About 120 dairy farmers, industry representatives and bankers are in Taree for an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission hearing into dairy industry pricing.
The national inquiry will look into how farm gate prices are calculated, contracting arrangements, the impact of $1-a-litre milk, and other factors affecting the profitability of dairy farms.
Mr Neal milks 300 cows on Oxley Island, and said the dairy industry was at breaking point.
«What’s happened in Victoria where they went from $6 a kilo of milk solids down to $4.50 would be diabolical for our farm business,» he said.
«We’d be left with no option but to downsize, lay-off some employees. I don’t know where we’d go.»
Farmers at the hearing said they wanted more security over long-term pricing and a better milk price.
They said they were being paid the same amount now as they were 17 years ago, while costs had gone up considerably.
Today’s meeting in Taree is one of eight around Australia and the only one in New South Wales.
The ACCC said to ensure private contracts were not breached, it would not keep a record of farmers attending or attribute their comments
Source: ABC
Link: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-07/accc-dairy-inquiry-in-taree-nsw/8247688#.WJmMDSUCg5U.twitter
