Dairy Farm Protests Continue Across UK

UK - Despite price rise announcements this week from major retailers, dairy farmers are continuing to put the pressure on processors and retailers demanding a fair milk price that reflects the cost of production.
calendar icon 26 July 2012
clock icon 2 minute read

Farmers for Action (FFA) and others have organised numerous protests across the country, with large protests due to take place today.

The DairyCrest plant in Fenstanton, Cambridgeshire was forced to shut down as of yesterday afternoon and overnight due to protestors blocking access.

Details of protests to take place can be seen on the FFA website.

Scottish dairy farmers are also planning a further day of activity to convince retailers and processors of the need for dairy farmers to receive a fair milk price.

NFU Scotland Milk Committee Chairman, Gary Mitchell said: “Along with our coalition partners, we remain resolutely committed to tackling the short-term crisis in our sector brought about by the unprecedented level of damaging pressure on farmgate milk prices.

The National Beef Association (NBA) has expressed its support for the dairy farmer protests.

Hamish McBean, NBA Chairman, says: “It has been tremendous to see how united the dairy sector is at this time, and the success they are having on the back of the excellent media coverage of their plight. The processors and retailers will have a tough time justifying their stance when their own customers are saying they do not want to see dairy farming threatened by supermarkets keeping prices down.

“The NBA is 100 per cent behind the dairy industry, but would also like to highlight the pressure on other sectors too. It is easy to assume that the upward move in beef prices over the last year or so is guaranteeing a more positive future for beef farmers, but the cost of production is rising too, making margins tighter and tighter.

Joanne Pugh, NBA Assistant Director, says: “We appreciate the pressure on processors and supermarkets to provide affordable food, but offering farmers less than the cost of production is not the solution. The marketplace must offer a fair return to beef producers, and indeed all farmers, to ensure a sustainable industry.”

Further Reading

Go to our previous news item on this story by clicking here.

TheCattleSite News Desk

© 2000 - 2024 - Global Ag Media. All Rights Reserved | No part of this site may be reproduced without permission.