Dairy farming is in Mike Gorton’s blood. He’s been part of the industry since leaving school in 1978 to undertake an HND in Agriculture at Harper Adams.
A farm manager and worker at the time, his dad successfully won the tenancy of Harebarrow Farm in Over Alderley, Macclesfield when Mike was at college. This is still the holding they farm today for the Guinness family.
They started off milking 24 cows and built the herd up to an average size of 70.
“I’ve always seen myself as a bit of an entrepreneur,” joked Mike.
“While milking cows I also had a small haulage business for a while and worked in the animal feed industry for a short while as well.”
When milk prices were at an all-time low at the end of 2015, Mike took responsibility and battled on behalf of the whole dairy industry at a time when his business was under immense pressure. He was a First Milk Cooperative member, endured milk price cut after milk price cut but still found time to invite national and regional media onto his farm to tell the world how badly dairy farmers were suffering at that time.
He was awarded with a high profile communicator of the year award by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR), an accolade that is tinged with sadness as it coincided with his brave decision to leave dairy farming in the highest profile way possible – by inviting the television cameras onto farm on the emotional day the cows left Harebarrow Farm for the very last time.
The sadness of the footage struck a chord with the public who had never witnessed the real human impact of low farm gate milk prices.
Oddly, the reason behind Mike’s departure from dairy was also the catalyst for his successful career in the NFU.
When he joined First Milk in 2000 he was disillusioned with the job and decided to change things. He became a local director before progressing to First Milk’s main board.
Mike said: “I came off the First Milk board when they restructured and cut down the number of board directors. I was one of the directors who were surplus to requirements. That’s when I was approached by former NFU Business Development Manager Andy Williams at Cheshire Show. I was not even an NFU member at the time but within 12 months of joining up and paying my subscription I found myself on the NFU North West Dairy Board.
“When Russell Bowman stood down as chairman I replaced him. I am now in my third term and have enjoyed every minute.
“During the next 12 months I want to see fairer contracts for all dairy farmers. That is my number one priority. Through the NFU we are creating a model contract. Selling the concept to the industry will be a difficult job, which I acknowledge, but it’s crucial to the industry’s survival.”
- Mike is married to Pat, has a son called Robert who is a teacher and a daughter called Claire who has just graduated from art school.