Dairy processors accused of underpaying farmers for their milk could face supply problems by spring due to falling deliveries.
Dairy products have sold well in Germany during recent weeks, but supermarket price wars mean farmers are not being paid as much as in previous months.
Smaller processors, however, which tend to concentrate on specialist product manufacturing, have remained largely immune to retailer pressure. As a result, they have been able to trump their larger rivals on the price they pay to farmers for their milk