New Association of Dairy Producer Organisations launched

Roughly 2,000 GB dairy farmers will be represented by a new industry body, which seeks to provide a stronger voice for farmers during negotiations with milk buyers.

The Association of Dairy Producer Organisations (ADPO) was launched earlier in September at UK Dairy Day in Telford and will be able to act for farmers supplying milk to a number of privately owned milk buyers including Muller, Saputo Dairy, Lactalis, Mondelez and Wyke Farms.

It has been founded by the four established dairy producer organisations and aims to aid open dialogue between farmers and the processing sector.

See also: Dairy trade softens as global milk supplies rise

The group also plans to help dairy farmers supplying other privately owned milk buyers to professionalise their existing relationships and form their own dairy producer organisations.

ADPO chairman Rory Christie said: “Professionalising representation for dairy farmers supplying private companies has been a long journey, but launching the ADPO is a significant and positive moment for our industry.”

“We now have a robust governance framework capable of addressing the real-world challenges that dairy farmers and processors face together.

“Most importantly, this is a shared opportunity to understand what a successful, interdependent relationship should look like – and to build it, together.”

Grant Hartman, chairman of dairy producer organisation MMG Dairy Farmers, which represents dairy producers supplying Muller, added: “Forming an ADPO adds an extra level of governance, and jointly, with other DPO’s provides the opportunity for one voice in support of farmers within the dairy industry, working together for its members.”

Welcomed by industry                                               

The new association was formally recognised by the Rural Payments Agency in July 2025, and has been welcomed by the NFU

Paul Tompkins, chair of the NFU Dairy Board, said it represented a new start for a significant proportion of the UK milk pool in how they can achieve effective representation.

He added: “It’s something that we’ve seen working across the Channel and envied for a number of years.

 “The NFU has always been a supportive partner on this journey and will remain so moving forward.”