TWO Dales MPs have rallied to the dairy farmers' cause - both demanding fairer treatment for the region's milk producers.

Richmond MP Rishi Sunak and Skipton and Ripon MP Julian Smith, both Tories, met farmer constituents in recent days to find out more about how falling milk prices are impacting on their lives and businesses.

Mr Sunak, who toured Wensleydale, warned that the crisis in the dairy industry could have a 'profound' impact on the landscape of the Yorkshire Dales.

He said low dairy prices, where many farmers received less for their milk than it cost to produce, were threatening the viability of farms and making the industry unsustainable.

Mr Sunak’s tour took him to three farms and he also met groups of farmers at the Wensleydale Creamery in Hawes and the Leyburn auction mart.

Meanwhile, Mr Smith met with a number of dairy farmers from across his Skipton and Ripon constituency to discuss the challenges facing the industry.

The meeting saw discussion around how the EU can do more to help, what more measures the Government can help with and what role supermarkets must play.

Mr Smith committed to following up with Government Ministers on a number of issues raised.

“I am fully committed to supporting and speaking up for the farming community in Skipton and Ripon. The last few months have been extremely challenging and milk prices remain problematically low. I will be raising these concerns with Ministers and pushing for further measures to support the dairy industry during this difficult time.”

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Mr Sunak said: “These prices are causing real hardship for many dairy farmers. One told me his monthly milk cheque is almost £6,000 lower than it was last year. Clearly, for farmers working some of the more marginal land in the UK, that’s just not sustainable.

“These farmers are not asking for special treatment, they just want to be treated fairly.

“We have to find a way forward because if dairy farming in Wensleydale is not viable, it will have a profound impact on the landscape that we cherish and which supports the vital tourism industry.

“It is dairy farming which makes the dale’s lush pastures look the way they look and maintains the stone barns and walls which are so essential to the area’s character.”

Mr Smith said: