3 days ago
Price of milk and butter to increase after dairy industry hit hard by natural disasters
The price of some kitchen staples is set to soar as the Australian dairy industry is hit by multiple natural disasters.
Milk, butter and other dairy products are expected to surge in price as farms in NSW still take stock of damages caused by devastating recent floods that smashed the region.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Floods and drought cause dairy shortage, causing prices to surge.
On the other end of the spectrum, farms in Victoria and South Australia are facing some of the driest conditions on record.
Drought in South Australia, southwest Victoria, Gippsland and Northern Victoria have seen dams dry up, feed prices increase, and some farmers forced to sell their properties.
On Monday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was in South Australia to announce millions of dollars in funding to provide mental health services for farmers.
'Our farmers are doing it tough,' Albanese said.
'People put their heart and soul into their farms.
'It's not just a business, it's a way of life, and they're very passionate about making a difference.
'They care about their properties, they care about what they do, and it can be devastating to have this long-term impact that we're seeing from this drought.'
The Australian Dairy Farmers group in a statement this week said more than 40 per cent of Australia's dairy farmers are in drought, with 'many of them battling the driest conditions on record', while others are cleaning up after a one-in-a-500-year flood.
'Farmers face crippling financial situations, with skyrocketing costs just to keep their cattle fed and watered, coinciding with indications milk prices for the coming season will be weaker than anticipated,' the statement read.
ADF President Ben Bennett called for immediate 'Category C and D disaster support measures', which seeks to provide additional assistance to severely affected communities beyond the standard categories of support.
'Tackling the 'cash crunch' for farmers and communities will not only keep our farmers producing milk, but also benefit the regional communities where they shop,' Bennett said.
'Without it, we risk animal welfare impacts and long-term damage to the dairy industry's viability.'
