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UK News

Christians urged to support struggling dairy farmers

by Aaron James

Rt Revd Geoff Annas has said it is 'essential' believers make the effort to support the struggling industry as milk prices hit a seven-year low earlier this week, down 25% from late last year.

The National Farmers Union said in December that since 2001 to now, the amount of dairy farmers in the UK has fallen by half, to less than 10,000.

They've fallen because the amount of milk on the market has gone up, but the amount of people buying it has gone down.

Russia and China make up around 30% of all of the dairy products bought and sold across the world. Russia has banned EU imports after sanctions were imposed on it because of the conflict in Ukraine.

The growth of China's economy is also slowing down, which is being blamed by some for the latest fall in consumption.
Rt Revd Geoff Annas told Premier's News Hour: "It's very bad. They have no income at all really from the milk, and there's no way out of it because the cows still have to be milked and the milk still has to be used. It's a real dilemma for them.

"It's not just the milk; it's the dairy products as well. So when we go shopping, if we're going to buy some cheese, let's make a really big effort to try and buy cheese that's made in this country.

"The church and the rural community have been linked in this country all the way through. There's only actually about 11 percent that is actually built on... agriculture is still a key part of what it means to be British.

"I think it's really important that the churches come alongside all people, both in the cities and in the rural communities. It's essential."

 
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