Lactalis struggle in which Covap appears as an unexpected help

The reduction will translate to Losses of 20 thousand euros per month For each of the approximately 150 ranchers who will be affected, according to estimates from COAG. Because of a drought that has made basic animal feed 70% more expensive in two months, farm managers in Seville, Malaga and Granada have risen up.

It’s “Andalusian milk against Goliath”, Summary from the sector to describe the situation. But David is not alone: ​​in his early hours they relied on Me Unexpected help from Covap.

[El Gobierno moviliza más de 600 M€ en seguros agrarios y fondos para agricultores y ganaderos ante la sequía]

It is not clear whether they responded to the request for help or offered the gesture on their own initiative, but the fact is that Córdoba, the first producer and buyer of milk in Andalusia – the second being Lactalis – has collected a sum in favor of it. not specify.

The price, according to sources familiar with the deal, was somewhat lower than usual, but still More useful than the one suggested by Lactalis This is what set the ranchers on fire.

“We are doing everything we can and from now on we will do more,” Juan Rafael Leal, vice president of COFAB, told the newspaper. for the cooperative You are not convinced by Lactalis’ argumentswhich stresses that its proposals seek to “gradually adjust the price of milk on farms according to the context and the Spanish and European market”.

As reasons, they point to it Dairy consumption decreased In Spain, with cheese and yoghurt at discounted prices at points of sale. that too The price of milk from the source in Andalusia is higher than the European price and the rest of Spain.”

“you look like A real shame That an industry like Lactalis is proposing these cuts, which have no justification,” Leal launches. His tone then becomes more conciliatory to ask for calm: “We should all calm down a bit and Lactalis should come to his senses.”

[Las frutas y las hortalizas siguen disparadas en el campo, pero el aceite ya registra bajadas en su precio]

What is the key to this support? The protesting farmers are divided into several groups. In addition to independent farmers and modest cooperatives, the dairy cows cooperative stands out sunrisewhich has 97 partner farmers, more than 14,000 cows, and about 115 million liters of milk produced annually.

Approximately 75% of its production is sold to Lactalis. But the board may change with the development of the agreement reached last January between Alba and Cofab, to “progressively advance the transformation and co-marketing” of the milk produced by both entities.

This means driving 88% l from Andalusia. With this, they say, it is intended to increase the concentration of dairy production in the region, which reached 574 million kilograms in 2021, and to “add more value and stability” to the 360 ​​livestock partners of both entities.

And sources from the sector point to this newspaper, although it will be necessary to see how the agreement develops, the expectation is that this 75% changes the destination.

But in any case, it will be a medium-term plan. In the near future, farmers indicate that they will be able to withstand two or three days at most, losing 400,000 liters every day.

So an agreement with Lactalis is expected, while Covap watches. Do you think they will be able to improve their position among Alba cultivators with this crisis? “We will put ourselves in a good position as long as we can position ourselves well, and We can do that today.”

What does it mean? “Well, they’ve got our full support,” concludes Lyle, who doesn’t get ahead if there are any more buys this week. He only insists that they will be able to do everything on their part so that the Alba farmers will be “better than they are”.

Meanwhile, Lactalis notes, he’s glad the milk isn’t being completely discarded. And they add before they conclude: “On the strategies of other dairy companies, we have no opinion.”