Dairy farmers take direct action
Dairy farmers in Scotland are taking direct action in their at two key milk depots in continuing protests against low milk prices. This is the latest in a number of direct action protests in order to bring a spotlight on their plight.
The blockades, organised by Farmers For Action at main depots in East Kilbride and Cambuslang, began in the middle of the night.
Shiona Baird, Green Co-convener and a former farmer, this week pressed Jack McConnell at First Ministers Questions to intervene urgently to protect Scottish dairy farmers. The First Minister claimed he sympathised with the plight of the farmers but stopped short of pledging any specific measures or action to address the ongoing crisis. Greens want the supermarkets' code of practice to be strengthened and an independent ombudsman to help ensure a fair price and a fair deal for producers, pointing out that only by protecting producers can the rural economy, the environment and agriculture be protected.
Baird said: "This week's response from the First Minister indicates a naive and misguided faith in companies whose ruthless pursuit of profit above all else is leaving farmers and their communities devastated. The First Minister gave no indication that he is willing to put any effort into resolving this issue and now today the dairy farmers have to again protest directly in an effort to make their voices heard. What will it take for the Labour Lib dem coalition to take action to support the Scottish dairy farmers? Will they wait until the industry is totally decimated and we have to import our milk?
"I sincerely doubt that supermarket bosses will heed McConnell's plea to address the issue with "seriousness". The big four supermarkets are trying to extract every last drop of profit out of farmers - regardless of the effects on local economies or to communities - and what the farmers need now is some genuine commitment from McConnell to take decisive action. Rural development is devolved, enterprise is devolved, agriculture is devolved - it is time McConnell stopped passing the buck and started standing up for Scottish farmers."
Over the last six years, one in four Scottish dairy farms have gone out of business and many others are now struggling to survive. Campaign groups and unions such as the National Farmers' Union Scotland and FARM have been campaigning, with the support for Greens, to raise awareness of the issue and pressure ministers, in particular rural development minister Ross Finnie, into taking some action.
