Call for Stronger Regulation to Protect Dorset Dairy Farmers
Source: dairynews.today
Liberal Democrat MP Vikki Slade advocates for a single, powerful regulatory body amid milk price cuts impacting Dorset’s dairy sector.
An MP has demanded the Government create a "regulator with teeth" to protect Dorset’s dairy farmers. Vikki Slade, the Liberal Democrat MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, has called for immediate Government intervention to safeguard the British dairy industry after several leading suppliers announced milk price cuts of up to 18 per cent.
She is pushing for a complete overhaul of the existing regulatory structure for the dairy supply chain, which she claims is "fragmented" and insufficient in its current form. The current system is divided between the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) and the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator (ASCA). The Liberal Democrats are advocating for a single, powerful regulatory body capable of enforcing fair pricing and holding processors and retailers accountable. Vikki Slade demands action as milk price cuts deepen farming crisis Ms Slade's concerns arise fr om recent price reductions by major suppliers, which have intensified the crisis in the dairy sector. Parkham Farms announced an 8p per litre cut for November milk, an 18 per cent drop.
Freshways reduced prices by 6p per litre, and Arla Foods, one of the UK's largest co-operatives, cut its October milk price by 1.7p per litre to 45.34p per litre. Research from the House of Commons Library, commissioned by the Liberal Democrats, shows a more than 30 per cent decline in the number of dairy farms in England since 2015, dropping from 12,643 to 8,738. Livestock numbers have also significantly decreased. This announcement follows Ms Slade's recent meeting with National Farmers’ Union (NFU) representatives, including NFU president Tom Bradshaw and NFU Cymru president Aled Jones, wh ere she reiterated her support for Dorset’s farmers.
Ms Slade said: "At a time when Dorset’s farmers are already struggling with drought, soaring costs and shrinking government support, these price cuts are a devastating blow. Enough is enough. Our farmers put food on our tables and sustain rural communities, yet they’re being squeezed at every turn. The Government must create a single, independent regulator with the power to stand up to corporate giants and ensure fair treatment for producers." She added: "If we want food security, we need farm security. That means fair prices, proper funding and a government that truly backs British farmers."
She is pushing for a complete overhaul of the existing regulatory structure for the dairy supply chain, which she claims is "fragmented" and insufficient in its current form. The current system is divided between the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) and the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator (ASCA). The Liberal Democrats are advocating for a single, powerful regulatory body capable of enforcing fair pricing and holding processors and retailers accountable. Vikki Slade demands action as milk price cuts deepen farming crisis Ms Slade's concerns arise fr om recent price reductions by major suppliers, which have intensified the crisis in the dairy sector. Parkham Farms announced an 8p per litre cut for November milk, an 18 per cent drop.
Freshways reduced prices by 6p per litre, and Arla Foods, one of the UK's largest co-operatives, cut its October milk price by 1.7p per litre to 45.34p per litre. Research from the House of Commons Library, commissioned by the Liberal Democrats, shows a more than 30 per cent decline in the number of dairy farms in England since 2015, dropping from 12,643 to 8,738. Livestock numbers have also significantly decreased. This announcement follows Ms Slade's recent meeting with National Farmers’ Union (NFU) representatives, including NFU president Tom Bradshaw and NFU Cymru president Aled Jones, wh ere she reiterated her support for Dorset’s farmers.
Ms Slade said: "At a time when Dorset’s farmers are already struggling with drought, soaring costs and shrinking government support, these price cuts are a devastating blow. Enough is enough. Our farmers put food on our tables and sustain rural communities, yet they’re being squeezed at every turn. The Government must create a single, independent regulator with the power to stand up to corporate giants and ensure fair treatment for producers." She added: "If we want food security, we need farm security. That means fair prices, proper funding and a government that truly backs British farmers."
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