As UK dairy companies belatedly begin to raise ex-farm prices rather than risk milk production melt-down the talk turns to the need for further consolidation in the dairy industry in order to provide a more solid basis for investment and greater leverage against the big retailers.
In other words we are likely to see a significant reduction in the number of companies, perhaps down to just a handful for the entire UK. If this happens, some commentators say, it would allow milk prices paid to dairy farmers to increase still further.
Suddenly, the things some of us have been saying about the need for better prices in order to provide greater food security for UK consumers are coming to pass. Shortages always drive markets in the end. It's happening with arable crops as well because of a world shortfall between production and demand.
But perishable, short-shelf-life milk has always been a special, relatively local, case. And industry calls for a more consolidated processing and distribution sector have a familiar ring. Remember the Milk Marketing Boards in each country of the UK? Make's you wonder why they were kicked out in the first place, doesn't it?