Leading Gloucestershire farmer supports dairy blockade (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

The south west regional leader for the National Farmer's Union dairy sector has thrown his support behind today's Farmers For Action-led blockades

4:43pm Friday 20th July 2012 in News By Ian Craig

A LEADING Gloucestershire farmer has thrown his support behind today’s blockade of milk processing plants.

Farmers, led by the pressure group Farmers for Action, blockaded dairies in Somerset, Leicestershire and Leeds last night and this morning in protest against price-cuts which are set to have a devastating effect on the already-squeezed farming sector.

Moreton-in-Marsh farmer Rob Harrison, regional south west chairman for the National Farmer’s Union dairy sector, said many farmers feared they would be driven out of business by the price cuts.

“It’s not the ideal course of action – I’m sure most farmers would rather be at home but desperate times call for desperate measures,” he said.

“They’d rather sit down and talk, but if you’re being driven out of business there's little choice.

“It is very visual and I think a lot of farmers would prefer this course of action to throwing milk away.”

He added he believed more blockades were being planned for the next few days.

“The NFU aren’t actively involved but we’re pointing farmers where to go if they want to take part,” he said.

“Wyke Farms have pledged to give an extra 0.5p and the Co-op have increased their prices a bit so it does seem to be making some difference.

“Obviously the ideal course of action is for the decrease to be cancelled completely.”

He added high-ranking members of the NFU will be meeting next week to discuss further action.