From moo to you!
Diversifying with a raw milk vending machine has helped one Buckinghamshire dairy farm to increase efficiency and tackle labour shortages head-on.
Udderly Fresh has been selling raw milk direct to customers from an on-farm vending machine for the last nine years. Its inception came when Jim Barker finished at Harper Adams college in 2016 and returned home to the family business at North Hill Farm, Winslow, Bucks, to work alongside his dad, Ian Barker.
“Milk vending was one of those kitchen table ideas,” recalled Ian. “Our milk price was on the floor and we couldn’t see a viable way forward for our 150-cow herd. The future looked very unstable.” Back then raw milk vending was in its infancy, but fresh from college, son Jim could see an opportunity to sell low volumes direct to the public. And the family agreed they had little to lose by trying to find an additional revenue stream.
Since then, the steadily growing customer base has helped the vending machine operation hit 200 litres/day, alongside an online postal milk delivery service. The Barkers say social media has made it easier to reach an appreciative local audience, with the additional return on investment securing the future of this 140-cow, 200-acre family farm.
Just two years ago, the cows became fully-housed in an all-new covered dairy containing two DeLaval robotic milking machines. A focus on high-end welfare, plus a yearly carbon footprint audit along with a niche market outlet for the bulk of its 11,000-litre herd average to a well-known, high-street coffee shop means North Hill Farm’s dairy operation is well and truly future-proofed.
“We faced increasing pressures with finding staff, so the switch to robot milking became easier to justify, and was partially funded by our long-term view of the vending operation,” he said. “We’ve since invested in tractors and equipment to further improve operational efficiency.”
The Barker fleet now comprises three Kubota tractors, all supplied by George Browns. An M6-142 with loader and an M135GX manage field work, representing an increase in power over previous tractors, while an L2421 provides comfort and convenience for yard scraping.
“We first tried the MGX and couldn’t over-look the five-year warranty and 0% five-year finance package,” he said. “It was a no-brainer, and the other two models soon followed.”
He says that the L-series has clocked up 4,500 hours, while the MGX is wearing its 5,500 hours very well, with many clocked up on the feeder wagon. “Depreciation is where we win,” he said. “These are not expensive tractors, and we’ve saved a fortune compared to buying into a market-leading premium brand, so overall, there’s less value to lose.”
The farm grows maize, grass and whole crop for the herd, with most field work carried out in-house and contractors are brought in where investment in machinery no longer stacks up.
“We run a multi-cut system for grass silage, and have our own mower and tedder to manage dry matter content,” he said. “We’re in control of getting the forage quality we want, leaving the contractor to rake, chop and clamp.”
With its cab suspension, front axle suspension and eight-speed powershift transmission, Ian says the 140hp M6 offers a great combination of power and comfort. “The M6-142 has given us a bit more power for ploughing, power harrowing and sub-soiling,” he said. “The tractor sits on 650 Xeobib tyres which makes it ideal to manage compaction on our fields, when applying slurry with an 8m dribble bar.”
“I’ve already put 700 hours on the M6 in 12 months, and it’s proving a great place to sit, and it hasn’t cost a small fortune to own.”