NFU president Meurig Raymond has highlighted the precarious position of agriculture, drawing attention to the plight of dairy farmers.

In his first New Year's Message after assuming the presidency in February, Mr Raymond said he was optimistic about the future of the farming industry, but drew attention to volatility in prices and weather, which have upset farming activities over the past 12 months.

He said, "It is absolutely clear that we are living in volatile times. Farmers have seen their crop values, milk and beef reduced by up to 34 per cent. We’ve seen rain lashing down, bringing with it horrendous flooding which devastated thousands of acres of land, showing the grave vulnerability of rural areas and farmland."

In the speech, which primarily dealt with the upcoming general election in May (Raymond asked the next government to extend badger culling and produce industrial policy that backs farming or "At very least [aims] to reverse declining UK self-sufficiency"), the NFU president also touched on the problems facing dairy farmers.   

Though the NFU has this year distanced itself from protesting farmers, who launched a new campaign in October against the processors and retailers they argue are making milk suppliers bear the brunt of a global downturn, Mr Raymond did say, "Commodity price volatility is also of great concern to me."

He continued, "Further reductions in the price of milk paid to dairy farmers will place huge pressure on cash flows for these farmers in the months ahead. I know exactly what this means to our business and we at the NFU are in difficult discussions with government, processors and retailers so that we can maintain an economic [sic] sustainable dairy industry for the future.

"We are also making the case in Europe for better labelling and a stronger safety net for farmers. I’m convinced that the Government can do more to help as farmers face volatile markets."

Last week, when processing giant Arla announced fresh price cuts to come into force from January, the NFU president said, "I feel desperate for those 3,000 dairy farmers supplying Arla who've been delivered the worst possible Christmas present. It couldn’t have come at a worse time and this latest reduction will continue to place huge pressure on cash flows for these farmers in the months ahead. It is vital that we don’t see this trend continue through other processors’ February price announcements.

"For the first time producer numbers have dipped under 10,000 with 60 going out of business in November alone."

He pledged then to "put pressure on Government, retailers and the processors" to support the ailing industry, adding, "We cannot emphasise enough how awful this downward spiral has been for the dairy industry in the UK."