Shropshire Star

Farmers vow action if milk price fall continues

Farmers across Shropshire today said they will not hesitate to protest if milk prices continue to fall.

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At a meeting at Market Drayton Agricultural Centre over 400 farmers voted for a return to direct action over falling milk prices.

The meeting was organised by campaign group Farmers For Action (FFA), after Market Drayton-based dairy giant Muller Wiseman revealed the price for milk will drop by 1.8 pence per litre to 29p from October.

Dairy farmer Andrew Bebb, of Hanwood, near Shrewsbury, milked his first cow 50 years ago and has a dairy farm of 100 cows.

He said Thursday's meeting was very positive and he voted for action because the price cuts were "ridiculous" and "out of step".

"We shouldn't be exposed to these reduced prices," Mr Bebb said.

"There is a lot of profit going on at the moment so our milk prices should not be lowered. The drop in price makes a huge difference.

"We have recently had a better 12 months so people have been investing in modern machinery. Now the prices have been lowered they are struggling to run them. When the price is lowered – you can forget having any money for maintenance.

"The cuts are so demoralising, especially at this time of year when we are going into the harder winter months.

"Going forward I would like to think there will be a constructive dialogue between diary processors and retailers, the FFA and National Farmers Union as to where we go from here.

"If it is needed then there will be a protest."

The FFA said the meeting was held to inform and gauge reaction so they could plan a way forward.

And the overwhelming feedback was to protest if changes were not made.

At Thursday night's meeting, chairman of Farmers For Action, David Handley, told farmers the answer to the industry's problems was in their hands.

Rod MacBean, a dairy farmer at Brockhurst Farm in Aston near Wem, said: "The meeting was as I expected. The FFA are doing a lot of work behind the scenes. Mr Handley is right in that we are overproducing and we need to address the system. We need a cost system plus a margin.

"I voted for protest as we have to do whatever is necessary to get the prices back up.

"I have recently made a massive investment in a lot of high tech machinery – as we were told to do so.

"I now cannot operate if the prices are reduced further. As well as the running of the farm, I have a huge finance bill to pay

"We are one of the most efficient farms in the area – until you add on our finance costs.

"The tragedy is, these new modern working farms will be the ones which disappear first if more cuts are made.

"I do think you will see protest if nothing happens."

Martin Armstrong, head of group milk supply for Muller UK & Ireland Group, said, despite the reduction, they believe that the price they are offering will continue be one of the best available in the UK.

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