Brownes signs up new dairy

Brownes has become the largest collector of milk in the Great Southern region after striking a deal with yet another local dairy.

A Youngs Siding dairy, owned and run by the O’Farrell family, has entered a long-term supply agreement with Brownes, which recently also snapped up the brand of Narrikup dairy, Ravenhill.

The new agreement with the Youngs Siding dairy, announced last week, will come into effect in January and comes amid a battle for milk supplies between Brownes, Harvey Fresh and Lion.

WA Farmers dairy section president Phil Depiazzi said competition between processors was positive for the dairy industry.

“I think it’s a positive thing that we’ve got competition between processors for milk supplies,” he said.

“It will put pressure on the prices. For farmers it means they can extract more money for their milk.”

Brownes managing director Ben Purcell said the Lower Great Southern was a great dairy region.

“We’ve got some real pioneering dairy families down here and it’s great that those pioneers have come over to us — we’re absolutely delighted,” he said.

“Combined, it makes us the largest collector from this region.”

Youngs Siding farm manager Brendan O’Farrell said the Brownes deal was done two months ago.

“We’re supplying Harvey Fresh at the moment but will go to Brownes in January,” he said.

“It means we will be paying no freight, that’s a huge difference.”

Ravenhill Dairy was set to be sold to a Chinese firm last year but the deal fell through.

Its new deal with Brownes means that the Ravenhill brand will be kept alive and the family will retain the farm and herd, supplying Brownes on a long-term agreement.

Manager Ken Ravenhill said he was pleased with the deal and hoped to grow the 1100-head herd over the coming years.

“Brownes approached us to buy the label, it will help us grow our business,” he said.

“It means we have a secure milk supply, it will be business as usual.”