Quote:
Originally Posted by jacken
Fordson,
I thought it was the supermarkets that stuffed the farmers. we keep hearing how the 'big four' pay peanuts to the farmers for their milk, beef, veg etc. Is this correct or am I on the wrong track?
ken
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Ken,
Yes the Supermarkets have a lot to answer for, but now with only really 4 or 5 Dairy Companies going for the Contract to supply them with milk and produce then of course they keep on shaving margins, and the farmer inevitably suffers.
In the days of the MMB then all Dairy Companies paid the same price for their milk depending on what they were doing with it, therefore a reduced price to the Supermarkets was based on their manufacturing / bottling efficiency. Veg, Beef & Lamb were never controlled to the same extent, but a few years ago there were more local Butchers & Greengrocers which have also disappeared. With EEC legislation all the local small killing houses have gone meaning less buyers in the cattle markets, so less competition, resulting in lower prices to the Farmers.
David