UK Takes EU Tactics: NFU Supports Demonstrations
UK - The National Farmers' Union (NFU) has said it will back any plans to demonstrate peacefully outside processors and retailers involved in the latest round of cuts.
12 July 2012
2 minute read
The call comes after nearly 3,000 dairy farmers packed out Central Hall Westminster in London in a rally call against cuts which threaten the entire industry.
Deputy President Meurig Raymond and Agriculture Minister Jim Paice led today's summit at a venue which was standing room only, filled with dairy farmers that travelled the breadth of England and Wales, as well as delegates from Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Mr Raymond said: “We demand that price cuts will be rescinded by August 1 but if our demands aren’t met by the deadline, then we will support and facilitate targeted peaceful demonstrations outside processors and retailers. We will also mobilise the public with a concerted consumer campaign to help them understand the crisis facing the dairy industry and we will be asking them for their support with this campaign.
“All this co-ordinated action will be designed to put pressure and bring shame on the retailers and processors who have caused this crisis in the British dairy industry.
“We are still hopeful of agreement on a voluntary code of best practice in contracts, to bring some balance to the relationship between farmers and processors, but before long we have to ramp up our lobbying of Parliament to introduce statutory powers.”
In the last two weeks Robert Wiseman Dairies, owned by Müller Dairies, Arla Foods UK, the UK subsidiary of Arla Foods Amba, as well as Dairy Crest, announced cuts to their milk prices paid to farmers as of August 1 of 1.7ppl, 2.0ppl and 1.65ppl respectively, following further significant cuts in recent months.
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