Dairy Australia - Dairy report on South American milk research
Published:February 28, 2006
Source :Dairy Australia
The competition for milk supply, the impact of cultural differences and ongoing effects of an unstable economy are some of the issues faced by South America’s dairy farmers.
Four farmers and a milk processor representative are visiting factories and meeting government and industry officials in the major dairying regions of Mercosur as part of a 20-day study tour sponsored by the Gardiner Foundation and organised with Dairy Australia.
Mid-way through the tour are farmers Wayne Weller of Longwarry, John Keely of Cohuna, Michelle Whiteside of Terang and Allen van Kuyk of Toora, and Murray Goulburn Rochester production supervisor Andrew Wellington.
The tour has given them valuable insights into this potential export market and cultures to which they would not normally have access and could impact the way they operate back on the farm.
“We have had many opportunities to observe and discuss farming techniques and issues,” Wayne Weller said. “One of the major issues facing dairy farmers is the rapidly expanding soy industry which is limiting the opportunity for the expansion of dairy production. Although we are also seeing an industry with enormous potential for growth and prosperity.”
Andrew Wellington said understanding, planning and responding constructively to this situation was critical to the future competitiveness and profitability of Australia’s export dairy sector.
The group is also visiting the Santa Fe and Cordoba provinces of Argentina, the San Jose region in Uruguay and the states of Parana and Minas Gerais in Brazil. These three countries, along with Paraguay, make up the world's third-largest trade bloc, Mercosur.
Education has been two-way with the group teaching their South American counter-parts about Australian systems. There has been strong interest in the structure of the Australian dairy industry and the role of organisations such as Dairy Australia, Gardiner Foundation and the United Dairyfarmers of Victoria.
Toora dairy farmer, Allen van Kuyk said there had been interest in the deregulation process, how the industry adapted and also in general farm management practices.
Michelle Whiteside said the trip is a fantastic learning experience, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make linkages with other Southern Hemisphere milk processing systems.
Gardiner Foundation project officer Alberto Pintos said the tour would create an international perspective which is important as the dairy supply chain globalises.
