Or planning giving up !! As many are because of low prices for a few years.
Its a crazy thing some were on 16p after a few years at 23/24p and some on 33p for doing nearly the same thing only the one's on 33p are on an aligned contract.
Milk Price Tracker
- Thread starter rc mx110
- Start date
Its a crazy thing some were on 16p after a few years at 23/24p and some on 33p for doing nearly the same thing only the one's on 33p are on an aligned contract.
___\0/___
Member
- Location
- SW Scotland
Don't disagree with that but probably for the first time in a long time First Milk can pick the farms that suit them.
Milkcow365
Member
- Location
- Sw Scotland
Can only put them in a stronger position going forward
In short the non-aligned milk market is buggered. They don't want us. There is just too much milk. When we first went to Muller from DC there were 700 non-aligned producers, now there are only 480. Whereas the aligned producer pool still has exactly the same number of producers, and because they've had such a decent price for so long, with no dips like in the last dairy crisis 2016, are expanding greatly.
Unfortunately Muller don't have to give a price rise for these reasons, I know of several producers with Freshways, County Milk et al that would jump ship immediately over to Muller if they could... so why would Muller feel the need to increase the price they pay to their existing non-aligned suppliers...
I don’t see this changing unless milk is in very short supply. The aligned farmers get paid our non aligned price for their surplus litres which although brings down their average price down doesn’t have any real affect on their business yet keeps production high and prevents our price from rising. Effectively our price is their B price whereas it is our A price.
The Farmer board try really really hard but as milk price is not basket based or even formulated in this country then we have no hope.
@lady muck that is one of the best ways I have seen it put with the Aligned being the A price and non Aligned being the B price.
And those on the aligned contracts will not say Boo............ its all about retailer control.
That’s business. Communism ain’t for me.
- Location
- Scotland
That's quite a stretch to equate anything in that sentence with communism.
Presumably you're on an aligned contract then.
In theory, capitalism and free markets should dictate the supply and demand, a homogeneous commodity like milk, operating in a perfect competitive market should be the same price throughout the entire market, perhaps not withstanding the odd couple of pence difference for volume related buying.
Don't worry once all of us non-aligned peasants have hung up the clusters, they'll come for you lot next, good luck and make hay whilst the sun shines.
Tarw Coch
Member
- Location
- Bottom of Wats Dyke
I was thinking along these lines this morning, there’s an old saying, I think about the nazis of how they came for various groups, Jews , gays etc, they called out for help, but as I wasn’t one of them I did nothing, now they’re coming for me, i call out for help but there’s no one left to listen.
Those on good contracts either don’t care of the future of those on poor contracts or aren’t going to rock the boat.
There’s only one way producer numbers are going and that’s down whilst those on aligned contracts expand. On the horizon is increased legislation, covering slurrystores and more expensive slurry application, those on COP contracts will have the additional investment covered in their milk price, those not will question wether it’s worth it.
But what will happen when the aligned pool grows larger than needed and too many of the non aligned have given up? There will come a time when there will be a cull of the aligned, they might be safe for now but there will certainly come a time when they’ll have to watch their backs
lazy farmer
Member
- Location
- som/dor border
not sure what those on aligned contracts are supposed to do ?
Make some hay whilst the sun is shining
lazy farmer
Member
- Location
- som/dor border
Good at least we can agree on that.
Hanspree
Member
- Location
- Lancashire
FM showing the way forward. Have to say since J Ovens left Arla, they seem to have turned things around.
Not sure about the mmg press release, the board are complaining to muller how one sided negotiations are then at the bottom their say their going to continue working WITH muller for their suppliers. You have to wonder what the board do maybe just makes them feel important.
The board work really hard gathering evidence and presenting the hard facts to prove to Muller that farmers are struggling. Its no longer an old boys network with board members reaping the benefits. They give a huge amount of their time up for their farmers and the board but it is a thankless task. Muller don't need to give price increases as they have loads of people on their books wanting a contract as stated in their latest press comment.
Müller Direct caught up in fixed milk price criticism
MÜLLER DIRECT has been accused of freezing milk prices at ‘unviable levels’ over the past year, leaving some farmers struggling to cover…
www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk
- Location
- South Molton
Aren't the supermarkets tightening the screw on the less efficient bottom 10%?
Saying they have to up their game or leave?
lazy farmer
Member
- Location
- som/dor border
Headless chicken
Member
- Location
- West Wales
but how do you continually improve? If your crap there’s loads you can do but when your doing things exceptionally well it’s just their way of manipulating the market
lazy farmer
Member
- Location
- som/dor border
Breeding,feeding,days at grass days in milk. Empty rates culling rates
Horsepower v cows. Cow free days. There the most important areas.for me ,I’m not competing with Uk farmers.
It’s easy to blame the market. control what you can control and if that’s not good then fair cop.i had a bloody good go time to do something else.
endeavour
Member
- Location
- centre of milky way Carmarthenshire
A welcome response which in itself bears the problem, sole farmer business can not compete for ever improving the basics of profitable business without fair redress iePROFIT enough to return a living and re investment. The scenario of decreasing prices after any financial burden from Covid19 only foretells to a calamity for hard working farmers in uk
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