A five-point action plan to tackle pricing issues in the dairy industry has been drawn up following a meeting between NFU Scotland and Scottish Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead.
Mr Lochhead has also called for a summit meeting with UK and Welsh colleagues ahead of the Royal Welsh Show at the end of July.
The meeting was called to find ways to better support Scotland's dairy farmers who are facing lower prices for their produce at a time of rising costs.
On Wednesday, dairy farmers warned they are being pushed to the brink by the latest cuts to the price they are paid for their milk, as more than 2,500 of them gathered in London to protest against the reductions.
The farmers are angry at the latest round of cuts of up to 2p per litre, which come on top of similar cuts in the spring, recently announced by major milk processors.
They say the cuts will force many farmers out of business, pushing up the price of milk for consumers in the long term.
The five-point plan includes calling for a ministerial summit to discuss the current situation and the establishment of a timetable for consulting on legislation, asking agriculture minister Jim Paice to appoint an independent person to assist with the current negotiations between producers and processors, and writing to retailers demanding clarity for consumers about how much producers receive for their milk.
It also involves commissioning a long-term strategic review to establish where the dairy industry wants to be in 10 years and how to get there, and ensuring the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society have enough resources to bring forward their work on producer organisations and co-operatives.
Mr Lochhead said: "This afternoon's meeting with the NFUS was constructive but only served to further highlight the need for urgent action to tackle the issue of dairy prices. I was left in no doubt about the anger and frustration our dairy farmers are feeling and I can understand why they feel so aggrieved.
"I've been working hard to find a solution that better meets the needs of our dairy farmers and today's meeting with the NFUS was part of that. We must find a way to maximise the potential of this sector while also ensuring farmers are paid a fair price for a valuable product. I am clear that every part of the supply chain has a part to play in finding a solution to the current problem, including retailers and supermarkets. We all drink milk and we need the dairy industry to continue and we must not risk letting it crumble. I know that consumers are right behind the milk industry."
