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 What is the Dairying for Tomorrow project?
Launched in 2000, Dairying for Tomorrow is Dairy Australia's on-farm natural resource management (NRM) program.
The program helps dairy farmers develop, adopt and maintain sound environmental practices. Implementing these practices is crucial for farmers because natural resources, particularly soil and water, are vital for farm productivity and profits.
Dairying for Tomorrow develops regional-based projects that address the environmental issues facing particular areas. This brings industry and community together to develop environmental practices that contribute to healty and sustainable catchments and communities, a major priority for the program.
Dairying for Tomorrow began with a benchmark survey into NRM on Australian dairy farms. It assessed current environmental practices, production opportunities, farmers' attitudes toward NRM and the dairy industry's sustainability. It also identified the environmental issues that needed to be addressed through the Dairying for Tomorrow program.
What benefits does Dairying for Tomorrow deliver?
Since Dairying for Tomorrow began, there has been a 25 per cent increase in the number of dairy farmers who have adopted industry-recommended NRM practices. Farmers have widely recognised that wasted resources will cost them money and see the need to implement and maintain environmentally friendly and sustainable practices.
Dairying for Tomorrow has delivered a number of projects for improving NRM in areas including:
- Effluent management
- Fertiliser, soil and land management
- Vegetation management
- Waterway management
- Irrigation
The program has also significantly increased the membership in NRM groups in regions where industry NRM projects have been delivered. Farmers who are members of these groups are also more likely to make changes to their environmental practices.
Dairying for Tomorrow has encouraged many dairy farmers to implement effective NRM practices. In doing so, it has demonstrated the industry's commitment to protecting the environment and has helped ensure its future viability and sustainability.
Dairying for Tomorrow tools, resources and projects
This project gives dairy farmers access to a range of tools, resources and projects.
Dairying for Tomorrow tools and resources:
- Dairy Self Assessment Tool
- Targets for Change
- Farm Nutrient Loss Index
- Regional Dairying for Tomorrow Coordinators
Major projects:
- Accounting for Nutrients
- Australian Dairy Industry Technical Resource for Effluent Management and Reuse
- Montagu Catchment Project
- GipRip
- DairyCatch
- Climate Adaptation
- Managing Climate Variability Phase 2
- Sub-surface Drip Irrigation
- Broadening the Environmental Management System Delivery Pathway
Dairying for Tomorrow Testimonials
 'Revegetation program is a saving rather than a cost'
Ian & Susan Powell
Wynyard Tas
“Fencing off waterways is not a cost for us – we see it as a saving. It means we are delivering clean water to our cows and preserving our shelter belts. But also, how can you measure the value of being able to live with platypus, native birds and endangered species?”
Changes made: Created a riparian zone by fencing off a creek and bordering remnant native bushland and planted 1000 trees on steeper slopes, to prevent erosion and enhance the biodiversity of ecosystem.
Result: Well-maintained water supply for herd; protecting native animals, birds and endangered species; and enhancing biodiversity of ecosystem.
 'Catchment, more than a catch-cry'
Andrea & Martin Van de Wouw
Western Victoria
“The whole catchments approach has a bigger impact. Working together brings back a sense of community and provides the motivation to achieve more. In every catchment there are a range of people with a variety of expertise. When you pool all this expertise the benefits are tenfold, our research dollars go further and the outcomes are accelerated”.
Whole catchment approach: Andrea and Martin are active members of the Corangamite & Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Areas (CMAs) and strong supporters of the ‘whole catchment approach.' The CMAs have several projects relating to effluent management, irrigation and nutrient runoff and water quality.
Changes made on own farm: Improved effluent system by installing underground water mains to enable effluent to be mixed with groundwater and used on pastures; established shared wildlife corridors and shelterbelts with neighbours; fenced off tributaries and remnant bush areas; direct seeded 1200m shelterbelts; planted trees on steep gully; and fenced and planted trees along creek frontage.
Result: A profitable and sustainable dairying system.
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