Standing Up for Dairy Farmers in North East Fife

This week, my team and I have been engaging with local farmers about the growing concerns surrounding falling milk prices. Agriculture makes up around 15% of our local economy, and the dairy sector is a cornerstone of that. When milk prices drop sharply, the impact is felt not just on individual farms, but across rural communities and local businesses that depend on a thriving agricultural sector.

I recently met with NFU Scotland to discuss the situation in detail, and I’ve heard directly from dairy farmers who are deeply worried about the sustainability of their businesses. Many feel squeezed by volatile prices and unfair practices in the supply chain. Some are understandably cautious about speaking out publicly for fear of repercussions from buyers.

Liberal Democrat colleagues and I have been pushing for long-overdue reforms. Sarah Dyke MP has already written to the UK Government calling for urgent action, particularly around transparency and fairness in milk contracts. The introduction of statutory milk contracts earlier this year was an important step forward, but they must be properly enforced, and farmers must feel empowered to challenge unfair treatment.

Fairness, transparency, and stability aren’t optional extras: they’re essential if we want a resilient dairy sector that can withstand global market pressures and continue contributing so much to North East Fife.

I’ll continue working with farmers, NFU Scotland, and parliamentary colleagues to ensure the concerns of our local dairy community are heard loud and clear. Our farmers deserve better and I will keep fighting for them.