58 Farming


THE PEMBROKESHIRE HERALD FRIDAY JANUARY 30 2015


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Dairy Crisis Update IN THE FACE of the current


dairy crisis, the Farmers’ Union of Wales is once again calling on major UK supermarkets to commit to the procurement of Welsh dairy produce, and to ensure that the prices paid for dairy products are such that confidence in the long term future of the sector is revived. Speaking after a recent FUW milk and dairy produce committee meeting, chairman Dai Davies said: “The FUW has written to the leading supermarkets in the UK to highlight that last year saw many months of consecutive downward milk pricing, which has caused major problems for the sector.


“Whilst some forecasts predict a decline in global milk supplies in the latter half of 2015, the Russian trade embargo, coupled with reduced demand in China and a weak economic environment, will likely delay price rises beyond any potential downturn in production.” According to figures supplied by Defra, the average November UK farm-gate milk price was more than 16 percent lower than the same month in 2013 and is the lowest farm-gate price since September 2012. “The falling dairy prices experienced by producers in Wales raises significant concerns within the dairy industry, and a lengthy delay in milk price recovery now seems certain due to a continuing supply and demand imbalance within the global marketplace.


“Factors such as low milk


prices, poor profitability and long- term uncertainty in the sector have severely undermined confidence in the long term sustainability of this industry; the very nature of which requires a long term commitment and investment from producers,” added Mr Davies.


Whilst the Union recognises that dairy farmers supplying supermarkets on a dedicated supply contract have received more favourable milk prices, such farmers represent only a small fraction of the Welsh dairy sector – around 4 percent of production – and are therefore unrepresentative of the


industry as a whole.


“Failure to secure commitment by providing sustainable prices for dairy should be a major concern for all those within the supply chain.


January and September 2014, UK dairy imports of cheddar


Between cheese,


speciality cheese and butter were around 77,000, 271,000 and 42,000 tonnes respectively and the union is therefore urging the supermarkets to ensure that a concerted effort is made to source dairy products from within our own shores,” added Mr Davies. However, Sir Jim Paice MP, head of dairy co-operative First Milk said that supermarkets were not wholly to blame for the crisis.


“It is tempting to blame the supermarkets for the current downturn in milk price we’re experiencing but I have to say, as Chairman of First Milk, the crisis that we’re seeing today in the milk industry is not really the supermarkets’ fault,” said Sir Jim Paice, when speaking to NFU Cymru members in Pembrokeshire recently. Sir Jim continued, “I believe the fundamental problem with the dairy industry at the moment is that there is too much milk on the market. We have seen an approximate increase of 10% of milk produced in the UK alone this year. That has been exacerbated by two things, China dramatically reduced its purchase of milk powder and then Russia introduced its trade ban, which included dairy products. With a third of EU cheese exports going to Russia – that was the final straw and that’s why our milk prices are where they are.


“It has resulted in a very serious situation throughout the country at the moment, particularly here in south west Wales where milk is obviously a hugely important industry.” Sir Jim Paice informed Pembrokeshire NFU Cymru dairy farmer members who attended the meeting. He used the meeting to assure those farmers that supply First Milk that the co-operative was here to stay and everybody is getting paid for the milk they have produced. He insisted that First Milk was in a very very


strong position now, the strongest it has been for many years, and it should be strong enough to withstand the volatile next few months ahead. John Davies, NFU Cymru Deputy President and Euryn Jones, Agriculture Manager for HSBC Bank, the conference’s sponsor, both agreed with Sir Jim that we were witnessing extremely volatile times at the moment in dairy, as well as other sectors of farming, and both agreed NFU Cymru and the bank were there to help assist members and customers any way they can to get them through the volatility. John Davies said, “What we all want is a fair price from the market place for what we produce.” Sir Jim is currently the


Conservative’s Member of Parliament for Cambridgeshire but he is due to stand down at the forthcoming General Election this spring. A Suffolk farmer, farm manager and training manager, Jim Paice was in the position of Minister of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in 2010 when negotiations first started on the current CAP reforms. Reflecting on his time as Minister he said that we’ve ended up with a Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) which is pretty similar to what was originally proposed. He explained, “I’m not saying that means the first proposals were right, what I’m saying is that it was very difficult for 28 very different countries to agree. Discussions were impossible when each Minister from each Member State was given just three minutes to give their views on the proposals. It ended up with each Minister giving set speeches – not a discussion!” Simon Richards, NFU Cymru’s newly elected Chairman for Pembrokeshire, and a dairy farmer from Haverfordwest, thanked all the speakers at the County Conference, particularly Sir Jim Paice MP, for his insight into the current situation at First Milk and his time as Defra Minister. Mr Richards also thanked HSBC Bank for its generous sponsorship of the event.


Lucy goes to work on an egg THERE’S a surprising new


secret weapon in the food cupboard of celebrities, helping to keep them looking good and feeling great – the humble egg! Eggs are enjoying a renaissance as celebrities such as TOWIE’s Lucy Mecklenburgh have revealed them as their top ingredient for a healthy diet. Lucy has teamed up with chef Paul


Merrett and British Lion eggs to launch a campaign to show that healthy eating the natural way - with high protein, nutrient-rich foods like eggs - will help you feel fit and look terrific.


Eggs are simple, unprocessed and packed full of nutrients, making them nature’s multivitamin. Lucy is well known for keeping in shape the natural way and saying no to faddy diets which is why eggs are top of her shopping list. As well as containing essential nutrients like vitamin D and B vitamins, the protein they contain helps to maintain a strong and healthy body. Not only that, their high protein content also keeps the hunger pangs at bay, helping minimise unhealthy snacking. Lucy has joined forces with top


chef Paul Merrett to create some tasty


superfood recipes that show


how eating well doesn’t have to mean hours in the kitchen or missing out on delicious food. Their collection of twelve ‘healthy meals in minutes’ includes


new tortilla, poached and


boiled egg recipes, ranging from Vietnamese omelette wrap to Avocado egg cups and Three grain, tofu & egg Lucy Mecklenburgh, the face of the new campaign, says: “It’s no secret that I’m a mega egg fan! For me they tick all the boxes – what other food compares in terms of the nutrients they contain and the hundreds of ways they can be cooked? Boiled, scrambled, or as an omelette combined with plenty of veg they help keep me looking good. Eggs are a fridge essential for me, they are quick to cook, tasty and filling which fits my active lifestyle.” Paul Merrett says: “Eggs are so


versatile and can be used with a wide range of ingredients and flavours, so creating a healthy meal is easy once you have a little inspiration. I created these dishes with Lucy so everyone can enjoy meals that are naturally delicious as well as good for them.”


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