FFA launches campaign for Poultry

FARMERS FOR Action intends to launch a campaign to get supermarkets and processors to raise the price paid to chicken producers.

The campaign is scheduled to start in the week commencing Feb 2, 2004.

FFA chairman David Handley said the state of the poultry industry was dire.

"It mirrors the problems that are faced by other sectors of our industry, when both the supermarket and processor sector take control," he said.

Mr Handley, who is best known for leading milk protests, said it was his intention to work with poultry producing groups to get better returns.

"We will not be doing this alone, we will, I hope, be able to work with the National Farmers' Union as we are doing with milk prices," he added.

The NFU announced on Wed (Jan 28) that it is putting pressure on retailers to raise prices and makes sure they are sourcing farm-assured chicken.

Extra feed costs are forecast to cost the industry another £200m this year.