DairyCo

Introducing Kevin Beaty – your regional DairyCo board member

Published 21 July 08

Introducing Kevin Beaty - your regional DairyCo board member

Kevin Beaty, a dairy farmer from Cumbria, is one of eight farmers from England, Scotland and Wales on the new DairyCo board (which replaced the Milk Development Council).

The board meets 10 times each year to discuss the various issues facing dairy farmers and to decide on strategy.  Farmer board members have been selected to represent each region to ensure DairyCo has a regional presence, and farmers have a regional representative to contact on any issues relating to dairy farming.  Kevin will be representing North England, including Cumbria, Lancashire and Yorkshire.

Kevin says: "I became a member of the DairyCo board primarily because I wanted to influence how the levy could be spent in a more farmer-facing way and to be a part of the decision making process, making a difference to British dairy farmers.

"So far it's been an eye-opening experience - I didn't realise just how much good work and research is done behind the scenes using the farmers' levy.  One invaluable service offered by DairyCo is Datum which I use regularly as it provides me with loads of data to help face the marketplace confidently.  It is a fast changing marketplace and I need information to make decisions quickly so as not to miss any chances to reduce input costs or sign the right milk contract.  Datum provides me with everything I need.

"The North West is predominantly a livestock based farming economy and this sector is seeing a huge change in both income but also input costs.  The systems used vary enormously from farm to farm so it's important farmers can discuss their own circumstances and share best practice.  Everyone can always learn something and I hope that DairyCo's emphasis on knowledge transfer through dairy business groups and the growing role of the extension officer team will help dairy farmers in the region overcome any geographical disadvantages to retain more of their income in the future."

Dairy farmers wishing to contact Kevin on any dairy farming issue can call him on 07775 993212 or email kevin@thecumberlanddairy.co.uk

Ends

Date 21 July 2008

For further information and photos:
N:    Vicki Hill
T:    01285 646544
E:    vicki.hill@dairyco.org.uk

Notes for Editors:

DairyCo Limited was set up in April 2008 following a fundamental review of agricultural levy boards by Defra. The five existing levy boards (including the Milk Development Council) were replaced by one statutory levy board, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB).

Reporting in to AHDB are six sector companies - DairyCo will cover the milk sector.

DairyCo is funded entirely by milk producers, via a statutory levy on all milk sold off-farm, at the rate of 0.06p per litre.  This provides an annual income of around £7m.

DairyCo's current focus is on improving the profitability of dairy farming by focusing on four specific areas:
•    The provision of a world-class information service
•    Helping dairy farmers increase their profits while meeting regulatory and environmental requirements - through better business management.
•    Helping promote the positive perception of dairy products and dairy farming with the general public
•    The development of DairyCo towards a self-sustaining model.

DairyCo co-funds the industry's nutritional and issues management resource - The Dairy Council - with the processors' trade body Dairy UK.