Business Breakfast

Join us for a breakfast event exploring the latest developments, insights and opportunities shaping the Victorian dairy industry, featuring presentations from leading industry experts.

20 Years of Dairy Farm Monitor Project Insights:

Claire Waterman, Farm Business Economist, Agriculture Victoria

Claire specialises in farm business analysis at Agriculture Victoria with a key focus on the Dairy Farm Monitor Project (DFMP) data. As the project celebrates its landmark 20th year, Claire will share key findings and insights of the latest 2025-26 DFMP report and highlight trends, challenges and opportunities that have shaped Victorian dairy farming over the past two decades.

The DFMP provides comprehensive physical and financial analysis of approximately 250 dairy farms across Australia and 90 farms in Victoria, representing a diverse range of farm sizes, herd sizes and geographical locations. Its findings help inform business decision-making and investment priorities for Dairy Australia, Agriculture Victoria and other key industry stakeholders.

Dairy Australias Feedbase Strategy:

Ruairi McDonnell, National Lead - Feedbase, Dairy Australia

Dairy Australias Strategic Plan sets ambitious industry priorities and outcomes through to 2030. The overarching goal is for dairy farms to achieve a competitive Return on Total Assets (ROTA) of 5-6%, supported by four shared goals designed to strengthen farm profitability and resilience.

Ruairi will provide insights into one of these goals - Increasing Feed Productivity, which aims for the majority of dairy farmers to increase home-grown feed utilisation by one tonne per milking hectare. Achieving this target could deliver up to $230 million in additional annual gross benefits across the Australian dairy industry.

Join us to explore how this goal could be achieved in western Victoria, hear about the latest research, and discuss the opportunities and challenges facing dairy farmers in our region. Learn what the future may hold and the practical steps that can support greater feed productivity.