Valio’s responsibility starts with sustainable farming
Each one of our approximately 6000 dairy farmers must meet the milk quality requirements set by Valio. They need to show good farm practises, and follow the instructions for exceptional situations as set out and maintained in Valio’s Quality manual, which is regularly updated. Long-term co-operation is guaranteed by a quality agreement between the farm and the co-operative.
The composition and microbiological quality of milk are continuously analysed, and any deviations quickly corrected. In 2015, 99.99% of our raw milk met the EU1 first class standards. Regular farm audits, done annually through farm evaluations, are also an important part of assuring good farming practises.
Our quality guidance for milk producers includes:
- Quality requirements for raw milk
- Quality-based raw milk pricing
- Milk Quality Manual
- Internet and advisory services, Valma
- Dairy farm evaluations
But how does it work in practise? The dairy farmer makes a description of in-house control based on a template. Part of the farms self-control includes reports about sanity, as well as the feed and water quality control. Farmers must also document their pest control, waste handling, food safety and traceability, and even storages for medicine, additives, pesticides, fertilizes, biocides etc. In addition, each worker in the farm must be provided with a proper introduction to food hygiene and disease prevention.
Milk quality is evaluated every step of the way, from the farm to the dairy
Milk is collected from the farms every second day. The milk lorry drivers have signed a transport and quality agreement with Valio and they are responsible for their part of the quality chain. At the dairy farm, they measure the temperature of the raw milk in the farm tank, check the milk’s aroma, and take a sample from each milk load. The samples are then used for pricing and other control analyses. Once the raw milk has been tested to confirm there are no antibiotic residues, it can be pumped into the dairy silo at plant reception. Thanks to the samples, every milk load is traceable and any antibiotic residue can be spotted and tracked back to the farm.
On top of the quality requirements for raw milk, the quality guidance for milk collection includes Valio’s quality management system and in-house control and support programs such as Driver training and hygiene proficiency test, and approved collection vehicles.
