This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18792132#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Dairy farmers set for Westminster protest | Dairy farmers set for Westminster protest |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Dairy farmers from across the UK are expected to stage a protest at Westminster later to voice concerns about the future of the industry. | Dairy farmers from across the UK are expected to stage a protest at Westminster later to voice concerns about the future of the industry. |
| It follows cuts to the price processors pay farmers for their milk, which they want to be reversed. | It follows cuts to the price processors pay farmers for their milk, which they want to be reversed. |
| Farmers say they will lose on average £50,000 a year because of a drop of nearly 4p a litre in the price they receive from milk processing companies. | Farmers say they will lose on average £50,000 a year because of a drop of nearly 4p a litre in the price they receive from milk processing companies. |
| Agriculture minister Jim Paice has said he will listen to protesting farmers. | Agriculture minister Jim Paice has said he will listen to protesting farmers. |
| Direct action | Direct action |
| He has warned them against taking "militant" action when they reach Westminster. | He has warned them against taking "militant" action when they reach Westminster. |
| It comes after Mr Paice admitted he did not know how much a pint of milk cost, telling the BBC his wife "buys most of it". | It comes after Mr Paice admitted he did not know how much a pint of milk cost, telling the BBC his wife "buys most of it". |
| The minister has said there is "clearly something wrong with the market". | The minister has said there is "clearly something wrong with the market". |
| Mr Paice told BBC Radio 4's Farming Today the price cuts were "a massive burden for the vast majority of dairy farmers", adding: "I do not support physical protest, but if they want to come to London and express their views, then I entirely understand that and support it." | Mr Paice told BBC Radio 4's Farming Today the price cuts were "a massive burden for the vast majority of dairy farmers", adding: "I do not support physical protest, but if they want to come to London and express their views, then I entirely understand that and support it." |
| Meanwhile, Labour MP Mary Creagh, the shadow environment secretary, said Mr Paice would call for farmers to get a decent price for their milk but was "so incompetent he hasn't a clue what it should be". | Meanwhile, Labour MP Mary Creagh, the shadow environment secretary, said Mr Paice would call for farmers to get a decent price for their milk but was "so incompetent he hasn't a clue what it should be". |
| Some of the farmers are backing a campaign of direct action and have threatened to pour their milk down the drain. | Some of the farmers are backing a campaign of direct action and have threatened to pour their milk down the drain. |
| The National Farmers Union (NFU) has said it will support any action that is peaceful and legal and has called for an immediate reverse of the price cuts and the resignation of those involved. | The National Farmers Union (NFU) has said it will support any action that is peaceful and legal and has called for an immediate reverse of the price cuts and the resignation of those involved. |
| Its vice-president has warned of a mass exodus from the dairy industry, adding that if that happened in three to four years "consumers will be paying a lot more for their milk". | Its vice-president has warned of a mass exodus from the dairy industry, adding that if that happened in three to four years "consumers will be paying a lot more for their milk". |
| Some supermarkets sell non-organic milk for about 30p a pint, for larger bottle sizes. Single-pint bottles are offered at nearer 50p, with smaller shops often charging more. | Some supermarkets sell non-organic milk for about 30p a pint, for larger bottle sizes. Single-pint bottles are offered at nearer 50p, with smaller shops often charging more. |
| Milk delivered to the doorstep costs consumers about 65p a pint. | Milk delivered to the doorstep costs consumers about 65p a pint. |
| Are you a dairy farmer? Will you be taking part in today's protests? What is a fair price for millk? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. |