An exchange of views yesterday between Minister for Agriculture, Viticulture and Consumer Protection, Fernand Etgen and agricultural organisations of Luxembourg resulted in a two-hour long discussion on the state of the dairy industry in the Grand Duchy and the larger European region.

Around sixty tractors converged in Luxembourg's capital, with their owners determined to meet with the Minister and protest falling dairy prices affecting their livelihood.

The issue has been present in Europe for several years now, with former Minister of Agriculture, Viticulture and Rural Development Romain Schneider stating in a 2013 report:

 "The agricultural sector is currently experiencing a very difficult period in Luxembourg, as in the rest of the European Union. The various worldwide crises (financial, economic, energy etc...) affect the markets for agricultural products as well as farm revenues, putting a large number of producers in a precarious situation".

In 2012, dairy producers were receiving only 0.2971 €/kg for 3.7% fat and 3.3% protein milk, a figure which has since continued to fall. In the same year, European dairy farmers gathered by the European Parliament in Brussels in a similarly-staged protest to yesterday's demonstration in Luxembourg, spraying the Parliament with thousands of litres of milk to illustrate the decreasing value of their product.

The issue does not appear to have abated, with British press reporting on tractor blockades set up by farmers at UK supermarkets to protest dairy price cuts, which appear to be caused by a global reduction in milk demand.

At yesterday's meeting, Minister Etgen implored the Luxembourg public to and support dairy farmers at home through local dairy consumption. Both the Ministry and the agricultural organisations were reportedly content with the discussion which lasted several hours, with the Minister describing the talks as "very constructive" and "very enlightening".

However, no further action has been announced, as the issue requires further discussion at the special meeting of European agriculture ministers on Monday 7 September 2015.

 

Photo by MAVPC (Minister for Agriculture, Viticulture and Consumer Protection Fernand Etgen)