Farmers demand more for milk
Dairy farmers in Switzerland have launched a campaign to get a better price for the milk they produce.
Some 200 farmers converged for a demonstration in the capital Bern on Friday – with four plastic cows in tow – and demanded government support.
Under the current pricing regime, Swiss farmers receive SFr0.70 ($0.65) per litre of milk. They are seeking SFr1 per litre, with a minimum increase of SFr0.10 by the beginning of March.
The farmers say their figures reflect increased consumer demand and more favourable market conditions. Negotiations with the country's main distributors are planned in the coming weeks.
The campaign is being spearheaded by the farmers union Uniterre, and by the Swiss members of the European Milk Board, which has been leading a Europe-wide price initiative on the issue since last October.
The demonstration came the same day the European Union placed extended tariffs on Swiss dairy products. The EU now taxes the import of both liquid and powdered milk.
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