DAIRY farmers from around the North West are being urged to attend an industry crisis meeting in South Lakeland tomorrow (Thursday).

A dairy coalition representing a range of key farming organisations has organised the gathering at J36 Rural Auction Centre, Crooklands, from 7.30pm.

The aim of the open meeting is to inform milk producers what these organisations are doing to safeguard the future of dairy farming in the UK.

It follows months of falling milk prices which prompted protests at supermarkets around the UK. On August 7, both Asda and Aldi stores in Kendal were targeted by around 60 dairy farmers as part of the nationwide campaign, known as the Milk Trolley Challenge.

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Since the protests, some supermarkets have promised to pay more for milk; but dairy farmers remain sceptical, fearing prices will continue to be kept unsustainably low.

The panel of speakers at tonight's meeting comprises Rob Harrison, chairman of the NFU Dairy Board; David Handley, chairman, Farmers For Action (FFA); Stephen Wyrill, chairman of the Tenant Farmers' Association (TFA); and Ian Macalpine, chairman of the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF).

A spokeswoman for the dairy coalition said: "The NFU, TFA, FFA and RABDF have been working to ensure that consumers understand the dire situation facing their members, and the response from consumers wanting to support British dairy farmers has been fantastic. Retailers have seen the groundswell of support (for dairy farmers) and have responded with varying measures across liquid milk and cheese sourcing.

"These initiatives have been welcomed as recognition of the challenges faced by the sector, and the additional revenues represent an important step forward. The details of how these measures will impact is being assessed by NFU and others as further discussions take place."