Welcome to The Dairy Mail

The MPO recently upgraded and redesigned its website to offer improved services to producers and consumers countrywide. The website, www.mpo.co.za, is aimed at providing producers with up-to-date information relevant to the dairy industry. Philip Swart, who coordinates the MPO website, said the key aspects taken into consideration when designing the site was that it had to be user-friendly, uncomplicated and easy to navigate. He believes they achieved their goals.

Swart said that they had focused specifically on the five strategic core functions of the MPO. This includes market protection, information, communication, technology transfer and the members’ desk. The homepage contains a short history on the MPO and a summary of the role and function of the organisation. This gives a look at the MPO’s roots and how it became the organisation it is today.

The core functions of the MPO are located on the right-hand side of the page. Each function contains a number of subcategories with information relevant to that function. Each core function contains a brief summary of its functions and purpose, giving background information about the MPO.

Market protection
We start with Market Protection, as it plays a vital role in the MPO’s mandate to control illegal and substandard imports. This function is headed by Ms Barbara Bieldt, manager: Market protection of the MPO. This function is divided into two categories, namely Agri Inspec and the Technical Liaison Committee.

Visitors using the website will be able to receive feedback from the MPO and Agri Inspec regarding illegal imports, import statistics and news relating to import control. The Technical Liaison Committee link contains information on the successful committee started by Ms Bieldt to address problems in the dairy market sector. This committee is made up of officials from the MPO, the South African ­Revenue Services and departments of health and agriculture. The committee meets once every three months and all feedback from these meetings will be posted on the website.

Communication
The second function on the MPO’s website is Communication. The MPO views this function as especially vital to keep milk producers informed of the latest dairy news and statistics. This function keeps milk producers abreast of the latest research, new technology, local and international trends, news and events, which may have an influence on their farming enterprises. All general news and press releases related to the industry are posted here, as well as the weekly MPO newsletter distributed to milk producers countrywide. The gallery section will be used to showcase local farmers and their herds, as well as any snapshots taken at MPO meetings, including the road shows.

Information
The third strategic function is Information. The MPO believes up-to-date information allows milk producers to take informed decisions in the current free market environment and to negotiate meaningfully with other role-players in the value chain, such as milk buyers. The subcategories in this function comprise Statistics, Industry Information, Lacto Data and Economic Indicators. Dr Koos Coetzee, MPO economist, provides the relevant information for each category.

Visitors to the site will be able to view data regarding international and local dairy and economic trends, producer, processor and retail prices of milk and dairy products, annual forecasts, international competitiveness of local producers and much more.

Technology
The fourth function on the website is Technology. This brings the MPO’s Institute for Dairy Technology (IDT) and Centre for Producer Development (CenDel) together. Drs Jan du Preez and Nico Schutte are in charge of these organisations. This function allows producers to keep abreast of dates and news from training days, farmer days, the popular Large Herds Conference, All Africa Dairy School & Expo and the IDF World Dairy Summit.

In addition, producers can also read AgriBEE, farm worker training, technology transfer and mentorship programmes. This sector also has its own gallery, where producers can see if they have been snapped at a training day or two.

Members’ Desk
The fifth core function of the MPO is the Members’ Desk. This function enables producers to view information relevant to their regions. This includes news, important dates, feedback from regional meetings and announcements from the chairpersons of their respective regions.

These categories are supplemented by links leading to other websites such as those of The Dairy Mail, SARS, ITAC and other institutions. An important addition is the calendar containing the dates of important MPO meetings and training days.

Swart said the website is continually updated and improved to provide producers the best of what the MPO has to offer.
He says the website is a vital link in the MPO, aiming to keep producers informed of all relevant dairy matters, both locally and internationally.

Members who want to contact Philip can reach him at philip@mpo.co.za.