There is growing public concern that milk prices will rise by 50% in shops following calls from the industry to raise farm gate prices.

Widespread newspaper coverage alongside breakfast TV news features had highlighted public concern regarding milk and food inflation. A 50% rise in retail price would put a four pint carton of milk up to around £1.70.

Speaking on BBC Breakfast show, Secretary of State for Environment George Eustice played down fears that milk was going to rise to by half. He said: “I don’t think a 50% increase is realistic. There are undoubtedly going to be pressures on food prices, caused mainly by high gas price, higher energy costs, higher diesel costs for tractors on farms and crucially higher fertiliser costs.

"Many farmers in many sectors are having to pass this through the system. There has been work done by the Institute of Grocery Development and they estimate that prices may rise in the summer and food could go up by around 6-8%.

"We know in some categories it might be a bit higher than that, but 50% rise on prices in retail is highly unlikely,” he said.

When the minister was asked if Government was going to step in to support farmers coping with their cost crisis, he replied: “I have been a minister for long time and when I was first a minister, the dairy industry was in a very difficult position. Farmers were getting a price at the farm gate often no more than 15ppl or 16ppl. At the time 20ppl to 25ppl was basically as good as it got.

"Now, we have seen prices recover for farmers since then. First of all, to around 32ppl and now many farmers will be getting close to 40ppl. So over all farm incomes in the dairy sector have recovered over the last five years.

"Yes, it is absolutely true that they have some additional cost pressures now, which is going to lead to a further increase in that farm gate price. But it is important to look at that in the context of how farm incomes have generally improved over the last five years,” he argued.

* This week, First Milk announced that it was adding a further 2.3ppl increase to its member milk price for May. This will bring its manufacturing standard milk price to 40.05ppl, including the member premium and regenerative bonus.