As of: March 23, 2024, 11:59 a.m
By: Friedbert Holz
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Important faces of the dairy cooperative (from left): Andreas Gruber, Jakob Auerweck, Josef Eicher, Josef Angermaier, Evi Brielmair, Hubert Nußrainer, Josef Scharl and Albert Deutinger Konrad scratch and Hermann Jäger from the dairy plant in Hague.
© F. Holz
Impressive numbers dominated the general meeting of the Erding dairy cooperative in the Gasthaus Rauch.
Around 120 of the 375 members came to find out about the 2023 annual balance and to find out new things from the world of regional and European milk marketing.
In addition, some positions were up for election, and there was exciting current data from the Jäger contract milk plant.
Grucking - After District Administrator Martin Bayerstorfer congratulated the dairy farmers in the district, 433 in number with around 22,000 dairy cows, on their success, Evi Brielmair, CEO of the cooperative, reported an increase of around 8,500 kilograms of milk, which ultimately came at a price from now 48.07 cents per kilogram.
“124 suppliers delivered over 44.6 million kilograms, which brought you milk money of around 22.2 million euros and a loyalty bonus of almost 267,000 euros,” she praised and motivated those present.
A so-called volume increase bonus of around 48,000 euros was also paid out.
She also addressed the discussion about keeping dairy cows: “This dispute is currently being waged primarily by four large food chains in Germany, which are supplied by 55 dairies, including over 20,000 dairy farmers from Bavaria.
These major marketers want to impress their customers with animal-friendly farming methods, without taking regional circumstances into account,” criticized Brielmair.
Therese Westermaier also had big numbers with her: the 2023 annual report. She estimated the cooperative's fixed assets at around 1.85 million euros and the so-called current assets at around 2.71 million.
In 2023, a surplus of around 59,000 euros was generated, of which, according to the unanimous decision of the meeting, around 30,000 euros should go to the dividend distribution.
This will be paid out in mid-October.
After the discharge of the board of directors and supervisory board, the farewell to long-time board member Andreas Gruber, who has been there since 2003, as well as some new appointments were on the agenda.
Konrad scratch from Eitting was proposed as Gruber's successor on the board and he received full approval.
The supervisory board members Hubert Nußrainer, Albert Deutinger and Josef Scharl, who were leaving on a regular basis, were also unanimously re-elected, and Jakob Auerweck from Lupperg was a new addition.
The cooperative goes through the year with the board members Evi Brielmair and Josef Angermaier;
Josef Eicher remains chairman of the supervisory board.
Managing director Hermann Jäger reported on the new situation of the dairy, now Grundner-Jäger, an Austrian-German merger.
“In this new form of business division, we hold 60 percent of the shares, Grundner 40 percent.
The operational business runs from Hague, where we employ 460 people at the location.
Our 2,830 suppliers from neighboring Austria and Bavaria delivered a total of 728 million kilograms of milk in 2023, of which almost 500 million kilograms were processed in Hague alone, primarily into various types of cheese, but also into butter,” reported Jäger.
The total payout amounted to 50.08 cents per kilo.
Germany is number one in sales markets with around 27 percent, ahead of Italy with 24 and Austria with 18 percent.
In order to continue to operate successfully on the international market, a state-of-the-art vacuum center for packaging supply and an automated packaging line for mozzarella cheese will soon be built in Hague.
“We are also planning to expand additional photovoltaic open spaces on our site, a new gas-powered cogeneration plant and an underground pallet warehouse - stored outdoors, they have caused the displeasure of some residents and should therefore be buried under the ground,” explained the dairy factory boss.
This remark fit well with the district administrator's opening statement, who emphasized in his welcoming speech that today's society is becoming increasingly sensitive to the issue of agriculture (see also local page 1).
But, as a farmer himself, he remains “cautiously optimistic despite all the discussions.”