MP welcomes increasing milk prices but warns much more must be done to help farmers

Cumbrian MP Tim Farron has welcomed a decision by three milk processors, as they announced that they will increase their prices. First Milk, Meadow Foods and Glanbia Cheese will all increase their milk prices by 1 pence per litre. But Tim said 'this still leaves farmers barely enough room to get by, so much more must be done to support our dairy farmers.'

Producers First Milk and Meadow Food's new prices will apply as of 1 November 2013, it will be as soon as the 1 October 2013 for Glanbia Cheese.

This is not the first time that First Milk has increased its prices this year. Since April 2013, the prices for its manufacturing and liquid pools have increased by 3.5ppl and 2.7ppl respectively. As of 1 November 2013, First Milk's standard price per litre will stand at 32ppl and 31.85ppl respectively. Last week, Muller Wiseman and Sainsbury's decided to put their milk prices up.

This increase follows more than a year of campaigning by the NFU and the Dairy Coalition which led to the introduction of a voluntary dairy code for milk processors and supermarkets to sign up to.

Mr. Farron said: "Every farmer should receive a fair price for their milk one which at least covers their costs of production. This increase in the price paid to farmers is an important step in the right direction but still leaves farmers barely enough room to get by, so much more must be done.

"We need to pay farmers a decent price because we need to be able to reinvest and secure the long term future of their business. If we don't allow them to do that then we are just keeping the wolf away from the door."

"I will continue to work with the NFU, the Dairy Coalition and other MPs to ensure other dairy processors follow First Milk's example and increase the amount they pay for milk until farmers are finally getting a fair price for their produce."