Organic Herd has announced a 2ppl increase in its member milk price effective from October 1, 2024.
This follows a 3ppl rise for August and will mean the Organic Herd member milk price will sit at 56ppl on a standard litre basis.
The British farmer-owned cooperative said, having either maintained or increased the milk price on a continuous basis since October 2021, it believes it is leading the field in demonstrating that the UK organic dairy sector can deliver a stable, sustainable and positive long term outlook for UK producers.
Organic Herd said the latest price rise reflects the increasing value being placed on, and growing demand for, British organic dairy products.
Commenting on the October milk price increase, Organic Herd’s chief executive, Martyn Anthony, said: “Our strategy remains one of creating long term stability and growth, by generating returns to farmers that reflect the true value of, and demand for, the high quality food we produce, not a milk price that simply mirrors the ups and downs of conventional commodities.
“Our latest increase therefore reflects Organic Herd’s commitment to paying a stable and sustainable milk price to both the current and next generation of dairy farmers.
“We are the only business to have either maintained or improved returns to farmers continuously since October 2021. In doing so we are giving our producers a compelling reason not only to continue farming organically, but also importantly enabling them to progress their businesses, in turn securing a sustainable growth in supply.”
Recruitment
Organic Herd said its latest milk price boost follows an “exciting period” of recruitment into the co-op’s milk pool in which both organic and converting producers have signed up.
While, at the same time the team are extremely pleased to be working with new entrants to dairy.
Organic Herd’s director of membership and communication, Sara Ogborne, said: “From Scotland down to the South West of England we are receiving great interest from existing organic dairy farmers considering joining Organic Herd.
“At the same time, it’s exciting to see a new generation of dairy farmers not only looking at moving into organic production but also buying into the positive merits of being part of a 100% British farmer owned co-operative.
“What is striking when talking to these younger and highly ambitious farmers is that, although today’s milk price is important to them, they are equally striving being part of a stable, sustainable supply chain.”
Ogborne said the recurring message is that farmers want to be part of a sector that is focused on long term value creation, rather than accpeting the norm of volatile milk prices, which can be “so detrimental” to their business.
“They are also attracted by our progressive approach to ‘shaking up the dairy industry’ through creating our range of Organic Herd branded dairy products and shouting about all the ways in which ‘how we farm matters’.”
