Dairy farmers take action in UK
regarding the ongoing dispute over supermarket prices. The
Somerfield distribution centre in the south west of England has
become the latest stage of the dairy farmer milk and cheese price
battle.
Farmers gathered at the south west distribution plant at 8.45 on Tuesday evening and camped outside the store until 12.15. This protest was an attempt to convey feelings regarding an increase in the price that retailers purchase dairy products such as milk and cheese from the dairy producers. It is claimed that the low purchase price of the products are crippling their industry. The milk and cheese production price has been squeezed so tight that farmers are now receiving a lower sum for milk than they were 5 years previously, protesters claim.
Mike Haskew, from the oganisation responsible for this week's protest, Farmers for Action, believes that the battle is nearing an end. But he says that dairy farmers must continue in their efforts.
"We plan to keep the pressure on until retailers are willing to reflect their profits. It is their concern that the prices are high not ours. We are expecting a 1 pence a litre increase for liquid milk and a 2 pence increase for cheese", he told a Dairyreporter journalist yesterday.
Farmers for Action, says that supermarkets are resisting the natural market pressure to raise the price of cheese in a bid to boost demand. The organisation claims that this is damaging the fabric of the dairy industry.
In Ireland a similar school of thought over dairy pricing has manifested at this week's Teagasc National Dairy Conference. Leaders at this meeting say that "the Irish Dairy industry can only survive if there is a determination by processors to do all in their power to give Ireland a solid footing in the international marketplace with competitively priced high quality products".
An estimated 300 farmers took to the picket lines on Tuesday evening in the south west of England, and Haskew believes that this trend reflects the industry's concern on the matter."We are moving in the right direction but unfortunately very slowly and painfully, we are achieving our goals."
He believes that the awareness of the group's work, and indeed that of other unions is now becoming well recognised. He claims that support is constantly mounting.
"I could pick out 50 or 60 new faces protesting along the picket lines on Tuesday night. Week by week new people are supporting the cause."
Supermarket chiefs have said that they will meet with union leaders in the following week. The debate continues.
