Arla

[dinderleat]

I hope so too. Is there any chance they could put the RT on the portal to fill in too?

The problem is if your a tenant farmer the investment decisions are different to if you own the farm. Walking away from a farm you've invested a fair bit of money in to be given a pitence for by the land lord is a huge write off to take.

Does depend on your tenancy, always advised now to any work as a tenants fixtures and fittings

 

[ed574]

We had our Arlagarden and our Red Tractor fairly close together this time, within a couple of weeks. I would say that the Red Tractor was better to do. Emailed all paperwork to assessor then a walk round the farm with Whatsapp on the iPhone viewing the cows, calves and buildings. Passed without a problem. The Arlagarden was assessed by an external company and the assessor we got did not have a background in farming meaning fairly basic procedures and items had to be explained. Coupled with the fact that there was a mix up with the date the assessor was coming and also that they insisted they had an on farm visit in a time when the country was in a tier system meant it was quite a stressful experience. I understand this year hasn't exactly been normal but if Arla want their own assurance scheme then they need to get their organization sorted out.

We are just a small dairy farm but sometimes I feel that as Arla has got bigger their attitude is 'we pay the best price, do what we say or sod off.' Yes the price is good, but it's becoming very hard to keep up with what they expect of us. And because of that, I can't see us milking cows this time next year.

 

[happycows]

We had our Arlagarden and our Red Tractor fairly close together this time, within a couple of weeks. I would say that the Red Tractor was better to do. Emailed all paperwork to assessor then a walk round the farm with Whatsapp on the iPhone viewing the cows, calves and buildings. Passed without a problem. The Arlagarden was assessed by an external company and the assessor we got did not have a background in farming meaning fairly basic procedures and items had to be explained. Coupled with the fact that there was a mix up with the date the assessor was coming and also that they insisted they had an on farm visit in a time when the country was in a tier system meant it was quite a stressful experience. I understand this year hasn't exactly been normal but if Arla want their own assurance scheme then they need to get their organization sorted out.

We are just a small dairy farm but sometimes I feel that as Arla has got bigger their attitude is 'we pay the best price, do what we say or sod off.' Yes the price is good, but it's becoming very hard to keep up with what they expect of us. And because of that, I can't see us milking cows this time next year.

That is a real shame.
I’m not sure where you are too but my other half does farm paperwork. Mostly vat etc but a few others she does farm assurance including other people’s Arla Garden. One with 150 cows and followers she spends about a day and a half doing the medicine book, all cow scoring and associated paperwork. For £200/250 it takes all the stress out of it for him, and the financial benefits are huge for the return.
Might be worth looking into before making any rash decisions.

 

[Sid]

That is a real shame.
I’m not sure where you are too but my other half does farm paperwork. Mostly vat etc but a few others she does farm assurance including other people’s Arla Garden. One with 150 cows and followers she spends about a day and a half doing the medicine book, all cow scoring and associated paperwork. For £200/250 it takes all the stress out of it for him, and the financial benefits are huge for the return.
Might be worth looking into before making any rash decisions.

Day and half how often?

1ppl is 25000 litres, is that all the costs involved with the assurance scheme?

 

[happycows]

Day and half how often?

1ppl is 25000 litres, is that all the costs involved with the assurance scheme?

That would be all associated items to do with all farm assurance every 3 months. I'm picking up £1000 a month for Arlagarden plus and climate check on half the number of cows.
Personally i do my Arlagarden and climate check as often as she does as the reminder texts do my head in as much as anything so i just get on and do it!!
Red tractor and useless bits of paper i leave to her.
There are still associated costs on top. Vet doing herd health plan etc.
If the farm is up and together and stock in good shape then most of it is paperwork based. She doesn't re-tin doors or repair block walls for her remuneration.

 

[Sid]

That would be all associated items to do with all farm assurance every 3 months. I'm picking up £1000 a month for Arlagarden plus and climate check on half the number of cows.
Personally i do my Arlagarden and climate check as often as she does as the reminder texts do my head in as much as anything so i just get on and do it!!
Red tractor and useless bits of paper i leave to her.
There are still associated costs on top. Vet doing herd health plan etc.
If the farm is up and together and stock in good shape then most of it is paperwork based. She doesn't re-tin doors or repair block walls for her remuneration.

Thats a fair return on investment then.

Visited a farm where one firm was doing BCMS, data inputing and VAT on one computer programme, then paying another firm to do the accounts and gross margins on another programme.

Paying twice for the same stuff.

 

[ed574]

That is a real shame.
I’m not sure where you are too but my other half does farm paperwork. Mostly vat etc but a few others she does farm assurance including other people’s Arla Garden. One with 150 cows and followers she spends about a day and a half doing the medicine book, all cow scoring and associated paperwork. For £200/250 it takes all the stress out of it for him, and the financial benefits are huge for the return.
Might be worth looking into before making any rash decisions.

Thanks for the idea, we do have people round here who do that service and I think it's a brilliant way of helping to ease the burden. But I think the wheels are pretty much in motion now. The older generation's at retiring age and I have no interest whatsoever in milking cows. It isn't just the Arlagarden side of things, we've also had issues with milk collection and sampling results which I won't go into on here. We've been happy with Arla up until the last couple of years, but recently we feel like, as a small producer, we are a burden to them and do not fit their future goals.

 

[Happy hillbily]

One of the silos having a bumpy departure from Llandyrnog

 

[celtis man]

i was a happy milklink supplier until this lot rocked up mate ! no i don't want to move as we are secure where we are and able to grow and reinvest in our farm business which as a family farm we are pleased and proud to do
we have replaced and added new buildings to allow us to grow cow and bullock numbers and that gives us chance to push it further and arla allow that which i am pleased about .
but farm assurance and mainly arla's own arla garden is fairly heavy on the paper work (thank god for the wife and her writing up the cis diary ! )

 

[Sid]

Thanks for the idea, we do have people round here who do that service and I think it's a brilliant way of helping to ease the burden. But I think the wheels are pretty much in motion now. The older generation's at retiring age and I have no interest whatsoever in milking cows. It isn't just the Arlagarden side of things, we've also had issues with milk collection and sampling results which I won't go into on here. We've been happy with Arla up until the last couple of years, but recently we feel like, as a small producer, we are a burden to them and do not fit their future goals.

i was a happy milklink supplier until this lot rocked up mate ! no i don't want to move as we are secure where we are and able to grow and reinvest in our farm business which as a family farm we are pleased and proud to do
we have replaced and added new buildings to allow us to grow cow and bullock numbers and that gives us chance to push it further and arla allow that which i am pleased about .
but farm assurance and mainly arla's own arla garden is fairly heavy on the paper work (thank god for the wife and her writing up the cis diary ! )

Isn't this what the local reps should be passing up the line?

You are the owners after all?

 

[happycows]

Isn't this what the local reps should be passing up the line?

You are the owners after all?

The trouble is Sid the ones at the top are adamant to the core that this is the right way to go. We do need to be led by strong proven people with direction and passion for Arla who have been in the game long enough to know how it works.
They are a very proud and reputable company. The prefered and chosen supplier by many.
We could go full on down the commodity road which is more where Arla came from but this is very turbulent......... or build brands and and forge strong relationships with the people that trust our Company. As things are we have a good mix of both but gone from being more commodity to brand orientated. This takes time and money but we are starting to see the results now.
I think the vast majority believe that we are heading in the right direction and have some faith in the likes of Ash Amirahmadi leading us at the top and this is following up with money in the account.

You can't please all the people all the time.

By ed574's own admission he doesn't like cows and would be far better doing something he does enjoy. People'S aspirations and businesses evolve over time and as we all get older. I think at some point in the future if Arla wants to grow as a business in the UK it will have to allow some in.

 

[had e nuff]

With arla having to come up with new ideas every year to stay ahead of the competition do any of you think that in time they might insist on cows grazing part of the year.

 

[rusty]

With arla having to come up with new ideas every year to stay ahead of the competition do any of you think that in time they might insist on cows grazing part of the year.

I can't see them stopping 365 housed herds due to that is how the vast majority are on the continent are.

 

[Sid]

The trouble is Sid the ones at the top are adamant to the core that this is the right way to go. We do need to be led by strong proven people with direction and passion for Arla who have been in the game long enough to know how it works.
They are a very proud and reputable company. The prefered and chosen supplier by many.
We could go full on down the commodity road which is more where Arla came from but this is very turbulent......... or build brands and and forge strong relationships with the people that trust our Company. As things are we have a good mix of both but gone from being more commodity to brand orientated. This takes time and money but we are starting to see the results now.
I think the vast majority believe that we are heading in the right direction and have some faith in the likes of Ash Amirahmadi leading us at the top and this is following up with money in the account.

You can't please all the people all the time.

By ed574's own admission he doesn't like cows and would be far better doing something he does enjoy. People'S aspirations and businesses evolve over time and as we all get older. I think at some point in the future if Arla wants to grow as a business in the UK it will have to allow some in.

Brands are great but you have to have the right system behind it on farm to protect the brand.
In one post its about the opportunities and direction of travel, yet

I can't see them stopping 365 housed herds due to that is how the vast majority are on the continent are.

its about the members.
Where do UK members sit with direction from the continent(and other milk buyers), especially on the rearing calves and the TB situation. A big challenge.
Interestingly speaking to a calf buyer who said the number of calves are forth coming this year, switch to sexed semen and 8 weeks rule. Be interesting to see what trade does in 8 weeks time when these reared calves come onto the market with all the hard work done.

 

[dairydurham]

Brands are great but you have to have the right system behind it on farm to protect the brand.
In one post its about the opportunities and direction of travel, yet

its about the members.
Where do UK members sit with direction from the continent(and other milk buyers), especially on the rearing calves and the TB situation. A big challenge.
Interestingly speaking to a calf buyer who said the number of calves are forth coming this year, switch to sexed semen and 8 weeks rule. Be interesting to see what trade does in 8 weeks time when these reared calves come onto the market with all the hard work done.

Brands are key as liquid is near enough a race to the bottom

 

[Sid]

Brands are key as liquid is near enough a race to the bottom

Doorstep is one of the biggest growth due to lockdown.

 

[dairydurham]

Doorstep is one of the biggest growth due to lockdown.

But only for the short term I think, & probably poor margins

 

[pappuller]

But only for the short term I think, & probably poor margins

Your comments are correct, our liquid dairy has seen very strong doorstep growth in the past 12 months, their theory is that if they can keep only 10% of that extra business then thats a big win, glass bottles has also increased their milk sales along side a full grocery online platform which in turn has increased sales.
Liquid dairies have to innovate to have any chance of surviving, buying business to create volume is not a sustainable model.

 

[bar718]

The statement for the 13th payment is available online and the money will be paid into banks of Friday.

 

[Cows 'n grass]

1.96 ppl on last year's milk.

It comes at the perfect time for a spring calver after a couple of very small milk cheques.