Struggling farmers call for better deal on milk

More than 100 dairy farmers in Mid Wales have demanded a better deal on milk prices – and claim they risk losing their businesses altogether.

About 120 attended a meeting chaired by Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies at Welshpool Livestock Market yesterday, while about 25 held banners outside the town’s Morrisons store following the meeting.

Many described the situation as ‘last chance saloon’ for farmers in the area who are losing up to six pence per pint on milk.

Mr Davies will mention the issue in Parliament today and he told the meeting: “I think something needs to be done to these big, bullying, greedy supermarkets.”

On Wednesday, more than 2,500 dairy farmers, including many from Shropshire and Mid Wales, gathered in London to protest against price reductions.

Reductions of up to 2p per litre have been announced by major milk processors – including Britain’s biggest fresh milk firm Robert Wiseman – which came on top of similar cuts announced in the spring. They have blamed the cuts on a collapse in the value of cream.

Jonathon Wilkinson, NFU Cymru dairy board vice chairman, said: “It is last chance saloon now. We have come here because Morrisons, like Asda and the Co-operative, don’t ensure dairy farmers supplying liquid milk get a fair price, they do not even ensure farmers get a price that covers the cost of production.

“We hope consumers will ask retailers what they are doing to ensure dairy farmers receive a fair price for their milk.”

Gwynfor Thomas, who farms outside Welshpool, said: “We are absolutely desperate and I don’t know how long it can go on for.”

Linda Corfield, who farms at Forden, near Welshpool, added: “We won’t be here for much longer.”