UDV president slams 'bad behaviour' and hypocritical critics

The forum was the first UDV conference and annual meeting, after a two-year COVID break, which drew a crowd of 80-100 to Melbourne.

Mr Mumford said pressures like the 2016 milk price drop had brought about bad behaviour in the industry but hit out at criticism from some quarters that he did not name directly.

"It's disappointing when our own organisation is being asked to improve our own behaviour and culture by our industry partners, when I see industry partners themselves and peak bodies not having the same morals or standards that we expect of ourselves," he said.

"I know where my own moral compass lies."

Allegations of bad behaviour are rampant throughout the dairy advocacy circle.

In fact, there are two cases in the Supreme Court pending, which are set to deal with some of the bad blood in the industry advocacy circles.

Secretary of the Corangamite branch until his membership was terminated by the Victorian Farmers Federation, dairy farmer Ian Morris had nominated to run for the presidency against current vice-president Mark Billing.

Mr Morris sought an injunction to delay the election and on April 13, Supreme Court judge Andrew Keogh ordered that no further action be taken towards the election or appointment of a new president until after the final hearing, which is slated for May 26.

A second ousted UDV member, Bruce Vallance, has also launched Supreme Court legal action to reverse his expulsion by the VFF.

Mr Mumford also blasted the behaviour of retailers, saying they controlled shopping habits and were moving to the farmgate to assure consumers of their ethical behaviour.

"They are now using us as political capital," he said.

It was the responsibility of retailers, he said, to help educate consumers and it was "high time" the retailers stepped up to inform and teach consumers.

He supported Agriculture Minister David Littleproud's move to stiffen penalties for retailers who breached codes.

The processors did not escape Mr Mumford's notice, either.

He said Australia was unique in that it no longer had a large cooperative underpinning the milk price and said that farmers needed strong and consistent price signals.

"We must give clear market signals from the processors and ask why we, as farmers, should remain in the industry," Mr Mumford said.

"Do we want just more of the same?"

it was the farmers' job to understand their own farm systems and profit drivers but he said the processors' role in the economic health of the industry could not be underestimated.

"Until the processors realise they are the key to the future of the dairy industry, we can still expect declining numbers and milk," Mr Mumford said.

Mr Mumford told the crowd that rather than acknowledging industry partners like Dairy Australia, he wanted to focus on the farmers in the room.

"We have been through a very traumatic few years as an industry and that advocacy had struggled to attract members as the number of corporates grew, who questioned the value proposition of advocacy groups," he said.

UDV manager Shane Byrne told the meeting there were 985 members, down marginally from 1000 in 2021.

A second election was delayed, too. Policy councillors from regions 2,4, 6, 8, and 10 were to be elected.

Of the regions only number 10 was contested by Bruce Knowles and Karrinjeet Singh-Mahil but that election could not be held either.

It will be delayed until May 17 because of delays in receiving ballot papers that Mr Byrne said was caused by Easter disruption.