Shropshire dairy farmers to get penny more for milk

From June 1, farmers supplying Market Drayton-based Muller Wiseman will receive an extra penny, taking the value to 31.5p per litre.

But according to the National Farmers' Union the rise will still leave farmers short of the current cost of milk production, which they say stands at 32p a litre.

Last year farmers picketed Muller Wiseman's Market Drayton headquarters in protest at the price paid for a litre of milk. Since October, the price has risen 5p per litre.

Roddy Catto, chairman of the Muller Wiseman Milk Group, said: "We have had a very difficult start to the year. Milk production is down not just in the UK but around the world and we note increases in the value of dairy commodities as a result."

He called the increase 'a step in the right direction'.

Letters are now being sent to suppliers confirming the rise, which reflects higher production costs, lower production of milk on farms and rising global commodity markets, according to company officials.

Muller Wiseman also recently launched incentives for new and existing suppliers which are worth up to an extra 1p per litre on all production.

The NFU's dairy adviser Jeremy Lowe said: "A further increase to the milk price by Muller is welcome although we do need to see the price rising further and faster to help farmers cope with rising production costs.

"Production was down over the winter, is still depressed and we need to reverse this worrying trend at a time of increasing global demand."