Farming: Union urges politicians to act on 'failing' milk market

The latest round in the battle to raise the price of milk for producers saw NFU Scotland yesterday calling on politicians to play their part in ensuring a more equitable share of the cash.

The union's dairy policy manager, George Jamieson, said politicians had to understand that the milk market was not working and, while there have been slight price increases, these were "too little and too late".

On milk production costings he said that UK market indicators showed that dairy producers should be receiving 32p per litre for their milk - but they are currently getting about 26p.

The union's immediate focus is on the so-called High Level Group set up by the European Commission in response to the collapse of the milk market in Europe at the tail end of last year. Jamieson urged the UK government and the European Parliament to adopt the commission's recommendations.

He said he wanted to see the UK government push on with legislation to introduce the supermarket adjudicator, and for MSPs to continue their work in bringing dairy producers, processors and retailers together.