Farmers in Huddersfield are pleading for help to get them through the milk crisis.

Robert Brook of WH Brook and Sons and others across Huddersfield said they are “struggling for survival” due to being paid less than the production cost of milk by retailers since a “sudden” drop in prices several months ago.

Mr Brook, who owns Wheatley Hill Farm in Clayton West, sells his milk to Buckley Farm Dairy who then sell it onto retailers and is currently getting back almost 25% less than what it costs for him to produce it.

Mr Brook spoke of the distress he and others are facing following national farmers’ protests to urge retailers to pay a fair deal this week.

He said: “It’s been difficult for us for around 10 to 15 years but this current situation is affecting us really badly – whatever happens to Buckley Dairy happens to us.

“We did see prices rise around one and a half years ago but prices suddenly began to plummet last October and now we’re getting 22p per litre when it costs us up to 29p to produce it.

“We’re losing money constantly and some farms are struggling for survival.

“A lot of farms here are now relying on banks to give them credit. It’s very scary.”

Dairy farmers buying-up milk in ASDA Linwood in a nationwide price protest.

He said he and other farmers fear for the future.

“We are just trying to hold on and hope that the situation improves. We’ve had cows for three generations so it would be such a shame to let it go.

“We may have to sell cows and land because I’ve got a family and I can’t encourage my son to come into farming when this is the situation.

“We just want to make a living but that is being denied to us.

“I get up at 3am every day and work for 13 hours and I think it’s only fair that we get a fair price for our work.”

Other Huddersfield farmers contacted echoed Mr Brook’s sentiments.

Retailers particularly being targeted by farmers are Aldi, Lidl, and Londis alongside Morrisons, who this week agreed to create a milk brand which will give 10p back to farmers.

Robert Nobles, farmers' representative for Honley and District National Farmers' Union (NFU)

Honley and District National Farmers’ Union representative, Robert Nobles, said: “Some producers have called it a day, even one or two prominent producers and it is the surplus being created around the world that is forcing prices down.”

Longley dairy farm, of Holmfirth, buys milk off local producers.

A spokesman said: “Our situation is slightly different because we aren’t in the direct competitive milk market; we use our milk to create our own produce.

“We are paying what we think is a good price to farmers at 29p per litre and then at the market rate for any surplus.

“We are making less money now but that’s the decision we have made because we don’t want to drive our suppliers out of business.

“The real issue comes when people want cheaper milk prices and it’s leading to small farms disappearing, which means less younger family members continuing the trade.