FEW people work harder than dairy farmers.
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Most of them work every day of the year, from before dawn to well beyond dusk. They are at the behest of Mother Nature, through drought and deluge, and the perils of pestilence and plague.
The last thing they need on top of these conditions is a situation where they have to tip milk – the lifeblood of their existence – down the drain. Or worse yet, to sell their herds, shut their gates and walk away from a family business that has, in many cases, been passed down through generations.
Dairy farmers have every right to be angry about the milk price clawbacks announced by Fonterra, Murray Goulburn and Lion.
Imagine being told you had to pay back a large portion of your wages and live for the next few months on a meagre pittance – this is the situation dairy farmers now face. The number of dairy farmers in the Ballarat region has drastically reduced over the years and many not beholden to these companies must be grateful but this is an issue that that reverberate far beyond the dairy. In a way it involves everyone whoever enjoyed the benefits of $1 milk without thinking about the real cost
Milk production is one of the most important industries in parts of Victoria, and the fortunes of the farmer are often the barometer of the region. Businesses in small towns live and die on the dairy dollar. If the farmers don’t have money to spend in the shops and pubs, the shops and pubs suffer.
But anger is a pointless emotion unless it can be used to fuel change. The yelling and outrage of recent meetings must now be funnelled into solutions. We need to find ways to help those who are struggling. We need to make sure something like this doesn’t happen again. And we need to preserve this industry into the future.
Just as our community rallies for many people and issues, so should we rally to ensure parts of Victoria remain dairy country. Amid all this, there is a very important message that needs to get out: Farmers, don’t be afraid to speak up and seek help.
The price claw-back is having a devastating effect on people. In some parts of Victoria farmers are throwing in the towel and selling up. Worse, a tough job just got tougher and for some this may the mental breaking point. Now is the time to join our voices with them.
- Anyone who needs help can phone Lifeline on 131 114 or beyondblue on 1300 224 636