DUP MPs support dairy farmers at milk protest
DUP MPs with protestors in London this week
EAST Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell has supported dairy farmers who protested this week in London at falling milk prices.
Other DUP MPs who attended the protest include South Antrim MP William McCrea and Upper Bann MP David Simpson.
Following the demonstration Mr Campbell commented: “Farmers throughout the entire UK are suffering from the fall in milk prices over recent months. This has resulted in farmers not being able to cover their costs of production and as a result they are losing money with ever litre of milk they produce. This is clearly unsustainable and therefore the DUP wanted to support the large protest held in London.
There is absolutely no justification for multiple retailers cutting the price of dairy products over recent months. This demonstrates that to date large multiple retailers such as Asda have taken farmers for granted. I am glad that farmers have stood up and said that they are not willing to be taken for granted anymore. Unless farmers make a stand they will continue to be taken for granted throughout the UK.”
At the protest, Mr Campbell said that the situation for dairy farmers in Northern Ireland is much worse than the fortunes of GB farmers.
“Currently farmers in GB are complaining that milk prices have fallen to 25 pence per litre but prices in Northern Ireland have fallen to less than 21 ppl. This clearly shows how dire prices are for Northern Ireland farmers. This has been compounded by the worst summer weather in living memory for farmers throughout Northern Ireland and hikes in the price of concentrate prices.
It is vital that action is taken to ensure that prices improve for Northern Ireland dairy farmers. Multiple retailers should be supporting dairy farmers throughout the UK by reviewing their pricing strategy for dairy produce to help improve dairy farm prices thus ensure continuity of supply.
DARD also needs to be taking action now to ensure that farmers can receive an advance of their single farm payment in October of this year. The DARD Minister should take action now to ensure that this is possible.”
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Weather for Belfast
Saturday 25 May 2013
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Temperature: 9 C to 16 C
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