UK – Processor Robert Wiseman, which is dominant in Scotland, has announced that it is to drop the price it pays for raw milk by 0.6p (0.009 euro) per litre to 19.45p (0.32 euro).

The company blamed the cut on the collapse of dairy commodity prices, especially cream. It claimed that it was necessary for Wiseman to remain competitive.

In a statement, Wiseman procurement director Pete Nicholson said: “We will continue monitoring the markets, but as things stand at the moment it is likely that there will be a further reduction from 1 April.” He added: “We will continue to ensure that our milk price is at the upper end of the scale in comparison to our competitors.” A spokesperson for Express Dairies, which cut its price to 20p (0.33 euro) per litre in January, said that this was the last of a round of such cuts, rather than the beginning of new reductions. She added that Express had no plans to further lower its milk price.