Scottish government has launched an action plan to secure the long-term future of the country’s dairy sector.
The plan does not outline a short-term fix to the current woes of Scotland’s dairy farmers.
However, according to farm minister Richard Lochhead, who visited a family farm near Forfar in Angus to launch the plan, its creation is a “pivotal moment for the dairy sector in Scotland”.
The plan focuses on five key areas – market development, promoting best practice in dairy farming, promoting a transparent and efficient supply chain, supporting First Milk in transforming its operation in Scotland and getting the international rules right.
It sets out to develop a Scottish dairy brand and get more Scottish products on supermarket shelves, in the food services sector and into export markets.
A prototype ‘Made in Scotland’ dairy brand will be showcased at the Royal Highland Show in June, ahead of a formal launch at the Anuga Food Fair in Cologne in October.
“We have to make sure that the rest of the world sees dairy produce from this country as having a premium like salmon and whisky,” said Mr Lochhead.
More short-term help outlined in the plan includes giving dairy farmers priority access to whole farm reviews and the new SRDP advisory service, as well as offering struggling farmers’ co-operative First Milk help.
Earlier this year the Glasgow-headquartered company was forced to delay payments to farmers and ask them for further capital contributions to help it combat cash flow problems.
The government’s dairy action plan sets out to work with First Milk to transform its business and to provide financial support to upgrade its creamery in Campbeltown.
It also calls for a “thriving supply chain” with increased processing capacity in Scotland and transparency in the supply chain.
Mr Lochhead said: “We are working with some major companies to try and get them to invest in extra processing capacity on our own doorstep in Scotland.”
He said the plan followed on from a government report – Ambition 2025 – in 2013 which called for dairy farmers to produce 50% more milk by 2025 and the dairy growth board which was set up to drive the sector forward.
“The task before us is not to change tack but to accelerate and intensify the steps we are already taking to create a prosperous future for our dairy sector,” said Mr Lochhead.