Shropshire dairy crisis talks delay hits hopes of peace deal
Dairy farmers in Shropshire who are battling for an increase in the price they are paid for milk have shelved a meeting to discuss the industry's future.
Hundreds of farmers were due to meet in Market Drayton last night to discuss possible action to get milk companies to increase the price they pay for the milk they buy. They will now meet next Thursday.
It comes after the National Farmers Union announced that 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.
And despite some price rises by dairy companies, farmers still say they are not earning enough to make a profit.
Paul Rowbottom, a Farmers For Action (FFA) co-ordinator who helped organise the dairy protests outside Muller in Market Drayton over the summer, said a diary clash was to blame for the change of meeting date.
He said the planned talks organised by FFA and the National Farmers' Union clashed with a farming conference in London, so it has now been re-arranged for Thursday at 8pm at Market Drayton Livestock Market.
He said the ongoing row over the price paid to farmers for milk by processors would be top of the agenda.
"We're expecting anywhere between 500 and 1,000 farmers to come along," he said.
"It's so we can get the message out from the farmers' point of view."
