The National Farmers Union (NFU) is leaving dairy industry body Dairy UK in protest at the decision to appoint industrial processing customer Mark Allen, chief executive of Dairy Crest, as its chairman.
The NFU argues that it is incompatible to have as Dairy UK's chairman someone who is an industrial processing customer of dairy farmers. Farmers believe they have suffered badly in the past from the low prices paid by processors and retailers for their milk.
Dairy UK is a trade association that represents the interests of dairy farmers, producer co-ops, milk processors and doorstep deliverymen. Allen, vice-chairman of Dairy UK, succeeds the Rt Hon David Curry MP, chairman of Dairy UK for the last four years.
NFU president Peter Kendall said: "Irrespective of the personalities, the decision to move away from an independent chairman means that Dairy UK cannot claim it represents the whole of the dairy industry.
"I would like to commend David Curry for his work as chairman of Dairy UK. We haven't always agreed, but we have appreciated his willingness to engage with the farming sector and for the credibility and presence that he has given the dairy sector politically. He has also ensured that Dairy UK has not been seen as representing one part or another of the dairy industry. To move away from an independent-led association is, in our opinion, naive and short-sighted.
"We do not believe now that Dairy UK can make any claim to represent farmers. For this reason, with deep regret, we are taking the decision to withdraw our involvement in Dairy UK and I have asked Gwyn Jones to resign as a director of the board.
"I want to stress that the NFU will continue to voice the views and opinions of its farming members not only to government but also to the rest of the dairy industry. We will continue to have positive and frank dialogue with dairy processors about how to ensure a successful British milk industry, but we will do so outside of Dairy UK.
Jim Begg, Dairy UK director general said: “We are deeply disappointed at the reaction from the NFU which has indicated its withdrawal from Dairy UK. We do not agree with the NFU view that the dairy industry’s representative body cannot have a chairman from its own industry.”