The latest instalment of Farmers Guardian's webinar series, 'Understanding dairy contract legislation and what it means for your farm business', was hosted on Thursday, May 22 at 7pm.
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What to expect
Hosted by Farmers Guardian, this essential webinar provided dairy farmers with clear, practical insights into the latest dairy contract legislation and its implications for farm businesses. Industry experts broke down the key legal changes, explained how the new rules affect contracts between producers and processors, and outlined the steps farmers can take to protect and strengthen their businesses.
Whether you are renegotiating contracts or planning ahead, this session offered valuable guidance to help you navigate the evolving landscape with confidence.
The webinar focused on understanding the The Fair Dealing Obligations (Milk) Regulations 2024. All new contracts signed since July 9, 2024 must already be compliant with the legislation, with existing contracts needing to be compliant from July 9, 2025. Panellists discussed the non-exclusivity element and whether it opened opportunities, what a producer organisation is and how these changes will impact dairy businesses across the UK.
Panelists
Max Sealy
Max has over thirty years' experience in farm management, having graduated from Seale-Hayne Agricultural College with a BSc in 1993. Max and his wife Vicki have been running the family farm together with his parents since 1997. This is now a 360-cow autumn calving dairy herd on 500 acres. The business has diversified into property and renewables, and from 2023, has been managed by Max and Vicki's son as part of a very active succession plan.
Max founded what is now WhiteAvon Consultancy, and has built this up in partnership with George Drewett to a team of twelve consultants working with family businesses, with a strong emphasis on the growth and development of both agricultural and diversified enterprises.
He is also company secretary and business management director of Selkey Vale Milk, a registered Dairy Producer Organisation (DPO) with 70 members supplying 120 million litres of milk to Mondelez for Cadburys Dairy Milk and 15m litres to Wyke Farms.
Max is actively involved in the NFU and, having previously served as a council delegate and county chair, he is currently county dairy delegate to the South Dairy Board and sits on the National Dairy Board with a particular interest in milk contracts. He is also a member of the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers. Max is a family man and is very much involved with his local community, including acting as a Parish Councillor.
Rory Hutchings
Rory Hutchings is partner and head of agriculture and estates at HCR Law. He is deeply committed to the agriculture, environment and estates sector, with active roles as a member of the Institute of Agricultural Management, the United Kingdom Environmental Lawyers Association and the Property Litigation Association, as well as being a Fellow of the Agricultural Law Association. He specialises in land access issues, including public and private rights of way and common land. He also deals with issues arising from land ownership and tenancies and is the current contributor to Atkins Court Forms, the Encyclopaedia of Forms and Precedents for Common land and Village Greens. His diverse client base includes agricultural co-operatives, Dairy Producer Organisations and tourist enterprises.
Michael Oakes
Michael Oakes has held various roles at the NFU, serving as Worcestershire county chair, West Midlands Regional Board chair and NFU Council delegate.
At a national level, Michael sat on the NFU Dairy Board for nearly 14 years, two as vice chair and eight as chair. He is a long-term advocate for the dairy industry and has always worked hard to ensure the dairy sector has a strong, resilient future.
