FARMERS must support a much-needed increase in the Dairy Australia levy, writes KERRY CALLOW

As farmers consider their vote on the Dairy Australia service levy it's important for them to understand exactly what it is about.

In a nutshell, a vote for a levy increase is a vote on the level of investment they want to contribute to research, development, extension and education in our $10 billion-a-year industry.

It is a vote on whether we farmers will have the answer to future challenges.

Doug Chant's article (WT, Janaury 18) underlines the reason we need Dairy Australia.

The conditions he describes - fewer farmers coping with greater challenges in a less predictable marketplace - are being faced by most other agricultural sectors.

Add to this the emerging challenges of natural resource management and consumer-driven expectation, and the need for research investment becomes greater than ever before.

Without exception, all other major Australian farm sectors protect their prosperity by supporting their peak industry organisation.

At the last poll, discussions on the dairy levy focused exclusively on whether or not there should be a Dairy Australia.

Now we know its value.

Dairy Australia's investment in research, development and its extension in science, trade and marketing are considered highly, and often copied, internationally.

The Australian dairy industry is the envy of many sectors because of its proactive whole-of-industry approach.

Five years ago the industry voted for the status quo, amounting to a reduction of revenue in real terms.

The question now is this: how much do we want invested in our industry?

There has been no levy increase since 1997.

In that time, the Consumer Price Index has risen dramatically.

A 10 per cent levy increase is below the corresponding CPI increase.

But a 10 per cent increase is what is required to maintain the current level of research, development and extension plans.

Australian dairy farmers themselves are in control of the direction and achievements of Dairy Australia.

This is directly through the strategic and annual operating plans of the Australian Dairy Farmers and the Australian Dairy Industry Council and indirectly through state representative organisations such as the UDV.

Also, farmer membership of industry advisory committees is an important way to influence the direction of research, as is involvement with the regional RDPs of WestVic Dairy, GippsDairy and Murray Dairy.

Of course, there are some factors beyond the control of Dairy Australia. Its charter does not allow for political activity.

That remains the duty of organisations such as the United Dairyfarmers of Victoria and the Australian Dairy Farmers.

Nor can it control fluctuations in the global marketplace, a major determinant of farmgate price.

However, understanding what influences the global market and trade environment is crucial for farmers and their businesses.

Dairy Australia's work in areas such as herd health, pasture/feed optimisation, staff management and recovery from natural disasters has been used to dairy farms across the nation.

Work underway promises similar positive impacts in areas such as cow genomics, improved pastures, automatic milking and greenhouse gas mitigation.

We older-generation farmers have already gained significant benefits of research and extension work.

We now need to support the younger entrants who are keen to join in this industry.

There are new entrants to the dairy industry and there are lots of inspiring young people within the industry who desperately need information, support and research programs provided by Dairy Australia.

The Dairy Poll vote is about investment in out future.

We need Dairy Australia to address present as well as the future challenges.

The industry's fate is in our hands. And our vote.