The Ulster Farmers Union is holding a summit for dairy farmers and the dairy industry on Thursday 27 August at CAFRE, Greenmount.
The event, being opened by UFU president Ian Marshall, has been organised to address some of the serious difficulties facing dairy farmers, and to look at the challenges that lie ahead as autumn/winter approaches.
“The fall in milk price has left many farmers desperately worried about the future of their businesses. With no sign of things improving we are bringing the industry together to help develop a strategy that will allow farmers to get through what is going to be a very difficult autumn/winter,” said UFU dairy chairman Jonathan Moore.
Speakers will include the Agriculture Minister, Michelle O’Neill, William Irwin, Northern Ireland Assembly Agriculture and Rural Development Committee chairman, Robert McCullough, Dankse Bank; Trevor Lockhart, Dairy UK and Jonathan Moore, UFU dairy chairman will all be speaking at the event.
The event starts at 10.30am and is expected to finish at around 1.30pm. There will be no registration and both UFU members and non-members are invited to attend.
“We are very aware of how difficult things are at present and this event has been organised to not only provide dairy farmers with an opportunity to channel their frustrations but also allow the panel of speakers to take on board farmers’ concerns,” said Mr Moore.
The panel will also provide practical advice on what might be done now to help dairy farmers manage this difficult period.