Dairy Crest concedes ground on milk prices

UK – Following protests headed by the National Farmers Union (NFU) this week, Dairy Crest is set to offer suppliers an average price increase of 0.8 pence per litre for milk to be used in cheese production.

The protesters were looking for a price rise of no less than two pence per litre, and have been left angered by Dairy Crest’s failure to offer the requested rise.

NFU Scotland president John Kinnaird said: “It is appalling that Dairy Crest, the largest purchaser of milk in the UK, is holding back the full increase.” The union has spoken to all the major UK retailers of milk and cheese and says that all accept the need for dairy farmers to get a two pence increase.

The 0.8 pence rise means that the new average price for milk for cheese is about 27 cents per litre.