Union wants plans for producer haulage costs to be pulled

NFU Scotland has written to Muller UK & Ireland to request a meeting following an announcement last week to wind down its processing operations at its Aberdeen dairy.

As detailed by Muller, all 43 farmers supplying the Aberdeen site will be offered the opportunity to continue supplying the business, however it would apply a 1.75 pence per litre transport charge to move the milk to Bellshill, near Glasgow, for processing. A consultation period of 45 days will now take place.  The Union is calling on Muller to pull their haulage cost plans and to work with dairy farmers to secure the future of the milk field in Aberdeenshire.

The Union has met, over the last seven days, with dairy farmers affected and this week wrote to Muller UK & Ireland to set up a meeting to discuss the proposals.

Milk Committee Chairman, Graeme Kilpatrick, who spoke to affected producers on Monday in Aberdeenshire, commented: “We currently await a response from Muller UK & Ireland following our request for a meeting.

“The restructuring of the Muller operations in Aberdeenshire and the proposed haulage cost for moving milk to Bellshill is of great concern to dairy farmers which put further risk and volatility onto the farmer.

“Charging Aberdeenshire farmers for the cost of getting milk to Bellshill sets a worrying precedence and one that we do not agree with.  For dairy farmers transport costs are usually absorbed into the farm-gate price and that is the way it should be.  “There is no guarantee that the farmers will be charged for taking the milk to the nearest processing plant, and that is a point we’ll be taking forward with Muller.

“To put this into context, these transport costs will be the equivalent of one milk cheque per year for these dairy farmers in the North East and we believe that Muller should pull their haulage costs plans.

“The timing of this announcement is unfortunate because of the merger process between Muller and Dairy Crest, combined with purdah for the Scottish Government taking place throughout the 45-day consultation period. During that period we will seeking answers to an abundance of unanswered questions and seeking clarity on the implications for the affected farmers.

“As the restructuring takes place of the producer board for Muller and Dairy Crest, there is an even greater need for a strong, accountable board to make sure that our farmers’ voices are heard.

“I will continue to work with Regional Chairman Roddy Catto to liaise with farmers, and make sure we get the best deal possible for them.”

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Contact Ruth McClean on 0131 472 4108