FARMERS' calls for more national attention and for the supermarket duopoly to be investigated are gaining traction.
It has been a big week for agriculture in Victoria.
The Farmer Power dairy industry meeting in Tongala attracted more than 500 people and a further 150 gathered in Warrnambool to hear from the potential future agriculture minister, John Cobb, should the Coalition win the September federal election.
Many ideas to fix the industry's woes were floated at both, but it is early days and consensus - indeed a comprehensive policy from any political party - is not in sight.
It is understood Mr Cobb did not inspire many of the dairy farmers present with some strong new ideas on what may help.
Coalition MPs repeated they would get rid of the carbon tax, if they took power, and have promised to review the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
That may lower production costs, but the issues are clearly more complex.
One stark reality is the industry needs better international market access.
In the short-term some farmers face the challenge of paying mounting debts and getting through the year.
But we were talking about some good news, so back to that.
This week it has been revealed the competitor regulator will investigate Coles and Woolworths over accusations the supermarkets used improper practices to force down prices they pay suppliers.
The nation will be watching to see where the ACCC investigation leads, and if it creates long-term improvement in relations between the powerful duopoly (with control of 70 per cent of Australia's food outlay) and the much less powerful, smaller businesses, which have limited options of supplying others beyond their dominance.
Meanwhile, the National Farmers' Federation-co-ordinated Blueprint for Australian Agriculture was also launched.
The strategy is an achievement for the NFF in presenting a united front.
The farm sector now has an opportunity to use this momentum to stay on the national agenda.
NFF must now push the Blueprint's goals into strategies and get government support on polices that can be adopted nationwide.
The dairy industry must pull together and articulate considered ways to improve the sustainability of their businesses.
More broadly, all Australians will be watching to see how the ACCC deals with the duopoly.
Perhaps now is the time to look at how to better equip the ACCC to deal with issues along the supply chain, not purely those primarily in consumer interests.
