Wholesale Milk Prices Rise

It's likely to cost more to buy milk after Jersey Dairy put up wholesale prices by 8p a litre.

The company says farmers need an urgent increase because of significantly higher costs  - including fuel, feed, and fertiliser.

It's up to retailers whether they absorb the price rise or pass it on to consumers.

"All of the income raised from this price increase will be passed back to our farmers, however, this will be insufficient to address in full, the farm profitability issue that has been identified.

Smaller farms will continue to run at a loss and the larger farms should reach breakeven." - Eamon Fenlon, Managing Director of Jersey Dairy.

The price of Jersey Dairy fresh milk has risen by 28% over the last ten years, compared to RPI going up by 31% over the same period.

The price rise has been supported by the Economic Development Minister.

"We fully understand the challenging times that we are all experiencing at the present time in the Island, however, it is essential that Jersey Dairy implements these increases now if we want to have a sustainable commercial future and continue the environmental stewardship on our farms, along with a significant contribution to local food security.

Our avowed intention remains to provide a consistent supply of a wide range of fresh, nutritious dairy products, along with a rich variety of public goods, to secure the continued enhancement of our iconic pedigree Jersey Cow within our beautiful countryside." - Andrew Le Gallais, Dairy farmer and Chairman of the Jersey Milk Marketing Board.