UK dairy farmers face further pressure as milk processor cuts prices

AI Summary

UK dairy processor Freshways has cut the price it pays farmers by 7 pence per litre, adding pressure to producers already struggling with costs above what they earn for their milk. Farmers cite volatile prices, summer drought, and rising fuel and fertilizer costs, with the Iran conflict also contributing to higher input expenses.

Freshways lowers price paid to producers by 7p a litre, prompting warnings confidence in the sector is ‘at rock bottom’ “Milk is leaving the farm at a loss,” says dairy farmer Ian Harvey, as he warns confidence in the sector is “at rock bottom”. Most of the UK’s dairy producers were already being paid less for their milk than it costs to produce it after a year of volatile farmgate milk prices, combined with the impact of the summer’s drought and soaring costs of vital fuel and fertiliser triggered by the conflict in Iran. Continue reading...