Dairy farmers may face ruin, Commons told

Hundreds of dairy farmers face being forced out of business this year because of the 'outrageous behaviour' of milk processors, a Mid Wales Conservative MP has warned.

Glyn Davies, Montgomeryshire MP, told the House of Commons many dairy farmers were losing money on every pint.

Mr Davies, himself a former dairy farmer, warned the house that many would be forced out of the industry for good on August 1, when cuts of up to 2p a litre on the price paid to some dairy farmers comes into effect.

Mr Davies said: "I have always appreciated the importance of dairying. My first job, for the first 10 years after I joined the family business, was milking cows, therefore, I feel a considerable attachment to the industry.

"Dairy farming has shaped and maintained the countryside of Britain as we know it for a century. It is an industry we should value and support.

"Today, dairy farming is in deep trouble – an important primary production industry torn apart by the corporate greed and ruthlessness of processors and retailers. Dairy farming is being reduced to an unsustainable position.

"Dairy farmers will be forced out of business and inevitably, more dairy products will be imported unless there is change. We should do our utmost to prevent this from happening."

He added: "The Government have to step in when the market is not working, and all of us know that this market is currently simply not working."