Protests 'looming' over milk price cuts
Farming campaigners today warned of looming protests, saying the time for being polite has come and gone, after milk prices were cut again.
Milk prices for suppliers have been cut by 1.8p by Market Drayton-based Muller Wiseman to a new value of 29p a litre.
And Farmers For Action has revealed that protests could be on the horizon after it sent emails to members across the country asking for their feedback on the price cuts.
FFA Chairman, David Handley said: "We've had 700 members email back saying they want the campaign stepped up, and only two who are either neutral or against it.
"We did set the mark at 1,000 before taking further action and moving forward, but we are going to assess things after our two meetings this month.
"If people want to move things forward then we will be doing just that."
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According to Mr Handley "peaceful protests" could certainly be on the cards after the hundreds called for action.
Similar events were held two years ago when farmers were receiving about 26 to 28p per litre, and protesters took to the Muller plant to campaign for better prices.
From October, farmers will see the new milk price of 29p per litre come into effect, while current milk production costs at about 27p. Mr Handley said: "The time for being polite has come and gone.
"We've been polite for long enough and now it might be a case of banging some tables and asking what the hell is going on.
"It is no good saying we are in a recession and that's what we get, it is not good enough.
"We could be seeing protests soon after the amount of members that have responded since the cuts."
But Muller Wiseman Milk Group, which represents dairy farmers who supply Muller, has said that the markets are in "free fall". Chairman Roddy Catto said the company debated hard to come to an agreement with both sides moving a considerable amount. And Martin Armstrong, head of group milk supply for Muller UK and Ireland Group, said that he believes the price and proposition will "continue to be one of the best available in the UK."
