Dairy industry worried about disease threat

While Gippsland dairy farmers are relishing in the season’s high milk prices, GippsDairy executive officer Karen McLennan said the threat of foot and mouth disease is causing concern.

Ms McLennan said there was no doubt the dairy industry was enjoying strong confidence at the moment, but the fear of a foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak was very real.

“It is very topical. The fear is real amongst farmers because it could destroy the industry for some time,” she said.

Enforcing bio-security plans was one of the key factors Dairy Australia was encouraging farmers to do.

“Plans are being revised and tested. There is a lot of work being undertaken and we are discussing at round tables with government,” she said.

Ms McLennan said while the United Dairyfarmers of Victoria was providing a voice for farmers and advocating at government level, shae said Dairy Australia was working to implement strategies and assist farmers to maintain on farm health.

She said farmers were encouraged to instal bio-security signs and notify staff of key signs of FMD or lumpy skin disease to look for in livestock.

“It’s about what we can deliver on farm as well as training people in the industry to be aware. It’s all about how do we keep our people safe and the industry FMD free,” she said.

Ms McLennan said optimism and industry confidence was strong among GippsDairy farmers.

While high input costs and employment continued to be a concern, she said the recent survey of Gippsland farmers indicated confidence continued to be at high levels.

“Farmers are they will make a profit,” she said. “Input costs are a little high but the higher milk prices are combatting that.”

Record opening prices delivered by milk companies has been the backbone for renewed optimism and confidence in the industry.

Continued high prices and record opening prices increased positivity amongst Gippsland dairy farmers with the latest Dairy Australia Situation and Outlook report showing an upward trend in the Gippsland region.

In Gippsland, 92 per cent of farmers are optimistic about their 2021/22 profits.

In 2020/21, 87 per cent of GippsDairy businesses made an operating profit and 92 per cent are optimistic about profit expectations for the 2021/22 financial year.

The Gippsland snapshot for the past year also showed herds increased 31 per cent and 29 per cent of farmers expect further herd growth in the next two years.

The report also revealed 82 per cent of dairy farmers are confident about the future of their own businesses (up by two per cent on 2021), while 68 per cent of farmers are feeling positive about the future of the industry (up four per cent).

Ms McLennan said labour availability was a concern to many farm operations. She said finding the “right workforce” was becoming increasingly difficult.

“We are competing with a lot of industries so there are workforce challenges,” she said.

Since beginning in her role in February, Ms Mclennan said she was impressed at the level of commitment by farmers to be more environmentally sustainable.

She said there was a real commitment to climate change and the environment whether it be assessing alternative power sources, nutrient run-off practices or what they were doing with their effluent.