MP urges DEFRA Secretary to intervene to save dairy farmers from financial oblivion

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has written to the DEFRA Secretary, George Eustice, making the case for the Government to provide financial grants to dairy farmers to prevent them from going out of business.

The closures of restaurants and cafes has seen a huge drop in demand for milk, leading to some dairy farmers with no other option but to pour milk down the drain.

The BBC have reported that more than a million litres of unwanted milk is being produced across the UK every day.

As a result, the National Farmers' Union say over 2,000 dairy farmers have been financially severely impacted.

In his letter to the Secretary of State, Tim pushed for answers to the following questions:

• Will the Government commit to a bespoke financial assistance package for dairy farmers?
• Will the Government investigate whether the wasted milk product could be put to other uses?
• Will the Government encourage the country to drink more milk to support the industry?

Tim said: "I am deeply troubled by stories of dairy farmers having to throw away perfectly good milk because of the collapse in demand as well as the deep cut in prices being paid by dairy processors.

"Both are a recipe for financial disaster both for our dairy sector locally and of course for individual dairy farmers who face financial oblivion.

"I urge the Government to intervene to help to save the country's dairy farmers."