Belgian dairy farmers denounce losses from MTC

The group of dissatisfied members met this week near Aalter, without the board. They say that Coucke acts too much on his own initiative and has not kept to agreements by taking more risks on the futures market than agreed. This would now result in a total loss of 17 cents per kilo of milk: 8 cents from normal deposits and then 9 cents for additional deposits. A larger volume of milk would also have been recorded than the cooperative has available. There is talk of 127%.

More milk captured than there is
Coucke states that this is incorrect. According to him, the members had to deposit 17 cents in a guarantee fund, but MTC now has an actual loss of 13 to 14 cents (says it was set at 37 cents, while the market is now at 50 cents). That loss could increase if the milk price falls, but the market seems to remain high for the time being.

The director acknowledges that a larger volume of milk has been recorded than is available, but according to him that problem has been going on since the summer and it concerns 107%, not 127%, he says. The reason is that more members had been added in recent months. It has stopped.

Option to exit if things get too exciting
Coucke says he is surprised that the above-mentioned complaints are now emerging, 'while a members meeting was held at the end of January'. "That was also explained, but nothing further was heard or said about it." The dissatisfied members explain this by the fact that meetings have always been held digitally, which, according to them, makes it easy to keep away unwelcome noises. According to Coucke, for members who are now becoming too tense, there is the option to limit participation and/or leave next year.

The dissatisfied directors do not want to stop with MTC, but want stronger guidance and more input from management.