Fond farewell to long serving QDO President Brian Tessmann
With the formation of eastAUSmilk the QLD dairy industry is saying farewell to not only the QDO name but also the long serving President Brian Tessmann. Having previously stated he would step down from state duties after finalising the recent QLD/NSW merger, he has as we have become accustomed been true to his word.
Brian was elected to the Wide Bay Burnett District Council of QDO in 1995 serving as District secretary until 2003. In 2000, Brian was elected to State Council serving first as Vice President before being elected President in 2009.
President Brian has seen the highs and lows of dairy advocacy and the industry in general across QLD.
From the devastation of deregulation, the millennium drought, 2011 floods, cyclones Yasi and Debbie, discount $1 a litre milk and the most recent drought there has always been something belting the QLD dairy industry while Brian has been at the table.
I know he feels that leaving at this time with the death of $1 a litre milk and a now solid farm gate milk price combined with buoyant seasonal conditions, there is a fresh hope and optimism of growth and prosperity for the QLD dairy industry.
Having been on the board with Brian the last five years I’ve gained an appreciation of his efforts that I could not have seen previously. Some of you may not know that Brian is an avid reader of history of to name a couple of things religion, war and conquest. He also has an exceptional memory to recall previous meetings, discussions and debates over dairy industry policy. The combination of these traits has meant that Brian has a tremendous depth of knowledge and understanding of what is the right policy position for the farmers he represents and also the smartest way of achieving that.
While his intellect has been a strength perhaps his greatest asset has been his will to fight hard for those he represents. If it’s in the interest of farmers he will never back down.
So on behalf of QDO and the now eastAUSmilk board, our members and the QLD dairy industry in general, I say thank you Brian for your service and commitment and to the personal sacrifice you and your family have made for the QLD dairy industry.
Matt Trace, Chair eastAUSmilk
Milk price on the rise
Dollar a litre milk is well behind us now. It looks like milk price will start following the general laws of economics responding to supply and demand. Last week Woolworths lifted its milk price to $1.30/L on its 2L and 3L bottles.
Coles has since followed suit and lifted their milk price to $1.30/L.
Of course, it is not the first time Woolworths have led the way in raising milk price. Starting with breaking $1/L milk to $1.10/L in February 2019 and later to $1.20/L in the same year.
It is very positive to see the price of milk on the rise, it should flow through the supply chain and lead to a more sustainable industry.
The dairy industry needs to continue to move towards a direction where the whole supply chain makes a moderate margin for it to be viable and worthwhile remaining in the industry. It is necessary for the retail price to rise to allow this to occur.
Australian milk production has been trending downwards in the recent years. This has been due to substantial increases in the cost of production as a result of the drought and more recently fuel and fertiliser prices. It is expected now that as costs increase there can be adjustment to retail prices to allow farmers to be paid a fair price and continue to produce milk.
Improving the margin between the cost of production and farmgate milk price will allow farmers to invest in the future of their business and encourage the next generation to remain in the industry.
QDO thanks Woolworths for its continued leadership in the dairy industry supply chain. This leadership will help create a sustainable industry and a positive future. Dairy farmers would like this trend to continue so that everyone can have a prosperous future.
Brian Tessmann, QDO President