Central Southern Milk Buyers

[kfpben]

I keep doing the sums as to how to create enough value in the farm to support myself, my wife, any kids we might have, ageing parents and two brothers who I am sure will want their share of things when the time comes.

I think the current set up of 400ewes, calf rearing and some share farmed arable is unlikely to keep the ship sailing when BPS goes.

All roads lead to dairy. It appears the most profitable, and I have a decent amount of experience in the sector.

Firstly milk buyers- apart from Medina, Freshways and Arla is there anyone that buys milk in Hampshire? I have heard of a broker called Capital Milk.

What kind of price tag is there to buy into Arla? Neither Medina nor Freshways seem to be overly popular or possibly even stable. Perhaps that’s unfair?

 

[pappuller]

I keep doing the sums as to how to create enough value in the farm to support myself, my wife, any kids we might have, ageing parents and two brothers who I am sure will want their share of things when the time comes.

I think the current set up of 400ewes, calf rearing and some share farmed arable is unlikely to keep the ship sailing when BPS goes.

All roads lead to dairy. It appears the most profitable, and I have a decent amount of experience in the sector.

Firstly milk buyers- apart from Medina, Freshways and Arla is there anyone that buys milk in Hampshire? I have heard of a broker called Capital Milk.

What kind of price tag is there to buy into Arla? Neither Medina nor Freshways seem to be overly popular or possibly even stable. Perhaps that’s unfair?

Other milk producers in your area ? Ask them who they sell their milk to, arla are not recruiting atm as far as I'm aware

 

[kfpben]

Everyone locally sells to Medina or Arla as far as I know. The happy ones are the Arla suppliers!
A few sell a portion to an ice cream producer or through a vending machine.

Does anyone know if Pensworth still buy off farm?

 

[Ducati899]

Aren’t pensworth/medina the same now?

 

[Boysground]

Capital Milk probably a no go but I am a little out of date. Medina are not in a good position at the moment and have some disgruntled suppliers from what I hear. I think Arla is probably the only option, my guess is you are too far for Muller to haul, Wyke may be worth a call, they do come a fair way into Wiltshire and if your not far from the A303 you may be lucky.

Bg

 

[Boysground]

Pensworth were using Medina to process their milk. No idea whats happening now with the closure of the Medina plant

Bg

 

[happycows]

I keep doing the sums as to how to create enough value in the farm to support myself, my wife, any kids we might have, ageing parents and two brothers who I am sure will want their share of things when the time comes.

I think the current set up of 400ewes, calf rearing and some share farmed arable is unlikely to keep the ship sailing when BPS goes.

All roads lead to dairy. It appears the most profitable, and I have a decent amount of experience in the sector.

Firstly milk buyers- apart from Medina, Freshways and Arla is there anyone that buys milk in Hampshire? I have heard of a broker called Capital Milk.

What kind of price tag is there to buy into Arla? Neither Medina nor Freshways seem to be overly popular or possibly even stable. Perhaps that’s unfair?

If your keen to milk jerseys drop me a message.

 

[kfpben]

If your keen to milk jerseys drop me a message.

Will do. My wife has said we can only go into dairy if I have ‘at least 4 Jerseys’ in the herd.
I’d like to think she’s in favour of Jerseys to keep the butterfat levels up but I’m sure it’s more to do with levels of prettiness!

I can think of 3 Jersey herds within 15 miles. One of which is 300+ cows. I have no idea where any of them they sell their milk though.

 

[kfpben]

Pensworth were using Medina to process their milk. No idea whats happening now with the closure of the Medina plant

Bg

Looking at the Pensworth website it looks like just a milk/food supply company now rather than a milk processor.

 

[Bramble]

Medina are effectively the same company as Freshways now. Not sure if Freshways have bought them or it is a joint venture between the 2, but Freshways are the dominant partner.

Pensworth are just milk brokers now, they sold all their processing capacity.

First choice would be Arla if they would have you, but I don’t think they are recruiting, even directs as opposed to members.

Freshways, Pensworth, Wyke all recruiting a bit if you fit into their transport runs

Your milk contract, who it’s with and how you exploit it, will probably have the biggest effect on the profitability of the enterprise

 

[Farmer Fin]

When I was down there it was Arla or Medina. Medina always seemed to be at loggerheads with someone. Dairy Crest used to have a few but I guess they have stopped? David Lunis / Chris White I think were the guys operating capital milk, mainly Kent, Surrey, Sussex producers though.

 

[Boysground]

A few years ago I had a tour of the Pensworth plant. My conclusion was that the best thing they could do was sell, with its location in Southampton it must be worth a large fortune. I was not surprised when Medina started processing for them

Bg

 

[More to life]

It does make a refreshing change for a dairy start up to focus on a contract first. I’d ring wyke best of luck.

 

[kfpben]

It does make a refreshing change for a dairy start up to focus on a contract first. I’d ring wyke best of luck.

Thank you. I’ll speak to Wyke.

I see Pattemore’s lorries going up and down the A303. Do they collect from any distance? Crewkerne is quite a trek but probably no further than Aylesbury would be.

 

[More to life]

Thank you. I’ll speak to Wyke.

I see Pattemore’s lorries going up and down the A303. Do they collect from any distance? Crewkerne is quite a trek but probably no further than Aylesbury would be.

No harm in ringing although they could easily be making a product delivery.

 

[dinderleat]

+1 for Wyke they would be worth a call

 

[som farmer]

wyke
but someone near happy cows, buys/brokers CI milk, so that would be worth a follow up, most goes to london, i think, so if you are close to 'the' road, another option.

 

[goldtop]

Try Meadow Vale, whole group of farmers in Hampshire won court case against Medina and left to supply them.

 

[Boysground]

Try Meadow Vale, whole group of farmers in Hampshire won court case against Medina and left to supply them.

it’s actually Meadow Milk. I used to be involved with them a little but no longer. I am certainly out of date with what’s going on at the moment. I do have a contact if anyone wants to pm me.

Bg

 

[goldtop]

Reading the Ian potter article about it, Meadow Milk is the producer group, who are now suppling Meadow Foods, all very confusing, worth speaking to both.