Somerset’s dairy farmers are facing an escalating crisis as several major milk buyers announce significant price cuts, sparking widespread outrage and urgent calls for government intervention.
Adam Dance, the Liberal Democrat MP for Yeovil and South Somerset, has condemned the recent milk price reductions, some as high as 18%, and is urging the government to revamp the regulation of dairy pricing. The cuts come from key suppliers, including Parkham Farms, which plans to reduce its milk price by 8p per litre starting in November, Freshways lowering prices by 6p per litre, and Arla Foods slashing their October price by 1.7p per litre to 45.34p.
Dance criticized the current regulatory framework as “fragmented and weakened,” pointing out that oversight duties are split between the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) and the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator (ASCA). He and his party advocate for establishing a single, well-funded regulator to enforce fairness and transparency throughout the dairy supply chain.
READ MORE: Nearly 350 New Homes Proposed for Somerset’s Major Jurston Fields Development Near M5
READ MORE: Somerset Village Shop Reopens After Eight Years, Bringing Vital Convenience Back
“Farmers in Somerset are at breaking point,” Dance declared. “They are already battling drought conditions, falling payments, and looming tax threats. These drastic price cuts are an additional and unjustified blow.”
Highlighting the vital role of British dairy farmers, he added, “They feed our nation, support local employment, and uphold our rural economy. They deserve stability and fairness, not ongoing financial hardship.”
Research commissioned by the Liberal Democrats from the House of Commons Library reveals a dramatic decline in dairy farms in England—from 12,643 in 2015 to just 8,738 today—a loss exceeding 30%. Livestock numbers have also sharply decreased.
Somerset farmers grapple with numerous pressures: persistent drought effects, rising operational costs, dwindling government subsidies, and the potential impact of the proposed Family Farm Tax.
Dance concluded with an urgent plea: “The government must take decisive action now. A unified and empowered regulator with the authority to challenge powerful corporations is essential to secure a fair future for dairy farmers in Somerset and across the UK.”