Ms Edge – a levy payer – will represent the interests of south-west farmers in a committee appointed to review the levy-funding allocations made by Dairy Australia.

“All dairy farmers are conscious of cost and the levy is cost,” she said. “With any cost you want to make sure you get the right return.”  

She is one of nine dairy farmers from across Australia who now sit on the Dairy Levy Poll Advisory Committee (LPAC).

The committee will determine if a change to the level or structure of the levy should be recommended and a poll will be held as a result.

“It’s quite a involved process,” Ms Edge said. 

“There’s something like 45 days between the committee deciding “yay” or “nay” and then that goes to farmers and comes back.” 

She said her family had for been “passionate about cows” as dairy farmers for generations and referred to them as family.  

“We’re only a small producer,” she said. “It’s always been our aim to produce milk of quality not quantity.”

Ms Edge said even though they didn’t pay a huge amount in levy fees, she knew of other dairy farmers that paid more.

“It’s a lot of money that goes out of the milk statement every month,” she said. “Hopefully I can put across points on how they feel about the levy.”

The newly-appointed nine will join the six initial members of the LPAC, including members from Australian Dairy Farmers, Dairy Australia and Australian Dairy Products Federation.  

Committee chair, John Lawrenson – an independent member –  made the announcement on Friday, thanking everyone who nominated.

“In appointing the committee we have done our best to ensure a broad representation from across the dairy industry,” he said. 

“This Committee will play a vital role in determining what level of funding will be required to support the long term research, development and extension strategy for the industry.”

The committee will meet in Melbourne in coming weeks and its decisions will have “broad-reaching implications for the Australian dairy industry”.