Projects and Reports

Dairy Effluent Management

The Dairy Effluent Management project aims to develop best practice dairy effluent management across the dairy industry in Tasmania. The effluent project commenced in 2004/05 with funding from the Natural Heritage Trust for effluent upgrades on 45 dairy farms in the North and Northwest regions of Tasmania. Applications for assistance are submitted to a project officer and steering committee. For approved farms design works are then undertaken by project consultants David Armstrong and Robin Badcock.

The second round of the project was opened in 2005/06 with funding for a further 41 farms. In addition, National Landcare Program funding was gained in 2006 for 6 dairy farms in Southern Tasmania. In total this means coverage of nearly 20% of the industry. It represents a total project value of around $700,000 over 3 years implementation with close to $430,000 for on ground works.

Click here to download the Dairy Effluent Project summary.

Click here to download the Dairy Effluent Management Project 2007.

Click here to download the Dairy Effluent Management Project Application Form 2007.

Features of the project are:

• Up to $5,000 (plus GST) per farm matching funding. Farmers can contribute in cash or kind.
• $1,500 per farm for consultancy with a design report
• Funding for 2005-2006 will provide assistance to the Northwestern Region (27 farms), Northern Region (14 farms) and Southern region (6 farms)
• Funding only for "remedial work" based on an agreed development program for each farm

An expression of interest has been submitted to the Regional NRM organisations to run a similar project in 2007.

For more information contact:
Stewart Brown, Dairy Effluent Project Officer
Stoney Rise Government Centre, Devonport
Ph 6421 7657 / 0427 243 052

Taste for Dairying

Taste for Dairying aims to provide young people with an opportunity to experience work in the Tasmanian dairy industry. This first hand experience will assist students to determine their interest and suitability for a career in the dairy industry. Vocational placements will be available with dairy farmers, agricultural service sector, science and research areas.

The program is run annually for secondary school students across Tasmania It is coordinated by TFGA and the contact is Fiona Glyuszk. (ph 6332 1800)

Click here to download the the Taste For Dairying Program Vacancy brochure.

Taking Stock

The Taking Stock tool has been developed by Dairy Australia to help dairy farmers assess their business performance and identify actions for the future. It is designed to be delivered as a one to one service through a combination of milk company representatives or dairy consultants. Taking Stock is available as a free service to Australian dairy farmers. In Tasmania it is coordinated by DairyTas and DPIW Dairy Advisor Ian Hubble.

Taking Stock is an 'around the kitchen table' confidential business health check for dairy farmers to identify opportunities to improve their farming business. In the last 12 months 25% of all Tasmanian dairy farmers (17% nationally) have used Taking Stock to review their businesses.

A research survey in June this year showed that those who had participated considered it to be of value and 6 out of 10 had already acted on important issues on their farms as a result.

The Dairy Australia Taking Stock Farm Finance Package has been compiled to assist dairy farmers with decisions regarding farm finance. The package gives information on debt management and finance options, and includes information on:

• Good debt management
• Creating a Balance Sheet
• Creating a Cash Flow Budget
• Reducing debt to reduce risk
• Term Loans and Overdrafts
• Interest-Only Loans
• Equipment Finance Loans
• Commercial Bills; and
• Lines of Credit

The package also covers a range of financial parameters to assess farm business performance and uses practical examples to work through financing options. It recognises that debt is part of operating most businesses but highlights the need to make sure debt is used to create wealth over the long term and not pose a threat to the business.

For more information contact Ian Hubble at DPIW on 1300 368 550

Managing Your Business Continuity

DairyTas has been successful in accessing funding of $181,000 from AusIndustry for the delivery of a succession planning project to Tasmanian dairy farmers between September 2006 and December 2007.

The project will have 3 main phases:

• Farmer awareness workshops. November 2006 in 3 or 4 regions around Tasmania
• Individual farmers sign up for one to one develop of the succession plan
• Project consultants deliver the plans with 4 sessions funded. Farmers get to use their own advisors should they wish to.

The program will be delivered in two stages:

Stage One: Participants will attend an information session of 2-3 hours duration in their local area where the program will be launched by DairyTas. At this session, the program will be fully outlined and presentations made by:

• DairyTas - Project principal
• Moore Consulting - Business facilitator
• Shadforths - Independent financial advisor

At the conclusion of the information sessions, participants will be asked for a commitment to proceed to the next stage.

Stage Two: Individual coaching or mentoring sessions will be scheduled with dairy farm owners and their families to assist farmers in the processes involved towards the development of a business continuity plan. Up to 18 hours will be allocated to each farm business for individual coaching sessions, facilitation of meetings with stakeholders, and coordination (and facilitation if necessary) of adviser involvement. This also includes ongoing mentoring, phone and email communication.

20/12 Pasture Business Project

The 20/12 pasture business project is one of the major farm productivity projects underway in Tasmania. It has both a research and an extension component to it and aims at:

• Improving the profitability of Tasmanian dairy farmers through increasing the amount of pasture utilised on farm by an average of 1 tonne of dry matter per hectare
• Increasing demand for and participation in business management activities by farmers
• Improving farmer pasture management skills

The projects are a collaborative effort between the Tasmanian Institute for Agricultural Research (TIAR) - Dairy Group and the Department of Primary Industries and Water (DPIW) - Dairy Branch.

The research and demonstration project, run by TIAR, is about looking into what influences and limits farmer pasture growth and utilisation as well as demonstrating if the targets of 20 tonnes utilised on irrigated land and 12 tonnes utilised on dryland are achievable on a whole farm scale. It will also ensure that reaching these targets is both environmentally and economically sustainable.

The extension project, run by DPIW, is about working with Tasmanian dairy farmers (approximately 120 in number) over a period of 18 months to assist them to increase their pasture utilisation. This occurs through farmers working in small groups with a farmer coach or on a one to one basis with a consultant. Coaches and consultants assist farmers involved in the project to implement onto their farms the principles of good pasture management.

For more information please contact Danny Donaghy at TIAR (64304937) or Liz Mann at DPIW on 1300 368 550. Or visit the DPIW website at www.dpiw.tas.gov.au.

Pasture Plu$ Project

The Pasture Plu$ project is the main funded project from DairyTas’ Dairy Australia budget allocation. It is a 3 year dairy extension project aimed to increase the business culture of the Tasmanian Dairy Industry. The project is contracted to the Dairy Branch of the Department of Primary Industries.

It will assist in their decision making, is focused on achieving improved business profit and should make farms more resilient to industry changes.

The main components of the project are:

• Focus farms
• Pasture management and building on the 20/12 project
• Business Planning
• Young farmer development
• Nutrition
• Nutrient budgeting
• Dairy discussion groups

Project Manager at DPIW is Rob La Grange and he can be contacted on 1300 368 550.

Dairy500

Dairy 500 is an initiative from the Tasmanian Dairy Industry to expand and develop the local industry through a combination of farm productivity improvement and new investment.

In late 2005 DairyTas secured funding from the Commonwealth’s Regional Partnerships program for $130,000 over the next 18 months for the marketing and investment activity within Dairy 500. The project is a partnership with our industry stakeholders, Fonterra, the Department of Primary Industry and Water, Department of Economic Development and the TFGA.

The project aims to generate 500 new jobs and a 25% increase in milk production across the total industry over the next 5 years. The first phase of on farm productivity improvement is focused around the existing 20/12 Pasture Business program.

The project has developed a new dairy industry website which features comprehensive information on the Tasmanian dairy industry and its investment opportunties. www.intodairy.com

Specific components of the marketing program to be funded under the Regional Partnerships program are:

• Production of materials to describe and support the industry. This will be based around and includes financial performance information, industry profiles and situation analysis, economic and industry data, a register of properties for sale, printed materials and development of a website.
• Active promotion and support for Business Migration and Investment into the industry

The project is based on the recognised potential for the dairy industry to grow and develop in Tasmania. This is through a combination of existing farm performance and expansion and new investment attraction. The current improved milk price situation and positive sentiment around the industry provides an ideal basis for this program to be launched.