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Vic dairy farmers shut up shop
29 Oct 2003
About 345 Victorian dairy farmers have left the industry over the past 10 months. Most (162) left from the northern dairy region, 93 left Gippsland, 87 left the Western District and three quit in the central region of the state. Since 2000, more than 677 dairy farmers have left the industry. There are now 6,784 dairy farmers in Victoria: 2,596 in the north, 2,218 in Gippsland, 1,896 in the west and 74 in the central region.
Reasons given for the exodus include a lack of young people entering the industry and the advancing age of dairy farmers, as well as financial problems. Rural financial advisers say many farmers are not earning enough money to service their debt. One said it's not the interest rate or debt levels that are major problems, but the tight margins farmers are getting. They're not being paid enough money for their milk. The advisers warn that the number of farmers selling up is likely to increase in the near future.
United Dairyfarmers of Victoria president Peter Owen does not believe the numbers of farmers leaving dairying are a cause for concern, but the drought has taken its toll.
Weekly Times, 29/10/03, page 18.
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