Pinpointing farm business adjustments
On the edge of the Darling Scarp near Waroona, Rod and Tash Pitter run a third-generation dairy operation that has been in his family for decades. The farm milks around 450 cows and produces about 3.3 million litres of milk each year.
The herd calves twice a year, roughly a third in spring and the rest between January and April, to align production with Western Australia’s year-round demand for fresh milk. The system is primarily pasture-based, supported by total and partial mixed rations when grass growth slows.
“When we’ve got grass, we use it,” Rod said. “And when we don’t, we switch to a partial mixed ration. That balance keeps things ticking along.”
With his parents gradually stepping back from co-running the farm, Rod and Tash have been taking on more of the management decisions while continuing to focus on refining the business for efficiency and sustainability.
“It’s definitely not a solo operation,” Rod said. “We’ve got a couple of workers who’ve been here more than ten years - that kind of stability really helps. Everyone knows the routine, and we all pull in the same direction.”
In recent years, Rod has become actively involved in the Dairy Farm Monitor Project (DFMP), an initiative that provides detailed financial and physical benchmarking data for dairy farms across Australia.
Each year, about 25 Western Australian dairy farms contribute data to the program, allowing producers to compare their performance and identify areas for improvement.
Rod joined the project two years ago, motivated by a desire to better understand his numbers and see how his business stacked up against others. “I’ve always been interested in benchmarking,” Rod said. “I just wanted to know where we sat - labour, feed, debt per cow - and how close we were to the top 25%. You can’t improve what you don’t measure.”
Through the DFMP, Rod has been able to pinpoint key areas for adjustment, particularly around labour efficiency and herd size.
While they were always busy, like every dairy farmer, they weren’t milking enough cows for the amount of labour they had. The benchmarking process also reaffirmed that the farm’s production system itself, a blend of pasture and mixed-ration feeding, was performing well.
“We’ve lifted cow numbers a bit, and now we’re closer to the right ratio,” Rod said. The farm’s running smoother and making better use of people’s time. Our pastures and cows were solid, so it was more about fine-tuning the business side, getting the milk output and ratios right and keeping closer to the good farms in the report.”
Participating in DFMP has not only helped Rod and Tash make better business decisions but also changed the way they think about success. It hasn't just been about chasing more milk but about understanding what’s working and what’s costing more than it should. They are able to track progress year to year and see how small improvements add up over time.
“That’s what DFMP gives you, the facts to make the right calls,” Rod said. “You might only shift a few cents a litre, or shave a bit off your feed costs, but when you look back over two or three years, it makes a huge difference. It’s given me more confidence that the changes we’re making are moving us in the right direction.”
Planning goals and actions
Alongside DFMP, Rod has recently joined Our Farm, Our Plan (OFOP) - another initiative delivered by Western Dairy in WA. While still early in the process, Rod already sees how the two tools complement each other. “DFMP gives you the data - it shows where you are - and Our Farm, Our Plan helps you turn that information into goals and actions. You tick the boxes, one after another, and suddenly you can see the progress.”
For Rod, OFOP is also a chance to involve his family more deeply in planning for the future. By bringing his wife and kids into it, they also get a better understanding of the bigger picture. “The kids see the hard work every day, but not always the why behind it,” Rod said. I want them to see that the farm pays for their school, their holidays, their future - and that it can keep doing that if we plan properly. I want the next generation to have a vision for the place, to see it go to a fourth generation and keep the family legacy alive.”
While pragmatic about the ups and downs of farming, the past few years have strengthened Rod’s belief in the value of industry support. He knows there is a lot of help out there. “Everything I’ve asked for through Western Dairy or Dairy Australia has been delivered, you just have to ask,” says Rod.
Register for upcoming (DFMP) Analysis Day Wednesday 18th February in Western Australia.
For more information about the Dairy Farm Monitor Program and to view the latest report, visit Dairy Farm Monitor Project.
DFMP is delivered by Dairy Australia under contract to Western Dairy, with funding support from the Australian Government and state governments through the Future Drought Fund, the Gardiner Dairy Foundation and other project partners. This article has been reproduced with permission from Western Dairy.