Duncan B.
More than half of the dairy farmers in Victoria’s Goulburn Murray Irrigation District disappeared between 2006 and 2010, according to a report commissioned by the former Victorian Government.
The
report found that dairy farm numbers fell 57% from 2721 to 1143 between 2006
and 2010. The total dairying area decreased from 235,548 ha. to 123,571 ha.
The
report blamed the trend on drought and changes in water and planning policy.
This is a reference to the Federal Government’s water buyback scheme which cost
Goulburn Murray Irrigation District half its water and forced many dairy
farmers off the land.
The
scheme secured environmental water from irrigators but severely impacted on the
ability of dairy farmers to produce enough milk to earn sufficient income to
secure their equity position and ensure their future in dairying.
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