Strikes Go On: Groups Crying Over Spilt Milk

UK - Tensions have risen this week between European dairy farmers and processors as blockades and protests rage over the profitability of production.
calendar icon 5 June 2008
clock icon 1 minute read

According to Food Production, farmers' groups in Germany, Belgium and Netherlands have all taken action recently from spilling milk to boycotting production as they call for a higher basic pay rate for their products. They say that concerns continue to grow among European dairy farmers as production costs continue to rise due to global supply issuers and European agricultural reforms that recently resulted in a two per cent rise in production quotas.

According to the farmers groups, these measures have served only to exacerbate the high cost of milk production, with the European Milk Board calling for farmers to be part of a new system of price-fixing in Europe.

The protests

In Germany, some milk producers have withheld their goods over the concerns. Others have reportedly blockaded dairies in the country in a bid to disrupt milk supply.

Food Production reports that in the Netherlands, leading processor Friesland Foods says it has experienced similar blockades at its plants in the country during the week from members of the Dutch Dairymen Board (DDB).

The company claims that the actions, which began last Tuesday, had twice halted production at its fresh food site in Nijkerk, while other plants were also affected over the weekend.

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