Free Range MMB is live

[Farmer1001]

Free Range Milk is coming and at the moment retailers are going to supply it and in return for you promising to let your cows see grass once a year the dairies will promise to collect your milk (but dont expect a penny extra for it), we have been watching this for nearly 3 years so on Monday the FRMMB went live with a sole aim of being the only supplier of "volume" free range milk under a single label - NO CONFUSION! Since Monday over 60 producers have backed the campaign with over 60 million litres. Our initial target is 100 million litres but ultimately 1 billion. Please support us by taking 1 MINUTE a http://www.freerangemilk.net/support-us/ - if you cant support us then thats fine but all we ask is that you dont support any other initiative by the majors! Change is coming so lets make it happen, all contact details are on the website, FB page and Twitter feed. The future can be exciting!

 

[upnortheast]

The definition of free range is -- ?

 

[PREES]

I would welcome more details but in the meantime don't knock the retailers, whether to love them or hate them YOU NEED THEM!! And they are easily offended, you need to get them on your side if you are going to sell a billion litres!

 

[Farmer1001]

I would welcome more details but in the meantime don't knock the retailers, whether to love them or hate them YOU NEED THEM!! And they are easily offended, you need to get them on your side if you are going to sell a billion litres!

Dont get me wrong we are not knocking them and yes they are our route to market but if we dont supply them with the milk then they will do it themselves - are we simply going to let this chance slip past us? There is far more going on behind the scenes with FRMMB than we could get in a post. Give me a call any time. 07931 581381

 

[milkloss]

Cows need to be at pasture for six months is it?

Why not? Give it a go, try and make your milk different, well done.

 

[Farmer1001]

The definition of free range is -- ?

At present there isnt a legal definition in the same way as eggs, pork or chicken. We are developing standards that recognise producers in Lancashire have different weather conditions than those in Dorset, ultimately the standards must be achievable by producers and acceptable to consumers. All of that is in hand via ongoing consultation with both sides,what we need today is producers support.

 

[Farmer1001]

Cows need to be at pasture for six months is it?

Why not? Give it a go, try and make your milk different, well done.

Cows need to be at grass as long as weather and conditions allow - final detail is in hand. Jump on board and lets make this happen, the future can be exciting if we make it happen!

 

[bar718]

Just asking how will segregated transport , processing add up in an area where margins are already very slim also u will gain support if u don't use a negative marketing campaign as whenever we show people around our farm and explain why the cows are inside they very quickly realise what they expected and what the facts are are two different things

 

[Farmer1001]

Just asking how will segregated transport , processing add up in an area where margins are already very slim also u will gain support if u don't use a negative marketing campaign as whenever we show people around our farm and explain why the cows are inside they very quickly realise what they expected and what the facts are are two different things

We will use the existing infrastructure - no point in reinventing the wheel. We are all for all British Milk but we have to brand our milk where possible, there is a huge market out there that no one is supplying, if we create demand we help all involved and not just those who graze. Its all positive.

 

[Farmer1001]

Just asking how will segregated transport , processing add up in an area where margins are already very slim also u will gain support if u don't use a negative marketing campaign as whenever we show people around our farm and explain why the cows are inside they very quickly realise what they expected and what the facts are are two different things

I am sure if we could get everyone on your farm they would be delighted and surprised, but we cant so we must do what we can to enable choice and with it create demand, at present the message is too confusing and people think we all have American style mega dairies. The current marketing has failed to put out the right message so lets do it for ourselves.

 

[Princess Pooper]

My cows fit the remit but we supply milk for cheese.

 

[bar718]

I am sure if we could get everyone on your farm they would be delighted and surprised, but we cant so we must do what we can to enable choice and with it create demand, at present the message is too confusing and people think we all have American style mega dairies. The current marketing has failed to put out the right message so lets do it for ourselves.

Agree but so often the leading bit is negative marketing which does neither any favours

 

[Clay52]

The funny thing is if you give the cows a choice to be outside or in a well designed shed they will chose to go in the shed most of the time.

 

[Courier]

And whilst you are at it why not use the 95.5% fat free angle

 

[Princess Pooper]

I'm all for good marketing and if the public want to support farms where the cows go outside then it gives them an opportunity to do so. My cows do go outside and personally I'm happier that way. HOWEVER, I have no beef whatsoever with those whose herds do not go out (or only when dry) and many of their facilities are top notch and their housing far superior to ours. I understand their reasons for housing all year and especially if on a level supply contract it is the easiest way to maintain the right diet for consistency of output and cow health, rather than ending up with a load of DAs and ketosis in a wet cold spell in May. So PLEASE @runny egg do not adopt a negative marketing campaign, this used to really pee me off about Freedom Foods (and we were FF accredited at the time), constantly implying that the welfare was better than non-FF which was not necessarily the case at all.

 

[Water Wheel]

The funny thing is if you give the cows a choice to be outside or in a well designed shed they will chose to go in the shed most of the time.

Think some work was done on this a few years ago, by Reasheath and Harper, and it depended on how they were reared , those reared indoors , preferred that, those reared outdoors chose that. IIRC

 

[Farmer1001]

My cows fit the remit but we supply milk for cheese.

Brilliant - Free Range Cheese is on the agenda - the opportunities are endless!! Please everyone register your support and be part of the FRMMB. We all have masses to gain for the benefit of all producers right across the UK.

 

[Farmer1001]

Agree but so often the leading bit is negative marketing which does neither any favours

100% agree that all too often a campaign is based on knocking something else! We want to focus on all the positives of the British Dairy Farmers as a whole but top benefit all we must take control of the plan and make it happen.

 

[Farmer1001]

The funny thing is if you give the cows a choice to be outside or in a well designed shed they will chose to go in the shed most of the time.

I'm all for good marketing and if the public want to support farms where the cows go outside then it gives them an opportunity to do so. My cows do go outside and personally I'm happier that way. HOWEVER, I have no beef whatsoever with those whose herds do not go out (or only when dry) and many of their facilities are top notch and their housing far superior to ours. I understand their reasons for housing all year and especially if on a level supply contract it is the easiest way to maintain the right diet for consistency of output and cow health, rather than ending up with a load of DAs and ketosis in a wet cold spell in May. So PLEASE @runny egg do not adopt a negative marketing campaign, this used to really pee me off about Freedom Foods (and we were FF accredited at the time), constantly implying that the welfare was better than non-FF which was not necessarily the case at all.

You, I and many others know full well that housed systems rely on exceptional welfare in the same way as grazed systems, however an element of the public want the choice and freedom to know their milk comes from "free range systems" - we (or the retailers) either provide that option or we lose them to the growing list of alternative "milk". You will not find me knocking a housed system, it would not be my way but I have no problem with it and we wont find ourselves being dragged into a them V us debate as ultimately we have the whole industry in our sights as the whole industry needs change.

 

[Farmer1001]

And whilst you are at it why not use the 95.5% fat free angle

Your bang on - I have always wondered who was responsible for coining the phrase "full fat milk"! We have such much opportunity out there to right the wrongs and make a difference but it wont happen on its own.