Eight days after Murray Goulburn cut its price, farmers who send their milk to Fonterra were informed of sudden and retrospective milk price cuts.
For the last year Fonterra suppliers, Bridget and Tim Goulding have been paying more to produce milk than what they’re getting paid for it.
«It’s been a horrible year,» Bridget Goulding said.
«You know, you’ve found within yourselves, when you work together as a couple there are always going to be arguments and discussions and that kind of thing that has been increased this year.»
«It’s taken a lot of the joy out of farming.»
The farmers believe it’s been worse for them than Murray Goulburn suppliers because of how the company acted.
«We had eight days (after Murray Goulburn cut the price) of literally sweating blood,» remembers Bridget Goulding.
«It was really awful.»
«There was tears, quite a few tears over it which really didn’t achieve much.»
A year worse than ever before
The farming couple are happy to have survived the last year which they said was much worse than they have experienced before, even during drought.
«The drought was different it was just maths. There wasn’t this creepy undertone of dishonesty,» Mr Goulding said.
Fonterra has been contacted for a response.
Source: ABC
Link: http://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2017-05-05/nrn-fonterra-year/8499980