Published at 10:03, Thursday, 20 September 2012

Dairy farmers woke to news of a milk price rise today following a summer of protests over being paid less than the cost of production.

First Milk has followed processors Arla and Wiseman, which announced price rises earlier this month. The farming co-operative owns the Aspatria creamery, which produces the popular Lake District Cheddar brand.

Those Cumbrian producers supplying its liquid pool will get an extra 2.6 pence per litre, increasing their standard litre price to 28.65ppl, while those supplying the balancing pool will get 1.25ppl extra, boosting their income to 27.35ppl.

The price increases will be staggered over October and November.

The majority of its 220 Cumbrian milk producers supply the factory for cheese-making. They will not get any rise in the latest round thanks to a glut of cheese in the market place, which is pushing the price down.

Milk price cuts imposed earlier this year lit the touch paper for thousands of farmers who came out in protest claiming they would be paid less than the cost of production for their milk.

Margaret Wilson, of Thackwood Farm, near Carlisle, does not believe moral responsibility has prompted processors and retailers to put their prices up.

“I think there is every need to still protest because I saw two litres of milk being sold in a shop last week for £1,” she said. “I certainly don’t think the job has been done.

“I’m a bit sceptical about whether our protesting has lifted the price or whether the enormous shortage of milk after a disastrous summer has more to do with it.

“Should the shortage disappear, I think processors and retailers will not hesitate to put the price down.”

Mrs Wilson and her family have put a protest sign on land next to the M6, highlighting the problem of low milk prices being paid to farmers.

She joined a number of protests taking place outside supermarkets around the country.

In August 1994, the family was paid 23.5ppl and today they receive just four pence more, even though their costs have doubled or even tripled.

Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk