TENS of thousands of people have viewed an online video produced by a Cumbria-based internet campaign which was launched to highlight the ongoing plight of the dairy industry.

Ispeak4Daisy, launched in the west of the county, aims to raise national consumer awareness by featuring Daisy, a dairy cow, and the crisis that is threatening her existence.

The campaign was launched on social media last week with the Facebook post reaching out to 117,907 people and the YouTube video viewed by more than 35,000 in less than 48 hours.

The campaign was launched by Rozila Kana of Workington who said: “I felt that we, the public, need to speak for Daisy who represents the Dairy industry and helps look after the British countryside.

“It is hoped that this commercial will empower the British public to buy dairy products from retailers that pay fair prices to British dairy farmers and also encourage the British public to buy farming products sourced on British farms.

“Retailers should use correct food labels that clearly reflect country of source.”

The campaign is backed by Windermere councillor Ben Berry, who said: “Round here we care about our farmers and local economy, but often we aren’t quite sure what we can do to help.

Rozila has done a fantastic job here so I implore people to watch the video, like the campaign on Facebook and look for products with the Red Tractor badge.”

The campaign was launched as a fears of a new milk price war loomed with the ending of production quotas for the dairy industry.

The system, which was abolished after 30 years, will allow dairy farmers to produce as much milk as they like without financial penalty.

But it is feared British milk producers will find the amount they are paid by supermarkets and processors is driven down even further after months of falls.

The Youtube Video can be found here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skHXUnBF3Ek