Commonwealth Program Working for Dairy Farmers

Dairy farmers in New South Wales and Queensland are making good use of a new Commonwealth technology subsidy program. The On Farm Connectivity Program will subsidise dairy farmers (and others) to take advantage of connected machinery and sensor technology, up to 50% of the cost. Up to $30,000 can be claimed by each farm business.

Queensland dairy farmers Karen and Gary Wenzel have been funded under the program, and love it. He says he’s invested $40,000 in smart collars, with 50% of the cost covered by the new program.

Karen and Gary intend to use the collars to manage their artificial insemination program, but also to remotely monitor cattle heat, and the health of individual beasts and the herd.

They said making the purchase required very little effort, just a discussion with the collar supplier, Semex, and are urging their fellow dairy farmers to take up the opportunity.

Farmers must purchase through approved suppliers, only, and suppliers will complete the application and forward it to the Government, on behalf of each producer.

EastAUSmilk is aware of other dairy farmers with similar positive stories to tell.

Project guidelines set out a long list of products which can be purchased, and including livestock monitoring technology such as smart tags and collars, and many other things as well including drones and smart gates.  More details are here at On Farm Connectivity Program including program guidelines and lists of approved suppliers.

EastAUSmilk urges dairy farmers to make an application as soon as possible: when the bucket is empty the program expires, so farmers need to get in right away! We checked in with the Government just before Christmas and there were still program funds available, but the Government says it is a one-off program and the only chance for this kind of subsidy.

Interested dairy farmers should contact Semex or eastAUSmilk for more information.

Mike Smith, eastAUSmilk Government Relations Manager

EastAUSmilk and Government: 2023

It's been a busy 2023, and a challenging environment, for eastAUSmilk’s relations with governments. March saw a Labor Government in New South Wales, and a new Agriculture Minister in Tara Moriarty. Federally, Labor started 2023 still early in their term, their first time in Government since 2013. In Queensland, the Labor government started and finished the year thinking closely about the October 2024 State election – fortunately the reshuffle under new Premier Miles saw stability with Mark Furner keeping the agriculture portfolio.

We’ve engaged actively with all of the relevant Ministerial offices, and hosted Queensland Minister Furner on a dairy farm visit, and Commonwealth Treasurer Chalmers and Minister Watt likewise.

During the year, eastAUSmilk has dealt with, or continues to deal with dozens of issues:

We’ve made strong representations about beefing up the Dairy Industry Code.

EastAUSmilk supported the prohibition of unfair trading practices in a submission to the Commonwealth.

Coles’ proposal to acquire two Saputo processing plants saw us raise many concerns with the Commonwealth, New South Wales, and Queensland governments, and we will continue.

We’ve discussed the failed implementation of the National Dairy Plan’s priority number one – major industry reform – with those same governments and will continue to press them.

Our immediate past President has been very involved in development of the Norther Dairy Industry Plan, and we’re continuing to engage with the New South Wales and Queensland governments about it.

EastAUSmilk was very disappointed there was nothing much for dairy farmers in any of the Queensland, New South Wales, or Commonwealth budgets in 2023, and we’re looking for better outcomes in 2024.

We’ve pressed those three governments about the gaps in their respective drought programs and come up against a lazy economist’s’ response time and again, that coping with drought should be part of normal farm business, and farmers shouldn’t need government support.

Bobby calf/dairy beef solutions have been on the agenda for just about every discussion with government, and we’re awaiting feedback on research proposals.

EastAUSmilk has pressed governments to facilitate technology uptake by dairy farmers, and there’s currently a Commonwealth government program offering just that, and negotiations with the Queensland government too.

We opposed the Commonwealth’s ridiculous Biosecurity Protection Levy, and the New South Wales government’s slashing of Coastal Harvestable Water Rights.

And just as the year ended, two things:

The Commonwealth Parliament’s Food Security report landed, proposing a rescue package for the dairy industry – we’ll be looking for the government to adopt the report and recommendations, and implement them properly.

And, the Senate has initiated an inquiry into the misuse or market power by major supermarkets – we’ll need to make a submission by February 2024.

Mike Smith, eastAUSmilk government relations manager.