Agriculture: Farmers to step up protests over low food prices

The Farmers for Action (FFA) organisation has promised "the biggest farmers' demonstration ever seen in the UK" during December, including protests in Yorkshire.

FFA chairman David Handley said it had become tired of farmers being forced out of production by low prices and had decided to take direct action after being denied the chance to meet with retailers and air the grievances face to sface.

The news follows two blockades of supermarket depots in recent weeks by FFA members, after its vice chairman Andrew Hemming said attempts elsewhere to reach a solution had "hit a brick wall".

The UK's main farm campaigning organisation, the National Farmers' Union has publicly distanced itself from what it called "civil disobedience", saying that such tactics were bad for the industry's image.

Mr Handley denied he wanted to see an increase in food prices for consumers, saying that it was the retail industry that was causing the problems within the supply chain.

"We have already been out twice and had great support each time," he told the Yorkshire Post.

"It is about the fact that the supply chain is not working. It is also not about making consumers pay more, far from it, as far as we are concerned they are paying enough.

"It is to do with farmers being pushed out of the supply chain.

"The food chain worked back in the 1990s when everybody was in profit. Now products are being given away for no accountable reason. Milk is a prime example – it is given away cheaper than water. We have no choice but to escalate this action.

"Something will be happening in Yorkshire in the near future."

Alongside blockages the FFA chairman said that his organisation had "other tricks up its sleeve" that it was planning for next month.