News Milk
Dozens of dairy farmers report to DOC
DOC Kaas has suddenly been in the spotlight again in recent months. The cooperative sets a competitive milk price, especially for grazers.
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Farmers from the east of the Netherlands report that in recent weeks about 50 dairy farmers, especially FrieslandCampina in Hoogeveen, have expressed interest in becoming a member. Some of them have already signed. Chairman Guus Mensink confirms that talks are underway, but cannot name numbers. He says there is interest from all over the country.
Dairy farmers are particularly attracted by the highest milk price that DOC Kaas has set in recent months. Dairy farmers cannot participate in top packages such as PlanetProof and the Albert Heijn Beter voor Koe, Natuur en Boer line at the Hoogeveen cooperative, but when it comes to bare milk price plus meadow grazing and sustainability compensation, DOC Kaas offers a competitive milk price. Anyone who can also take the Vlog surcharge will exceed €40 per 100 kilos in September. At the beginning of this year, DOC was still struggling to keep up with price developments.
The highest price in the segment outside the top bonuses is set by Bel Leerdammer, but dairy farmers seem to be somewhat reserved with this company, partly because it is in the process of changing owners. As a result, it is not entirely clear what to expect from this in the longer term.
Vreugdenhil Dairy Foods is also in the market for new suppliers, the company reported last week. In order to allow a good comparison between the milk price of this company and other processors, the winter bonus (5 months for €3,90 per 100 kilos) is averaged over the whole year, so that an extra bonus of €12. 1,66 at the base price. In this case, supply fluctuations are not taken into account, but it does give an indication.
Royal A-ware lags slightly behind in this comparison, but received an extra meadow supplement of €3 per 2,00 kilos in the 100 spring/summer months. The tail of this was still in the July price. The company raised the milk price sharply again last month.
A difference between DOC Kaas and the non-cooperative alternatives is that dairy farmers do not have to buy from the latter group.