Coles shelves are low on branded milk stock in this Sydney supermarket, as shoppers purchase more expensive brands in support of local farmers.

OPINION: A campaign in Australia to support hard-pressed dairy farmers by paying an extra dollar for milk has – surprise, surprise – been a roaring success.

Like us, the Aussie farmers are struggling with low prices. But for them, the perceived villain is closer to home.

Because the Australians have a large domestic market, sales of fresh milk to supermarkets are a big money-earner. But this is being undermined by competition between the two big chains, Woolworths and Coles.

They have used milk as a loss-leader and retail prices have plummeted to as low as $1 a litre. Dairy farmers have struggled because of this, and factors such as international prices and drought, and the call has gone out to city folk to help out.

READ MORE: Australian dairy farmer embittered by Fonterra's treatment

And they have responded. Special runs of farmers' milk, with an extra dollar on the price to go to farmers, have been flying off the shelves.

That's great. Australians obviously hold their farmers in high regard.

To this Kiwi it comes as a big surprise. Bashed by hateful anti-farming campaigns by Fish & Game, SAFE, the Greens and certain elements of the media – and abetted by a few farmers' own stupidity - it is astonishing to find such attitudes are not common elsewhere.

It brings home just how far we have slipped in public standing.

Which begs the question, why should we be any different than Australia? What are our farmers doing differently?

Nothing.

But it's clear a campaign to pay milk money to farmers would be laughed at here. In fact, it's common to see comments wishing only ill of farmers.

We've allowed public perception to be hijacked by a motley crew of unscrupulous politicians, militant vegetarians, blinkered fishers and hunters and ratings-driven TV hosts.

In Australia, that hasn't happened. It helps that farmers are well organised and aren't afraid to use their political influence. Look how long they kept out our apples.

The average Australian might be a bit more brash and, with a few drinks on board, more obnoxious, than the average Kiwi, but from my experience they are just as industrious, caring and fun-loving as us.

On this side of the ditch, we've turned our backs on our farmers. New generations don't seem to realise the debt they owe to these people, whose reliability, integrity and hard work are ingrained in our national psyche. They're the pioneers who broke in the country that is the source of our wealth, and they produced most of our national heroes in war and sport.

If we're not careful, we could be at the start of a descent into something nasty.

Other countries have unenviable national characteristics, rightly or wrongly. What are your first thoughts of the: French (sexist, rude?), Germans (cold, humourless?), Spanish (lazy?). I could go on.

Do you want to add to that: New Zealanders (whingers, haters)?

- Jon Morgan is editor of NZ Farmer