Militant farmers group Farmers For Action is blockading Robert Wiseman and Dairy Crest depots across the UK following their decision to push farmgate milk prices down again. FFA chairman David Handley said it was targeting five depots initially, with plans for more blockades. He added: "We are seeking to meet Defra, the Office of Fair Trading and EC competition officials to investigate processors' actions and we are continuing our dialogue with supermarkets." Handley said the major multiples, particularly Safeway, Sainsbury's and Tesco, were against further reductions in farmgate milk prices. Safeway communications officer Kevin Hawkins said: "The situation is driving farmers out of business. We would like to see farmgate prices restored to where they were in April." Hawkins said Safeway would be attending a Defra meeting of dairy industry representatives on July 23 to discuss the milk price issue. A Robert Wiseman spokesman said it had cut prices to maintain competitiveness. {{NEWS }}

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