National Dairy Council’s Delays on Raw Milk Prices Put Producers in Trouble
The National Dairy Council (NDC) has found producers in a difficult position as their costs have increased by 60% due to the government’s delay in updating raw milk prices in support of inflation control policies. Sector representatives have warned that this milk crisis will also negatively affect meat prices, stating, “Our response is not enough. The public needs to raise their voices against this situation.”
The USK last increased the raw milk support price by 8.5% in April, setting a net price of 14.65 lira per liter for producers. However, since then, the cost of raw milk has increased to 18 lira, but the fact that USK has not taken any steps is causing producers who cannot make money from milk to slaughter their animals.
Sencer Solakoğlu, the Chairman of the All Milk, Meat and Breeding Cattle Breeders Association (TÜSEDAD), who published a video on this subject, explained the problems in the livestock sector in detail and said that there have been major decreases in meat production due to the suppression mechanism in milk prices and that many farm owners now prefer to sell their animals and invest the money they earn in interest.
Türkiye on the Path to Becoming a Meat Importer
Solakoğlu emphasized that Turkey has become a meat importer and said, “Our farmer population is already old, they do not have a long life ahead of them. Rather than suffering the difficulties of production and making losses, they prefer to slaughter their animals and invest their money in interest. They have at most 5 years left. Since the price of milk is still below cost, why should they produce? These prices must be increased monthly. A wrong policy is being followed and producers cannot stand this situation. Everyone is thinking about how to close their farms. This situation has become so serious that Turkey cannot survive without importing meat. We need to get rid of this dependency. Citizens must also object to this situation; if you want to be able to produce milk and meat at affordable prices in 2-3 years, you need to act together with us, just as we care for our breeding animals today.”
Aydın Milk Producers Union President Servet Başkaya drew attention to the raw milk prices that are below costs and said, “Currently, everyone from the feeder to the dairy industry, from the producer to the union representative, knows that the cost of milk is around 17 lira and the carcass meat price is around 300 lira. However, there are two institutions that do not know these prices. One is TÜİK, the other is the Food Committee. If the producer makes a 10-20% profit on these prices, the price of milk per liter should be 18-20 lira and the price of carcass meat should be between 340-360 lira.”
A Cup of Tea Does Not Sufficient
Yilmaz Gulsever, who produces milk in Kuyucak Yöre Neighborhood of Aydin, summarized the situation as follows: “We cannot drink a glass of tea for the price we sell 1 liter of raw milk. As long as the Milk Council does not intervene in this price, we are forced to sell at a loss. While our costs have increased by 60% in a year, the price of milk has been increased by 20%. The price of milk that we gave for 11-12 liras last year is now 13 liras. The price, which was 14 liras 65 cents, had increased to 15 liras. However, since the market could not bear this price, it was pulled down.”
The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) Livestock Assembly President Yılmaz Arpaç also made the following statements: “Today’s milk crisis will also show itself in the meat market in the future. The slaughter of breeding animals may negatively affect meat supply and prices in the future. For this reason, incentives for calf production should be put into effect immediately and producers should be ensured to survive.”
