Extension - TAS

Background:

The Tasmanian dairy industry has great potential for future growth of milk supply. The current strategic plan targets growth of 25% from 610 million to 750 million litres. Growth is to be achieved through new dairy conversions, and through higher production per cow and per hectare basis associated with increases in current farm and herd sizes.

A skills audit process (TIAR) has identified a lack of business management skills as limiting the future potential of the industry. It is felt that while farmers recognise the need to improve their business management skills, they are arguably impeded by the current support structures, professional skills and most importantly an integrated industry plan to assist in this regard.

Developing such a plan is a 2011-12 focus.

Project objective:

Provide extension services that increase the capacity of Tasmanian dairy farmers to manage complexity and respond to volatility in the operating environment.

Project scope:

Dairy Smart is the key extension program for the Tasmanian dairy farmers delivered from the Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research dairy Centre. Dairy Smart aims to make business management more accessible and easily understood to farmers by addressing needs such as pasture management or nutrition skills. Farm business management principles would become part of the training of particle topics such as pasture management.

Outcomes/benefits:

Improve the productivity/profitability of Tasmanian dairy farmers by accelerating the adoption of competitively advantageous innovation.

More information:

For more information, contact Helen Quinn, Dairy Australia Analysis & Support Manager.