DairyCo

Top marks for farmers’ environmental targets

Published 1 July 11

The recently published Dairy Roadmap report reveals further reductions in the environmental impact of the dairy industry. The expanded Dairy Roadmap report highlights the key achievements made since the launch of the Milk Roadmap in 2008.

The tremendous efforts made by dairy farmers, processors and retailers include:

• With a challenging target set for 50% of dairy managed farmland entered into Environmental Stewardship Schemes (ESS) by 2010, an encouraging 61% of farmers are participating in some form of ESS.

• Dairy farmers are tackling water use efficiency through a variety of techniques such as re-using water from the plate cooler, harvesting rainwater or installing bore-holes.
• Dairy farmers have made considerable progress towards the 2015 target of 20-30% of dairy farmers trialling new technologies such as slurry injection, altering feeding systems and use of solar technologies or wind turbines. Of the dairy farmers surveyed, 39% had introduced new technologies in the previous 12-24 months
• Dairy farmers have also met the targets for having Manure Management Plans and Farm Health Plans, while the target for the number of farmers actively nutrient planning is expected to be met when the complete data set is available
• Dairy processors have met their target for using 10% recycled plastic into milk bottles
• Throughout the last 10 years dairy processors have increased their energy efficiency by more than 27%, resulting in a reduction in annual green house gas emissions equivalent to approximately 270,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
• Most major retailers are working with their dairy farmer suppliers to measure and reduce their carbon footprints. Speaking at the launch of the report at the House of Commons, Minister for Agriculture Jim Paice said: "It's not easy being in this industry, but the people who produce, process and sell dairy products are continuing to lead the charge to becoming more sustainable. The Roadmap shows real achievements right across the board, from entering land into environmental stewardship to more efficient use of energy and water.

There's more that can be done, but the industry has shown that it's up to the challenge and is providing a great example of the fact that
collective action for change is every bit as effective as the heavy hand of regulation."

Mr Tim Bennett, chairman of the Roadmap taskforce said: "The achievements to date as set out in the report demonstrate the responsibility and ambition of our dairy sector. "Great Britain provides a fantastic landscape to support a thriving dairy industry. We have been exemplary in tackling the environmental  challenges but we are not complacent. We are fully committed to modifying and developing the Dairy Roadmap whilst continuing to deliver high-quality, excellent products enjoyed every day by consumers."

Ends

For further information:

N:        Helen Fina

T:        02476 478696

E:        helen.fina@dairyco.org.uk 
W:       www.dairyco.org.uk

DairyCo's aim is to promote world class knowledge to British dairy farmers so they can profit from a sustainable future.

To achieve this DairyCo aims to:

• Ensure farmers have access to world class information needed to improve competitiveness, GHG reduction and productivity
• Ensure farmers have access to direct and indirect support to help them improve their profitability through better business management
• Ensure that dairy farming is reducing its impact on the environment
• Ensure farmers understand the benefits of breeding and use the related tools

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 £6.5m.

DairyCo is a division of the statutory levy board, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB).