Despite the very challenging drop in the UK milk price, a recent European study trip painted a positive outlook for the dairy sector and its opportunities according to NFU Scotland’s Milk Committee chair, Bruce Mackie.

Bruce, accompanied by milk policy manager, Tracey Roan, joined their counterparts from NFU, NFU Cymru, and Ulster Farmers’ Union on an intensive two-day visit to Brussels co-ordinated by the UK Union’s Brussels-based office, BAB. The group met with officials from Copa Cogeca (the umbrella organisation for European farming unions and co-operatives), International Dairy Federation, European Dairy Association, German Farmers Union, Fonterra, and Eucolait at meetings hosted by BAB.

In the latest NFU Scotland blog, Bruce writes: “At a European level, we may have left the EU, but we are still in Europe which, as the European Dairy Federation pointed out to our group, is a global dairy superpower in its own right.

“The problems which we face as an industry are not unique to Scotland, nor the UK but shared with fellow farmers in Europe and beyond. Many of these are due to global issues – climate change, the war in Ukraine, and challenges in the supply chain.

“And although there might be a slight frostiness in some quarters post Brexit towards the UK, it is clear that the BAB office is as relevant as ever as we continue to deal with one of our largest markets. It is also clear we have many friends within the European and wider international dairy industry, and we should take advantage of these alliances.”