Milk industry souring
WHEN looking at the woes of the dairy industry, we do not have farther to look than across the ditch.
In 2017, New Zealand had 4.8 million milking cows and produced more than 1.3 billion tonnes of milk powder, giving the NZ economy a $13.4 billion industry.
In Australia we have 1.6 million dairy cows, contributing $4.4 billion or 7 per cent of gross agricultural production.
In 2018-19, Australia imported 78 million tonnes of milk powder, mainly from New Zealand.
In recent years, volatility of farm gate price has seen dairy farmers walking away from the industry at an alarming rate. In 2000, Queensland had 1500 dairy farms. Now we have 340.
The Labor Party will stand and allow this, as they need Green votes to get government.
The Liberal Party will allow this to happen, as they believe who can survive the free market is how they see our progress.
They have an old saying in America: without farming, you have no economy.
Dairy farming is not for everyone, as it is a 365-day job. Dairy farmers pay retail for every single thing they use to give you fresh milk, while selling at below cost in most instances.
They are at the mercy of overseas-owned companies, the present industry body is useless, and the political parties are not interested in keeping the skill, the love or the productivity of our dairy industry. By 2028, we will have no dairy farms, except a few boutique farms, and only the rich will be able to pay the price for fresh milk.
When you have not got fresh milk, just ask a mother what she will do, or what your trendy latte will use for milk.
The crisis we face is now, the political powers should not be turning away, but they are.
When you have nothing but asphalt, cement and skyscrapers to view, the farm land seems a distant annoyance.
I have seen dairy farmers called horrible names by a generation raised on the produce they produce.
Going vegan may work for some people, but the majority of
Australians want fresh milk, ice cream and cheese and they want it to come from our farmers, they want it 365 days a year.
Yet because of inaction, ruthless politics and a lost touch with where food comes from, our next generation will not have the luxury of a fresh drink of milk.
DEBRA GIBSON, Pinnacles.