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- January 2011
- December 2010
- Promotions and price cuts - the retail market
- Farmgate price well below market returns in 2010
- Record high for feed wheat
- Input costs increasing faster than farmgate price
- Tesco to extend dedicated milk pool
- The Farm Behind the Food resource
- Gap between farmgate and AMPE narrows
- Panorama surprised when ex- dairy farmer gives thumbs up to ‘Mega Dairy’
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Panorama surprised when ex- dairy farmer gives thumbs up to ‘Mega Dairy’
Published 15 December 10
The pre-publicity ahead of the BBC Panorama titled Supermarkets, What Price Cheap Food? suggested dairy might be in for a rough ride.
Part of the programme focused on a trip to an American 'mega-dairy' Fair Oaks Farms with Tony Gillett, a fourth generation British dairy farmer who has recently sold his herd. Tony had also been given facts and figures by DairyCo before the programme but these of course just provided the rational side of the argument (namely good welfare is independent of herd size).
Tony gave his own perspective on what he saw which was a very emotional ringing endorsement of the good conditions and high welfare of the cows, becoming, according to the programme, a 'disciple'. "The cows seem so relaxed and happy," he said.
DairyCo had provided Panorama with facts and figures aiming to ensure accurate reporting. This was broadly achieved other than the programme citing cheap imports being a reason for dairy farmers going out of business.