Dairy farmers are planning to march on Downing Street to protest about the sharp fall in the price they receive for milk.
Last summer, Aldi, Lidl, Asda and Morrisons were targeted by protesters because they paid less for milk than Tesco and Sainsbury’s and did not base prices on the cost of production. Cows were paraded through the aisles of an Asda store in Stafford.
The National Farmers’ Union said dairy producers were facing a “state of emergency” after the price they were paid for milk fell by a quarter in a year. Supermarkets responded to the crisis by increasing the price they paid for milk and pledging to link their agreement with farmers with the cost of production.
However, the latest phase in the row has been stoked by rumours that Tesco, Britain’s biggest retailer, is reshuffling its supply base.
The campaign group Farmers For Action (FFA) has claimed that Tesco wants to shift 200m litres of milk from Arla, a cooperative owned by farmers, to privately owned Müller. Tesco is yet to confirm the shift.
The FFA now wants thousands of farmers to join the march to Downing Street to deliver a letter demanding help for the industry to the prime minister.
The FFA confirmed its plans to march on London in March in an email to farmers. It said: “This is your opportunity to come to London and tell Mr Cameron and his government British farming is prepared to fight for its survival.
“FFA strongly believes there are a number of things this government could do to ease the situation in many sectors.”
