Yinnar South beef producer Melissa Ferguson launched the Gippsland Farmer Relief Drive when dairy processors Murray Goulburn and Fonterra slashed farm gate milk prices paid to suppliers.
Ms Ferguson said she and a group of locals are coordinating what they call «low-key» and «practical» relief efforts.
She said most of their work involves dropping off groceries to farming families who might be struggling to pay bills.
«[It] is a community group that will reach out to farmers on a grassroots level,» she said.
«And try and bring in some practical aid and help to them.»
Ms Ferguson said many small farmers in the area were in need of basic groceries, but were unable to leave their farms to visit charity organisations like Foodbank.
«We want to help them and also save them from a bit of embarrassment,» she said.
Ms Ferguson and her fellow organisers rely on word-of-mouth and advice from people in the community for who they should be helping.
«We’ve opened up communications in the towns,» she said.
«And then people can feel comfortable enough to reach out.»
Survival of small family farms
Ms Ferguson said farmers in her community were feeling defeated.
Source: ABC
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-06-27/gippsland-relief-drive-struggling-dairy-farming-families/7536168