Protestors dump 3m litres of milk

FARMERS in Belgium dumped 3 million litres of milk yesterday to protest low prices which are pushing them toward financial ruin.

Growing frustration with the economic downturn has led to widening protests across the EU.

On Tuesday, farmers closed Belgian border crossings to the Netherlands and to Germany to push demands for higher prices.

Milk prices have fallen by 40% since spring, EU farmers group Copa said, adding that without EU action farmers would lose €10 billion. Farmers complain they have had to sell their milk for less than costs and face bankruptcy if the situation continues.

Some milk farmers in France and other EU nations have halted deliveries. The European Milk Board lobby group said that in some countries, such as France, up to 50% of milk farmers have joined the movement. The lobby represents 100,000 milk farmers in the 27-nation bloc.

Yesterday, the Belgian FUGEA farmers union underlined the “catastrophic situation” by dumping millions of litres on roads near the Belgian town of Ciney.