One of the last farms that produces milk in the Mackay Whitsunday area is about to close, so the community has started a fundraiser to try to save the farm.
Important:
One of the only two dairies in Eungella that sells milk in the Mackay area is in danger of closing.
The community has launched a fundraiser to help save the farm.
A dairy industry analyst says that rising input costs and the nature of dairy farming make it a tough business to be in.
Eungella used to be home to more than 50 dairies. It has tropical rainforests and beautiful views of the Pioneer Valley.
But now there are only two left, and one of them may not be around much longer because of recent bad weather.
Dale Fortescue and his wife, Paula, own Eungelladale dairy. They say that a series of hard times has left them with increasing bills and a small income.
“The money in the bank doesn’t look too good,” Mr. Fortescue said.
“If we can’t get help, this is the end of the road for us.”
After storms and landslides in January shut down access roads, the community became cut off, and some people couldn’t leave.
One of them was the Fortescue family.
Even though they make and process their milk on site, the rainy weather caused a big drop in how much milk they made.
Dale Fortescue, who runs a dairy farm in Eungella, kneels down in his paddock.
Dale Fortescue is a farmer in Eungella. He says that this fundraiser could make or break the future of his dairy.
(ABC Rural: Lara Webster)
Mr. Fortescue said, “It was almost the last nail in the coffin for us.”
“The rain really cut our milk production by two-thirds when it came.”
The loss of production was made worse by the fact that there wasn’t enough grain.
Mr. Fortescue said, “Usually we have a bit of feed behind us, but we haven’t been able to do that this year.”
“I have enough grass to keep them going, but we need a little more grain to make milk.
“If we can get a lot of grain, the amount of milk we make will go up… But you’re talking about spending $10,000 on a load that only lasts us eight weeks.”
People come together to help.
Cheryl Bousfield, who lives in Eungella, started a fundraiser for the area’s dwindling dairy industry. She did this to show her support for the business.
“My friend who is close with Dale and Paula told me how hard things were,” Ms. Bousfield said.
“They’re having trouble because one thing after another has gone wrong.
So, this would only help them get back on their feet.
Milking time
Dale and Paula Fortescue run one of only two dairy farms left in the north Queensland town of Eungella.
(ABC Rural: Lara Webster)
Mr. Fortescue was surprised to hear about the fundraiser, but he said he was very grateful for it.
He said, “We’re really glad that someone took the chance to do this.”
“I don’t like being a charity case, but I’m happy because we’re pretty much out of options.”
Hard times for the dairy business
John Droppert, who is in charge of industry insights and analysis at Dairy Australia, said that all dairy farmers were having a hard time. He said that high costs for things like grain and fertiliser were a big problem.
“The basket of inputs that farmers buy, on average, has gone up by about 60%,” Mr. Droppert said.
He said that milk prices don’t go up when costs go up.
“Your cost base is very volatile, and in times like these, it tends to go up, while the price of milk doesn’t change as quickly,” he said.
“Dairy farming is a biological system, and it’s hard to turn cows on and off.”
Help for local businesses that is strong
Mr. Droppert said that there was a bright side to the market right now.
He said, “The prices of dairy products on the shelf are going up.”
“And another thing that came out of COVID was that people realised how important it is for food to be made closer to home.
“There are definitely chances for more local businesses to serve that market.”
Ms. Bousfield said that helping local farmers was very important to her.
“If we don’t support [them], then it will be all big business and big multinational companies, and we won’t have any choices,” she said.
“I think it’s very important to help small farmers who are trying to make it.
“Every day, they are just trying to stay alive.”
