The protest of Sardinian shepherds on the price of milk is in danger of exploding. Roads blocked, liters of milk thrown on the ground or given to the pigs to drink, Sardinia paralyzed and a threat that crosses the Tyrrhenian Sea and arrives straight at Palazzo Chigi: "We are ready to block the regional elections". Given the tone of the protest, there is little doubt that in the absence of a compromise agreement by February 24, the date of the elections, the farmers and the Sardinian Shepherds Movement are willing to keep their promise, despite the fact that the first complaints have already been filed against them. “No one will come in to vote: it's not that we're not going to vote, no one will vote, we're blocking democracy, everyone assumes their own responsibilities”, reiterate those concerned.
60 cents a liter is unsustainable for milk of goat and sheep, say the shepherds. For this reason, rather than sell it, they prefer to throw it on the ground. Either we arrive at 1 euro per liter and the price of pecorino is anchored, or the situation is destined to get worse.
“The price of about 60 cents per liter is a handout that does not even cover the costs of breeding and feeding and pushes the closure of the 12 farms in Sardinia where 40 percent of the sheep raised in Italy are found, for a production of almost 3 million quintals of milk destined for 60 percent to be transformed into Pecorino Romano (PDO)”. This is the complaint of Coldiretti which has organized a demonstration in Piazza di Montecitorio for 12 February.
THE PRICE OF MILK: WHYÉ THE SHEPHERDS PROTEST
The protest by Sardinian shepherds over the price of milk began a few months ago, but only now that tensions have passed the danger level has the issue managed to gain national prominence. To try to get more attention, pastors even have access to the Cagliari football training center blocked, obtaining the support of the players who took to the field on Sunday 10 February with a shirt with the words “Let's support the Sardinian shepherds”.
The demands of the farmers are clear: milk that is sold to the dairy industry must be paid more. Not only that, according to them the big cheese producers would have agreed to lower the price of milk, which has in fact reached very low levels.
In the last weeks the price even dropped to 55 cents a litre, a level according to them insufficient even to cover the expenses. It's not the first time this has happened. In 2016, the price of milk was 1,20 euros per litre. Then the collapse: 60 cents in the first half of 2017, a slow rise to 85 between the end of 2017 and the beginning of 2018. Today it has returned to the lows again.
MILK: WHYAND THE PRICE IT FELL APART
The price of milk is inextricably linked with that of Pecorino Romano Dop given that, as mentioned, 60% of the milk produced by Sardinian shepherds is destined for this market. To prevent the price of Pecorino Romano from undergoing heavy fluctuations, quotas are established annually. In theory, this should protect the entire supply chain, but in reality - according to what the shepherds denounced - given the low penalties, many violate the rules.
Failure to comply with quotas e the overproduction that characterized Pecorino in recent years they have brought down the prices of the raw material necessary to do so, precisely milk, with very serious consequences for the shepherds who are now no longer able to make ends meet.
MILK: WHAT SARDINIAN SHEPHERDS ASK FOR
The pastors presented various requests which can be summarized in two different points:
- “one euro per liter and an anchorage at the price of pecorino with a minimum level of protection”, this minimum threshold has been identified at 70 cents per litre. This price will have to be re-evaluated every year based on production and market trends.
- Heavier fines for cheese producers who do not respect the quotas and spot checks to verify that everything is proceeding as it should.
