Dairy costs | Somerset dairy producers losing money amid rising costs

“The value of milk is underestimated by the vast majority of consumers, both in monetary and nutritional terms.

“We feel it is time milk and dairy products are valued correctly.

“Now, more than ever, we must value our food security and support British farmers and growers,” it added.

Ms Isgar said because of seasonal variations in the overall supply of milk, she expected her dairy farm to lose money next month as prices dropped.

“Ours is a long-term business, it takes two years before calves enter the milking herd and we just feel like we’re gambling in the current climate.

“Who would think that with milk prices heading to 40p a litre we’d be struggling?

“I try to remain positive about the industry but there’s a lot of people leaving.”

Elsewhere in the dairy industry, cheesemakers are also feeling the pressure.

Cheese producer Richard Clothier, director of Wyke Farms in Bruton, said he had spent a year “battling” with supermarkets, asking them to increase their prices.

The price of the milk he purchases has risen from 28p/litre in 2021 to 40p/litre currently.

“Our costs across the business have gone up by £2m a month since last year,” he said.

“We need to have serious conversations with our retailers to ask them to pass these costs on, there’s no way any business can shoulder them alone,” he added.