Dairy farmers blockade Morrisons depot for 11 hours

Dairy farmers blockaded a huge Morrisons distribution centre for 11 hours in a protest over low cheese and milk prices.

About 500 fed-up dairy farmers and their families blockaded the Morrisons depot in Bridgwater, Somerset, on Thursday (27 August).

The peaceful protest started at 4pm on Thursday and lasted until 3am on Friday.

See also: Price protests ‘could last until Christmas’

Farmers for Action (FFA) said it decided to shut down the depot for a second time this week because Morrisons turned down their request to bring forward talks on the price it pays dairy farmers for milk used to make cheese.

Somerset FFA co-ordinator James Hole told Farmers Weekly: “Morrisons has agreed to give us a base price on liquid milk of 26p/litre from September.

“But the price they are paying farmers for milk used to produce cheese is nowhere near this figure. We are saying that they need to roll it out on cheese as well.

“On Monday, Morrisons agreed that they would call their processor in on the Tuesday and deliver a verdict on the Wednesday.

“They reneged on the Wednesday bit, so we decided we would go back and stay a bit longer this time.”

The UK produces about 14bn litres of milk on average each year. About one-third of this quantity goes into making cheese and 55% goes into liquid milk.

Mr Hole said securing a standard base litre price for liquid milk and milk used to make cheese that at least covers the cost of production was vital to keep dairy farmers in business and secure the future of the UK dairy industry.

He described last night’s protest in Somerset, organised in just two-and-a-half hours, as a “fantastic turnout” which should showed the strength of feeling among dairy farmers who have resolved to “not go down without a fight”.

“There is still a lot more work that needs to be done. I would love to create dialogue going forward without having to protest,” said Mr Hole.

“Realistically, I’m not sure we will be able to achieve that because some retailers want to drag their heals.

“Our message to the retailers is: ‘Come and talk to us, or you can expect a visit from us sometime soon’.”

While the protest was going on in Somerset, a second FFA-led protest was being held outside a Co-operative depot in St Helens, Merseyside.

The FFA said following the protest, it had managed to secure talks with senior executives at Co-op to discuss milk and lamb prices being paid to farmers.

The meeting between dairy farmers and Co-op executives is due to take place next Thursday (3 September) in Shrewsbury, Shropshire.

Meanwhile, following a meeting with Asda senior management last week, FFA said it had secured promises from the retailer to stock more British lamb and lamb products.

In a statement, FFA said Asda had agreed to promote all British lamb in nine stores in north Wales in September, with the promotions moving to stores in south Wales in October and November.

The promotions on UK lamb, which include all out-of-balance cuts, will start this weekend in Asda stores.

“All lamb burgers and mince will be 100% British [there will be no NZ/UK lamb packs anymore],” said the FFA.

“[Asda] are launching a new British loin product in September and are carrying out a Walk The Chain event for the farmers who were at the meeting last week.

“That is being arranged for Dunbia, Preston and the Asda website has been changed and all issues surrounding NZ lamb have been removed.”

Sheep farmer Mike Jones, who farms in Bangor, north Wales, welcomed the news. “It’s a step in the right direction. But we need other retailers to follow suit,” he said.