December 19, 2006

England milk farms lose GBP 270 million

Dairy farmers in England and Wales sell their milk at a loss of some GBP 270 million (US$ 526 million) a year.

The shortfall was a threat to the future of domestic milk production, according to the National Farmers Union.

Each farmer produced invoices to prove how much it cost him to produce the milk versus the money he was paid. The NFU's figures do not take into account the European subsidy called the single payment scheme.

NFU dairy board chairman Gwyn Jones has now urged the supermarkets to pay farmers more for their milk.