Moray farmer calls for dairy industry action

A KEITH farmer says more action is needed to salvage what is left of Moray’s dairy industry, as milk producers continue their fight to stay in business by securing better prices.

Farmers have organised rallies throughout Scotland, and the rest of the UK, in the past days in a bid to ensure they receive a fair price for the milk they produce.

However, with just four remaining dairy operations in Moray, Geddes Chalmers, from Keith, admits that time is running out.

Mr Chalmers, who milks 140 cows at Drum Farm and produces 1.25 million litres a year, said swift changes are vital to maintain any kind of dairy presence in Moray.

A thriving industry just a few years ago, there are now just a handful of farms in the local area.

"In an awful lot of cases in farming, the next generation has moved into industries that are better paid," Mr Chalmers said this week.

"I am approaching 60. My milking parlour is 30 years old, and is in serious need of rejuvenation. That’s not going to happen unless we start making a reasonable profit.

"If things don’t improve I guess I will be another one out of business, as far as dairying is concerned."

Mr Chalmers sends his milk to the Wiseman Dairies depot in Aberdeen.

However, despite Wiseman’s announcing this week that it was cancelling a further 1.7p per litre cut to the price it pays its farmer producers – due to be implemented on August 1 – Mr Chalmers said he is still losing 2p on every single litre of milk.

"In theory, we were getting close to break even before the 2p (reduction to farmers) at the start of June," he said.

"It seems the only way to get these guys to offer more money is to shame them into it, which is a silly way to do business.

"You can blame the supermarkets or you can blame the politicians – even going all the way back to Margaret Thatcher, as it was she who did away with the Milk Marketing Board."

To read more of Geddes Chalmers' thoughts see 'The Northern Scot - out now!