Agreement on milk: a limited impact, according to industry and trade unions – The Point

Milk producers have snatched Friday rising price of milk already decried because it concerns only part of the dairy, after three hours of discussion at the Ministry of Agriculture. As he had done in mid-June for beef, Stéphane Le Foll brought them together with manufacturers and retailers to grant this increase became necessary when farmers blocked several Western dairies and other areas . It was agreed that their milk will be paid less than 340 euros for 1000 liters, an increase of 4 cents per liter compared to the current level.

For now, “this increase will allow us to cover our costs; it does not satisfy us, but it at least allows that, “said his side the president of the federation of producers (NPFL) Thierry Roquefeuil, calling for measures at European level. Because the agreement does not cover all producers of milk outlets, but only on the butter, cream, milk, natural yoghurt and Emmental cheese sold under distributors or first prize marks. It also excludes products for export.

So the industrial milk quickly that he was their “impossible” to ensure a minimum purchase price. Even if they agree to pay back the increases granted to farmers by large retailers, “from one company to the other, things are very complicated in the pipeline. Some specialize in cheese in the other milk, and today it can not be the same number for everyone “admits Thierry Roquefeuil elsewhere.

The freshly minority unions welcome the agreement negotiated under the aegis of the powerful FNSEA “A political price to extinguish the fire,” said Rural Coordination, ready to act against imports of milk that have recently increased. Without calling for the suspension of movements of anger, Xavier Beulin, president of the FNSEA, stressed “the very constructive spirit” of the participants. For the Minister it was mainly to “send a message to all dairy farmers” who have particularly mobilized earlier in the week in Normandy, their main production area.

European Council September 7

“The impact (of the agreement) to the consumer will be a few cents,” said Stephane Le Foll. “It’s an effort being asked to pass this crisis. All prices will begin to burn.”

The Rural Family consumer association also takes his distance stating that supermarkets “regularly invokes the argument of purchasing power and the lowest price.” But “consumers refuse to be an alibi to justify questionable business practices leading to the strangulation of the producers of our country.”

After an upturn in 2014, milk prices have started to decline since December, depressed by the end of EUAs in April after 30 years of regulation, and by the Russian ban on food products, which helped clog the European market. Meanwhile, Chinese demand growing since 2010, abruptly halved

France claims a Brussels support to producers and a revaluation of the milk intervention price. This mechanism European support, activated in case of falling prices, currently only triggered when the price falls to 22 cents per liter. The government obtained the convening of a European Council of Agriculture Ministers on September 7.

Despite intense negotiations and mobilization of authorities, farmers do not seem willing to disarm Friday night . FNSEA expects in the coming days a series of actions against large retailers, cooperatives and dairies. As for Young Farmers, who have targeted the butcher Cochonou the Tour de France to denounce his “no sausages at home,” they mean well one last time to block the arrival of the race in Paris on Sunday.