The association believes this will cause significant negative impacts on an already beleaguered industry, posing further threat to dairy farms across the country.
This development takes place against the background of a decline in numbers of UK dairy farms, which have fallen by 48% in the past 10 years across England and Wales.
However, organic farmers have been left largely unaffected by the cuts. The two major organic milk co-ops are part of the Soil Association’s ethical trade scheme, which includes standards to ensure that trade negotiations are open and transparent, with long-term commitments in place and a fair price agreed.
Martin Davies, head of farming at the Soil Association, said: “Though the cut in prices doesn’t affect the vast majority of organic farmers, we are very sympathetic to the plight of our non-organic colleagues and are calling for fairness across the whole milk supply chain.
“We are extremely concerned about the future of dairy farmers across the UK, particularly small and family farms which make up the back-bone of our countryside.”
Source: The Soil Association
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