The Farmers’ Union of Wales has today welcomed the establishment of a new Dairy All-Party Parliamentary Group.

The group, which held its first meeting at the House of Commons today, aims to undertake a range of activities relating to those issues affecting the UK dairy sector and will be chaired by Tiverton and Honiton MP, Neil Parish.

FUW milk and dairy produce chairman Dei Davies said: “The UK dairy sector has faced some tough challenges in recent years. Recent market-place instability and political unrest have further served to depress milk prices and the latest round of milk price cuts announced by several processors has undermined the confidence of the industry.

“Given that an all-party group for Beef and Lamb was established in 2012, the establishment of a dedicated forum that ensures Parliamentarians are fully briefed on the latest developments in the dairy sector is welcome news.

“The group is set to undertake an inquiry into the sustainable competitiveness of the UK dairy sector this year and the union will work to ensure that those issues specific to Wales are recognised and considered by the group,” added Mr Davies.

Farmers are being urged to note the deadline for Glastir applications for those wishing to apply for Glastir starting January 2015.

“Letters are being sent to all those who requested a Glastir Entry 2015 application pack highlighting the closing date of September 30 2014, and so if you are yet to return your application form you only have a few weeks to do so,” said Farmers’ Union of Wales deputy director of agricultural policy, Rhian Nowell-Phillips.

“If you have already submitted your application, and received a receipt, your application will be processed and all contract offers will need to be signed and returned to Welsh Government by no later than December 31 2014,” added Ms Nowell-Phillips.

If you have any queries regarding your letter or the application pack, please contact your local FUW office,  Welsh Government customer contact centre using your RPW online account or phone 0300 062 5004.

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has described as ‘shoddy’ failings by the Daily Mail which led the newspaper to make inaccurate claims about the dairy industry which its sister newspaper, the Mail on Sunday had already been forced to apologise about.

In an article published in the Daily Mail on August 30 entitled ‘So that’s why you’re dog tired’ Dr Sohère Roked claimed cows are injected with hormones to keep them producing milk all year round and that hormones and antibiotics are present in milk – claims which the Mail on Sunday was forced to apologise for having made in 2005 after the FUW complained directly to the paper and to the Press Complaint Commission.

Dei Davies, chairman of the union’s milk and dairy produce committee said: “Back in June 2005, an article published in the Mail on Sunday, entitled ‘Time to wean yourself off milk?’ incensed the FUW as it stated that most farmers gave their cattle growth hormones. The article also stated that most milk contains antibiotic.

“Given that the administration of growth hormones is illegal in the UK and that strict guidelines and testing ensure that no antibiotic residues are present in UK retail milk the FUW believed that an apology and correction was well warranted,” added Mr Davies.

The FUW wrote to the Press Complaints Commission in 2005 regarding the issue and, as a result, received an apology from the Mail on Sunday.

“It is incredibly disappointing that we are here again, some nine years later after the union received an apology from the Mail on Sunday over very similar issues.

“Lessons clearly have not been learned and the union once again finds itself defending the dairy industry against ill-researched and uneducated articles.  UK milk is produced to high welfare standards and is a good, healthy, quality product.

“We will be seeking a published apology and correction from the Daily Mail and assurances that these type of articles will not appear in future.  The publication of such potentially damaging articles must be stopped,” added Mr Davies.

A former chairman of the Farmers' Union of Wales milk and dairy produce committee has expressed frustration at the significant cuts in the price farmers are to be paid for their milk.

Yesterday, First Milk announced a drop in the price it will pay for both liquid and manufacturing pools by three pence per liter (ppl) - taking effect from October 1. This reduction brings the liquid pool down to just 25.1 ppl and the manufacturing pool to 26.1 ppl.

Dairy Crest also recently announced a price reduction of 1.1ppl to farmers on standard Liquid and Davidstow contracts from September 1.

"We are frustrated that milk prices are once again plummeting just as the industry is beginning to gain the confidence it needed to invest in a better future," said former FUW milk and dairy produce committee chairman Eifion Huws who runs a dairy farm at Bodedern on Anglesey.

"These price cuts are unsustainable and will have a serious impact on members cash flow.

“The volatility in the global dairy market is well documented and the Russian trade embargo will no doubt exacerbate the continuing fall in global and European dairy markets.

“Russia imports less than one percent of the UK’s cheese, butter and skimmed milk powder, however the loss of trade for bigger exporters such as Germany and the Netherlands could cause downward pressure on prices through an increase in available supply,” added Mr Huws.

In response to the Russian trade sanctions, the European Commission has taken action to minimise the negative impacts of the ban. The Commission has opened private storage aid for butter, skimmed milk powder and certain cheeses to cover the costs of storing these products for the next three to seven months.

“The FUW has consistently reiterated that the loss of quotas in 2015 will only compound an already volatile market place and the recent steps undertaken by the EU to try and counter the increase in available stocks following the Russian dairy ban further serve to highlight our position on this matter,” added Mr Huws.