Enfys Wyse, 57, who owns a tearoom in Cenarth, Ceredigion, said she had noticed a change in milk prices over the years but claimed it “hasn’t been too bad”.<\/p>\n
“Over the past 10 years, it’s gone up \u00a335 a week.<\/p>\n
“In the summer, when we’re really busy we go through 10 to 12 two litre [bottles a day] and then in the winter, we go through five to six,” she said.<\/p>\n
“We’ve got to use milk for coffee, to do pancakes. You need it, you’ve got to use it, whatever the price is.”<\/p>\n
Referring to the increase, Wyse said she thought it would have been more.<\/p>\n
“You need milk, so you don’t mind paying extra for what you get.<\/p>\n
“I think it’s quite low really.”<\/p>\n
As winter approaches – the time of year when costs can be at their highest for farmers – NFU Cymru said there were “renewed concerns that tight margins are being further squeezed”.<\/p>\n
They are encouraging the Welsh government to help give stability to the sector which they say is worth \u00a3929m to the economy.<\/p>\n
Farmers Union Wales said a clear long-term strategy was needed for Wales “to develop its dairy industry to overcome the volatility of milk prices and input costs”.<\/p>\n
The Welsh government said: “We recognise the particular pressures facing dairy farmers, driven by global oversupply.<\/p>\n
“We are committed to the dairy sector in Wales and through out agricultural schemes offer a range of support suitable for dairy farms to enhance their financial and environmental performance.”<\/p>\n