Sir, Milk buyers play a very dangerous game withholding money due to our dairy farmers.
The consequences are obviously not of major concern to large profit-driven businesses whose actions are slowly sapping the life out of the British dairy industry.
Despite extremely long, unsocial hours with often difficult working conditions, most dairy farmers are in it for the love of it rather than to make huge profits. This is taken advantage of by those in the milk chain who are far too greedy.
Keeping your head above water while working at a loss, motivated by the constant promise of good times ahead can only last so long and is leading one by one to dairy farmers gradually sinking out of existence.
The increasing number of herd dispersal sale catalogues we receive, with many successful, good-quality and often long-established herds ceasing production, is a good measure of this.
The gross abuse of the imbalance of power in the milk supply chain allows those with control to keep money for themselves or their shareholders as they continue making disproportionate profits, even in difficult economic times.
The longer this injustice continues the more damage is done as money is diverted, never to be returned to its rightful owners to enable them to repay ever-accumulating debts.
The loss of the British dairy industry would be a massive blow to consumers, our countryside and the rural economy. With an increasing reliance on imported dairy products already having led to a record rise in the dairy trade deficit, this would also have a significant effect on the UK economy.
British milk is produced to high standards that do not come cheaply. This money is badly needed to help ensure a sustainable future for the British dairy industry and it must be passed on now, without delay and with arrears, otherwise this latest abuse of power will be yet another slap in the face for British dairy farmers.
Kathleen Calvert, dairy farmer's wife, Paythorne.
The consequences are obviously not of major concern to large profit-driven businesses whose actions are slowly sapping the life out of the British dairy industry.
Despite extremely long, unsocial hours with often difficult working conditions, most dairy farmers are in it for the love of it rather than to make huge profits. This is taken advantage of by those in the milk chain who are far too greedy.
Keeping your head above water while working at a loss, motivated by the constant promise of good times ahead can only last so long and is leading one by one to dairy farmers gradually sinking out of existence.
The increasing number of herd dispersal sale catalogues we receive, with many successful, good-quality and often long-established herds ceasing production, is a good measure of this.
The gross abuse of the imbalance of power in the milk supply chain allows those with control to keep money for themselves or their shareholders as they continue making disproportionate profits, even in difficult economic times.
The longer this injustice continues the more damage is done as money is diverted, never to be returned to its rightful owners to enable them to repay ever-accumulating debts.
The loss of the British dairy industry would be a massive blow to consumers, our countryside and the rural economy. With an increasing reliance on imported dairy products already having led to a record rise in the dairy trade deficit, this would also have a significant effect on the UK economy.
British milk is produced to high standards that do not come cheaply. This money is badly needed to help ensure a sustainable future for the British dairy industry and it must be passed on now, without delay and with arrears, otherwise this latest abuse of power will be yet another slap in the face for British dairy farmers.
Kathleen Calvert, dairy farmer's wife, Paythorne.
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