That will be the message from Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg later today when he addresses the National Farmers’ Union conference. And he doesn’t mince his words:

I’m a liberal. I believe the market should set prices for goods. When that drives efficiency from farmers, and benefits consumers, I welcome it. But if it is delivered by threats, blacklisting, and bully-boy tactics, if it delivers only profits for the retailer, not lower prices on the shelf, the market has failed.

“We already have proof of price-fixing on milk. And some supermarkets used calamities like Foot and Mouth or the summer floods to drive down farm gate prices, while keeping retail prices unchanged.

“Turning tragedy into turnover is a disgrace. It’s time to take on the Trolleygarchs.

“The Competition Commission’s proposals just don’t go far enough. They’re only interested in increasing rivalry between supermarkets – even if that means we have to have hundreds more of them.Their remit didn’t allow them to look fully at the rough deal primary producers are getting, even though they’ve seen some damning evidence.

“They do, at least, call for someone else to monitor the supply chain. It’s got to happen. I want a strong Food Trade Inspector, with his own powers of investigation, to enable complaints to be properly examined – with total anonymity for complainants. And I want planning rules to stop, not encourage, another generation of out-of-town stores springing up.

“It’s time for Fair Trade for British farmers.”

But Nick is clear, too, that trade tariffs, imprt barriers and export subsidies must come down in order that “British farming prosper in a truly free market”.

If you want to devour Nick’s speech in full, read on…