Table 7 Frequencies and percentages of Australian dairy farmers reporting different challenges (yes), and the levels of concern expressed, from 1, very unconcerned, to 10, very concerned.
Level of concern | Yes | |||||||||||
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |||
Rising operational costs | Count | - | - | 1 | 3 | 4 | 12 | 15 | 35 | 20 | 42 | 132 |
% of Total | 0.7% | 2.0% | 2.7% | 8.2% | 10.2% | 23.8% | 13.6% | 28.6% | 89.8% | |||
Long working hours and minimal downtime | Count | 2 | - | 3 | 1 | 9 | 7 | 13 | 18 | 17 | 37 | 107 |
% of Total | 1.4% | 2.0% | 0.7% | 6.1% | 4.8% | 8.8% | 12.2% | 11.6% | 25.2% | 72.8% | ||
Labour shortages | Count | 1 | 1 | - | 2 | 6 | 10 | 15 | 26 | 15 | 27 | 103 |
% of Total | 0.7% | 0.7% | 1.4% | 4.1% | 6.8% | 10.2% | 17.7% | 10.2% | 18.4% | 70.1% | ||
Unpredictable weather patterns | Count | - | 1 | 1 | 2 | 20 | 17 | 29 | 15 | 5 | 5 | 95 |
% of Total | 0.7% | 0.7% | 1.4% | 13.6% | 11.6% | 19.7% | 10.2% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 64.6% | ||
Impacts on mental health and wellbeing | Count | - | - | 3 | - | 7 | 11 | 17 | 16 | 7 | 14 | 75 |
% of Total | 2.0% | 4.8% | 7.5% | 11.6% | 10.9% | 4.8% | 9.5% | 51.0% | ||||
Unstable milk prices | Count | - | - | 1 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 17 | 14 | 6 | 14 | 68 |
% of Total | 0.7% | 1.4% | 4.1% | 5.4% | 11.6% | 9.5% | 4.1% | 9.5% | 46.3% | |||
Lack of subsidies and grants | Count | - | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 15 | 8 | 3 | 8 | 53 |
% of Total | 0.7% | 1.4% | 2.0% | 4.8% | 4.1% | 10.2% | 5.4% | 2.0% | 5.4% | 36.1% | ||
Changing consumer demand | Count | - | 2 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 52 |
% of Total | 1.4% | 1.4% | 3.4% | 4.1% | 8.8% | 7.5% | 6.1% | 2.0% | 0.7% | 35.4% | ||
Climate change uncertainty | Count | - | 1 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 10 | - | 6 | 53 |
% of Total | 0.7% | 0.7% | 2.0% | 6.1% | 8.2% | 7.5% | 6.8% | 4.1% | 36.1% | |||
