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Australian feta cheese under attack in EU free trade deal

March 2, 2023

By RICK GLADIGAU, AUSTRALIAN DAIRY FARMERS PRESIDENT

The Australian dairy industry is united in its fight against the European Union’s (EU) geographic indicators (GIs) claim, which represents a potential $75-95 million loss.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) describes geographic indicators as “a name used on a product that has a specific geographical origin and possesses qualities or a reputation that are essentially attributable to that origin”.
You might have heard about GIs in the news recently. That’s because talks on the Australia-EU free trade agreement kicked off again recently, and the EU wants GIs included.
The EU wants to restrict the use of more than 160 agricultural and food names in Australia. The list includes cheeses, meat and smallgoods, horticultural produce, alcoholic drinks and more. Fifty cheese names are included.
The acceptance of GIs in Australia would have deep consequences for our dairy industry.
Australian favourites such as feta, parmesan and haloumi are among those potentially in danger.
Australian Dairy Farmers considers these are common names, adopted right around the world. These cheeses have been produced in Australia for generations, in some cases by immigrants who brought the heritage, traditions and cheese making skills here.
GIs are not accepted globally and are applied inconsistently in Europe. For example, the EU is trying to claim feta for Greece. However, the EU is also home to Danish feta.
Forcing cheesemakers to change the name of their product and denying them the right to use their branding due to evoking European heritage is unjustified. The effects of this will be greatly felt when it comes to farmgate prices, demand for raw milk, and the unfair displacement of local Australian producers and quality made products, putting up to 1000 jobs at risk.
This will inhibit Australian production so the EU can increase exports at our expense.
In addition, the potential direct impact on Australian dairy manufacturers from lost sales and increased marketing costs caused by the strict enforcement of GIs could range from a staggering $75 million to $95 million a year in the early stages of the FTA.

Not a fair claim

ADF supports free and fair trade. That’s why we don’t accept the EU’s claim, and we wouldn’t want to see a similar Australian claim forced upon our trading partners.
To flip the GIs argument – we often forget the macadamia tree is native to Australia.
Macadamia nuts are now grown in Australia, Hawaii, California, Central and South America and Africa.
Europeans clearly have an appetite for them. The Centre for the Promotion of Imports from Developing Countries – a Netherlands government department – suggests Europe is the second-largest importing region of macadamia nut kernels, buying 30 per cent of total world exports.
They’re happily marketed as macadamias worldwide.
Similarly, the lamington originated in Queensland. But I can’t imagine there’s many people wanting to force European bakers to market “sponge squares covered in chocolate sauce and coconut”.
Nobody likes the sound of yeast spread, and let’s not explore a Chiko Roll.

A poor case

To add salt to the wound, the Europeans say products with GI protection can attract twice the value in sales. But research from Hazel Moir, Honorary Associate Professor, Centre for European Studies (CES), at the Australian National University, shows that the GI policy is politically motivated.
She found relevant economic data to support GI policy was most lacking in the EU, “where the European Commission does not yet collect good data to evaluate and improve GI policy”.
Ms Moir reported Europe’s most recent study, from 2013, “simply involves 13 case studies with almost no quantitative data”.
A key point missing from the discussion to date has been the significant changes the Australian government would have to take, should it agree to protect EU GIs.
Implementing such an agreement would require legislative change which would come at a considerable cost to the Australian taxpayer.

Consumer confusion

It’s important to recognise that this debate extends beyond the name of a product. It also includes how it is presented to the consumer.
That represents two layers of confusion for consumers.
Feta and parmesan are the cheeses at highest risk. There are more than 70 Australian brands of feta and 30 brands of parmesan in the market.
Under the GIs regimen, these products would become white, crumbly cheese stored in brine, or semi-hard, grainy cheese.
If introduced, Australian producers could also have to alter the packaging, labels and colours if they are deemed to contribute to a perception the product is of European origin.

Open trade support

Just as Australians value a fair go and share our produce with the world, we value a fair trading environment.
ADF supports free and fair trade, and we look forward to continuing to work with government on this FTA, to achieve a win-win outcome in the best interests of the Australian dairy sector.
The GIs claim represents millions of dollars the industry can’t afford to lose.
Economics & Trade

EU plans to stop Australia using popular cheese names

February 3, 2023

By RICK GLADIGAU, AUSTRALIAN DAIRY FARMERS PRESIDENT

Australians are being urged to stand behind cheesemakers whose livelihoods are under attack from the European Union as part of the Free Trade Agreement negotiations.
The EU wants to impose Geographic Indications (GI) on cheese.
Under a GI system, Australian cheesemakers could not use cheese names such feta, parmesan, haloumi, pecorino, neufchatel and gruyere.
But imported European cheeses could still use the names.
Cheesemaker Mauro Montalto, from Floridia Cheese, said the introduction of GIs on European cheese would result in more overseas products at Australian supermarkets, taking up prime space Australian producers currently held.
“Our family has been making cheese in Australia for more than 65 years, and the EU’s attempts to restrict common food names is in one word – unjustified,” he said.
“This new system privileges one set of producers, namely those in the European Union, over local Australian producers.”
If the EU is successful, this could have an enormous negative impact on many Australian dairy manufacturers who produce high quality locally made dairy products.
Australian Dairy Farmers president and Australian Dairy Industry Council chair Rick Gladigau said Australia had a rich tradition of cheese making.
It was a core part of the country’s food culture built upon it proud multicultural heritage.
“The impact of a strict agreement on GIs cannot be underestimated,” said Mr Gladigau.
The EU wants to go a step further and restrict the right of cheesemakers to highlight their cultural heritage by banning the use of certain colours, fonts and other branding which it believes could ‘evoke’ European heritage – potentially extending to Greek-style yoghurt as well.
“Forcing cheesemakers to change the name of their product and denying them the right to use their branding due to evoking European heritage is unacceptable,” Mr Gladigau said.
“The effects of this will be greatly felt when it comes to farmgate prices, demand for raw milk, and the unfair displacement of local Australian producers and quality made products, putting up to 1000 jobs at risk.”
The EU’s trade restrictive GIs regime would impact many local cheese brands and artisans and cost them an estimated $77 million-$95 million per annum in the early years of implementation.
“Many of the GI at risk cheeses have been made in Australia for generations. We must protect not only our beloved cheeses but support the cheesemakers who have been making quality products for generations – small and large,” Mr Gladigau said.
“Australia is a multicultural country, and our food culture is a pivotal part of our identity that reflects our proud migrant history.
“Many European immigrants have built successful cheese businesses that supply Aussies with great tasting, nutritious, cheese.”
Mr Montalto said if the EU were successful, many family-run specialty cheese manufacturers, such as his own, would be forced to rebrand their products.
“We’ve seen the EU GI system challenged within the EU itself, and we know it has been inconsistently applied with trading partners such as Canada, NZ, and Japan, in the past,” he said.
Biosecurity, Farming operations

Farmer action key to being prepared for biosecurity threats

February 2, 2023

By RICK GLADIGAU, AUSTRALIAN DAIRY FARMERS PRESIDENT

You’d have done well to escape commentary last year about Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) being closer than ever to Australian shores.

It has been 150 years since FMD was last in Australia. Currently, the threat of incursion has never been more real.
An expert panel’s assessment showed the probability of an incursion within the next five years had increased significantly. For LSD it more than doubled and the risk of an FMD incursion is up more than 30 per cent.
As the headlines of 2022 fade into the rear-view mirror and we power into 2023, Australian farmers would do well to remain aware of the threat. Behind the scenes, Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) has worked with countless other organisations to ensure the dairy industry is as best prepared as possible.

Dairy week serves up biosecurity for breakfast

Industry and government have worked together to update many aspects of preparedness and response plans in the past 12 months.
ADF provided an update on these preparations and an overview of the threat and outlook at an industry breakfast we hosted at International Dairy Week at Tatura, Victoria, last month.
The government has done a substantial amount of work to reduce risk and keep FMD out. It has responded to industry concerns by vaccinating cattle and improving biosecurity practice in Indonesia, increasing border controls and detector dogs and implementing other initiatives such as product import risk reviews including dairy products. This has lowered the risk and kept the virus out of Australia.
Looking ahead, ADF has made its position on emergency animal disease (EAD) preparedness clear. Together, dairy leaders are loudly advocating to the government for better preparedness on biosecurity.
In our submission to the Senate’s Inquiry into the Adequacy of Australia’s biosecurity measures and response preparedness, we highlighted ways to further improve Australia’s already commendable preparedness work.
We highlighted the need for ongoing biosecurity funding at or above 2016-17 levels in real terms and greater transparency around where that funding is spent.
ADF also advocated for the reinstatement of the 80pc target for security screening of incoming travellers at the borders.
The full submission is available on the Australian Parliament’s website.

ADF has Senator’s ear, recognition for dairy

The submission has been extensively considered by Senator Linda White, a member of the Senate Standing Committees on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport, who we were pleased to hear from at the IDW breakfast.
We welcomed Senator White’s acknowledgement of dairy’s united voice on biosecurity. Senator White said agricultural commodities with a united voice had a better chance of clearly advocating for their needs.
Importantly, most of the observations and proposals we made in our submission to the inquiry have been addressed in comment and/or recommendation by the committee in its report.

The stakes are high; be ready, alert

In his address Exotic Animal Disease Preparedness Taskforce leader Dr Brant Smith said Australia enjoyed a good reputation globally for managing disease threats but he said vigilance was important.
We were reminded of the control measures that would be implemented in Australia should there be an EAD incursion.
Consideration of the consequences of these measures reinforces the need for adequate preparation.
For example, the first stage of the response for a FMD incursion involves a national livestock standstill.
Milk collection, transporting and processing would continue.
However, farmers would not be able to move livestock off their property. Other restrictions include:
  • Restrict effluent on public roads.
  • Tankers and other vehicles to be washed/disinfected before entering your property and upon exit.
  • You would have to record all vehicle and people movements.
  • Essential visitors only – and they must use a property vehicle.
  • Personnel and visitors would be subject to increased hygiene requirements.
Stage two of the response would include a move to a zoning system. A restricted area, control area and outside area would be established. Movement between zones would be heavily restricted.
Rigorous on-farm biosecurity practices would prove critical in the management of the virus in this stage and, if found wanting, may jeopardise milk being collected.
When you consider the severity of these implications you can see why the dairy industry needs to be prepared and aware, but not alarmed.

Preparedness starts with action on-farm

The biosecurity system is even stronger when farmers take action at home too.
Justin Toohey, who is advising ADF on animal health, welfare and biosecurity, also spoke at the breakfast. Mr Toohey said dairy farmers should consider what they can do to benefit their businesses and biosecurity.
He recommends farmers:
  • Remove livestock from tanker tracks.
  • Separate ‘farm’ and ‘visitor’ personnel and vehicles.
  • Install tree belts between farm and neighbour(s).
  • Re-purpose water carriers/pumps for decontamination.

Essentially, dairy farmers should use the coming months and years to create barriers between their animals and the outside world.

Farmers can take action today. Get started by saving the Australian Government’s EAD Watch Hotline (1800 675 888) into your phone.

Biosecurity, Farming operations, Policy & Advocacy

ADF seeks change to Australia’s biosecurity system

November 1, 2022

By CRAIG HOUGH, STRATEGY & POLICY DIRECTOR, AUSTRALIAN DAIRY FARMERS
Dairy is working alongside partners in the livestock industry and the Australian Government to transform Australia’s biosecurity system.

As globalisation continues to increase the rates of movement of both people and goods into Australia from areas where pests and diseases are more widespread, the risk to our industry is increasing.

Biosecurity affects the profitability and sustainability of our industry. An incursion, of any sort, lowers production, disrupts trade and adversely impacts animal welfare and the mental health of farmers and stakeholders. For example, the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) estimated a widespread FMD outbreak in Australia would have a direct economic impact of around $80 billion.

In August 2022, Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) made a submission to the Senate’s Rural and Regional Affairs’ committee’s Inquiry into the Adequacy of Australia’s biosecurity measures and response preparedness, in particular with respect to foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).

Our submission endorses, and builds on, the Australian Government’s National Biosecurity Strategy, which provides a 10-year roadmap for significant change to our biosecurity system.

An analysis of various reports from the Inspector General of Biosecurity, the CSIRO, independent reviews and consultation with ADF members and stakeholders informed this submission. For example, the CSIRO report Australia’s Biosecurity Future: Unlocking the next decade of resilience in 2020 found that between 2012 and 2017, the annual number of interceptions of biosecurity risk materials at Australian borders rose by almost 50 per cent. Such an increase in threats requires an increase in capability and efficiency in response.

So, ADF is calling on the Australian Government for additional reforms to the biosecurity system to ensure Australia is fully prepared to respond swiftly to the growing biosecurity threats.

Specifically, our submission calls for everyone to ensure exotic animal diseases do not enter Australia. We call for reforms to governance, funding, disease categorisation, surveillance and detection, diagnostics and vaccine development and a review of compliance measures.

The key recommendations in our submission include:

  • Consolidation of the separate governance models into one biosecurity governance model for animals and one for plants
  • More specific details on what actions and outcomes biosecurity funding is being directed towards to improve funding transparency
  • A commitment from Government for ongoing funding at or above 2016-17 levels in real terms, and to work with industry to explore establishing a dedicated industry biosecurity levy
  • Reinstatement of the 80 per cent screening target at the borders
  • A review of biosecurity infringements and penalties issued over the past decade to determine whether enforcement has been adequate
  • Transforming the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness into a centre of excellence for vaccine and diagnostics capability for livestock diseases to enhance our ability to develop better vaccines and biosecurity tools
  • Amending the Biosecurity Act 2015 to drive continuous improvement in the system.

    • An explanation of the rationale of these reforms can be found in the ADF submission. A final report from the Senate committee is due to be tabled in the Senate on 24 November 2022.

    As we know, there are no silver bullets for biosecurity. Biosecurity is everyone’s business – it is a shared responsibility. We need adequate measures in place to protect Australia’s agricultural industry from any threats of pests and disease, and this involves working together to protect our farms, livelihoods and natural environment.
    —–
    ADF’s submission can be viewed at: www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Rural_and_Regional_Affairs_and_Transport/FMDBiosecurity/Submissions
    For more about the National Biosecurity Strategy:
    www.biosecurity.gov.au/about/national-biosecurity-committee/nbs

    Labour, People & Community, Policy & Advocacy

    Dairy gets seat on jobs taskforce

    October 30, 2022

    By CRAIG HOUGH, STRATEGY & POLICY DIRECTOR, AUSTRALIAN DAIRY FARMERS

    Resolving workforce shortages in Australian agriculture, including the dairy sector, is a key priority for government, unions and rural industry in 2022/23.

    Over 110 recommendations emerged from the Jobs and Skills Summit in September 2022. These need to be analysed and formalised into a White Paper and funded via the October 2022 Federal Budget. Priority should be given to actions that help resolve worker shortage now like providing $36.1 million in additional funding to accelerate visa processing and resolve the visa backlog.

    Agriculture Minister Murray Watt has announced a new tripartite Agricultural Workforce Working Group. The group brings together the Australian Government, unions and employer groups to generate solutions that better skill, attract, protect and retain workers in the agriculture and processing sectors.

    Through collaboration, the working group will ensure the agricultural sector benefits from announcements made at the Jobs and Skills Summit in relation to skills, migration and worker protections.

    Dairy has secured a place in this milestone taskforce, alongside three other employer groups.

    ADF National Council member Ann Gardiner was named representative for the dairy industry, with an alternate member yet to be nominated. This is a fantastic achievement for the Australian dairy industry.

    Farm workforce shortage dominates dairy conversations
    Although the working group is a crucial step in the right direction, more action is needed. The dairy industry requires immediate support and long-term planning to address the systemic worker shortage.

    This issue is long-standing but has been exacerbated by the pandemic, particularly the Omicron outbreak which saw thousands of workers along the dairy supply chain having to isolate because they have caught COVID-19 or are close contacts.

    The National Agriculture Workforce Strategy, which was launched last December, was welcomed by ADF as it contains 37 recommendations to modernise agriculture’s image, attract and retain workers, embrace innovation, build people’s skills, and treat workers ethically. Most of these recommendations align with the Jobs Summit recommendations. In some instances, the strategy provides a more effective option than the Summit’s proposal. For example, the strategy recommended establishment of a Workforce Data Unit to improve agriculture workforce statistics and forecasting.

    Currently, significant gaps exist like with the ABS’s Job Vacancy data which reports on most sectors but not agriculture. The Jobs Summit acknowledged the issue but proposed a different solution. It recommended the establishment of an independent body called Jobs and Skills Australia to undertake this and other workforce planning tasks. A unit in the department is a preferred option because it is quicker to establish, subject to direct Ministerial oversight and is more cost-effective. It is important that the new working group considers the strategy in its deliberations. Significant work was undertaken by ADF and other agriculture groups to develop the strategy with government. We do not want to see this disregarded just because it was a former government initiative.

    At an agriculture workforce roundtable chaired by Minister Watt in Brisbane back in August, I highlighted the efforts industry is taking to help address the worker crisis. The People in Dairy website provides extensive workforce information for potential and current employees and employers in the industry.

    In September, Dairy Australia launched a new national marketing campaign to promote the benefits of working in dairy farming and encourage Australians to explore a job in dairy. This extension of the Dairy Matters campaign is being delivered into dairying regions across TV, YouTube, radio, social media and local newspapers. We encourage jobseekers to visit www.dairyjobsmatter.com.au for more information.

    All these efforts to bring people to industry – and keep them – are vital to resolving the workforce shortage.

    Farming operations

    Backing our farming operations

    October 1, 2022

    By RICK GLADIGAU, PRESIDENT, AUSTRALIAN DAIRY FARMERS

    SINCE 1942, Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) has been developing policy, and advocating on issues such as water, climate, biosecurity, energy and animal welfare, to support dairy farmers’ operations.

    To mark ADF’s 80th anniversary it is timely to look back on significant advocacy outcomes.

    One of the great success stories of the Australian industry is the Australian Dairy Herd Improvement Scheme (ADHIS), which was set up in 1979 to progress increased herd genetics. ADF was instrumental in the development of the ADHIS.

    In 2011, ADHIS released Australia’s first Genomic Breeding Values. ADHIS became DataGene in 2016. By 2016, it is estimated that ADHIS had generated $200 million in net benefits to dairy farmers at a cost of about $10 million.

    Another achievement is this publication, the Australian Dairyfarmer magazine. Initially set up in 1984 to communicate Australian Breeding Values (ABVs) for production traits to farmers, it quickly evolved into the go-to source of information, learning tools and community engagement, as it still is today.

    In 2018, ADF adopted the NFF climate policy for an economy-wide target of net zero emissions by 2050 (with conditions). One of these conditions is that Australian and state governments must adequately fund emissions reduction programs and research to enable farmers to utilise new methodologies and technologies to lower greenhouse gas emissions across their business while also increasing farm productivity.

    ADF successfully advocated for an independent analysis of socioeconomic impacts of the Murray Darling Basin Plan in the southern basin. ADF has adopted the National Farmers Federation’s position the plan, so long as the water acquired by the Australian Government achieves good environmental outcomes without harming dairy operations and rural communities. ADF believes a smart and efficient implementation of the plan can generate positive environmental and socio-economic outcomes without the need for the Government to acquire an extra 450 gigalitres (GL). ADF continues to advocate for outcomes-based policymaking for water management to sustain dairy production in the food bowl of Australia.

    In 2020, ADF developed a policy framework that addressed issues for dairy farmers in bushfire management e.g. land clearing, consultation with fire affected farmers and on-the-ground responses to bushfires. The framework considers findings and the implementation of recommendations from bushfire inquiries, including the 2010 Victorian Royal Commission. The framework was shared with the Australian Government to support the nation’s bushfire recovery effort.

    A new approach for managing animal health, welfare
    A fresh approach to the management of Bovine Johne’s disease (BJD) in cattle emerged in 2016 with the release of a framework by Animal Health Australia.

    ADF sought revisions to the framework (which were endorsed), including a focus on a program to assess individual BJD farm status and how to eradicate or manage the disease so as not to bring it on-farm. Further, ADF released a revised risk-profiling score to assess and manage the likelihood of BJD in dairy cattle.

    In 2021, ADF formed a skills-based group tasked with recommending a policy for managing surplus calves in the Australian dairy industry. This work follows the ADF Dairy Beef Forum in July 2021. This forum explored current information, research and business opportunities for surplus calves in Australia. Establishing a policy on surplus calves is a priority in the ADF Strategic Plan.

    An end to routine calving induction that generated high animal health and welfare outcomes was achieved in January 2022. Following a decision in April 2015 to phase-out routine induction by 2022, work by ADF, Dairy Australia, farmers, vets, and processors, together with improved herd improvement practices, tools and technologies, achieved this goal.

    Economics & Trade, Farming operations

    Margin risk offsets high milk prices

    July 15, 2022

    By RICK GLADIGAU, PRESIDENT, AUSTRALIAN DAIRY FARMERS

    WHILE high opening milk prices are critical for the viability of the Australian dairy sector, increasingly volatile global markets are taking effect with rising cost pressures through the supply chain.

    There is strong competition from processors in the market, which is fantastic for dairy farmers. ADF recognises that these opening prices for milk at the farmgate are strong, and we believe there is potential for more increases because processors need to meet existing domestic and international contracts with a limited milk supply.

    However, the costs of fodder, fuel, fertiliser and electricity are skyrocketing, eating into the margins of most dairy producers.

    Currently, the biggest cost is grain, with wheat prices jumping 25 per cent in recent weeks. In extreme cases, feed costs can represent one-third of a dairy farm’s turnover.

    In a volatile market, the increase in the milk price paid to farmers is not keeping pace with the unprecedented rises in the cost of farm inputs. Some dairy farmers are under significant pressure.

    It is timely for farmers to review their operations in response to the increasing input costs.

    Real action needed to support dairy recovery

    The next three years is a defining period for the sustainability of the Australian dairy industry. As the recognised national policy and advocacy organisation working for dairy farmers, we will be doing our utmost to ensure the reality of this situation is well understood by the Labor Government and consumers.

    The government made pre-election pledges that respond to several issues in our policy statement – which if properly executed – will help the profitability and sustainability of dairy farmers. These include:

    • setting minimum standards for nutrition in residential aged care
    • improving existing regulations that deliver accurate and clear food labelling
    • providing $500m for agriculture in the $15b National Reconstruction Fund
    • protecting the competitiveness of emissions-intensive export industries
    • investing $3 billion from the $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund to fund emission reduction initiatives
    • directing financial support to energy efficiency projects under a new Powering the Regions Fund and funding two regional tech hubs

    More money needed for regions, biosecurity, jobs

    Beyond these pledges, ADF is calling on Federal Government to invest more in regional development, biosecurity capabilities and a skilled regional workforce to reduce risks to dairy production, support the adoption of supply chain traceability reforms and reduce the impact of pests and weeds.

    It is heartening to read that 88 per cent of respondents to the 2022 National Dairy Farmer Survey reported an operating profit in 2020/21. With the rising cost of inputs during the past two months, the outlook for some farmers in 2022/2023 is less optimistic.

    For many dairy farmers, the uplift in opening prices will give them the confidence to continue to invest into their farms. For others, however, labour shortages, high beef cattle prices and soaring land values, will see some farmers make a business decision to exit the industry.

    Due to the surging costs of farm inputs, the need for movement in retail prices is critical. A significant upward movement in milk pries at the checkout in the short to medium term is essential.

    The ongoing strength of the dairy sector is crucial to Australia’s future, as we navigate the Covid-19 recovery phase. Resilient and prosperous regional communities need a robust dairy sector.

    We look forward to working with the new Labor Government to deliver on our election platform, much of which seeks to drive profitability and sustainability through the Australian dairy industry. This includes creating even more transparency of prices across the dairy supply chain.

    Farming operations

    On the long road to recovery

    May 15, 2022

    By HEATH COOK, ADF DEPUTY PRESIDENT

    Dairy farmers across New South Wales and South-East Queensland face a long road to recovery after recent flooding. Almost three years of stress from fires, drought, and pandemic-related workforce issues have seen the recent floods place enormous mental and financial strain on farmers.

    At least 290 farms have been affected. Accounts of damage and losses include 200-head herds wiped out, infrastructure and machinery swept away by floodwater, kilometres of fencing ripped from the earth – with winter crops, fertiliser and fodder being collateral damage.

    Stories of heroism abound, of farmers working tirelessly to rescue people and livestock alike. In the aftermath though, it is keeping herds fed that is proving to be a daily challenge.

    There has been a significant toll on animal health, with conditions such as lameness and mastitis becoming prevalent. Exhausted, distressed and undernourished, cows that would usually produce 20-30 litres daily are giving barely a trickle.

    Cold, wet weather has scythed its way through calf populations. Rescuing heifers and cows sunk deep in mud is a daily event. Costs are likely to be in the range of hundreds of millions.

    Many farms are not only experiencing stock feed issues but fuel shortages, phone and internet outages.

    Dairy Australia is working with government, industry bodies and emergency response services to provide aid services. Flood-affected farmers and land managers can call the Department of Primary Industries’ hotline on 1800 814 647 to request assistance for emergency fodder, aerial surveillance and veterinary assistance.

    Emergency fodder distribution centres have been set up in Casino, Alstonville, Grafton and Coraki, and reimbursement for emergency fodder freight has been made available by the Rural Assistance Authority in New South Wales. Need for Feed, a volunteer service coordinated by Lions International is also supplying fodder.

    Farmer welfare and mental health is a priority. After prolonged strain, there is a real risk of farmers leaving the industry. Dairy Australia encourages farmers to make use of recovery centres, as well as grant application support for flood recovery services. Grants of $25,000 are available for small farmers, and up to $75,000 for primary producers. Zita Ritchie at NSW DPI is managing New South Wales support, with Belinda Haddow at Subtropical Dairy supporting farmers from affected areas in Queensland.

    One-off disaster payments have been announced by the federal government, available to farmers from 80 local government areas across New South Wales and Queensland, to help with livestock assessment, veterinary support, euthanasia and burial costs. Funds are also being released to fast-track road repair.

    Norco Cooperative has been severely impacted by the floods, particularly the Norco ice cream factory, feed mill and two rural stores. The federal government, in partnership with the New South Wales government, has announced a business support package to help restore operations and assist with ongoing employment.

    The floods, like other disasters from recent years, have highlighted challenges facing the dairy industry. Not limited to animal welfare and human mental health impacts, increasing instances of fire, drought and flooding could see insurance premiums rise to untenable levels for some farmers. These risks need to be addressed in a long-term manner, as implications carry on long after acute events – as demonstrated by the long tail of mental hardship, cow health issues and financial strain that has followed these floods.

    Any rise in prices for dairy foods on retail shelves at this time may likely be a necessity for ensuring dairy farmers make it through these challenges and stay on their land with their mental health intact.

    Now, more than ever, our beloved northern industry needs to know that we ‘have its back’.

    Moving forward, we recognise that insurance will be a challenge, and let me assure every farmer affected by the floods that ADF will be working on this issue with representatives from the insurance industry.

    At meetings of the National Coordination Mechanism, attended by the Hon Bridget McKenzie, Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience, and the Director General of Emergency Management Australia, Joe Buffone, ADF has represented the national dairy industry’s interests.

    If retail prices for dairy products increase, one of the reasons will be the floods. If this happens, please tell everyone that the increase is an absolutely necessity to ensure flood-affected farmers survive this disaster.

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