This chapter will look at two instances of mobilisation occurring in Carmarthen and its surrounds in order to explore different patterns and styles of mobilisation. The first involves dairy farmers, the second Welsh language activists.

GENERAL BACKGROUND

The milk quota issue

When the European Economic Community introduced milk quotas in April 1984 as a means of reducing milk production, the British government, which was responsible for the implementation of these quotas, devised a scheme on the basis of an across-the-board quota equal to 1983 production levels less 9 per cent. Over-production was to be penalised by a levy. This method of implementing the quotas was seen as having an especially detrimental effect on the small, rather than the large, dairy farmer. Dyfed's dairy farmers work small family farms and therefore felt themselves to be particularly harshly treated by this system of quota implementation. Many of the farmers took the view that their livelihood was under threat and called for the government both to change the system of quota allocation, and to introduce measures to alleviate the farmers' financial problems. (For the impact of quotas on French farmers, see Naylor 1986.)

The vast majority of Dyfed's farmers, alarmed at the threat to their livelihood, expressed a determination to challenge the government's policy. The farmers' reaction was particularly intense partly because they felt betrayed by their own government. During the late 1970s and early 1980s the British government had encouraged dairy farmers to expand their milk production and, in response to this, many borrowed considerable sums of money in order to equip their farms with the necessary facilities.