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| Dairy farmers set for Westminster protest | Dairy farmers set for Westminster protest |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Dairy farmers from across the UK are gathering at Westminster to protest against planned cuts to the payments they get for their milk. | |
| Farmers say they will lose £50,000 a year on average because of a drop of nearly 4p a litre in the price they will get from three processing firms. | |
| The companies have blamed falling commodity prices for their cuts. | The companies have blamed falling commodity prices for their cuts. |
| Agriculture Minister Jim Paice has warned that the retail price of milk might have to be increased. | |
| Three leading dairy processors, Robert Wiseman Dairies, Arla Foods UK, and Dairy Crest have announced reductions of 1.7 pence per litre (ppl), 2.0ppl and 1.65ppl respectively from 1 August. | Three leading dairy processors, Robert Wiseman Dairies, Arla Foods UK, and Dairy Crest have announced reductions of 1.7 pence per litre (ppl), 2.0ppl and 1.65ppl respectively from 1 August. |
| The National Farmers Union (NFU) wants an immediate reversal of the cuts and the resignation of those involved. | The National Farmers Union (NFU) wants an immediate reversal of the cuts and the resignation of those involved. |
| "The latest round of cuts to milk prices by three major dairy processors will mean dairy farmers are making a significant loss for every litre of milk they produce," NFU vice-president Adam Quinney said. | "The latest round of cuts to milk prices by three major dairy processors will mean dairy farmers are making a significant loss for every litre of milk they produce," NFU vice-president Adam Quinney said. |
| Mr Quinney said farmers who did not supply Tesco, Sainsbury's, Marks & Spencer or Waitrose - which pay dairy farmers directly - would lose £350 to £400 per cow per year. | Mr Quinney said farmers who did not supply Tesco, Sainsbury's, Marks & Spencer or Waitrose - which pay dairy farmers directly - would lose £350 to £400 per cow per year. |
| He warned that a mass exodus from the dairy industry would see consumers "paying a lot more" in three or four years. | He warned that a mass exodus from the dairy industry would see consumers "paying a lot more" in three or four years. |
| Mr Paice said the average price of a pint was 49p, of which 16p went to the farmers, and the price cuts were "a massive burden for the vast majority of dairy farmers". | |
| "The price in the shops isn't really high enough to compensate for all the costs in the food chain," he said. | "The price in the shops isn't really high enough to compensate for all the costs in the food chain," he said. |
| "The reality is that if milk producers do go out of production... then we'll end up with a price hike... because liquid milk isn't readily imported and if there's a shortage it will go up." | "The reality is that if milk producers do go out of production... then we'll end up with a price hike... because liquid milk isn't readily imported and if there's a shortage it will go up." |
| Mr Paice said he supported the right of farmers' to protest at Westminster but warned against "militant" action. | Mr Paice said he supported the right of farmers' to protest at Westminster but warned against "militant" action. |
| Dairy Crest said it was doing all it could "to reduce the effect of the downward pressure from the market place on the milk price that we pay to our farmers". | Dairy Crest said it was doing all it could "to reduce the effect of the downward pressure from the market place on the milk price that we pay to our farmers". |
| Cost-cutting measures included redundancies and the likely closure of two of its dairies, it said. | Cost-cutting measures included redundancies and the likely closure of two of its dairies, it said. |
| In a letter sent to farmers on 2 July, Arla said the company's performance had been suffering "primarily as a result of the ongoing impact of depressed commodity prices". It has cut its headcount and marketing spend. | In a letter sent to farmers on 2 July, Arla said the company's performance had been suffering "primarily as a result of the ongoing impact of depressed commodity prices". It has cut its headcount and marketing spend. |
| Robert Wiseman Dairies said its price cut followed "a collapse in the value of the cream in each litre of farm-gate milk over the last 12 months". | Robert Wiseman Dairies said its price cut followed "a collapse in the value of the cream in each litre of farm-gate milk over the last 12 months". |
| Supermarket chains Asda, Morrisons and the Co-operative said they paid a premium to farmers above the market price charged by their suppliers. | Supermarket chains Asda, Morrisons and the Co-operative said they paid a premium to farmers above the market price charged by their suppliers. |
| The Co-operative said it had other measures in place - such as access to cut-price power - to help farmers reduce the cost of production. | The Co-operative said it had other measures in place - such as access to cut-price power - to help farmers reduce the cost of production. |
| 'Poor market place' | 'Poor market place' |
| Cheshire dairy farmer Stuart Yarwood said "it's costing us more to look after our cows and produce the milk than what we're being paid for". | Cheshire dairy farmer Stuart Yarwood said "it's costing us more to look after our cows and produce the milk than what we're being paid for". |
| "We are in a poor market place, we don't have any negotiation with the processors or the supermarkets because basically we have to take what we're given." | "We are in a poor market place, we don't have any negotiation with the processors or the supermarkets because basically we have to take what we're given." |
| Brian Dalby, who has farmed near Lutterworth, Leicestershire, for 40 years, said the cuts had left farmers very worried. | Brian Dalby, who has farmed near Lutterworth, Leicestershire, for 40 years, said the cuts had left farmers very worried. |
| "If the price doesn't change or these cuts aren't reversed - there will be a lot of people (who) go out of milk this winter," he said. | "If the price doesn't change or these cuts aren't reversed - there will be a lot of people (who) go out of milk this winter," he said. |
| 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 milk? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. | Are you a dairy farmer? Will you be taking part in today's protests? What is a fair price for milk? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. |