Following announcements this week that three of the UK’s major milk processors will cut prices paid to their farmer suppliers, some for the second time this quarter, farming groups have pledged action.

NFU president Peter Kendall and David Handley, chair of Farmers for Action, will meet tomorrow to discuss the round of cuts, which the union has described as a “crisis which is crippling the dairy industry.” The two called the crisis talks after Robert Wiseman Dairies, Arla Foods UK and Dairy Crest all announced cuts of between 1.65 and 2 pence per litre effective from August.

Mr Kendall said, “The time for talk is clearly over and we must take action before the dairy industry is on its knees. Dairy farmers are already quitting in record numbers and this new round of cuts is likely to be the final straw for many.”

Mr Handley said, “We cannot emphasise enough just how urgent this is – and how this is not just a case of us sitting down to talk. The whole industry is looking to us for action so it is vital that we come up with a practical plan of action that can help reverse these steps which are threatening the entire dairy industry.”

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