Calls for government aid for milk producers while lockdown lasts

Dairy farmers need government support to survive the Covid-19 lockdown as demand from cafés and restaurants has dried up, it has been urged.

Some dairy farmers south of the border are reporting having to pour milk away because it is not being picked up by processors in the face of a drop in demand from the food services sector and, in some cases, staff shortages. The Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF) is calling on the government to help fund a shortterm financial support scheme for dairy farmers whose businesses have been severely affected by the pandemic.

The short-term scheme would ensure dairy farmers stay in business through the current crisis, and are able to start resupplying restaurants, hotels and cafés when the lockdown eases and food outlets reopen.

It wants the government to reimburse farmers who are receiving a significantly reduced value for their milk or are having to dispose of it because their processor is heavily reliant on the food service sector. Around 300 dairy farmers, who produce around one million litres of milk a day, could benefit from such a scheme.

Under the plans put forward by the association, dairy farmers would be reimbursed directly by the government up to their standard milk price.

They would only be eligible if they supply a processor who can show their market has been affected solely from the impact of Covid-19, and it is hoped the scheme could be up and running by the end of April.

A Defra spokesman said: “We have taken a number of measures to support our food and farming sectors to manage the impact of coronavirus on the dairy supply chain. We are also working very closely with farmer and processor representatives to understand the specific challenges that the dairy sector is facing.

“Frequent discussions with the dairy supply chain will continue through this crucial period to understand what further support the sector needs.”