THOUSANDS of farmers drove their tractors into the heart of Brussels yesterday in protest at the poverty prices being offered for their meat and dairy produce.
Farmers from across the European Union converged on the bloc’s headquarters to demand action on falling prices that they say are driving them to ruin.
Riot police were sprayed with hay from a machine, while a row of plastic cows painted in the flags of EU nations and bearing the slogan “fair milk” in many languages were set up on bales.
Farmers’ group the European Milk Board vice-president Sieta van Keimpema said: “Prices have gone down 30-40 per cent for most farmers and our farms are really going bankrupt like this.”
“The milk price is under or around 28 cents (20p) (per litre). And this is not enough even to cover the costs,” said Heinz Thorwarth from Fuchsstadt in southern Germany.
