A fresh approach to the dairy industry will ensure Aussie consumers can enjoy the milk, cheese and yoghurt they love long into the future, with NSW Farmers playing a leading role in advocating for farmers.
NSW Farmers was crucial in ensuring calls for price fairness were heard in kitchens and breakfast tables right around the country, and the association is now adding a new dairy manager role to deliver specialised policy advice and advocacy, coinciding with the release of the state government's NSW Dairy Industry Action Plan.
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The Action Plan, developed by NSW fresh milk and dairy advocate Ian Zandstra with input from NSW Farmers, was aimed at creating a fairer system while also investing in the future of the sector.
NSW Farmers dairy chair Colin Thompson said the association was a key part of reshaping the leadership of the dairy industry at state and federal levels, and this new dairy manager role would ensure farmers would continue to be involved in the implementation of those plans.
"The dairy industry has had a number of challenges and setbacks over recent decades, from drought to absurdly low milk retail prices," Mr Thompson said.
"The dairy industry needs coordinated advocacy as it faces old and new challenges, from processor and retailer relationships to competition from plant-based alternatives, high energy prices and environmental changes.
"It's time for meaningful action and NSW Farmers looks forward to the chapter ahead."
Mr Thompson welcomed the emphasis on research, development, extension and adoption programs aimed at unlocking higher productivity and profitability, de-risking the dairy industry, and developing new markets.
"NSW Farmers has been a key player in the development of this Action Plan, primarily through our advocacy and our role on a state industry advisory panel," Mr Thompson said.
"We pushed for the installation of a NSW dairy advocate, and we were successful in seeing that come to fruition in 2019, and now NSW Farmers will be one of the handful of stakeholders on the Dairy Action Implementation Panel, established to oversee the implementation of the Action Plan."
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