#Dairy farmer commitment

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RECENT investment in the WA dairy industry is showing the resilience of producers on the back of some tough years.
 
According to De Laval district manager for WA Patrick Hunt, a small number of WA dairy farmers have invested in new on-farm dairy infrastructure in the last two years.
 
Mr Hunt said there had been renewed interest in conventional milking systems, particularly rotary and double-up parlours.
 
«With regards to rotary dairies, three new dairies have been installed in the last 24 months and at least another two are planned for this year» he said.
 
He also noted increased farmer interest in robotic automation systems.
 
«A new robotic system started in June of last year and more farmers are now looking at this technology,» he said.
 
Mr Hunt attributed the increased activity to individual farmers’ decisions to reinvest in their own businesses, rather than increased industry confidence.
 
«Yes, some of them are feeling confident in their own operations and are wanting to develop them further,» he said.
 
«It tends to be a decision made on an individual basis depending on where the farmer is with their business.
 
«If they see a future, then investing and moving forward, rather than sitting still, is the preferred option.»
 
Mr Hunt said the decision to invest in a new milking system came down to a combination of planning and timing.
 
«There is always a certain level of uncertainty,» he said.
 
«The dairy industry fluctuates as all agricultural sectors do, depending on the season and demand.
 
«Farmers looking to install a new system will spend anywhere from a year to three years planning, and the final decision depends on the timing of when finances, market conditions and environmental conditions come right.»
 
WAFarmers dairy section president Phil Depiazzi said the farmers who opted to reinvest were making a commitment to the industry.
 
«The positive thing is they have enough faith in the industry’s future to spend,» he said.
 
«I guess when you put in a new dairy you are making a commitment for another 10-15 years minimum so that is good.»
 
Although Mr Depiazzi believed the reinvestment was positive, he said the industry still needed more new entrants to ensure its future.
 
«I haven’t heard of any new entrants that are building a new dairy from scratch,» he said.
 
Mr Depiazzi said the small number of new industry entrants, were farming on properties that already had existing dairies.
 
«We have been concerned about the sustainability of the industry for some time,» he said.
 
«For the industry to go forward and grow you need new entrants coming in.
 
«Obviously as people get older they are going to move out, so we need new people coming in at the bottom.»
 
 
Source: FarmWeekly

Mirá También

Así lo expresó Domingo Possetto, secretario de la seccional Rafaela, quien además, afirmó que a los productores «habitualmente los ignoran los gobiernos». Además, reconoció la labor de los empresarios de las firmas locales y aseguró que están «esperanzados» con la negociación entre SanCor y Adecoagro.

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