Meon Valley MP urges farmers to form dairy organisations

FARMERS are being urged to set up dairy producer organisations to get the best price from supermarkets for their products.
George Hollingbery MPGeorge Hollingbery MP
George Hollingbery MP

Meon Valley MP George Hollingbery said the co-operative-style initiative could provide vital leverage for negotiating contract terms and conditions to get the best deal for milk production.

Mr Hollingbery urged farmers to think about the scheme when he met with agriculture minister George Eustice and constituents Bruce Horn, John Lillywhite and David Handley from Farmers For Action.

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Some farmers are selling their milk for less than it takes them to produce, forcing many into financial difficulties or out of business.

Mr Hollingbery said: ‘A dairy farmer on his own is often ill-equipped to negotiate with supermarkets or other large companies, but being in a DPO, pooling resources and expertise and having the money to pay for better legal advice to analyse contracts, can make a big difference. It’s been a tough few years for dairy farmers, but there are things out there that can help.’

A DPO can be set up with just 10 farmers. For more go to gov.uk/government/collections/dairy-producer-organisations-guidance

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