00:00 Narrator: Jamie Forster has been up before dawn, doing
00:05 the same job since he was 15 years old.
00:08 But after decades milking cows and none of his kids interested in dairy farming, he's
00:12 calling stumps.
00:13 Jamie Forster, dairy farmer, "I've been doing it for 37 years, my body
00:16 and my mind's had enough."
00:18 Narrator: Jamie's story is being played out across
00:20 the industry, especially in Victoria, which provides two thirds of Australia's milk
00:25 pool, including most of the nation's $3.3 billion export products.
00:30 Last year, 8% of Victorian dairy businesses quit, despite almost record milk prices.
00:36 Jamie Forster, dairy farmer, "It's just a wear and tear.
00:38 It is seven days a week and it is quite stressful."
00:41 Narrator: And manufacturers processing the milk are also
00:44 struggling, with 11 Australian factories shutting in the last 18 months.
00:49 The exodus is being blamed on farm labour problems, the rising cost of farmland, water
00:55 policy, floods, drought and other international factors, creating an uncertain future for
01:00 the industry.
01:01 Jamie Forster, dairy farmer, "It's created some challenges for the whole
01:03 of industry and that's what we're seeing.
01:04 We're seeing the Australian dairy industry go through a significant period of transformation."
01:08 Narrator: But not everyone has a gloomy outlook.
01:11 Milk production this season is predicted to lift by 3%, the largest jump in a decade.
01:17 Engatha South farmer Callum Moscript is expanding his dairy, and has a new $5 million milking
01:23 shed almost ready to roll.
01:25 Callum Moscript, dairy farmer, "So we'll go from milking 80 to 100 cows
01:28 to 270 to 300 cows an hour, with a third of the labour.
01:32 I believe Gippsland is the centre of dairy in Australia and we're in a prime location
01:37 and we just thought let's go all in and really take whatever opportunities may come moving
01:42 forward."
01:43 For Jamie Forster though, this season will be his last as he transitions to beef production,
01:48 which will free up some time for other pursuits.
01:51 Jamie Forster, dairy farmer, "I haven't played footy for 20 years.
01:53 I'm going to go back and have a couple of games in the over 35s."
01:57 [BLANK_AUDIO]
Comments