Now as Mr Francis is looking to sell what remains of his milking herd the last dairy farm in Fosteron will cease.

"Every property out here at one stage was a dairy farm," he said.

"Someone said you have to go big or get out but a lot of big farms are going out too."

He says all the equipment on the 270 acre farm just out of Dungog is worn out as they haven't been able to afford new equipment.

During the interview Mr Francis's phone rang - it was a stock and station agent to discuss the sale of the rest of his herd. You can see the strain on his face as he discusses selling what is left of the herd which at its peak was 110 milking cows.

"We've worked hard all our lives," he said. "It's devastating for us really."

He said the costs of dairying has more than doubled "and in 20 years we have only got about 6 cents more a litre since deregulation".

"It's been a slow death for us."

The family owned the properties back in 2000 and now his parents, Jim and Elsie, have to sell their nearby home to help pay the crippling debts.

"Mum has certainly been stressed over the last few years," he said.

Mr Francis's father, who retired from the dairy 10 years ago, moved to the area when he was 15 to work for his uncle. Mr Francis started working full time at the dairy when he finished Dungog High School.

"It's stressful at the best of times even if we were getting the money," he said.

As for his own future, Mr Francis is not so sure.

He says running beef cattle won't solely be able to pay the bills so he is looking to supplement his income with his odd jobs and his woodwork. He has considered operating a boutique dairy and bottling his own milk.

"I'll certainly stress a whole lot less," he said.

"It's too late for me but it's good to help others. It's the price of milk that needs to be increased, hopefully supermarkets will raise the milk prices."

Mr Francis was instrumental in lobbying for the fresh milk levy of 10 cents, regularly leaving notes on supermarket windows.

"I would put the note on the door and then do a runner," he said.

"One day a lady chased me across the carpark and I thought she was from the supermarket but she just wanted to know what brand of milk she should be buying. Everyone you talk to is willing to pay extra for their milk."

He said people can look to buy Oak and Saputo (Devondale, Cracker Barrell and King Island Dairy brands) and Dairy Farmers products to help local farmers.

If you have an event coming up or some good news to share - we would love to hear from you. Email mail.dungogchronicle@austcommunitymedia.com.au