Mandatory Code of Conduct to be drawn up by Government

The outcome of the various NFU’s requests and campaigns to government for legislation on milk contracts, with the aim that it will address the perceived imbalance in power currently in favour of processors at the expense of dairy farmers, is that the current voluntary code will be ditched in favour of a mandatory code.  

All four regions will now have a huge task to develop a workable code and set of minimum standards but for sure for the farmers supplying one or two processors who continue to back date price cuts, its either time to do what’s right or shut up shop. More on this in Ian’s next Dairy Farmer Article. When one or more processors inability to confirm the price it pays its farmers beyond the month end, let alone in advance, will be explored.