NFU Dairy Board chair Michael Oakes reflected on the challenges the last year posed to the sector and said while that 2023 is likely to bring more uncertainty, he was optimistic for the year ahead.
The chair highlighted the successes of the dairy board and the wider NFU in 2022, pointing to progress regarding environmental regulation, labour shortages, and fairness in the supply chain.
“We have been tirelessly trying to convince the government of the need to take an industry-led approach to environmental regulation, and we believe they are listening.
“Our efforts to convince the government of the issues caused by labour shortages seem to be resonating, and the mood is shifting.”
Work to improve fairness in the supply chain is also accelerating, he said, while regulation on dairy contracts is likely to come to fruition after years of careful development with the industry.