Sad local news, a local driver delivering feed to a dairy found both husband and wife hanging from the rafters of the dairy shed. I would expect we are going to hear more of this type of incident.
On Landline, it was reported that more dairy cattle were on their way to the slaughterhouse because of industry collapse. A sad case for farmers and animals alike, Regards Errol 43
Here I was thinking that The John Howard Dairy industry Stabilization plan would be a blessing for the industry..I tell you what it did do, wiped out a lot of dairy farms here in Qld...Seems like we could not produce the milk as cheap as Victorians. We can save the dairy industry but not the car industry.. Why??? Regards Errol 43
I don't think Howard brought in a DISP. Pretty sure the levy was to assist dairy farmers OUT and remove a lot of the inefficient state subsidies etc.
Sounds like things are getting dire for the dairy farmers in Vic. The full article below is disturbingly grim.
Yes dairy farmers down the drain with the milk How in the hell is this allows to happen "paying" (insulting) farmers less than it takes to produce :/ This is all about control by the big end of town as per usual killing something off to take control and to rebuild for more $$$$$$$$$$$ Who would have though with a growing world population that milk would be on the slippery slide not me :| Anyway ladies and gentlemen drink up because we might be "forced" to buy (and drink) powered milk from China one day = Yuk!!!!!
Won't be long now! The TPP will ensure that NZ milk will flow into Australia...No droughts in NZ. Only 2 years ago on Landline Tasmania dairy farms were been snapped up by Chinese investors who were going to increase the herds from 600 to 2000... Hardly any dairy farmers left around Bundaberg thanks to John Howard and his Dairy Stabilization Plan! Are we still paying tax at 10 cents a litre on milk? Thanks Coles and Woolworths, come om Aldi! Regards Errol 43
Is that a bad thing? As long as the quality is the same and the price is the same then what's the problem? Unless of course you're arguing that Australian taxpayers should compensate the industry. If you are, then I'll stick my hand out as well.
The levy ended in 2008 I believe. The Dairy Industry Adjustment Act was inevitable. Paying small, inefficient producers to produce excess amounts of product isn't in anyone's interests except those getting the free cash.
Nick Xenophon floating the idea of restoring the milk for kids programs in schools. When I went to school it was warm milk in cardboard cartons that was left sitting in crates on the playground and handed out by Milk Monitors. We were forced to drink it, had no choice. Can't see that happening anymore, lactose intolerant children, vegan kids not to mention the extra cost to schools of having to refrigerate and distribute cold milk and the cost to taxpayers to subsidise the program just because an industry is facing market challenges. But then again, I'd be more than happy to support the program if the Federal government also introduced "Fish for kids" twice a week and fish is probably healthier than milk.
mine came in little bottles. In winter it was great but in summer in 5th class I use to look out the window and wonder why the hell they didn't get us out there early to drink it. When I was older I went to the extent of putting a glass of milk in the freezer if I wanted milk.
Why are we producing so much milk? We already export 75% of our milk products. Farmers used get about 70c a litre before there was a supply glut of milk world wide. Should we get Government to mandate a guarantee to farmers for milk they can't sell overseas? mandating Coles and woollies pay 70c minimum for milk is easy but what about for farmers who don't sell to woollies and Coles now? I doubt Coles and woollies buy all of the domestic milk production, we do have butter and cheese etc. For the 80 to 90% of milk that can't be sold overseas or to the two giants should be setup a tax levy so farmers get 70cents a litre?
I just don't see how it is possible to graze cows, milk, process, transport and package a litre of milk for 70c/litre at the fridge. Govt. interference distorts all market signals. I think the solution would be local farmers co-ops.
Murray Goulburn was Co-op until 2011 when the Corporation moved in with all the BS which the farmers agreed to in the name of the mighty $$$$$. Howard deregulated the industry that had managed to thrive over the last 100 years. Several butter factories closed up here in Qld thanks to the greed of the Victorian farmers plus Coles and Woolworths. Regards Errol 43
^^^ it must've been awful. The number of people that recant the same story is legend. Only a Govt. organisation (school) could take such a great concept and turn it into such a reviled experience.
If there was an Olympic medal for milking cows, the dairy farmers would be getting plenty of help. I think taxpayers are on the hook for something like $11 million per gold medal.
I did'nt have a clue what was going on with this subject until I watched this last night.....VERY informative. And now I know what all the fuss is about. http://iview.abc.net.au/programs/four-corners/NC1604H029S00
have you gotten a job yet? like I said earlier, I Bet theseDariry farmers are regretting those russian sanctions against us now. we should stop blindly following the USA.