The crisis in the south-west dairy industry is continuing with the opening prices for the 2017-2018 milk season not easing farmers’ financial problems, welfare agencies say.
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Rural Financial Counselling Warrnambool counsellor Sarah Moncrieff said the past few weeks had been as busy as when milk prices were slashed in April last year.
Ms Moncrieff said many dairy farmers had battled through the past 12 months in the hope the 2017-2018 milk season would be better.
However after the announcement of opening prices by some dairy processors in the past few weeks, they were realising the next season might be no better, she said.
Crossley dairy farmer Karinjeet Singh-Mahil said there was a lot of anger among dairy farmers that they were not experiencing the recovery which industry leaders were saying was underway.
Ms Singh-Mahil said the opening milk prices announced of $4.70-$5.50 a kilogram of milk solids (kgms) were “headline figures” that few farmers would be able to achieve.
Aussie Helpers volunteer Lyndy Morris said she was providing help to up four dairy families a week in the south-west.
The ongoing crisis has prompted welfare organisations in Warrnambool to promote the Dairy Farmer Central website as a contact point for dairy families seeking assistance. Abbie Cameron can also be contacted at acameron@swpcp.com.au for help.
