Have your say on milk price row - SURVEY
Are you backing the farmers as they take direct action in the row over milk prices? Take our short survey and let us know what you think as the row over milk prices continues.
Are you backing the farmers as they take direct action in the row over milk prices?
Hundreds of farmers from across the Midlands blockaded dairy giants Muller and Wiseman Dairy over the weekend as the stand-off escalated.
Supermarket giants Morrisons and the Co-op backed down over the price cuts and Asda has now agreed to pay 2p a litre more from August 1.
Take our short survey and let us know what you think as the row over milk prices continues.
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Comments for: "Have your say on milk price row - SURVEY"
Colin.Dodd.
I see "Camoron" is lending his weight to the call for Bradley Wiggins to receive a knighthood for riding a bike round France. He would be better advised to do something about this issue which, unlike a bike ride, is important, but, no doubt it will get swept under the carpet as it won't directly affect the MPs. We probably buy their weekly shop anyway.
EssVeeEmm
The way Supermarkets are allowed to set up conditions to their own benefit in contracts with farmers is disgraceful. Is no-one from government supporting the farmers? We want to eat locally produced food.
Aaron
Nobody forced the farmers to agree to those contracts. They need to stand together and negotiate better deals.
Sarah W
...and in the meantime what do they do with all those cows that need milking, milk, vets bills and other overheads?
The graduate
Farmers livestock,
farmers responsibility. Why do you look to others for an answer?.
Richard Webster
Farmers have no choice. Milk is produced fresh every day and can't be stored. They would quickly be out of business if they dumped it and all the milk processor contracts are equally bad.
The farmer is required to contract all his milk to one supplier at a an arbitrary price decided by his only customer. There has also been a practice of dropping the price paid for milk after it has already been produced and supplied to the dairy.
These contracts should be illegal but successive UK governments has consistently refused to address these anti-competitive contracts in the mistaken belief that the low farmgate prices will help to keep inflation down.
In reality the supermarket have simply increased there margin whilst steadily forcing dairy farmers out of business and handing their business to foreign competitors.
Martin
It's not just the supermarkets that buy milk, its the big food producers as well who are at fault, the faceless companies behind many of the products we buy at the supermarket or local shop, many of them are not paying the premium that some supermarkets pay for liquid milk.
Take a look in your cupboard or fridge and look how many products use milk as a constituent, these companies are the ones selling the farmers short.
Getting the supermarkets alone to pay a fair price will not solve the issue.
The Original Jake
That's true, but the supermarkets buy about half. They also dictate prices they're prepared to pay for other products with milk as an ingredient, so in a way they have a direct influence over the price paid for milk further down the supply chain. As the single biggest target it makes sense to concentrate on them first.
Andy
I find it quite refreshing that no matter what happens you can always rely on farmers moaning about how bad their lot is.
Try living on tax credits on an inner city slum if you dont like it - soon change your tune.
Colin.Dodd.
Do the sums Andy. Production cost 29/30p---Wisemans payment to the farmer---22p.
It's not just the dairy industry that will suffer, there are a lot of supporting roles behind the scenes. If the dairy industry folds, so will they, then watch the fall out. People like you will be moaning about the cost of a pint of milk while paying about £3 for a pint of beer.
ian
but why not make production costs lower e.g. by lowering the costs of inputs, feed, wages and farmers profits, would be better for everyone if farmers scaled up and got more efficient and they need to take a pay cut like everyone else has in the recession!
The Original Jake
Scaling up and increasing efficiency is what the processors and supermarkets would love to see - and probably what they're trying to force. It sounds obvious, but it entails intensive factory farming and that comes with all kinds of animal welfare issues.
The way I see it, if we're going to rear cattle to provide an important food source, we have a responsibility to ensure they are not treated as industrial production units. It worked for egg production: the idea now of buying eggs produced by battery hens is repellent to the majority of people, which is why supermarkets mainly sell free range or barn eggs.
By the way, you said something about reducing farmers' profits... this whole issue is about farmers being forced to make losses!
FoxyLady
The cost of inputs are what are causing part of the problem...feed depends on the quality and size of the harvest plus the costs of transporting and processing it (rising fuel costs), the bad summer means the cows are in and being fed on next winter's silage already...and there is NO profit to lower, the cost of production has pushed the farmer into negative income. The price paid by the processors and supermarkets being discussed is not even equal to the cost of production let alone allowing for investment, or dare I say it profit, which would be better described as the farmer's wage as few have fulltime labour.
I'm not a dairy farmer – thankfully my enterpise is beef.
Julie
We buy our organic milk from the milkman. I know it's more expensive but at least I know where it's from and that hopefully the cows have seen some grass and the farmer has been paid a reasonable amount for his work. I save masses of money by not going to the supermarket (you always buy more when you pop in for milk!!). I buy all the non perishables on one internet shop once a month, get fresh veg delivered, meat from the local butcher and bread from the breadmaker. I'm not tempted by stuff I don't want to buy as I simply don't see it!!! Pay more for your milk and you'll save money on petrol and spend less on food.
Fiona
Good thinking Julie; the economic housewife!
dot evanson
you never see a farmer on a bike ! Always the brand New 4 x4 so many subsidys already in place :/ i do agree farmers should get more for milk . Its the goverment that should never messed with the quotas. Iced long we will be drinking milk from another country . This country has gone to the dogs!
Paul B
Ah, the old "Farmers all drive 4*4's so they are all wealthy" line.
Many farmers are asset rich but cash poor. The only way they can change this is by selling their assets but this entails leaving the business.
I never see a taxi driver who doesn't have a decent sized car. I don't assume that all taxi drivers are rich.
Port Hill Boy
Doh! A nice car is the core of the taxi driver's business...
The Original Jake
I'd be interested to know where to get one. Old Vectras with 150,000 miles on the clock and moth-eaten seat covers always seem to turn up when I order a cab.
FoxyLady
doh, and a 4x4 is a farm vehicle for towing (not posing!)
Gavin
@foxylady - why the private number plates then? Does that help the towing?
nellylondon
Have just cancelled my dairy crest / milkandmore delivery until they pay a decent price to the farmers in my home county.
Roburite
So what about the milkman? He'll be without a job is more people do what you did.
The graduate
Why are some people asking cameron etc to intervene ? this is private business no place for government intervention.
Ken Adams
Well it is to do with the government, they after all administer the CAP payments of which the lions share goes to the big agribusiness and processors. Other than that the state of British farming must be a concern for government.
Fordfarmer
Because its not just one business it thousands of businesses which support thousands of jobs in the industry, all of which pay tax to keep David Cameron and the rest of government in comfy houses so why can't we expect some support back?
Aaron
It's not the place of government to bail out failing businesses. There is still a demand for milk so milk producers will have to pay a price for it. At the moment that price seems to be below the cost of production. That situation is unlikely to continue. Either the cost of production will fall or they will end up paying more for the product they need to sell.
The Original Jake
Or they'll destroy the domestic industry and import cheap milk from countries where lack of regulation and legislation concerning animal welfare keeps prices down.
Richard Webster
Actually they will import not so cheap milk. Imported milk will cost the consumer an awful lot more than it does currently.
Many of the problems within the Dairy Industry are down to previous Government actions which have weakened farmers position in the market place and Government now has a moral obligation to ensure that the industry can operate effectively in a fair market place. Failure to do so will continue to contract the industry with implications for food security and the UK economy.
Nobody benefits from the abuse of power of the supermarkets that we have seen over the past 2 decades.
Lets face it the supermarkets are destroying the UK economy.
hafren
This is serious issue that needs Government intervention. Milk should be considered a vital resource for citizens.
- pay farmers too little
- farmers look to alternate business
- supermarkets buy from overseas (Poland, etc.) to preserve profits for shareholders
- international crisis/priorities
- Britain has no milk resource of its own and is held to ransom
- everyone wishes Britain had preserved its supply
Let's consider it a vital resource, with an independent body periodically monitoring fair and appropriate pricing!
Telford Steve
@ The Graduate, just a thought and probably off thread, but the other day you said,
"As for me brought up and lived on a farm on a farm until the age of 22 then went to work on one of the biggest country estates in the UK, then lived on a small holding in france for just under nine years , now live on a holding in the UK.
Both grandfathers life long farm owners , 5 uncles farm owners in wales and kent. Two uncles came out of dairy farming 7 years ago and went in to beef and sheep the other two are arable farmers , YEP surrounded by farmers me."
Well why isn't your pen name "The Farmer" then?
Mike Edwards
In the words of Richard Branson "Screw business as usual" lets all dump supermarkets who have ruined this country with their immoral profit at all costs. Lets all "Buy Local" from independent shops who source local goods and supplies and don't fly and truck products half way round the World. Supermarkets also encourage everyone to use their cars to visit "Out of Town" locations! #NotSustainable #NotCarbonEfficient
John Howard
"Supermarkets also encourage everyone to use their cars to visit “Out of Town” locations! #NotSustainable #NotCarbonEfficient"
For those of us who live out of town, using the nearest out-of-town supermarket is vastly more carbon efficient than driving even further into town, sitting in traffic jams and queuing for a parking space.
Re milk prices, surely Farmers, those bastions of free enterprise, should face up to the workings of capitalism and the Market?
Glenn
I did not realise they got so little, considering the cost of milk in the supermarkets.
theirfault
Does anyone remember the Milk Marketing Board? They regulated prices; ensured farmers had a consistent national voice. Who wanted deregulation and competition? Who wanted to make their own deals? Farmers! Can't cry over spilt milk now ...
doubter
^^This^^
The graduate
Ahh wondered when some one would mention this .
Bet we have an excuse .
Karena Harris
This issue is not about whether a farmer drives new 4x4 more that they are being asked to produce milk at a loss. How many people who are now complaining about the farmers would be prepared to get up at the crack of dawn seven days a week (Christmas and all bank holidays)work their socks off in all weather conditions then sell their produce for less than it has cost them? Most people (rich and poor) use milk daily, if farmers are forced out of business then we will have to import more milk from abroad which will be at a higher cost not only to import but to the environment too. So in the end we will all have to pay more for our Milk. I say pay the farmers a reasonable price and increase the price in the supermarkets. I am not in the farming business and nor is my family, I am not well off but want to keep Brittain farming and want local produce.
Port Hill Boy
Not working flat out while they are protesting are they?
How many take money out of their business for food, clothes, kids, travel , private car etc ? All of them but they don't want to cut back on these - and it's all part of the cost of production.
The Original Jake
"How many take money out of their business for food, clothes, kids, travel , private car etc ?"
You tell 'em. Food? Who needs it? Make them go without, the greedy beggars.
Farmer'sWife
Of course they take money out of the business - it's their wages! But I can assure you that any money farmers take out of their business account needs to be itemised under private drawings - the tax man wouldn't let them get away without paying tax on it!
And as for not working while they are protesting, well these protests are taking place late at night when most dairy farmers who have to be up at 4 or 5 am to milk the cows would far rather be tucked up in bed!
Indigo Roberts
I have you know these farmers are doing a full days physical work, getting home, scrubbing up and getting straight to the protest. Most of whom stay until 4.30am then go back to the farm for milking at 5.30am. So I would describe this as pretty flat out wouldn't you?
I also consider it interesting how you could take money out a dairy buisiness for "food" (cattle food understandable). Clothes, well do overalls count? Children? Oh and the 4x4 that keeps getting mentioned, the essential towing vechile for any running farm!
Fiona
I am thinking if we can't provide for ourselves come the revolution we are not going to be able to survive. It is all to do with survival of the fittest. Perfect preparation prevents poor performance.
Ruth Glover
The MMB was abolished when we joined the EU as it was deemed not in keeping with the free market ethic.However, when on holiday how many wine co-operatives do you see.
Aaron
Nobody forced the farmers to sign contracts allowing the milk producers to vary prices at will. Doing so was clearly a very bad business decision. If the cost of production is higher than people are willing to pay for it then they need to either sell it elsewhere, cut costs, or produce something else. Welcome to the free market economy.
Port Hill Boy
Well said.
margaret
In reply to your question regarding sale of milk .You say farmers are not forced to sign contracts. Where else can they sell it ? Reading your blog just goes to show how little most of the general public understand the problems with farming today. Would you be ready to get up at 5am each morning and work a 14 hour day for no return after may be being up half the night as well calving a cow. Farmers do not clock off like most people it is 24 hour on site job. I think most farmers have had enough this time if they cannot get a fair price for their milk you will not see the countryside we live in looking like it does today.No milk no farming are you happy now?
Watchdog
If you like the sight of rural Britain and reasonably priced milk and dairy products, if you don't want to see unemployment rising again, then you'd better stand with the farmers on this issue. If farmers cannot survive and leave the industry, more of our green and pleasant land (which is a big part of the theme of the Olympics Opening Ceremony) will go unmanaged or be sold for development and milk will have to be imported from the continent. All that the government need do is have a quiet word with Tescos and Walmart and remind them that disloyalty to the nation can incur penalties that may dent their profits and upset their shareholders. Job done. I don't mind paying more for milk so long as the farmers, not supermarket shareholders, benefit from it.
Gavin
Green and pleasant land? - Or stripped bare by grazing livestock, polluting the waterways with nitrates, and filling the atmosphere with the potent greenhouse gas methane? I'd prefer to see some wild flowers, trees and wildlife. Not a bunch of farmers crying over milk prices while inventing a load of lies about bTB and shooting badgers.
ian
tough life out in the scenic countryside all day with acres of land and millions of guarenteed subsidies all year round
if we put half of what we put into agricultural subsidies into high tech businesses like IT or green energy we would all be better off
Jim
Anyone thinking that farmers or any producer should be forced into selling a product at a loss needs to give up on what they are drinking and try milk.
Town Walls
If foreign milk is cheaper than British milk there is clearly something wrong with our farmers. Perhaps they could try being more efficient?
But I don't suppose there is much motivation for greater efficiency when you've been brought up to believe that everything you do should be feather-bedded with grants and subsidies.
To see farmers picketing the dairies just a few days before the Olympics, when our country is on show to the whole world, really does smack of arrogance and anti-Britishness. Some have been forming secondary pickets, which is illegal. Why are they allowed to hold the country to ransom like this?
Richard Webster
UK dairy farmers have been paid on average about 6.5pence per litre less than then European counterparts over the past 15 years. They are amongst the most efficient dairy industries in the World.
In fact the low milk prices in the UK have lead to a chronic lack of reinvestment, simply because farmers haven't had sufficient returns and have been starved of cash. This is now impacting on the level of technical efficiency within the industry.
Because of lack of profitability succession has become a major problem. Dairy farming is a physically demanding as well as a highly skilled profession and with out young people the industry will struggle.
Modern dairying requires major capital investment to be efficient and profitable. Most family dairy farms after many years of low profitability probably need to reinvest at least £500,000 just to bring their dairy units up to a safe efficient and profitable working operation. This level of investment will not happen if there is no return on that investment and no successor to continue farming in the medium to long term to recoup that investment.
John Palfreyman
Why? Oh Why? do we allow the Fat Cats of the Supermarkets to get fatter at the expense of the Farmers who are the backbone of our country.
We allow foreign milk into this country and force the farmers to dispose of any excess when it could well be used instead of the imported milk. Let us start to fully support our own farmers and severley restrict the support of the foreign ones.
Who but the Farmers work such long hours with little return for their labour.
If it was so in Industry the unions would be up in arms and calling for strikes to get a fair and decent "LIVING" wage for their work.
So let us praise the Farmers for their action, and consider this!! - Why should bottled water be dearer than milk!? it doesn`t make any sense.
Finally let us get out of the E.U. we have lost out far more than we have gained.
No! I am not a Farmer but an 86 year old who respects everything that the Farming community does for OUR COUNTRY. Let us give more power to their elbows.
KMI
Milk Producer Organisations (PO's) have been promoted & legislated for by the European Commission,to concentrate the supply of milk and increase dairy farmers bargaining position vis-a'-vis dairy processors. As from Wednesday 3rd October 2012 recognised PO's can negotiate contracts for the delivery of raw milk, including price, on behalf of their farmer members under certain conditions laid down in Regulation 261/2012, the so called "Milk Package". Within the UK there could be in principle at least four PO's. Their geographical coverage would notably depend on the fulfilment of the condition that the volume limit of 33% of the national milk production is not exceeded. I hope the Dairy Farmer leadership are pursuing this avenue!!.
haleshrew
Why do the French and the Germans support their own industries. We British have lost countless industries due and not mainly to the fact we dont support our own countryman. Our we prepared to suffer thousands of job losses in the dairy industry due to the fact that we want to pay the lowest price possible for a pint of milk.
Huw Peach
For a shocking insight into how Californian mega-dairies squeeze every last drop out out of their cows to get the lowest price possible for their milk, just google 'Sour Milk Ecologist.'
This 10 minute film by the Ecologist film unit shows the high cost of cheap milk, and I doubt anyone on this thread would want mega-dairies here in this country after they've seen it.
Well done to the British dairy farmers for drawing attention to the unfair pressures they are under and good luck to you all with your campaign.
ozzy
The farmers have it too good in our country, farms , nice cars,subsidies for doing nothing ,i am not supporting the farmers, they have had it too good too long, and constantly complain, try living in our world .
FoxyLady
Both my husband and I work a 40hr week OFF our small farm ... so I think you'll find I live in your world too and am working twice as hard!
The graduate
So you have a small holding on par with a hobby farmer? less than 110 acres ?. I have 42 acres and shock horror i run my own business away from the small holding and work an average of 60 odd hours a week.
Reason i do this is choice first holiday this year to oz haven't had a holiday for 14 years again choice as farming is a choice..
FoxyLady
For hobby farmers it IS a choice (and, if I may say, you do seem a little hung up on your lack of a holiday...) – those of us that do it to contribute to the viability of the rural economy have a bit more invested in it than that.
Richard Webster
I don't know what planet you are on ozzy but you certainly don't know any dairy farmers. Most dairy work damned hard and with the level of return they have seen in recent years, would in very many cases be better off selling up and living off the proceeds without doing any work.
The only people making money out of the dairy industry are the Supermarkets and they are milking it for all its worth.
twisting my melon
If the farmers are losing money on the milk their cows produce then they should tip it away. When the large companies have no milk then i'm sure they will be keen to re-negotiate a fairer price..
Dairy Farmer
Is this a debate about how supermarkets make a 400% markup on milk or the same lame rubbish over subsidies. Subsidies have been altered to support green ventures and are aimed at redevelopment of rural areas and phasing out for food production. Most of the comments prove how little the "mockers" know of farming Posh 12 plate 4x4 are still at the schools n trendy pubs, not farm yards . Efficient farms can get to a point but once you get there what else can you do. We have been at the bottom of European milk price leagues for years yet have the highest yields n most cows. We are not asking the public to pay more but the retailers must take 5p less (greed) profit.
martin
I think it is about time they started paying farmers more for there milk would anyone work for nothing and if they dont make much profit how are they going to afford to upgrade and replace machinery
Port Hill Boy
They don't work for nothing!
All of them take money from their business, in effect pay themselves wages.
And most of them are sat on assets - farmhouse, outbuildings, land, machinery etc- worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Peter
1. I support the farmers in getiing a price for their product that means they can earn a living from it.
2. The clamour for cheap food is understandable, especially given that greedy employers in many sectors push down wages, but I would be prepared to pay more for milk if that's what's needed to produce it viably.
But I do have a bit of a problem with these protests.
Take a look at some of the photos of people blockading fctories etc. There are large numbers of people and vehicles present. If this was being done by a trade union following a democratic process and resulting in lawful industrial action, any number above 6 people would be considered unlawful picketing, and any picketing of a place that was not the workplace would be considered illegal secondary picketing, and would swiftly be broken up by baton-wielding police officers if previous examples are anything to go by.
So why can farmers protest in a way that would be illegal for other workers - and why do the Star apparenty support this?
Double standards? I think so!
The graduate
Reason is they can for another few days but if they become a pain changes will come at the moment they are more irritating , they better be prepared to put a hard hat on not a flat cap or baseball cap.
Dairy Farmer
Peaceful demo by farmers supervised by one policeman, We have got nowhere by talking to these people and the voluntary code isn't worth anything either . The demo's last 3-4hrs and then disperse, unlike the miners or others which have a
seige like feel to them. This tactic works because everyone is aware of the situation now .
Asda has taken out court injunctions against the FFA leaders entering their properties so we will wait and see what the next step is .
Wile Coyote
This makes no sense. At all. Whatsoever. Go away and come back when you have a basic grasp of english.
Anthony
TO all you Range Rover owner farmers. Please stop this pointless process and go and grow some tunips of the like, have you lot ever heard of diversification? I am sick of the Whinging that farmers always do, years ago they were paid by us tax payers to virtually do nothing. Now they have to work for their livlyhood and are whinging again.
Ths farmers is why you appear to be, some of you, such hopless business men. The reality is the farmers who have the brains to diversify are doing so, expanding their herds investing in the future.
I notice they don't rally their precious conservative MP's as they should. They do stupid things like spreading muck in cities. The only thing this will do is put the 'housewife'
Think about some strategy farmers and stop making your customers unhappy!
Huw Peach
... 'expanding your herds' ...
Shropshire people don't want Californian-style mega-dairies, Anthony.
We want our dairy farmers to get a fair price for their milk; we don't want them to be bullied into further intensification.
Jonny5
Meanwhile farmers assets and land values have rise 100% in the last ten years, hello, got a cashflow problem, sell a field or two! The customers should not pay more its a recession and were suffering farmers need to cut their costs like the rest of us are doing, tighten the belt a bit
Andy
Ay of them harass me while I am trying to buy some nice cheap milk at the supermarket and a smack in the chops is what they will get!
They have aboslutely no right to harass people shopping! They cause enough chaos driving their tractors around during the rush hour... You would have thought if they all got up at the crack of dawn then they could do their driving about before people have to get to work.
Selfish, ignorant and pompous...
And what, exactly is the point in having a survey if the Star arent going to publish the results? Unless of course they are waiting until the votes give the story they want to publish?
Wile Coyote
Brilliant! Well done. No, seriously, I didn't think it was possible for anyone to trump The Graduate in the ignorance stakes but you've managed it.
Bravo sir, bravo!
Dairy Farmer
27, 28,29 what planet are you on , haven't you read any of the other comments at all. The taxpayer comment is outstanding YOUR MONEY GOES TO EUROPE so stop paying farmers subsidies it will make no difference you will still pay into EUROPE. Watch your food bill rocket for the inflation and supply n demand effect.
Diversification into ,caravan sites B+B or fishing great plan . Land prices are good because it's a safe investments with trust funds . Also by a few trying to do economies of scale.AS for the tractor/muck spreading comments don't rate even a reply
Anthony
Refence to what planetwe are on Dairy farmer I am on planet earth, my head is not buried in the sand, I am a sucessfull business man. I can add to this that farmers, most of them are very poor business people, they expect when in crisis to be bailed out. The milk price issue has been going on for years! It has to be said when your members resort to using 'muscle' and even muck to get their point across rather than intelligent debate they will loose hands down.
Huw Peach
Re: Intelligent debate.
What did you think of the protester who was bathing in milk, Anthony?
I thought she made her point about milk being cheaper than water intelligently, and the humour made it all the more effective.
Vitruvian
I like cheap milk.
Captain S
Support the dairy farmers before we end up drinking imported milk and honest hard working people go bankrupt.
I will pay extra because I care.
ernie the milkman
so you like cheap milk, do you like seeing cows in the meadow? or should farmers adopt the american way of intensive dairy farming, 15000 cows tied up in huge barns with computorised feeding, milking etc. is that what we want over here, i think not.
please allow our cows the dignity of grazing the meadows and could the tight fisted dairy crest, wisemans, mullers and asda go out of business or pay our farmers a living wage.
ernie putting british dairy farmers first. and he drove the fastest milk float in the west.
Vitruvian
Firstly, I don't care much for the welfare of cows. I eat them without any concern plus I also eat eggs which are the result of battery farming. I appreciate that people don't, and that's their decision. As a result ethically sourced eggs exist and are commercially successful. I see little problem with this happening for dairy.
Secondly, your argument is predicated on the assumption that regardless of the state of the industry, all dairy farmers MUST continue to make milk. This is unlikely to happen in a free market. If producers are unable or unwilling to make a profit from their product, they should consider changing their product.
Let them eat Cake
The Government were quick to settle with Border Staff et all before the Olympics.
Just think whaty a few well placed Tractors, Trailers and Combine Harvesters could do to London if the Farmers get no Joy????
Please settle this ASAP the Olympics need to go without a hitch!!!!!!
rodington dairies
absolutely spot on,let them eat cake, a few hundred tractors in the olympic lanes in london over the weekend would have the government "creaming themselves" . betty windsor riding on a grey fergie to the opening ceremony, arriving at 05.30 on saturday, now that is dairy farming.
ernie from roddington dairies!!
Sarah
just pay more for the milk! surly a few pence spread across the nation is better than even more unemployed and the disposal of the cattle! and not just the farmers unemployed but it would affect the jobs of people who supply the products for the cattle and farms.
gaz
but 3p on a pint when you drink a pint a day for all 67 million people in the country = thats billions of pounds taken out of peoples pockets this is not good it would the same as putting petrol or heating prices up, it will make people worse off so they will spend less which will cause more recession
Huw Peach
Was that what you said in June 2010 when the government put VAT up to 20%, gaz?
Blaming dairy farmers, who are just trying to make a living, for people being out of pocket is to miss the elephant in the room.
If you think people's nervousness about spending is responsible for recession, then bash the government's bizarre tax policies, which hit the poorest hardest. Don't bash the dairy farmers.
lindylou
Replying to yesterdays comments.... we do Not produce the most expensive milk in Europe, but one of the cheapest, and it was NOT the farmers who got rid of the Milk Marketing Board, but Maggie Thatcher when she got rid of all the Boards . Get your facts right before you join in dabates, it is a waste of space !!
Realist
wasn't Maggie a Tory? and aren't many of our farmers supporters of the Tories? As they say 'be careful what you wish for'...!! Unfortunately Maggie not only destroyed our heavy industries with the 'free market economy' she created, she also set the seeds of destruction for our dairy farmers.
sordid
Simple, stop shopping at these supermarket cartels and go to farmers markets. Stop propping up these filthy corporations.
gaz
i have never met a poor farmer but alot of milk buyers, creamery workers and supermarket shoppers and workers and pensioners reliant on share income from tesco etc need to pay less for their milk
farmers need to take this on the chin like other workers have had to of late
dairy farmer
Gaz , we have managed till now on poor prices, we have all survived till now but tesco's etc have kept prices low to you while pocketing vast markups .
WE DONT want prices up to you we want more passed back from the profits as 400% is excessive regardless who it is. Why does everyone think we can affect the public purse so much when we are told what price to take not able to demand one.. If you won't work for free don't expect me to.
Realist
I have read that one of the problems is that the cream part of the milk is now almost valueless due to our 'healthy eating' habits. This effectively means that around 25% of the raw milk has little value. It is of course impossible to produce creamless milk but effectively farmers are producing a product that no one wants.
I don't know how this problem can be overcome without the buyers (ultimately the public) paying for something they don't want.
dairy farmer
Realist,
Liquid milk contracts have minimum butterfat value of 3.5% some dairies pay something for the extra but some put a cap of 4%. So when a farmer has cows producing 4 to 4.3% basically the dairy is getting something for nothing as half fat milk is 2% . The extra cream is sold at a low price of £940t where as last year it was nearer £2000 a ton these prices have been record prices . Europe use far more cream than the UK so a lot is exported but with the strong pound trade is slower.
What we feed cows can effect the amount of butterfat produced, higher fat milk goes to a cheese producer dairy which pays for higher milk constituents. Liquid (doorstep) contracts are lower constituent refered to as white water contracts.
rodington dairies
farmers are used to producing their milk at a loss as normally they can balance this when cream prices are high. sadly for several months there has been a glut in cream and prices have dropped leaving farmers in a right mess. this is why wisemans, dairycrest muller etc have twice attempted to reduce prices for milk.
the farmers are now desperate, they have had a poor season with 3 months of rain and some having invested thousands of pounds in new milk parlours.
the last thing they need is middlemen reducing their incomes and supermarkets selling milk cheap.
tescos are supposed to be paying farmers a reasonable price, so why did i see robert wiseman delivering milk and cream to my local tesco yesterday.
well done farmers keep up this direct action, most of us are behind you. some of us forget these protesting farmers are working a 12 hour day and then up half the night blockading those greedy middlemen who care not a hoot about the suppliers.
ernie the milkman is furious