Free range MMB whats happening?

Sid

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
South Molton
Free range milk marketing board was due to launch their "Free range milk" in October.
https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/free-range-mmb-is-live.113448/page-14#post-2901106
I have searched high and low but have not seen any launch, any milk for sale or heard of anyone being even collected as "free range".
The 710 million litres of milk achieved to date where is that milk being sold to? Is it even being collected? How much is being collected, 5,10,50 %? Lots of promise in this thread https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/free-range-mmb-is-live.113448/ but nothing seen to be delivered yet?
The strap line is "Where producer,consumer and cow all come first".

But its all very quiet @runny egg?

When the milk market was on its knees, its still crouching , the idea of a fresh breath of air was great but its all gone very quiet. Spoken to the NFU Dairy Chairman this morning and he's none the wiser and i know @runny egg won't speak to me directly.
 
Sorry the point I was making was that we use all social media platforms and not just TFF, as such there is plenty of accessible info out there along with the option of registering for email updates - this is the most comprehensive, efficient and quickest way of communicating our activities. Unfortunately TFF attracted far more negative responses from producers than all other platforms combined, hence I will not engage in detailed discussions about the initiative on TFF.
 
Point taken but not getting into anther online debate about our business activities. We are happy with our progress and communicate directly with the 700 registered members, that option is open to all if you are interested. Thanks for your interest.
 

Sid

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
South Molton
Point taken but not getting into anther online debate about our business activities. We are happy with our progress and communicate directly with the 700 registered members, that option is open to all if you are interested. Thanks for your interest.
There are 22,000 members on here
 
Not quiet at all, just returned last night from Isle Of man presenting on consumer trends and values, TBH we could learn from those guys about branding and matching supply with demand, we are not having as many farmer meetings as we are meetings with consumer groups, retailers etc quite simply because we are not selling milk to farmers. When Pasture Promise went live in March it created a lot of retail interest (as you can imagine), we were offered a contract to supply "generic free range milk" for retailer own brand on a contract no better than the same biassed destructive contracts that already exist. As you know we are not simply a brand we are a campaign to do better for dairy by connecting with consumers and the "values" they consider when buying milk. Getting a retail listing is easy, keeping it there is hard so its a slog, yes things have not happened as fast as we would like but with milk prices not killing farmers then we can afford to get this right rather than jump in and give the value away. Delivering a sustainable future for dairy is about addressing consumers and this requires a culture change within the industry. Now I dont agree with everything Neil Darwent says when promoting PP, but despite NO in store promotion and our industry actively trying to derail him (slashing organic milk shelf price) he has gone from 109 to 360 stores because consumers are buying it, now this means consumers are either trading up from generic milk or perhaps choosing PP over organic (may explain why you are anti our campaign), either way consumers are shouting with their wallets. The biggest obstacle to opening the door to a new way of doing things is the lack of drive, support and vision by our industry leaders, which is why we push on. There is a lot of politics within our supply chain that hinders progress for many new initiatives, in fighting between our various bodies and lack of importance when UK Ag is considered within Brexit discussions, add this to retailers current supply relationships and their direct supply groups then there are a lot of circles to be squared before UK dairy spreads its wings and flies as apposed to be constantly wing clipped. Not sure that will satisfy you Adam but thats where we are. Looking forward to seeing your efforts to promote all British milk on #WorldMilkDay because we need demand for all milk as this is the best way for ALL producers from all systems to gain value for their milk. Feel free to follow us on other social media.
 
We could also learn from what Arla are up to, not just their innovation centre but the rhetoric coming from the top. I am pro dairy so will always support positive initiatives wherever they stem from. Just a few of the recent Arla soundbites below.

“The dairy industry needs to “build a completely new emotional world” for its consumers,"

‘Let’s re-imagine milk!’

“Arla needs to add value to the milk category”
 

Sid

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
South Molton
You don't think i knew it was a snipe at OMSCo .
So you don't agree with FRD interesting that one a newly emerging line and already a division when you keep saying we should all work together!

What is says is non organic cows can be kept in in shed with no access to pasture. Not they are CAN be. Same as organic cows CAN be treated with antibiotics doesn't mean they are.

So i keep an eye out but have yet to see any milk of yours on the shelf or the launch you mentioned some 6 months ago or any meetings in the South West let alone the largest grass based dairy county in the UK.
I'd be interested (still) to hear about your plans with my NFU hat.

@runny egg
 

Sid

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
South Molton
Complete bull Sid, you made the tarring with the same brush as you thought that statement was from SA, but because (you now learn) its your own CooP making such damning statements you try to distance yourself whilst making lame attempts to defend them, you then try to deviate onto another round of attacking me and our efforts to take the attention away from you. We have a wonderful industry with masses to be proud about, huge consumer support and opportunity for all British dairy farming systems, we also face some of the most uncertain times many will ever experience, yet some of our industry try to destroy it, ridicule other systems and criticise others opinions for nothing more than self satisfaction.

Stick to trolling others Sid or better still put your efforts into representing the dairy farmers from all systems you are tasked with representing as an NFU rep. Sorry @bar718 for allowing this to go off topic. It wont happen again. Out!
I did simple google search of the quote so i knew exactly where it came from.
You were caught out as you didn't realise free range did the same!
I've no issue with free range but i do have issues with false hopes. Which leads onto...

Adam for the avoidance of doubt I have neither the desire, time or energy to engage with you on any level. I have tried but failed. Best wishes. Nick

You have not tried. You won't answer my calls. I have not seen ANY meetings in the SW i could attend to get the low down on your ideas and plans for NFU members or other farmers and their "signed " up millions of litres.
As cows n grass said in the Arla thread. I am a reasonable guy but i do like to ask questions and i do like answers!
If you do not wish to engage thats your choice but there are others that will ask exactly the same questions!
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 77 43.5%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 62 35.0%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 28 15.8%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.7%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.7%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 4 2.3%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

  • 1,285
  • 1
As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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