UK – Scotland-based dairy Robert Wiseman has blamed its competitors for a new cut in the price it pays direct supply dairy farmers for milk.

The company said that other dairy companies have not reversed their own price cuts, forcing it to do the same.

However it pointed out that the reduction is provisional and that it will increase prices if competitors do so between now and 31 December.

Wiseman milk procurement director Pete Nicholson said: “We have no option other than to narrow the gap between the price we pay and the price that the rest of the processing sector pays, if we are to remain competitive.” He added: “We have taken care to ensure that the price we pay from 1 December 2004 remains amongst the best available to dairy producers in the current market.”