New milk price blow for Shropshire dairy farmers
Dairy farmers across Shropshire and Mid Wales were dealt another massive blow today as the cost of milk production rose to a new high.
According to the National Farmers Union, farmers are now paying around 31.5 pence to produce each litre of milk, but they are selling it to dairy firms for only 29.5p per litre.
The latest blow comes at the end of a summer of mass protests over the milk crisis and despite price rises announced by dairy companies, including Shropshire-based Muller Wiseman.
The Market Drayton dairy was blockaded three times over the summer by farmers who say they cannot afford to continue selling milk at a loss.
Luke Ryder, NFU dairy adviser, said: “Average farmgate milk price is still a good 2.5p per litre below the cost of production.
“The price rises have been welcomed, but the reality is that 29p -29.5p per litre are the headline prices, not necessarily achieved by everybody,” he added.
He said some farmers were already questioning how they would be able to manage this winter.
Andrew Bebb, who farms near Hanwood, said: “The current milk price is a vast improvement from where we were a few months ago but is shows how detached from reality the milk price was then.
“Due to spiralling costs we need to see 32 pence per litre for milk before Christmas for everyone, not just the select few.”
In Shropshire John Mercer, NFU regional director, said: “We have seen im-provements but we need to see farm gate prices that at the very least cover the costs of production.
“One of the main concerns we had over the summer was the impact rising feed costs would have and the implications for Shropshire farmers heading into the autumn and winter.
“This is not just a dairy issue but has an impact for livestock farmers.
“Farmers like all businesses need to see a fair return and the supply chain has to recognise it’s been a challenging year.”
By Andrew Owen
Comments for: "New milk price blow for Shropshire dairy farmers"
Andy Prestwood
Could get worse now the RSPCA are calling for boycott on dairy products due to the culling of badgers down south. If It ever reaches Shropshire I know I will be boycotting!
Port Hill Boy
Perhaps the NFU will explain why the cost of production has suddenly jumped, only about a month since it gave other , lower, figures. More bleating?
Brian
It is true that production costs now outstrip sales price of milk but then there are large farming subsidies to back fill into lower costs. A good example of how subsidies given to farmers effectively end up subsidising supermarket profits. A good example of why all subsidies should be scrapped.
dairy farmer
PHB, Cost of concentrate rising by up to £35 /t this month due to global shortages of wheat and soya . Milk price paid to farmers is 26p a litre but spot price on the open market is 42p. Who gets the 16p difference for doing nothing, this is how agriculture supply n demand works but no doubt you will accuse me of bleating or having too much subsidies as usual.
Port Hill Boy
1.Farming is one of the few industries that receives massive taxpayer subsidies
2. How much money do you take out of the business in salary - and don't say you don't have one otherwise how do you pay for food, clothing, heating, transport etc
3. How much money are you sat on in terms of assets? Land, buildings, machinery etc.
dairy farmer
phb, Answer my question about the 16p if you can rather than talk of subs n assets . You always whinge but never want to hear the reply to your questions
sad
Isn't man an amazing animal? He kills wildlife by the millions in order to protect his domestic animals and their feed. Then he kills domestic animals by the billions and eats them. This in turn kills man by the millions because eating all those animals leads to degenerative and fatal health conditions. So then man tortures and kills millions more animals to look for cures for these diseases. Elsewhere, millions of other human beings are killed by hunger and malnutrition because food they could eat is being used to fatten domestic animals. Meanwhile, some people are dying of sad laughter at the absurdity of man, who kills so easily and so violently, and once a year sends out cards praying for "Peace on Earth."
-C. David Coates