To all those who like dairy products, may I have your opinion?

Question

I have read an article in the newspaper today that says that all dairy products are going to be increased in price due to the price of animal feed going up.
Well as a dairy farmer, our feed prices have gone up but milk price has just gone down 0.9p a litre. So effectively we are losing £10000 on our current income while we have seen an increase in feed by £3000. The dairy we sell to prices have also have gone down in the chain, so it really hacks me off that the supermarkets increase the price of dairy products and then pass the blame onto us. How do you feel about paying more for the day to day dairy products you use just so that the big supermarket chains can make an even bigger profit whilst putting the blame for price increases on their suppliers?
Sensible answers please I am in a mood!!!!

No we don't pass our feed costs on, the farmer pays for the feed, then the dairy buys our milk at the current milk price. If feed goes up, the dairy does not increase the price they pay you for your milk. The dairy then sells on to the supermarket, but the supermarkets also have a stranglehold on the dairies as well. They say sell your milk/cheese to us at this price or we terminate your contract. There are a limited number of supermarkets so losing a big contract to say tescos could mean a dairy going bust. If a supermarket demands a lower price like this, the dairy will have to lower it's price paid to the farmer so it will make a profit.

Andyp - yes cows eat grass but they don't not live on grass alone, apart from it not fullfilling their dietry needs, there are not enough minerals in it for them, to produce milk of a quality that is demanded and they would hardly produce any milk. Cows do eat grass whilst they are out grazing during the day, but they are also fed on cow cake (pellets) which we feed them while they are being milked. Other feed is totally mineral based. We also feed ours vegetables and during winter and some of the summer months they are fed sileage which costs for the contractor/ourselves to do. If the grass is not good quality or it simply hasn't grown you have to supplement a cows diet even more. Milk has to have certain percentages of protein and butterfat to make it marketable and this is only achieved by feeding them. Calves also need to be fed until they are old enough to be milked, they only drink the mother's milk for a few weeks and then they need proper food, like all animals.

Answer 1

Farmers work incredibly hard and supermarket chains play dirty tricks with farmers to pump up their profits. What I've enjoyed seeing is when the farmer can turn the tables on the supermarkets, club together and run farmers markets, cutting out the money grabbing B*ds. Also good to see when farmers turn their hands to things like running B&B's to suplement their income.

Answer 2

A few things come to mind, i'm afraid more "questions than answers", but here goes.

You mention milk price decreasing 0.9p - but then talk about "blaming suppliers for INCREASED prices". I am confused.

There used to be a milk marketing board - which presumably had the interests of dairy farmers at heart. What happened to it? And if it closed or doesn't represent the farmers' interest, can a new "consortium" be set up? If ALL milk producing farmers agreed to join, the supermarkets would really have no choice other than to pay the going rate. Obviously I am missing a point somewhere but it does *SEEM* to be a possible solution.

I do not wish to offend and this is (I hope) a sensible comment, IF it is so unprofitable, why are so many farmers involved? From what I understand, this problem has been around for years, it is not a recent "glitch". Why do people keep running a business if it keeps making a loss?

Would it be possible for milk farmers in an area to "pool resources" and have a shared pasteurising facility - so they could then use the "nanny-friendly" milk to make milk products - which might support more of a profit - yoghurt, cheese etc ?

Sadly this is the problem with supermarkets, everyone wants cheap - and like anyone else, the big corporations want to make a lot of money doing it. I think realistically, educating the public to be happy about paying more, so suppliers do better isn't really going to happen.

Consortium or make product from it, are my only real thoughts, sorry I cannot make a more constructive post.

Answer 3

I can imagine you're in a mood. The supermarkets couldn't survive if it weren't for suppliers like you, and this is how you are treated ...

What I'd do is buy directly from the producer, i.e. you. I don't care that the milk isn't pasteurised, I was reared on unpasteurised milk and I'm one of the healthiest people I know. The cows on the farm I was reared on had regular veterinary checks and all the necessary hygiene and even some unnecessary hygiene precautions were taken, so my mother had no problem with feeding us milk from the dairy, and making butter, yoghurt and cheese from the same milk.

So is there any law that says you can't sell directly to the consumer? Because if you can, then if I were you, I would.

Answer 4

I agree with you, I begrudge paying high prices, I usually go to the farmers market which is held once a month near where I live, and stock up then. I would rather support the struggling farmers than help boost the profits of the fat cats of the supermarket chains! Farmers have a difficult job as it is, without the government etc. trying to make things harder for you, they forget, if we didn't have farmers, half the supermarkets would be empty of stock !!!!!

Answer 5

I know that farmers really struggle to make any kind of a living these days, I have a friend who is a cattle farmer who is living just this side of poverty.

I don't know of any answers though, except maybe trying to get together with other local farmers and set up a regular Farmers' Market where you can sell direct to the public.

Answer 6

Well im with you. I hate the big supermarkets and try to buy everything in my local town and village, using either the market or individual shops. You get the quality and the chat !
Milk, there is a farm that produces it's own milk and ice cream, it's all full fat stuff. Shame we cant get away from paturisation too.

It's convincing people not to buy everything from the big chains. Buy local boost your local economy and your house's value?

Buy wensleydale cheese, a real success story against the big chains.

Answer 7

I wish I could buy milk direct from a farm and not via a supermarket as they make obscene profits. The milk would be fresher and last longer. In Scotland one very large milk dairy/packager stopped selling to Asda as they would not give in to their constant demands for lower prices.

Answer 8

I would like to see more direct routes to market, the supermarkets have far too much power not only over farmers but also consumers.

Answer 9

Are you saying you haven't passed some of your feed costs on to the supermarket chains?

Answer 10

Although in the main I agree with you,but surely most feed stuff for cows grows in a field,its called grass.And other food is supplied to the animals in winter time,so one must offset the other.Unless you have to watch the grass grow.