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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Milk price protests: Ministers to host dispute talks | Milk price protests: Ministers to host dispute talks |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Ministers will host talks between dairy farmers and milk processing firms later in an attempt to resolve the dispute over prices. | Ministers will host talks between dairy farmers and milk processing firms later in an attempt to resolve the dispute over prices. |
| The farming minister at Westminster, Jim Paice, will lead the meeting at the Royal Welsh Show in Powys. | The farming minister at Westminster, Jim Paice, will lead the meeting at the Royal Welsh Show in Powys. |
| Farmers for Action said more than 2,000 farmers took part in blockades in Somerset, Shropshire and Worcestershire on Sunday over the prices they receive. | Farmers for Action said more than 2,000 farmers took part in blockades in Somerset, Shropshire and Worcestershire on Sunday over the prices they receive. |
| Defra said the protests were "not the way forward". | Defra said the protests were "not the way forward". |
| 'Profitable and sustainable' | 'Profitable and sustainable' |
| The meeting will include representatives of the National Farmers' Union and the trade body for milk processing firms, Dairy UK. | The meeting will include representatives of the National Farmers' Union and the trade body for milk processing firms, Dairy UK. |
| Mr Paice has discussed the issue with his Scottish and Welsh counterparts, Richard Lochhead and Alun Davies. | Mr Paice has discussed the issue with his Scottish and Welsh counterparts, Richard Lochhead and Alun Davies. |
| He has suggested that an independent adjudicator could be created to oversee any voluntary code of conduct. | He has suggested that an independent adjudicator could be created to oversee any voluntary code of conduct. |
| He is hoping to meet representatives of the big supermarkets later this week. | He is hoping to meet representatives of the big supermarkets later this week. |
| In a joint statement the ministers said: "The dairy sector is a key part of our agricultural industry and all the governments in the UK are determined that it should have a profitable and sustainable future. | In a joint statement the ministers said: "The dairy sector is a key part of our agricultural industry and all the governments in the UK are determined that it should have a profitable and sustainable future. |
| "In responding to the current situation, the industry needs to address both the immediate issue of the price paid for milk and also the structures and mechanisms that will help underpin the long-term viability of the sector." | "In responding to the current situation, the industry needs to address both the immediate issue of the price paid for milk and also the structures and mechanisms that will help underpin the long-term viability of the sector." |
| Series of blockades | Series of blockades |
| Farmers want a code of conduct put in place which would give them more bargaining power in the price they can get for their milk. | Farmers want a code of conduct put in place which would give them more bargaining power in the price they can get for their milk. |
| They are often locked into fixed-term contracts with processing firms which are effectively middlemen who sell the milk on to customers including retailers and food production companies. | They are often locked into fixed-term contracts with processing firms which are effectively middlemen who sell the milk on to customers including retailers and food production companies. |
| Processors say the global market price of milk has fallen over the past year and that is why many farmers are being paid less. | Processors say the global market price of milk has fallen over the past year and that is why many farmers are being paid less. |
| Members of campaign group Farmers for Action (FFA) have staged a series of blockades at milk processing plants since Thursday over prices some supermarkets pay suppliers. | Members of campaign group Farmers for Action (FFA) have staged a series of blockades at milk processing plants since Thursday over prices some supermarkets pay suppliers. |
| FFA is warning that cuts in the price paid to suppliers by dairy processors, combined with rising feed costs, could force hundreds of dairy farmers out of business. | FFA is warning that cuts in the price paid to suppliers by dairy processors, combined with rising feed costs, could force hundreds of dairy farmers out of business. |
| FFA vice-chairman Andrew Hemming said 800 farmers blockaded the Robert Wiseman Dairies processing plant near Bridgwater, Somerset, while the BBC's Andrew Plant estimated the numbers totalled 500. | FFA vice-chairman Andrew Hemming said 800 farmers blockaded the Robert Wiseman Dairies processing plant near Bridgwater, Somerset, while the BBC's Andrew Plant estimated the numbers totalled 500. |
| About 300 farmers were at the Robert Wiseman Dairies processing plant in Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire, Mr Hemming said. | About 300 farmers were at the Robert Wiseman Dairies processing plant in Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire, Mr Hemming said. |
| More than 1,000 farmers blockaded the Muller Dairy UK Ltd plant in Market Drayton, Shropshire, he added. | More than 1,000 farmers blockaded the Muller Dairy UK Ltd plant in Market Drayton, Shropshire, he added. |
| Hundreds of farmers have taken place in protests that began last Thursday night and continued on Friday and Saturday, in Somerset, Yorkshire, Leicestershire and Worcestershire. | Hundreds of farmers have taken place in protests that began last Thursday night and continued on Friday and Saturday, in Somerset, Yorkshire, Leicestershire and Worcestershire. |
| The farmers' anger has centred on cuts of up to two pence per litre (ppl) in the amount they receive from major milk processors, set to come in from 1 August. | The farmers' anger has centred on cuts of up to two pence per litre (ppl) in the amount they receive from major milk processors, set to come in from 1 August. |
| Robert Wiseman Dairies and First Milk are cutting the price by 1.7ppl, Arla Foods UK by 2ppl and Dairy Crest by 1.65ppl. | Robert Wiseman Dairies and First Milk are cutting the price by 1.7ppl, Arla Foods UK by 2ppl and Dairy Crest by 1.65ppl. |
| The processors say they have no choice but to make the cuts because the price they can sell cream for on the commodities market has fallen sharply in the past 12 to 18 months. | The processors say they have no choice but to make the cuts because the price they can sell cream for on the commodities market has fallen sharply in the past 12 to 18 months. |
| Last week, Morrisons, Asda and Co-op announced that from 1 August they will increase the premium they pay farmers for their milk. | Last week, Morrisons, Asda and Co-op announced that from 1 August they will increase the premium they pay farmers for their milk. |
| Mr Hemming said: "We don't want to be forced into a position where we're going to have to cut the milk supply. We don't want to upset the consumer and we don't want to throw money down the drain, but we will if we have to. | Mr Hemming said: "We don't want to be forced into a position where we're going to have to cut the milk supply. We don't want to upset the consumer and we don't want to throw money down the drain, but we will if we have to. |
| A spokesman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said "there has got to be some real change at all levels of the supply chain to ensure the long-term sustainability of the industry. | A spokesman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said "there has got to be some real change at all levels of the supply chain to ensure the long-term sustainability of the industry. |
| "The kind of protests that we have seen are not the way forward because this situation cannot be resolved overnight." | "The kind of protests that we have seen are not the way forward because this situation cannot be resolved overnight." |
| Supermarkets assess how much it costs farmers to produce milk and then decide how much to pay above that as a premium, taking into account factors such as rising feed prices. | Supermarkets assess how much it costs farmers to produce milk and then decide how much to pay above that as a premium, taking into account factors such as rising feed prices. |
| Are you a Dairy farmer? Have you been involved in the blockades? You can send us your views and experiences using the form below. |