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Managing your staff - the next generation

Investing in dairy farm labour education

Farmer profile:

  • Owners: Warren and Jane Jacobs
  • Location: Mount Compass, South Australia
  • Time in the business: 20 years
  • Staff: 2 full time, 1 part time.
  • Property and feed system: 20 cow swing-over herringbone dairy. Forage-based, 154 hectare effective milking area. 55 hectare irrigation (start-up and finishing irrigation)


Situation:

Like many dairy farmers, Warren and Jane Jacobs believe the future lies in developing the skills of the next generation. Without dairy farmer levies, programs that give young people the opportunity to enhance their skills would not be possible. Warren says he and his wife recognise the importance of professional development for their work team and their business.

"The levy pays for itself through animal health and welfare
 and market information."

Action:

The Jacobs encourage their staff to participate in DairySA and Dairy Australia levy-funded programs — like 3030 Fleurieu Partner Farm and the Young Dairy Farmer Network. “These programs are a good way for Ty (farm manager) to interact with other people and build-up contacts. It keeps him up-to-date, motivated and engaged in the industry,” Warren says.

Results:

Warren says sending staff to workshops saves the business time and money, as they end up adopting more efficient business practices. “It’s particularly good for me, it means I don’t have to teach Ty everything. He can get it from other sources, and he brings home new information we can discuss and implement."

"The workshops and farm productivity information is just the start of
what the levy offer us - we see it as much bigger than that.”

Participating in industry-based workshops and programs would not be financially viable for the small business, without support and funding through DairySA and Dairy Australia.

“It’s important that young people in the industry can develop their careers. DairySA and Dairy Australia help by providing funding, workshops and information for people like Ty moving up the dairy ladder, and me as his employer,” he says.