MP attacks further milk price cuts

South Lakes MP Tim Farron and Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Hill Farming Tim Farron has attacked the news that Dairy Crest and First Milk will be cutting their milk prices in early 2015.

According to the Farmers Guardian Dairy Crest will slash milk cheques by a further 1.25ppl from January 3, taking its standard litre liquid price to 25.79ppl.

First Milk has cut prices back 1.1ppl for its manufacturing pool and 1ppl for its liquid pool. This means farmers on First Milk's liquid pool will receive just 21.7ppl, while those on its manufacturing pool will receive 22.9ppl. The changes will take place from January 1.

Tim said: "Milk producers are private companies and so need to make a profit. I understand that. But this feels like a step beyond that. It seems as if the brunt of any fluctuation in the market is borne solely by farmers and rural communities. First Milk needs to reassure farmers immediately that they have looked into alternative steps to cut their costs.

"I have repeatedly said that these producers have a responsibility to farmers, I say it because I think they seem to forget.

"Many farmers rely on the big processors and any cut in the in milk prices hurts them, their business and the villages in which they live and work. I will be pressing the government to do more to help farmers. It might be time to look at putting the voluntary dairy code on a more statutory footing."