Marks & Spencer will pay dairy farmers to improve their herds’ living conditions with the introduction of a “groundbreaking” new pricing scheme.
 
The new ‘fair price’ plan will link what the high street giant will pay its milk suppliers to their production costs, as well as the retail price of milk.

It will also award bonuses to farmers who meet the objectives of its Plan A covering animal health, welfare and sustainability.
 
M&S has paired up with Bristol University’s vet school to draw up the criteria measuring suppliers' efforts to improve conditions for their animals.
 
"Our new milk scheme will not only continue to give farmers greater security, it will also incentivise them to have the highest levels of animal health and welfare,” said M&S technology chief Paul Willgoss.
 
“Our customers can enjoy our milk safe in the knowledge that it comes from farms with the highest standards."
 
Dairy Crest milk production director Mark Taylor told The Guardian: “This is genuinely groundbreaking. Farmers are being given the opportunity to maximise their profit and if they hit all the targets they can achieve a better milk price."

Read more
Nocton Dairies postpones plans for dairy megaherd (17 April 2010)
Welsh dairy farmers get cash to sharpen act (10 April 2010)
Milk price cut for Tesco’s farmers after fall in costs (3 April 2010)
Second Opinion: Beware US-style megafarming (6 March 2010)