Forums
New posts
Forum list
Search forums
What's new
New posts
New resources
Latest activity
Trending Threads
Resources
Latest reviews
Search resources
FarmTV
Farm Compare
Search
Tokens/Searches
Calendar
Upcoming Events
Members
Registered members
Current visitors
New Resources
New posts
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Forum list
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Navigation
Install the app
Install
More options
Contact us
Close Menu
Forums
Livestock
Dairy Farming
Free range MMB whats happening?
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Farmer1001" data-source="post: 4475538" data-attributes="member: 17350"><p>Bare with me or feel free to ignore and move on.</p><p>We learnt seriously valuable lessons over the past 18 months, not least the politics of the supply chain, the politics of the dairy farming leaders, the supporters in general and the objectors as well. So whilst the price of milk is high and the need/support for change is not as urgent, we are still here and we are still fully committed. On one hand I hope the price of milk never drops therefore the need to change is irrelevant, but we all know the industry works in cycles and volatility takes no prisoners. Does that mean nothing has changed within the industry? No, absolutely not! We are becoming more consumer focussed, the recent launch of the “Department of Dairy Related Wholesome Affairs” is a collaboration between Dairy UK and the AHDB, its designed to target consumers and reignite their love affair with dairy products. Likewise we see multiple Free Range brands in the market, most local but some now national. Even those avid objectors have found a way to tag it onto their products, and why not if it sells milk? I am amused that the said same objectors said it would be divisive, yet now promote the “FR” value by stating <strong><em>“unlike most British dairy cows, our Free Range cows graze for most of the year”! </em></strong></p><p></p><p>Timing is key to everything, and despite the price of milk rising enough to save many in the industry the need for change is still as great today as it was yesterday, we are still here and still focussed on helping dairy to change and to be more consumer focussed. Have we delivered what we had aimed to do? No. Is it a bad idea with no merit? No. Do retailers, during many of the meetings we hold ever question the existence of demand for a “free range” choice? Absolutely not once! This final point should tell you more than anything about the concept of FR, because any listing of any product will only ever happen if there is a proven demand - yet the question of demand is never a question, it is an absolute given. So why the residence from retail - I am sure you can figure it out. But don’t think for one moment we have wandered off like a herd of cows fed up of looking over the gate, we are here and we are committed and we aint going anywhere - its simply taking longer than we had hoped. </p><p></p><p>But, on a personal level I have asked myself multiple times if I have made a mistake, should I waste my time, effort and money trying to encourage positive change? Am i meddling in a market risking doing more harm than good for producers? The latter point being a reference to retailers involvement at farm level and the question of when does “support” become “meddling” to the extent that it does no good, only harm (another debate for another day). But ultimately I believe I can help and we can deliver “better”, so I take the good with the bad and get on with it.</p><p></p><p>But on a final note, the one thing that I have really learnt is the one that disappoints me more than any other, and that is the way our industry turns on each other for nothing more than individual gratification and self satisfaction from seeing industry colleagues suffer. Dont get me wrong, this does not apply to the majority, but the few who look for ways to destroy and criticise rather than help to succeed, those who throw abuse and childish insults like a petulant child looking for love and when it doesn’t come, resort to abusive tantrums. For me I see them in the same light as a vegan hell bent on telling me to give up dairy! The sooner we rid ourselves of these self centred individuals, who are partly responsible for our beloved industry being weak, the better! But I suspect they will crawl under a stone and pop up from time to time and throw some some more of their own bullsh*t. </p><p></p><p>I hope all milk prices stay high and all dairy farmers prosper, after all its nothing more than you deserve.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Farmer1001, post: 4475538, member: 17350"] Bare with me or feel free to ignore and move on. We learnt seriously valuable lessons over the past 18 months, not least the politics of the supply chain, the politics of the dairy farming leaders, the supporters in general and the objectors as well. So whilst the price of milk is high and the need/support for change is not as urgent, we are still here and we are still fully committed. On one hand I hope the price of milk never drops therefore the need to change is irrelevant, but we all know the industry works in cycles and volatility takes no prisoners. Does that mean nothing has changed within the industry? No, absolutely not! We are becoming more consumer focussed, the recent launch of the “Department of Dairy Related Wholesome Affairs” is a collaboration between Dairy UK and the AHDB, its designed to target consumers and reignite their love affair with dairy products. Likewise we see multiple Free Range brands in the market, most local but some now national. Even those avid objectors have found a way to tag it onto their products, and why not if it sells milk? I am amused that the said same objectors said it would be divisive, yet now promote the “FR” value by stating [B][I]“unlike most British dairy cows, our Free Range cows graze for most of the year”! [/I][/B] Timing is key to everything, and despite the price of milk rising enough to save many in the industry the need for change is still as great today as it was yesterday, we are still here and still focussed on helping dairy to change and to be more consumer focussed. Have we delivered what we had aimed to do? No. Is it a bad idea with no merit? No. Do retailers, during many of the meetings we hold ever question the existence of demand for a “free range” choice? Absolutely not once! This final point should tell you more than anything about the concept of FR, because any listing of any product will only ever happen if there is a proven demand - yet the question of demand is never a question, it is an absolute given. So why the residence from retail - I am sure you can figure it out. But don’t think for one moment we have wandered off like a herd of cows fed up of looking over the gate, we are here and we are committed and we aint going anywhere - its simply taking longer than we had hoped. But, on a personal level I have asked myself multiple times if I have made a mistake, should I waste my time, effort and money trying to encourage positive change? Am i meddling in a market risking doing more harm than good for producers? The latter point being a reference to retailers involvement at farm level and the question of when does “support” become “meddling” to the extent that it does no good, only harm (another debate for another day). But ultimately I believe I can help and we can deliver “better”, so I take the good with the bad and get on with it. But on a final note, the one thing that I have really learnt is the one that disappoints me more than any other, and that is the way our industry turns on each other for nothing more than individual gratification and self satisfaction from seeing industry colleagues suffer. Dont get me wrong, this does not apply to the majority, but the few who look for ways to destroy and criticise rather than help to succeed, those who throw abuse and childish insults like a petulant child looking for love and when it doesn’t come, resort to abusive tantrums. For me I see them in the same light as a vegan hell bent on telling me to give up dairy! The sooner we rid ourselves of these self centred individuals, who are partly responsible for our beloved industry being weak, the better! But I suspect they will crawl under a stone and pop up from time to time and throw some some more of their own bullsh*t. I hope all milk prices stay high and all dairy farmers prosper, after all its nothing more than you deserve. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Livestock
Dairy Farming
Free range MMB whats happening?
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
Accept
Learn more…
Top