Warning of further milk price protests in Shropshire
Farming campaigners have warned that protests could return to Shropshire in the coming months – unless there is a U-turn on falling milk prices.
Farmers For Action has revealed that unless milk prices are increased in the next two months the group would be forced to return to protesting outside factories run by processing giants, including the Muller Wiseman plant in Market Drayton.
David Handley, chairman of the campaign group, said: "Prices have not improved. We have had two months where things haven't improved – it has gone on now for too long.
"The FFA has continually fought and still is fighting through it but processors have got massive power.
"But without a doubt, we will be returning to Market Drayton.
"If we do not see some changes in the next two months then the only thing to do is protest."
"It is the only thing they seem to understand when we stand outside their gates.
"It is definitely on the cards within the next two months."
Dozens of farmers blockaded the Muller Wiseman base in February after the firm announced it would be cutting 1.75 pence per litre from the price it pays for milk on March 5, taking its standard rate to 24.15ppl. The cost of producing milk is almost 30ppl, and a year ago farmers were receiving about 32 to 33ppl.
Carl Ravenhall, managing director of Muller Wiseman Dairies, said it had been a painful decision to stay competitive and said the business cannot compete if the cost of the milk it buys from farmers is substantially higher than that of its competitors.
Dairy Crest had already announced that its new price of between 23.2p and 25.1p per litre would remain unchanged until July. First Milk also held its prices, which are lower than Muller's at 22.7p, to 24p.
Mr Handley said: "We have not put protests on hold until after the election – it really is irrelevant to milk prices.
"It is important but it is not going to make a slight bit of difference to the price farmers get for their milk. It is processors – we need to get them to understand that we will not put up with this. But a lot of the people I have spoken to are worried that protesting won't make much difference – the processors have so much power and if raising the price doesn't suit them they won't do it."
Meanwhile, Mr Handley has said the election could put further pressure on farmers.
He said: "I don't think we will get any more support on milk prices after the election than we already have done – it won't make any difference. But we do think that it could have a huge impact if Labour decide to stop the badger cull – they said they might look at the issue of TB another way. But that could set farmers back 10 years."
"It is the last thing farmers need right now.
"Everybody needs to ask their MP candidates some questions about food production in the UK.
"We need to know whether we will be increasing imports or getting UK produced food. It has a big impact on the dairy industry."
