Dairy farmer’s warning
Future looks uncertain
FOR ten years dairy farmers have fought for a fair go.
Since the beginning of the supermarkets milk price war and $1/litre milk in 2011, the dairy industry has faced a crisis.
Last month’s decision by Woolworths to end its $1/litre milk has drawn praise but also anger.
While farmers say it is a positive move, many also say it should never have come to this in the first place.
The change also comes too late for some.
Mount Tarampa’s Richard Peterkin is a fourth-generation dairy farmer, and despite surviving the millennium drought as well as the 2011 and 2013 floods, he said his time on the farm would soon come to an end.
“I don’t see a future in dairying,” Mr Peterkin said.
“It’s time for a career change for me. As soon as we can find a suitable buyer for our animals and our property we’ll be exiting the industry.
“We’ve been eternal optimists for so long and it’s come time where we’ve had to bite the bullet.
He said while Woolworths’ decision was a step in the right direction, it was too little too late and would not benefit his farm revenue.
“I don’t receive one cent from Woolworths, my supplier has a contract with Coles,” he said.
Coles has resisted calls to follow Woolworths’ lead, claiming increasing the price of its home-brand milk would put pressure on consumers.
But Mr Peterkin said the retail giant was in a position to make a serious change.
He also criticised Woolworths for using the 10c increase on its home brand milk as a PR stunt to make it look like they were doing something.
He warned until genuine changes were made in the dairy industry, farmers would continue to struggle.