MANY dairy farmers have felt there is little bang for their buck as a member of the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF).

Dairy farmers have long shouldered the largest portion of fees paid to the VFF, with the average dairy farmer paying $1100 per year.

But, given the fees are milk production based, some large dairy farms have paid in excess of $16,000 annually.

Yet according to some members, the dairy branch of the VFF, United Dairy Farmers (UDV) remained one of the least funded divisions of the organisation.

This payment structure has in recent times been overhauled, and a new flat fee system introduced.

Dairy farmers will now have the same choice of membership options as all other commodities; packages ranging from $395 per year up to $1495.

Whilst this is no doubt a much more equitable option, the change of system has not been smooth.

Farmers have been sent invoices to pay the flat fee, whilst the old deductions are still coming out of their milk cheques. Many are not aware of the changes, and that they were required to contact their milk factory and request the deduction be stopped.

This has led to a lot of confusion, and it remains to be seen how many of the 900-odd members the UDV had prior to this change take up the option of staying now that there is action required to maintain their membership.

Some existing members have been buoyed by the recent election of local Winslow farmer, Bernie Free, to UDV presidency, as Bernie had never been one to sit back or shy away from issues.

However, for some the changes have been too little, too late.

After several years as UDV president, Mark Billing, dairy farmer near Colac, has spearheaded the creation of a splinter advocacy body, Dairy Farmers Victoria.

DFV opened for business in late September, and as well as Mr Billing as president, founding members also include nine former policy councillors of the UDV, who resigned seeking change.

The group held off forming DFV for weeks, in the hope that the VFF would compromise in the amount of dairy farmer fees that were paid to the VFF but weren’t making it back to the UDV.

With the original 41 founding members having paid a $500 annual fee, Mr Billing said DFV already had more funding available to them than the $10,000 per year the VFF provided to the UDV.

Dairy farmers wishing to join DFV can do so via the DFV website; dairyfarmersvictoria.org.au.

Another change in the advocacy space recently saw the disbanding of Farmer Power.

In early November, Farmer Power CEO Garry Kerr announced on social media that the group would be wound up.

Farmer Power was created in 2016, at a time when the dairy industry had been bought to their knees by the folding of Murray Goulburn and the claw back by Fonterra.

A group of passionate farmers saw the need for real change and were not satisfied with the efforts of the existing advocacy bodies.

Despite coming from ‘unofficial’ origins, Farmer Power gained some real traction, and was instrumental in bringing about changes that have benefited the dairy industry. The group was able to gain a seat at many political tables and was a driving force behind the implementation of the mandatory dairy code of conduct.

In what can only be seen as a surprising turn of events, Farmer Power have recommended their members join the UDV under leadership of the new President, Bernie Free.

The group has called for unity within the industry and has put their confidence in the new leadership of the UDV, stating that those in charge now have the best interests of dairy farmers at heart. 

Is the work of advocacy ‘done’ within the dairy industry?

Not by a long shot.

There remain fundamental issues within the industry, and many farmers are worried about what the coming years will bring.

Whilst the price we are being paid currently is sustainable, will this be the case going forward?

Cost of production has skyrocketed, and processors have already started making noises about significantly dropping the milk price next season.

We can only hope there isn’t another 2016 on the horizon, where the milk cheque coming in simply isn’t covering costs, and dairy farmers drop out of the industry by the dozen.