MP to make key speech

The Shrewsbury MP will be among the 12,000 visitors September 20 for the first day of Europe's premier two-day event to be held at Stoneleigh Park, Coventry and organised by the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers.

Mr Kawczynski will be on a fact finding tour at the event, meeting with farmers and members of the industry prior to making a keynote speech on the Dairy Farmer magazine stand.

"We are delighted that Daniel Kawczynski will be visiting the Dairy Event and is eager to meet with all representatives of the industry," said Nick Everington, chief executive of the RABDF which is providing the secretariat for the All Party Parliamentary Group for Dairy Farmers.

"The APPG was established to generate Government action on the continued milk price cuts and subsequent dwindling returns to producers earlier this year and so far has gained support from more than 70 cross party MPs.

"We will be encouraging all visitors to the event to write to their MPs to persuade them to join the group and help build that vital momentum within Parliament."

Serious questions will be on the minds of most dairy farmers in the lead up to this year's event, just as they have been in many of the previous 24 years that HSBC Bank has been principal sponsor, said its agriculture director, Patrick Tomlinson.

"The Dairy Event provides a great opportunity for dairy farmers to find out from the buyers why milk price is where it is and from the numerous suppliers to find ways of reducing costs of milk production, as well as a much needed chance to socialise away from the coal face," he said.

"The Dairy Event is the only forum in which all parts of the industry are represented and remains as important a part of the dairy farming calendar as ever, he added.

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