Dairy producers left stricken by the collapse
ofDairy
Farmers of Britainare beginning to find
alternative homes for their milk.
First Milk says it has
signed up more than 100 former DFB suppliers as farmers desperately
seek alternative buyers.
Dairy Farmers of Britain called in the receivers on Wednesday
after months of industry speculation over the business' future. The
co-op's 1800 dairy farmers have been told they will receive nothing
for May's milk or for the first few days of June.
Mark McQuade, milk operations director at First Milk, said:
"Yesterday alone we signed up over 100 Dairy Farmers of Britain
members and our hauliers are collecting their milk from this
morning. With a fair wind it's only taking about 10 minutes to sign
up a producer.
"We are still looking for milk in the north and midlands areas.
Producers can either call our recruitment number (0141 847 6800) or
drop into our Lake District creamery at Aspatria in Cumbria. Even
this morning (5 June) we are fielding a large volume of calls."
The Organic Milk Suppliers'
Co-Operative has stepped in to take milk from DFoB's organic
dairy farmers.
Although OMSCO signed a deal with DFoB just days before
receivership was announced, the organic co-op has agreed with the
DFoB Organic Group, management and the receiver that it will take
on all DFoB organic members, including collection and marketing in
the next few days, rather than from 1 July as previously
agreed.
John Alpe, chair of DFoB's organic members, said "This agreement
should help to remove a lot of the uncertainty for DFoB organic
members, who were shocked by the appointment of receivers on
Wednesday.
The fact that we had this agreement in place will simply mean
that the planned implementation date of 1 July will be brought
forward and DFoB organic members will become full members of OMSCo
as soon as possible.
"We thank OMSCo members and staff for supporting us at this time
and also DFoB staff and the receiver for helping with the smooth
transition. This will not only provide a short-term solution to
issues raised by the appointment of a receiver, but will also help
to provide longer-term benefits in terms of efficiency savings to
many organic producers."
Official receiver Stephen Oldfield of
PricewaterhouseCoopers said: "I
am delighted that these 82 members have found a safe home so
quickly.
"This is a great early result for the receivers, keeping the
milk flowing is an essential part of our strategy and the migration
of these organic farmers to OMSCo will provide them with an outlet
for their milk going forward."
DFoB member? Distressed or troubled about what the news might
mean for your business? Don't suffer in silence -
www.farmcrisisnetwork.org.uk