Latest in todays farmer weekly:-
DAIRY co-ops stand accused of weakness in talks with milk buyers and of failing to secure a 2p/litre increase in farm-gate prices.
Processors are also coming under fire.
Dairy Farmers of Britain announced an interim price rise of 1.1p/litre backdated to Oct 1, taking the Farmers Weekly standard price to about 17.3p/litre.
The other big co-ops, Milk Link and First Milk, will unveil new prices within days.
But judging by recent announcements they are unlikely to achieve much more.
Jim Walker, president of National Farmers' union Scotland, said he was incensed by the figures.
Farmer pressure had persuaded big retailers to raise shop milk prices by the equivalent of 2p/litre at the farm-gate and triggered a similar move on cheese, he said.
Big processors also increased the price of doorstep milk.
Those markets account for just 57% of the UK's raw milk.
But Mr Walker believes co-ops and processors should have achieved better returns on the 25% of raw milk destined for the "middle ground" market - convenience stores, garages and corner shops - as milk and cheese.
"We did not just open the door for the co-ops, we kicked it open. Now we are getting all sorts of excuses. Co-ops have demonstrated extreme weakness in their negotiations."
But some co-ops blame farming unions and the pressure group Farmers for Action for raising hopes of a 2p/litre across-the-board rise.
A spokeswoman for Dairy Farmers of Britain said it was very difficult to achieve price rises beyond the retailer initiatives.
"Those price rises are not market led, and the rest of the market needs careful negotiation," she said.
Dairy Farmers of Britain was still talking with some customers and would review the price monthly, the spokeswoman added.
Reform of the MMB was most definatly needed but we got it wrong.
Be sure you get it right!
DAIRY co-ops stand accused of weakness in talks with milk buyers and of failing to secure a 2p/litre increase in farm-gate prices.
Processors are also coming under fire.
Dairy Farmers of Britain announced an interim price rise of 1.1p/litre backdated to Oct 1, taking the Farmers Weekly standard price to about 17.3p/litre.
The other big co-ops, Milk Link and First Milk, will unveil new prices within days.
But judging by recent announcements they are unlikely to achieve much more.
Jim Walker, president of National Farmers' union Scotland, said he was incensed by the figures.
Farmer pressure had persuaded big retailers to raise shop milk prices by the equivalent of 2p/litre at the farm-gate and triggered a similar move on cheese, he said.
Big processors also increased the price of doorstep milk.
Those markets account for just 57% of the UK's raw milk.
But Mr Walker believes co-ops and processors should have achieved better returns on the 25% of raw milk destined for the "middle ground" market - convenience stores, garages and corner shops - as milk and cheese.
"We did not just open the door for the co-ops, we kicked it open. Now we are getting all sorts of excuses. Co-ops have demonstrated extreme weakness in their negotiations."
But some co-ops blame farming unions and the pressure group Farmers for Action for raising hopes of a 2p/litre across-the-board rise.
A spokeswoman for Dairy Farmers of Britain said it was very difficult to achieve price rises beyond the retailer initiatives.
"Those price rises are not market led, and the rest of the market needs careful negotiation," she said.
Dairy Farmers of Britain was still talking with some customers and would review the price monthly, the spokeswoman added.
Reform of the MMB was most definatly needed but we got it wrong.
Be sure you get it right!
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