A GIGGLESWICK farmer has joined national calls for a fairer deal for dairy producers by joining a supermarket protest.

Craig Booth, whose family farm Lane End Farm, joined about 60 other farmers on Friday to protest at Aldi and Asda supermarkets in Kendal.

They emptied shelves of all dairy products, including milk, cheese and yoghurt, wheeled it outside and gave it away to members of the public for free.

They also left loaded trolleys inside the supermarkets, making it impossible for the products to be sold.

"We didn't want to stop the public from getting what they wanted, we just wanted to draw attention to the fact we want more pence per litre for milk to cover our costs, and at the moment, supermarkets are not doing that," Mr Booth said.

There has been a steady drop in the milk price during the past year as a result of a world over-supply, an embargo on food exports to Russia and a strong pound, which makes imports cheap.

China is consuming less dairy than anticipated and there is a current price war going on between established supermarkets and the discounters.

Mr Booth said Friday's protest was supported by the vast majority of those they spoke to.

He added: "Supermarkets are telling us people want cheap products and are not prepared to pay more, but its not what we are hearing. People are telling us they would be willing to spend a few pence more."

Shoppers can also support British farmers by only buying produce displaying the red tractor symbol.

Stephen Dew, group secretary of the Craven Group, National Farmers Union (NFU), said meetings are taking place this week with supermarkets and the government.

He said: "The majority of farmers are now receiving 18p through to 24p per litre as a general average, with just a few on 'exclusive' contracts getting more.

"The average cost of production is about 30p per litre, so with a typical herd of 100 cows, this currently translates to a weekly loss of between £1,000 and £2,000. If the situation continues, we will see the demise of many more dairy farmers, which is not good for the general consumer as we are then less able to ensure all milk is produced to the very high standards of British agriculture."

He added: "There is a belief amongst farmers supermarkets could do much more to hold up the milk price and achieve a retail price that allows farmers to be paid above the cost of production, not for less than it costs to produce. It is this that has given rise to the trolley protests and is a reflection of how frustrated dairy farmers are."

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