Milk price fight goes on despite deal

Beleaguered dairy farmers today vowed to fight on in their battle for a fair deal for their milk – despite moves to end the crisis.

Dairy farmers welcomed a draft deal aimed at giving farmers more bargaining power with processors hammered out at crunch talks at the Royal Welsh Show in Powys yesterday.

They said the deal – which would ban backdated price cuts and give farmers at least 30 days’ notice of price changes – gave them hope for the long term.

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But they added it did not solve the immediate issue over the price they received for their milk.

The deal will also give farmers’ a three month get out clause from their contracts with milk processors like Robert Wiseman, Arla and Dairy Crest.

After hours of talks yesterday, both sides agreed to sign up to a new voluntary code of practice.

But the sides failed to reach a deal over looming cuts in the price of milk.

Farmers today pledged to fight on to overturn plans for a 2p a litre reduction in the price they get.

Paul Rowbottom a Farmers For Action member who helped blockade Robert Wiseman Dairies and Muller in Market Drayton on Sunday, said: “We want to make sure these new contracts are watertight and if they aren’t honoured then we shall have to keep the momentum going with our campaign.

“We could find ourselves back out there manning the blockades again if needs be.”

NFU Shropshire chairman Rob Alderson said today: “I still hope and wait for the news that the price of milk will be increased for the producer.”

Farming minister Jim Paice helped thrash out the deal, which means in future contracts will be freely negotiated and fairer.

Read more in today's Shropshire Star

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