Farmers have chance to speak at QDO conference

The Queensland Dairyfarmers’ Organisation’s annual conference is on at the Cathedral Centre, Toowoomba, on Tuesday 13 September.

Farmers will be able to voice their concern direct to Coles Merchandise Manager John Durkan, who will speak on the day.

“The impact of supermarket discounting on dairy farmers is real and it is happening right now,” QDO President Brian Tessmann said.

Tessmann said it was therefore extremely important for farmers to attend the conference and have their voices heard. “This is an opportunity for the industry to stand together and continue to make it crystal clear that the milk war is a very serious threat to the profitability of dairy farmers and the future sustainability of our industry.”

Tessmann said this year’s event was a break from tradition because of the very difficult circumstances that the industry had confronted over the last year. The conference is condensed to a one-and-a-half-day program with a dinner and is held at a later-than-usual time in the year to accommodate the ongoing disaster recovery.

“Between widespread and devastating flooding and Cyclone Yasi, almost every farmer in our industry has been rocked by these natural disasters,” Tessmann said.

“The damage from the natural disasters has been huge and it will take some time for the industry to recover. The impacts of the milk price wars at the moment couldn’t be worse for our industry.

“The QDO team has been working hard to help dairy farmers affected by natural disasters and to battle the man-made disaster of the milk price war. QDO has presented a set of recommendations to the current Senate Inquiry into milk prices, which are critical for the future of our domestic fresh milk supply industry, especially in Queensland.

“This conference is a chance for our farmers and industry to get together and talk about the challenges we all face collectively and what’s needed to ensure a positive future for the dairy industry in Queensland. The program is packed with keynote speakers followed up with great entertainment in the evening with comedian Syd Heylen Jnr.”

Keynote speakers include:

• John Durkan, merchandise manager with Coles supermarkets
• Professor Frank Zumbo, University of NSW, expert in consumer law
• Representatives from all of the three major regional processors
• Dairy Australia Chairman Max Roberts and CEO Ian Halliday

To register for the QDO conference, phone QDO on (07) 3236 2955 or visit the QDO website.