Industry leaders hope to thrash out solutions

Dairy industry leaders will gather at Holyrood next week to discuss ways to help the ailing sector.

A summit chaired by farm minister Richard Lochhead will be attended by Government officials, the farmers union, processors, retailers and representatives from the finance sector.

Mr Lochhead said the closed meeting, which takes place on Tuesday, was being called to ascertain what more Government could do to help the sector and to build on the progress made under the Government’s dairy action plan.

“Scotland has an envied reputation for the quality of our food and we produce some excellent cheeses, butter and milk,” said Mr Lochhead.

“However, our dairy sector is facing a number of ongoing challenges including low prices which have resulted in hardship for many producers.

“I recognise that much of the current difficulty stems from unfavourable global market conditions but I believe progress can be made on a number of areas that, collectively, would help increase resilience of the sector, which is why I am inviting key industry figures to meet me to discuss what further steps that can be taken to help the sector, building on the dairy action plan I published last year.”

Mr Lochhead also confirmed Government would provide an additional £30,000 of funding to dairy farmers on the Isle of Bute to go towards the cost of tankers returning empty on ferries to Bute from the mainland.

Richard Lochhead.