Montichiari, November 2019

Discussions about dairy sector at international conference in Montichiari

While newly-elected representatives are starting their jobs at the EU institutions in Brussels, dairy-farmer representatives from 15 European countries met yesterday and today in the Italian city of Montichiari near Lake Garda. The discussions about the dairy sector centred around the new guidelines to restructure European agricultural policy.

Farmers are essentially being left behind in society

The shortcomings of the current agricultural policy framework have been clearly demonstrated in recent years by the sector's propensity for crises, which have been especially destructive for producers. For example, dairy farmers were paid milk prices lower than 25 cents per litre in 2009 because of these crises, while their production costs were over 40 cents per litre. In 2012, prices once again fell below 30 cents, and the average price in the EU in 2016 was merely 28 cents. In the mentioned years, EU farmers earned only about 40 percent of the average EU income; in 2009, it was a paltry 27.5 percent. However, even in so-called 'normal' years like 2017, farmers still earned only 46.5 percent of the average EU income, which means that they are being left far behind. These depressing figures imply a very bleak future for dairy farming and younger generations looking to take over farms. When the only constant is that this situation is not going to change in the foreseeable future, young farmers are obviously reluctant to take up the vocation of milk production. Even the current EU-wide milk price of 33 cents is hardly a source of motivation, when production costs themselves are over 40 cents per litre. One also cannot forget that normal market disturbances will be further compounded when Brexit eventually comes into force. The Common Agricultural Policy has no instruments to deal with this or other geopolitical events either.

Guidelines for crisis resistance

At this international conference of dairy farmers in Italy, social sustainability and responsible production have been key topics. The first step is to counteract the dairy sector's propensity for crises by implementing a crisis detection instrument at EU level. Once a crisis is detected, effective measures must be quickly activated. These measures must aim for responsible production. Therefore, the first step in the face of a crisis must be market relief through voluntary production reduction.

As the President of the European Milk Board, Erwin Schöpges believes that crisis prevention is the most important objective and emphasises a quick reaction in this regard: "A system that is automatically activated at the earliest signs of a crisis is indispensable. Market relief measures must be automatically initiated at once. In this way, severe fluctuations, which are always a major burden for farmers, can be avoided." Sieta van Keimpema, the Vice-President of the European dairy farmers' association, adds: "The past has clearly shown us that every measure is, however, not equally effective. Voluntary production cuts have proven to be an effective crisis management measure. Intervention and private storage, on the other hand, could not and cannot prevent a crisis. In fact, intervention can have the contrary effect and subsequently lead to a further market overload." Therefore, the EMB is calling for the implementation of the so-called Market Responsibility Programme (MRP), which is structured around effective crisis prevention measures and should play a decisive role in the future of the EU's Common Agricultural Policy. This instrument can also be effectively implemented in the case of far-reaching events like Brexit or politically-motivated import restrictions – where the current trade policy of the incumbent President of the United States comes to mind.

The dairy-farmer representatives present in Italy believe that in addition to social sustainability, environmental sustainability is also a must. However, this requires strategies and possibilities that are discussed and implemented together with farmers. They also include agreements regarding fair cost coverage for climate-friendly production. Farmers should be able to live off their work, i.e. milk prices must fully cover all milk production costs – including remuneration for farmers and the cost of climate compliance.

EMB press release of 15 November 2019

Excerpt from the press release of the Federal Association of German Dairy Farmers BDM (22.10.2019)

On 22 October, farmer protests took place in many regions of Germany. In many places, tractors brought traffic to a standstill. The Federal Association of German Dairy Farmers (BDM) issued a press release about the protests, calling for urgent action on the agricultural sector.  

"The Federal Association of German Dairy Farmers (BDM) feels that far-reaching changes are needed, but they must be feasible and, above all, financially viable," explained BDM Chairman Stefan Mann. "We are mired in ever more complex regulations and requirements, which leads to considerable expense for us, ramping up cost pressures and, in some cases, creating conflicting objectives. It is time for us to take a more categorical approach to the way we think and act. We can no longer accept a "business as usual" scenario. We must tackle the problem at the root. We must move away from an agricultural market policy designed primarily to make the food industry internationally competitive by supplying it with cheap raw materials," continued Mann.

The resulting cost pressures demand greater efficiency, more intensive farming methods, and an ever-increasing concentration. This has negative consequences, which are now being mitigated through the introduction of regulations.

"This approach is comparable to a doctor who only supplies his patient with painkillers instead of treating the cause of the pain," argued Stefan Mann. "The problems will never be solved with more stringent requirements and higher production standards. They add to cost pressures for farmers, forcing them to be ever more efficient. We must break this vicious cycle, which has already led to the closure of thousands of farms. We need to be able to sell our products at a profit to make our farms financially sustainable and to introduce much-needed changes for the conservation of our environment, climate, and nature, and for animal welfare standards."

We expect Federal Agricultural Minister Julia Klöckner to press Berlin and Brussels for urgent changes in the agricultural market policy. The EU’s Common Market Organisation must be developed to strengthen the market position of farmers. This should also include curbing the anti-competitive practices and market dominance of the buyers of our products so that we may receive cost-covering prices that reflect the true value of our products. Free-trade agreements such as the Mercosur Agreement must not be signed as long as they undermine the requirements and standards that apply to European and German farmers.

BDM press release from 22 October 2019

Le-Mont-sur-Lausanne, September 2019

The Swiss Fair Milk Cooperative has launched Faireswiss fair milk, which guarantees producers a price of 1 franc per litre. Whole UHT milk and five types of soft cheese are now available in all 31 Manor Food stores in Switzerland.

The milk price paid to producers has been a hot topic for many years. It is, in fact, lower than the production cost, which is estimated at 1 franc per litre. Faireswiss milk products based on ensuring that producers receive this price are being sold now on a large scale in major retail establishments. This is an important step forward that allows consumers to play their part in supporting fair trade within their country as well.

The Faireswiss range of fair milk products was launched on 23 September in the 31 Manor stores in Switzerland. It includes UHT whole milk (3.5%) in Tetra Edge packs, processed by Cremo. And that is not all –There are also five soft cheeses from the Grand Pré à Moudon cheese dairy: Brie de Moudon, Bourg-Mignon, Cœur de Moudon, St-Etienne and Reblochon.

The official launch event was held on said date at the Cremo premises in Mont-sur-Lausanne, in the presence of members of the Fair Milk Cooperative, the Manor group, as well as the President of the European Milk Board (EMB) Erwin Schöpges. The latter represented the Fair Milk family already operating in Europe under the auspices of the EMB.

What is the Faireswiss project?

The Faireswiss brand is owned by producers and allows them to earn a decent living. This project will ensure fair milk prices for producers, that is, a price that covers real production costs to the tune of 1 franc per litre, which is 30% higher than the price currently paid. Each producer/co-operative member will be remunerated in the form of a bonus of 35 centimes per litre of dairy milk supplied. Fourteen producers are currently members of the Fair Milk Cooperative as shareholders, with their stake calculated on the basis of their supply volumes. This project is open to all Swiss milk producers.

The Faireswiss dairy farmers are part of at least two of the three Federal sustainability programmes and uphold proof of ecological performance requirements.

For more information about this project, please visit https://www.faireswiss.ch/fr and www.europeanmilkboard.org

Extract from press release by the Swiss Fair Milk Cooperative on 23 September 2019

In 2008 and 2009, milk producers, courageously and with a heavy heart, poured away the contents of their milk tanks to draw the world's attention to the absolute rock-bottom prices paid for milk.

The major European milk delivery strikes of 2008 and 2009 were commemorated in numerous events held in France and Belgium throughout the weekend and this Monday as well. These milk strikes, which have gone down in history, led to milk producers in the EU moulding themselves into an extremely important political voice. A voice that was not fragmented and weak, but was a collective outcry that expressed the key concerns of very many European dairy farmers, loud and clear. A voice that might not have been able to ensure that everything that was necessary was implemented immediately, but has definitely put forth concrete proposals to improve conditions within the sector. These include the implementation of voluntary production cuts, which was an important political victory in 2016. 

This weekend in France, participants in the 2009 strike from all over Europe made the start. In a large-scale festival in Normandy, they proudly commemorated the strong actions of ten years ago. Board member of the French milk producer organisation APLI and the European Milk Board (EMB), Boris Gondouin, commented: "This weekend we are here in Normandy, France, for the 10^th anniversary of the milk strike. It was something magical, but at the same time it was very hard. It is something I don't wish to anyone. But it was essential and it showed everyone – decision-makers, consumers, other farmers – that we can be united. And that if we no longer agree with the price of milk, at some point we could stop delivering milk, on a European scale."

The European representatives of the milk producers then continued their journey to Ciney in Belgium to attend today's big rally with 1000 tractors. Just like 10 years ago, when 3 million litres of milk were poured on the fields, today milk producers from all over Europe have gathered here with tractors to demonstrate against the still unfair milk prices which do not cover their costs. They are joined by many farmers from other agricultural sectors who are also demonstrating against the current agricultural policy, which lacks fairness and sustainability.

EMB President and Belgian dairy farmer Erwin Schöpges says that the strikes were a very important, historic moment for milk producers in Belgium and in other countries. "It was a unique moment of solidarity between milk producers and consumers. Such an action had never taken place before and we were very proud to have taken this step." Sieta van Keimpema, EMB Vice-President, addresses the current generation of milk producers: "Look at what has happened on your farm in the last 10 to 20 years. Look at your income, the situation of your family, the hours you work and how social your life still is. If you see that your life hasn't gotten better, even though you've worked so much, join the farmers who want to change something. And that is in your interest, which also corresponds to the interest of many other international farmers. Fighting together is the only way to improve our situation and a way against the disappearance of dairy farms that we have seen for years. Stand up, all dairy farmers!"

In the eleven years since, the dairy sector has made progress. But we have also seen what happens when reactions are insufficient: drastic collapses in milk prices have continued to occur post the strikes as well. Family farms continue to disappear at an increasing rate, even though it is absolutely clear from a socio-political and an environmental point of view that these family structures are key. European dairy policy cannot do without a crisis instrument like the Market Responsibility Programme – an instrument that prevents such price collapses so that milk production does not become synonymous with a painful, loss-making venture. So that farming, once again, becomes an activity with prospects for the future – for farmers in general, and in particular for the youth. This was one of the objectives that motivated milk producers to go on strike in 2008 and 2009, and they continue to steadfastly pursue this objective even today.

In many European countries, those who participated in the milk strikes are looking back on these events and their significance for the current dairy-farmer movement in Europe.

France: Sylvain Louis, President of APLI

2009 was a wake-up call for dairy farmers, where they realised that their production belonged to them, that they could pour away their milk to show that the milk purchase price was totally insufficient. A new vocabulary was born: we started talking about production costs, cost-covering prices, decent wages, volume regulation. The years thereafter entailed an on-going struggle without any guarantee of success, but if you do not fight, you have lost the battle before it even began.

Germany: Stefan Mann, Chairman of BDM

What seemed impossible became a reality: We all look back fondly and proudly on the actions organised on our dairy farms 10 and 11 years ago. In late May 2008, our then Chairman and President Romuald Schaber stood in Freising before 15,000 farmers eagerly awaiting the go-ahead, and explained to them that from this moment on, they would withhold their milk deliveries. This was followed by nine emotionally-charged days filled with exemplary commitment and increasing bafflement on the dairy sector. We all went above and beyond, sleep was scarce, and in addition to the milk delivery strikes, the interruption of milk deliveries from other EU countries led to a very challenging situation for the committed protesters all over the country.

A year later, in autumn 2009, the second heated phase of the protest was rolled out – this time not in Germany alone, but together with our friends in neighbouring countries. The images were even more powerful; we need only to think about the large milk spraying action in Ciney.

Without these heated phases of protests by dairy farmers, we would no longer be talking about the issues plaguing the dairy sector. There would have been no Milk Package, no discussion about the future organisation of the dairy market, no dairy sector study by the Federal Cartel Office, no pioneering decisions by the Agriculture Committee of the European Parliament, and no debates about economically-sustainable dairy farming and so much more.

What began in 2008/2009 as an expression of outrage is something that we want to build on with our irrefutable arguments and our perseverance, which was initially considered impossible. Let us remain ever-ready to channel our anger into public demonstrations whenever needed!

Italy: Roberto Cavaliere, EMB Executive Committee member and President of the Italian association APL della Pianura Padana

We fought together for a fair price. The milk strikes were our reaction to an inadequate European policy. We withheld our production to demand fairer rules for the dairy market.

Luxembourg, LDB dairy farmers' association

A large number of farmers in Luxembourg were very motivated and joined the strike. Many poured away milk on their farms and just as many drove their tractors – tanks filled with milk – to the city and to Jean-Claude Juncker in the Ministry of State. The solidarity among dairy farmers was impressive, as was the solidarity shown by citizens for their dairy farmers. Many were willing to change their consumption habits and to be more conscious about what they buy. This is something that still prevails in Luxembourg: consumers ask for regional, seasonal products. All in all, a lot changed among dairy farmers 10 and 11 years ago. The fact that so many all across Europe were able to act in concert has left its mark on me.

Netherlands: Sieta van Keimpema, EMB Vice-President and Chairperson of the DDB

The resistance from cooperatives against their own members was extremely disappointing. However, the solidarity among the participating farmers was simply unbelievable

Austria: Ernst Halbmayr, Project manager at A faire Milch

I was there in June 2008 when thousands of dairy farmers gathered in a field in Freising, Germany, to hear Romuald Schaber declare: "I will not deliver any milk as of tomorrow." The same evening, we convened a Bureau meeting in Austria and decided to immediately join the action. For many, this was surely the most emotional moment of their lives as dairy farmers. For those who were not there in person, it is probably difficult to imagine how charged this period was. Today, everyone who was there clearly remembers what they did and has their own story to share about the event.

Switzerland: Werner Locher, Secretary of BIG-M

The milk strikes in Europe provided ample proof of the solidarity among farmers. Through a number of actions, it was possible for us to create awareness about the dysfunction of the dairy sector among the public at large. Unfortunately, the framework conditions have not changed significantly since then. The EMB is much needed, even today! We, Swiss farmers, are proud to be a part of the amazing European movement that is the EMB.

A voice that, in the eyes of many dairy farmers, could surely go on to even greater victories.

Please find here photos of the rally in Ciney

EMB press release of 16 September 2019

Paris, May 2019

On 14 May 2019, a few dozen French farmers, members of the French association of independent milk producers (APLI National), went to Paris to stage a demonstration near the Ministry of Agriculture. The aim: denounce how the Egalim Law has been implemented to date. Sylvain Louis, president of APLI, tells us about this day of protest.

Mr Louis, could you tell us a bit more about the Egalim Law?

The French government wanted production costs to be taken into consideration while fixing prices. In October 2018, the Egalim Law or "law on achieving a balance in trade relations in the agricultural and food sector and healthy and sustainable food for all", was adopted. The aim was to ensure more equitable distribution of product value between producers and industry as well as to guarantee a decent income for farmers.

Today, the milk price is €320/1000 litres and keeps dropping. However, producers should receive €450/1000 litres to be able to cover their production costs and make a decent living. That is why we asked to meet with the responsible policy-makers.

Who did you meet? What issues did you discuss?

Boris Gondouin, EMB Executive Committee member, and I were first received by Ms Nathalie Barbe, advisor to Minister of Agriculture Didier Guillaume. As compared to other meetings, we did not go empty-handed and showed her our invoices for March and April. Ms Barbe was very surprised to see the figures on our payment slips. We also denounced the announcement effect of this law. While certain companies have perhaps paid €370/1000 litres for a certain product, this has not been the case for everything!

After the demonstration, we were able to speak with Mr Guillaume Garot, former Deputy Minister of Agriculture, and Socialist MP Mr Dominique Potier, who is a farmer in Meurthe-en-Moselle. They are both in step with APLI and the EMB and follow our activities closely. Unfortunately, they are the minority within the government.

What conclusions have you drawn from this day of meetings and mobilisation?

The demonstration was conducted peacefully, with the support of delegations from Confédération Paysanne and Coordination Rurale. We symbolically poured away a few litres of milk. Furthermore, passers-by could sample Fairefrance's "fair milk". This brand has shown that it is possible to sell milk at 45 cents per litre, i.e. a fair price for producers. We are happy that a number of journalists were there and that the demonstration had a significant media impact. However, we have forewarned the policy-makers concerned that if the situation does not improve, there will be more protests.

Mr Louis, thank you for this interview.

Vanessa Langer, EMB

African dairy farmers call on the EU to stem overproduction

"Milk in Africa is not just important, it is extremely important."

As she says this, Korotoumou Gariko, dairy farmer and manager of a micro-dairy in Burkina Faso, looks on earnestly toward the stage. On 10 April, colleagues from Mali, Senegal, Mauritania and Niger assembled here with their European colleagues, as well as a broad alliance of civil society organisations. In a common declaration, all those present called on the EU to avoid damaging surpluses and dumping in the future.

Increasing imports of re-fattened skimmed milk powder are especially problematic for local production in Africa. "In Niger, we are anything but happy about the poor quality of imported milk products. They are re-fattened with palm oil, and the public does not know about this," says Wouro Habsatou Aboubacar, dairy farmer and founder of a regional milk network, as she explains the situation in her country. As she says this, she has a miniature cow in Nigerien colours in her hand. Palm oil is twelve times cheaper than milk fat. It is practically impossible for a local producer to compete with these cheap imports.
 For example, a litre of pasteurised local milk in Burkina Faso costs the equivalent of about 91 cents, while a litre from a milk powder mix costs only 34 cents.

The hosts of this action are not here to make generalisations about imports. But there must be a balance and cheap imports in particular cannot have the upper hand. However, the initial reactions from European Commission representatives to the concerns expressed by African producers seem to suggest that the current negative effects of cheap imports are significantly underestimated here in Brussels.

For Koen Van Troos from Veterinarians Without Borders, one of the co-organisers of the action in Brussels, a rethinking within the EU is, nonetheless, very important: "Our work on the ground, which includes veterinary services as well as measures to improve access to feed and to develop the milk value chain, cannot achieve much unless EU policy itself changes," says Van Troos.

Mass overproduction, characteristic in the EU and also the cause of numerous crises locally, is what needs to end. In this regard, representatives of the European Milk Board, a dairy farmers' association, are calling for the implementation of a crisis instrument in the EU agricultural policy.

The local dairy sector in West Africa has significant potential to create jobs and generate incomes, and is something that needs to be further developed, rather than exposed to additional threats. Against this backdrop, dairy farmer Korotoumou Gariko from Burkina Faso points to another major setback that the end of local milk production in West Africa would spell for local families: "It is mainly women working in the dairy sector. With the money they earn, they feed their families and are able to send their children to school. Destroying milk production in Burkina Faso means destroying families."

Silvia Däberitz, EMB. Article published in Bauernstimme 05/2019

Please find here more information on the topic:

EMB press release: "Don't export the EU's problems to Africa!"

Joint Statement on behalf of Farmers and Dairy Producers’ Organisations for Local and Fair Milk in West Africa and Europe

Summary: "Let's not export our problems"

Video: "Let's not export our problems"

EMB videos on our Africa events

Lichtenbusch, January 2019

With their tractors, farmers from 17 European organisations and two umbrella organisations are demonstrating together with civil society actors for an EU trade policy that is fair and climate-friendly around the globe. For a Europe with solidarity. No relaunch of TTIP.

Today’s demonstration at the German-Belgian border saw 20 tractors roll up from different EU countries. The tractor drivers were backed by some 100 farmers from France, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium and Germany alongside members of civil society groups. Farmers’ organisations from Lithuania and Switzerland support this demonstration.

With the demonstration, the participating organisations want to voice their disagreement with the EU’s current trade policy: the EU, they say, has entered into various free trade agreements, such as with Canada (CETA) and with Japan (JEFTA), and is negotiating others, e.g. with the Mercosur countries – Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay –, with New Zealand and Australia, and with many others. At present, the EU is pushing ahead with a relaunch of the negotiations between the EU and the USA (TTIP). The EU is also negotiating trade agreements with some of the poorest countries of the world, mainly in Africa, i.e. the so-called “Economic Partnership Agreements” (EPAs).

“These trade agreements lead to agricultural products being dumped even more on other markets as well as to important environmental and labour standards being weakened and multinationals becoming even more powerful” warns Erwin Schöpges, President of the European Milk Board (EMB). That is why during the border demonstration the European alliance symbolically buried the treaties of these new and harmful trade agreements.

After that, farmers from different EU countries solemnly signed the European farmers’ declaration, which was hanging up on a giant banner. Their aim is to put pressure on Europe to promote a new trade policy that favours fair farm-gate prices and fair working conditions, climate and environmental protection, animal welfare, high-quality food and food sovereignty.

A new EU Parliament will be elected in May this year. The European alliance demands to bury the unfair and corporate-friendly trade policy and to stand up for the demands of the alliance. These are important common signals for a Europe of solidarity and sustainability and against populism and nationalism.

Please find here the joint farmers' declaration

Please find here photos of the border demonstration

EMB press release of 25 January 2019