Queensland Dairy Farms Grow 30% After 20-Year Decline

After watching 1,360 dairy farms disappear over two decades, Queensland farmers are finally seeing their industry come back to life.

Since 2021, up to 20 new dairy farms have opened across Queensland, and fresh milk production has jumped 30% to more than 282 million litres. Some existing farms have doubled or even tripled their output, signaling a remarkable turnaround for an industry that seemed destined to vanish.

The comeback story runs deep for families like Lisa and Jason Rozynski. In 2016, they marched through Brisbane protesting the supermarket milk price wars that were crushing farmers. Today, they run one of the world's top five largest Brown Swiss dairy operations from their small farm in Imbil, milking nearly 600 cows for Maleny Dairies.

"For a little country farm in the middle of Imbil, for us to have that, we're just like, 'Wow,'" Lisa said. This year marks 80 years since the family started farming below Borumba Dam, surviving floods, droughts, and industry chaos.

Their daughter Payton, 16, dreams of becoming a large animal vet, while their son Angus, 14, wants to work the farms. The next generation is choosing dairy, something that seemed impossible just a few years ago.

The Gear family at Cedar Pocket tells a similar story. Barb Gear now runs the farm her father-in-law started in the 1970s, milking 470 cows with cutting-edge technology. Ear-tag sensors detect when cows are ready to mate, and computer screens in the milking pit automatically sort animals into pens.

"It's the love of the cows that gets you in," Barb said. "Seeing that little baby calf be raised up, and they know you. They're all my kids basically."

The turnaround didn't happen by accident. Farmers partnered with processors and the Queensland government to create a new six-year Dairy Plan. It focuses on climate preparation, better feed options, improved pastures, automation, and support for people entering or leaving the industry.

The Ripple Effect

The industry's revival means more than just milk on shelves. It's keeping rural communities alive and giving young people reasons to stay on the land. When farms thrive, they need workers, mechanics, feed suppliers, and vets. Towns like Imbil and Cedar Pocket get an economic boost that spreads through schools, shops, and local services.

The plan also tackles real challenges farmers face. The Gears get just three to four hours' warning when their local dam overflows, and they lost 20 cows in the 2022 floods. Yet they keep expanding, proving resilience pays off.

Queensland Primary Industries Minister Tony Perrett says research and extension services will help farms keep growing. The goal is simple: produce more fresh milk in Queensland while supporting the families who make it happen.

After decades of heartbreak, Queensland dairy farmers are proving their industry has a future worth investing in.