Dairy Farmers of Victoria: Backing for breakaway group from VFF

Dairy leaders are rallying their fellow farmers to join a new lobby group, following a break from the VFF.

A recruitment drive is underway for a new dairy farmer lobby group, following an agricultural advocacy schism last month.

Leadership at the United Dairyfarmers of Victoria registered a new entity – Dairy Farmers Victoria – following divisions in the Victorian Farmers Federation.

UDV president Mark Billing registered the new group DFV with Consumer Affairs Victoria on July 6.

A DFV website has gone live this week and farmers from across the state have encouraged their fellow primary producers to join.

Aaron Thomas and his daughter Lexi, 10. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Gippsland farmer Aaron Thomas said many UDV members supported Mr Billing’s move to establish the new lobby group.

He said many farmers felt the VFF in its current form did not adequately represent the needs of the dairy sector, given their financial contribution to the overarching body.

“We need a fresh start.

“Dairy Farmers Victoria is the best way to give us a voice, given everything that’s happened with the VFF over the past few years,” the Wron Wron farmer said.

The new group has expressed frustration that roughly $950,000 in VFF funding was derived from dairy farmers, yet only $10,000 returned to the UDV to run its operations. In a letter last month, the VFF rejected the cash criticism and claimed “the cost of running the VFF-UDV is about 45 per cent of VFF-UDV contributions.

VFF president Emma Germano said the $10,000 figure was misleading, with approximately $500,000 spent directly and indirectly on dairy advocacy. “There have been numerous occasions where we’ve reached out to what was the UDV, but clearly this has been planned for some time,” she said.

“It’s disappointing and counter-productive because it dilutes the advocacy, not only for dairy, but on cross-commodity advocacy.”

North East Victorian farmer Jon Pethybridge said the new DFV would help strengthen the case for localised agriculture advocacy.

“While we are one industry, the issues that arise in our region vary from others within Victoria,” the Whorouly South farmer said. “It’s vital for a prosperous future of dairy to have local advocacy in each region of Victoria.”

Western District farmer Brad Collins echoed Mr Pethybridge’s support.

“The impact of both seasonal conditions and climate change varies across Victoria and it is important that as an industry association we are across these variations” the Dixie farmer said.

Northern Victoria primary producer Ann Gardiner urged fellow dairy farmers to sign up to the DFV.