Did you know that it was #WorldMilkDay yesterday? Since we are celebrating the production of delicious dairy products like milk and cheese, I thought it might be the right time to have a bit of a serious yarn about the Aussie ag industry.

Did you know that Aussie farmers provide more than 90% of the daily Australian food supply? How lucky are we, mate?

But for an industry thats success is imperative to every one of our survival (we all need to eat) it is surprising that in this day and age the effort that goes in to producing the food for us to nourish our bodies and enjoy, is not adequately compensated back to the farmer.

If you enjoy your milk, cheese, yoghurt or butter you need to understand what is currently happening in the dairy industry in Australia. It’s not good. Did you know that Australia has the lowest generic milk brand price in the world? Farm gate milk prices have not increased with inflation in the past 30 years.

$1 milk is not sustainable for our farmers. Over the past 40 years, the number of dairy farms in Australia has fallen by almost THREE QUARTERS. What country do you want to be buying your milk from in 20 years time? At this rate, it won’t be Australian.

How have we gotten to the stage where we as a consumer would pay $4 for a 700ml bottle of water, $2 for a can of coke or $5 for a cup of coffee and yet we’re not willing to pay over $1 a litre to support our farmers? Farmers leaving the land compromises the future of many small rural towns. When our regions are doing well, the rest of our economy in Australia does well.

Australia, we need to use our VOICES! Let’s shout it from the rooftops. Refuse to buy milk that is less than $1.50 a litre. Encourage your mates, your mum, the neighbours down the road to do the same. Keep chatting to your supermarket manager, your local cafes and restaurants. Tell them to support local. Choose branded milk. Let’s start valuing the farmers that produce the food in our fridge — including the cheese in your sandwich, mate!

As a consumer you have the power to change the value that is placed on our food and produce. You have a powerful voice. How will you use it?