You might have seen this segment on The Project on Tuesday night, or read about how dairy farmers are being “milked dry” (I shared it on my Facebook page yesterday).
I first read about the issue on the landline website which you should also check out.
Being married to a farmer, I get to see first hand how the whims of big businesses can affect farmers and the livelihoods. I’m pretty passionate about this issue, so I’ve left my usual food/garden/craft type post for another day, and instead, I want to talk about a few of the realities that farmers face when they grow our food.
Farmers are not making raging profits. Most farmers have a love of the land, and very often the farm has been in the family for generations so there is a feeling of stewardship over their land. I know that Country Boy and his father feel indebted to their fore bearers and duty bound to do their best to ensure the farm passes on to one of our children. They have a sense of belonging to our farm. They work long hours looking after the farm and stock and make only a modest financial gain from this.
The price that farmers are paid at the farm gate for their produce is only a small fraction of what you pay in the supermarket. Farmers are constantly finding that the price that they are paid for their produce is decreasing, while at the same time their costs are rising. Every time a new rule or regulation comes in there are more costs involved. We’ve had an incredibly dry few months and so we’re feeding sheep a few times a week to make sure they get enough to eat. This costs money and eats into our profits too.
Dairy farmers are definitely doing it super tough at the moment. Businesses which have been in families for generations are being pushed to the wall in the name of corporate greed and cost cutting. As farmers of meat (lamb) and wool, Country Boy and his father have seen prices for their product change according to the demands of big business. I cannot even imagine how we would cope if we were told that price we were being paid for our sheep and wool was less than it cost to produce.
Country Boy and I often talk about the disconnect that people seem to have between what they eat and where it comes from. Food is so cheap and so plentiful, that we no longer consider the time, effort, and resources that go into growing it. We don’t think about the people working at the other end of the food chain when we pick up our milk in the supermarket. We don’t remember that there are actual real families whose livelihood depends on us being prepared to pay a decent price for their product. The supermarkets fight to dominate the market with their low prices (Down, Down and Cheap Cheap anyone??) and we think that this is good because food becomes cheaper for the consumer, without considering who is paying for this cheap food (hint – it’s not the supermarkets).
It’s such a big issue and I don’t have all the answers, but I do know one thing:
You can help dairy farmers (and other farmers too) by voting with your shopping cart. Buy brand name milk and dairy products (here’s a link to a list of brands to buy), but don’t stop there. Buy locally grown where ever possible. Visit farmers markets. In the supermarket choose Australian branded products for as many of your groceries as possible and avoid the generics. Choose products that are made from Australian ingredients. The new labeling laws that begin in July should make this a lot easier for consumers. Buy Australian made, Australian grown products, preferably from Australian owned companies. Yes you will pay a little more, but this little bit makes a big difference to Australian farmers everywhere.
In Australia we are so fortunate to have a safe, high quality food supply. The only way this will continue is if farmers can continue to farm their land. If we want this high quality, safe food, perhaps it’s time to put our money where our mouth is and pay what our food is worth.
Have you been following this debate? Are you changing what milk you buy? Do you even consider where your food comes from? I’d love to know your thoughts on this!
As a Canadian Dairy Farmer thank you for educating. Consumers just don’t know.
Thanks Jo, it’s heartbreaking to hear and see what these families are going through. I grew up on a dairy farm in the 70’s in the northern rivers of NSW, back when my parents could make a living with 40 cows!!!!! I am sooo angry that large supermarkets sell milk at such a cheap price, and continually promote propaganda that consumers can’t afford anymore. I know it’s a drop in the bucket, but we have 8 children at home and buy a minimum of 14 litres of branded milk and a kilogram of branded cheese a week.
It’s so good to see families digging deep to support the dairy farmers. My hope that is that it becomes a permanent decision and not just a phase that people go through before returning to the supermarket brands.
Yes, agree.
Growing up in the bush I know how important it is to support our local farmers. I always try and buy Australian products.
The more we support farmers, the safer our food supply is. You could also check out Emma from She Sows Seeds, who has written a post worth a read. She is living in the same area as all the affected dairy farmers.
Hi Jo. Thanks for the content of this blog. I agree whole heartily with everything you have said. As a dairy farmer I am caught up in all that is going on at the moment as we supply our milk to Murray Goulburn. All I can do is endorse all you have written. Please buy branded milk and please buy from an Australian owned business where possible. It really will make a difference.
Absolutely. Australian agriculture needs consumers to get on board with the idea of supporting locals. Thoughts with you at what must be a very hard time!
Carol – I’m a bit late to the party on this post, but I did have a question: do dairy farmers who supply MG also supply branded milk? I agree wholeheartedly with supporting our Aussie farmers by buying branded milk, but I also wondered if by boycotting the “Down Down” and “Cheap Cheap” milks, are we doing a disservice to those farmers who provide that milk?
It’s quite confusing for this city lass, and I just want to make sure I am doing the right thing by our country colleagues.
I left a comment on your Facebook entry yesterday but then remembered something my sister told me last year. She had been looking for a wool underblanket/mattress cover. Hard to find but she eventuall bought one. The quality was not amazing but she had been looking for ages. She then went into Aldi for other purchases and they had them there. Really good quality and at a very reasonable price considering the quality. She bought one and returned the other unopend.
The one she bought came from a farm down your way. She was impressed with the fact of name being on it. I do not remember the actual farm, but it had name and address which said R P….. She is currently in Perth but I will ask her when I hear from her.
Ethical shopping is like walking a tightrope. A balancing act between what I believe and my budget. Right niw I have enough to make charitable donations to several causes regularly and also to buy dearer food. I buy organic where possible because I prefer the flavour apart from other considerations. Especially the organic, branded,eggs and milk.
Have you heard of Frontier Sevices? Run by Uniting church . I have a friend in the High country in Victoria who is only pastor for many many miles. I support her but also support Buy a Bale which now has the backing of a large real estate firm. Every two months I donate for several bales of hay and a couple of gift cards so wives can buy undies, shampoos etc. last time I also contributed to the purchase of a bus and trailer to take tradies a load at a time to farms where some maintenance is beyond the farmer for one reason and another.
I have gone on for a while but not many people seem to have heard of this and it is a practical way of helping. A bit like the road train of well over fifty semi trailers all carrying donated hay to drought stricken farmers. Fuel, trailer and time are all donated. It is organised in Murrumbuttock and some of those donating are nearly as poorly off as the farmers who get the donation. It was on TV, The second road train. I cried when I saw the convoy pull into a tiny town where the school children lined the street jumping up and down and waving flags. Someone had thought of their dads and mums.
The absolute best way to support farmers is to buy their products. Aussie farmers need the wider public to understand this, and the more we can get this message out the better! Thanks for your thoughts!