Milk flows at record levels to boost state

TASMANIA has set a food production record with the dairy industry producing more milk last financial year than any previous record.

The 950 million litres was a 4.5 per cent increase from the year before and 37 million litres above the previous best, set in 2017-18.

There are 394 dairy farms in the state and while the number of farms may be decreasing, the number of cows is rising.

“There has been systemic confidence in the dairy sector for several years now,” Dairy Tas chief executive Jonathan Price said.

Mr Price said the investment in irrigation was a sign of that confidence.

Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show Tasmania’s agricultural production is growing at a faster rate than the rest of the country, increasing by 10.3 per cent compared with a national average of 7.9 per cent.

Primary Industries Minister Guy Barnett said dairy was once again the state’s highest value commodity with the ABS reporting an agricultural production value of $457 million, up 6 per cent. The growth is being driven by higher farm gate prices.

“This is a great outcome for Tasmanian producers because 2018-19 was a tough year,” Mr Barnett said.

“The Government is delivering $900,000 over four years through the Grow more, Milk more and Make more initiative to work with dairy farmers on productivity, farm business and value-adding strategies.”

Support includes a dairyspecific round of the On Farm Energy Audit and Capital Grants Program, a Dairy Extension program, financial management mentoring and business planning program, and the stock underpass program that assists farmers to build underpasses to safely move stock.

Mr Barnett said primary industry would play a key role in the state’s economic recovery.

“Tasmania produces nearly three times as much food as we consume on-island, so we are immensely proud of our farmers,” he said.