The only way that you can argue that farmers are due a \”fair profit\” on milk is by also arguing that Alan Rusbridger is owed a fair profit for employing Polly Toynbee. That\’s not an argument that\’s going to gain much traction now, is it?
I\’d guess I\’m off the NFU Christmas card list as well now….
Hang on a minute! Cows produce a useful product valued by most people.
Hang on, GOM: Polly’s a cow and she doesn’t produce anything useful.
Tim
Reading the Full article, I’ll put in a comment on the DT section itself. One thing is that you seem to omit to mention the giant elephant in the room, that is the Common Agricultural Policy, which makes the idea of a Free market in Agriculture something that would defy a Swift in terms of satire. Otherwise, pretty much agree, could a case be made for some form of subsidy in terms of protecting the surrounding countryside that isn’t being farmed?
Hard to be sure, but I think what they’re saying is not that inefficient farmers should necessarily make a profit, but that milk must be sold at a price that would enable them to.
So let’s apply that to the Guardian.
Guardian News made a £42m loss last year. It sells 216,000 copies a day on average, 6 days a week so 312ish issues per year.
Therefore the Guardian’s cover price must be increased by 62p (what’s that, a 50% increase?) otherwise it isn’t a ‘fair’ price.
Richard: Excellent point, and I think it should be taken further. As an essential public service (just ask anyone) the Guardian should be seen to be completely impartial. Therefore, it should carry no advertisements – exclusively editorial and news content. Because they are still entitled to make a fair profit, the cover price should be increased by Parliament to cover the full cost of producing the newspaper, with a proviso that as circulation falls (as if!) the price will increase to compensate.
Tim, in order to keep the peace I’ll refrain from copying your Telegraph article to my neighbours. That said I remain in awe at your output.
What’s being asked for here is that the supermarkets pay more for their milk but don’t pass on the increase to their customers.
No thought given to what price will be increased to cover the increased cost of milk and reduced profits.
It’s kind of funny how Telegraph readers, who no doubt generally consider themselves free marketeers, turn into little Arthur Scargill’s when farmer interests are threatened.