DairyTas Focus Farms

Tasmanian Focus Farms

The national Focus Farm program has been running in the DairyTas region since 2014.

This program benefits participants and interested farmers and communities in Tasmania and nationally. The Focus Farms program has created a growing network of dairy farms across Australia that are now models of whole farm systems and profitability. 

How does this program benefit Tasmanian dairy farmers?

Tasmanian Focus Farms provide deep insight into local farming methods and national industry-standard business practices that help increase efficiencies and a better work/life balance for Tasmanian dairy farmers. On every Focus Farm, the bottom line is always in focus.

Over the two–year project term, Tasmanian and national dairy farmers review and implement strategies to improve the farming business bottom line and balance priorities.

Farm Open Days give local and visiting dairy farmers the chance to talk to the Focus Farm farmers and community. Honest and open measures of progress are discussed and documented – allowing dairy farmers and community members to see real progress, real issues and understand the rationale behind decisions and outcomes.

To find out more about Focus Farms open days or register your interest in the program, please contact:

DairyTas
admin@dairytas.net.au
tel: 03 6432 2233

Check out the latest posts from the Tasmanian Dairy Focus Farm Facebook page.

The Greenacre and Bradley Families

Rosemount Ag - The Tasmanian Dairy Focus Farm from 2020 - 2022

Rosemount Ag in Cressy is the DairyTas Focus Farm 2020 - 2022

Farm background

Rosemount Ag. is owned in a joint venture between Rob and Jo Bradley and James and Sophie Greenacre, Rosemount is located near Cressy. Currently milking approximately 1,250 dairy cows producing 500kgMS/cow on 550 hectares of land of which approximately 330 hectares is under centre pivot irrigation.

Each focus farm has their own focus for the 2 years. For the Bradley’s and Greenacres, they will be working towards a cost of production of $4.20/kg MS, while exceeding Best Management Practices in animal welfare, environmental stewardship, and staff satisfaction.

Working with the Bradley’s and Greenacres throughout the project will be Jeremy Savage, a dairy consultant from Canterbury, New Zealand who works closely with Lincoln University Dairy Farm. Jeremy will be working closely with local Fonterra Farm Source Paddock Specialist Richard Rawnsley, who will be the Focus Farms on-the-ground consultant.

Farm challenges and goals

To optimise farm profitability and resilience while having a sustainable system. Staff and cows are paramount to our farm and so we didn’t want to progress any goal that impinged on this.

Specific challenges and goals for Rosemount Ag include:

1. Cost of Production: Minimising cost of production to maximise farm profitability. (CoP $<4.20kgMS sustainably)
2. Supplements: Optimise grain feeding to maximise pasture utilized t/ha. (>14t/ha)
3. Heifers: Decrease calf losses and hit growth targets of ave 325kg at joining and 450kg at calving.
4. Systems: Utilise and build systems to increase repeatability and decrease key man risk
5. Fertiliser: Increase yield of grass grown per kg of fertilizer applied
6. Support area: Improve utilisation of current support area.

Farm facts and figures

• 500ha farm with 350ha under pivot.
• Grown from 190ha irrigated to 350ha in 2.5yrs
• Cow numbers increased from 780 to 1250 in same period
• Herd put together over last 7 years; over 550 cows purchased in 2 yrs
• Milked through a 9y.o. 54 unit dairy
• Longest walk for cows is over 3km one way
• James/Sophie have been at Rosemount for 3 years
• Equity partnership commenced in 2020
• Currently have 9 staff on different loadings, 3 core staff have been with us for nearly 3 years, retention and wellbeing is important to the business.

Reporting

Farm walk notes
Every 1-2 weeks James completes a farm walk which enables him to provide an update of farm data and feed wedges that is then shared on the Tasmanian Dairy Focus Farm Facebook page.

Virtual farm visits
We host Virtual Farm Visits on the first Tuesday of each month at 12.30pm. Farm manager, James Greenacre, Farm Consultant Jeremy Savage and Fonterra Paddock Specialist Richard Rawnsley discuss how the farm has performed over the last month, as well as discussing the challenges James and the team have faced and what the aim is for the current month. This “Virtual Visit” updates are available on Facebook LIVE. Visit the Tasmanian Dairy Focus Farm Facebook page to view them. 

Monthly webinars
In addition to the Virtual Visits, the Focus Farm runs a webinar on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 12.30pm. Each webinar covers a different topic that relates to the focus farm. Upcoming webinars are listed on the DairyTas Event Calendar.

The Field family, Montagu

The DairyTas Focus Farm from 2017 to 2019 was run by Dave and Jane Field, based in Circular Head, North West Tasmania.

The Field farm in Montagu is the DairyTas Focus Farm 2017 to 2019.

Farm background

Dave and Jane have been farming in Tasmania for two years and progressed through the dairy industry in New Zealand before coming to Tasmania. The Fields wanted to join the program for the opportunity it offered:

“We were new to Tasmania and knew that it would be really different to farming in New Zealand, we thought it was a fantastic opportunity to help us through the transition period and to give something back to industry.” - Jane Field

They're both graduates of Lincoln University, moving up through the dairy industry by managing farms, 50/50 share-milking and then moving into farm ownership in 2006. They purchased a dairy farm to develop and subsequently bought two grazing blocks located at Murchison near the top of the South Island, NZ. Their dairy farm in NZ is currently managed by a share-farmer.

Farm challenges and goals

Specific challenges and goals for the Field Family include:

• To operate a simple pasture-based system
• Focus on growing and harvesting more pasture by
  • increasing soil fertility
  • irrigation
  • pasture species
  • cow genetics and management.

Farm facts and figures

At the start of the project, the Field's herd comprised Holstein and cross bred cows. The emphasis has been on gaining genetic merit and increasing the proportion of cross bred cows in the herd. The focus then moved to increasing pasture utilisation and adapting to the once-a-day milking system, which has been in operation on-farm since May 2017.

An overview of the farm's productivity at the beginning of the project:

Key Performance Indicator (KPI) reporting

Every two weeks, the Field family and their project consultant Basil Doonan report on how the farm is tracking against the Field's KPIs. KPI data includes:

• pasture
• animals
• environment
• people
• production.

The latest KPI data is listed below, with fortnightly reports available as downloads.

Final report - "And that's a wrap"

The 2017–2019 Tasmanian Dairy Focus Farm project has concluded. Read the Field family Focus Farm final report.

End of 2017–18 review and wrap up

Reach the DairyTas Field family Focus Farm review of the 2017–2018 season here.

KPI tracking data at 16 September 2019 (end of 24–month project)

Secondary Indicators (from report)

The Crowden family, Western Creek

Marcus and Zed Crowden own and manage a robotic milking dairy farm at Western Creek in the Central North of Tasmania.

Farm background

The Crowdens converted their farm to robotics three years ago while also running a conventional milking farm of 300 cows. The business is high input, high output and high profit, driven by high levels of productivity and labour efficiency.

Farm challenges and goals

Specific challenges and goals for the Crowden family during the Focus Farms project included:

• To demonstrate that Automatic Milking Systems (AMS) can be run profitably in a pasture-based feeding system.
• To debunk some of the myths around AMS.
• To share the family business goals and ambition for growth with those in the dairy industry.
• To work with a consultant in order to continue growing the business.

Farm facts and figures

An overview of the farm's productivity at the beginning of the project:

*Annual cost of production includes non-cash costs such as depreciation and imputed people. Farm working expenses is budgeted at $4/kgMS.

The Jones family, Kayena

Limberlost Dairy in Kayena is owned by equity partners and managed by Peter and Jo Jones.

Farm background

Peter and Jo are responsible for the day-to-day management of the farm with larger decisions made by all parties involved in the farm business.

Farm challenges and goals

Specific goals and objectives for the Jones family during the Focus Farms project included:

• To better utilise the resource base of the farm – pastures, water, land, labour and stock – in order to achieve 'industry-best' profitability.
• To use a farming business model that is sustainable, providing a good income to all parties involved, which is environmentally and socially responsible.
• To provide a workplace where staff feel valued, challenged, rewarded and provide opportunities for career development.
• To achieve a lifestyle that allows for a balance between work and family.

Farm facts and figures

An overview of the farm's productivity at the beginning of the project:

*Information taken from 2013–14 Dairy Business of the Year data.
**Information taken from 2014–15 Dairy Farm Monitor Project data.