Farming

Dairy Crisis Update

Published

10 years ago

February 9, 2015

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. Between January and September 2014, UK dairy imports of cheddar 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.

Farming

Latest Bovine TB statistics ‘worrying for local farming sector’

Published

1 day ago

March 24, 2025

Tom Sinclair

PRESELI Pembrokeshire Senedd Member Paul Davies has raised concerns over the latest
Bovine TB statistics published by the UK Government’s Department for Environment, Food
& Rural Affairs.

*Highlighting the issue: Paul* Davies MS

The latest statistics show that 4,580 cattle were slaughtered in 2024, a 24.11% increase on
the previous year’s figure of 3,690.

The total number of cattle slaughtered in Wales was 13,034.

Mr Davies said, “The latest Bovine TB statistics show that more and more cattle are being
slaughtered in Pembrokeshire and it’s a huge concern.”

“The figures show the Welsh Government’s policy for tackling Bovine TB simply isn’t working
and a more holistic approach must be considered.”

“Bovine TB has plagued farmers in Pembrokeshire for years, at a huge economic and
emotional cost.”

“Cattle cannot continue to be slaughtered in their thousands, it’s not sustainable and farmers
are right to be angry about these latest statistics.”

Climate

Solar farm powering up to 3,300 Pembrokeshire homes delayed

Published

5 days ago

March 20, 2025

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A PEMBROKESHIRE solar farm scheme, which would provide power for nearly 3,300 homes, has been put on hold once again, after previously being deferred for a site visit.

In an application listed at Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee meeting of March 18, members were recommended to approve a scheme by Wessex Solar Energy (WSE Pembrokeshire Ltd) for a 9.99MW solar farm and associated works at Lower Nash Farm, near Pembroke Dock.

The proposed scheme would be spread over three fields, amounting to approximately 14 hectares with some 25,000 PV panels on site, some 120 metres from the national park.

The scheme was previously deferred from the February meeting so members could visit the site after concerns were raised about the loss of the most valuable agricultural land.

The development, some of it on Best and Most Versatile (BMV) Agricultural land, would provide approximately 3,296 households with renewable energy annually, members have previously heard.

A larger 22MW scheme covering 34.25ha was previously refused in 2021 due to the effect on BMV land.

Planning Policy Wales (PPW) requires that BMV agricultural land “should be conserved as a finite resource for the future with considerable weight given to protecting it from development,” adding: “Such land should only be developed if there is an overriding need for the scheme and either previously developed land or land in lower agricultural grades are unavailable.”

Welsh Government Soil Policy & Agricultural Land Use Planning Unit has objected to the latest scheme on BMV grounds, saying the return to agriculture as BMV agricultural land is “…seldom practicable”.

Four objections to the scheme were received, with local community council Cosheston raising concerns about the use of BMV land.

At the February meeting, agent Charlotte Peacock was questioned about the use of the BMV land by committee chair Cllr Simon Hancock, who said: “Farming and agriculture are fundamental to the security of this country; the way that the population is increasing we really need to ensure farmland is protected.”

The agent said the farmer landowner would receive a guaranteed income which would be more reliable than crop values, adding: “The greatest threat to future security is climate change, the single biggest threat to our output of crops.”

Local member Cllr Tessa Hodgson, as a public speaker, successfully called for a site visit before any decision was made saying it was “surely better to use poorer land and brownfield sites” for such developments,” adding: “Does the permanent loss of prime agricultural land outweigh the benefit of renewable energy?”

At the start of the March meeting, members were told the scheme had been temporarily withdrawn due to issue with the publicity of an environmental statement accompanying the application; the proposal expected to now be considered at the April meeting.

Farming

Positive signs for farmland birds of conservation concern on Welsh farms

Published

7 days ago

March 18, 2025

Tom Sinclair

A RECENT survey of Welsh farms participating in the Breeding Bird Survey has revealed encouraging signs for several bird species of conservation concern. The 2024 survey, a collaboration between Farming Connect and RSPB Cymru conducted between April and July, identified 49 different bird species across farms in the Farming Connect Our Farms Network, with an average of 29 species recorded per farm.

The project linked volunteers with farmers to monitor and survey farmland birds, providing valuable data to enhance farmers’ understanding of biodiversity on their land. The findings contribute to UK-wide biodiversity monitoring and highlight the role of farmland in supporting wildlife.

Notably, eight species identified in the survey are classified as farmland birds of conservation concern in the UK: House Martin, House Sparrow, Spotted Flycatcher, Grey Partridge, Mistle Thrush, Tree Pipit, Meadow Pipit, and Cuckoo. Their presence underscores the importance of agricultural landscapes in maintaining biodiversity across Wales.

The reports offer insights into species distribution and abundance, helping farmers adapt their practices to safeguard these birds and encourage greater biodiversity. The data will also contribute to broader research on wildlife populations within agricultural settings.

“With approximately 90% of Wales consisting of farmland, farming practices play a crucial role in the future of many UK wildlife species,” said Lynfa Davies, Farming Connect Biodiversity Officer.

“The results of this survey are encouraging and demonstrate the positive impact that can be achieved through collaborative efforts between farmers and volunteers. We hope this information will inspire farmers to provide additional habitats as they engage with the new Sustainable Farming Scheme in Wales.”

The Volunteer Monitoring Farmland Wildlife (VMFW) Project Team at RSPB Cymru emphasised the significance of such surveys for both farmers and conservation organisations.

“It is a crucial time for farmers to understand the state of biodiversity in their landscape, as both farms and wildlife face challenges from climate change and evolving agricultural practices. Wildlife surveys empower farmers by providing knowledge of species presence, reasons for their presence, and how they can be encouraged to thrive.”

“Surveys also help projects such as VMFW assess what resources are needed to inspire and inform farmers about taking action for wildlife.”

For more information about the breeding bird survey and other services available through Farming Connect, visit businesswales.gov.wales/farmingconnect.