TALLYGAROOPNA dairy farmer Geoff Akers is the new chairman of Dairy Australia.
He replaces retiring chairman Max Roberts.
The news was announced at the Dairy Australia annual general meeting at Flemington on Friday.
Mr Akers told the crowd, after the meeting, that he wanted dairy farmers to understand they own Dairy Australia and they can control it.
He said all Dairy Australia decisions will be made with the benefit of dairy farmers in mind.
All proposals included constitutional changes were passed at the annual general meeting.
Dairy Australia members elected Jeff Odgers and re-elected Alan Grant and Bruce Donnison to the Dairy Australia board.
The pool of money available to pay directors was increased from $381,000 to $430,000.
South Gippsland dairy farmer Bernhard Lubitz asked Mr Roberts how many dairy businesses had voted on the resolution to increase the directors pool of money.
Mr Roberts confirmed 173 farmers voted but said all had the opportunity too.
Dairy Australia will also hold a separate review into its levy poll process.
Retiring chairman Max Roberts told the crowd of about 200 at the Dairy Australia annual general meeting that many farmers had told the Dairy Australia constitutional review that the levy poll process was «cumbersome and a waste of resources».
The last levy poll was conducted last year and the recommended 10 per cent lift, in the money dairy farmers contribute to Dairy Australia approved.
Fifty-one dairy poll meetings were held across the country.
The Levy Poll review next year will have an independent chair appointed by the Dairy Australia board, at least two farmer representatives a representative from Dairy Australia and Australian Dairy Farmers.
Mr Roberts said expression of interest would be called for to fill some positions.
Mr Roberts, in answer to a question, told the meeting Dairy Australia paid $64,000 to Australian Dairy Farmers last financial year to cover the travel and sitting costs of representatives who attended meetings at the request of Dairy Australia.
He also said Dairy Australia provided $15,000 to the United Dairyfarmers’ of Victoria last financial year as sponsorship for its annual conference. Dairy Australia sponsors state dairy organisations state conferences.
A question was also asked about the money Dairy Australia provides to Australian Dairy Herd Improvement Scheme and details about its income.
Mr Roberts said $1.4 million a year was provided to ADHIS for operational costs and about 25 per cent of ADHIS income comes from fees for service such as progeny testing and registration of bulls.
ADF chairman Noel Campbell told the meeting that leaders in the room need to get behind the Australian Breeding Value system and accept it because there was more for farmers to gain than the money invested by Dairy Australia.
Corriemungle dairy farmer Alex McKenzie provided the meeting with examples of extreme examples of ADHIS production reports, within the same dairy herd, and called on a review of ADHIS and the information it provides dairy farmers.
Dairy Australia representative Chris Murphy said the industry would have detailed discussion during the next 12 months about the sort of herd improvement industry the nation wants.
He said it would be about genetics, herd testing and genomics.
Tasmanian dairy farmer Wolfe Wagner complimented Dairy Australia on its Employment Starter Kit it developed and released this year.
He said his sharefarmers used it and found it beneficial.
Earlier in the day, the dairy industry announced it had developed its first sustainability report at an Australian Dairy Industry Council breakfast.
ADIC dairy sustainability consultative forum chairman Chris Griffin told the gathering of industry representatives and farmers that the sustainability framework was a whole of industry approach and it provides evidence Australian dairy is committed to delivering better outcomes for the community and environment.
NSW dairy farmer and former industry representative Janet Moxey was awarded the ADIC 2013 Outstanding Service Award. Mrs Moxey dedicated her award to her late husband Paul, her family and «the team at home».
Source: Weekly Times