Dubbo dairy farmer Erika Chesworth has taken on a key role in the campaign to improve farm gate milk prices.
Mrs Chesworth is the new chairperson of the NSW Farmers Dairy Committee following last week’s NSW Dairy Industry Annual Conference in Wagga Wagga.
The Chesworth family operate the Little Big Dairy Company, which is based on an 800-cow herd and an on-farm processing plant.
Mrs Chesworth thanked outgoing chairman Rob McIntosh for his significant leadership role and vowed to continue advocating for more sustainable milk prices.
“Rob has been a giant for NSW Dairy Farmers. He has provided a strong, deft and generous style of leadership to the industry,” Mrs Chesworth said.
“However, the industry continues to face significant challenges, the biggest of which is milk price. Our dairy farmers produce a high quality product every day of the year, but are getting less and less money at the farm gate.
“Milk has been devalued in the eyes of the consumer by products like $1/litre milk and home brand cheese, squeezing the entire supply chain.
“Dairy Farmers are the ones getting hurt and this will continue to be a focus for our committee until there is a viable solution.
“I look forward to working with all dairy farmers from across NSW to ensure we have a strong voice for our industry. “
NSW Farmers president Derek Schoen said Mrs Chesworth had a great passion for the dairy industry.
“It’s exciting to see new blood both within the committee and at the helm and great to see one of the most innovative women in NSW farming take another position of leadership,” Mr Schoen said.
“Erika runs an amazing operation in Dubbo and created the local Little Big Dairy brand. I look forward to Erika’s leadership both within the Dairy Industry and within the broader association.”
The NSW Farmers Dairy Committee is a member of the national dairy representative body Australian Dairy Farmers, and has moved to align its policy priority areas to synchronise its efforts with the national body.
