Group calls on dairy farmers to join protests
A farmers' campaign group is calling for more support from dairy farmers ahead of further protests this week against falling milk prices.
Farmers For Action (FFA) has said it wants to see more farmers at its protests. Full details of protest meetings will be released in the next couple of days.
FFA chairman, David Handley, said: "Last week's protests at Muller Wiseman went ahead and again were totally peaceful and gave farmers the opportunity to show their anger with regard to current milk prices.
"For these protests to continue and above all to be successful, we really do need more farmer support."
In October, about 500 farmers protested outside the dairy processor's HQ and in a similar protest last week, about 100 farmers blockaded the plant. The protests were sparked by Shropshire-based Muller Wiseman's announcement in September that it would be paying farmers 27.1 pence per litre for milk from November – a fall of 1.9ppl. It followed a fall of 1.8ppl made the previous month.
Mr Handley is telling farmers: "We are only asking you to give up a short amount of your time to attend a protest because the size of the crowd makes a huge difference.
"For those who have not attended before, you will find most of the evening is very entertaining and you also can learn a lot by talking to your fellow farmers."
Mr Handley said recently that small family farms could be wiped out by the end of next year if the milk price does not get back to the 30p mark.
But campaigners were also angered after Muller Wiseman announced its £80 million deal to purchase the operations of processor Dairy Crest, subject to approval from the competition authorities. Mr Handley said farmers were shocked to hear Muller had "suddenly found" £80 million after blaming cuts in milk prices on having no money.
Following the announcement, Ronald Kers, chief executive of Muller UK & Ireland Group, said he hoped it would be a step towards creating the most "sustainable, efficient and innovative dairy processor in the UK".
Protests are also set to focus on supermarkets as campaigners leaflet in front, hoping to inform the public about the cuts and effects on farmers.
