Protests don't represent whole sector - McAnulty
In a series of tweets last night, Labour MP and Golden Shears board member Kieran McAnulty said today’s Groundswell NZ protests do not represent the sector.
Protest meetings in Victoria and South Australia, further planned demonstrations and a direct meeting have all left Federal Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig unmoved.
Farmer Power representatives met with Minister Ludwig last month at a meeting hosted by the Victorian Farmers Federation. The United Dairy Farmers of Victoria also attended.
The group asked for cash assistance to help farmers address cash flow problems.
However, Ludwig later said although he recognised the ongoing concern among dairy farmers about their tough financial situation, the Government would not apply any further measures.
Ludwig said he and his parliamentary secretary, Sid Sidebottom, had regular contact with representatives of the dairy industry.
“Australian agriculture is seeing a patchwork effect and while some areas are doing well, others are doing it tough,” Ludwig said.
“For some dairy farmers in Victoria, a range of factors are combining to place pressure on their businesses.
“Dairy Australia is aware of these pressures and is using levies and government funding to support producers through initiatives such as the Tactics for Tight Times workshops.
“The Transitional Farm Family Payment is available to producers to provide some financial assistance.”
The payment is paid at a fortnightly rate equivalent to the Newstart allowance.
It helps farm families experiencing financial difficulty to manage the impacts of climate variability and market fluctuations.
South Australian Dairy Association (SADA) president David Basham is due to appeal to both Opposition Agriculture Spokesman John Cobb and Federal Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig for help in Canberra this month.
Farmer Power held meetings in Tongala, Warrnambool and Mt Gambier last month and each were well attended.
The Tongala meeting was dominated by presentations by guest speakers, including Barnaby Joyce, Dick Smith, and the local council. Bob Katter was invited up for a few minutes and implored the room to “vote for me”.
Farmers leapt at the chance at the end of the meeting to raise their concerns and these were primarily based on water and uncertainty surrounding irrigation allocations.
Opposition Agriculture spokesman John Cobb travelled to Warrnambool the following day and took questions for 90 minutes from the crowd of 150 farmers.
Although sympathetic, Cobb said there was no silver bullet for the industry.
Up to 200 people attended a meeting at Mt Gambier to discuss the current industry and listen to speakers, including Murray Goulburn representative Robert Poole, Dairy Australia’s Joanne Bills and Grain market analyst Ron Storey.
Farmers travelled from as far away as Blythe in South Australia’s mid-north to Cobden in Western Victoria and they asked questions right throughout the three hour meeting. There are about 290 dairy farms in South Australia.
South Australian Dairy Farmers association president David Basham told the crowd to register their interest for collective bargaining in a bid to improve farmgate returns.
He said the process had been successful in the Fleurieu Peninsula in bringing an extra processor to the region and adding competition.
An immediate solution offered by Basham was welfare support for those dairy farmers struggling to put food on the table in the current low price, high cost environment.
Farmers have been called to support another protest movement at Murray Bridge later this month. The March for Milk is expected to attract at least 300 protestors.
Organisers want to highlight trade tariff imbalances between Australia and other nations, a lack of real competition between milk processors in the domestic market, and downward price pressures from major supermarkets.
Fonterra has cemented its position as the country’s number one cheesemaker by picking up nine NZ Champion of Cheese trophies this year.
New Zealand dairy processors are welcoming the Government’s commitment to continuing to push for Canada to honour its trade commitments.
An educational programme, set up by Beef + Land New Zealand, to connect farmers virtually with primary and intermediate school students has reported the successful completion of its second year.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has welcomed a resolution adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to declare 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer.
Waikato herd health veterinarian Katrina Roberts is the 2024 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year.
Horticulture NZ chief executive Nadine Tunley will step down in August.