UNITED Dairyfarmers of Victoria (UDV) is calling on the major political parties to support its election priorities to build a stronger and more profitable dairy industry.
UDV, the dairy arm of the Victorian Farmers Federation, wants to lift Victoria’s annual milk production from its current 6.2 million litres to 10 billion litres by 2025.
In launching the Victorian Election Policy Platform today, UDV President Tyran Jones said the industry was poised to enter a substantial growth phase after battling its way through some very tough seasons.
“Dairy is Victoria’s most valuable agricultural sector and ships out more containers through the Port of Melbourne than any other industry,” Mr Jones said.
“Given dairy’s value, as an economic driver of the Victorian economy, we’re calling on the Coalition, Labor and Greens to commit to the UDV’s election priorities.
“As dairy farmers we want to build our exports from the current annual figure of $2.4 billion to $4.6 billion by 2025. But we need the next State Government to invest in the infrastructure, research, extension and skills training to reach this target.
“We need increased profitability; cost-effective, efficient infrastructure and logistics; systems to help attract and retain new entrants and skilled workers; and continuous improvement in environmental sustainability,” Mr Jones said.
The UDV is calling for $4 million a year for industry supported R&D, $4 million a year for six years for ongoing dairy related work at the AgrioBio Centre post Dairy Futures CRC, and $2.2 million per year for dairy coordinated extension programs.
“The UDV is working with the Federal and Victorian Government to deliver Free Trade Agreements which provide better access to and competitiveness in our main export markets. Additionally we need increased truck mass limits on major regional roads, an upgrade of the South Gippsland Highway, and a Victorian energy strategy to improve regional energy supply quality and reliability.
“All sides of politics have committed to boost our food and fibre exports, but they need to match their rhetoric with sound policies and actions that support growth in agricultural industries,” Mr Jones said.
UDV will visit every key dairy electorate before the November election and aims to meet with every major party candidate.
