NSW Farmers is urging consumers to use their power to demand fair pricing for dairy products like fresh milk, cheese and butter.
NSW Farmers Dairy Committee Chair Colin Thompson said the consumer is a dairy farmer’s best advocate, with more than 90 per cent saying they would pay more for generic brand milk in the Association’s Facebook and Twitter polls.
“We need a fair price for our dairy products to ensure farmers can continue producing. The retail price of fresh milk must start at $1.50 per litre,” Mr Thompson said,
“The supermarkets’ private label milk and cheese products have been heavily discounted for a long time now and it has taken its toll on the industry.”
“If something doesn’t happen soon, dairy farmers will continue to exit the industry. Our industry has lost 51 farmers in the past 12 month in NSW and the situation is even worse in states like Queensland.”
Mr. Thompson says consumers will be the ones who lose out if more dairy farmers leave the industry.
“If farmers continue to exit the dairy industry, the availability of fresh and local dairy products will be under threat.”
“Australians are accustomed to having access to these products, especially fresh milk of a high quality. We don’t want consumers to lose access to these products, but we need them to demand a fair price for farmers.”
“The thought of losing fresh milk from supermarket shelves is a scary one. It will become a reality if consumers do not demand a fair price for their dairy products.”
“Farmers need a fair price for their milk to create a functioning dairy market. It’s only about restoring the equilibrium for the dairy industry.”
“A $1.50 per litre milk price ensures all within the supply chain can make reasonable margins and that Australians consumers can continue to enjoy fresh milk.”
