Union warns of many threats to dairy sector

NFU Cymru will highlight the many challenges causing uncertainty for dairy farming at the annual Welsh Dairy Show.

- STAFF REPORTER

The union says the cumulative impact of these factors has led to forecasts of a challenging short-term future for many in the sector.

Among the issues are the impacts of a long, dry summer, disease threats; continued financial fears in the wake of proposed changes to inheritance tax, the costs of complying with Welsh Government's water quality regulations and the transition from the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) to the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS), all against the backdrop of a volatile market and recent farm gate milk price drops.

Speaking before the show, which will be held in Nantyci, Carmarthenshire today, NFU Cymru Dairy Board chairman Jonathan Wilkinson said: "Rarely have Welsh dairy farmers had to juggle so many varied and competing issues at once.

"The prolonged dry summer has resulted in variable forage yields in our industry having to source feed far earlier in the calendar.