Inside milk
DOC Kaas has more left over with slightly lower turnover
Cooperative DOC Kaas saw its turnover fall slightly in 2020, but achieved a slightly better result than in 2019. The milk supply also decreased slightly, due to phosphate regulations, among other things.
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The turnover for 2020 amounted to just under €202 million, compared to almost €211 million for 2019. A small negative balance was recorded in that year, and a small positive balance of €2020 was recorded for 41.000. This money has been added to the general reserve.
The milk price was virtually the same as in 2019, but the cooperative no longer provides data on the development of milk supply or the milk price. In 2019, approximately 614 million kilos of milk were supplied by 665 members. No mention is made of new members.
Last year some members quit, but this year is different. Dozens of dairy farmers from FrieslandCampina in particular have registered to become members of DOC. Fifty new members have now signed for DOC and discussions are still ongoing with several dairy farmers in the Netherlands and Germany. The livestock farmers from FrieslandCampina mainly disagree with the direction of that cooperative and with the introduction of member certificates.
Although the milk price was quite stable last year and higher this year, the annual report (which outlines the situation of last June) complains several times about the difficult financial situation in dairy farming and the shrunken margin on the companies.
Distribution of surplus on member account
DOC Kaas did not make any additional payment for 2020, but in February last year the surplus was paid out on a one-off basis to the member account, based on the volume delivered in 2019. The board decided to do this because the membership account (a ten-year, rotating fund) had been paid up for an increasing number of members. This was partly because the contribution had been reduced in recent years from €0,68 to €0,58 per 100 kilos, and partly due to the decreased quantity of member milk, under
more as a result of the phosphate measures.
Increase in number of grazers
The cooperative withholding has been increased from €2020 to €1,95 per 2,00 kilos at the beginning of 100. This was necessary to reduce the quantity surcharge, the
sustainability allowance and the grazing allowance
pay. In 2019, the average of these allowances together was
higher than the sum of the deductions. This was mainly due to an increase in the number of grazers.