Buyers And Retailers Urged To Support Dairy Farmers 'In Time Of Need'

Retailers and buyers are being urged to support Scottish dairy farmers in a time of need for the industry''.

Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said he understands the frustrations of farmers who staged recent protests at supermarkets in Ayrshire over the price paid for milk.

The group filmed themselves filling trollies with all the milk in several supermarkets and similar protests have taken place across the UK and Ireland in the last week.

The farmers said they are losing about £200 a day to produce Scottish milk at the current prices paid by the supermarkets and that 19 farms have gone out of business this year across the country.

Mr Lochhead said buyers need to be more transparent'' about the price they pay dairy farmers.

He said: I fully recognise the difficulties being faced by dairy farmers because of the low price being paid for milk and volatility on the global market.

That's why I am urging all retailers, food service and other buyers, big and small, to get behind our Scottish dairy farmers and support them in this time of need for the industry.

I would also call on buyers to be more transparent about the prices they are paying dairy farmers - in January Sainsbury's led by example by going public with their prices.

It was refreshing to see retailers competing over the fairest deal for farmers rather than who can devalue milk the most, and we desperately need that sort of commitment again.

I plan on raising this issue when I meet with the Groceries Code Adjudicator in September.

The public will understand the frustrations being expressed by farmers as it must be galling for them to witness massive promotion of imported cheeses, butters and yoghurts whilst domestic milk secures, at best, a zero margin.''

Earlier this summer, the First Minister launched the Scottish Dairy brand as the government took steps to help the industry.

The brand includes a logo on products such as cheese, butter and other dairy products to help shoppers identify Scottish produce.

Mr Lochhead added: We have provided First Milk with capital support, in the form of more than £400,000 towards the Campbeltown creamery - with £311,000 of that being paid already - and will continue to argue for solutions at the EU level.

We are in regular dialogue with retailers, food service and others to encourage sales of Scottish products including dairy.''