Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) today called for Expressions of Interest from ADF farmer members asking them to become part of one of the peak body’s Policy
Advisory Groups (PAGs).

Expressions of interest close on 30 January 2015 and can be accessed via the ADF website.

PAGs play a key role in setting business objectives for industry and driving policy formulation. They help to ensure dairy interests are properly represented
at a domestic and international level.

Mr Noel Campbell, President of ADF, said the role of the PAGs was critical to policy formulation for the long-term future of dairy.

“We face many challenges as an industry and have always relied on the vision, passion and participation of people within dairy,” said Mr Campbell.

ADF PAGs recommend policy settings to the ADF via the National Council and also act in an advisory capacity providing feedback to Dairy Australia, state
dairy farmer organisations (SDFOs) and other bodies like the National Farmers Federation and the Australian Dairy Products Federation.

“PAG members have made a great contribution to dairy over the last 70 years and we want this to continue,” Mr Campbell said.

Mr Campbell said the five PAGs including: Markets, Trade and Value Chain; People and Human Capacity; Animal Health and Welfare; Farming Systems and Herd
Improvement and Natural Resources needed to be driven by farmers.

“We welcome and encourage direct involvement from dairy farmers to drive policy in the right direction,” said Mr Campbell.

PAGs are appointed by the ADF Board every year to ensure ADF business members with the right skills, talent and interest are involved.

PAGs can meet up to three times a year. There is a requirement for PAG members to attend the majority of meetings. When PAGs do meet face to face, expenses
and sitting fees are covered by ADF in line with internal policy.

Background

PAG Skills and Interest

Ideally, a PAG will have members with a specific interest in that policy area and a complementary mix of skills and experience. The ADF National Council’s
appointment of PAG members is based on assessment of each prospective PAG member and the likely contribution they will make to that policy area.

Generally PAGs will consist of six members including two to three National Councillors (some PAGs may be larger in order to accommodate members with specialist
skills).

PAG Expression of Interest Process

ADF uses an Expression of Interest (EOI) process to invite ADF business members to register interest in serving on a PAG. The EOI process seeks people
with interest and enthusiasm and a strong commitment to the policy area.

ADF business members are invited to lodge a brief statement indicating reasons for interest in the PAG and a brief summary of experience relevant to the
PAG. If a prospective PAG member is interested in joining more than one PAG, they can apply to do so.

Current PAGs will continue until positions have been ratified in the first quarter of 2015.

Download 2015 PAG Application

Officially launched by the Federal Minister for Agriculture, Barnaby Joyce in Taree, NSW, the ‘Collective Bargaining for Dairy Farmers’ guide is an easy to read document for dairy farmers interested in forming collective bargaining groups to negotiate with milk buyers.

Prepared by Dairy Australia, in conjunction with Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF), the guide aims to provide practical advice and insights for farmers looking to level the playing field between small suppliers and large milk buyers.

The guide explores the mutual benefits both dairy farmers and milk buyers can receive when collective bargaining is employed effectively. While not suitable for all, collective bargaining has the potential to deliver many benefits to dairy farmers, including supply chain efficiencies, new marketing opportunities, greater input into contractual terms and more certainty on price.

From the milk buyers end, collective bargaining can result in enhance milk quality, guaranteed year-round fresh milk supplies and improved two-way communications with the collective bargaining group. These mutual benefits show that when effectively employed, collective bargaining can be a win-win for both parties involved.

In 2011, ADF renewed its authorisation grant from the ACCC to collectively bargain with milk processors. This authorisation enables dairy farmers to form and register collective bargaining groups under ADF’s existing authorisation without having to separately apply to the ACCC.

For more information about collective bargaining groups and authorisation guidelines, please contact the ADF Office: (03) 8621 4200

NSW Farmers’ Dairy Committee, in partnership with Australian Dairy Farmers, will host contract negotiation and industrial relations workshops for dairy farmers next month. All dairy farmers are welcome.

Covering topics ranging from basic contract information; to collective bargaining and family succession planning, the workshops aim to equip dairy farmers with key negotiating skills and the ability to understand their contractual obligations, to ensure the smooth functioning of dairy operations.

Topics:

• Basic contract information and contractual rights for dairy farmers
• Mediation on contractual disputes
• Collective bargaining
• Family succession planning
• Employment obligations for dairy farmers

Key Presenters:
Keynote: Senior Counsel, Ian Coleman
Ian has more than 30 years experience working in commercial mediation, family and agriculture law. He is a former Federal Family Court Judge, and he is also admitted to the Supreme Court of NSW. He is a Mediator with the Rural Assistance Authority of NSW and also holds a Masters of Sustainable Agriculture (USYD).

NSW Farmers: Special Counsel for Industrial Relations, Matthew Waring
Matt is part of the industrial relations team at NSW Farmers and has almost 10 years experience in employment law and industrial relations, regularly dealing with large clients in agriculture and manufacturing.

Workshop Details:

• Wednesday 3 December, the Grand Hotel, Bega: 9am-1pm.
• Monday 8 December, Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, Camden: 10am-2pm.
• Wednesday 10 December Casino RSM Club, Casino: 10am-2pm.
• Friday 12 December, Muswellbrook RSL, Muswellbrook: 10am-2pm.

To RSVP and for more information, please call NSW Farmers’ Members Service Centre: 1300 794 000.

ADIC Chair and ADF President, Noel Campbell presenting at the China Dairy Industry Association Conference in Shanghai earlier this year.

In anticipation of the announcement of a China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on the heels of the G20 Summit in Brisbane this weekend (15-16 November), there has never been a more pivotal time for the dairy to ensure the industry’s interests remain a priority at the pointy end of the negotiations.

A number of dairy industry executives from the Australian Dairy Industry Council (ADIC) and Dairy Australia (DA), including myself, returned from Beijing, China last weekend after spending time with Australian Government officials who were negotiating the proposed bilateral trade deal.

I am pleased to report back that the talks were positive and we are confident that in the event of a signed FTA the industry can expect the announcement will enhance future confidence for both the farm and processing sectors.

If we get this deal right, it will be a great opportunity to boost Australian dairy’s competitiveness on an international scale and support, and grow, the 43,000 Australians directly employed in dairy, most in regional Australia.

The ADIC has reiterated the mutually beneficial nature of such a deal, which will offer Chinese consumers increased access to a secure supply of high quality, safe dairy products from Australia, and has encouraged the Government not to sign an agreement that does not deliver commercially meaningful outcomes for dairy.

As Chair of the ADIC, I am proud of the acknowledgement and bipartisan support our industry has received throughout the trade negotiations. Dairy’s message has been heard loud and clear – now, it’s over to the Government.

For more information, visit: www.fta4dairy.com.au

Dawn Waite, South West Victorian dairy farm owner

The Legendairy South West Ladies Group gathered in Warrnambool, Victoria this week to discuss opportunities to support, mentor and upskill women in dairy, and expand connections with women in other dairy groups.

Co-established earlier in 2014 by South West Victorian dairy farmers Simone Renyard and Roma Britnell, the group is comprised of around 15 dairy women, each of whom brings different experience and skills to the mix. The Legendairy group aspires to give back to their local dairy community, as well as learn from one another.

“Each member brings unique experience outside of dairy to contribute towards the group. We aspire to support and mentor women in dairy – and between us, we have plenty of enthusiasm to make it happen,” said Ms Renyard.

Guest speaker, ADF CEO, Natalie Collard presented on her career path inside and outside of dairy,leadership and inspiring change. Ms Collard also encouraged the group to consider how challenging career moments can often lead to your greatest achievements.

Co-founder of the group, Roma Britnell also presented at the meeting on her recent trip to China, funded by The Geoffrey Gardiner Dairy Foundation. The similarity between Chinese and European dairying, as well as the first class robotic factories, impressed Ms Britnell and were of keen interest to the group.

The Legendairy South West Ladies Group is hoping to host a lunch in March 2015, with more information to follow.

Cows on the D’Arcy farm in Tarraganda, NSW are at ease with the robotic milking system.

Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) hosted several ministerial and departmental staffers, including from the office of the Federal Minister for Agriculture, on a tour of Bega in October, introducing them to the dairy industry and ensuring that dairy remains at the forefront of the Government’s considerations when formulating policy.

The delegation commenced with a day trip to the Bega factory, where attendees including ministerial advisers and Department of Agriculture staff joined ADF and representatives of industry bodies NSWFarmers, Dairy Australia and the National Farmers’ Federation to discuss challenges facing dairy, including labour and skills shortages.

While touring the factory floor and marvelling at how efficient dairy production lines need to be, attendees discussed the importance of a pro-dairy outcome with regards to the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement and the mutual benefits such a deal would bring for all involved. In particular, the opportunity to widen the potential export market was noted as Bega workers packaged up goods to be transported to the Middle East, USA, New Zealand, and South East Asia.

Continuing on to the 160 hectare D’Arcy farm in Tarraganda, where robotic milkers have replaced manual labour in the dairy shed, the group of dairy novices were treated to a demonstration of owner and farmer Andrew D’Arcy’s six newly installed robotic milking boxes. The D’Arcy farm is the first in Bega Valley to install such a system and the second in New South Wales to do so.

At a time when dairy farms are still rebuilding herd numbers after years of drought in NSW, therobotic system is a spectacular example of farmers’ investment in the future of dairy. ADF explained the many other ways Australian dairy farmers are innovating, ranging from nutrition to genomics to margin-focused business models.

The trip was a brilliant opportunity for ministerial advisers to improve their understanding of dairy farming and production, putting the challenges and opportunities at hand for dairy in direct context and strengthening the relationship between ADF and Government. Following the trip, several ministerial advisers commented on the valuable insights they had gained into the dairy industry and
that they now have a greater appreciation of the innovative practices in use from the farm gate to the factory.

Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) has welcomed further legal action by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) against Coles’ unconscionable conduct towards suppliers in mid-October, 2014.

ACCC Chair, Rod Sims said Coles forced suppliers to pay “gaps” in the profit of products it made – including cost of wastage, store markdowns and missing deliveries – even when it had no legitimate basis to do so.

“The ACCC alleges that Coles took advantage of its superior bargaining position by demanding money from suppliers that it was not lawfully entitled to, and was, in all the circumstances, unconscionable,” said Mr Sims.

These proceedings arise out of the same ACCC investigation against Coles on 5 May with regards to Coles’ unconscionable conduct towards 200 of its smaller suppliers, in breach of the Australian Consumer Law (ACL).

ADF President, Noel Campbell said he looks forward to the result of the court case given ADF’s strong track record of advocacy to the ACCC since the introduction of the $1 per litre retail milk price.

“This latest action by the ACCC highlights the need for a Mandatory Code of Conduct, including the establishment of an independent Supermarket Ombudsman with penalties to balance the excessive market power of the major retailers,” Mr Campbell said.

ADF will continue to lobby Government and engage in dialogue with the major retailers about the code.

A China–Australia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) remains one of our highest priorities for the industry. I have spent a lot of time recently in China, as part of the Australian Dairy Delegation in August and, in September, as the only dairy industry body representative with the trade delegation led by Minister for Agriculture the Hon. Barnaby Joyce.

ADF appreciates the hard work being done by the Federal Government and will continue working hand in hand with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Department of Agriculture to help get the best possible deal.

I took the opportunity to attend the China Dairy Industry Association annual conference in Shanghai in August. The Australian industry
has been working closely with our Chinese counterpart to foster a mutually beneficial trade partnership. I have also met with Chinese Government officials, industry representatives and Australian diplomats. A China-Australia FTA will not only provide the export growth that our industry needs, it will provide Chinese consumers with better access to high-demand products, as well as an improved overall diversity of supply.

On 1 October, we formally launched the Australian Dairy Vision in Canberra, where two Cumberoona Holsteins ventured to Parliament House to graze Federation Mall lawn. ‘Australian Dairy – Prosperous, Trusted, World Renowned Nutrition’ – will be a statement by which our industry is known for and proud of by 2025.

The Federal Government is undertaking an inquiry into the systems and structures for the agricultural research and development (R&D) levies. This includes
the dairy services levy that contributes to Dairy Australia and the equivalent levies paid by farmers for other research and development corporations.

The Senate Committee is very keen to hear farmers’ views about levies, including views on: turning R,D&E into results on-farm; the value of having
a dairy research and development corporation; opportunities levy payers have to influence how it is spent; and in general, views on having a levy poll
which many other commodities do not have.

ADF encourages all dairy farmers to make a submission to the inquiry and has developed a template letter and example writing points for farmers. Your submission letter can be as short or long as you like,
and cover all points of the inquiry or just one. Although the official submission date has passed, the Senate Committee is open to receiving submissions
until the end of November; however you may contact them if you require additional time.

Contact details for the Inquiry secretariat are 02 6277 3511 or rrat.sen@aph.gov.au. Submissions can be sent to this email address. For more information,
please contact the ADF office (03) 8621 4291.

For more information about the Inquiry and its terms of reference, click here.

Attending Dairy Futures CRC Industry Mentoring Dinner (L-R): CRC Education Officer ‘Get into Genes’, Sian Fitzpatrick, CRC Deputy Chief Scientist, Prof. Ben Cocks, ADF CEO, Natalie Collard, mentor and Portland dairy farmer, Naomi Pye.

Celebrating an important milestone with 30 Dairy Futures CRC PhD students benefitting from a dairy industry mentor, this year’s Dairy Futures CRC Industry Mentoring Dinner went off with a bang.

Following an intensive two-day workshop, some of Australia’s brightest PhD bioscience candidates joined industry leaders in a celebratory dinner to thank the industry and its mentors for their ongoing support, and to congratulate the alumni on the program.

The mentoring program, which began in 2012, forms part of Dairy Futures CRC’s commitment to providing high-quality bioscience researchers to support a productive dairy industry.

Dairy Futures CRC Manager for Education and Industry Engagement, Belinda Griffiths said the mentoring program helps connect students with people in the dairy industry who can provide first-hand support for their careers.

“The impact of the mentoring program can be profound in terms of technical gains and personal development. Strong industry connections also build a strong sense of belonging that encourages students to continue to work within the dairy industry after they complete their PhD,” Ms Griffiths said.

For more information on the program, contact Belinda Griffiths:
Belinda.griffiths@dairyfuturescrc.com.au or (03) 9032 7187

China was also under discussion at the Queensland Dairyfarmers’ Organisation (QDO) Conference on 16 September.

The conference theme was ‘New Horizons’ with discussion of potential opportunities and challenges for dairy. Norco Deputy Chair, Tony Wilson’s presentation, ‘Alternative Markets/Building Demand’ sparked great interest given the Norco deal to export fresh milk to China.

ADF CEO, Natalie Collard updated participants on ADF activities and reinstated ADF’s mission to improve the profitability and sustainability of dairy farmers in Australia.

Ms Collard outlined industry priorities identified at the ADF National Dairy Farmers’ Summit in March – in particular to encourage innovation investment and growth; to encourage investment and confidence in the industry; and to encourage Government to continue with trade reform that benefits dairy.

Ms Collard and ADF Senior Policy Manager, David Losberg said they enjoyed the panel discussion with Paul Roderick from Harrisville and David Kucks from Quinalow, which explored challenges and opportunities in dairy.

The Herd Improvement Industry Strategy has been developed throughout 2014. ADF is represented on the Steering Group. In addition, the Farming Systems and Herd Improvement Policy Advisory Group (PAG) has had a significant role in reviewing and developing ADF feedback on drafts of the Strategy. ADF also requested input from state dairy farmer organisations and hosted a farmer workshop on the draft Strategy in July.

The final version of the Strategy was confirmed by the Steering Group on 29 August. It is now considered to have a clearer vision and stronger recommendations in key areas of interest to ADF. It provides an important reference document for implementing projects that will drive change.

The herd improvement industry vision is: “Dairy farmers maximise their profit through a vibrant herd improvement industry offering effective and highly valued services.”

At a meeting on 11 August, the Steering Group discussed the implementation of the Strategy and a draft implementation plan was agreed in principle, with further detail to be developed. The Steering Group will next meet in late October.

The full Strategy is available from ADF or Dairy Australia.