MPs urge action on milk price cuts

[maureenho]

MPs urge action on milk price cuts

20 January 2015 Last updated at 13:23

On average, milk costs about 30p per litre to produce

More needs to be done to protect dairy farmers from falls in milk prices - including new powers to fine supermarkets over disputes, MPs say.

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee said farmers were being forced out of business every week by factors beyond their control.

They said the groceries watchdog should be extended to cover dairy suppliers.

The government said it was doing all it could to help farmers cope with the "volatility of the global market".

Milk prices have come under pressure from a combination of rising supply and falling demand, particularly as a result of lower-than-expected demand from China and Russia's ban on food imports.

Moscow's decision to ban EU dairy products, taken in response to sanctions over the Ukraine conflict, had led to 2.5 billion litres of milk not being sold in Russia, the MPs said.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30882208

[wendy]

they have been so busy promoting fruit juices and health juices and seem to have forgotten how much milk is important to us.
the poor farmers.

[annie]

Some supermarkets pay farmers less that it costs to produce, it is wicked