FARMERS are being urged to fight back against demands by the European Union that Australia restrict the use of common cheese names in a proposed free trade agreement between Australia and the 28 EU countries.

Peak dairy farmer groups the United Dairyfarmers of Victoria (UDV) and Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF), supported by the industry’s services body Dairy Australia, will lead a series of events aimed at giving farmers the information they need to tell the federal government how a ban on common cheese names will impact their businesses.

UDV President Paul Mumford said the events, which will be hosted by the farmer group, would include a presentation from the Department of Agriculture on the concept of geographical indications (GIs), Dairy Australia on how GIs will impact the dairy industry, and ADF on how the industry is responding to the EU’s GI threat, as well as a Q&A session featuring all three organisations.

“We’re really cheesed off that EU is demanding we stop using common product names, so we are urging farmers, manufacturers and even consumers to stay informed and learn how they can help us convince the federal government that GIs will be another kick in the guts for the dairy industry,” Mr Mumford said

The dairy industry estimates that the EU’s demand for GI inclusions will impact Australia dairy products with an aggregate sales value of more than $650 million.

Cheese manufacturers could end up paying a staggering $70-90 million per year in the early stages of the planned trade deal to rebrand and repackage products, as well as engage in consumer re- education.

ADF President Terry Richardson said the industry remained anxious that dairy would be a major loser out of any trade deal between Australia and the EU.

“This agreement must have benefits for both sides, considering the ease of access European dairy manufacturers have to the Australian market,” Mr Richardson said.

“An opportunity exists to remove trade barriers that are currently stifling dairy trade between Australia and the EU, but this deal should free up the trade relationship rather than creates technical barriers such as GIs.”

The events will be held across the state at:

• Warrnambool (Warrnambool Bowls Club, Monday September 30, 7:30pm)
• Cobden (Cobden Football Club, Tuesday October 1, 11:00am)
• Tangambalanga (Tangambalanga Community Hall, Monday October 7, 7:30pm)
• Kyabram (Ky Club, Tuesday October 8, 11:00am)
• Tinamba (Tinamba Community Hall, Monday October 21, 11:00am)
• Leongatha (Leongatha RSL, Monday October 21, 7:30pm)

Media Contact:

Ashley Mackinnon, Public Affairs Manager

M: 0407 766 153

E: media@australiandairyfarmers.com.au

AUSTRALIA’S dairy industry is urging Canberra to pass amendments to gene technology regulations as planned to ensure the recommendations of the science-based Australian Gene Technology Regulator (AGTR) are implemented across the country.

The Senate will today vote on a motion tabled last month by Greens Senator Janet Rice to disallow the Gene Technology Amendment (2019 Measures No. 1) Regulations, which would deregulate certain gene editing techniques (SDN-1), despite thorough risk assessment by the AGTR.

DAIRY farmers have gained crucial political support to reclaim the word “milk”, with the Nationals voting at their Federal Council meeting this weekend to push for a ban on alternative and plant-based products using the term in labelling and marketing.

Peak dairy farmer group Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) praised the move as a vote of confidence in the industry’s efforts to ensure honest product labelling.

“We are pleased to see that the Nationals are on our side in wanting to ensure more transparency in food labelling,” ADF President Terry Richardson said.

“The dairy industry has long been fighting against the dishonest labelling and marketing of plant-based alternatives that are co-opting the look and feel of dairy and giving the misleading impression that these products are nutritionally equal to dairy.”

A 2017 survey by Dairy Australia showed 54 per cent of respondents bought plant-based milk alternatives because they perceived them to be healthier than dairy milk, while market research firm IBISWorld estimates Australia’s plant-based “milk” product industry has grown at an annualised rate of 4.1 per cent over the five years to 2018-19, to $165.8 million today.

ADF previously wrote to Nationals deputy leader and federal agriculture minister Bridget McKenzie, arguing for a review of the Food Standards Australia-New Zealand and the development of regulations to prevent plant-based alternatives from ‘evoking’ the qualities and values of dairy.

“We are calling for changes to the food standards so that consumers trying to make a healthy choice at the supermarket have the benefit of transparent and accurate product labelling,” Mr Richardson said.

“We’re pleased Minister McKenzie has expressed an interest in attending November’s meeting of the Australia and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation to receive and consider advice on how terms could be better defined or enforced.”

A ban on plant-based products using the “milk” label would bring Australia into line with other countries, after the European Court of Justice in 2017 mandated that dairy terms could not be used on plant-based products, even with clarifying terms.

A petition by the dairy farmer lobby has also gained more than 2,000 signatures. The survey is still active and can be signed at: http://farmers.org.au/campaign/reclaimmilk/

Media Contact:

Ashley Mackinnon, Public Affairs Manager

M: 0407 766 153

E: media@australiandairyfarmers.com.au

A new specialist tasked with looking solely at dairy industry claims to work within the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has been welcomed by the country’s peak dairy farmer group.

Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) today congratulated federal agriculture minister Bridget McKenzie on her commitment to delivering on a $22 million election pledge to benefit the dairy industry, including the creation of the new dairy specialist role and an $8.1 million budget extension for the competition watchdog’s agriculture unit.

“Minister McKenzie must be commended for acting quickly on the government’s election promises,” ADF President Terry Richardson said.

As part of the arrangement, a new Dairy Consultative Committee will be established to help enforce the industry’s new mandatory code of conduct.

Mr Richardson said the committee must be given the power to test all claims relating to the mandatory code.

“We believe the committee should focus on the code of conduct and other matters that fall under the remit of the ACCC. This includes acting on all complaints that are brought forward,” Mr Richardson said.

“The ACCC uses a public benefit test to determine which claims it pursues, but in our view this threshold is likely too high for many of the claims potentially breaching the code.”

Mr Richardson welcomed the $8.1 million funding boost for the ACCC agriculture unit, a significant boost to the $2.7 million outlined in the 2020 budget.

“The Coalition’s commitment to ensure continued funding of the ACCC’s agriculture unit is a timely and welcome announcement,” he said.

“This will ensure that the mandatory code of conduct is appropriately resourced, and the decision to appoint a dedicated dairy industry specialist within that unit is an important step in the process.”

The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWR) is currently drafting the code of conduct following two rounds of consultation. A third round will take place once the draft code is released to gain further feedback.

Media Contact:

Ashley Mackinnon, Public Affairs Manager

M: 0407 766 153

E: media@australiandairyfarmers.com.au

VICTORIAN laws should be bolstered to protect farmers’ human rights from animal activists and give police the authority to dole out on the spot fines of up to $12,000 for farm trespass offences, says the country’s dairy farmer lobby.

Peak farmer group Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) will push the Victorian Government to crack down on people who trespass on farmland, arguing that animal activists are causing “undue hardship to farmers” by falsely presenting the dairy industry as condoning and hiding animal abuse and undertaking criminal activities against dairy farmers.

In a submission to the Victorian government’s inquiry into the impact of animal rights activism on Victorian agriculture, ADF is urging the government to:

• Expand the scope of the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (Vic) to deal with animal activists, extremists or any other private citizen impinging on another person’s human right;
• Increase trespass fines to $12,000, in line with existing laws in Western Australia, and empower police to issue fines on the spot;
• Provide more transparency around convictions and sentencing for farm trespass; and
• Change the Livestock Disease Control Act 1994 (Vic) that enables farm trespassers to be prosecuted for causing an animal disease to claw back costs from offenders.

Currently, the Summary Offences Act 1966 (Vic) offers a fine of up to $4,029.75 or six months’ jail time for trespass offences.

ADF President Terry Richardson said the current penalties were not an effective deterrent and offenders must be held accountable for their actions.

“Animal activists trespassing onto farms or committing other crimes should be held to account by the criminal justice system,” Mr Richardson said.

“No-one is above the law and farmers have a right to farm without the threat of invasion, sabotage or biosecurity outbreak posed by animal activists.

“Farmers are suffering from increased stress and fear of being attacked by activists sometime in the future, just for doing their jobs.”

Previously, ADF – through national farmer group the National Farmers’ Federation – successfully pushed the federal government to broaden the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) to cover offences committed by extreme group Aussie Farms, which has exposed the activist organisation to fines of up to $2.1 million.

ADF also supported new laws put before federal parliament in July to introduce new offences for the incitement of trespass, property damage, or theft on agricultural land, with penalties of up to five years’ fail time.

Media Contact:

Ashley Mackinnon, Public Affairs Manager

M: 0407 766 153

E: media@australiandairyfarmers.com.au

AUSTRALIA’S dairy farmers are urging the federal government to change the country’s food standards in a bid to ban plant-based products from using the term “milk” on labels and in marketing.

Peak dairy farmer group Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) has written to federal agriculture minister Bridget McKenzie and Chair of the Ministerial Food Forum Richard Colbeck, requesting:

• a holistic review of labelling and marketing on non-dairy alternatives, including possible changes to the Food Standards Code; and
• the development of additional regulations to prevent plant-based alternatives from ‘evoking’ the qualities and values of dairy.

ADF President Terry Richardson said the dishonest labelling and marketing strategy gave the misleading impression that plant-based products had a nutritional equivalency with dairy milk.

A 2017 survey by Dairy Australia showed 54 per cent of respondents bought plant-based milk alternatives because they perceived them to be healthier than dairy milk, while market research firm IBISWorld estimates Australia’s plant-based “milk” product industry has grown at an annualised rate of 4.1 per cent over the five years to 2018-19, to $165.8 million today.

“Over the past decade, a growing number of plant-based products have cropped up, using the name milk, co-opting the look and feel of dairy milk right down to the packaging, and trading on dairy’s reputation to gain a marketing advantage.

“We have seen a growing number of plant-based products on supermarket shelves over the last decade, gaining a marketing advantage by using the name milk and co-opting the look and feel of dairy, while claiming to have nutritional equivalency with dairy milk.”

A ban on plant-based products using the “milk” label would bring Australia into line with other countries, after the European Court of Justice in 2017 mandated that dairy terms could not be used on plant-based products, even with clarifying terms.

“We are calling for changes to the food standards so that consumers trying to make a healthy choice at the supermarket have the benefit of transparent and accurate product labelling,” Mr Richardson said.

The call comes on the back of the recent Ministerial Forum inquiry into misleading descriptions on meat and dairy alternatives.

Media Contact:

Ashley Mackinnon, Public Affairs Manager

M: 0407 766 153

E: media@australiandairyfarmers.com.au

PEAK dairy farmer group Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) has joined the call for stronger criminal penalties for animal activists, after new legislation was today introduced to the House of Representatives to crack down on incidences of farm trespass.

ADF President Terry Richardson said stronger penalties for trespass would provide the best protection for farmers.

“These extremists must be sent a strong message that their behaviour will not be tolerated,” he said.

“We hope that the Bill gains the full support of the parliament so that farmers are provided with adequate protections against activists.”

In introducing the bill, Attorney-General Christian Porter said, “There must be consequences for this unacceptable behaviour. Farmers should not be subjected to the illegal invasion of their property and privacy.”

The current penalties for trespass offences vary between states, with New South Wales imposing a maximum fine of just $1,100 for breaches under section 4 of the Inclosed Lands Protections Act 1901, while in Western Australia, section 70 of the Criminal Code Act Compilation Act 1913 offers a maximum penalty of 12 months’ jail time and a $12,000 fine.

ADF’s Mr Richardson blasted the tactics of animal rights groups as a “disgraceful act of intimidation” after nationwide protests by activists earlier this year fuelled fear among Australia’s farming community.

“Farmers are just trying to do a job, just like everyone else, and they deserve the freedom to do run their businesses without harassment or intimidation,” he said.

“Australia has some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world, and our farmers care enormously for their animals.

“State and federal governments need to act now to preserve the peace and ensure regional communities are protected.”

Media Contact:

Ashley Mackinnon, Public Affairs Manager

M: 0407 766 153

E: media@australiandairyfarmers.com.au

A tough season and skyrocketing grain and water prices have had a devastating impact on farmer confidence, according to the latest country-wide poll of dairy farmers.

The 2019 National Dairy Farmer Survey, taken as part of Dairy Australia’s June Situation and Outlook Report, recorded just 34 per cent of farmers as being “positive about the industry future”, the lowest in the survey’s history and a 13 per cent drop since last year.

A key concern is the ballooning cost of feed and water, which has further eroded farm profitability despite stronger than average opening milk prices. Nearly two thirds of farmers (64 per cent) said they were concerned about the cost and availability of feed, while just 43 per cent expect to make an operating profit in 2018-19, a 24 per cent drop from last year.

The price of hay and grain has varied significantly across the country, from $278 per tonne (t) in south- west Western Australia to $478/t in north-west Tasmania for hay, and $150/t in north-west Tasmania to as high as $563/t in the Darling Downs for grain, according to the Situation and Outlook Report.

The report also records the 12-month average price of water in Northern Victoria as $353 per megalite (ML) to April 2019, a 255 per cent jump on last year, while the cost of water in the Murray Irrigation System skyrocketed 260 per cent over the same period to $337/ML.

Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) President Terry Richardson said the report confirmed the tough conditions confronting the industry.

“The survey highlights the difficult situation currently facing the majority of dairy farmers,” Mr Richardson said.

“Farmers are making every effort to address cost pressures on their businesses, ensuring they make the most efficient use of their production systems, but there is a limit to what is achievable, and this is only a short-term solution.”

The industry is developing an Australian Dairy Plan to define priorities for the next five years.

Mr Richardson said the dairy plan would seek to address unprecedented volatile conditions, including farm input costs.

AUSTRALIAN Dairy Farmers (ADF) believes that more competition for milk is healthy and that this Coles initiative to source milk for Coles Brand 2 and 3 litre products directly from farmers in Victoria and South and Central NSW, has the potential for greater transparency within the dairy supply chain between farmers and retailers.

We are hopeful that Coles will use this measure to build closer relationships with farmers, but we are seeking further engagement on how the initiative will work.

Coles has confirmed that this new arrangement will not change their commitment to pass the 10 cent increase to their 2 and 3L fresh milk brand back to suppliers in other regions via their processor.

However, Coles must also commit to ensuring that $1-a-litre milk never returns to their shelves after the price was raised to $1.10 per litre in March.

The most unsustainable part of the dairy industry is the lack of value being returned to farmers through the domestic market.

It is imperative that value is delivered through the supply chain, with farmers receiving their fair share for the hard work, risk and investment that they have in this industry. This includes farmers securing their fair share of future retail price increases across the dairy cabinet.

Coles has also announced it will invest $1.9 million through a new Coles Sustainable Dairy Development Group to fund research into improving the sustainability of Australia’s dairy industry.

ADF would welcome the opportunity to work with Coles in ensuring this new development group delivers productivity gains to dairy farmers across Australia.

Media Contact:

Ashley Mackinnon, Public Affairs Manager

M: 0407 766 153

E: media@australiandairyfarmers.com.au

PEAK dairy farmer group Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) will receive $450,000 for two projects to benefit farmers as part of a $22 million funding package for the dairy industry if the Coalition wins the May election.

Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud announced a swag of funding and policy commitments today, including that ADF would receive $300,000 to develop a real time dairy payment system and supply chain information sharing capacity using blockchain technology, and $150,000 to develop with processors a simple standard form contract that incorporates requirements of the industry’s mandatory code of conduct.

ADF President Terry Richardson said the organisation supported this windfall for the dairy industry.

“It is fantastic to see a real plan for the dairy industry and delivers on a number of key imperatives that we know will assist the industry,” he said.

“The Coalition has clearly listened to the concerns of the industry and we look forward to delivering on these projects if the Coalition is returned to government.”

In addition, the Coalition has pledged:

• $10 million to support dairy farmers investing in more energy efficient equipment to reduce energy costs through more energy efficient equipment
• $8.1 million to extend the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) agriculture unit, a significant boost to the $2.7 million outlined in the 2020 budget;
• $3 million in grants to assist farmer groups to establish farm cooperatives and other collaborative business models;
• $500,000 to services body Dairy Australia to continue its financial and legal advice service to farmers, and to improve legal and financial literacy for contract negotiations with processors; and
• and a dairy industry specialist position within the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) agriculture unit.

Today’s funding announcement builds on the Coalition’s $560,000 commitment for ADF to facilitate the development of a new dairy industry trading platform, as well the implementation of a mandatory code of conduct.

Mr Richardson said the organisation was pleased with the commitment to ensure continued funding of the competition watchdog’s agriculture unit.

“This is a timely and welcome announcement that will ensure the mandatory code of conduct is appropriately resourced, and the decision to appoint a dedicated dairy industry specialist within that unit is an important step in the process.”

The Coalition’s funding commitment aligns with the election platform released last week by the Australian Dairy Industry Council (ADIC) and available on the ADF website.

Media Contact:

Ashley Mackinnon, Public Affairs Manager

M: 0407 766 153

E: media@australiandairyfarmers.com.au

PEAK dairy farmer group Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) will facilitate the development of a new trading platform for the dairy industry if the Coalition wins the May election.

Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud announced today that a Coalition government would invest in a platform to create flexibility and price transparency with more choice in sales contracts.

ADF President Terry Richardson said handing this responsibility to the farmer organisation was a logical course of action.

“As a farmer, I think this process has potential and is worth investigating, and we welcome this announcement from the Minister,” Mr Richardson said.

“We are always looking for projects that could have substantial benefit for our industry.”

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) in its review into the dairy industry found that a lack of farmer bargaining power was driving unfair and inefficient industry outcomes.

Under the industry’s new mandatory code of conduct, farmers will also receive the right to sell milk to third parties, which will provide year-round competition driving industry efficiency.

The 2018 National Dairy Farmer Survey found farmer confidence in the future of the industry had dropped from 75 to 47 per cent over the past four years. Alarmingly, 40 per cent of dairy farmers did not make an operating profit in the 2016-17 financial year.

Mr Richardson said ADF appreciated the recognition from the government that the dairy industry is under considerable pressure that is coming at dairy farmers from many directions.

“It is incumbent on organisations like ADF to ‘kick over every log’ to explore a range of options that can assist farmers, return confidence and improve investment in the Australian dairy industry,” he said.

“It is imperative that farmers have as many options and tools as possible at their disposal as they collectively navigate this complex environment.”

Media Contact:

Ashley Mackinnon, Public Affairs Manager

M: 0407 766 153

E: media@australiandairyfarmers.com.au