Dairy package in place to help desperate Victorian farmers

VICTORIAN dairy farmers are being offered extra assistance to help them deal with the milk price crisis engulfing the sector.

Jan Giliam with son George and grandson Max on their property at Mirboo North. Picture: Jason Edwards

VICTORIAN dairy farmers are being offered extra assistance to help them deal with the milk price crisis engulfing the sector.

Farmers across the state are reeling from a dramatic price drop from major processor Murray Goulburn, which will leave many out of pocket up to $100,000.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said the Federal Government had put short-term arrangements in place to “keep the wolves from the door’’ of struggling dairy farmers.

“I’ve been in contact with both the retailers, dairy producers, with also the NFF on this issue,” he said.

“We’ve made sure the Farm Household Allowance, which for mum and dad on the farm will get them about $1000 a fortnight, that that’s in place.

“We have made the regulatory changes so they get access to that. We have also made sure that rural counsellors are in place.”

Mr Joyce, who is also Agriculture Minister, is expected to announce details of a dairy assistance package by the end of the week.

Dairy producers across Victoria have been forced to reconsider their future after Murray Goulburn slashed the price it pays for milk at the farm gate.

Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed a taskforce had been established to investigate what could be done to help dairy farmers.

“To have your price so dramatically reduced with no warning, no notice, and then because of the forward selling arrangements to be presented with a bill so you owe your customer money, not the other way around — that’s a very difficult set of circumstances,’’ Mr Andrews said.

He said the government was organising more counsellors to help farmers who were “paying a very heavy emotional price”.

It comes as Coles announced a new product that would deliver an additional 20c a litre into the pockets of farmers doing it tough and would kickstart the fund with a $1 million injection.

“It’s important that we have a vibrant dairy farming sector, and we can only have that if we work together to ensure the long-term health of the industry,” managing director John Durkan said.

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