Great response to Farm campaign

THE CAMPAIGN group Farm has had 10,000 requests for postcards addressed to Tesco urging the retail giant to take a lead and help combat poverty milk prices to farmers.

After a month of campaigning, requests for the Just Milk postcard pack have exceeded expectations, and well over half of the requests have come from non-farmers.

This, according to Farm, highlights growing public concern over the loss of dairy farmers.

Following the launch at the Dairy Event of the Just Milk campaign, and the subsequent coverage in the media, there has been a huge response from farmers and the public.

The campaign, initiated by Farm – the independent voice of farmers – is aimed at supermarket giant Tesco.

It challenges them to take the lead in addressing poverty milk prices, to use their market power to ensure their dairy farmers receive a fair share of retail price, and to publicly acknowledge that a sustainable dairy industry depends on a high number and diversity of farmers.

The 10,000 requests for postcards come on top of the thousands of postcards that have been distributed by campaigners all over the country, from farmers‘ markets to the European Social Forum.

Total distribution now stands at around 35,000 postcard packs, according to Farm.

Farm founder member John Turner said: “The response has been great – particularly the response from the general public.

“Well over half of the requests have come from non-farming consumers and reflects the growing concern amongst the public that the loss of so many family dairy farms will lead to environmental degradation and rural deprivation.

The loss of these farmers will mean the loss of so much more in the countryside that is valued by the public.”