Getting into bed with Coles may just mean you wake up with a spring in your step

I have been meaning to write this post for some-time but wanted to cool down before I did. But some-one has got to throw this line of thinking out there for comment and I think I am emotionally strong to enough at the moment to take the flak as well as the support

This post is about the uproar that has arisen at grass roots level about Coles sponsorship of the Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) Summit

Now I think getting Coles to fund this event (who after all are the people making buckets of money from selling milk) is a stroke of genius by ADF management.

The consensus at farmer level seems to be it is the role of the processor to fund the conference not the the people farmers believe may be the right hand of the devil

Why do I think this way of thinking is flawed?

1.        Its is my understanding the processors fund Australian Dairy Industry Council (ADIC ) So through the ADIC the processors are already providing significant funding to the Summit.

2.         The core business of the processor is to sell product on behalf of their suppliers and support their farmers to supply the best quality ethically produced milk they can. It goes without saying that includes a fair price for the farmers. Noting farmers can only get what the market place will pay. Seriously if farmers think processors should fund everything well there won’t be much money  left in the kitty to pay us for our milk!!!!!!

3.         There is huge potential for Australian dairy industry and farmers to grow their businesses and hopefully prosper. This is impeded greatly by the lack of supply chain signals farmers get.  But seriously farmers have to acknowledge they should  play an equal role in facilitating this knowledge transfer. Knowledge transfer requires collaboration, cohesion and real partnerships with EVERYONE along the supply chain. Sadly in the main farmers see little or no value in this two way conversation opportunity. Were we always this myopic if not why has this happened?    

What a great opportunity to start that two way conversation with Coles the ADF Summit is for farmers and no-one will convince me otherwise. The only way farmers can make that decision for themselves is to turn up and play an active role in the ADF Summit. This is your chance to help design the dairy industry we should have and. I say to you don’t throw it away  

Author: Lynne Strong

I am a 6th generation farmer who loves surrounding myself with optimistic, courageous people who believe in inclusion, diversity and equality and embrace the power of collaboration. I am the founder of Picture You in Agriculture. Our team design and deliver programs that inspire pride in Australian agriculture and support young people to thrive in business and life View all posts by Lynne Strong