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Farmers announce 'action plan' over milk prices | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Farming unions from across the UK have developed an action plan following an "urgent summit" to discuss milk prices. | |
The plan includes calls for labels to indicate British products and long-term contracts for farmers. | |
Some farmers are experiencing a "crisis" after being paid less for their milk than the cost of production, the National Farmers' Union has said. | |
Protests have included removing large quantities of milk from shops and blockading distribution centres. | Protests have included removing large quantities of milk from shops and blockading distribution centres. |
'Dire situation' | |
Supermarket chain Morrisons will meet farming industry leaders on Tuesday to discuss the price row. | Supermarket chain Morrisons will meet farming industry leaders on Tuesday to discuss the price row. |
It will include the UK's four main farming unions - the NFU, NFU Cymru, NFU Scotland and the Ulster Farmers' Union - all of whom were involved in Monday's meeting. | |
The NFU said the new action plan included calls for: | |
Farmers from Wales also joined the summit to discuss the price they get for lamb, which they say has reached a critically low level. | |
David Handley, from Farmers for Action, said the plan would be "driven home within days" and a letter sent to retailers. | |
"Our members... need one thing at the moment, and that is money. Because if we don't get money going into the winter, this industry is going to be in a very, very dire situation indeed." | "Our members... need one thing at the moment, and that is money. Because if we don't get money going into the winter, this industry is going to be in a very, very dire situation indeed." |
He added "peaceful protest has worked" and would continue until a solution was found. | |
NFU president Meurig Raymond said: "Obviously the industry is in crisis... I've been farming for 45 years and this is the worst I've known." | |
On Sunday, two cows were taken down the aisles of a supermarket in Staffordshire as part of a protest by about 70 farmers. | On Sunday, two cows were taken down the aisles of a supermarket in Staffordshire as part of a protest by about 70 farmers. |
Protesters have also been clearing supermarkets' shelves of milk in the so-called "milk trolley challenge". | |
Arla, Britain's biggest milk co-operative, previously announced a price cut of 0.8p per litre - taking the standard litre price to 23.01p for its UK members. | Arla, Britain's biggest milk co-operative, previously announced a price cut of 0.8p per litre - taking the standard litre price to 23.01p for its UK members. |
British dairy organisation AHDB Dairy said the average UK farm gate price was 24.06p per litre in May, a decrease of a quarter over 12 months. | |
Farmers estimate it costs 30-32p to produce each litre of milk. | |
Case study | |
By Claire Marshall, BBC News | |
Geoff Bowles runs Ivy House Farm in Somerset, and his is one way to beat the dairy crisis - cut out the middle-men. | |
His herd of 120 Jersey cows produce around 600,000 litres of milk a year. He processes on site and sells the liquid milk, butter and cream directly to shops - 70% locally, 30% in London. | |
His produce is twice as expensive as the supermarkets - but he can't keep pace with demand and turnover is up year on year. Mr Bowles has helped more than a dozen farms to adopt his business model. | |
What's the downside? A lot more work, he says, because there is much more regulation and inspection. However, the workers on his dairy farm are smiling more than most - their future seems secure. | |
Patrick Holden, who is a farmer and founder of the Sustainable Food Trust, appealed to the industry to introduce a new labelling system. | |
He said: "There is only one way out of this in my opinion and that is if consumers have the chance to identify milk which is produced to a fair price and a fair treatment for the animals on the supermarket shelves." | |
A spokeswoman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said it maintained a "regular dialogue" with the industry. | |
Morrisons said it was not seeking any further reductions in milk prices and would continue talks with the NFU. | |
Aldi said its milk prices had "remained consistently above" the farm gate price and Lidl said it worked closely with farm assurance schemes which champion British farming. | |
Arla said the co-operative was "acutely aware" of the difficulties farmers were facing. | |
Are you a farmer? How have you been affected by milk prices? You can share your comments by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you a farmer? How have you been affected by milk prices? You can share your comments by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
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: |