The NFU has pledged to support direct action by farmers if processors do not reverse the cuts announced to farm-gate milk prices since May by 1st August.

The union said it would back any plans to “demonstrate peacefully outside processors and retailers involved in the latest round of cuts”, after Farmers for Action spokesperson David Handley threatened action in response to cuts at yesterday’s dairy summit in London. Handley received a standing ovation from those assembled when he said, “If someone doesn’t do something in 20 days, including the buy one get one free government we’ve got, we will have no other option but to show them what we are capable of. And this time we are all behind you.”

Around 2,500 dairy farmers and industry representatives attended the dairy summit in Westminster yesterday to hear union leaders give rallying calls against the cuts and challenge Farming Minister Jim Paice to intervene. Farmers for Action have threatened to target supermarkets which have engaged in price wars and which do not support the farmers supplying their milk; the Asda stall at the Great Yorkshire Show bore the brunt of farmers’ dissatisfaction, being picketed on Tuesday.      

NFU Deputy President Meurig Raymond, who led the summit in the absence of President Peter Kendall, today echoed Mr Handley. He said, “The price cuts must be rescinded by August 1, and if this doesn’t happen, then we will support and facilitate targeted demonstrations outside processors and retailers. We will also mobilise the public with a concerted consumer campaign to help them understand the crisis facing the dairy industry and we will be asking them for their support with this campaign. All this co-ordinated action will be designed to put pressure and bring shame on the retailers and processors who have caused this crisis in the British dairy industry.”

The farmers’ plight has become something of a cause célèbre, with the Women’s Institute pledging its support for dairy farmers last week.

Mr Raymond added, “We are still hopeful of agreement on a voluntary code of best practice in contracts, to bring some balance to the relationship between farmers and processors, but before long we have to ramp up our lobbying of Parliament to introduce statutory powers.”

Following an initial round of cuts of 2 pence per litre, announced between late April and May, major processors have announced further cuts in the last two weeks. Farmers claim this is threatening their viability and the health of the industry. Robert Wiseman Dairies, owned by Müller Dairies, Arla Foods UK, the UK subsidiary of Arla Foods Amba, as well as Dairy Crest, announced cuts to their milk prices paid to farmers of 1.7ppl, 2.0ppl and 1.65ppl respectively, effective from 1st August.

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