Talks held with Germany dairy industry
The German minister for food and agriculture Christian Schmidt held a meeting with dairy organisations in the country to discuss continuing difficulties in the milk market. Participants were representatives of the German Farmers’ Association (DBV), the German Raiffeisen Association (DRV), the Association of Private Dairies (VBPM) and the Dairy Industry Association (MIV).
Businessmen and politicians discussed the Brussels relief packages for farmers, which offered EU member states money for various measures such as liquidity support available. In 2016 €500 million from the current package is aimed at distribution, in support of the milk producers. In addition, the EU is supporting the dairy market with the purchase of skimmed milk powder for intervention and subsidies in private storage.
At the meeting the MIV rejected plans to establish an industry association under European law.
“We have plenty of associations and organizations in Germany. These are ideally positioned for the tasks required,” says MIV chairman Peter Stahl (pictured).
Stahl remarks about the current situation, “The market works! I expect further significantly improving revenues and rising milk prices in the coming months. The Ministry of Agriculture can assist us in the markets by terminating the open veterinary questions and in opening new markets for the dairies.”
The issue of supply relationships also came up. Here dairies have been in an intense dialogue with milk producers, as the representatives of the dairies could tell the minister. Many different models are currently applied in Germany.
“It has been proven that traders agree among themselves, and the state should not interfere here,” Stahl notes. “We are grateful that he does not seek general rules here as well.”
After the meeting the organisations asked for more “milk dialogue” under the guidance of the Ministry. They want, among other subjects, to address the role of export promotion with the help of the GEFA (German Export Association for Food and Agriproducts).
