Dairy Farmers of Scotland group to press for extra 4p/litre for their milk
UK - Scottish dairy farmers are uniting in their scores behind new milk pressure group, Dairy Farmers of Scotland, which aims to secure a price increase of 4p/litre over current ex-farm prices.DFS spokesman John Watson said they have already had a flood of support. But a positive response rate of 80% to the invoice question would be required before mass invoicing is progressed.
The DFS, which has taken legal advice on the planned action, will announce the results of the survey at AgriScot on 15 November.
Mr Watson, who milks 170 cows at High Mart Farm, Stranraer, said the new body has the support of both NFU Scotland and Farmers For Action. For the first time, he said, a mass group of farmers supplying all the major milk companies were 100% agreed on the course of action.
Increased costs
He said that, with feed costs up by £18/t year on year, and increased fuel and electricity costs, producers were now pulling back production so processors and supermarkets were "playing a very dangerous game".
"I don't believe consumers here want their milk to be carted hundreds of miles from the other end of the country, or brought in from Poland or the Czech Republic. They want milk produced locally in Scotland.
Source: fwi.co.uk