Warrnambool dairy farmer Bernie Free has emerged as the new UDV president, following a torrid year for the dairy body which has seen an exodus of members to join a breakaway representative body.
Mr Free, his wife and daughter, operate a 600-cow dairy farm on about 526ha at Winslow, a few minutes drive north of Warrnambool, in south-west Victoria, supplying the Bulla factory.
He has re-engaged with the UDV recently, believing there is a strong need for dairy specific advocacy from the UDV, and broader representation from the VFF.
Issues like local government rates and energy are across commodities, but for issues like the dairy code, specific lobbying is required.
“All the legislation being pushed onto dairy farmers, the red tape, we need advocacy to resist that,” Mr Free said.
“And in northern Victoria, we need strong advocacy on the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
“Our first object in agriculture is to either produce food for people or to clothe them.”
Among the chief issues he will be giving attention to include cost of energy, and the requirements to meet carbon reductions while continuing farming.
“Labour comes up all the time in every conversation I have.
“Being able to get people to come to Australia and live and work in a rural setting and the opportunity for an education, is a privilege for farmers, while they are providing a service to our industry.
“You hear of a lot of dairy farmers saying ‘I’m not milking any more cows because of the employment issue’.
“I think it’s one of the issues holding down milk production.
“Other factors include the cost of inputs, and the risk of not being profitable in the future.
“We need to get a return for the investment we are putting in.”
Mr Free said he will be talking to farmers in other parts of the state, to hear what other farmers are concerned about.
He said the UDV is reviewing its policy and advocacy plan.
Mr Free was asked about why he decided to stick with the UDV, rather than join an alternative organisation.
He said there was a universal agreement that farmers need both dairy and a broad-based advocacy.
“It’s the internal workings of the VFF that is the argument.
“I would prefer to stay and try to get the internal workings of the VFF working properly so we can work as a team on agriculture in general and specifically in the dairy space.
“Every organisation has to go through some turmoil to come out the other side a better organisation.
“As much as I don’t like the internal fighting, in some ways it means that ideas are being expressed about what direction the advocacy organisation should go in and hopefully we come out the other end stronger and better able to advocate for dairy farmers.”
Asked if the current VFF leadership had his support, Mr Free said there was agreement in some areas and disagreement in others.
His hope was that once issues were resolved the organisation would emerge stronger.
“There is a need to have a discussion about what direction to take the VFF in the future.”
The VFF has announced the results of elections to its VFF-UDV Policy Council.
The members are: Jasmine Kneebone from Gippsland, Robert Campbell from Cobden, Bridge Goulding from Katunga, Greg Brooks from Strathmerton and Harper Kilpatrick from Koroit.
Meanwhile, farm lobby group Farmer Power, formed in Victoria in 2013, has announced it is disbanding.
