Concerned about milk price? - Challenge the top man
23/02/05

CUMBRIAN dairy farmers have a unique opportunity to vent their frustrations at the top man during an NFU meeting next week.

Director general of Dairy UK, Jim Begg, will be the key speaker at the next NFU North West Dairy Commodity Board meeting that will take place in Agriculture House, Cromwell Road in Penrith at 7.30pm on Tuesday 1 March.

Dairy UK is the body that represents and promotes the interests of the dairy industry. It was established on October 1, 2004 and operates throughout the United Kingdom representing processors and distributors of liquid milk and dairy products, as well as milk producer co-operatives.

Mr Begg will be giving a presentation on the role he sees for his organisation in delivering a sustainable and profitable dairy industry. He will also discuss what both Dairy UK and farmers have to do in order to ensure this profitable industry materialises.

The many Cumbrian dairy farmers, who at the moment are struggling to see any light at the end of the tunnel, can then question Mr Begg on the continuing decline of their industry.

Prior to the establishment of Dairy UK, Jim was director general of the Dairy Industry Association (DIAL), the organisation which represented dairy processors.

He also sits on a number of other industry panels including The Dairy Council for England and Wales, the board of the National Dairy Farm Assured Scheme and the Dairy Supply Chain Forum which is chaired by Lord Whitty.

Cumbrian NFU dairy board representatives Mike Taylor and Harold Armstrong will also be in attendance at the meeting and there will be updates on relevant issues such as CAP Reform and waste regulations. Only NFU members can attend the meeting.