NFU meets with Morrisons to discuss dairy price pressures

Morrisons must support dairy farmers by paying a sustainable price, the NFU said today.

In recent meetings with the retailer, the NFU outlined the pressures affecting dairy farmers, especially the unsustainable milk price being received on farm.

Many dairy farmers are now receiving milk prices far below the cost of production. This has led to demonstrations and protests within and outside supermarkets across the country.

The farmers argue the prices Morrisons pay for their milk is far too low. Michael Sadwick, who led one protest in Bude, described Morrisons as "one of the main culprits we've been told to target".

"We cleared the lot and yeah they're left with none now, so it's mission accomplished for us," he said. "Hopefully, the message will get back to their buyers that, you know, they need to support us."

Nick Thompson, who took part in the protest, said: "We just filled up the trolleys and walked to the checkout with them and then said we were leaving them there in protest at the unfair price supermarkets are paying for milk."

NFU President Meurig Raymond said: “While Morrisons recently confirmed it is not accepting any further cost price decreases from their suppliers, I don’t feel that this goes far enough in these desperate times. I wish to see the retailer develop transparent pricing mechanisms, and long term relationships with their suppliers, that show support to the British dairy sector.

“We will be continuing discussions with Morrison’s in the coming weeks and we will keep pushing them to develop support mechanisms that work for them and the industry.

“Now we need to ensure that Morrisons’ performance on dairy delivers for British farmers as they already do on red meat and poultry.”