DAIRYING IN AUST.

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32360, 28 July 1970, Page 21

DAIRYING IN AUST.

Production Cut Sought W Z P.A. Staff Correspondent) SYDNEY. July 26. Victorian and Tasmanian dairy farmers have been asked to cut butter and cheese production by 3j per cent next season. The request is part of a campaign by the Australian dairy industry to prevent increased output. Target levels of 220,000 tons of butter and 70,000 tons of cheese have been set by the industry. If farmers produce more they will face a fall in Government-guaranteed returns, and create major marketing difficulties. Mr Athol Baird, secretary of the Dairy Industry Council, said yesterday that maximum production targets had been set for each state, but only Victoria and Tasmania had been asked to cut production. “These are the two states where the production trend is upwards or where there have been surges in output in recent years,” Mr Baird said. Victoria, the richest and most efficient dairying state, produces 60 per cent of the nation’s butter and cheese. Mr Baird said that the plan to limit production was being “well received” by the industry.