THE Government should do more to protect dairy farmers against the impact of sharp falls in milk prices, according to an influential group of MPs.

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee has published a report on dairy prices, in which it called on the Government to do more to promote UK dairy produce at home and abroad. It has been reported that most dairy farmers are paid only around 20 pence per litre of milk.

The NFU says many of the recommendations in the report follow concerns it has raised.

NFU dairy board chairman Rob Harrison, who gave evidence to the committee, said: “We are all aware of the short term issues currently facing the UK dairy sector and the implications for dairy farmers.

“While none of these recommendations are new, I do believe that Defra now needs to deliver on these actions to help ensure a fairer, more sustainable dairy industry going forward.”

Meanwhile, landlords are being urged to shelve any plans to increase the rent they charge their hard-pressed dairy farmer tenants.

The NFU Tenants Forum has urged landlords to be “understanding” towards milk suppliers, following a round of farm gate milk price cuts and First Milk’s announcement last week that it is delaying its next milk payment by two weeks.