William Slinger: : “we must make sure that a fair proportion of the price gets back to the producer”

Dairy farmers have renewed protests on a second night with blockades at two milk processing plants. The fullest account and the very best pictures – notably one of Andrew Hemming speaking to a Wiseman security guard – can be seen here.

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Campaign group Farmers for Action (FFA) used tractors and trailers to blockade the entrances to a Robert Wiseman dairy in Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire, and another plant at Folston in Derbyshire. FFA told the BBC that about 400 farmers and 20 tractors formed the blockade at the Folston site last night.

On the Farming Today radio programme William Slinger explained that a small group of farmers in the Bowland area improved their lot by forming their own pasteurising and bottling company and developing their own brand of milk.

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“Rock-bottom prices are driving many dairy farmers out of business”

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Bowland Fresh Milk is collected from these farms every day in its own tanker for bottling and because the farmers control the processing they receive a better price for their milk at the farm gate.

Mr Springer adds: “This is crucial at a time when rock-bottom prices are driving many dairy farmers out of business. The development of Bowland Fresh has secured the future of many family farms in the area.”

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