Adam Dance MP calls for urgent action to protect Somerset’s dairy farmers

Liberal Democrat MP for Yeovil, Adam Dance, has called on the Government to take urgent action to protect British dairy farmers, following reports that some suppliers have slashed the prices farmers receive for milk by up to 18%.

Adam is urging Ministers to reform the way the dairy supply chain is regulated, warning that the current system leaves many farmers exposed to unfair pricing. At present, both the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) and the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator (ASCA) oversee parts of the sector, creating what he describes as a “fragmented and weakened” approach.

The Liberal Democrats are calling for a new, unified and properly resourced regulator to ensure fairness, transparency and stability for farmers.

One supplier, Parkham Farms, has announced an 8p per litre drop in its November milk price – a cut of 18% – while Freshways has cut 6p per litre and Arla Foods confirmed its October price will fall by 1.7p to 45.34p.

Research commissioned by the Liberal Democrats from the House of Commons Library earlier this year revealed the pressure the sector is already under. Since 2015, the total number of dairy farms in England has fallen from 12,643 to 8,738 – a drop of more than 30% – with livestock numbers also declining sharply.

Farmers in Somerset, including those in the Yeovil constituency, are already grappling with the impact of summer droughts, rising costs, cuts to basic payments, and the Government’s proposed Family Farm Tax.

Adam Dance MP said:

“Farmers across Somerset are at breaking point. Many are already struggling with drought, reduced payments and the threat of further taxation, and now face yet another blow from these drastic price cuts.

“Enough is enough. There is simply no justification for slashing milk prices by this scale when farmers are already under so much pressure. British farmers put food on our

tables, support local jobs and sustain our rural economy – they deserve fairness, not financial uncertainty.

“The Government must act now. We need a single, empowered regulator with the authority and resources to stand up to large corporations and ensure dairy farmers in Somerset and across the country finally get a fair deal.”