Milk Marque acts against farmers
10 March 2000
Milk Marque acts against farmers
By FWi staff
MILK Marque, Britains biggest milk buyer, claims milk deliveries are operating normally after it served an injunction on protesting farmers.
Bosses of the farmer-owned co-operative took out the injunction against protesting farmers who blocked milk deliveries to two of its depot in Wales.
The injunction, which named 16 milk producers and ordered them to disperse, was issued by a judge in Birmingham on Thursday (9 March).
It related to a planned 48-hour blockade at Milk Marques Whitland and Lampeter depots which had been singled out as targets by disgruntled farmers.
Milk Marque pays among the lowest price for milk in the country. Milk prices have dropped to about 15p per litre – the lowest price for eight years.
The court order came as the dairy industry warned other protesting farmers that they “will only make a difficult situation worse” if direct action continues.
Dairy Industry Federation officials said in a statement that the farmers actions were counter-productive, reported Farming Today on BBC Radio.
Nevertheless, other protests against the prices paid by large dairies continued at Unigates plant at Marshfield and Tescos depot at Chepstow.