The NFU Dairy Board has called for milk buyers to come forward with a price rise before the New Year, following further price rises in farm inputs. The UK remains near the bottom of the European milk price league table.  

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Speaking after a dairy board meeting yesterday (Tuesday 22nd), Mansel Raymond, the board’s chair, said price rises were needed across the industry to ensure farmers had the confidence and the cash to ensure the long-term future of their business.

He said, "This summer the UK sat at the bottom of the EU price league table 4ppl below the average. Today, despite farm gate price rises of between 1ppl and 2ppl this autumn, the average UK farmer is still only seventh from the bottom of the league table and 3.25ppl below the average price."

"Prices remain below the value of milk according to key UK market indicators for Milk for Cheese Equivalent and Actual Milk Price Equivalent."

Raymond did, however, report that farmer confidence has increased over the past six months as a result of recent price rises and a strong reported demand for dairy products in domestic and global markets. He said, "This has given farmers cause to look to the future" but warned that more needed to be done to ensure farmers are paid a fair price for their product, as the latest figures show farmers are being underpaid; "Prices are starting to move in the right direction but there is still some way to go to deliver the profits farmers need in order to invest."