800 farmers at Shropshire dairy crisis talks
Farming bosses have warned of further protests if they are not paid a fairer price for milk as they vowed to ‘name and shame’ supermarkets which fail to negotiate.
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Around 800 farmers packed a unique coalition meeting in Market Drayton last night hosted by both the National Farmers’ Union and pressure group Farmers For Action.
Officials said more supermarkets were entering negotiations over the price they pay for milk but said an ‘ultimatum’ had been issued to processors to increase prices by December or face more protests.
They said they would ‘name and shame’ stores that were not considering their situation by the end of the month.
The meeting was called after it was revealed farmers are now paying around 31.5 pence to produce each litre of milk, but are selling it to dairy firms for only 29.5p per litre. Farmers from as far afield as Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, West Wales and The Wirral packed into the meeting at Market Drayton Livestock Market.
David Handley, president of FFA, was greeted by cheers as he revealed Iceland and Lidl had agreed to negotiate on price.
Mr Handley said he was ‘overwhelmed’ by the turnout.
He said: “It has been a fight, but there is more to come.
“Don’t think for one minute that the fight is over.
”I want to see a price for milk by Christmas of 30p per litre.
”If, by the middle of November, we have not seen movement then it looks like we could need to protest again.”
Comments for: "800 farmers at Shropshire dairy crisis talks"
sarah bayliss
why are you saying only 800 farmers attended last night when the BBC is saying over 1800!!.......
sold_out
Sorry, I have no sympathy with people who sell themselves out to supermarkets as their only viable source of income, diversity is the key to business.. If a supermarket is your only market place then you really have no business anyway. business is business.
hedgehog
supermarkets, They are not the only buyers but are usually the ones who effect the price the most . How diverse can milk selling be with a perishable product other than very small niche markets . Milk is very big business for the retailer just look at the margins they have made for little effort .
hedgehog
re ultimatum, That was aimed at those processors still paying 26p a litre . Iceland and Lidl have always refused to pay a fair price, but now had the prospect of no supply . Market forces mean that it's time to realize the true cost of milk.
martin
No one makes money in farming these days.
Port Hill Boy
Farmers - the most subsidised set of workers in the country.
dairy farmer
Port Hill Boy , Same old same old , say something different for a change.
Port Hill Boy
Unlike the dairy farmers with their "help us with more subsidies" one track record?
theriverside
Come back when you have a valid opinion fella. Plenty of farmers are being crippled by rising costs and lower yields due to the dreadful weather this year................if you think it's so easy get out there and try to do it yourself. They're not asking for fortunes just enough to survive and maybe invest enough to be able to carry on providing the food that you clearly take for granted...............
Port Hill Boy
They farm by choice - unless there's some law forcing them to do so that I'm not aware of. Why should we subsidise their choice ?
hedgehog
port hill bore, They farm by choice but object to the abuse of power by the food chain. all we asked for is the fairer distribution of money. YOU DO NOT SUBSIDISE OUR CHOICE. You pay money to Europe not farmers so go rethink your whole hate thing.
Martin,
Farmers are trying to set up producer organisations but as usual there is a barrage of legislation and non compliance from the dairy trade who realize that their unspoken monopoly is under pressure.
Danny G
Completely agree with you PHB. I've grown up in farming communities and there are farmers in my family, and none of them have any idea what poverty is.
I'm not saying they don't work hard, but they expect a top standard of living - and it's the taxpayer that funds their extravagance.
Martin
All of my family were farmers in Shropshire, yes they would of liked to of handed over the reins but even they could see 30 years ago that the writing was on the wall and got out of it.
'Hedgehog' it may of been better if all the dairy farmers/NFU set up there own independant dairies to drive up the prices, after all you guys have ALL the resources at hand to place the difficult unobliging diaries/ supermarkets in a very different situation at the bargaining table . Seems obvious to me really???
wiseman
just look at all the poor farmer with their barber jackets and berghouse coats bet there was a few rangerovers outside aswell
BlacknWhite
'Wiseman' - erm well - how many other people work 365 days a year and on a 24/7 'call out' - working through colds/flu and having no sick days... to supply food for the UK? We are a husband and wife team and we can't afford to employ someone full time to help us out on our farm and then there's all the hoops the employment laws have put into place to 'protect' the employee which makes us cringe. So why not 'reward' ourselves with nice vehicles and clothes to wear as we haven't got time to 'play' in pubs/shops/football matches, etc as we are WORKING in all weathers and in all conditions... not 8 hours in an office and then clock off and go home and forget it! So like in all cases, if you work hard enough why isn't it fair to be rewarded for what you do?