By MAL GILL
THREE dairy farmers dropped as suppliers by Brownes Dairy are still waiting to learn whether their milk will continue to be collected.
Milk produced by Dale Hanks and Graham Manning, Harvey, and Tony Ferraro, Wagerup, is being collected daily and being processed into UHT (Ultra High Temperature) and ESL (Extended Shelf Life) milk by Harvey Fresh for a client who does not want to be identified.
The three farmers were told by phone call the arrangement would be for an initial two-week period - which is due to end with a pick-up Sunday - but could be extended if a trial project proved successful.
As Farm Weekly went to press Mr Hanks said his milk was being collected but he had no idea for how long.
"We still have nothing in writing. We've cut back production but we don't know anything more now than we did (last week)," Mr Hanks said.
The three have been told they will be paid for their milk but significantly less than what they received under a two-year contract they had with Brownes and what is now only just above the average price Harvey Fresh and Lion Dairy and Drinks have said they are paying their suppliers this season.
Their contracts with Brownes expired on September 30 when the company declined to activate a further two-year option and two cents-a-litre price rise, or offer them a standard contract at 10c a litre less than what they had been receiving.
WAFarmers dairy council president and Brunswick dairy farmer, Michael Partridge, said the aim was to make the current arrangement "ongoing" for the three farmers but he had not yet heard whether it could extend beyond Sunday.
The unidentified Harvey Fresh client taking the milk is understood to have dairy industry experience, unlike some who have recently been involved in attempts to establish WA milk production and export supply chains.