Dairy farmer calls it a day after price-cut ultimatum

End of an era in Banffshire following Muller decision

The last dairy farmer in Banffshire is retiring after a lifetime in the industry.

Geddes Chalmers, 64, will disperse the entire milking portion of his Drum herd next week.

The dispersal sale takes place at Aberdeen and Northern Marts’ Thainstone Centre, near Inverurie, on Tuesday, at 10am, when approximately 140 cows and 10 in-calf heifers will go under the hammer.

Mr Chalmers, whose family has been dairying at Drum Farm, near Keith, since 1951, said the decision by dairy giant Muller last year to shut the only milk processing factory in the region had “crystalised” his retirement plans.

“A year ago Muller gave us an ultimatum to accept a price cut and

GEDDES CHALMERS

transport charge or give 12 months’ notice to quit,” said Mr Chalmers.

“I was planning to retire anyway so I gave notice to quit.”

He said the transport charge of 1.75p a litre, which applies to all Muller non-aligned producers in the north-east, would have cost his business up to £30,000 a year.

Mr Chalmers was critical that his 500-acre farm could not continue as a dairy unit despite interest from potential buyers.

“It’s a bit frustrating that a few people who came to look at the farm wanted to be dairy farmers, but Muller won’t take on new people within this area,” he said.

Aberdeen and Northern Marts auctioneer Colin Slessor said next week’s dispersal sale had attracted interest from local dairy farmers as well as producers in Orkney and down south.

The herd is currently averaging 7,700 litres a year and the cattle have more Friesian breeding than Holstein.

A year ago Muller gave us an ultimatum to accept a price cut ... or quit.

Picture: Gordon Lennox. Geddes Chalmers with his Holstein Friesian herd of dairy cattle on Drum Farm, Keith.