Farmers put Muller blockades plan on hold
Dairy farmers fighting for a fairer deal on milk prices from Shropshire yoghurt giant Muller today said plans for further protests are on hold because fresh talks have been 'positive'.
Following a wildcat blockade of the Muller Wiseman plants in Market Drayton last month, the two sides agreed a 10-day truce, which ended on Monday.
Farmers, who say it costs 31.5p to produce a litre of milk, had warned they would protest again unless Muller Wiseman increased its 29p a litre price.
Now campaigners say the peace will continue to hold while 'progress' is made in talks with the German dairy giant, which bought Robert Wiseman Dairies in a £280 million deal earlier this year.
David Handley, president of Farmers For Action, said today: "We've had conversations with Muller Wiseman yesterday and Monday, and as long as that keeps going forward bit by bit we won't be outside their depot."
In a statement yesterday, Muller Wiseman warned that unlawfully halted trucks could quickly be replaced by a container of dairy products from a European competitor.
The company said even members of its own farmers' board had called for the threat of blockades to be lifted.
