Dairy Crest buys milk from approximately 1,600 direct supplying dairy farmers, the majority of whom are located in southern and central England and South Wales, as well as Cumbria. Milk from these farmers is supplied either for liquid milk consumption or for manufacture into a range of dairy products, including cheese, milk powder, butter, and cream.

The milk produced by our direct suppliers is ‘farm assured’, ensuring that we use onlytop quality milk produced to stringent standards governing food safety, animal welfare and protection of the environment. These standards are set out in Dairy Crest’s Farm Assurance Scheme, which embraces the National Dairy Farm Assurance Scheme (NDFAS).

The key sections of the Scheme are:

* Hygiene & food safety
* Animal housing & facilities
* Farm plant & equipment
* Feedstuffs & water
* Herd health
* Stockmanship & training
* Farm contingency procedures
* Environmental measures.

Dairy Crest provides a subsidised support package, through the independent White Gold Service, to enable direct supplying farmers to maintain Farm Assurance standards with the minimum of disruption and cost.

Farm Assurance status is monitored by regular assessments, carried out for all direct suppliers by qualified Farm Assessors, on a 15-month basis. New suppliers interested in supplying their milk to Dairy Crest should contact Direct Supplies on 01372 472372 (or e-mail directsupplies@dairycrest.co.uk).
Dairy Crest Direct

Dairy Crest Direct is the farmer business that represents the majority of our direct suppliers. The group was established in May 2004. Elected regional representatives operate within a Farmer Forum - to determine the direction and aims of the business. The Forum in turn elects a Management Board that is responsible for running the organisation.

The objectives of Dairy Crest Direct are:

* To represent and inform producers;
* To strive for a fair and secure milk price;
* To strengthen the relationship with Dairy Crest.

Visit the Dairy Crest Direct website www.dairycrestdirect.com