An informal meeting of dairy farmers from the Monmouthshire area held on January 8 has resulted in a consensus being reached, that all avenues must be examined in order to secure a more sustainable milk price. Attending the meeting were a significant number of "First Milk" and "Dairy Farmers of Britain" members and all were in agreement that in the light of the high dairy commodity prices, stable exchange rates and most importantly, falling milk supplies, the farmer owned co-operatives were failing miserably to achieve the farm gate milk price increases that their members desperately need. Even previously staunch supporters of both organisations stated that the promises of "jam tomorrow", which have been made for so long by the Boards of First Milk and DFB, were now sounding increasingly hollow, and the meeting was unanimous in the view that perhaps the time has come to look at alternative ways of marketing our milk. It was agreed that investigations should be made into the structure of other successful producer groups in the surrounding area with a view to the possible creation of a more formal group at some point in the near future. The next meeting shall take place on Monday, January 29, at 8 p.m. at The Hogs Head, Llantilio Crossenny, Abergavenny.
