On Friday, the NFU published a list of processors signed up to the sector code of practice, introduced last year in the wake of dairy protests, which targeted processing plants and supermarkets farming associations believed were perpetuating an unsustainable price structure. The union is currently urging retailers and farmers to make sure they insist on their processors abiding by the code, which remains a voluntary measure.

One year on from the #SOSDairy campaign, the NFU has published a list of processors which have signed up to the Dairy Industry Code, ahead of the Livestock and Dairy event at the NEC on July 3-4. The Union has also listed non-compliant processors on its website.

Over 85 per cent of the processing market is now signed up to the code of practice. NFU President Peter Kendall said, "Without doubt, the British dairy industry is in a better place now than it was 12 months ago, when price cut after price cut was forcing farmers to breaking point and there were genuine worries about the future of the industry.

"“Signing up to the code means that farmers have flexibility in contracts they have never had before, encourages healthy competition within the market and also sends a clear message about the future of the industry. We urge those not signed up to the code to do so now. Our cards are on the table. And our message to retailers and farmers alike is the same. If your processor is not on this list, you need to go to them and find out why they are not."

Mr Kendall said, "Only when everyone is signed up can we have a fair, unified and profitable dairy industry that benefits the whole chain and will give us all an industry we can be proud of."

In April this year, following another wave of direct action demonstrations by dairy farmers, protest group Farmers For Action broke from the SOS Dairy Coalition, made up of a number of British farming groups. Splits appeared between FFA and the other coalition members when the former organised blockades of processing plants in response to price cuts by First Milk.

FFA leader David Handley accused the Coalition of taking a "weak line" on processors' compliance with the code, and being too lenient with the industry groups.