Dairy farmers in the north-east have rallied together to form a new organisation with a view to potentially building a new milk processing plant for the region. The North-East Milk Producers Organisation comprises 26 farmers who produce a combined total of 54million litres of milk every year.The group’s chairman Roy Mitchell, who farms at Drimmies Farm near Inverurie, said the organisation was formed in response to dairy giant Muller’s decision to close its Aberdeen milk processing plant last summer. Mr Mitchell said the new farmer organisation was the natural next step on from work carried out by economic development agency Opportunity North East and Aberdeenshire Council into market options for north-east milk and the feasibility of building a new processing plant.“Now it’s time to see if the farmers are interested,” said Mr Mitchell.“All the farmers have put money in to help finalise the business plan. We want to look into the potential of building a new plant if the market is there for it.”