milk production and dairy farmer numbers.
"Milk production is now at its lowest for over thirty years and something must change in order to arrest this decline," said Mr Evans, who farms 350 acres in Shropshire.
"I am also extremely concerned that this decline will accelerate as dairy farmers struggle to meet the costs of complying with NVZ regulations."
Committee members called for a fundamental change to address the imbalance between farmgate and supermarket check out prices.
After the meeting, committee chairman Eifion Huws said: "There was unanimous agreement with the sentiments expressed by Mr Evans and the union will shortly be meeting with politicians in Westminster and Cardiff in order to raise our concerns.
"It is imperative both government and supermarkets take a long term view in order to address issues such as food security and market volatility.
"Companies that take the short term view undermine farmgate prices making it impossible for businesses to plan for the future.
"Family farms are the backbone of the dairy industry in Wales and the ongoing exodus from the industry should be a major cause of concern for government, consumers, and all those involved in the dairy supply chain."