MP Claire Young Demands Government Action to Protect Dairy Farmers
Sourse: dairynews.today
Thornbury and Yate MP Claire Young is demanding the government to take urgent action to protect British dairy farmers.
The Liberal Democrat MP has raised concerns following reports that some suppliers have slashed the price paid to farmers by as much as 18 per cent. Ms. Young is calling for urgent reform of the regulatory system governing the dairy supply chain, arguing that the current model—split between the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) and the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator (ASCA)—is fragmented and ineffective.
She said: "At a time when farmers in Thornbury and Yate are already having to deal with the fallout of summer drought, cuts to basic payments and the looming threat of the government’s family farm tax, these price cuts will come as yet another kick in the teeth. Enough is enough. There can be absolutely no justification for cutting prices for dairy farmers by such a scale. British farmers put food on our table, they are the backbone of the rural economy and are fundamental to our national security.
The Liberal Democrats are calling for a new unified and empowered regulator with the teeth to stand up to the big corporations and ensure British dairy farmers across the Thornbury and Yate area finally get a fair deal." The party is calling for a single, strengthened regulator with the power and resources to enforce fair pricing and standards across the industry. Parkham Farms has announced an 8p per litre cut for November, dropping the milk price to 35.5ppl—a reduction of 18 per cent.
Freshways has cut its price by 6ppl, while Arla Foods has confirmed a 1.7ppl drop to 45.34ppl for October. Research from the House of Commons Library, commissioned by the Liberal Democrats, highlights the ongoing challenges facing the sector. Since 2015, the number of dairy farm holdings in England has fallen from 12,643 to 8,738—a decline of just over 30 per cent. Dairy livestock numbers have also dropped, from 1,131,494 to 1,045,819 over the same period.
She said: "At a time when farmers in Thornbury and Yate are already having to deal with the fallout of summer drought, cuts to basic payments and the looming threat of the government’s family farm tax, these price cuts will come as yet another kick in the teeth. Enough is enough. There can be absolutely no justification for cutting prices for dairy farmers by such a scale. British farmers put food on our table, they are the backbone of the rural economy and are fundamental to our national security.
The Liberal Democrats are calling for a new unified and empowered regulator with the teeth to stand up to the big corporations and ensure British dairy farmers across the Thornbury and Yate area finally get a fair deal." The party is calling for a single, strengthened regulator with the power and resources to enforce fair pricing and standards across the industry. Parkham Farms has announced an 8p per litre cut for November, dropping the milk price to 35.5ppl—a reduction of 18 per cent.
Freshways has cut its price by 6ppl, while Arla Foods has confirmed a 1.7ppl drop to 45.34ppl for October. Research from the House of Commons Library, commissioned by the Liberal Democrats, highlights the ongoing challenges facing the sector. Since 2015, the number of dairy farm holdings in England has fallen from 12,643 to 8,738—a decline of just over 30 per cent. Dairy livestock numbers have also dropped, from 1,131,494 to 1,045,819 over the same period.
