Milk price threat to small family farms, say campaigners
Small family farms could be "gone forever" if milk prices don't improve by the beginning of next year, farming campaigners warned.
Farmers for Action (FFA) has also warned that protests over the cost farmers are paid for milk will continue until they see a recovery in the dairy industry.
The group's comments come just days after about 100 farmers blockaded the Shropshire headquarters of dairy processing giant Muller Wiseman to protest against slashes to the price of milk. It followed a similar protest outside the Market Drayton-based dairy in October, which attracted about 500 people.
Muller Wiseman announced in September, the price it will pay farmers for milk will drop by 1.9 pence per litre(ppl) to 27.1ppl from November.
In August it announced its price from October would drop by 1.8ppl to 29ppl.
David Handley, chairman of FFA, said: "If we don't get back to the 30p mark by the new year, by the end of 2015 I can see a massive change in the number of people producing milk in this country. "Small family farms will be gone forever. It will not be good for the rural economy of Shropshire,"he said.
"Protests will carry on until the recovery of the industry. This is for the long run.
"We have just completed the printing of leaflets which we will take to the front of shops and hand out to the general public, which will give them an opportunity to understand what we have to do to produce a litre of milk.
"There will also be contacts where they will be able to go to a website and see the day-to-day running of a dairy farm and look at the products produced by us in the UK.
"It will mean the consumer will be better informed of why the cost is not sustainable. Further protests will run alongside this."
Members of FFA are also unhappy that Muller Wiseman has recently agreed an £80 million deal for the dairy operations of Dairy Crest, subject to approval from the competition authorities.
Mr Handley said: "It was not so long ago they said there was no money and suddenly they have found this £80 million.
"The milk processing industry needs to rationalise and sort itself out. Too many processors are all chasing a small market which is impacting producer pricing."
The National Farmers Union insists it is continuing to work hard to give Shropshire dairy farmers more opportunities and choice.
Muller Wiseman has said the current reduction in price reflects a sustained decline in revenues generated from sales of butter and cream, commodities which are traded in global markets.
Following the announcement of its deal with Dairy Crest, Ronald Kers, chief executive of Muller UK & Ireland Group, said he intended to create the most "sustainable, efficient and innovative dairy processor in the UK".
