Press Release

Contact: Richard Burt 07970 713 032
Embargo: Immediate 10th December 2006

LIBDEM CANDIDATE BACKS 'GREAT MILK ROBBERY' CAMPAIGN FOR FAIR FARM GATE MILK PRICES

West Worcestershire's Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate, Richard Burt is backing the latest dairy industry campaign to make retailers pay more for their milk.

'The Great Milk Robbery' campaign aims to raise awareness that many dairy farmers are being forced out of business because they cannot cover milk production costs.

Richard Burt said:

"One thousand farmers were forced out of business in the last 12 months, and dairy farmers in the county are rightly concerned for their future.

"The average cost of producing milk is 4p per litre higher than the average farm gate price, which means many more dairy farmers will be forced out of business unless retailers are prepared to pay more for their milk.

"It's a fact now that people are paying more for water than milk in some retail outlets, and yet the retailer's income on milk has risen by 4000% in just over ten years, whereas farm gate and processor margins have fallen.

"These sums just don't add up for British farmers, who are paid the lowest price for our milk amongst all the major producing nations in Europe.

"Our dairy industry is being milked dry. There needs to be an investigation by the Office of Fair Trading into the pricing stranglehold of the major supermarkets."

"The NFU has called on all dairy farmers to send an invoice for the additional costs of production they have incurred. The aim is to demonstrate clearly the gap that exists between production costs and prices and to send a clear message to the entire supply chain of the need for more sustainable milk prices that will give dairy farmers the confidence to invest for the long-term."

Dairy farmers who have not yet submitted their invoices to the NFU in support of the campaign can do so by logging onto www.nfuonline.com/x11125.xml for details.

Ends.