“Absolutely devastating”: Farmer forced to sell herd after contract terminated
19th July 2024
A dairy farmer in Derbyshire is one of over a dozen smaller family farms who have been told their contracts with Müller are being terminated.
Fourth generation farmer Neil Taylor, of Puddle Hill Farm near Matlock, told the BBC Farming Today programme that he has no choice but to sell his herd after Müller’s decision.
The dairy processor has reportedly ended contracts with more than a dozen smaller family farms, citing insufficient milk production, or welfare or sustainability concerns.
Neil’s local Müller representative told him in March that unless they upped their milk production, the contract would end in March 2025.
“When I asked how far I’d got to get, they said probably double to what you’re sending now next year. I couldn’t do it.”
Struggling to cope
Commenting on the decision, he said: “It’s absolutely devastating, I’ve bought them, reared them, I can remember their mums, their grandmas.
“I’ve had 40 years of breeding cows and just to have it taken away from you, it’s a bitter pill to swallow.”
His wife Bev told the programme she is struggling to cope with the loss of the herd.
“I can cope with one or two going at a time, which usually go when they barren and they’ve had their time, but the thought of getting them gone as fast as we’ve got to get them gone, I’m finding it very hard to cope with,” she said.
Someone’s profiting – and it’s not farmers
Visiting feed merchant Paul Rowbottom said the money has dried up for dairy farmers and they’re struggling to pay bills, with no money for reinvestment.
“Farmers are probably getting 35-36ppl for the milk; I purchased a bottle of milk this morning at £1.19/litre. Somebody somewhere must be making serious profit off that, and it certainly is not the farmers.”
The new Dairy Code of Conduct is intended to ensure supply contracts are fair and transparent. But Neil Taylor says it won’t protect small dairy farms.
“When my dad grew up here 63 years ago there were 22 [farms] sending milk in the village. […]
“When I’ve gone there’ll be one. They [Müller] might change their mind but I think it’ll be too late for a lot of little boys like me.”
Neil and Bev plan to raise the remaining herd for beef. Asked if he’ll retire, Neil, 57, said: “No. I’ll never retire, I hope. hope I’m fit enough to still be doing this in another 20 odd years.”
READ MORE: ‘Significant step’: Long-awaited dairy contract legislation introduced
READ MORE: Latest report calls 2023/23 a ‘mixed year’ for UK dairy farms
“Very small number of farms”
A spokesperson for Müller Milk & Ingredients is quoted by the BBC as saying:
“We have identified a very small number of supplying farms who, when compared with our other suppliers, are not continually meeting our high standards of sustainability and welfare, or provide us with low volumes of milk.
“It is important to emphasise that discussions were held with impacted farms in advance and where notices have been served, these can be rescinded if agreed by all parties.
“We are providing a full 12-month notice period, and will support throughout this period of transition.”
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