Dairy Farmers of Scotland

providing a voice for Milk Producers

Current events/news:
26/10/09: Market indicators sore! - farmgate prices should be on rise - checkout dairyco website for information.
24/9/09: European milk supply boycott suspended pending outcome of crisis talks on 5th October.
17/9/09: Speaking at the Dairy Event in England this week, David Handley, Chairman of Farmers for Action, sent a message of support to the EMB and the European dairy farmers and updated the audience on the current situation in Europe. He urged UK farmers to show support for their European colleagues and announced that, if there was enough support/feedback, Farmers for Action would be working with Dairy Farmers of Scotland to organise events over the coming week. Send us your thoughts/feedback (all replies will be treated in confidence).
18/9/09: Participation in the European milk delivery strike increases by the day... Having started at a slower speed than their French neighbours, German dairy farmers are now increasingly participating. More than 20,000 farmers are reducing or totally stopping to deliver their milk to the dairies.
In Belgium, several hundred thousands of litres of milk are being spread on the fields everyday and more than 1000 farmers are participating. Crop farmers and several third world organisations have announced their support to the dairy farmers.
In Austria the signs are pointing to a higher participation. More than 10 per cent of the farmers have joined the strike.
In the Netherlands a big event close to Amsterdam will take place, where dairy farmers spread their milk on fields. More and more farmers participate in the actions.
In France still more than 45 per cent are on strike. As part of a europewide action there are also tankers of milk being brought out to the fields in twenty regions of the country.
Italian dairy farmers will spread 200,000 litres of milk in front of representatives of the media today.
Also in Luxembourg 150,000 litres of milk will flow today. 15 per cent of the dairy farmers have joined the strike so far and this number is expected to increase.
photo of Belgian farmers spreading milk on fields 3 million litres of milk spread by 450 Belgian tankers
11/9/09: 30% French dairy farmers withhold milk and now being joined by farmers in Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg with more countries expected to follow... view photos (643 kb .pdf file) and for latest information visit EMB website
10/9/09: French dairy farmers call for European wide milk strike press release - more updates to follow soon...
14/7/09: Members of EMB and ECVC join forces in Strasbourg - joint press release: EU Agricultural policy has to create framework for balanced markets
9/7/09: EMB members' representatives meet in Zurich and demand a change in policy - press release
27/5/09: Scottish Government 'Milk Summit'
25/5/09: EMB day of action in Brussels - press release, link to youtube video
29/4/09: Farmers from DFOS and NFUS held a peaceful lobby outside the Scottish Parliament with calves and Scottish Faironika cows and were joined by MSPs who came out to listen to their concerns.

dairy farmers talk with politicians farmers gather outside Scottish Parliament cows and calves outside parliament

29/4/09: 20,000 rally across Europe for a fair milk price......for current news and photos from Europe visit the EMB website - latest EMB press release.
17/4/09: representatives from DFOS meet with representatives from FFA; FUW; RABDF; NFU England & Wales; NFU Scotland and NFU Cymru... read press release
10/2/09: representatives from Dairy Farmers of Scotland meet with Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs...read more
5/1/09: DFOS reaction to latest price cut announcements
1/12/08: latest news from Europe.
19/11/08: Faironika at Agriscot.

Faironika at Agriscot

28/10/08: DFOS reaction to news that retailers are trying to talk down the price of milk.
17/10/08: Faironika is 1 year old today! visit www.fairmilk.co.uk for information.
7/10/08: The silent exodus of dairy farmers: most retailers have increased the milk price to consumers by around 4 ppl over the last week, but the proportion of this increase to be passed back to the farmer is, at best, 1 ppl - with some producers having to sign up to intrusive business costings to receive a 0.75 ppl increase and many producers not yet receiving any increase at all. The farmgate price remains below the real cost of production for most and dairy farmers continue to leave the industry with monthly milk production reaching record lows (visit DairyCo datum for latest data)... this despite many processors and retailers continuing to make substantial (even record) profits.

DairyCo Datum	the latest facts & figures from MDC - check out the April dairy market update and farmgate milk prices - what the farmer gets.
Daily updates	link to the news page of Ian Potter's website with daily updates on important issues affecting the dairy industry.
NFU milk contract	NFU/NFUS launch model milk contract designed to bring greater fairness to the relationships between milk producers and purchasers. A copy of milk purchase agreement and guidance notes can be downloaded.
links	some more useful links
Recent/past events: 26/8/08: Dairy Farmers of Scotland supporters joined other farming organisations from across the UK and Ireland in protest outside Tesco HQ, Cheshunt. Amongst the other farming organisations represented under the umbrella organisation FFE (Fairness for Farmers in Europe) were Farmers Union of Wales; the Irish ICMSA; ICSA; FFA and FFA NI. 11/8/08: Tesco announces it will promote 2L Fresh n Lo milk at £1.06 followed closely by Asda selling 2L Cravendale milk at £1 (reduced from £1.59) - a milk price war is now well underway! read DFOS reaction. 23/6/08: DFOS sends letter to Scottish dairy farmers to gauge support. If you are a Scottish dairy farmer and have not received a letter and would like to support DFOS, please email us and we'll send one to you or download the letter and form. 16/5/08: DFoS meeting with NFUS - report 6/5/08: Dairy Farmers of Scotland meeting in Hamilton - read short report 3/3/08: A report 'The Real Price of Milk' commisioned by First Milk and produced by Promar International highlights the precarious condition of British dairy farming and calls for a ‘fair trade’ price to be paid to farmers for their milk, after a decade in which they have been forced to sell at a price well below the real cost of production. It argues that farmers should be paid the equivalent of 29.64ppl. view First Milk news release; download summary report (843kb .pdf) - although UK farmgate returns have improved since October 07, many farmers are still receiving around 25 ppl only for their milk and with farm costs rising as fast as they have been, this is not enough to cover the cost of production. 17/10/07 European Milk Board members launch 'the fair milk' campaign across Europe - visit www.fairmilk.org to find out more. The aim is to ensure a fair return and a future for our dairy farmers. Scotland's own Faironika cow has arrived and anyone wanting to help promote the Fair Milk in Scotland please get in touch. More news and updates on the campaign will follow... Faironika heads to Agriscot DFoS newsletter 30/7/07 (updated 2/8/07) July news: DFoS to join EMB (European Milk Board) June news: DFoS to join Fairness for Farmers in Europe May News release: DFoS supporters meet with representatives of EMB, FUW and ICMSA. DFoS April news 3/4/07 This website is your chance to let the public know what the farmer really gets for his milk! It will grow and develop with your input. If you have any information that you think would be of interest let us know... email us with your comments. View some of the feedback received to date. Meetings: if you'd like us to arrange a meeting in your area please email and let us know. To all who have sent back their forms and many messages of support - thank you. Thanks to all those who have given generously of their time and money. We really do appreciate your help!

Whilst every care has been taken during the preparation of this website,
Dairy Farmers of Scotland cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the information on it or any consequence arising from its use.
The views of contributors may not necessarily be those held by DFOS.