Dairy co-op and supplier relationships post-2015

All the on-farm and industry planning for the end of quotas had not foreseen the unfortunate coincidence of a major global market shock — and it is a coincidence.

Production growth running faster than demand in recent months has been a global phenomenon, and is not to be blamed on the end of European quotas.

However, farmers and co-ops will have to develop a new, closer relationship to negotiate the difficult few months ahead.