TURKEY farmers are being urged to stick together following the collapse of one of the region's biggest processors.

More than 30 turkey growers in the region were left reeling when Brandons announced it had gone into receivership on Monday, April 7.

The company has processing plants at Abergavenny, in Wales, and in Dalton, North Yorkshire.

But following an emergency meeting the following Thursday, growers in the region are sticking together and continuing to supply the company, which is being run by receivers, Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC).

Jean Davies, secretary of the Brandon Growers Association (BGA), said 33 of the 36 growers in the southern region - which covers Herefordshire and Worcestershire - had committed to continue to supply Brandons.

She said the company had a full order book up until Christmas, by which time the BGA was "quite hopeful" Brandons would be sold as a going concern.

Last week, PWC advertised the company "for sale" in the Financial Times.

"We've all been given purchase orders guaranteeing to buy the crops we've got in at the moment, at the same margin as before" said Mrs Davies, who farms with her husband and son near Ross-on-Wye.

"Only three growers have dropped out, which we're quite pleased about as we had to guarantee that we would supply a certain amount of sheds for the Abergavenny factory.

"If the company cannot fulfil orders, they might as well give up now."

She said growers owed money before April 7 still had not been paid. But growers who had birds on-site at that time, and who had placed birds since, were being paid for them.

"The receivers seem to be optimistic that they can sell the company," said Mrs Davies.

"There's a really good market for fresh, British turkey and the supermarkets realise that if they don't take supplies now, we won't be there to supply the Christmas birds."

Alan Edwards, policy adviser for the NFU, said growers needed to stick together.

Payment

"Growers need to stick together and keep supplying Brandons, then they'll have a going concern to sell," he said.

"The company is asking all the growers to stay with them, and has guaranteed them payment from now on. Without the growers, it's not a going concern.

"My message to the producers would be to keep together and don't panic. If they stick together, the odds are they'll get through it."