Originally from: David
                        

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Originally from: David Handley [...] Sent: Friday, July 26, 2002 2:45 PM
To: "Undisclosed-Recipient:;"@smtp.safariconnect.co.uk
Subject: Dairy Protests – Farmers Weekly Interactive report

Business news
Dairy blockade threat widens
Source: FWi
26 July 2002
By Farmers Weekly staff
 DAIRY farmers are threatening to disrupt production at dairies across the British Isles unless processors give them more money for their milk.
The Farmers for Action group says is stepping up its campaign against dairy giants Dairy Crest and Wiseman dairies with a series of blockades next week. While only English plants were picketed earlier this month, new protests will include dairies in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, said FFA leader David Handley.
"This time we will have support from Scotland and Northern Ireland, and our contact in Northern Ireland thinks the majority of the Republic will support us as well,” he said.
“We will try to shut down as many plants as possible and for longer this time.".
Producers accuse Dairy Crest and Wiseman of pushing down farmgate prices to increase their own profits.
The price of milk has fallen at least 25% from 20ppl a year ago, although Mr Handley claims some farmers receive as little as 13ppl.
But the average price of milk in shops remains at 45ppl.
"Somebody has to do something and talking seems to be getting us nowhere, said Mr Handley.
He said FFA recently met the Federation of Milk Groups, but said the group would not make a joint statement urging the dairies to reverse deductions they made on 1 July.
Mr Handley said FFA was going to meet with competition authorities both in the UK and Brussels to discuss the issue.
The last wave of protests targeted Wiseman dairies at Manchester and Droitwich, Worcestershire and Dairy Crest sites at Chard in Somerset, Davidstow in Cornwall and Hamworth in London.
A spokesman for Wiseman said the latest round of cuts were forced by competitors and that over the past six months Wiseman had paid farmers an average price of 17.5ppl.
He said the company would review prices in September and hoped to raise them again.
                        
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