Aileen attends Milk Rally

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Monday, 30 July 2012

Clydesdale Constituency MSP, Aileen Campbell, recently attended a mass rally at Lanark market in support of dairy farmers. More than 500 farmers from across the UK converged at Lanark to reinforce the need for producers to get a fairer milk price and discuss and take forward the need for closer collaboration between producers.  

Milk price cuts this summer have seen an unprecedented level of frustration and anger amongst dairy farmers. The pressure put on the sector as a consequence of the cuts have seen demonstrations throughout the UK.  

The meeting was a follow up to a gathering of dairy farmers in Lanark three weeks ago. Leaders subsequently met with Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs saw Richard Lochhead who issued a five-point plan on dairy.

After the event Aileen commented:

“I was delighted to attend Lanark Market and reinforce my continued support for our hard pressed dairy farmers and to hear Richard Lochhead provide an update on the Scottish Government’s five-point plan.

“I was particularly pleased to hear the Cabinet Secretary pledge £100,000 from the Scottish Government to help fund the ‘Dairy Farmers Together’ initiative to help farmers collaborate.

“The Dairy Coalition has worked extremely hard over the past weeks and significant progress has been made. The very positive announcements on milk price this week from some retailers was very welcome.

“However, it’s clear that a long term solution lies with better collaboration between the farmers themselves. The Scottish Government’s promise of funding and continued support to examine all options will be a real shot in the arm in pursuit of this objective.

“This event was a real show of strength and passion from the industry and an indication of what can be achieved. There is however much to do and I am committed to assist in anyway I can for the long term future of Clydesdale’s dairy industry ”.