20 March 2009

2 minute read

Oceania

“The Dairy Smart project aims to help all members of dairy businesses to up skill themselves to ensure that current and future challenges can be met,” Mr Green said.

“The dairy industry is one of the success stories of the Tasmanian economy. Tasmania’s productive, efficient dairy farms have steadily increased milk production over many years.”

“The milk production increase is due in part to having the lowest cost of production in Australia plus having the skilled farmers and natural resources needed to expand production.”

“To remain profitable and adapt to change farmers need to continue advance their current skills.”

Mr Green said the Dairy Smart project will be delivered by TIAR Dairy Centre advisers and based around specialist farmer groups meeting 6 – 8 times a year. The groups will cater for farmers at different skill levels and career stages within the industry.

The project will also deliver annual field days, seminars, workshops and a regular industry newsletter.

The major outcomes of the project are to ensure that dairy farmers have profitable, sustainable dairy businesses and possess the skills to be able to grow the Tasmanian Dairy Industry.

Dairy Smart will meet these outcomes through:

• Providing unbiased, up-to-date information for all dairy farmers.
• Delivering training that will give farmers the skills to make the most of their resources.
• Assisting farmers understand the various farming systems and provide the skills to ensure that their system suits their farming environment.
• Providing training that will improve management skills for all members within a business.
• Assisting farmers to understand what drives profitable, resilient and sustainable dairy businesses.

Mr Green said good information and advice are needed if farmers are to respond appropriately to industry changes, such as the current unexpected milk price reduction and to longer term changes within the dairy industry.

A clear industry trend is that dairy herds are getting larger. Average herd size has increased some 40 per cent from 210 cows ten years ago to close to 300 cows today.

He said the on-going industry changes mean that all members of a dairy business need to be skilled to be able to have a successful business built on the strengths of its staff.

Mr Green said it is through collaboratively working with the major industry funding body (Dairy Australia and their local arm, DairyTas) and with agribusinesses such as National Australia Bank, Rabobank, Impact Fertiliser and Fonterra that projects like Dairy Smart can be delivered to dairy farmers in Tasmania.

TheCattleSite News Desk