The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) and Dairy UK (NI) want to bring together key players in the supply chain to help develop a plan to deliver better margins for farmers.
The aim is to have this up and running by the autumn of 2016.
The initiative is built around ways to manage margins along the supply chain from farm to supermarket shelf.
This is in addition to a drive by the UFU to work with the banks and businesses supplying farmers to ease the current intense cash flow pressure on farm families.
The bodies have also called for the European Commission not to introduce tendering of Intervention, once the current cap of 109,000 tonnes is reached.
Instead it wants the clock set back to zero. The industry sees intervention as a proven mechanism for tightening supplies, and believes an early announcement to extend current Intervention purchasing would help put a much needed floor into the market.
Jonathan Moore, UFU dairy policy chairman said the initiative is a first, because it will see key players coming together to «deliver benefits for the entire dairy supply chain».
“If we are to have a sustainable dairy sector we need innovative and collaborative action. The UFU believes this joint approach can deliver this,” he said.
Paul Vernon, chairman of Dairy UK (NI) added: “The current difficulties in the dairy sector are well documented; we must find better ways to deal with volatility and the uncertainty it brings. Volatility is an issue that affects the whole supply chain, not just farmers and processors, and this is why we want all supply chain stakeholders around the table to ensure we achieve our goals together.”
Last year, many dairy farmers took to the streets to protest at the low price they were receiving for their produce.
Some demonstrated outside supermarkets denying access to deliveries in a bid to make their point.
The aim is to have this up and running by the autumn of 2016.
The initiative is built around ways to manage margins along the supply chain from farm to supermarket shelf.
This is in addition to a drive by the UFU to work with the banks and businesses supplying farmers to ease the current intense cash flow pressure on farm families.
The bodies have also called for the European Commission not to introduce tendering of Intervention, once the current cap of 109,000 tonnes is reached.
Instead it wants the clock set back to zero. The industry sees intervention as a proven mechanism for tightening supplies, and believes an early announcement to extend current Intervention purchasing would help put a much needed floor into the market.
Jonathan Moore, UFU dairy policy chairman said the initiative is a first, because it will see key players coming together to «deliver benefits for the entire dairy supply chain».
“If we are to have a sustainable dairy sector we need innovative and collaborative action. The UFU believes this joint approach can deliver this,” he said.
Paul Vernon, chairman of Dairy UK (NI) added: “The current difficulties in the dairy sector are well documented; we must find better ways to deal with volatility and the uncertainty it brings. Volatility is an issue that affects the whole supply chain, not just farmers and processors, and this is why we want all supply chain stakeholders around the table to ensure we achieve our goals together.”
Last year, many dairy farmers took to the streets to protest at the low price they were receiving for their produce.
Some demonstrated outside supermarkets denying access to deliveries in a bid to make their point.
Source: IrishTimes