PROMINENT Cumbrian dairy farmer Robert Craig has been appointed vice chair of one of the major players in the county’s dairy industry.

Mr Craig was appointed to the position with First Milk, owner’s of the Lake District Creamery at Aspatria, at the dairy co-op’s AGM held via video call for the first time last week.

A farmer director for three years, Mr Craig follows Jim Baird, a Lanarkshire dairy farmer, who stepped down from the time limited position.

Mr Craig said “Its a huge privilege to be appointed vice chairman of First Milk at such an exciting time for the co-operative.

"We have a great team in place at First Milk with everyone focused on the future growth of the business and delivering improved returns to our members.”

He added: "Robust and effective governance is at the very heart of our coop, guiding every decision we make. Our 2019/20 financial report just published shows another year of solid progress, a year of improved membership returns along side the continued substantial investment in our processing capacity at our main site in Pembrokshire and locally the Lake District Creamery at Aspatria”

Mr Craig and his wife Jackie have four children. The Craigs operate three dairy farming businesses farming around 2000 acres with almost 1,500 cows across the North of England in Cumbria and Northumberland. Taking the less conventional route towards modern dairy farming, Mr Craig operates a grass-based farming system grazing cows for 270 days of the year. A 2012 Nuffield Scholar, he travelled extensively studying global food chain sustainability.

Meanwhile, First Milk has announced that its September milk price will increase by 0.5ppl.

This means its liquid standard litre will increase to 27.25ppl, whilst its manufacturing standard litre will increase to 28.15ppl, both including its member premium.

Mr Craig said: “Even though Covid-19 has impacted the dairy market, First Milk has been able to weather the storm and provide members with milk price stability to date.”

He added: “Overall our first quarter results were positive, albeit in challenging circumstances, and this has allowed us to deliver this milk price increase to our members for September.Of course, there remains uncertainty ahead, from the potential supply chain and market disruption if no EU trade deal were to be agreed, to concerns about what may happen with Covid-19 as we head towards autumn. As ever, we’ll do all that we can to maximise returns and deliver stability to our members in the months ahead.”