Milk price crisis

With milk such an important part of local farming, news comes that farming unions from across the UK will hold an "urgent summit" to discuss milk prices, following widespread protests.

Some farmers are being paid less than the cost of production, the National Farmers' Union says.

Protests have included removing large quantities of milk cartons from shops and blockading distribution centres.

Supermarket chain Morrisons will meet farming industry leaders today, Tuesday, to discuss the price row. Concern has been expressed over recent months at the low prices paid by a number of supermarket groups, notably ASDA, Morrisons, Iceland, Lidl and Aldi.

Both meetings will include the UK's four main farming unions: the NFU, NFU Cymru, NFU Scotland and the Ulster Farmers' Union.

"The situation many of our members are experiencing has become a crisis," NFU president Meurig Raymond said. "In dairy, many milk producers have seen price cut after price cut.

NFU president Meurig Raymond says farmers face "a desperate situation"

"It's simply not sustainable for any farmer to continue to produce milk if they're selling it at a loss."

On Sunday two cows were taken down the aisles of a supermarket in Staffordshire as part of a protest by about 70 farmers to raise awareness about the situation.

Speaking yesterday afternoon, David Handley, from Farmers for Action, said the action plan discussed between the various groups would be "driven home within days" and a letter sent to all 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."

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