In the North, milk producers block a supermarket to denounce too low prices

Maximilien Carlier (in Bailleul), edited by Gauthier Delomez 9:34 p.m., August 18, 2022

A dozen tractors are installed in front of the access to the parking lot of a supermarket in Bailleul, in the North.

On agricultural machinery, several messages are displayed.

"Motivated but not paid. We have plenty of it, plus a round. Milk sector in danger", can we read.

These Thursday and Friday, milk producers are demonstrating in several hypermarkets in the north of France.

Actions to denounce the sale prices of milk cartons, deemed too low according to them.

Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, these breeders have noticed a stagnation in the price per liter while the cost of production increases.

Messages were posted on agricultural machinery.

Prices that are not aligned with Germany and Belgium

Jean-Paul is a breeder in Hondschoote in Flanders, and he participates in the blocking of a large area of ​​the town.

"It's a big action, it's necessarily wanted. We are demonstrating because French prices are not aligned with prices in Germany or Belgium so it's not normal", he explains at the microphone of Europe 1. In this supermarket, the carton of milk is sold for 79 euro cents.

These farmers are demanding a floor price of 99 cents.

An increase that will allow them to live, they explain, given the rising cost of production.

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"All our expenses have increased sharply. There is GNR (non-road diesel), fuel oil to run the tractors, electricity as well, not to mention water", emphasizes Jean-Paul, "in addition, we are in an unprecedented drought. The bill will be steep for the breeders", he adds.

Messages were posted on agricultural machinery.

The distress of breeders who want fair remuneration

As a result, some are considering stopping milk production.

There is distress among breeders who are demanding fair compensation.

“We ask for the milk carton at 99 cents, this represents an increase of around 40 euros for the consumer per year”, explains Guillaume Cleenewerck, member of the dairy section of the North at the FDSEA.

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"Would he (the consumer) agree to pay a little more the price per liter of milk to save a sector, or do we continue like this and destroy the sector in place?" he, before concluding: "Food self-sufficiency is no longer a myth. If we are prevented from working, we will bring in milk from abroad, which is more expensive and not necessarily to the same environmental standards."