Whilst doing my rolling work I compare our grim situation with last year when there was such optimism within the dairy industry. The milk price was on the incline, the major processors were maximising their capacity, demand was growing overseas, and all the farming media were pushing us to increase production in order to receive maximum return. There was such excitement and enthusiasm felt by all – more farms were investing, and there were also more entrants coming into the industry. Today’s situation couldn’t be more different. Although milk prices have now disappeared from our mainstream newspapers, the issue has not ceased to profoundly affect the reality that farmers experience every day.

Over the past few months the milk price has reached an all time low. Today many farmers are having to sell their milk at a loss, are struggling to find a buyer for their milk, and worst of all some farmers are not even being paid for the milk they’ve sold. Livestock markets across the country are brimming with dairy cattle as businesses struggle to make a living from producing milk and so are forced to sell up and leave farming.

So how did we find ourselves in such an extreme situation? Many blame the supermarkets for making milk a loss leader, but there has unfortunately been a series of events, which has aided the price drop.

Firstly, this month sees an historic event taking place – the abolition of the milk quota. Countries across the EU have been preparing for this moment for many years. Next month we can all produce as much milk as we wish without having to pay a levy for going over quota. With countries such as Ireland intending to double their milk production by 2020, the threat of over supply has already become a reality before the starting pistol has even fired.

Secondly, since the UN denounced the Russian invasion into Ukraine, Russia has banned all EU imports, including dairy products. China’s economy has also been gradually slowing down in its growth, significantly reducing global demand.

Finally, with our ideal weather last spring, we had optimum grass growth which produced record milk yields within the UK and across the globe.

The result: we find ourselves drowning in an oversupply of milk worldwide.

I have spoken to many laymen about this. They all say, “But I don’t understand, I don’t mind paying a little extra for my milk, so why not just raise the price?” In this time of austerity it is so comforting to hear the public support us farmers. Nevertheless, without guarantee that the public will support British products on the shelf, our price has to remain competitive with the global prices.

Not knowing what the milk price will be, how can the farmer protect himself from losing money? Do we really want to see a dairy industry, which houses thousands of cows all the year round, pushing the animals hard to produce up to 13-15000 litres per cow per year in order to achieve profitability? Certainly this is not how I wish to farm.

Back in the middle of 2014, Langton Arms locals Colin Symes and Andrew Netherton generously decided that instead of a vast array of lovely presents for their joint 50th, they would ask friends and family to give a donation to Prostate Cancer UK. They recently celebrated the milestone event at The Langton Arms in Tarrant Monkton and raised an impressive £666.

Keeping in the same spirit, owner Barbara Cossins and her team at the pub, chose the same charity as theirs for 2014 and added £56 to the pot with a cake and meat raffle on a local quiz night. Langton Arms Barman Jordan, exerted tremendous efforts in the Tarrant Valley 10k and had sponsors that supported him for a further £56.

The church in Tarrant Rawston, which is the Cossins family church, also held an Evensong in November that brought in another £306 and Barbara kindly donated the gift in kind for her allotment rental to Mrs Marshall of £50.

All in all, a great example of a local community pulling together for one great cause and with a couple of additional donations, the combined efforts have resulted in a fantastic £1173!

Well done to all.

8 x pork sausage, 500g mince

500g stewing steak, 4 x 6oz beef burgers

8 slices x back bacon, 4 x pork cutlets @ 300g each

Meat box – £33.00

Or add a joint to feed four people – choice of lamb, beef or pork

Meat box – £45.00

Suitable for home freezing

100% Traceability on all meats

Order by 4.00pm on Tuesday for collection on Thursday or Friday

from either The Butchery or The Langton Arms

Telephone Martin on 07796801525 or e-mail info@thelangtonarmsbutchery.co.uk