Farmers step up milk price fight

More than 2,000 desperate dairy farmers – including hundreds from Shropshire and Mid Wales – today took the battle to save their industry to the heart of Westminster.

Coach-loads of beleaguered farmers set off from Shrewsbury, Shifnal, Oswestry and Mid Wales to call for urgent action to give them a fair price for their milk.

They say they are making a loss on every pint they produce because of cuts to the price paid by dairies.

Today's show of strength was lobbying a dairy summit at Westminster's Central Hall involving Agriculture Minister Jim Paice, the NFU and industry leaders.

It comes after Arla Foods, Robert Wiseman Dairies, and Dairy Crest announced cuts of up to 2p for the price they will pay for each litre of milk from August on top of similar cuts in April.

Farmers now receive around 28p for every litre of milk they sell which will fall to around 26p a litre in August. Yet it costs around 30p to produce every litre and milk sells for around 45p a pint – about 85p a litre.

Norman Ford, of Prees, has 200 cows and said he stood to lose 'a hell of a lot'. The 56-year-old said the cuts would cost £20,000-a-year and said:?"We're being ripped off by the supermarkets. The middle-man is taking all the money again."

Rob Alderson, chairman of the Shropshire branch of the NFU, said it was 'sad' that farmers were having to leave their farms to protest, but it was the only option they had.

Farmers have been banned from displaying banners because of security ahead of the Olympics.

The summit will call for measures to ensure farmers are not paid less than the cost of production.

John Mercer, NFU regional director, said: "The fact so many farmers are ready to take action shows the strength of feeling."

Those who cannot go have pledged to write to the Government for a fairer deal. Michael Oakes who farms at Rednal, near Oswestry, said:

"Farmers have said enough is enough and this is a real show of strength."