Farmers, frustrated at a persistently wet summer and rising costs for fuel and animal feed, have taken to the streets of Enniskillen to vent their anger at their low farmgate prices for commodities.

A protest organised by Farmers for Action, was held at Derrychara Road, Enniskillen last Thursday night to highlight the discrepancy between farmgate and retail prices. In some cases, they pointed out a five times mark-up at the retail end that consmers must pay out.

In leaflet handed out to shoppers, FFA revealed that farmers receive around 22p per litre for milk but this is sold to consumers for 79p. Beef gives farmers a return of �3.08 per kg on average but consumers pay �9.97 per kg for it. Those farmers growing potatoes will get 23p per 2.5kgs but it can be sold for as much as �1.69 per 2.5kgs bag.

A spokesman for Farmers for Action said, "This summer farmers are struggling to cope with persistent bad weather and rising fuel and animal feed costs. Prices in almost every farm sector needs to improve to met producers rising costs and allow them to keep supplying high quality, safe and fresh local produce to local consumers.

Farmers For Action have been protesting weekly this summer in towns across NI Almost 80 farmers including young farmer club members where present along with Charles Chittick of Omagh District Council and NILGA Chairman, Tom Buchanan MLA as well as Paul Robinson, a member of Fermanagh District Council. FFA supporters gave out leaflets to consumers and farmer' customers leaving the Asda-Walmart store, asking them to shop elsewhere at their local family owned supermarket, butchers, bakers and farmers markets, as giving them a copy of retail and farm gate price comparison leaflet.

Samuel Morrison, FFA UK NI Steering Committee member stated that it is becoming very evident that pressure is increasing to crisis pitch on farm finances due to continuing abysmal farm gate prices for milk and most other commodities, weeks of equally abysmal weather and with the majority of banks not prepared to extend overdrafts, the situation has become complete untenable on many Northern Ireland farms. "Furthermore, it is evident that large supermarkets, large food retailers and large food wholesalers had no intention without pressure of adhering to their Corporate Social Responsibility to farmers across these islands, nor are they in touch with the reality of the situation down on the farm!

The Ulster Farmers' Union have also highlighted the struggling returns for farmers.

Following Thursday's Milk Auction which showed a modest increase to 26.22 per litre, much below expectations, Ulster Farmers' Union Dairy Policy Committee Chairman, Andrew Addison says dairy farmers will be extremely disappointed.

Andrew Addison said; "The auction has returned a very modest and disappointing 1.18p increase. Last week following the latest New Zealand Fonterra Milk Auction, commodity prices rose by 7.8% and we had expected to see a similar rise in our own auction here in Northern Ireland. European prices have also been improving with buyers returning to the market, so there was an expectation and a need among local dairy farmers for a more significant increase in prices. This time last year the auction recorded a price of 29.53 per litre, so we are 3.31p per litre behind last years returns".

"With local dairy farmers under severe pressure due to wet weather disrupting silage making, more concentrate feed being used and rising feed prices impacting upon local farms this increase is not enough. We will continue our urgent work in looking at new ways for our dairy sector in Northern Ireland to function so that the maximum return is consistently achieved from the market place".