Family Farm Life Just Not Worth It

Newcastle Herald

Friday July 20, 2007

By DONNA SHARPE

FOURTH generation dairy farmer Jason Cousins is wondering how much longer he can tolerate his Singleton family's tradition of life on the land.

Mr Cousins, 28, works 16-hour days seven days a week.

The married father of two with another child on the way earns a meagre $436 a week and has not had a holiday in two years.

Mr Cousins said the drought followed by the June long weekend flood and dairy deregulation have crippled family businesses like his and all but killed off family dairy farms in the Hunter.

A mechanic by trade, Mr Cousins said he could be earning double what he is now at a motor dealership and probably double that again if he took on a job in the mines.

But it's the family farm where his heart is.

"I have to support my family. Dad works with me and together we also support my grandparents," he said.

"Right now I'm starting to think about discouraging my son from following this family tradition."

He said he started thinking long and hard about his future on the farm after the recent floods. Some 98 per cent of the Cousins' pastures went underwater.

"Our milk supplies are low because the cows are only getting fed once a day instead of three times," he said.

"There just isn't enough feed."

Before dairy deregulation farmers like the Cousins earned 54 cents a litre for milk. After deregulation it dropped to 26 cents.

"We've slowly clawed our way back to 37.5 cents a litre but it doesn't do much for me when I walk into the supermarket and see a one-litre carton of Farmers Best milk priced at $2.25," Mr Cousins said.

"The Government has to bring back some regulation into the industry. Make this an even playing field between the farmers and the supermarkets."

He is saddened that dairy farmers are a dying generation.

"What kid is going to leave school to go on a farm when they can earn double working in a mine or a trade?"

Mr Cousins said his father John was looking forward to retirement and hoping his son would take over the property.

"But there's no incentive for me," Mr Cousins said.

"Life on the land is no longer a good life."

© 2007 Newcastle Herald

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