KEY agricultural figures in Cumbria are hopeful that the results of an investigation into milk prices will lead to a fairer deal for dairy farmers.

The NFU’s Great Milk Robbery report claims that ‘substantial rises’ in wholesale prices of major dairy commodities such as milk, cheese and cream in the UK should have generated increases in returns for milk farmers.

And now campaigners want to see ‘immediate’ increases in farm gate milk prices to ensure there is more balance.

Cumbrian dairy farmer Russell Bowman, who was involved in the report, said: “The investigation shows what we suspected all along - that we are not getting the market value for our milk.

"The people who buy our milk are using the extra margin to try to get a greater market share against competitors.

“If milk was worth 20p a litre and we got 20p a litre, you wouldn’t hear many complaints – but when we know it should be 30p and we are only getting 24p to 26p a litre, it makes farmers angry.

“We do not want any more money from the consumer, but we need a greater share of what is charged.”

The report found that farmers have yet to see the full benefit of the rise in the dairy market, with the revenue to processors from dairy commodities in May 2010 being £19 million higher than in May 2009 – equivalent to an average increase of 4.3 pence per litre.

Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron believes the news empha-sises the need for a strong food market regulator.

He said: “I have long been concerned about the raw deal farmers receive at the hands of supermarkets.

"I believe it is high time we get fair trade for farmers whether they are from Columbia or Cumbria.

“There is fat in the system. It is on the retail side. You know it and they know it.

"We need a strong regulator to protect farmers.”