{"id":186462,"date":"2017-08-09T20:47:57","date_gmt":"2017-08-09T10:47:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=186462"},"modified":"2020-08-18T15:50:19","modified_gmt":"2020-08-18T05:50:19","slug":"1m-for-fair-price-milk-marketing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2017\/08\/09\/1m-for-fair-price-milk-marketing\/","title":{"rendered":"$1m For ‘Fair Price’ Milk Marketing"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Agriculture Minister Bill Byrne<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

August 9, 2017<\/strong><\/p>\n

Just four months after dairy farmers’ hopes were dashed that the State Government would pass a “Fair Price logo” Bill, the government has put forward almost a million dollars so farmers can create their own scheme.<\/p>\n

In April, Queensland Dairyfarmers Organisation president Brian Tessmann said local dairy farmers were \u201cdisappointed and bewildered\u201d after a Parliamentary committee report into the Fair Milk Price Logo Bill recommended it not be passed.<\/p>\n

The proposed \u201cFair Milk Price\u201d logo scheme would have helped consumers identify milk for which dairy farmers had been paid a fair price.<\/p>\n

However, Agriculture Minister Bill Byrne on Wednesday announced a funding package of $960,000 for “marketing strategies to help consumers make better-informed decisions when they buy milk”.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThe funding will also assist farmers and small local milk processors to improve their marketing and labelling campaigns,\u201d Mr Byrne said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt will assist the Queensland dairy industry to develop its own \u2018Fair Milk Logo\u2019 scheme.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile the Queensland Government is not in a position to set fair milk prices, it is important for consumers to understand where their money is going and how it will support local dairy farmers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mr Byrne said as part of the funding package, $550,000 would be provided to the QDO over three years to design and implement a pilot scheme.<\/p>\n

Small Business Minister Leeanne Enoch said it was important small processors and farmers were supported in helping build their capacity to better access local markets and opportunities.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cTo assist small processors and farmers diversify their product range, and better develop their markets with improved branding and marketing, an allocation of $290,000 has been provided to the Office of Small Business,\u201d Ms Enoch said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Office of Small Business will develop tailored mentoring support services and workshops in conjunction with key stakeholders, and expand the Palaszczuk Government\u2019s Go Local campaign, to support Queensland businesses in the dairy industry and complement the \u2018Fair Milk Logo\u2019 scheme.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mr Byrne said $120,000 had been allocated to the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries to facilitate greater farmer participation in the Queensland Dairy Accounting Scheme (QDAS).<\/p>\n

\u201cQDAS provides insights to dairy farmers on profitability, solvency and efficiency,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith an increase in participation from farmers, the additional information will allow QDO to make more informed decisions about the issues facing the industry.\u201d<\/p>\n

QDO president Brian Tessmann said the organisation welcomed the funding.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThis initiative will assist Queensland\u2019s dairy farmers to promote their milk and give them a fair go,” he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a timely intervention that will help consumers make an informed choice and that has to be a positive thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

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