Dairy farmers have vented their fury over cuts to milk prices at the Great Yorkshire Show, targeting Asda with their protests.
Placards created by Yorkshire farming families were placed outside the Asda stand, following cuts to farmgate milk prices by the country’s major milk processors.
“These farmers are doing what they can to highlight the grave situation faced by liquid supplying dairy farmers across England, Wales and Scotland,” said Ian Potter, dairy quota broker at Ian Potter Associates.
He said many of the farmers had been in contact with each other and intended to “amplify” the financial position they faced at the retailer stands of Asda and Morrisons.
The supermarkets were singled out because although they pay a premium to their farmers for their milk, their farmers’ price is linked to the price the processor pays.
Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Marks & Spencer operate payment models linked instead to on-farm costs of production. Waitrose also pays one of the highest milk prices.
Robert Wiseman Dairies announced a 1.7ppl milk price cut on 29 June, to apply from 1 August, prompting Dairy Crest and Arla to follow with cuts of 1.65ppl and 2ppl respectively.
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