Call for strike in Brussels
EMB representatives have called for a milk strike in Brussels in early 2024. The European Dairy Association is now warning against a repeat of such strikes.
The new EU Agri-Food Chain Observatory (AFCO) should calculate the costs of milk production using the methodology developed by the Office of Agricultural Sociology and Agriculture. This has been requested by the European Milk Board (EMB).
The EMB refers to the formula of the Bureau of Agricultural Sociology and Agriculture (BAL). The method was representative and tested, the EMB explained at the end of July. However, its particular advantage is that it determines the appropriate income for producers. The EMB commissioned BAL itself to develop a concept for calculating the current costs of milk production in 2011.
For almost 4 years, there were no prices that covered production costs
According to the latest BAL calculations, EU producer prices covered only 88% of production costs between 2019 and 2023. Milk payment prices covering costs are presented only for the exceptional year 2022. However, since then the situation for milk producers has deteriorated again.
In 2023, BAL will generate an income of 10.49 cents per kilogram of milk in Germany. This gives an hourly rate of 18.23 euros. The amount of 20 euros considered appropriate is 9 percent lower. The reason given is the falling milk prices while operating costs remain very high.
According to EMB Vice-President Elmar Hannen, AFCO’s ultimate goal must be to improve the position of producers in the chain. However, he fears that other interest groups, which are also represented in the observatory, could get in the way, and that is why he is counting on the European Commission. EMB President Kjartan Poulsen has drawn attention to the risk of renewed protests by farmers across the EU if AFCO and the EC do not live up to expectations.
