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| Farmers in fresh protests over supermarket milk prices | Farmers in fresh protests over supermarket milk prices |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Dairy farmers are continuing to protest at supermarkets in parts of the UK over the price they are paid for their milk. | Dairy farmers are continuing to protest at supermarkets in parts of the UK over the price they are paid for their milk. |
| Farmers have been clearing supermarket shelves by buying milk in bulk and giving it away over the past few days. | Farmers have been clearing supermarket shelves by buying milk in bulk and giving it away over the past few days. |
| They say they are being paid less than it costs to produce the milk, and some have gone out of business, because shops have reduced prices. | They say they are being paid less than it costs to produce the milk, and some have gone out of business, because shops have reduced prices. |
| The supermarkets say there is no link between the price of milk on the shelves and what farmers are paid. | The supermarkets say there is no link between the price of milk on the shelves and what farmers are paid. |
| 'Extremely difficult' | 'Extremely difficult' |
| West Midlands dairy farmer Michael Oakes, from the National Farmers' Union (NFU) , said: "We've got to the point where we're getting an unsustainable price for our milk. | |
| "I'm getting paid 24p (per litre) and it's costing me 28p to produce. So we thought we'd go along to the retailer, we've bought the milk and we're going to give it away to the consumer and explain why." | "I'm getting paid 24p (per litre) and it's costing me 28p to produce. So we thought we'd go along to the retailer, we've bought the milk and we're going to give it away to the consumer and explain why." |
| Graeme Kilpatrick, chairman of the NFU Scotland's milk committee, said: "I receive many calls from affected dairy farmers and it can be tough going mentally. | |
| "My family has been in farming for several generations and the current crisis has had a major impact on our cashflow." | |
| Protests have taken place at supermarkets, including: | Protests have taken place at supermarkets, including: |
| Dairy farmer Bryce Cunningham, who helped to organise protests in Scotland, said the current situation was "extremely difficult". | |
| "At the moment we're being being paid 15p a litre for every litre of milk that we produce. It's costing me 24p to produce this milk," he said. | |
| A Sainsbury's spokesman said: "Our retail price is not related to the price we pay our farmers. Our milk prices are competitive for our customers, while also paying our dedicated dairy farmers a fair price that protects them against volatile markets." | A Sainsbury's spokesman said: "Our retail price is not related to the price we pay our farmers. Our milk prices are competitive for our customers, while also paying our dedicated dairy farmers a fair price that protects them against volatile markets." |
| "Following a majority vote, our Dairy Group farmers benefit from a cost of production model - this sets a price that directly reflects their costs on the farm, building in a profit, as well as rewarding outstanding animal welfare and environmental standards. | "Following a majority vote, our Dairy Group farmers benefit from a cost of production model - this sets a price that directly reflects their costs on the farm, building in a profit, as well as rewarding outstanding animal welfare and environmental standards. |
| "This price is updated every three months to ensure a fair deal for the farmers involved." | "This price is updated every three months to ensure a fair deal for the farmers involved." |
| 'Reduced demand' | 'Reduced demand' |
| Darren Blackhurst, commercial director at Morrisons Group, said: "We try to pass on lower prices to our customers wherever possible. | Darren Blackhurst, commercial director at Morrisons Group, said: "We try to pass on lower prices to our customers wherever possible. |
| "We do recognise however, due to reduced global demand, that this has created an oversupply of British milk, creating difficult conditions for many dairy farmers at present. | "We do recognise however, due to reduced global demand, that this has created an oversupply of British milk, creating difficult conditions for many dairy farmers at present. |
| "At a constructive meeting on Wednesday with the NFU Dairy Board chairman, we confirmed that Morrisons is not accepting any further cost price decreases from our suppliers driven by the falling farm gate milk price." | "At a constructive meeting on Wednesday with the NFU Dairy Board chairman, we confirmed that Morrisons is not accepting any further cost price decreases from our suppliers driven by the falling farm gate milk price." |
| Asda said the price that farmers get is set independently and there is no link between retail prices and farm gate prices. | Asda said the price that farmers get is set independently and there is no link between retail prices and farm gate prices. |
| British dairy organisation AHDB Dairy said the the average UK farm gate price was 24.06p per litre in May, a decrease of a quarter over 12 months. | British dairy organisation AHDB Dairy said the the average UK farm gate price was 24.06p per litre in May, a decrease of a quarter over 12 months. |
| Are you taking part in the protests? Are you a dairy farmer? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. | Are you taking part in the protests? Are you a dairy farmer? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |