Mary and her fellow dairy farmers are facing a number of
serious problems. Which do you consider to be the most serious?
Make a list, putting the most serious problem at the top.
Compare your list with those of your classmates. Do you agree?
Talk about the reasons for your choices.
Cheap milk powder is being imported into the country from
the European Union. This milk powder is cheap because it is
subsidised
by the EU. The import
tax on it is very low – between 0 and 5 per cent. Local
farmers simply can't produce their fresh milk as cheaply as
this – they do not receive subsidies. They cannot compete
with the price.
