The line-up of speakers was diverse and designed to challenge how each attendee saw the Queensland dairy industry and their own future direction in it. With Lion Dairy and Drinks the only member of the big three processors in attendance, the focus was more on how each individual farmer personally handled the tough times and when they could make real progress for their farming business and find new opportunities to expand or diversify.
There were great presentations from Kevin Stephenson from Beyond Blue, who spoke from personal experience of the challenges that can face almost anyone in the mental health arena. National Small Business Association chair Anne Nadler spoke on opportunities to diversify our market opportunities and both the processor and farmer level. QDO EO Eric Danzi and I spoke on current industry issues including the debate around the voluntary vs mandatory code question. We also outlined our progress and difficulties we have found in getting a market response in farm gate milk price to the huge recent increases in production costs caused by the widespread drought. “Make it Cheaper” relationship manager Lucy Block explained how the organisation can save members in contestable power areas serious money on their power bills including one QDO member who has reduced their power bill by $16,500 annually. There were also interesting sessions by Damien Ferguson on financial planning and Brett Hart on the legal issues and pitfalls around farm succession planning.
There is a lot for our members to be thinking about at the moment but it is obvious that we need to tackle the issues head on rather than hope that they will disappear. QDO would like to thank our sponsors and all those who made this forum such a great day.
Brian Tessmann, QDO president