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148 
P AGRICULTURE
Page 48
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Farmers call a for fair pricing policy
THE NATIONAL Farmers' Union (NFU) has called on retailers to implement a fair pricing policy for the farming and agricultural sectors during the recession, rather than suppress supplier prices with "bully boy tactics". This call could be echoed by transport companies in the sector, who otherwise risk seeing their rates squeezed even tighter between the supermarkets' price-cutting and the agricultural community's need to make a margin.
The NFU president, Peter Kendall, says: "Competitive pricing for [supermarket] customers can be achieved without resorting to the crippling squeeze tactics on suppliers, which are yet again rearing their ugly head. We are receiving all too many complaints from suppliers, frightened of taking up their issues direct, who have had unilateral price cuts and demands for back payments and overriders."
Agricultural and retail hauliers beware: this is not the time to allow rates to be driven down further. Bear in mind, the UK farming community is burdened with a record £11bn of debt, so clients may be vulnerable to cashf low and credit problems.