The dairy levy poll advisory committee members have been announced

The 12 member committee will review the dairy service levy.

LPAC independent Chair Ron Storey said there had been a strong level of high quality nominations from around the country.

The fifteen member committee has a total of twelve levy paying farmers, with nine directly appointed from farmer applicants, plus three nominated by industry bodies.

"I am delighted with this level of grass-roots input," Mr Storey said.

"We have a balance of representation across dairy regions, years of farming experience, herd sizes, and owner/sharefarmer experience.

"The LPAC will now get down to business to review the levy. "

The dairy service levy funds services provided by Dairy Australia to the industry.

The levy is reviewed at least every five years, with input from all sides of industry including farmers, representative bodies and Dairy Australia.

A Levy Poll Advisory Committee comprising a majority of dairy farmers, who are levy payers, is responsible for determining whether it should be increased, remain the same or be reduced.

A levy poll is required if a change to the levy is recommended.

Mr Storey said the industry had undergone a number of changes since the last levy review in 2016, so it was timely to evaluate whether the current level of funding was appropriate to support long-term research, development and extension needs.

Dairy farmer representatives on LPAC include Katrina Gofton, Tasmania; Brendan Rae, Victoria - South-West; Andrew Aldridge, Tasmania; Karrinjeet Singh-Mahil, Victoria - South-West and Daryl Hoey, Victoria - Gippsland.

Industry body representatives on LPAC include western Victoria DA director Tania Luckin and Peter Mulcahy Australian Dairy Products Federation representative and KyValley Dairy director.

The committee is expected to make a decision regarding the levy by June 2021.

In the event a change to the levy is recommended and a levy poll is required, this process would extend into 2022.