AYRSHIRE dairy farmer Philip Rowney has been elected to serve on the Müller Milk Group board, along with three other farmers from south of the Border, concluding the company's move to a fully elected farmer representation structure.

The new appointments complete a board of seven who will work with the 20 strong Müller milk group farmer forum to represent 1700 producers supplying the company.

Mr Rowney, who milks 500 cows at his Burton farm, Maybole, is joined by Ray Gibbins, David Herdman, and Richard Pearman. The positions of chairman, vice-chairman of the board and finance officer will be elected at the MMG board meeting next month.

Mr Rowney, who is on a Tesco contract with Müller, told The Scottish Farmer: “Along with Stephen Foster from Galston, this gives Scotland two places on the new board, although both Stephen and myself are originally from Northern Ireland.

“Although we have seen the milk price drop since the turn of the year I believe things will settle down a bit. Given the recent cold spell there is not much grass on and its likely to be a late spring flush. There is also a shortage of heifers and we could see less milk come through from October.”