Australian Dairy Conference in Warragul

Warragul will this month host the 10^th Australian Dairy Conference from February 20 to 24 with an estimated 300 delegates to come from outside Gippsland.

The Victorian Coalition Government has supported the event with a $10,000 grant provided under the $100 million Putting Locals First Program.

Mr Blackwood said the event helped establish links between dairy farmers in the region with those from across the state and beyond.

"The conference offers farmers and other industry experts the opportunity to interact, exchange ideas and diversify their thinking about the industry and their own practices," said Mr Blackwood.

"The conference offers a forum that is both educational and informative for producers to become more widely involved with their industry.

"The subsequent benefit to the conference being held in our region is that local businesses can expect a boost from the visiting delegates and conference attendees.

"I'm very pleased that this event is occurring in our region and that the Victorian Government is able to support it through the Putting Locals First Program", Mr Blackwood said.

Minister for Regional and Rural Development, Peter Ryan, said more than 600 dairy farmers and delegates from affiliated industries are expected to attend the conference.

"The strength of Victoria's dairy industry is vital to Victoria's economic and social well being," Mr Ryan said.

"Victoria is home to the Australia dairy industry with more than 63 per cent of Australia's milk supply and more than 85 per cent of the nation's milk product exports by value.

"Gippsland is a vital part of Australia's dairy industry, which is estimated to be worth about $582 million annually to the region.

"As a "low-cost" production region, there are fantastic opportunities for industry expansion in Gippsland and for this reason it is critical that the Gippsland dairy industry be exposed to and encouraged to pursue industry best practice to maximise its future dairy and value-adding opportunities.

"The Australian Dairy Conference will play a leading role in building the capacity and skills of what will become an increasingly important industry for Gippsland," said Mr Ryan.

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