Black Top Milk scheme launched by the Free Range Milk Marketing Board

[Farmer1001]

The NFU have to support all farming as their members are wide and varied. From hill to fens from organic to GM from housed herds to grass based from large to small from Tb infected to 4 yearly testing.
Trying to represent all of them fairly is like being stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Well the NFU must square the circle on that one; for fear of doing the wrong thing they tend to do nothing, we all know it and so do some very worried and frustrated members of the NFU top table.

 

[Farmer1001]

Will your contracts be out in time to rival Mueller for those on non aligned contracts ?
When do your farmer meetings start ??

Supply starts April for volume. Fixed prices currently being discussed for min 12 months for up to 100% of milk - lock in what you want and track the rest against a number of options, 9 mth review and 3 mths notice if you do not wish to renew. Use that to beat Muller into offering a good deal, we cant buy everyones milk and nor should we but we can influence the contracts so as to get rid of the current culture of buyers discretion. You work on the Mullers and we will work on the consumers and retailers. We need you all to like, follow and share https://www.facebook.com/EnjoyMilkGB/ as retailers watch to see how much public interest a new brand gets and how fast the followers grow, huge growth implies huge demand from consumers and consumers are king of the high street - not Muller, Arla, Tesco, Asda, Morrisons.

 

[Farmer1001]

Will your contracts be out in time to rival Mueller for those on non aligned contracts ?

When do your farmer meetings start ??

Week after next, dates to be announced next week.

 

[Sid]

Supply starts April for volume. Fixed prices currently being discussed for min 12 months for up to 100% of milk - lock in what you want and track the rest against a number of options, 9 mth review and 3 mths notice if you do not wish to renew. Use that to beat Muller into offering a good deal, we cant buy everyones milk and nor should we but we can influence the contracts so as to get rid of the current culture of buyers discretion. You work on the Mullers and we will work on the consumers and retailers. We need you all to like, follow and share https://www.facebook.com/EnjoyMilkGB/ as retailers watch to see how much public interest a new brand gets and how fast the followers grow, huge growth implies huge demand from consumers and consumers are king of the high street - not Muller, Arla, Tesco, Asda, Morrisons.

You said on the free range thread you already had suppliers?

 

[bovine]

As a consumer of milk I am supportive of the concept (and within reason I don't care what milk costs, if it doubled in price I'm not going to put anything else on my breakfast or in my tea) but unless it comes in a longlife variant, like Cravendale, it's not for me.

 

[Farmer1001]

You said on the free range thread you already had suppliers?

We do, this is for the next round. Come to the meetings Sid if you want to know more. End.

 

[William Mellor]

Week after next, dates to be announced next week.

Should I be giving in my notice to my milk buyer? Looking forward to see where this goes and like the idea of free range milk

 

[cornishfarmer]

@runny egg i agree with the concept of what you are doing, the design of the bottle stands our and I think look class. The only thing that would worry me if I was a supplier (if I've read it right) you are privately owned and want to come farmer owned? That make it sound like you are just trying to get off the ground then when government/EU money comes available for the PO's that they are actively encouraging you will take the money and run. Which could be a substantial amount. Like I said I may have read this wrong but with past history things like this happen

 

[Sid]

@runny egg i agree with the concept of what you are doing, the design of the bottle stands our and I think look class. The only thing that would worry me if I was a supplier (if I've read it right) you are privately owned and want to come farmer owned? That make it sound like you are just trying to get off the ground then when government/EU money comes available for the PO's that they are actively encouraging you will take the money and run. Which could be a substantial amount. Like I said I may have read this wrong but with past history things like this happen

I read a article that mentioned a board.

 

[Farmer1001]

Should I be giving in my notice to my milk buyer? Looking forward to see where this goes and like the idea of free range milk

Nope, but you could rattle their cage by telling them you will if we offer you a contract! Its not just about signing up farmers, its about forcing change within the existing mob - and some are actually keen to change but scared to go first!!

 

[Farmer1001]

I read a article that mentioned a board.

Funny but the NFU board would be happier if we were already a PO and not private but actively put producers off joining which moves us further from ever being a PO!! But this had to start somewhere and in the absence of the "industry" starting it then it was not going to happen. We have a road map to move it from private but weather this is a PO or a coop or a "club" with multiple PO's supplying different initiatives is to be decided - the best way will be the way. I believe the FRMMB membership should be made up of producers from all systems, we do this right then we ALL gain one way or another, as such all should be represented and have a say - even if your milk doesnt go in the bottle. Will keep compliance in order if the whole industry has a vested interest in the "grazing definition" not being abused??

 

[Farmer1001]

As a consumer of milk I am supportive of the concept (and within reason I don't care what milk costs, if it doubled in price I'm not going to put anything else on my breakfast or in my tea) but unless it comes in a longlife variant, like Cravendale, it's not for me.

Skimmed, semi skimmed and whole milk - and yes longlife.

 

[William Mellor]

Nope, but you could rattle their cage by telling them you will if we offer you a contract! Its not just about signing up farmers, its about forcing change within the existing mob - and some are actually keen to change but scared to go first!!

I did ask my milk buyer about free rang milk a few months back and they said it will never take off and are better with the red tractor farm assurance, but me I would rather have free range milk and no red tractor farm assurance

 

[Kingofgrass]

Brilliant idea but what happens when say muller or who ever copy it? People would rather buy a muller free range milk than yours?@runny egg

 

[Farmer1001]

I did ask my milk buyer about free rang milk a few months back and they said it will never take off and are better with the red tractor farm assurance, but me I would rather have free range milk and no red tractor farm assurance

Your buyer is a clever cookie - doesnt believe in branding milk but does believe in a failing brand (Red Tractor). Consumers see Red Tractor as meaning little more than British which is why Sainsburys ditched it.

 

[JP1]

Your buyer is a clever cookie - doesnt believe in branding milk but does believe in a failing brand (Red Tractor). Consumers see Red Tractor as meaning little more than British which is why Sainsburys ditched it.

Head-nail-on

 

[RushesToo]

@William Mellor

I did ask my milk buyer about free rang milk a few months back and they said it will never take off and are better with the red tractor farm assurance, but me I would rather have free range milk and no red tractor farm assurance

He would say this though wouldn't he? Anything else would be a turkey voting for Christmas, there's not a lot in it for him, nor his job if this works.....

I wish @runny egg and all other dairy farmers the very best of luck - if this is at the expense of supermarkets I will not be shedding tears.
Well done sir!

 

[Farmer1001]

@William Mellor
He would say this though wouldn't he? Anything else would be a turkey voting for Christmas, there's not a lot in it for him, nor his job if this works.....

I wish @runny egg and all other dairy farmers the very best of luck - if this is at the expense of supermarkets I will not be shedding tears.
Well done sir!

Sad truth is the processors and retailers have a huge amount to gain by jumping on board; increase in sales and a better image to be gained by supporting a better way thats fair for all.

 

[Kingofgrass]

Skimmed, semi skimmed and whole milk - and yes longlife.View attachment 456292

Brilliant idea but what happens when say muller or who ever copy it? People would rather buy a muller free range milk than yours?@runny egg

 

[Farmer1001]

"You will be dead in the water if a retailer or buyer bring out their own brand of FRM" is quite a common point made to me, so let me explain why its not that clear cut and in any case - the dairy farmers can not lose! No buyer or retailer can sell your milk under any claims about its grazing etc without YOUR agreement, they cant claim its FR if you dont tell them so dont give away the value this holds without a thought, so at the very least if they ask for you to supply your milk as FR then tell them you would rather sell to the FRMMB - use this stick to beat them! However, think of the value of the brand the FRMMB would hold if you refused to sell the milk to any other buyer unless they made it wear our "black top" kite mark! The "black top" kite mark represents free range and fair dealing contracts - not the bulls**t contracts where they can promise the earth today and slash the price tomorrow whilst you still have up to 2 years before you can leave!! If the most popular and biggest brand of British FR milk belongs to you then the tables have turned. But (as I keep saying) every dairy farmer in the UK can benefit from this, doesnt matter who you sell to, or if you wish to stay where you are, doenst matter if you are on aligned contracts or direct groups - you all gain if we increase the basic principle of demand! Look how buyers are struggling for supplies and upping the price even though they are trying harder not to! So if milk is in demand and the FRMMB is driving this then your existing buyers will fight tooth and nail to retain you with better prices and better contracts - and none of us would turn that down! Unless yo have already done so please go to http://www.freerangemilk.net/support-us/ - doesnt matter if you are housed or grazing systems as this is simply to get you on the email list of supporters. This is not a commitment to sell us your milk or an offer to buy your milk!