Victorian dairy farmers enjoy greener pastures, better prices

Things are looking fine at the farmgate and the grass is greener — is this Victorian dairy’s best season in a decade?

Conditions across Victoria’s three dairy regions are looking greener than previous seasons. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Some years in the Australian dairy industry, there’s plenty of rain and feeble farmgate prices. Some other seasons, things are fantastic pricewise at the farmgate but pasture production is paltry.

But to get a strong season and robust rainfall?

In 2021-22, the nation’s dairy farmers are daring to dream of such serendipity.

United Dairyfarmers of Victoria president Paul Mumford said most of the Garden State was green this season, just like the colour of money.

“It’s rare when you get strong prices and good seasonal conditions together at the one time. So that’s really pleasing,” Mr Mumford said.

The UDV president’s farm is located at Won Wron, north of Yarram, and he said the paddocks were holding up well following 500mm of rain during the past six weeks.

“They say where there’s mud, there’s money. That’s true this season,” Mr Mumford said. “It’s been extraordinary. Some parts of Gippsland are waterlogged — it’s too much if you’ve got lower-lying property.”

Camperdown farmer Carlie Barry said her farm’s undulating terrain meant the recent rainfall had not caused issues on her property but other primary producers were not as fortunate.

“Lately, we’ve been getting one nice day for every five or six wet days. Some farmers locally have been battling with mastitis or muddy tracks.”

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