THE National Farmers’ Union (NFU) said this week it would back any plans to demonstrate peacefully outside processors and retailers involved in the latest round of milk price cuts.

Deputy President Meurig Raymond said: “The price cuts must be rescinded by August 1, and if this doesn’t happen, then we will support and facilitate targeted demonstrations outside processors and retailers.

“We will also mobilise the public with a concerted consumer campaign to help them understand the crisis facing the dairy industry and we will be asking them for their support with this campaign.

“All this co-ordinated action will be designed to put pressure and bring shame on the retailers and processors who have caused this crisis in the British dairy industry.

“We are still hopeful of agreement on a voluntary code of best practice in contracts, to bring some balance to the relationship between farmers and processors, but before long we have to ramp up our lobbying of Parliament to introduce statutory powers.”