As drought morphs into floods I reflect on the week that has been. I popped into ABC Illawarra to do an interview on the Archibull Prize launch and of course got asked for a quick grab on the Milk Price wars. Just a little quid pro quo what harm could that do?.
I haven’t heard the interview but it has almost necessitated me going into hiding. I was inundated by calls from radio stations and newspapers wanting to follow up my comments and then when I declined industry bodies who were asked to comment on my comments.
Coles is in damage control and the consultants have been engaged to tell Coles side of the story. Let me tell you mine in pictures. Pictures, I can now only bring myself to share because I know the rain will bring the grass and a little sanity back
Months of almost no rain has meant we have no grass to feed our cows and this has meant we have had to buy in feed to hand feed all our cows – all 1000 of them ( and yes that is very very very expensive)
Bare hills not much clover to be seen here
This means this mixer wagon goes up and down the road every day, all day bringing feed mixed at the Lemon Grove farm to all the cattle on the home farm and our young stock on our leased properties
In the last week we have had to feed the cows along this fence line as our mixer wagon went in for repair and the loan machine didn’t fit on the feed pad, so we had to sacrifice another paddock for the greater good 
Not a pretty site
I look forward to sharing the good news that comes with the rain but back to the $1 dollar milk.
Coles what we need here is transparency and integrity then you wouldn’t need consultants to interpret and press releases for spin.
Firstly acknowledge that consumer well being is not your first priority, in fact your tills and your shareholders are front and centre all the way as this story reiterates ‘ Sydney drivers get slugged as supermarkets sweep profits’
Secondly that what your Down Down Down campaign and the subsequent Milk Price Wars is doing is setting a national artificial floor price for milk that is preventing the true market price of milk being realised. You can blame the export market, the processors and the drought and farmer inefficiencies ad infinitum. Cows are not machines and farmers would all be doing something else if they wanted to make a motza. Please remember Coles real people farm and we just want a fair price.
Transparency and integrity Coles that’s all we ask
Whilst this is a little light hearted relief thanks to @guswhyte it makes sense doesn’t it – after all milk is cheaper than water
I wish you only the very best of blessings. And don’t you dare let go! It’s time politics and that damned $$ back off and respect integrity – honesty – and all that is obviously right and good in this world.
Thank u for your support Its great to get feedback
Thanks for taking the time to word things so well. It’s a shame we can’t force life experiences and the associated emotions involved with farming into companies’ heads but what you’re doing is a excellent step towards some solution, I’m sure. Good luck, hope your year is better than it has been so far:)
Yep right on!
Support the farmers that support u!
Society needs to realise how dependant on farmers we all are and give them a break!