Industry: Dairy Processing
Gross value of production |
$128.4 m |
Number of processors |
3 |
Number employed |
170 |
Seasonal Employment |
30 |
1. Description of Product:
Fresh milk and cream products.
Cheeses.
Dried Milk products.
2. Location of the Industry:
Milk is produced in the North East region supplies 6 processor companies, Murray Goulburn (Kiewa and Cobram), Bonlac (Shepparton), Haberfields (Wodonga and Albury), Milawa Cheese Company and Australian Cooperative Foods.
3. Employment and Labour Requirements
a. Number of Producers
Three processors are located in the North East region, or adjacent to the region (and draw on North East for employment).
b. Number Regularly Employed
170
c. Harvest Requirements
An extra 20 people are employed on a casual as needs basis.
4. Annual Production :
Production is measured in terms of turnover. 135 million litres of milk per annum are processed by these three processing units. 5 million litres of milk are processed outside the region.
5. Value of Product:
Gross value of production for three processors (identifying a proportion of total turnover from one processor who sources milk also from outside the region) is $128.4 million.
6. Markets and Marketing Plans :
- Milk and cheese products are exported, and also supply domestic market.
- 9% only (declining) of total milk production is used for liquid milk market.
- Victoria produces 85% of Australian dairy exports (total value $1250m). This region contributes 4% to total Victorian production and consequently to export earnings.
- Two of three processors are exporting cheese to Asia, the third processor (speciality cheeses) has strong demand but is not able to meet AQIS certification procedures.
Extracted from the Bright Report
