Dairy News Australia - June 2020 - With West Vic Region

JUNE 2020 ISSUE 116

WEST VIC REGION

Rebuilding

After fire swept through their Terang farm, the Grummetts are rising again. Page 3

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JUNE 2020

2 // WEST VIC REGION

Chair’s message Looking forward to better days WHAT A fantastic start to autumn we have

experienced here in the south-west!

Good early rains have really set-up the season for many of us and provided a big boost to morale as we move into the colder months.

As I write this article the restrictions under which we have been living are gradually being relaxed. While it may still be a while until we are back to our full, pre-COVID-19 calendar of workshops and events, we are hoping to start resuming some small, face-to-face events in the near future.

Currently we are unable to confirm a new date for the 2020 Great South West Dairy Awards. We are still hopeful of holding the traditional Gala evening, however, we are discussing contingency

plans in case that is not possible. We appreci- not usually visit our region. If you haven’t already, ate the support of our sponsors, finalists and please give it a try — it is very easy to get involved. introducing the everyone else involved as we wait to see how The WestVic Dairy Board is currently reviewing we can proceed. its Strategic Plan. This process takes place every Over the past few months you will have noticed three years and guides our decision making and there have been many webinars, covering a range areas of focus. With significant changes expected of topics, made available for you to participate due to proposed industry restructure, this interim in. I hope many of you have tried this form of plan will run while WestVic Dairy is still deliverextension; I have joined several and found them ing extension. It will then be reviewed in light to be very informative. of what decisions we as farmers make regarding While meeting in person is far more social and our industry moving forward.

A short survey was circulated to all farmers, allows us the opportunity to get off-farm for a few hours, this format does offer some benefits, this allowed everyone the opportunity to have such as watching from the comfort of your own their say on what is important to them and their home and taking less time out of your day — it business. I would like to thank all those who took also allows access to respected experts that may the time to provide their opinions. Assisting

Original Series

the region’s farmers is always our priority, and we welcome your feedback on how we can best achieve this.

While I may not see as many of you out and about at the moment, please contact our office if there is anything we can assist you with — our staff are always available to help wherever they can.

Hopefully, we can get our office doors back open in the very near future, and I hope to catchup with many more of you during the second half of the year.

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WEST VIC REGION // 3

Rising from the ashes RICK BAYNE

WHEN THE 2018 St Patrick's Day fires hit Phillip

Grummett's farm near Terang, it wasn't only the grass that was damaged.

Six months after the fires, Mr Grummett found himself crashing to the ground.

“The first six months are okay because you've got terrific support from family, friends, Blaze Aid and the whole community and you're so busy fixing fences and gates and getting your cattle and farm back up and running," he said.

“You're on the phone non-stop getting everything organised, but after that's done it kicks in and hits you. You burn yourself out.”

The charred trees around his house are still visible, but Mr Grummett's mental scars have finally cleared. He has shared his story in the hope that it can inspire farmers hit by this summer's fires to seek help if they need it.

“When there's no more extra work to be done, you can sit and relax and that's when you look back at the fire and that's when depression, anxiety or unhappiness can happen.

“If there are farmers out there feeling not too happy, go and get help. I had to. For the sake of my family and my own wellbeing, I had to get help.

“You might think you're okay, but you're not.”

The good news is that time and support can be great healers.

“It gets easier,” Mr Grummett said.

“It's taken me two years to mentally and physically get back on top of it, but I got there.”

The third-generation farmer was at home when he got a call about the fire about 8 pm on Saturday, March 17.

The blaze started at a Powercor substation about one kilometre away at Terang and, fanned by blustery winds, soon hit his farm.

The local volunteer fire brigade put loads of water around the family house and it was saved, however nearby trees and sheds, including Mr Grummett's classic motorbike collection, were destroyed.

About 85 per cent of the farm was burnt and 70 cows killed, but it could have been much worse.

“The grass was very short so when the fire came through there wasn't much to destroy. It just flew across and burnt the ground but didn't seem to kill the grass. We sowed the whole farm but a lot of the original grass came back.”

His main priority was saving his cows.

“By the time I knew about it, it was already at the back of the farm. With fast-moving grass fires, you just have to react and go. We went out and could see it running through the back of our property. It was going very quickly and we could see big whirlwinds going through the paddock.

“I had cattle in the back paddock but we had no hope of getting to them.”

Mr Grummett and stepson Jordan Kidd got in the ute and chased the May calving cows about three kilometres to the dairy and then returned to protect the milkers.

“A cow's got a heartbeat. They're your lifeblood; you've got to look after them,” Mr Grummett said.

“They've got a right to live. They're not like a motorbike or shed.”

Mr Grummett isn't shy about admitting they were scared.

“We chased them all the way with fire coming behind us and trees and limbs coming down, but we had to try to save them.”

Phillip Grummett plans to work for another five years in dairy and then consider a move to beef.

When he returned to the house, the sheds were on fire but the brigade's work meant the house was saved and the dairy was also spared.

With most of the herd already dry, Mr Grummett, his father Ian, Jordan and other family and friends could concentrate on recovery.

“It happened in March and we were due to start calving in May, so it only gave us a few months to set up the farm,” Mr Grummett said.

“Dad and I look back and wonder how we did that amount of work. Without the help of family, friends and Blaze Aid we couldn't have done it.”

Mr Grummett plans to get a caravan and join future Blaze Aid volunteer teams.

“That's one of my bucket-list items,” he said.

Some rolls of feed were saved, and Mr Grummett was able to put the cows on two paddocks.

“It got a bit stressful around the start of May when I only had one side of the farm fenced and needed a lot of little paddocks for calving to look after them properly, but I called Blaze Aid and they got about a dozen people out here and they knocked it off in about 10 days.”

There was no question of walking away.

Mr Grummett, 49, started on the farm when he was 17, working alongside Ian. Ian had also started young, taking over from his mother when he was 16. His father had died early and the family moved to Terang as sheep farmers.

Ian converted to dairy.

One of their early tasks was building a 21-aside herringbone dairy which is still in use.

They now milk 250 Friesian cows on 170ha, with a second farm for young stock about 25 km away at Cudgee.

“We've been using AI for 30-odd years and that's improved the quality of the herd. Production gets better and better as you improve the herd, and that's the name of the game.”

When re-establishing the farm, Mr Grummett had an eye on the future.

“A lot of farmers my age are pulling the pin or getting out of dairy and semi-retiring into beef.

“There are a lot of costs in dairy. The prices have been good for the past six or eight months but it's a grind of milking twice a day.

“Because the price of beef has gone through the roof, you could be on a good wicket just with beef farming.”

The fencing was replaced so the farm could adjust to beef, possibly in around five years' time.

In the meantime, Mr Grummett is happy to continue dairy farming. He's always taken a steady approach to farming, and that won't change. He's not interested in buying more land and doesn't need the latest inventions.

“Farming is so complex, and every farm is different, but you've got to be patient and don't rush things,” he says.

“Don't give up; that's the key to farming, and

have a go at doing everything.”

Mr Grummett's farming is based on what he learnt from his father and what he's learnt through experience.

He's tried summer crops, but they didn't work so he sticks to pasture, over-sowing paddocks to top them up as needed.

“You've got to keep your costs down, use good fertiliser and good seed, make sure the dairy is working well and keep your cell count down. We herd test seven or eight times a year and get rid of any cow with high cell count.”

When the fire hit, he had some savings to call on for immediate relief.

“I always say don't go into too much debt, don't go too big too quick, and have a few pennies in the pocket,” Mr Grummett said.

“I'm a strong believer that you shouldn't go past 17 per cent debt. If you do that, you'll make a pretty good living.”

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JUNE 2020

4 // WEST VIC REGION

Farmers welcome fire payout DAIRY FARMERS around Terang and Garvoc

are among those sharing $22.5 million compensation for the damage caused by the 2018 St Patrick's Day fires.

A Supreme Court order has enabled distribution of most of the compensation payable by Powercor under the class action launched by Maddens Lawyers of Warrnambool.

A total of 235 bushfire victims took part in the class action, including many dairy farmers.

A settlement sum of $17.5 million has been paid by Powercor in the Terang bushfire class action, and a further $5 million has been paid by Powercor and its asset inspection contractor in the Garvoc bushfire class action.

One of the farmers, Phillip Grummett, from near Terang, said payments were due in late May.

Although unsure how much individual claimants would receive, Mr Grummett said the money would be helpful.

“We had insurance which meant we could replace a hay bale or a shed; with this money we can upgrade our tractor or other equipment,” he said.

Mr Grummett's fences weren't covered by insurance but he had strong support from Blaze Aid. While able to seek compensation because the fire started at a power station, Mr Grummett is concerned for farmers damaged by last summer's blazes.

“I look at all the people who got burnt in the fires this year in Gippsland and New South Wales.

If they haven't got much insurance, there's no

The St Patrick's Day bushfires threatened homes and farm land in south-west Victoria in 2018.

back-up. Because our fire was started by a manmade product, we can claim compensation; what about the poor buggers burnt because of a natural event?

Maddens Lawyers principal Kathryn Emeny said there were substantial uninsured losses incurred by victims of the Garvoc and Terang fires.

“These payments will come at a particularly important time for fire victims who are still recovering from the devastating impact of these fires, and along with the rest of the local community are now facing increased challenges associated with COVID-19."

Powercor says it is planning a four-fold increase in pole replacements over the next five years along with more refurbishments.

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“At the end of January, we submitted our Regulatory Reset Proposal for 2021–2026 to the Australian Energy Regulator. This five-year plan offers to deliver more for customers at a lower cost. In particular, high network investment is designed to sustain reliability and safety," a statement from Powercor said.

“This follows a change in pole inspection and maintenance strategies to increase the amount of sound wood required for poles to remain on the company's network as well as a need to manage the age profile of the pole population.”

Powercor says pole replacements are just one part of its bushfire mitigation program and its five-year plan includes significant investment in its bushfire mitigation program.

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JUNE 2020

WEST VIC REGION // 5

Passion shows in dedication to farming RICK BAYNE

WITH HER sights set firmly on a future in the

dairy industry there is no stopping 19-year-old Ally Dickson.

Farming with her dad Neil at Bookaar in Victoria's Western District, Ms Dickson is heavily involved in every aspect of farm management including the recent building of the family's 60-unit rotary dairy.

She already has a long list of skills on her resume including milking, feeding, silage making, insemination and harvesting.

Her hands-on approach is already reaping rewards as she learns her away around the complicated day-to-day running of a family dairy farm.

Eventually she hopes to take over the family enterprise.

“Dad makes all the major decisions, but I am second in charge; but when he is away, I am the boss and I make all the calls. Dad is very proud of me and excited to see what I can do in the future with the farm business,” Ms Dickson said.

“I have my AI ticket, and this was my first year inseminating the herd. I wasn't the best, but I am learning my way around it and I am sure I will get better.”

Ms Dickson is in the process of completing a Certificate III in Agriculture and wants to go right

through to completing her Bachelor with RIST. “Dad thinks it's just a piece of paper, but I know I will learn so much more by completing this study,” Ms Dickson said.

She has embraced technology and has been responsible for the introduction of things onfarm her dad would have never dreamed of using — including the introduction of GA herd insight collars.

“We put the collars on late February last year and they pick up everything from heats to rumination, to cows eating and cows not eating, cows sitting down and sick cows.

“The health alerts are fantastic. We will get a cow in, look at her and find out she is sick with pneumonia or whatever the issue is.”

Ms Dickson regularly attends WestVic dairy discussion group meetings and has found talking with other farmers about their management and experiences is helping build her own knowledge base.

“We live in a positive dairy region and Bookaar is a great place to dairy farm, and Dad always encourages me to get off the farm and go to discussion groups.”

This year Ms Dickson is focusing on improving calf rearing, in particular management within the calf shed.

“We are looking at improving our system, especially around animal hygiene. It makes a massive

Ally Dickson might only be young but she has a passion for dairy farming well beyond her years.

Along with her dad Neil (pictured) the dynamic duo milk 480 cows at Bookaar in Western Victoria.

difference when you do it properly — I love my cows and there is nothing more rewarding than watching an animal you have hand reared come into the dairy,” she said.

Ms Dickson is also hoping to find her way into showing and she is keen on giving the genetic side of things a real push.

“Dad is a bit old-fashioned and says if it doesn't make money, it's not worth doing — but I am very interested in breeding. We are starting to use sexed semen on all heifers each year to improve our genetic base and I hope to be out in the ring at International Dairy Week showing cattle next year,” she said.

The building of the rotary dairy has ticked one of the major infrastructure boxes and has reduced

milking time of the 480-head split-calving herd from 3.5 hours to 90 minutes.

Ms Dickson said the time saved from milking was being put to good use in other areas of management, and while Bookaar was a great place to farm the biggest risk to their operation was drought.

“Dad got caught in the 2007 drought when he wasn't prepared, and he is making sure that doesn't happen again. We are working on establishing a buffer zone of stored feed. We currently have plenty of fodder ahead and we are hoping it stays that way.”

Ms Dickson says with support from her dad she will continue to forge a career in the industry she is so passionate about.

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JUNE 2020

8 // WEST VIC REGION

Feed blends to suit all needs CASEY AND Bonnie Taylor from Surrylea Farms

at Heathmere are always looking to develop and progress their transition program, and since 2007 Ridley has played a firm part in the process.

The Taylors have gone from the temporary set-up of feeding pellets in troughs out in the paddock to adding a permanent secondary feed head in the rotary dairy to more accurately

manage the program.

And for the past three years, they have been feeding Ridley Transition Blends.

Designed to be fed as a total mixed ration (TMR) or partial mixed ration (PMR), the blends remove the need for mixing facilities on-farm.

The proportions of chopped forages are adjusted according to individual farm

requirements, with additional nutrient supplied as pellets. The pellet range includes energy, protein, mineral or transition feed formulations.

Molasses is used in the blends to help reduce separation of the individual ingredients.

“We have seen transition blends as an ongoing development and progression of our transition feeding program and have been thrilled with the

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“Our cows are hitting their straps sooner and cycling faster. This season we calved 380 cows within 6.5 weeks with very few metabolic issues.

“Overall Ridley Transition Blends complement our farm and production system,” he said.

Jack Kenny and Pete Kenny from Colac have also been using the blends for more than three years.

“We have seen transition blends as an ongoing development and progression of our transition feeding program and have been thrilled with the results.”

“The transition mix has been a godsend and gives me peace of mind. There are no milk fever issues and the blend is more beneficial as we don't need to purchase cereal hay and then lead feed as well. Cows are getting in calf earlier and we have never had so many cows calving in such a tight calving group as we have had this year.”

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JUNE 2020

WEST VIC REGION // 9

Breeding, feeding and flattening the curve RICK BAYNE

IN THIS era of flattening the curve, Dave Weel

and Bec Lucas are a step ahead of the game.

With a focus on breeding feeding and three calving periods spread across the year, the sharefarmers from Kennedy's Creek are heading in the right direction.

The farm is owned by Mr Weel's uncle and aunt John and Veronica Wetemans, who farm next door and also own a leased property on the other side of their farm.

When Mr Weel and Ms Lucas entered the 50:50 agreement three years ago, they took on about 150 cows.

Numbers dropped a bit in the second year because heifers weren't ready, but they are now milking about 185 and aim for 200 next year.

The Wetemans are buying a property across the road, so next financial year Mr Weel and Ms Lucas will increase their share land from the existing 77 ha to 162 ha.

They plan to keep a leased out-paddock for 12 months while making improvements on the new land, building a solid foundation for future growth while hoping to use the sharefarming agreement as a pathway to ownership.

Mr Weel, 30, had accrued a few cows while working on district farms but bought the bulk of his herd when the farm was purchased by his uncle.

The herd is about two-thirds Holsteins, with a few Jerseys and the balance crossbreds.

Some farmers like the job for growing grass, some like using the machinery; Mr Weel's main focus is on the cows.

“You've got to look after your cows,” he said, and his decisions about increasing feed, breeding well and tightening calving seasons are paying off with improved production.

When he arrived, calving started in May and stretched to September and he had some cows of his own due to calve February-March.

Mr Weel adjusted to three split calvings; six weeks in February-March, eight weeks in MayJune and six weeks in September-October.

“When I came here, there were 160 cows on 180 acres which was a pretty heavy stocking rate for this area. I figured if I could have some cows in-calf in spring, I could dry them off in July-August and take them to the out-paddock where it's drier,” he said.

The system was designed to be easier on the cows, the farm and Mr Weel, who runs the farm on his own with only occasional milking support from his mother.

“The second year we had 100 cows calve and some heifers in the middle group; this year it's 70 cows and 35 heifers but instead of 12 weeks it's only eight.

“We've still got three groups, which are more flexible and efficient. If you have a heifer a bit underdone and you don't want to join yet, you don't have to. She can go in the next group.”

The policy has helped the farm to “flatten the milk curve”.

“With traditional once-a-year calving, cash flow can be hard when you're starting out. You have a couple of big months but you don't know what you need up your sleeve.

Dave Weel and Bec Lucas with daughter Evaliah, six months, on the new calving pad.

“Keeping it regular is better. If you've only got a $10 000 range in your milk cheque rather than $20 000, you're a bit more comfortable.”

Mr Weel knew it wasn't going to be easy and finances were his biggest concern starting out.

“We were struggling 18 months ago when the tractor blew up. We're back on top of it now, paying a lot off my loans for buying the cows and machinery.”

Starting this joining, all his crossbreds are in-calf to beef, while sexed semen is being used to get the heifers in early, avoiding stragglers.

“If you've got an August calf competing against a May calf, it's a big difference,” Mr Weel said.

“Anything after the first 42 days of calving, there's less chance of the heifer entering the herd.”

While he's been building herd numbers, extra calves are easy to sell and provide a welcome cash influx.

A new calving pad was installed this year and a feed pad was added last year.

“It gets too wet in winter and this is a better way of utilising feed,” Mr Weel said.

“The first day we used it, we saved a bale of brought-in hay.”

Helped by a good season, Mr Weel has needed only one load of cereal hay for springers, a big reduction from up to six loads in previous years and a saving of about $20 000.

“We started January 26 so we over-sowed pretty much the whole farm with annuals. Since then, we've done four or five summer crops a year, giving a full workover for the paddocks and gradually bringing it up to scratch.”

Mr Weel has more than doubled their feed, resulting in a spike in production.

“I like to breed and feed my cows,” he said.

“I wanted to improve their condition and the easiest way was to put a bit of weight on their back.

“Feeding and breeding well are good investments. if they don't calve well, it's a nasty cycle.

“They are fed up to 7 kg in the dairy, more than double what they were getting three years ago.

“The grain is basically 100 per cent utilised, significantly reducing hay and silage wastage and enabling me to cut more home-grown fodder because they're not taking it out of the paddocks.”

The higher input system has seen the farm increase to a rolling average of 8500 litres per cow, with his fat and protein percentages outstripping his uncle's farm, prompting some good-natured ribbing, although Mr Weteman tops his litres.

“We work in pretty well,” Mr Weel said.

“We have good communication, which is the most important thing.

“We do the harvest together, sharing resources and labour, and he reinvests in the farm.”

Mr Weel has been president of the Western District Holstein Club for four years and says breeding is one of the easiest ways to improve.

“You can control what they eat, but if they're not bred right, they won't produce,” he said.

“Every cow is different. I don't blanket AI, but I pick individual traits based on what needs to be improved.

“It's what drives me to keep going.

“Some like tractors or growing grass, I like the cows.”

The 20-a-side herringbone is just the right size for the herd as it grows to 200.

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JUNE 2020

10 // WEST VIC REGION

Upskilling Victoria’s dairy workforce JOB SEEKERS matched with Victorian dairy

farmers looking for workers will receive specific training as part of the new Dairy Farm Induction Program.

The $715 000 program run by Dairy Australia and backed by the Victorian Government will help job seekers rapidly upskill and provide employers with training to induct new workers into their farm business.

Dairy Australia managing director David Nation said the program would fast track the dairy industry’s ability to upskill new workers and help make training more accessible.

"It is needed now to support the production of high-quality dairy products through the pandemic and to grow one of Victoria’s industry success stories," Mr Nation said.

The program is part of the $50 million Agriculture Workforce Plan which seeks to provide job-ready workers to meet labour demands.

As part of the Dairy Farm Induction Program, an online learning package will be offered to help job seekers understand the culture of the workplace and important day-to-day tasks, such as machinery operation and handling stock.

Consultants will also be available to support farmers by providing training support on their farms for a smooth worker induction.

Victorian Agriculture Minister Jaclyn Symes said the program would help Victoria remain the dairy heartland of Australia.

“The need to find new workers to meet labour gaps in agriculture has thankfully been less than anticipated due to the strong position of our ag sector — but the effects of this pandemic will still be felt for a long time to come," Ms Symes said.

She said the Victorian Government was working closely with the state’s agricultural sector to ensure its crucial supply chains could continue during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Dairy Farm Induction Program will provide training for job seekers to fill roles in the dairy industry.

“The need to find new workers to meet labour gaps in agriculture has thankfully been less than anticipated due to the strong position of our ag sector — but the effects of this pandemic will still be felt for a long time to come."

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JUNE 2020

WEST VIC REGION // 11

Rich pastures caught up with cow-sheep Ritchie IN TODAY’S era of gender neutrality it seems

Ritchie the sheep was well ahead of the times.

Born in the 1960s at Kaiwaka — a small rural town north of Auckland, New Zealand — Ritchie firmly believed he was a cow and lived his life oblivious to the fact that not only was he a male, he also had a fleece instead of an udder.

Ritchie’s photo and story were originally published in New Zealand’s Herald daily newspaper in the 1960s and below is the original article — a nice little story that has absolutely nothing to do with coronavirus and should bring a smile to your face!

For a period in the late ’60s motorists were often astonished by the sight of the McClean

cows being led along the highway by an extremely chubby Southdown Romney cross wether.

This came about because the identity-confused jumbuck seemed to think without his involvement the daily parades to and from the cowshed simply wouldn’t take place.

Bossily, Ritchie was always at the gate first so he could lead the way.

Ritchie had been the pet lamb of people who lived for a time in what had been the original homestead on the property, and at the back of the house was the calf paddock, which was where Ritchie had been raised.

Perhaps explaining why he no doubt believed he was just another calf, and later a cow.

Ritchie the sheep who thought he was a cow, was an amusing sight on a New Zealand highway back in the 1960s.

At one point his owners tried to put him out with the other sheep, but not only would he not go near them, he became so distressed he was returned to live with his bovine sisters.

While the cows were being milked Ritchie would wait in the yard, always in the same spot he had selected for himself, and when milking was finished, he would lead his charges back to their paddock.

Being one sheep living in a cow paddock, Ritchie grew overly fat, his short daily walks insufficient exercise.

Sheep are reared on short grass: so in the end the lush pasture required for milking cows resulted in Ritchie — no doubt happily — eating himself to death at the age of five.

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JUNE 2020

12 // WEST VIC REGION

Investing in a sustainable future SUSTAINABILITY IS the key to the future

for Ecklin South dairy farmers Sam and Peter Doolan — and at the very centre of that philosophy is carbon farming.

The Doolan brothers milk 580 cows along with their wives Belinda and Bonnie and parents Carol and Sam (senior), and today's management is very much about setting the family farm up for what will be the future for the fourth generation.

As members of the Heytesbury District Landcare Network (HDLN), the family has shared a common goal of improving environmental outcomes for the family farm, and the demise of milk processor Murray Goulburn became the instigator for some real change as the business looked to cut costs and tighten the bottom line.

“We were looking at every aspect of our business from more efficient use of fertiliser, to compost and bio-char, growing more grass and reducing energy costs,” Sam (Jr) said.

The brothers were very interested in the process of storing carbon and around the same time their mum stumbled across a research project into keeping carbon on the farm.

“They were looking for a trial farm as part of the project; we submitted an expression of interest form and were successful.”

The Keeping Carbon on the Farm project looked at increasing carbon sequestration in the soil profile, reducing energy use and understanding impacts of climate change on regional dairy farms.

There was an expected outcome at the end of the project to see improvements in productivity

and soil and animal health — objectives that very much appealed to the Doolan family.

An energy audit was completed before commencement of the project in April 2019 with another to be completed mid-2020, three test sites will also be monitored to check carbon and microbial activity.

“We have been involved in exploring the benefits of applying ameliorants including biochar and compost, testing the soil and studying soil biology with the goal of retaining carbon in the soil. Through this process we can reduce fertiliser costs while still growing higher quality feed,” Sam said.

With a milking platform of about 280 ha, the family has begun adopting the process of growing multi-species crops to create biodiversity in the soil.

“Allowing different plants to share nutrients with each other reduces the amount of fertiliser needed. It also gives the cows access to a balanced diet, reducing our need for purchasing feed and additives,” Sam said.

Revegetation is also a significant part of the process and the family has planted 5000 seedlings across 2.5ha.

“We are looking to provide shelter for our stock, capture atmospheric carbon dioxide and provide habitat for our local wildlife — Mum is very interested in the bio-diversity side of things.”

The installation of a 36 kW and 10 kW solar PV system has created instant savings for the family of an estimated $8000 over the first 12 months.

“We have already started to reduce power

Some of the 5000 trees planted as part of a 2.5ha regeneration project.

(L-R) Sam Doolan Senior and sons Peter and Sam Junior with grand children Harper (front) and Spencer on their Ecklin south dairy farm.

consumption, GHG emissions and power costs," Sam said.

“We have also installed a diesel generator for backup if the power goes out or the cost of electricity becomes too much — it's a good feeling to have the option of diesel if we ever need it.”

Throughout the project the family has hosted a couple of successful field days with more than 50 farmers and service providers in attendance.

“Before COVID-19, climate change was

probably one of the most talked about issues on-farm. We are hoping our involvement in a project like this will help to change the mindset of the dairy farming community," Sam said.

“I think we can make huge inroads into improving our management to benefit our farming environment and ensure we have a sustainable industry in the future.”

Solar is also playing a key role in reducing emissions and the bottom line — the family are looking at an $8000 saving in energy bills in the first year.