Food industry analyst Steve Spencer will speak about the future positives for the dairy industry at an information night convened by the United Dairyfarmers of Victoria’s (UDV) Wannon branch on Wednesday, August 2.
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“Dairy Farmers Moving Forward in 2017-2018 and Beyond” is the theme of the information night that will start at 7pm at the City Memorial Bowls Club.
UDV Wannon branch secretary Chris O’Keefe, of Warrnambool, said next week’s information night aimed to give south-west dairy farmers an idea of where the dairy industry was heading.
It follows on from a similar event the branch held last year when the industry was reeling from dramatic cuts to farmgate milk prices by some processors.
Mr Spencer, from Freshagenda consultants, said he would speak about the outlook for dairy markets.
He said the dairy industry’s situation was currently looking much better than last year with higher farmgate milk prices and he would talk about the future for the full 2017-2018 milk season and beyond.
Mr Spencer said he would explain at Wednesday’s meeting why the Australian dairy industry was in a relatively positive environment compared to its recent history.
However he said dairy markets were still volatile and he would explain the risks and opportunities for change beyond the current year.
Mr Spencer said part of the reason for the Australia’s dairy industry’s volatility was that while the majority of Australia’s dairy products were sold in Australia, the prices that processors paid for milk were determined by world markets.
Also speaking at the meeting will be the Commonwealth Bank’s Agri commodity strategist Tobin Gorey.
UDV Wannon branch president Craig Dettling, of Macarthur, said both Mr Gorey and Mr Spencer would give dairy farmers an independent view on many agricultural markets, including dairy. Among the topics Mr Gorey would speak on was the outlook for the grain industry to give dairy farmers an informed view about what their likely grain feed costs would be, Mr Dettling said.
“The more information that people have got, the better decisions they can make,” he said.
WestVic Dairy’s regional extension officer Peter Gaffy will also provide an update to the meeting on the resources that WestVic Dairy has available for farmers, including upcoming workshops such as Profitable Feeding Systems- Making the Most of Spring, Farm Business Management Courses and Top Fodder days.
People wishing to attend should reserve a seat with Mr O’Keefe on 0428 692416.