Dairy farm boycott 'ridiculous', says CLA President

Robinson, right, said it was wrong to penalise farmers based on the location of their farms.
Robinson, right, said it was wrong to penalise farmers based on the location of their farms.

It is vitally important that major supermarkets do not succumb to this 'ridiculous and poorly targeted boycott' of dairy farms, according to Country Land and Business Association President Henry Robinson.

High street coffee chain Caffe Nero has stopped serving milk from farms in Gloucestershire and Somerset because of the government's decision to continue the badger cull this autumn.

Animal rights activists have recently warned retailers they will carry out protests if milk used from farms operating a cull was bought and sold to customers.

But Robinson said it was wrong to penalise farmers based on the location of their farms.

"We are disappointed that Caffe Nero has made this poor and uninformed decision.

"We fully support the Government’s commitment to tackling bovine TB through its 25 year bTB eradication strategy, which aims for healthy wildlife alongside healthy cattle. Scientific evidence shows that the pilot badger culls are an important part of this strategy and we urge consumers, retailers and their supply chains to continue supporting British dairy farmers and their herds."

The National Farmers’ Union said: “It is very disappointing to hear that Caffe Nero has taken this step.

“This is a Government policy, based on scientific evidence, aimed at controlling bovine TB – a disease which is a huge threat to dairy and beef farmers in the South West and other parts of the country and which resulted in nearly 33,000 cattle being slaughtered last year."