Farmers' Milk Protest

Angry farmers blockaded a Bridgwater dairy processing plant last night, for the third time in the space of a week, in protest at milk price cuts they claim are crippling their livelihood.

Protest group Farmers For Action organised blockades at several UK dairies, including Bridgwater's Robert Wiseman Dairy. The action follows the company's announcement that it's cutting its milk price by 1.7p per litre from August 1.

Meanwhile, Milk supplier Dairy Crest bowed to pressure today and agreed to put its planned milk price cut on hold for at least two months, after protests from farmers.

Farmers say if Somerset-based Robert Wiseman Dairy doesn't do the same they'll be protesting at the plant again tonight.

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A voluntary code agreed by farmers and milk processors will be finalised by the end of August. Politicians arranged a crunch meeting today following blockades at milk processing plants across the country by farmers.

The finer details of the code will now be finalised by all parties by the end of August. The code means in future, contracts between farmers and dairy processors will be freely negotiated, fairer and more transparent.

As part of the agreement, individual farmers can negotiate contracts - covering issues such as pricing and notice periods. Farmers will also have the ability to leave contracts "more easily" if they are unhappy with the price they receive.

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A deal has been agreed between dairy farmers and milk processors. The meeting was called by farming minister Jim Paice after protests from dairy farmers from the West Country and across Britain over cuts to the price they are paid for their milk.

The agreement regards establishing a voluntary code of practice for those within the industry - but terms and conditions have yet to be finalised.

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Dairy farmers in the region have staged another protest at the Robert Wiseman dairy in Bridgwater.

Farmer James Hold from Blackford in Somerset says young farmers are leaving the industry because they do not see a future.

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Dairy farmers in the region have staged another protest at the Robert Wiseman dairy in Bridgwater.

Wells MP Tessa Munt is supporting the dairy farmers. She says milk should be classed as 'fair trade', like chocolate and tea.

All parties have this lunchtime agreed a voluntary code of practice.

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A second protest will be held in Somerset tonight over the continuing row about milk prices. Around 300 people took part in a blockade last Thursday at Robert Wiseman in Bridgwater. Since then the supermarket chains Co-Op and Morrisons have agreed to raise the amount they pay.

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A blockade by farmers of the region's biggest milk processor has paid dividends today. The Co-op group says it's increasing the premium it pays on milk to farmers within its group, to 29 pence per litre. That will include Robert Wiseman Dairies.

Last night hundreds of farmers descended on its plant in Bridgwater to disrupt supplies, in protest at the firms recent price cuts. It has reduced what it pays farmers by almost 4 pence per litre in the last 3 months, blaming global markets. Jeff Welch reports

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Cordelia Lynch @ITVCordelia BREAKING:The Co-op says it is increasing the premium it pays on milk to farmers within the Co-Op Dairy Group to 29p per litre.

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