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Dairy Australia chief David Nation on dairy lobby, industry promotion

After seven years in the top job, Dairy Australia chief David Nation’s parting message has urged more primary producers to join advocacy groups.

Outgoing Dairy Australia boss David Nation has called for industry lobby unity, urging more primary producers to join advocacy groups.

Wrapping up seven years at the helm of the industry research and development organisation this week, Dr Nation said farmer representative bodies needed to refurnish their membership base with fewer primary producers participating.

“I recognise I’m leaving Dairy Australia at a time when a lot of dairy farmers are facing challenges from droughts and floods and it’s really testing people’s cash reserves and resilience,” the former DA managing director said.

“Whenever I hear frustrations about the work (the dairy industry) is doing, it’s in the area of advocacy and the challenge is that voice can only come from representative organisations.

“I still come across a lot of farmers to this day that aren’t aware that Dairy Australia cannot be agripolitical and cannot advocate on their behalf.

“The whole industry needs a strong farmer body and a strong processor body — and as much as possible, the farmer and processor bodies speaking together on issues that affect the whole industry.

“The way the industry is set up, where farmers contribute to the levy for the government to match it, and for Dairy Australia to do lots of things but the line is drawn at not including advocacy, makes Dairy Australia a really powerful organisation to support the industry.

“But dairy can only be truly powerful when it has a strong representative sector that’s well resourced and has a diverse base of farmers participating.”

David Nation finished his seven-year tenure this week. Picture: Andy Rogers
David Nation finished his seven-year tenure this week. Picture: Andy Rogers

Looking back on his time at the top, Dr Nation nominates an industry-agreed goal of $1.50 per kilogram milk solids profit as a key achievement.

“That $1.50 per kilo profit figure is really the threshold for farmers where you can grow and invest,” he said.

“Now obviously with drought and floods, there has been some setbacks but taking a longer term view of things, when I started in the role, only 22 per cent of farmers were reaching that level of profitability. In the last year, prior to the droughts and floods, that profitability target lifted up to 72 per cent.”

Dr Nation intends to set up a farmer and government advisory business. He will be succeeded by former DataGene boss Matthew Shaffer as Dairy Australia’s new chief executive.

Original URL: https://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/dairy/dairy-australia-chief-david-nation-on-dairy-lobby-industry-promotion/news-story/8c11692300e19eca23a64658b2e82440