Waroona dairy farmer urges farmers to ‘make their vote count’ to increase levy 20 per cent

A Waroona dairy farmer is urging fellow producers to “make their vote count” in an upcoming poll set to determine the industry levy for the next five years. After sitting at just over 10¢/kg since 2016, the amount funnelled into research and development for the $4.4 billion industry from dairy farmers is up for review next year. It is calculated from milk fat and protein levels, with expenditure managed by Dairy Australia Limited and Animal Health Australia. Out of the four options on offer — no change, or a 15 per cent, 20 per cent or 25 per cent increase — farmers are being urged to vote for a 20 per cent jump. The recommendation follows an independent review by the 15-member Levy Poll Advisory Committee, which included outgoing Western Dairy chair and Jindong farmer Peter Evans. The levy will be targeted towards four investment areas — addressing labour needs, supporting farmers to address climate, tailoring regional services and ensuring farmers have a “stronger voice” in policy development. Waroona farmer Vicki Fitzpatrick, below, said she would pay an extra 25 per cent if she could, but to “make her vote count” she would be voting for 20 per cent. She said being a member had saved them thousands and provided critical support when times were tough. In 2016, Mrs Fitzpatrick and her husband Luke’s 200-cow operation was one of 26 dairy farms impacted by the devastating Yarloop blazes. It is a time in their lives which they will never forget, and still stirs up emotions today. “We were just absolutely shattered, really exhausted, no emotional reserves left — but we had Western Dairy,” Mrs Fitzpatrick said. “We’re really grateful.” She said they received a call within a few days and they helped organise a truck to bring diesel in for them to keep running their dairy off a generator, as well as helping them fill out funding forms which secured them $21,000. “We got a lot of support from a lot of people through that time but what set us apart from our neighbours was that we were dairy farmers. Within just a few days ... we got a call ... ‘How are you, what’s happening, what do you need from us?’ “Our most urgent need — apart from just having that contact from someone — we were milking the cows with a big generator so boy we needed diesel. And not many people want to drive a diesel truck into a fire zone. “So he did a lot of the background work working out which fuel company was going to be brave enough to bring us some diesel so that we could keep milking.” Representatives also paid them a visit to help them fill out forms to access funding in the aftermath. The family farm ended up securing $21,000 which went towards re-fencing the property. It is something Mrs Fitzpatrick said they were “really grateful” for. Their $5000 annual investment has also seen them save $13,000 a year through a rainwater diversion identified on their property by a Western Dairy representative during an assessment to meet the Dairy Effluent Management Code of Practice. “Every single aspect of our farm and our business is touched in some way by our levy,” she said. To adhere to the new Dairy Effluent Management Code of Practice, a representative visited and assessed their property and found they needed to divert the rainwater from the roof of their dairy shed to avoid it sitting in the sun. The diversion cost them $400, but the saving has returned them $13,000 a year. Referencing research on a 300-cow farm which estimated a saving of $39,000 a year by keeping cell count at around 100,000 rather than 250,000, she said that would equate to about a $26,000 return on their investment based on their 200-head. The value returned to the Waroona dairy is well utilised by the family farmers, who send their staff to Dairy Australia’s Cups On Cups Off courses to learn how to prevent, treat and control mastitis in the herd. “The health of our herd is a real biggie for us,” Mrs Fitzpatrick said. Mr Evans said he would be “disappointed” if the vote ended up below 20 per cent. A document outlining what each levy increase will provide producers is anticipated to be distributed to farmers by the end of the year. Dairy Australia chair and South Australian farmer James Mann said the “biggest difference” in a 15, 20 or 25 per cent increase would be targeted, regional services. The more funding, the more services will be able to be tailored to specific regions and properties. “Knowing your customer... has always had a really big role,” Mr Mann said. “For example heat stress. If there was a heat event in South Australia, I live about 150m off the beach and the furthest dairy farmer from me is about 400-500km away... which is a totally different climate and really hot. “If it’s hot up there I’d get a heat stress event to say, ‘watch out there’s a heat event coming’ and it’s 15 degrees. “They’d get one too and it’s 42 degrees. “Targeting those services to make it more relevant to the individual levy payers will be the difference between 15-25 per cent and how far you go along that line.” “Knowing your customer, knowing if you’re expanding, if you’re thinking about retiring.. if you’re absolutely ready for innovation.” Mrs Fitzpatrick said a 20 per cent increase on what they currently spent was the same as about three tonnes of pellets and less than one per cent of their production cost. She said it was a “no-brainer” and urged farmers to “make their voice heard”. Voting is open from February 24 to March 31, with the outcome to be announced in April.