Farmers blockade dairy giant's Shropshire plant in new milk protest

They prevented lorries from entering or leaving the dairy as drivers were forced to turn away.

Farmers from Shropshire, Cheshire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Mid Wales were among those who braved the wet weather at the protest last night.

The majority of campaigners, with protest group Farmers for Action(FFA), set off from Market Drayton's Livestock Centre to take up position outside the dairy plant.

The protestors stood fast outside the plant, a major employer in the town, late into the night.

It follows a similar protest outside Shropshire's biggest dairy in October, which attracted about 500 people.

FFA has been taking part in a series of protests around the country over the last few weeks after dairy processors, including Muller Wiseman, slashed the price they pay farmers for milk.

Shropshire's biggest dairy announced in September, the price it will pay farmers for milk will drop by 1.9 pence per litre (ppl) to 27.1ppl from November.

In August it announced its price from October would drop by 1.8ppl to 29ppl.

Members of FFA are also unhappy that the German firm has recently agreed an £80 million deal for the dairy operations of Dairy Crest, subject to approval from the competition authorities.

The agreement will also see 700 farmers move their supplies to Muller, while remaining on the contracts agreed with Dairy Crest, bringing the total number of UK farmers selling their produce to the yoghurts giant to around 2,000.

Speaking at last night's protest, Paul Rowbottom, a member of FFA, said: "Why we are back is because we want milk prices to go back up. Ideally we want prices to go back up to 32p.

"Muller said recently there is no money but then what I can't understand is where they have got £80 million from to spend on a new dairy.

"Personally I think whether the price will go back up will depend on whether we carry on protesting.

"If we stop protesting then I think the prices will continue to drop. But I would urge farmers to keep protesting if they want things done.

"But if the farmers want to stop protesting then a lot can still be done behind the scenes."

One of the farmers protesting last night was Jim O'Neill who has a farm in Market Drayton with 360 cows.

"I am out here to put the pressure on. It is preventing us putting money back into our businesses and the local economy."

Steve Biddulph, who has about 80 cows on his farm near Stone in Staffordshire, said: "I have been protesting since 2007.

"It is particularly stopping new farmers getting going. We have got noting to put back into our businesses."

Helen Cork, NFU Shropshire county adviser, said: "The NFU remains committed to fighting for functioning markets and fairer contracts; this ultimately is the best way to achieve farm gate milk prices that fairly reflect the value of milk.

"We have had grass-roots farmhouse breakfast meetings with dairy farmers and sector meetings continue; alongside talks with government, retailers, processors and other industry stakeholders.

"In fact only last week ways of easing volatility in the milk sector were discussed by NFU President Meurig Raymond and dairy board chairman Rob Harrison with Defra Secretary of State Liz Truss.

"Our members should be assured though that we continue to work hard to keep this sector in the spotlight and are lobbying to give Shropshire dairy farmers more opportunities and choice."

Muller Wiseman has said the current reduction in price reflects a sustained decline in revenues generated from sales of butter and cream, commodities which are traded in global markets.

Following the announcement of its deal with Dairy Crest, Ronald Kers, chief executive of Muller UK & Ireland Group, said he intended to create the most "sustainable, efficient and innovative dairy processor in the UK".

FFA also carried out a similar protest in Sedgemoor in Somerset last night, which attracted about 150 people.