Comments on: Robert Sturdy, dairy subsidies and over production

By: simon

simon — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 06:58:07 +0000

I agree- supermarkets like Woolworths here drive the prices down, forcing the farmers into difficulty and, in the case of australia its becoming cheaper to source supply of foods from over seas.

As my father said ” if a country cannot grow something, mine something, or make something- it will go broke”

Have a look at Britain and America- manufacturing and agriculture on the decline.. and they are the hardest hit by this “global recession. It appears china and India and AUstralia are out od the woods…. But I see the signs of decline in Agriculture and Manufacturing here, saved only by the fact we are the worlds gravel pit….

The EU MUST protect its farmers from the imported items…

By: Ellee

Ellee — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:23:41 +0000

Pip, I would like a dairy farmer to comment too. They might blame supermarkets for forcing them to sell at unprofitable prices.

By: Philipa

Philipa — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:49:08 +0000

Excellent post, Ellee.

the trouble as I see it is the supermarkets. I think this ‘free global market’ isn’t what it might seem framed in just those words. I don’t really want to drink milk produced in germany whilst farmers here lose thier herds and go under as the supermarkets drive the prices down. I know of one farming family that had to reduce their herd, pay for slaughter and butchery, making lamb burgers, and sell them at fairs in order to feed their family as traditional farming was simply not paying the bills. What is it like for dairy farmers?

I do hope a dairy farmer will comment.