Dairy farmers threaten to dump milk
7 March 2000
Dairy farmers threaten to dump milk
By Robert Davies
FARMERS are threatening to pour thousands of gallons of milk down the drain in protest at falling prices, which have dropped to as little as 15ppl.
Around 300 producers in west Wales have agreed to withhold milk production from British dairy processors for two days later this month.
The farmers claim that their overdrafts are increasing by thousands of pounds a month because milk prices are below the cost of production.
Milk Marque, the countrys biggest milk buyer with about 40% of the market, is bottom of the Farmers Weekly Milk Price Table.
The farmer-owned cooperative, which supplies many of the countrys big dairy processors, pays only 15.07ppl of milk.
Farmers blame the price fall largely on “greedy processors” and supermarkets, which they claim sell milk at a loss in an attempt to gain market share.
“Businesses are being ruined because dairies are allowing supermarkets to undersell milk as a loss leader, even though they admit consumers would happily pay 5ppl more,” said protest leader Rhys Parry.
The days when milk will be poured away will be announced on 15 March but are expected to take place before the end of the month.
Before then, the farmers are organising protests and other meetings to persuade producers in the rest of Britain to back the idea.
Producers have already picketed the Golden Vale Creamery at Bridgend, Glamorgan, and more demonstrations are planned for later in the week.
The next meeting between the farmers is scheduled to take place at in the market town of Raglan in Monmouthshire on Tuesday evening (7 March).
- Milk Price Review – tables
- Welsh picket milk plants, FWi, yesterday (06 March, 2000)
- Dairy tenants urge fairer deal, FWi, 02 March, 2000
- Dairy farmers march in Carlisle, FWi, 01 March, 2000
- Back dairy protest, farmers urged, FWi, 23 February, 2000
- Producers at boiling point over milk prices, FWi, 04 February, 2000