(FUW Eve of Welsh Dairy Show) FUW staff and officials: Enjoying a farm visit at Daioni Organic, highlighting

ON THE EVE of the Welsh Dairy Show on Monday (Oct 24), the Farmers’ Union of Wales put the spotlight firmly on the dairy industry at a farm visit at the home of Daioni Organic.

Joining the visit at Ffosyficer Farm, Boncath, Pembrokeshire, were many Union members and officials, as well as Mr Michael Eavis of Glastonbury Farm, who is mostly known as the founder and organiser of the Glastonbury Festival.

VALUE ADDED FARMING

A dairy farmer for over 40 years, Laurence Harris has taken Daioni – meaning ‘goodness’ – from strength to strength.

Since taking over Ffosyficer Farm – still the heart of the Daioni business – from his father in 1970, Laurence expanded the family farm from 150 acres to well over 3,000 acres of fertile pasture.

The farm was converted to organic production in 1999 and since then, Laurence and his team have added value to their premium quality dairy produce which has culminated in the launch of the Daioni brand and a suite of products that are being sold internationally.

In 2008, Daioni flavoured milk was exported overseas for the first time and is now stocked in outlets around the world as well as in small retailers and major supermarkets across the UK.

In addition, in 2012, Daioni became the first British dairy company to gain organic certification in mainland China and in 2014, they opened their Hong Kong office to focus on Asia Pacific sales. Today, exports account for over 15% of the business turnover.

Around 20 local people are employed by the farming business which, today, is solely owned by the Harris family and continues to go from strength to strength.

Speaking at the farm visit, Mr Harris, who last year was awarded with the FUW/HSBC Outstanding Service to Welsh Dairy Industry award, said: “We all welcome the visit of Michael Eavis to Ffosyficer. As a person who has seriously added value to his dairy farm, we can all learn from his enthusiasm and foresight in attracting urbanites to the lovely pastures of Worthy Farm. It is so important to try and enlighten our consumers to the issues that dairy farmers currently face.”

FUW Deputy President Brian Thomas told delegates at the event: “Our dairy industry has suffered quite a bit with low prices over recent years. Many producers have seen their milk cheque cut in half and often find themselves having to deal with unfair contracts. The unfortunate truth is that our dairy producers will have to cope with extreme price volatility in the future.

“Whilst there have been some notable price increases in recent months – and these must be welcomed – full price recovery may still be some way into the future due to a continuing global supply and demand imbalance.”

BREXIT NOT THE ONLY CONCERN

Mr Thomas further told delegates that capitalising on new markets may well be a vital component of the Welsh dairy sector post-Brexit and it is essential that the prices paid to our farmers allow room for investment and innovation so that we can be globally competitive.

“While prices and supply and demand issues are ongoing, our dairy sector also faces two other critical issues.

“The Welsh Government is currently consulting on the four yearly review of Nitrate Vulnerable Zones and the result could mean that financial implications are imposed on those who live in designated areas.

“We have been involved in the NVZ review and have made successful representations on several designations, which resulted in their removal from the discrete areas option of the consultation.

“However, the number of proposed new designations remain a concern and we continue to reiterate the operational and financial impacts those designations would have upon farms that reside within an NVZ area.”

WG ‘SQUANDERED MONEY’

Given such costs, Mr Thomas stressed that there must be full justification for any proposed increases in designation and he urged FUW members to make sure they work with their local county office and submit a response to the consultation.

Addressing the issue of bovine TB, Mr Thomas said: “Bovine TB still poses a significant problem here in Pembrokeshire. Last week, we welcomed the Welsh Government’s announcement that it will consider a badger test-and-cull type approach to TB and it is as a small step in the right direction, but many farmers will be concerned at the implications of splitting Wales into TB zones.”

He added that targeting infected badgers would be a welcome move, but it is disappointing that it has taken so many years to move back towards common sense after the original comprehensive plan to tackle the disease in wildlife was abandoned by the previous Welsh Government.

“I want to be clear on one thing though – we cannot place any further financial or administrative burden on the industry. The Welsh Government has a moral obligation to fund the next steps – given the millions of pounds squandered on an ineffective badger vaccination program,” added the FUW Deputy President.