AUSTRALIAN Dairy Farmers (ADF) urges all levy payers to vote in Dairy Poll 2022 as this is an opportunity too good to miss, ADF president Rick Gladigau has announced today.
AUSTRALIAN Dairy Farmers (ADF) urges all levy payers to vote in Dairy Poll 2022 as this is an opportunity too good to miss, ADF president Rick Gladigau has announced today.
An election platform which seeks political party support for policies driving nutritional health, regional jobs and on-farm sustainability and productivity was launched by Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) today.
Says ADF president Rick Gladigau: “This upcoming election provides a great opportunity for the Australian dairy industry. We need policy settings that support our industry’s economic recovery.”
“The dairy sector can play a key role in supporting the Australian Government’s COVID-19 recovery and regionalisation agendas, and its pledge to set the foundations for the agriculture sector to grow to $100 billion by 2030.”
“The federal election provides a defining moment in the Australian dairy industry’s ability to achieve our sustainability targets.”
The ADF 2022 Federal Election Policy Statement outlines the national policy and advocacy organisation’s key priorities ahead of the Australian federal election that must be held before the end of May.
“These priorities will support the dairy industry in the short and long term”, says Mr Gladigau.
The statement was finalised following consultation with ADF members and stakeholders.
The ADF 2022 Federal Election Policy Statement will steer ADF’s advocacy throughout the election. It includes three guiding objectives:
Under these three objectives there are 14 strategies and 38 actions for political parties to adopt as part of their election policies.
ADF CEO David Inall says the focus for ADF early in the New Year will be to meet with key representatives of all the major political parties and brief them on this election policy platform.
“Next year’s federal election provides for a timely opportunity for Australia’s dairy farmers to engage in this important political process and discuss those issues that matter to their future success,” says Mr Inall.
Craig Hough, ADF’s Director, Policy and Strategy, says that despite dairy foods’ nutritional value – including essential vitamins and minerals like calcium – many people in Australia and overseas are not consuming their recommended amounts.
“ADF is calling on politicians to address misleading product labelling and marketing, including from plant-based alternatives to dairy, as well as trade barriers and supply chain constraints,” Mr Hough says.
“The Federal Government has enormous power to help resolve malnutrition and health ailments in residential aged care by increasing dairy consumption for residents. This responds to recent research by University of Melbourne and findings of the Royal Commission into Aged Care.”
To grow jobs and liveability in regional areas, the ADF is asking for $300 million in funding for the National Agriculture Workforce Strategy and for government to make the National Farmers Federation lead the evaluation of the Agriculture Visa pilot and completion of its design.
Says Mr Gladigau: “The Australian dairy industry has a great story to tell in terms of improving the way it cares for people, animals and the planet, while continuing to improve farm productivity and profitability.
“Take for example the Australian Dairy Industry Sustainability Framework, which has been in place for almost a decade. This is a great basis for governments to co-invest with industry and accelerate technology and other pathways to help dairy farmers in their role as environmental stewards.”
Other environmental strategies in the policy platform include investing in the recommendations of the Dairy Industry Adaptation Pathways and Northeast Dairy Climate Futures projects; implementing the recommendations of the Productivity Commission’s evaluation of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan; and providing a second round of the Energy Efficient Communities Program – Dairy Farming Grants.
“Essentially, we’re seeking government policy and support to secure the recovery of our industry and economy by making our people and planet healthier,” Mr Gladigau says.
To download the ADF 2022 Federal Election Policy Statement visit https://australiandairyfarmers.com.au/policy-advisory-groups/election-platform/
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About Australian Dairy Farmers
Australian Dairy Farmers is the recognised national policy and advocacy organisation working to improve profitability and sustainability of dairy farming in Australia. Representing Australia’s six dairying states, Australian Dairy Farmers state membership comprises representatives from Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. These state bodies are known as State Dairy Farmer Organisation (SDFO). Australian Dairy Farmers provides the SDFOs with support and representation on a national level.
For further information, contact:
Mark Paterson
Currie
Tel: 0409 411 110
A move by supermarket retailer Woolworths to raise the price of home brand milk has been welcomed by new Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) President Rick Gladigau.
“Despite the end of one dollar a litre milk two years ago, home brand milk has remained a laggard in the dairy case, so this increase, if shared back through the value chain, will be welcomed by dairy farmers,” says Mr Gladigau.
“The ball is now in Coles and Aldi’s court to play catch-up.”
From 25 November 2021 Woolworths milk will sell for the following prices:
After a dairy market downturn lasting several years, the average milk price paid to Australian farmers has increased 13% between 2018 ($6.14/kgMS) and 2021 ($6.91/kgMS), according to Dairy Australia.
“However, prices for farm inputs, such as fertiliser, water, fuel and energy, and a tight labour market, have increased costs in the same period, so any increase in profits passed back to dairy farmers is welcome,” says Mr Gladigau.
“Increases in milk prices at the farmgate and in-store are needed to sustain production of an essential food.”
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About Australian Dairy Farmers
Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) is the recognised national policy and advocacy organisation working to improve profitability and sustainability of dairy farming in Australia. Representing Australia’s six dairying states, Australian Dairy Farmers state membership comprises representatives from Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. These state bodies are known as State Dairy Farmer Organisations (SDFOs). ADF provides the SDFOs with support and representation on a national level.
For further information:
Mark Paterson
Currie
Tel: 0409 411 110
South Australian dairy farmer Rick Gladigau is the new president of Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF), following an AGM that elected three new directors to the Board today.
Mr Gladigau, together with Queensland Dairy Organisation president Brian Tessmann, remain as sitting Business Directors of the ADF Board. They are joined by two new Business Directors, NSW Farmers Dairy Committee member and Norco director Heath Cook and Corangamite United Dairyfarmers of Victoria branch President Ben Bennett, and a new Independent Director Andreas Clark, the former CEO of Wine Australia.
Mr Cook and Mr Bennett fill the positions of outgoing President Terry Richardson who retired after a five-year term and NSW Farmers Dairy Committee chair Colin Thompson who was not returned to the Board. Mr Clark replaces outgoing Independent Director Victoria Taylor who did not stand for re-election.
The Board of ADF now comprises:
New ADF President Rick Gladigau praised Terry Richardson for his esteemed industry leadership and thanked Victoria Taylor and Colin Thompson for their outstanding service for Australian dairy farmers.
About Australian Dairy Farmers
Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) is the recognised national policy and advocacy organisation working to improve profitability and sustainability of dairy farming in Australia. Representing Australia’s six dairying states, Australian Dairy Farmers state membership comprises representatives from Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. These state bodies are known as State Dairy Farmer Organisations (SDFOs). ADF provides the SDFOs with support and representation on a national level.
For further information:
Mark Paterson
Currie
Tel: 0409 411 110
Dairy businesses can now sponsor migrant staff across a broader range of roles and skills, following advocacy by Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) for government action to address the workforce shortage in the sector.
The Commonwealth Government has made changes to the Dairy Industry Labour Agreement (DILA). These changes enable dairy farmers to now employ skilled overseas workers on a visa in two roles:
The changes also cover:
The changes take effect immediately and apply nationally.
The changes to DILA have been made by the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, Alex Hawke, in response to submissions from ADF and Dairy Australia.
“We thank Minister Hawke for these reforms, which will help to ensure that rural migration policy better reflects the workforce needs of the Australian dairy industry,” ADF CEO David Inall says.
“The skilled worker shortage is the number one concern for dairy farms currently. While development of the domestic workforce is a key focus for industry, immigration will remain an important pathway for some businesses.”
ADF’s work with the government to address the labour challenge also includes:
The worker shortage is limiting growth in the dairy sector (farm businesses need approx.1 FTE per 100 cows). It is estimated that more than 50% of dairy farm businesses in Australia will need to recruit annually in coming years, and that those that recruit will be seeking on average around three employees.
For more details on the new DILA settings, visit Dairy Australia’s The People in Dairy web page, see the dairy industry agreement on the Department of Home Affairs web site or the fact sheet.
About Australian Dairy Farmers
Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) is the recognised national policy and advocacy organisation working to improve profitability and sustainability of dairy farming in Australia. Representing Australia’s six dairying states, Australian Dairy Farmers state membership comprises representatives from Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. These state bodies are known as State Dairy Farmer Organisations (SDFOs). ADF provides the SDFOs with support and representation on a national level.
About the Dairy Industry Labour Agreement
The Dairy Industry Labour Agreement (DILA) enables a streamlined process for dairy businesses to sponsor skilled overseas workers when there is a demonstrated need that cannot be met in the Australian labour market and where standard temporary or permanent visa programs are not available. DILA enables dairy businesses to sponsor skilled overseas workers for up to four years and/or permanent residence.
For further information:
Mark Paterson
Currie
Tel: 0409 411 110
The use of technology to give dairy farmers a clearer view of transactions in the value chain got a boost today with the launch of a guide for traceability in the supply chain.
Today, during the eighth meeting of the National GS1 Traceability Advisory Group (NGTAG), Australian Government Senator Susan McDonald officially released the Australian Dairy Traceability Guideline.
GS1 Australia and Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) welcome the announcement, signalling the second output of the Australian Government grant for the implementation of ADF’s Blockchain and Traceability Framework.
“Improving the transparency of information flow through our supply chain is critical to address power imbalances, identified by the ACCC and the Senate’s Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee, of which the Senator is Deputy Chair, in their dairy inquiries,” says ADF president Terry Richardson.
“Trust is the foundation on which supply chain participants – from farm to shopping basket – rely. Traceability underpins trust. It enables us to provide assurances about what we produce, process, and sell.
“This is what makes today’s launch so important to dairy farmers, and the industry as a whole.”
The traceability standards in the guideline provide a common approach for the Australian dairy industry to identify and track product as it moves through the supply chain, capturing and sharing information of relevance to producers, transporters, manufacturers, retailers, exporters and government.
“Openly sharing information also helps industry to protect our clean, green and safe food image, and, importantly, reduce our costs to compete more aggressively in local and global markets,” says Mr Richardson. “Without open, transparent and secure information systems in our value chain Australia’s dairy farmers, processors and exporters will be competing on world markets with one arm behind their back.”
Mr Richardson says the common language for traceability in the guideline will improve communication across industry. “It puts everyone on the same page and in doing so it increases efficiency across the value chain. It will help everyone in the sector implement traceability and improve safety and market access,” he says.
The traceability guideline has been developed based on specialist technical advice from GS1 Australia, as well as a series of industry supply chain workshops and validation with a global food company.
Says Maria Palazzolo, CEO at GS1 Australia: “I commend the Australian Government for their assistance, support, capacity building and the innovation they are fostering within Australian agricultural supply chains and particularly the support for our primary producers.
“This is a great example of Federal Government alignment as these guidelines complement the National Freight Data Hub led by the Department of Infrastructure, given both initiatives are based on the same underlying global data standards for supply chains. The guidelines also support federal government initiatives to simplify trade systems via export regulatory reform and a more automated exchange of trade documents.”
Download the Australian Dairy Traceability Guideline here
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About Australian Dairy Farmers
Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) is the recognised national policy and advocacy organisation working to improve profitability and sustainability of dairy farming in Australia. Representing Australia’s six dairying states, Australian Dairy Farmers state membership comprises representatives from Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. These state bodies are known as State Dairy Farmer Organisations (SDFOs). ADF provides the SDFOs with support and representation on a national level.
GS1 is a neutral, not-for-profit organisation that develops and maintains the most widely used global standards for efficient business communication. It is best known for the barcode, named by the BBC as one of “the 50 things that made the world economy”. GS1 standards and services improve supply chain efficiency, traceability and food safety across physical and digital channels in the food and beverage sector. With local member organisations in 115 countries, two million user companies and six billion transactions every day, GS1 standards create a common language that supports systems and processes in 25 sectors across the globe.
About the ACCC’s Dairy inquiry
In 2018 the Australian Competition and Consumer Council (ACCC) found there was a power imbalance between farmers and processors. This power imbalance, together with uncertain world market prices, supermarket milk discounting and falling processor margins impacted negatively on farmgate milk prices. To address power imbalance, ensure viability and meet industry sustainability challenges, a national industry reform program includes measures explicitly addressing how information is captured, shared and used across the dairy supply chain. ADF’s Blockchain and Traceability Framework is one of these measures.
For further information:
Mark Paterson
Currie (for ADF)
Tel: 0409 411 110
Email: mark@curriecommunications.com.au
Tracey Kelly-Jenkins
Marketing Program Manager
GS1 Australia
Email Tracey.Kelly-Jenkins@gs1au.org
A new dedicated agricultural visa announced today by the Commonwealth Government has been welcomed by Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF), the peak policy and advocacy organisation for dairy farming in Australia.
“The visa will help resolve workforce shortage issues in agriculture. It will enable industry to better match workforce needs to foreign worker recruitment and reduce visa processing times,” says ADF president Terry Richardson.
An agriculture visa was part of ADF’s submission to the National Agriculture Workforce Strategy. ADF has been working with the Government through the National Farmers Federation to develop the visa.
“The workforce shortage is a critical issue for dairy farmers,” says Mr Richardson. “The ADF’s position has been that the dairy industry should be able to tap into migrants to fill specific job roles in the short term.”
Mr Richardson says the Government’s decision to initially limit the visa to people from ASEAN countries is a good first step, but ultimately the visa needs to be offered to all people across the world,” Mr Ricardson says.
“We will continue to work with the Government on the specific design elements of the visa. This includes responsibilities of organisations such as ADF for efficient and effective delivery,” says Mr Richardson.
“Ideally, this visa program will source workers to replace the backpacker market – a long-standing source of casual labour on Australian farms that has been disrupted by travel restrictions caused by Covid-19.”
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About Australian Dairy Farmers
Australian Dairy Farmers is the recognised national policy and advocacy organisation working to improve profitability and sustainability of dairy farming in Australia. Representing Australia’s six dairying states, Australian Dairy Farmers state membership comprises representatives from Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. These state bodies are known as State Dairy Farmer Organisation (SDFO). Australian Dairy Farmers provides the SDFOs with support and representation on a national level.
For further information, contact:
Mark Paterson
Currie
Tel: 0409 411 110
Today, the National Farmers Federation launches a campaign which aims to increase awareness of the positive role agriculture is playing in a reduced-emissions future. The campaign – ‘Australian farms –
For the first time in a decade Australian dairy farmers will get a say on how much money is invested in the industry services managed and delivered by Dairy Australia – an outcome sought and welcomed by Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF).
Yesterday, the Levy Poll Advisory Committee (LPAC) recommended that a poll of all dairy farmers be held to set the future level of the dairy service levy – a levy that funds the range of Dairy Australia’s programs, including research and innovation.
“This is good news for dairy farmers,” says ADF president Terry Richardson. “They can now consider the current levy, or a potential increase, to ensure the investment in farmer RD&E meets their needs.”
LPAC members will now develop the voting options which will go on a ballot, including LPAC’s recommended option, expected by September 2021. LPAC will continue seeking input and feedback from dairy farmers in the coming weeks to determine the voting options, including a preferred LPAC option.
“As the voice of dairy farmers ADF is deeply committed to working with our members, LPAC, Dairy Australia and the broader levy payer farmer base to develop the voting options,” Mr Richardson says.
“Now that it has been decided to activate a dairy levy poll a comprehensive process of analysis, consultation and scenario planning needs to be undertaken to develop the voting options. It is essential that this process delivers clear and concise feedback from farmers, recognising the need of LPAC and the Minister for Agriculture to recommend one clear option when the levy poll is held in March 2022.”
Mr Richardson says the ADF is yet to form a view on the levy poll options that should be presented to levy payers.
“However, we do anticipate that an option to maintain current levels will be included in the levy poll, together with any options for an increase that LPAC may determine appropriate,” Mr Richardson says.
“The levy poll provides dairy farmers with the opportunity to have a say on an important investment that works to benefit their dairy farm businesses and advance the industry as a whole,” Mr Richardson says.
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About Australian Dairy Farmers
Australian Dairy Farmers is the recognised national policy and advocacy organisation working to improve profitability and sustainability of dairy farming in Australia. Representing Australia’s six dairying states, Australian Dairy Farmers state membership comprises representatives from Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. These state bodies are known as State Dairy Farmer Organisation (SDFO). Australian Dairy Farmers provides the SDFOs with support and representation on a national level.
Australian Dairy Farmers is responsible jointly (with Dairy Australia) for recommending the Levy Poll Advisory Committee (LPAC) Chair and Deputy Chair as well as providing two representatives to the LPAC. Furthermore, ADF is charged with providing a recommendation to the LPAC about whether there should be a poll as well as whether there should be a change in the dairy service levy and, if so, the nature of that change
For further information, contact:
Mark Paterson
Currie
Tel: 0409 411 110
Email: mark@curriecommunications.com.au
PEAK dairy farmer group Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) has helped secure an estimated $10 million funding for dairy farmers across the country to improve energy efficiency, reduce energy costs and lower on-farm emissions.
The Federal Government today announced the successful applicants in the Energy Efficient Communities Program – Dairy Farming Business Grants program, an initiative that was developed in partnership with ADF following last year’s federal election.
This initiative will provide grants of up to $20,000 with no co-contribution required to help dairy farming businesses save energy and lower bills by installing more energy efficient appliances on farm.
“Dairy operations are energy intensive and heavily impact a farmer’s bottom line,” ADF President Terry Richardson said.
“This program is essential not just to mitigate the excessive cost of energy, but also to contribute to Australia’s emission reduction targets.”
Eligible projects funded under the grants program include:
Financial relief for businesses was a major component of ADF’s 2019 federal election platform, delivered through the Australian Dairy Industry Council (ADIC).
In this manifesto, the organisation argued for businesses to receive tax relief for installing or upgrading to more energy efficient or renewable energy systems.
Media contact:
Ashley Mackinnon, Public Affairs Manager
M: 0407 766 153
E: media@australiandairyfarmers.com.au
Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management David Littleproud has announced the first phase of a Blockchain and Traceability Framework for Australian Dairy Farmers.
The project delivers on an Australian Government election commitment to develop a real time dairy payment system and supply chain information sharing capacity using blockchain technology.
“Blockchain can assist in providing a shared view of truth about business transactions,” Minister Littleproud said.
“All sides know they are all looking at the same records and the history of their business relationship.
“Open, transparent and trustworthy systems are important for long term sustainability and global competitiveness.
“Building on standards already used in transport and logistics, warehousing, distribution, retailing and eCommerce ensures Australian producers and processors can participate efficiently and effectively in global markets.”
The initial phase will raise industry awareness of blockchain and traceability benefits for dairy farmers through the delivery of a short video and information paper.
ADF President Terry Richardson said blockchain technology would be integral to helping improve the profitability and efficiency of the Australian dairy industry.
“The transparency and security of shared information using blockchain technology will demonstrate provenance and reduce costs to compete more aggressively in local and global markets,” Mr Richardson said.
“This first phase is all about education. It is a precursor to a field trial that will quantify benefits and set us up for a more digitalised future.”
The project will support ADF’s response to the 2018 ACCC inquiry into the competitiveness of prices, trading practices and the supply chain in the Australian dairy industry.
Led by ADF, project participants include GS1 Australia, Data61|CSIRO and the dairy industry.
Blockchain may help the industry to better manage information, give life to new standard form contracts in the dairy industry, and build trust, transparency and efficiency between dairy farmers and processors.
Click onto the ‘Australian dairy industry on the moo-ve – Blockchain and Real Time Payment System’ video here.
Fast Facts:
Media Contact:
Douglas Ferguson (Minister Littleproud): 0455 448 895
Ashley Mackinnon (Australian Dairy Farmers): 0407 766 153
THE new mandatory Dairy Code of Conduct could be expanded to include retailers as part of a new Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) inquiry into perishable agricultural goods, in a move supported by farmers.
Agriculture Minister David Littleproud today announced he would ask the competition watchdog to examine the effectiveness of the new Dairy Code of Conduct and consider options to extend the Code across the entire domestic dairy supply chain.
Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) President Terry Richardson said that including supermarkets as part of the Dairy Code of Conduct would help address the discounted retail pricing that has dogged the dairy industry for years.
“ADF has a longstanding policy that a mandatory code of conduct for dairy needs to cover the whole supply chain, from farms right through to supermarkets,” Mr Richardson said.
“For years, dairy has suffered from heavily discounted fixed pricing, while the prices on most other perishable products change according to supply and demand.
“It is time for the Federal Government to intervene in establishing an agreed set of retail pricing standards for dairy products on the retail shelves.”
ADF has previously argued that the fixed pricing of dairy products should be scrapped and replaced with a system based around demand and supply, with a universally agreed percentage pass through margin for farmers to remain sustainable.
The farmer group last year wrote in its submission to the Senate Inquiry into the Performance of Australia’s dairy industry and the profitability of Australian dairy farmers since deregulation in 2000 that the Food and Grocery Code, which already covers supermarkets, could provide this mechanism.
Mr Richardson said this inquiry gave hope that issues around supermarket pricing of dairy products might finally be resolved.
“We’re not asking for much – just that farmers receive a fair price for their product that is more than the cost of production, and that retail pricing is based around supply and demand, not fixed for an extended period of time,” he said.
Media Contact:
Ashley Mackinnon, Public Affairs Manager
M: 0407 766 153
E: media@australiandairyfarmers.com.au