CUMBRIAN dairy farmers have been on the road again this week demonstrating for a better farm gate price for their milk.

Dairy Crest, one of the largest milk processing companies and a key target for demonstrating dairymen, tried to take some heat out of the situation by announcing a one pence per litre increase in the price it pays to farmers - who supply milk direct to the company’s Aspatria plant in West Cumbria. The company’s average increase of 0.8ppl brings the price per litre to around 19.02p for all its direct suppliers who, together, account for 60 per cent of the firm’s milk consumption. According to the company, its price is now 1.4ppl ahead of that paid by co-ops and other major competitors.

Dairy Crest is offering a similar price to the milk co-ops allowing them to keep prices for their members in line with direct suppliers.

But the news failed to placate either Farmers For Action or the NFU that have been orchestrating blockades at processing plants owned by Dairy Crest and other companies, including Tesco, Express Dairies and cheese-maker Glanbia in pursuit of a minimum 2ppl increase.

NFU spokeswoman Gill Shearer said: “Nothing has changed as far as we are concerned.” FFA and NFU members were out in force, demonstrating again this week at the Dairy Crest plant in Aspatria, as well as at the Glanbia cheese plant at Lockerbie and other plants up and down the country.

Lancaster dairy farmer and FFA spokesman David Halhead said: “The bottom line was supposed to be 2ppl – that is the minimum we are looking for. Dairy Crest are just making things worse for themselves.” Mr Halhead said demonstrators were holding off similar blockades at other big processors such as Arla and Wisemans, waiting to see what deal they came up with.

“But we have heard what Dairy Crest is offering and its just not cutting any ice.

“We know the market can stand it and we will just have to keep the pressure up.” The company said it had “a policy of returning market leading prices” and that it was “disappointing” that some farmers had chosen to demonstrate at Dairy Crest sites.

More farmers’ protests are planned.