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24.01.2022 Dairy Australia Board Elections This is a critical opportunity for Farmer Power members and all Dairy Farmers to have your voice heard. Have you registered to enable you to vote if Not please do so today online. It is a a very simple online form that you have to fill out to enable you to vote for the nominations for the forthcoming vacant positions on the DA board. ... It is important that all Dairy Farmers Voices are heard Currently there are 2 independents standing . Both need to secure the support of 100 farmers who are Group A members of Dairy Australia. Dairy Australia, announced this week their 2 nominees for these positions. Tania Luckin, from western Victoria, seeking re-election for her second term on the Board, and Paul Roderick from Queensland, currently serving as the Chair of Sub-Tropical Dairy. The other Director up for election is the skills based position with skills in Agribusiness, Innovation and Change Management, where DA have nominated Roseanne Healy, who is seeking re-election for her second term on the Board However 2 In dependant Candidates are also standing please see below some details and their phone numbers should you wish to contact either . Phil Ryan is one such candidate who has written to us to seek support to as a candidate for a Dairy Australia Milk Producer Director role, he needs to secure 100 nominations from farmers who are Group A members of Dairy Australia to be eligible to contest the election. He is seeking your support to stand for (and hopefully win) a position on the Board to give that desire for change, a voice. Contact Phil Ryan Hillgrove Dairy Pty. Ltd. 0414 703 920 The other is David Beca who is standing for Dairy Australia Director (Agribusiness, Innovation and Change Management) He is also seeking your support to be a candidate for the Dairy Australia director role which requires agribusiness, innovation and change management skills. Why do I want to be a director of Dairy Australia? I would like to be a director of Dairy Australia so that I can help change the direction of the Australian dairy industry and contribute my knowledge and skills to reversing the ongoing reductions in farm profitability and national milk production. These negative trends have been evident for 20 years. Contact David Beca Red Sky Agricultural 0418 535 715 https://dairyaustralia.tfaforms.net/333058

24.01.2022 WOW, who says a leopard cant change its spots ? A source said "diplomatic issues" were at play in the latest China Mengniu Dairy rebuff and other foreign takeover deals, with the "China issue playing into it in a big way". "We now have a foreign investment regulatory regime that is entirely aimed at China that affects everyone across the board," the source said.... https://www.afr.com//frydenberg-snubs-china-mengnui-s-600m

23.01.2022 Dairy groups call for royal commission to improve transparency News FRESH PLEA: A royal commission into the dairy industry have been renewed. Industry advocacy groups Farmer Power and Dairy Connect have joined forces to call for a royal commission into the dairy industry following last week's Senate inquiry.... The proposed royal commission would address concerns around industry governance and a lack of accountability, the groups said in a joint statement on Monday morning. https://www.stockandland.com.au//dairy-groups-call-for-r/

22.01.2022 Dairy Reform A Farce!!! Farmer Power amongst many others have not been engaged in discussions on moving forward with the Dairy Plan though we attended initial meetings with John Brumby and DA/ADF This Plan is a disgrace. Nothing but a pretentiousness, masquerade, of a charade , an act of deception, a mockery disguising itself as a solution when in fact it shows the absolute contempt held by those in power for those that they are supposed to represent Dairy Farmers It i...Continue reading

22.01.2022 https://www.stockandland.com.au//fonterra-pursues-debt-r/

21.01.2022 OMG who would have thought ????? https://www.stockandland.com.au//two-new-committees-no-d/

20.01.2022 Quad Bikes in the news again ! The fight continues AgForce calls to dump ATV roll bars, replace with national licence scheme Licence call: Queenslands peak farmer lobby wants national training and licencing of quad bike riders, rather than mandatory roll bars!!!!... PETER HUNT The Weekly Time NEW laws that stipulate all new quad bikes must be fitted with roll bars from October next year should be dumped and replaced with a national learner training and licence scheme for all riders, according to one state farmer body. Queenslands peak farmer lobby AgForce has joined major quad bike manufacturers and most of Australias 380 motorcycle dealers in a campaign to dump the new federal laws. AgForce calls to dump ATV roll bars, replace with national licence scheme! NEW laws that stipulate all new quad bikes must be fitted with roll bars from October next year should be dumped and replaced with a national learner training and licence scheme for all riders, according to one state farmer body. *************** AgForce is opposed to mandatory OPDs on quad bikes and recommends that they be considered by each individual as part of a suite of safety measures that includes training and education, AgForce chief executive Michael Guerin said. AgForce believes mandatory training and licences for quad bike riders would have a far greater benefit than mandatory OPDs, which in some contexts can actually reduce safety. ***************** Were all for a licensing system, especially for workers, where you could book on line to get your learners, Mr Hartley said. AgForces position sits at odds with the National Farmers Federations policy of supporting mandatory roll bars. It also goes against leading farm safety advocates, who warned AgForces push to dump roll bar laws and adopt a national licencing scheme was fraught with danger for farmers. For further information to read whole article go to the Weekly Times

19.01.2022 Quote : The course has been developed as a collaboration between Dairy Australia, processors, milk haulage companies and training providers to offer standardized national training. It has been endorsed by the Australian Milk Quality Steering Group and the Dairy Industry People Development Council, representing a cross-section of the industry. The program was initiated on the back of calls from industry as milk swaps increased, alongside the outsourcing of milk collections, the use of milk transfer stations and movement of tanker drivers between regions and companies. With different protocols across the supply chain, haulage companies were having to provide up to twenty inductions for new drivers. https://www.dairyaustralia.com.au//new-national-training-p

18.01.2022 https://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au//ceab51911cdeac751ade410 First off we apologise for the length of this article but it is important Below is a article from the weekly times. The details provided by the ADF in this article do not correspond with the evidence as stated to the current Senate hearing into the Dairy Industry on he 19th of June as presented on behalf of the ADF by David Inall. ...Continue reading

17.01.2022 https://www.abc.net.au//supermarkets-could-face-t/12579782

17.01.2022 Dairy Connect Shaughn Morgan on ABC this Morning regards the call by both Farmer Power and Dairy Connect for a Royal Commission Listen from the 16:10 mark to hear https://www.abc.net.au//programs/mornings/mornings/12663776

16.01.2022 PRICING support for dairy farmers is set to be examined by the nations competition watchdog following a unanimous Senate vote. Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud last month triggered an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission probe into the relationship between fresh food producers, including dairy farmers, and the retail sector. A motion by WA Labor senator Glenn Sterle last week called for the scope of the ACCC inquiry to be expanded to include examinati...on of regulating the price of milk per litre paid by processors to dairy farmers. Victorian Labor senator Raff Ciccone seconded the motion and said supermarkets needed to step up support for farmers. Whether its Coles, Woolworths or any of the other big retailers, they need to acknowledge the impact of the recession on Australian farmers and ensure they have a viable future, he said. To read the rest of the article go to the link below https://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au//b0eb146e51c5117f800b978.

16.01.2022 Yep those dairy Farmers cant meet "their demand" !! Now why would that be! Fonterra says processing plants exceed milk supply!! Dairy giant Fonterra says it has slimmed down to the right size in Australia but the industry here still has too much processing capacity for the available milk supply. New Zealand-based Fonterra is predicting more plant closures among dairy processors in Australia as Japan's Kirin seeks a new buyer for its white milk, milk-based beverages, yoghurt a...nd juice business. Fonterra is focusing on turning about 1.5 million litres of milk into cheese and butter in Australia over the next year. Louie Douvis Fonterra Australia managing director Rene Dedoncker said he expected more rationalisation in processing over the next few years. "There is too much processing capacity and not enough milk," he said. "It is hard to see that correcting itself so I do think there will be some further rationalisation of manufacturing facilities." Fonterra bit the bullet and shut down the century-old Dennington factory in Warrnambool a little over a year ago in a move it attributed to a big drop in milk collections at the time. https://www.afr.com//fonterra-says-processing-plants-excee.

15.01.2022 The Senate Inquiry into the Dairy Industry where the questions where asked ! https://www.youtube.com/watch

14.01.2022 A Win:) Hopefully https://www.stockandland.com.au//vff-brings-election-for/

14.01.2022 Sales surging but for all the wrong reasons!! Many Dairy Farmers are concerned about the change in safety requirements for Quad Bikes and the unintended impacts that this seems to be having with Major Quad bike Manufacturers pulling out of Australia . Plus those that are staying and fulfilling the new safety requirements are not producing a Quad Bike that is fit for use on farm . Maybe more clarity should be sought on this by those involved in those changes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7DjvnhWH-E

14.01.2022 FarmerPower has long been aware of the lack of true representation of Dairy Farmers by peak bodies within the Dairy industry . Not providing true representation on behalf of grass roots Dairy Farmers . This is why Farmer power first came into existence, to provide real representation. We where instrumental in the introduction of the Mandatory code whilst ADF initially fought hard against it ! The new proposed Dairy Plan is just another clear sign of this Failure of the peak... bodies . Don't forget this Dairy Plan was to provide true representation for grass root Dairy Farmers and bring all Dairy Farmers together as well as organisations Clearly this is not happening! Dairy Farmers are becoming more and more disillusioned as this process continues and are calling it out for what it is Failure once again ! https://www.stockandland.com.au//farmer-calls-for-better-/

14.01.2022 #FarmerPower# CEO Garry Kerr tells why there is a need for a Royal commission into the Dairy Industry https://www.abc.net.au//gippsland-and-goulburn-mu/12667510

12.01.2022 Union Dairy Company pays Australian Competition and Consumer Commission penalty Union Dairy Company is paying a five-figure fine for an alleged breach of the dairy code reporting process but the payment isn’t an admission of guilt. ALEX SINNOTT, The Weekly Times October 21, 2020 2:00pm... Bags of milk powder at Union Dairy Company's processing plant at Penola. Picture: Karla Northcott UNION Dairy Company has paid a five-figure penalty after the national consumer watchdog alleged it failed to comply with its Dairy Code obligations. Riddoch Trading Propreitary Limited, trading as the UDC, paid the $10,500 penalty after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission issued it with an infringement notice. The Dairy Code requires processors to publish standard form milk supply agreements on their respective websites by 2pm on June 1 each year. The ACCC alleges that instead of publishing its exclusive supply agreement on its website, UDC required dairy farmers to fill in an online form with data such as herd size and current processor before they could access the agreement. The consumer watchdog has also alleged that UDC also did not publish a non-exclusive agreement until about two months after the June 1 deadline. ACCC deputy chairman Mick Keogh said processors must make their documents publicly available by the due date. Processors must make their milk supply agreements publicly available, rather than putting them behind a portal or other barrier, he said. ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... To read full article go to https://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/agribusiness/dairy

12.01.2022 Farmer Power and Dairy Connect call for Royal Commission into the Australian dairy industry Both the banking and aged care sectors have received a judicial grilling now two leading farmer groups say a Royal Commission is needed for the dairy industry. CONFLICTS of interest within Australias dairy sector need to be examined by a royal commission, two farmer lobby groups say.... Victoria-based Farmer Power and NSW-based Dairy Connect have joined forces in the royal commission call as an attempt to address systemic problems within the sector. The two organisations claim primary producers continue to receive a raw deal from retailers and processors despite recent changes to the sector, including the mandatory code of conduct. Dairy Connect chief executive Shaughn Morgan said in June that while the industry had been regularly inspected and analysed, there had never been a broad-ranging inquiry with powers appropriate to a critical analysis of the entire supply chain. There have been a number of stakeholder and parliamentary committees looking into the Australian dairy industry over many years with many of their reports now gathering dust on the shelves of parliamentary libraries and MPs offices, Mr Morgan said. A royal commission would overcome the lack of will in all governments in implementing appropriate reform in an industry where market failure has been occurring since deregulation 20 years ago. Dairy Connect supports a Royal Commission where the terms of reference specifically look at ways to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Aussie dairy industry and keep future generations of dairy farmers on the land. A senate inquiry into the sector is underway with Farmer Power and United Dairyfarmers of Victoria representatives fronting an upper house panel via videolink last week. Farmer Power chief executive Garry Kerr said the inquiry should examine whether levies paid by dairy farmers were necessary. Farmer Power believes that conflicts of interest, lack of accountability and lack of financial transparency are enough to call for a Royal Commission to ascertain the true impact on dairy farmers of self-serving relationships in the industry, he said. Funding arrangements and conflicts of interest need to see the clear light of independent scrutiny with the capacity to spearhead greater industry reform. https://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au//1ce568b7c5fa8be5c1eb73f

11.01.2022 The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) MEDIA RELEASE http://www.fcai.com.au/news/index/view/news/653 Farmsafe Australias Safer Farmers report contains glaring errors... The Farmsafe Australia Safer Farmers report released last week shows that agriculture is still one of Australias most dangerous industries. The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) acknowledges the importance of increased safety for farm workers and notes several errors relating to ATVs in the Farmsafe report. The FCAI aims to state the facts around farm vehicle involvement in fatalities, and, it also wishes to correct erroneous statements made by Farm Lobby Groups and the ACCC.

11.01.2022 Any comments ??? UDV membership consultation Shepparton News 22 Sep 2020 ...Continue reading

10.01.2022 Whilst this is happening in NZ NOW We feel Farmers need to be made aware of this now rather then later .

10.01.2022 https://www.farmonline.com.au//accc-boss-mystified-by-ca/

08.01.2022 Australian Senate Inquiry into the Australian Dairy Industry Watch the Presentations by all and note the comments and questions asked and the Senators responses UDV presentation 14 min mark Farmer power presentation 1.24 mark... Wannon Branch presentation 3.13 min mark Town Hall presentation 3.44 mark (including NWU presentation) Please view via Computer https://drive.google.com//1o5qjXdqaOLo2V3nb8G87XBKOtsvEUIyc

08.01.2022 https://www.stockandland.com.au//radical-animal-activist/

07.01.2022 Gray Wigg farm sale puts pressure on Saputo’s Gippsland milk processing plants An expected loss of 30 million litres in milk supply from Saputo to Fonterra is likely to put pressure on the Canadian processor’s Gippsland factories. But which factory may get mothballed? PETER HEMPHILL, The Weekly Times One of Saputo’s two Gippsland factories is likely to come under pressure if it loses milk supply after the recent sale of the Gray Wigg farms to a Canadian pension fund.... AN EXPECTED exodus of milk from Saputo to Fonterra with the sale of farms from the Gray Wigg Pty Ltd farm group may put pressure on the Canadian processor’s Leongatha plant, not the Maffra factory as first mooted. A dairy industry source told The Weekly Times both of Saputo’s Gippsland plants need redevelopment but there was not enough milk to justify the capital expenditure on each. The source, who did not wish to be named, said Saputo was probably trying to figure out which one to keep and which should be mothballed. They need to make a choice as to which one they should upgrade, he said. And it probably should be Maffra. ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................., with the buyer of the properties, Canadian pension fund Public Sector Pension Investment Board, having strong ties to the New Zealand processor. To read Full article visit the https://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au//www./agribusiness/dairy

07.01.2022 Is this Nuts ???? We would like your opinion https://www.farmonline.com.au//government-scraps-water-fo/

06.01.2022 MEDIA RELEASE 26 August 2020 Standards Australia officially walk away from quad bike legislation raising genuine concerns about NFF strategy The countrys leading independent, non-governmental, not-for-profit standards organisation, Standards Australia yesterday confirmed in writing that they will not develop a Quad Bike Standard or a Technical Specification for Crush Protection Devices (CPDs).... Craig Hartley, founder of Save the Quad Bike in Australia, This development raises serious concerns about the NFFs strategy from the very start and the overall commitment to meaningful long-term on-farm safety outcomes. The most fundamental question is this: who will now make these so called CPDs? Back Yard Bobs Engineering and Fabrication Services? This is becoming a very serious and yet, genuine farce! Secondly, with no overarching standard and no technical specification who will take responsibility when a CPD fails, snaps, breaks or is deemed, via a Coronial Inquest, to contribute to a fatality? These are very serious questions that no one wants to talk about and yet these questions underpin the entire debate and the NFFs emotive driven strategy. We know the ACCC refused to address the economic and social ramifications of the decision and that over 200 dealers are likely to close, with the loss of rural jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars of revenue. We also know that only 25% of last years quad bike deaths were farmers, another 25% were recreational quads with one child fatality. Yet the remaining 50% were SSV buggies with half of the SSV deaths attributed to children. But theres also another major angle to this entire debate that the ACCC and NFF did not think through: We are now seeing inconsistent and incoherent State based approaches to quad bike safety and a genuine disjoint between the quad bike standard enacted by the Federal Government and State based Work Place Health and Safety Legislation. If you want messy, if you want to see what an emotionally driven Ag policy looks like; look no further than the NFFs position on quad bikes. It beggars belief that we never needed to go down this road. The solution global manufacturers argued from day one was simple: develop a national harmonised approach to education, training and licensing. And yet, even with Standards Australia pulling out, the NFF refuse to sit down at the table to save jobs, save businesses and save lives. Sad but true, ended Mr Hartley. CLICK HERE FOR THE LINK TO SIGN THE PETITION AGAINST THE LEGISLATION. Craig Hartley - 0428 621 211 Save the Quad Bike in Australia (STQBIA) is a campaign sitting under the national umbrella of the Australian Motorcyclists Association Inc (ATV Division). Dalby Moto ABN: 93043468476 19 Hospital Road Dalby Queensland 4405 AUSTRALIA Ph: 0746621211

04.01.2022 Open Transparent Representation. "What more could Dairy Farmers ask for !. " https://www.stockandland.com.au//dairy-advocacy-reform-g/

02.01.2022 So what else is news ? The industry is in dire straights and needs a full blown Heart Transplant to survive! https://www.stockandland.com.au//dairy-farmers-face-sile/

02.01.2022 The following video clip is of the three candidates outside of DA/ADF trying to join the Board . Their contact details are below if you wish to help and support them David Beca mob +61 418 535 715 ph +61 3 9080 8545 CARLIE BARRY, Camperdown VIC, ph 0419 301 927 PHIL RYAN, Bega NSW, ph 0414 703 920 ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcNEObWCugg&feature=youtu.be

02.01.2022 Dairy Australia’s $27m cache LEVY REVENUE By PETER HUNT NATIONAL milk production may be in the doldrums, but Dairy Australia still managed to collect extra levy revenue from farmers last season, lifting its reserves to $27 million and staff costs by 9.5 per cent. And it now plans to lift the ceiling on its directors’ pay to $490,000.... Papers sent to farmer members in the lead-up to DA’s November 28 annual general meeting propose raising the ceiling on its eight non-executive directors’ fees from $430,000 to $490,000. At the same time, DA released its 2019-20 annual report, which showed milk production declined by about 0.2 per cent, from 8.795 billion litres in 2018-19 to 8.776 billion litres last season. Yet the research, development and marketing body managed to collect an extra $320,000 from farmers last season, with its total levy income rising from $30.96 million in 2018-19 to $31.64 million in 2019-20. A DA spokesman said the higher returns were likely due to a potential carryover of levy income from one year to the next. On directors’ fees, he said the AGM motion was to lift the ceiling, so their fees could be increased at some future date. But Dairy Connect farmer group president Graham Forbes said it was unacceptable to lift the ceiling on director fees by almost 14 per cent, when inflation was so low. The annual report showed the strength of DA’s ongoing levy income has also allowed it to accumulate funds well in excess of its requirements, with the financials showing its reserves had risen to $27 million by June 30 this year. Yet DA’s past and current 2020-21 operating plans set a much lower target, stating management will preserve capital by ensuring the reserves remain above target level $15 million for the duration of the five years of the strategic plan. Meanwhile DA’s employment costs continued to rise, from $14.6 million in 2018-19 to $16 million for 2019-20, with most of the benefits going to its 117 staff at its Southbank headquarters, with 69 staff in regional Australia. Determining how much DA spends on research and development programs was impossible to calculate from its annual report, with all expenditure placed into three strategic priority programs but it did show contracted R&D commitments for 2020-21 were $15.86 million on June 30. See more

01.01.2022 A PICTURE NOBODY WANTS TO SEE: Farmsafe Australia is determined to reduce farm quad bike accidents.. Farm Quad Bike accidents ? May help if they actually new what one was if this picture is any Indication