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Australian dairy producer Bega Cheese (ASX: BGA) hopes to get the business back up and running as soon as possible following the disastrous Australian bushfires.
The company says while the bushfires have had a "significant impact" on its farmers and employees there has been minimal direct impact to the company overall or its ongoing milk supply and operations.
"The bushfires have affected farm operations and infrastructure including the destruction of fencing and power lines, burnt out paddocks and restricted road access, but fortunately no dairy sheds have been lost," says Bega.
"A Bega Cheese Crisis Management team along with a significant number of volunteers are working with farmers to provide generators, feed, fencing and other assistance to repair farms and keep milk flowing."
Bega intends to get its two factories operational this week and hopes the majority of its employees will be able to resume work too.
"We have been working closely with our farmers providing and connecting generators to enable daily milking and also supplying fed for cattle," says Bega acting chairman Max Roberts.
The group expects to be able to collect 900,000 litres of milk once road access restriction is lifted in the next two days.
However, Bega says two of its suppliers have decided to dry off their herds earlier than planned because of the fires. The company says this could reduce milk supply by up to a further one million litres. Bega says this will have no material impact on its operations.
Shares in Bega are up 1.78 per cent to $4.30 per share at 10.35am AEDT.
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Business News Australia
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