APPENDIX 22
Letter to James Gray MP from Denise and
Richard Plummer
I am writing to you to highlight the problems faced
by the dairy industry.
I am part of a family dairy farm which finds itself
under immense pressure from many directions.
We have suffered a drip in milk price of over 20
per cent during the last 18 months. Since its peak calf prices
have dropped over 50 per cent as have cull cow prices. Our surplus
dairy breeding stock has also devalued by at least 40 per cent.
We joined Milk Marque on vesting day believing that
this was and still is the best way forward, being part of a large,
strong farmer-owned co-operative. Since its formation, it seems
that the dairy trade has tried to undermine its function. The
Monopolies and Mergers Commission Report into milk selling has
further weakened our position by not releasing its findings.
It appears to us that our own government constantly
puts our industry at a disadvantage by imposing rules and regulations
upon us that our competitors don't have to comply with.
We need the "Beef on the Bone" ban lifted
and to be able to trade freely on the world market. While the
£ remains strong it will never be able to be truly competitive.
11 June 1999
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