We need to support our dairy farmers - Farron

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has today said support for British dairy farmers from public, processors, retailers and government is 'key' after farm-gate milk prices plummeted following the trend on world markets. Tim has also written to Christine Tacon, the Supermarket Ombudsman, and asked her to investigate the recent milk price cuts.

Tim's call echoes that of the National Farmers Union. Ongoing global market volatility has seen a 50 per cent reduction in prices in recent months, resulting in a farm-gate price drop for dairy farmers of between 20-30 per cent.

Next week Farmers for Action (FFA) are hosting a meeting in Penrith on Thursday at 7:30pm to discuss the campaign and the next steps. FFA are the grassroots fighting force of British agriculture - at the meeting Lord Inglewood and David Handley from FFA are speaking.

Tim said: "Everyone from communities to governments must do more to help dairy farmers. I am doing all I can and will keep pressing Westminster to do more to assist. I have asked the Supermarket Ombudsman to investigate the recent milk price cuts as I think they show the power of the supermarkets to hurt small producers.

"Many farmers rely on the big processors and any cut in the in milk prices hurts them, their business but also the villages in which they live and work."