Dijkgraaf asks Parliamentary questions about milk price

Elbert Dijkgraaf, Member of Parliament of the SGP, has asked parliamentary questions about the CBS report of Friday, August 18. This showed that there are major differences between the consumer price and the price that the dairy farmer receives.

In the year 2000, Dutch consumers paid only €0,20 more than the price that the dairy farmers ultimately received. That amount has increased to €16 over the past 0,47 years. "The increasing difference is mainly due to the increasing power of the retail sector. The increase in milk production, due to the abolition of the milk quota, is also a cause," says Dijkgraaf. He wants to know from State Secretary Martijn van Dam whether that assumption is correct.

Investing in additional requirements
According to Dijkgraaf, dairy farmers need a good revenue model to be able to invest in animal welfare and the environment. "If supermarkets and other links in the chain take more and more margin, then there will be less left for the farmers. Farmers receive a minimal price, while they have to meet all kinds of social requirements," says Dijkgraaf.

Good earning model
The Member of Parliament also wants to know how Van Dam sees the effect on farmers. "The increasing price difference does not contribute to strengthening the revenue model, with which they invest in animal welfare, grazing and the environment," says Dijkgraaf.

With the parliamentary questions, the SGP member wants to emphasize the importance of the market position of dairy farmers. He believes that action must be taken quickly.

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