An Australian dairy farmer has warned the entire industry could go under if consumers don’t start paying more for Australian dairy products.
Fourth-generation Queensland dairy farmer Joe Bradley made an impassioned plea as he warned consumers needed to pay at least $1.50 a litre for milk to keep the industry sustainable.
‘If the consumer wants dairy products, wants Australian fresh dairy products on the shelf, we are just going to have to pay for it and try to survive,’ Mr Bradley told the Today show.
‘It’s as simple as that.’
An Australian dairy farmer has warned that the entire industry could go under if consumers don’t start paying more for Australian dairy products (stock image)
Mr Bradley’s farm is north of Brisbane in Rush Creek, a site which once housed 26 dairy farms.
But now, his farm is the only one left, and he doesn’t know how much longer it will last.
Earlier this year, Australian supermarkets including Coles, Woolworths and Aldi increased their milk prices by 10 cents a litre, much to the delight of farmers, but the initial benefits have been short lived.
Drought conditions in Central Australia are straining farmers, with the growing cost of feed and maintenance causing many to walk off their land.
At its peak, Australia produced 12 billion litres of milk per year, and that figure has dropped 30 per cent to 8 billion litres.
Mr Bradley believes paying less than $1.50 a litre for milk, or $9 per block of cheese – has the industry at risk of collapse.
‘I just don’t know where it’s going to end up,’ Mr Bradley said.
‘We’re not going to have a sustainable Australian dairy industry and you’re not going to have fresh Australian dairy products unless something changes very, very quickly.’
‘If the consumer wants dairy products, wants Australian fresh dairy products on the shelf, we are just going to have to pay for it and try to survive,’ Mr Bradley (pictured) said. ‘It’s as simple as that.’
Source: Daily Mail
