Letter WMN - Steen and milk prices

Dear Editor,

Mr. Steen appears a little confused when he castigates me for blaming imports for the current milk price problems. Is he mixing me up with Jack Nicholls ( WMN 25th. August) who blames the situation on imported EU milk?

I am well aware that we import very little liquid milk. My argument is with the supermarkets who are driving milk producers out of business whilst increasing their profits dramatically. In the last 15 years supermarket profits have increased by 300%, directors pay by a massive 557% whilst the poor farmers have seen their incomes rise by a paltry 29%. The Supermarket Code needs to be strengthened and the OFT ( Office of Fair Trading) must act to enforce it. This is the hope and the solution Mr. Steen calls for - supermarkets must pay farmers a realistic price for milk!

I have, of course, visited and talked with dairy farmers. Indeed I lived next door to a dairy farmer for 9 years. I have also visited the Dairy Crest factory in Totnes, one of the largest in the South West.

I am accused of 'writing letters galore and doing little else'. Pray, what has Mr. Steen done? He is our elected representative and has the platform to support and help our farmers. In his letter he appears to just accept the situation where supermarkets and processors pay farmers less than their production costs . Our own, Liberal Democrat, agriculture spokesman, Andrew George M.P. is constantly bringing this matter to the attention of the Government and the public in an effort to achieve a better deal for farmers and that is what I am lobbying for too.

Yours sincerely,

Mike Treleaven