VICTORIAN dairy farmers will now be considering what box they will be ticking in the 2012 Dairy Poll, a decision that will impact the Dairy Australia’s future funding.
Next week a series of forums will kick off across the State, with farmers learning more about the three voting choices including a no levy option, a 10 per cent increase or a 15pc boost.
The meetings start in Leongatha on February 8, where the venue has already been shifted to accommodate a bigger crowd.
And it seems the poll has generated mixed reactions in the dairying community, with some questioning whether they are getting enough bang for their buck and others stressing the importance of a levy lift.
Bamawm dairy farmers Stewart and Louise Murray, who milk 500 cows in Northern Victoria, believe research and development is fundamental to the industry’s future.
“I think we are getting value for our money and I’ll be voting for an increase,” Mr Murray said.
However, one of the biggest issues has been the fact Dairy Australia failed to include an option for the levy to remain the same.
“We should have been given that choice,” he said.
In regards to marketing value, Mr Murray expressed disappointment about the milk price wars.
“I think if we are going to pay more for the levy, we have to do a better job of developing new products and promoting the products we have,” he said.
Gippsland dairy farmers Stuart and Kellie Beverly also believe there should have been an option to keep the current levy.
“I will vote for the 10pc increase, simply because there wasn’t an option to leave it as it was, but I’m not keen on voting for no levy at all,” Mr Beverly, said.
But he had come to recognise Dairy Australia’s importance to the industry.
“As my farm gets bigger, I don’t have the time to tackle those issues that impact on the dairy industry – that’s why we need that governing body,” he said.
“If we get the increase, I would like to see Dairy Australia take more risks into frontline research into issues such as cattle productivity and pasture.”
However, Irrewarra dairy farmers John and Jodie Martin again expressed disillusionment into the decision to omit a “status quo” option.
“I don’t feel we get value for money and that’s the general feeling around here,” he said.
“Dairy Australia tells us we get $3 benefit for every $1 invested, but it’s very hard to see that.”
He said while some research had been worthwhile, much of the levy monies went into running the organisation.
“I think Dairy Australia is top heavy we need to vote the ‘no levy’ option in order to trigger a review of the organisation,” he said.
“If we start from scratch, we might get a chance of getting real value for our money.”
He urged farmers vote in the poll and not be complacent.
On an industry level, Dairy Australia is pushing for the 10pc lift, which would raise an estimated extra $3 million a year in levy revenues to an average $34 million over the next five years.
This would add $320 to the levy contribution of a farm producing 1 million litres of milk per year.
United Dairy Farmers of Victoria (UDV) president Kerry Callow also says the 10pc option will offer value for money.
“This will maintain current programs and allow Dairy Australia’s strategic plan to roll out over the next five years,” she said.
“We need research, development and extension to continue, because we’ve got the likes of climate change, animal welfare and environmental management issues that we need answers to - over the above productivity issues.
“There is a growing list of things we expect levy to cover and its stretching thin at the moment.”
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