Victoria's minister for agriculture and food security Peter Walsh has officially opened a new stockfeed mill in Pakenham today that will produce more than 180,000 tonnes of feed every year.

In a media statement issued this morning Mr Walsh said the establishment of the $12.8 million mill demonstrated Ridley AgriProducts’ confidence in the growth of Gippsland, in particular the dairy, beef and sheep sectors.

“Ridley’s multi-million dollar investment in this new state-of-the-art, energy efficient mill demonstrates confidence in the sustainable growth of Gippsland, a confidence which the Victorian Coalition Government shares,” Mr Walsh said.

“Dairy is the highest value agribusiness industry in the Gippsland region and is vital to the region’s economy and future growth.

“In 2011/12 the Gippsland dairy industry produced 22 per cent of the national milk production – more than 2.1 billion litres.

“The Gippsland region also has a significant grazing and meat processing industry based predominantly on beef, but also wool and prime lamb production.

“The additional 180,000 tonnes of feed this new mill will produce for the Gippsland and wider region will allow livestock businesses to expand further and better secure feed supply,” Mr Walsh said.

Mr Walsh said Ridley AgriProducts had played a key role in the growth of Gippsland’s poultry, dairy, beef and sheep industries in the past 25 years.

It has supplied stock feed and nutritional products from its stock feed milling facilities at Pakenham, Dandenong and Maffra.

The new plant is producing a combination of either steam conditioned pellets or cracked grain and protein meal feeds for dairy cattle, beef and sheep.

“This million-dollar investment in Victoria’s food and fibre sector makes a significant positive statement about the industry’s future,” Mr Walsh said.

“Victoria is already Australia’s leading exporter of food and fibre products with exports worth almost $9 billion in 2011/2012 and there are many more gains to be made.

“I have set the ambitious goal for Victoria’s food and fibre producers to double production by 2030 and developments like this new mill will help them to achieve that goal.”

Source: Vic Govt