increase font size
Milk price paid to Victorian farmers last season rose 33% to a record A$9.77/kgMS.
Dairy farmers in the Australian state of Victoria had a record profitable 2022-23 season, thanks to high milk prices and carefully managed high costs.
Dairy Farm Monitor Project - a partnership between Dairy Australia and Agriculture Victoria - includes collection and analysis of financial and production data from dryland and irrigated dairy farms in southwestern Victoria, Gippsland and northern Victoria.
It tracks 80 dairy farm businesses, and participants represent a distribution of farm size, feeding systems and herd sizes.
This year's findings revealed that milk price increased by 33% to A$9.77/kgMS - the highest on record in the survey's 17 years - helping to offset rising feed costs and overheads including labour.
Farmers use the reports to inform their business decisions, assess their business performance over time, implement substantial farm changes and assist in financial management.
Dairy Australia general manager research & innovation, Greg Jarman, says that some of these decisions can have a lasting impact on the profitability and sustainability of their farm.
"The Dairy Farm Monitor Project is a valuable source of independent physical and financial data around a wide range of on farm practices, equipping farmers with essential insights to inform their decision making," says Jarman.
"This information also ensures that farm consultants and industry stakeholders can use reliable, independent and useful information and resources to provide good advice to farmers."
Valued at A$2.5 billion, Victorian dairy leads the nation's exports. The gross value of milk produced in Victoria is worth A$2.86 billion and the sector supports almost 13,000 jobs, almost half of which are in regional Victoria. There were approximately 2,773 dairy farm businesses in Victoria that produced 5.14 billion litres or 63% of Australia's national milk production in 2022-23.
"It is pleasing to see Victorian dairy farmers come out on top following a year of higher business inputs, wet conditions and flooding," Agriculture Victoria Sector Development and Services Executive Director, Dougal Purcell says.
"We thank the Dairy Farm Monitor project participants for their dedicated support to this initiative, providing such valuable information to industry and governent."
ANYTHING GOOD for Australia is in the long run good for New Zealand. That’s the reaction of Trade Minister Tim Groser to the news that Australia has signed a free trade agreement with China, and to speculation that their FTA with China is better than NZ’s, especially regarding dairy products.
OPINION: A mutilation mystery is playing out on a remote Central Queensland property in Australia after a number of cows were found dead in inexplicable circumstances.
Rising input costs are affecting Australian dairy farmers, making it more important than ever to ensure that the farm is operating efficiently and not wasting money, says Dairy Australia.
A shrinking milk pool in Australia is forcing major processors, including Fonterra, to outbid each other and secure farmer suppliers for the new season.
OPINION: News that the Labour Government is spending taxpayer money to advertise to New Zealanders living in Australia that life is better there now they can get citizenship is appalling.
The real winner of this year’s FMG Young Farmer Region-off have been the regional communities.
As calving approaches, farmers need to get their teams ready for what lies ahead in the coming months.
Feeling sluggish this winter? Then try some seasonal fruit, renowned for lifting mood, energy and immunity levels just when we need it most.
The missing link in getting maximum weight gain in your calves may be as simple as keeping them warm, says the Christchurch manufacturer of a range of woollen covers for young livestock.
Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) and Massey University are joining forces to help raise awareness and funds to combat leptospirosis.
Auckland-based supplement and nutritional company New Image International is celebrating 40 years of business in their home country.
OPINION: Several days after securing shareholder approval for a $130 million loan from Bright Dairy, Synlait has delivered more bad…
OPINION: Recently several Labour MPs, including leader Chris Hipkins and deputy leader Carmel Sepuloni spent two days in Waikato with…
