Dairy News Australia - September 2026

ABV feature Page 22-24

Pasture feature Page 25-27 ELEVATING DAIRY

TOP OF THE LIST PAGE 21

PAGE 8

SEPTEMBER, 2026 ISSUE 191 // www.dairynewsaustralia.com.au

CREAM OF THE CROP Women from across the industry gathered in Dunkeld

to celebrate all things dairy. PA PAGE GE 9

"We're no longer fighting cell counts." Says farmer Sheriden and Evan Williams about the GEA DairyRobot R9500. "Having the robots for 8 years now, our cell count has dropped from 180,000-200,000 down to consistently 60,000-90,000. Identifying health issues is much easier with the data from the robots. For cow comfort, this is the best setup we've ever had." Let's talk about what's possible for your farm. Contact your local GEA dealer or call 03 8877 9999. Sheriden & Evan Williams (and their granddaughter Annie)

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2026

NEWS // 3

Exports shift but dairy volume holds steady AUSTRALIAN DAIRY export

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volumes remained broadly steady in 2025/26, although the underlying mix of products and markets shifted. SMP, milk and cheese accounted for around 75 per cent of total volumes, with stronger exports of milk, fresh cheese and yoghurt helping to offset weaker cheddar and butterfat trade. While the overall result points to a relatively stable export season, changes across key categories show buyers continued to respond to differences in price, product availability and regional demand. Cheese remained Australia’s largest dairy export category by volume, although its composition changed over the season. Fresh cheese was the strongest performer, reaching its highest volume on record and accounting for almost 65 per cent of total cheese exports. Increased shipments to China, South East Asia and Canada supported the rise, indicating continued demand for fresh cheese across key Asian markets and selected growth destinations. These gains were partly offset by weaker trade in other cheese categories. Semi-hard cheese exports fell 30 per cent year-on-year, while cheddar exports were down 16 per cent, with notable volume declines across Asia, particularly in Japan and South East Asia. Competitive pricing likely contributed to the change. Cheddar prices in the EU and US fell sharply through 2025/26, supported by increased production, while Australian prices remained relatively steady. This may have encouraged

Export volume share 2024/2025

2025/2026

0% Cheese

Milk

SMP

20%

40%

WMP

Condensed Milk

some buyers to source from lower-priced markets, contributing to the decline in Australian exports. Milk exports were another area of growth, with volumes rising 10.7 per cent year-on-year. Stronger demand from China underpinned the increase, while shipments to Cambodia also lifted sharply. Cambodian import demand almost tripled over the period, possibly reflecting disruption to normal milk flows across the Thai border. Thai milk exports to Cambodia averaged around 500 tonnes per month in 2025/26, well below the 2,500 tonnes per month recorded in 2024/25. This suggests changes to regional milk supply supported increased demand from other markets, helping to balance softer volumes elsewhere. SMP exports were largely unchanged year-on-year, although the destination mix shifted. Indonesia was the only major export destination to record an increase, with that growth offsetting declines across all other major importers from

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2024/25. As a result, Indonesia’s share of Australian SMP exports rose from just over 20 per cent to almost 40 per cent, pointing to a greater concentration of demand in a single market. Yoghurt was another growth category, with export volumes rising 43 per cent year-on-year. Demand strengthened across a broad range of markets, led by China, which more than doubled its volumes, while exports to NZ and Malaysia increased by more than 50 per cent. Growing consumer interest in high-protein diets may have supported consumption. Although yoghurt remains a smaller category compared with cheese, milk and SMP, the increase added another positive contribution to overall export performance. Butterfats recorded the clearest decline, with exports falling to almost half the previous season’s volume. Declines were recorded across most East and South East Asian markets as buyers shifted towards lower-priced suppliers. EU and US butter traded

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well below Australian product for much of 2025/26, increasing competitive pressure and making it harder for Australian exporters to hold share in price-sensitive markets. Several major destinations reflected this shift. Japan, South Korea and Indonesia increased imports from the US, Thailand lifted imports from the EU, and China sourced more product from NZ. These changes highlight the pressure on Australian butterfat exports when alternative supply is available at more competitive prices. Overall, the data points to a dairy export sector that was steady in headline terms but more varied beneath the surface. Growth in milk, fresh cheese and yoghurt helped support total volumes, while the decline in butterfats highlighted the challenges facing some categories as global competition increased. The season reinforced the importance of product mix, price competitiveness and destination demand in shaping Australia’s dairy export performance.

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2026

4 // NEWS

From processing volumes to value adding options AUSTRALIA’S “CHEESE-CENTRIC” dairy

industry is looking to higher-value uses of milk protein including nutritional supplements as national milk production remains low. Rabobank says the structural decline in Australia’s milk production over the past two decades has seen available milk protein fall by approximately 30 per cent since 2015. And this is re-shaping the country’s dairy product mix. In their report, Milk protein scarcity challenges Australian dairy’s cheese-centric model, the bank’s RaboResearch division says the strategic question for the industry is shifting from how to process more milk to how to extract more value from a limited pool of milk protein. Report author, Rabobank senior dairy analyst Michael Harvey says the key strategic challenge for the dairy sector is determining what mix of product streams create the greatest value from an increasingly scarce pool of dairy protein. “Overall, it is important to ensure milk protein is directed to the product stream, customer segment or market that generates the highest return,” he said. “While cheese remains the dominant use for Australian milk (ahead of drinking milk) and a critical foundation of the dairy sector, protein optimisation through use in high-protein products is emerging as the next growth frontier.” Mr Harvey said Australia’s dairy industry has successfully built a cheese-centric’ model, however, cheese’s “value creation” is becoming harder to achieve. “The sector has long pursued a shift toward a more cheese-focused product mix, supported by investment in cheese processing capacity,” he said. “Although cheese demand among consumers remains supported at retail level and exports continue to provide opportunity, pricing power is constrained by category maturity, private label growth, import competition and soft global cheese value. “As a result, although cheese is a protein-rich product, it is often priced according to staple and commodity market dynamics, rather than according to the rising value of dairy protein seen in recent years.” Although the drivers of future value growth are changing, domestic cheese demand remains a stable and important base for the dairy sector, the report says. Cheese is a staple in Australian diets with per capita consumption of approximately 10 kilograms

The Australian dairy industry is shifting from how to process more milk to how to extract more value from a limited pool of milk protein.

annually. “The domestic cheese market exceeds 270,000 tonnes, with growth driven mainly by retail, where volumes increased from 130,000 tonnes to 202,000 tonnes between 2015 and 2025,” he said. However, as the cheese category matures, demand growth is likely to moderate. Constrained milk protein supply is also reshaping Australia’s cheese trade, the report says. “Increasingly scarce milk protein is also encouraging a more selective approach to Australia’s trade position, where commodity imports help satisfy lower-value applications locally, particularly in food service and processing channels, while domestically-sourced milk solids are directed toward higher-value cheese, ingredient and export opportunities,” Mr Harvey said. Despite a rise in volumes of imported cheese, Australia remains a net exporter of cheese, the report says. “While international demand for cheese continues to expand and cheese remains one of the fastest-growing dairy product categories, Australia’s capacity to participate in this growth

is limited by a smaller milk pool and declining exportable surpluses,” Mr Harvey said. With limited prospects for milk supply growth, Australia’s cheese export strategy needs to become more selective, he said. “Consequently, the role of cheese exports within the Australian dairy sector is evolving. Rather than pursuing volume growth, exporters are increasingly focused on maximising value from limited cheese export volumes through selective market participation and stronger positioning in markets where Australian dairy can command a premium,” Mr Harvey said. Future success will increasingly depend on targeting markets that offer the strongest value returns, the report said, with Asia and the Middle East standing out as key opportunities given their favourable demand fundamentals and appetite for premium dairy products. Capturing value from whey protein, a co-product in cheese manufacturing, has helped support returns in the cheese stream in recent years, the report said, with global whey prices having been on an extended rally, underpinned by robust demand from sports nutrition, active lifestyles and health-focused consumers.

“In Australia, as in many other markets, protein-focused dairy products are growing significantly faster than conventional dairy categories,” Mr Harvey said. “This reflects a broader global trend, as consumers increasingly prioritise protein for health, satiety, weight management, muscle maintenance and healthy ageing. “Yoghurt has been the biggest beneficiary, with protein-enhanced products delivering growth rates well above those of standard yoghurt. “Cottage cheese is also enjoying a resurgence, supported by its strong protein consumption. Milk has benefited from the trend as well, with high-protein milk recording positive growth despite ongoing declines in conventional drinking milk consumption.” Mr Harvey said while these products represent an opportunity to value add whey and dairy proteins, it is not expected there will be a wholesale shift away from cheese production, which continues to be the dominant user of milk solids in most dairy markets. “Growth in high-protein dairy products is more like to complement than displace cheese production,” he said.

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2026

NEWS // 5

Longwarry to close next year BY RICK BAYNE

THE IMPENDING closure of Lactalis’s

Longwarry processing plant has reignited dairy industry fears about consolidation. Lactalis Australia has announced it will close the West Gippsland plant by early 2027, shifting production 20 minutes away to its Darnum facility. While concerns centre on the immediate impact on staff and local towns, dairy industry leaders are also worried about the impact of consolidation. Australian Dairy Farmers president Ben Bennett said the decision was first and foremost about people and the pain it would cause workers, their families and the local businesses that rely on the site. While acknowledging it was a commercial decision by Lactalis, Mr Bennett said it was another reminder Australia’s dairy industry operates in an increasingly challenging environment. During the ACCC’s assessment of Lactalis’s acquisition of Fonterra, ADF raised concerns about increasing consolidation across the dairy industry and the importance of maintaining strong competition and regional processing facilities. Mr Bennett said in a statement the Longwarry closure “reinforces why competition and processing capacity matter”. “Every factory that closes undermines dairy communities and makes the industry that little bit smaller,” he said. “Governments cannot keep saying they support food security, sovereign manufacturing and stronger regional communities, while making it harder and more expensive to make food in this country. “Rising energy prices, increasing regulation, growing compliance obligations, escalating input costs and trade settings that expose Australian producers to heavily subsidised imports are steadily eroding Australia’s dairy industry.” Mr Bennett said the dairy industry needed governments to stop adding costs and start backing Australian dairy. “We need policies that strengthen the competitiveness of Australia’s dairy industry before more communities feel the impact. “Today it’s one factory, but this should concern every Australian who wants to keep seeing fresh Australian dairy products on supermarket shelves and in their fridges.” United Dairyfarmers of Victoria president Bernie Free was also concerned about

Lactalis will close their Longwarry plant in early 2027.

the impact on the local community and the impacts of consolidation. “We want to see factories expand and get more milk, rather than consolidate milk into one factory,” he said. “They’re only 20-30 minutes apart, so it makes sense if you own the company, but as far as the community goes, we want more competition, more milk and more factories. “Most towns are struggling; we need more employment in all rural towns, not less.” Local dairy farmer Evan Campbell said his main concern was for the impacted staff. “When it was Lactalis and Fonterra they were separate companies with their own product mixes. “Once Lactalis bought Fonterra, people started asking if they would close Longwarry. That was one of the concerns about the sale.” Mr Campbell said the closure seemed inevitable after the purchase. “They said Darnum was at 70 per cent capacity, Longwarry 40 per cent capacity, and it’s only 15km down the road. With rationalisation, it was likely to happen.” Mr Campbell said as a local farmer he was concerned about the impact on the community. “I hope staff get an opportunity to come across to the Darnum plant,” he said. Mainland Farmers Council (formerly the Fonterra Australia Suppliers’ Council) chair and Westbury farmer Stuart Griffin said people understood the reasons behind the closure, but remained concerned about the

impact on staff and the town. “They have made a business decision to consolidate and most understand that,” Mr Griffin said. “Darnum is a relatively new and quite a high-tech plant, and I assume the efficiencies are higher there, whereas Longwarry was an old site that had been renovated, and it was right inside the town boundaries and Lactalis. “I don’t think anyone is overly surprised Lactalis is consolidating its assets, but at the same time, there are about 40 workers impacted by this. “Hopefully, there are some redeployment opportunities for them.” Mr Griffin said the impact would be much bigger on the towns than on the farming community. “We won’t see any real change on-farm,” he said. He said while farmers wanted factories in regional areas and the jobs that come with them and the connections with farmers, “we also want profitable processors, and if it means the processor is more profitable, some of that should flow back to farmers.” Lactalis Australia CEO Mal Carseldine recognised the impact the decision would have on employees and their families, but said it reflected necessary steps to support the long-term competitiveness and sustainability of Lactalis’ Australian manufacturing network. “We do not underestimate what this closure means for our Longwarry team and

their families,” Mr Carseldine said. “Our employees have contributed meaningfully to our company and the region, and they have our commitment to support them through this transition.” The company has committed to comprehensive consultation and support for affected employees, including redeployment opportunities within the Lactalis network where available. “Longwarry currently operates at approximately 40 per cent capacity, while Darnum operates at approximately 70 per cent capacity and has more modern infrastructure, ongoing investment and significant growth potential. “This consolidation will improve efficiency and environmental outcomes, while maintaining dairy production in Victoria and Australia.” Lactalis has invested more than A$100 million at Bendigo, is investing A$35 million at Lidcombe, and has committed more than $200 million to modernising manufacturing facilities across Australia through 2025-26. “These investments reflect Lactalis’ longterm confidence in Australian dairy manufacturing and its continued commitment to local production, regional jobs and supply chain capability,” Mr Carseldine said. Lactalis has confirmed there will be no disruption to product availability, quality, or existing milk supply contracts with dairy farmers. “Lactalis remains deeply committed to Victoria,” Mr Carseldine said.

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2026

6 // NEWS

Young parader winner Abbie Hanks from Cobden (right) and runner up Chris Thompson from Mitcham.

Dairy cattle young judge winner Mikaela Daniel (left) and runner up Molly Klasen from Tamworth.

Talent on show at Ekka THE SPOTLIGHT was on the next generation, as Australia's brightest young agricultural talent recently took centre stage at the Royal Queensland Show (Ekka). Young parader winner Abbie Hanks 20, from Cobden began showing dairy cattle with her family's Wellcoora Holsteins stud at the age of eight, following in her mum's footsteps. In 2023 her Red Holstein, Elmar Mirand Farlex, was crowned junior champion at International Dairy Week. "It was a really tough class, the heifers and the overjudge really made us work. I am very proud of winning the national dairy parader class as I have always aspired to achieve this national title," Abbie said.

Runner-up Chris Thompson 19 from Mitcham in SA said his first ever show experience was at the Royal Adelaide Show, with Mount Pleasant Show marking his debut as an exhibitor. "I fell in love with agriculture through my grandparents' property and have never looked back since," Chris said. In 2025 he represented South Australia in young judges at the Royal Adelaide Show. His highlight so far is winning Grand Champion Heifer at the 2026 SA Calf Day. "Being awarded reserve in this national competition is a highlight for me. It's exciting to be over here representing my state of South Australia and I am thankful for the mentors

and family who have helped me get to this level of competition," Chris said. Mikaela Daniel 21, from Nathalia was the winner of the young judges. She has been showing and judging dairy cattle from a young age. Now working in real estate, she's still involved in the dairy sector and enjoys getting to International Dairy Week. Some of her fondest show memories are of competing at the Royal Melbourne Show, and winning her first handlers class. "It's definitely not something I expected. I used to be quite scared to get on the microphone so I am quite proud of this achievement," Mikaela said.

Molly Klasen 17, from Tamworth in NSW was runner up. Inspired by her grandparents' dairy farm, Molly began competing in dairy judging through school and has since built an impressive resume in both dairy and beef cattle. Now in Year 11, Molly is busy with two parttime jobs at Browns Dairy and local fruit shop Paradise Farm Markets. She won the dairy cattle young judges at the Sydney Royal Easter Show after steadily improving over three years. "This award is very special. I feel like I am giving something back to my grandparents who have just shut their dairy but they are still very passionate about the dairy industry," Molly said.

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NEWS // 7

Visa changes impact workforce BY SOPHIE BALDWIN

CHANGES TO visa processing laws which pri-

oritise defense and law enforcement workers will push skilled dairy workers to the back of the queue at the worst possible time of year. Ministerial Direction 119 took effect in July, replacing previous arrangements that gave employer-sponsored regional positions high processing priority. Calivil dairy farmer Belinda Clymo, whose dairy business milks around 3000 cows, said this change will have a huge impact on her business and across the wider dairy industry. She is currently waiting on three staff via the PALM scheme and another three under a different scheme. “The visa program gives us the ability to employ staff and expand our operation, further delays will have a genuine impact on our productivity,” Belinda said. “As a business we try to fulfill our roles within Australia but we do have to look overseas.” She said the investment to bring a worker out is not cheap costing around $10,000 per person. “It is a lot of money and you don’t want that worker to stay for a short time and then move on to another farm. “We also don’t want to be seen to be taking visa workers from other farms either because I know how hard the process is and of course there is the financial cost involved in the process.” She said if the process takes even longer than

Changes to visa laws could push skilled dairy workers to the back of the queue.

it does now, it will make it harder to replace staff as they move on. Finley dairy farmer Marcus Flanagan said a large percentage of his workforce is made up from overseas workers. The business currently milks over 1200 cows and employs around 20 staff. “If we cant easily employ international workers where will our workforce come from? “We employ all levels from entry up to management and we have had workers work their way up - it is essential to what we do,” Marcus said. Marcus said the Australian dairy industry feeds our nation and underpins our rural communities. “You would think the government would be supporting us, its just another example of how

out of touch they are,” he said. Dairy Farmers is calling on the Federal Government to urgently reverse the decision. Australian Dairy Farmers president Ben Bennett said the change was made without consultation or direct communication with the dairy industry. “This is not a minor administrative change, as the unintended consequences are significant. The Government has changed the queue after farmers and skilled workers have already paid to get into it,” Mr Bennett said. “Some dairy farmers have spent up to $12,000 finding, assessing and sponsoring skilled workers because those skills simply cannot be found locally. “They have paid government fees, made workforce plans and acted in good faith. Now

many of those workers who have been waiting for up to 6 months already, have been pushed to the bottom of the pile.” Mr Bennett said the timing was particularly damaging during spring calving. “Cows don’t wait for Home Affairs to process a visa," Mr Bennett said. “If the worker doesn’t arrive, the work falls back on the farmer, their family and existing staff. “That means longer hours, more fatigue, greater risk of accident, lower productivity and greater food safety concerns at one of the busiest times of the year.” ADF said the decision was particularly difficult to understand given dairy’s growing reliance on skilled migration and ongoing regional workforce shortages. “Farmers turn to migration because they cannot find the people with the right skills locally,” Mr Bennett said. “Only three months ago ADF representatives appeared in front of a joint standing committee on migration and outlined how important these workers are. "Government cannot take money from farmers and visa applicants, recognise there is a genuine skills shortage, and then leave them high and dry. “Spring calving is happening now. Dairy farmers need skilled workers on farms, not sitting at the bottom of a visa processing queue. “The government needs to fix this now and immediately change dairy related visas to higher priority categories,” Mr Bennett said.

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2026

8 // NEWS

Cohuna dairy farmer John Keely and Saputo’s Tim Fulton.

Photos: Sophie Baldwin

Murray Dairy’s Amy Fay and Lyndell Shannon.

Donna Gibson, program manager, research and innovation, Gardiner Foundation, Stuart Crosthwaite, farmer and on Elevate Industry advisory group for Murray region, Jolien Paalman, principal, Beanstalk AgTech, Monique Bryant, farmer and Elevate Industry advisory group member for Murray region, and Allan Cameron, Gardiner Foundation CEO.

Elevating and innovating farmers met in Shepparton for Elevate Dairy, a Gardiner Foundation initiative to better position farmers to manage challenges and opportunities. The showcase featured technologies including Levno monitors for critical on-farm infrastructure, Oceans2Earth biofertilisers, Surge Energy, Resolution farm management software, K2 Agri Skelex 360, a lightweight exoskeleton, Trev, centralising farm management information, and Uniform Agri, an easy-to-use herd management tool. Murray Dairy’s Amy Fay said they were pleased to partner with the Gardiner Foundation, Dairy Australia Murray and Beanstalk to bring these new Ag Tech opportunities to farmers in the region. “As part of this visit, we hosted the ag tech innovators on a tour of the region, showing them some excellent examples of what our farm businesses look like, the variety of farm systems we have, and the opportunities and challenges our industry faces, that might look different to their experience overseas or in other regions. “We also gave them a crash course in water policy and how that impacts farmers’ investment and planning decisions,” Amy said.

The innovators were blown away by the complexity and how farmers approach their businesses, which has helped them further refine their technology offerings. Deputy chair and farmer Hamish Crawford said the showcase was a great outcome and leg up to companies who may have been hesitant without a forum to connect to farmers. “There has clearly been a lot of thought into how farmers can manage their businesses better. Farmers need to physically see these options in order to consider them.” Cohuna dairy farmer John Keely said it was good to get out and have a look at the technologies that were available. He was particularly interested in the Uniform Agri technology as that is an area he wants to invest in and improve on his own farm. Finley dairy farmer Megan Hay said her business was always looking to use tech to help reduce workload in their family-operated business. “It’s great to come along and have at look at what is available,” Megan said. Monique Bryant is part of the Elevate advisory committee. She said it was important for farmers to be able to access information that has the potential to improve their farming operations. “There is a really good mix of technologies on show here today and I think there is something for everyone,” Monique said.

There was a lot of interest in the biofertiliser stand.

A mixed crowd of farmers and service providers were in attendance for the Elevate Dairy showcase in Shepparton.

BY SOPHIE BALDWIN

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2026

NEWS // 9

Connecting at Cream of the Crop BY SOPHIE BALDWIN

TWO DAYS of inspiring speakers, connection,

learning, friendships and industry diversity were part of this year’s Cream of the Crop. Held at Dunkeld in July, the event featured a networking dinner and farm tours, including a visit to Elle Moyle’s Pathfinder Angus (Elle was also a guest speaker). Other speakers included Olympia Yarger, CEO of Goterra Maggot Farming — a business turning food waste into fertiliser. Rachel Durie presented on AI and how it can be used on farm, while returning guest speaker Fiona Simth talked about wealth building. This year’s event was the fifth one for the organising committee and like previous years, was a sell out, with 150 women attending.

Cream of the Crop participants in 2026. Photos: e.m.images.

The team from PDV Safety Compliance.

Renata Cumming, Jess Brown, Chloe Brown and Lucy Collins.

Some of the 150 people at this year’s Cream of the Crop event.

This year’s event included visits to Pathfinder Angus and Agriculture Victoria SmartFarm.

Guest speakers kept the large crowd entertained.

Sarah Stranger, Rachel Trickey and Bronte Game from Westpac.

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2026

10 // NEWS

Top farmers announced FOUR OUTSTANDING South Australian dairy farming businesses and individuals have been recognised at the 2026 South Australian Dairy Awards for their leadership, innovation, sustainability and commitment to building a stronger dairy industry. Presented by the South Australian Dairyfarmers’ Association (SADA), the awards celebrates those who are helping shape a stronger and sustainable future for the state’s dairy industry. Wes and Rita Hurrell of Rockwella Farm Holsteins took home this years Innovative Farmer of the Year Award. Wes has dedicated his life to driving innovation across the family business through industry-leading genetics, precision livestock technologies, renewable energy and significant investment in robotic milking infrastructure. His commitment to embracing new technologies while maintaining a strong focus on animal welfare, sustainability and business performance has positioned Rockwella among Australia’s leading dairy enterprises. Best Relationship with a Processor Award was presented to Grant and Deb Jolley of Jolley Farms for their outstanding partnership with Fleurieu Milk Company. Recognised for consistently producing high-quality milk, maintaining excellent communication and building a relationship founded on trust, professionalism and collaboration, Grant and Deb exemplify the strong partnerships that underpin a successful dairy industry. The Young Dairy Farmer of the Year

(Left to right) Rita and Wes Hurrell, Hayley and James Hurrell and Deb and Grant Jolley.

Award was presented to James Hurrell of Rockwella Farm Holsteins in recognition of his outstanding leadership in delivering one

of South Australia’s most significant dairy developments. At just 24 years of age, James has played a key role in designing and delivering a state-of-the-art robotic dairy, while leading the farm’s breeding program through the use of advanced genetics and genomic technologies. His vision, technical expertise and commitment to continuous improvement make him a worthy recipient of this year’s award. The 2026 Foodland Sustainability Award was presented to James Mann and the team at Donovan’s Dairying, recognising outstanding leadership in sustainable dairy farming. Presented in partnership with Foodland and SADA, the award recognises Donovan’s Dairying for its commitment to finding practical and innovative ways to improve

sustainability while maintaining a productive and successful farming business. Through innovation in pasture management, water efficiency, renewable energy and nutrient recycling, Donovan’s Dairying continues to demonstrate that sustainability and productivity can go hand in hand. These awards recognise more than individual achievements and celebrate the innovation, leadership, sustainability and partnerships driving dairy forward. Despite the challenges over recent years, including drought and market uncertainty, these winners continue to demonstrate the confidence, resilience and forward thinking that will ensure South Australian dairy continues to thrive. The SADA awards form part of the annual South Australian Dairy Awards.

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Danielle Watts and James Mann.

Photos: Neil Soriano

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2026

NEWS // 11

DA announces board nominees FARMERS Paul Roderick, Queensland and Paul Bennett , Tasmania as well as Bega Group’s Hamish Reid have been recommended by Dairy Australia to fill three board vacancies to be voted on by members at the organisation’s annual general meeting on November 27. Following the completion of the current terms of directors, Mr Roderick, Bennett and Paul van Heerwaarden, three board positions will become vacant at the AGM, which will be held in Melbourne and online. The trio were recommended following an exhaustive national search and assessment process, and were identified by Dairy Australia’s board selection committee, which operated for the first time under the new independent chair model approved by members at the 2025 AGM. Board selection committee chair Paul Higgins said the three candidates were recommended because they brought a strong mix of farming, commercial and industry leadership experience. “In line with Dairy Australia’s Constitution, the board maintains a balance of skills and experience that reflect the needs of the organisation,” Dr Higgins said. “This year’s vacancies are for a director with milk producer (farming) skills, a director with agribusiness, innovation and adoption skills, and a director with dairy supply chain and product promotion skills.” Paul van Heerwaarden will retire from the board at the conclusion of the AGM after completing his term as a director. Mr Roderick is a dairy farmer from Harrisville in south-east Queensland, where he has operated his family farm for more than 30 years. He brings extensive industry experience across advocacy, research, development and extension, and has held leadership roles with Subtropical Dairy, Premium Milk Ltd and the Australian Dairy Conference Board. Appointed to the Dairy Australia board in 2020, he has served as chair since November 2024. Mr Bennett owns and manages Ashgrove Farms in northern Tasmania, a large-scale dairy and dairy beef operation. He is also chair of Ashgrove Cheese and brings extensive agribusiness and industry leadership experience through roles with DairyTas, Dairy Moving Forward and a range of community and industry organisations. Appointed to the Dairy Australia board

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in 2023, he currently serves as chair of the People and Culture Committee. Mr Reid is executive general manager for Bega Nutritionals and Ingredients at Bega Group, bringing more than 25 years of experience across the dairy supply chain. His expertise spans dairy science and technology, innovation, FMCG brand development, international markets, milk procurement and primary processing. Mr Reid is currently a director of the Australian Dairy Industry Council and the Australian Dairy Products Federation, and previously served as chair of the Infant Nutrition Council of Australia and New Zealand. All dairy farm business operators are eligible to become Dairy Australia members and vote in director elections. Details about voting and AGM participation will be made available ahead of the meeting. For more information on the director election process, visit dairyaustralia. com.au

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2026

12 // NEWS

Focus is on good health for f BY SOPHIE BALDWIN

THE HEALTH of the farming communi-

Organisers Mel Taylor (left) and Danielle Paterson with the Unbreakable Farmer, Warren Davies.

ty was the focus of a recent well-attended event held in Gunbower. Harvesting Health saw over 200 people from across the district travel to the picturesque Gunbower Butter Factory and participate in a variety of free health checks, and listen to speakers talk about a variety of topics, including mental health and succession planning. Organiser Mel Taylor said the event came about after her own experiences with mental health which saw her hospitalised when she was young. “It has taken me almost 20 years to get to this point but here we are today and it has been amazing,” Mel said. She said there were many things that contributed to mental health and it was also getting harder for people to prioritise and afford health checks. “We thought we would combine it all in one free community event and here we are today. “Our free skin checks booked out in two weeks and the health checks were also very popular. “We have received so much community support and we are also very grateful for the support from all of our sponsors.” Guest speaker the Unbreakable Farmer, Warren Davies, spoke about his own battle

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2026

NEWS // 13

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Cohuna dairy farmers Drew Gordon (left) and Brodie McGillivray.

with mental health, which basically culminated in a decision to walk off the farm. He also spoke about the difficulty of dealing with fractured relationships, particularly from a male perspective. “As a farmer you keep pushing through and then one day you wake up and you are running on nothing but dust,” Warren said. He said events like Harvesting Health provided an opportunity to share experiences, forge connections and build resilience. Cheryl McKinnon travelled from Pyramid Hill. She particularly enjoyed the succession planning discussion. “It was brilliant and the information was very interesting. As a family we will follow up with our succession planning as we have been talking about it for a long time and this has been a catalyst for me to get moving on it,” Cheryl said. Cohuna farmer Jodie Hay and her husband Col enjoyed the speakers and catching up with other farmers.

“It has been a really great event and good to see so many farmers here today,” Jodie said. Cohuna dairy farmers Drew Gordon and Brodie McGillivray came along to support the event and participate in the health checks. Drew said his wife really wanted him to come along while Brodie took advantage of the free health checks. “It can be hard to find the time to get to the doctor so it has been great to have all the checks here in one place,” Brodie said. This might have been the first Harvesting Health event but it certainly wont be the last. Mel said they were in the process of incorporating the organisation and they had plans to take the event to other areas. “Harvesting Health isn’t just for the farming community, it’s for everyone in a rural community and it’s about looking after your health and starting a conversation,” she said.

Farmers Cheryl McKinnon and Jodie Hay at the Harvesting Health event. Photos: Sophie Baldwin

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2026

14 // NEWS

Dairy legend recognised PETER WHITFORD'S extraordinary contri-

bution to the dairy industry was recently recognised after he was awarded the prestigious Brenton Higgins award at the South Australia Dairy Awards. Peter’s leadership and dedication spans more than seven decades and reflects a passion for dairying that remains as strong today as it was in his youth. Peter's connection to the dairy industry began in 1938 when his family purchased a largely scrub-covered property at Roslyn Vale, Myponga. Raised in basic accommodation, Peter worked alongside his father and brother Brian to clear and develop the land into a highly productive Jersey dairy farm. Even at a young age, his determination and entrepreneurial spirit were evident when he purchased the farm's first tractor using his own savings. As the years progressed, Peter and Brian expanded their farming interests by purchasing a second dairy property at Pages Flat, successfully operating two dairy farms for many years. Together with his late wife Madge, Peter developed the renowned Roslyn Vale Jersey Stud into one of Australia's premier dairy herds. Through progressive breeding and feeding programs, the family established what was recognised on six occasions as the highest-producing Jersey herd in Australia and New Zealand, milking around 290 cows and

setting benchmarks for dairy excellence. Peter's commitment to the dairy industry extended far beyond the farm gate. He was a director of Dairy Vale Co-operative Limited from 1988 to 1994 and a director of Dairy Vale Farmers Limited from 1994 to 1997, helping guide one of South Australia's most significant dairy organisations through a period of industry change and growth. A passionate advocate for Jersey cattle, Peter served on the South Australian Jersey Herd Society Committee from 1985 to 1991 and has remained a dedicated member of the Mount Compass Jersey Cattle Club since 1973, marking more than five decades of service. His leadership as chair of the Mount Compass Field Days for 17 years helped raise significant funds that were reinvested into the development of the Jersey breed across South Australia. Throughout his career, Peter has been a tireless supporter of agricultural education and youth development. He has regularly visited schools to promote career opportunities within the dairy industry and has welcomed overseas agricultural students into his family's home, providing firsthand experience of Australian dairy farming. During his time leading the Mount Compass Field Days, he also facilitated school visits, helping inspire future generations to consider careers in agriculture. Peter's passion for dairying has taken him

around the world. He attended three World Dairy Conferences in Denmark, the United States and England, gaining valuable international perspectives on dairy production and innovation. During his travels, he visited the Queen's Jersey dairy farm and attended a dinner at Westminster, experiences that reflected both his standing within the industry and his commitment to continuous learning. His dedication to dairy cattle exhibition and promotion has also been extensive. For many years Peter successfully exhibited Jersey cattle at the Port Elliot and Yankalilla Shows, served as a dairy cattle steward at the Mount Pleasant Show, and recently received prestigious recognition from the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society of South Australia for his outstanding service to dairy cattle judging and the Dairy Cattle Pavilion at the Royal Adelaide Show. Beyond dairying, Peter has demonstrated exceptional commitment to his community. He served on the Yankalilla Council for 28 years, including seven years as Mayor, was a fire officer for 40 years, spent more than 50 years on the Myponga Sporting Club committee and played 200 A Grade football games for Myponga. His contribution to the club was recognised through his selection in the Myponga Football Club team of the century. He also served seven years as Chair of the Willunga High School Council. In recognition of his outstanding service to

the community, Peter was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2006. Remarkably, Peter's involvement in dairying continues today. Now in his early nineties, he still owns two farms, works alongside his family, carts and stacks hay, assists with livestock management and remains a constant presence on the farm. Even after a recent battle with pneumonia that required hospitalisation, his focus has remained on getting back to work and helping guide the next generation, including his sonsin-law Robert Brokenshire and Barry Clarke, on their dairy farming operations. Peter story is one of vision, resilience, innovation and selfless service. His lifelong dedication has helped strengthen South Australia's dairy industry, improve Jersey cattle genetics, support agricultural education and build stronger rural communities. His legacy lives on through the farms, families, organisations and individuals he has influenced over a lifetime. Peter truly embodies the spirit of the Brenton Higgins Memorial Trophy, making him a most deserving recipient of this prestigious honour. Peter, your passion, creativity, and dedication have enriched the dairy industry in ways that will be felt for generations. On behalf of everyone here, congratulations on being the 2026 Brenton Higgins Award recipient. -Editorial courtesy of SADA

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NEWS // 15

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Brenton Higgins Memorial Trophy winner Peter Whitford with daughter’s Mandy (left), Bronny and Merridie, at the SA Dairy Awards ceremony.

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2026

16 // NEWS

Managing dairy shelters AUSTRALIAN-FIRST RESEARCH has shown how farmers can effectively manage dairy shelters and compost barns in the local environment, leading to a wide range of benefits. PhD candidate Andrew Lean told a field day hosted at Panmure by Dairy Shelters Australia in August, more farmers are turning to compost barns and open-sided, clearroofed, deep-litter shelters. As part of his research into optimising intensive dairy production in Australia, Mr Lean spent 15 weeks visiting compost barns measuring bedding temperatures, moisture levels and carbon to nitrogen ratios. He said the shelters not only benefit cows; they help to protect paddocks and laneways. “They are important additions to farm infrastructure. “If you have a shelter, you’re going to get a lot of benefits in terms of cow management, laneway management because the cows are only entering pasture once a day, and you don’t pug paddocks and destroy grass. “They’re not just for giving cows somewhere warm and clean to lie, you also get benefits that may not be so obvious.” Mr Lean, from Scibus and Charles Sturt University, said his research was promoted by the increase in shelters and compost barns across Australia. “We need to understand them in an Australian context,” he said. “There is a lot of American and European research but we have very different systems.” Mr Lean said both fully-stocked compost barns and partially stocked open-sided, clear-roofed, deep-litter shelters could have huge benefits to farms. “With the clear-roof system, you get a benefit in terms of drying on the surface,” he said. “If you can increase the temperature in your environment, which these clearspanned roofs do, you get a definite benefit in terms of drying the bedding and increasing the bedding temperature. “These systems are well suited to colder, wetter environments in southern Australia though they can also be modified with shade and cooling to be suitable for summer in hotter climates. “There is good natural airflow in these sheds.” Mr Lean said the key to good management was to remember this is cow bedding, not compost. “If you get too obsessed with just managing it as compost, you can fall into traps of

Andrew Lean is researching intensive dairy production in Australia.

looking at temperature instead of just making sure it is dry enough. “You have to stop moisture entering the pack and keep the moisture below 55 per cent year-round so the bedding doesn’t stick to the cows. “This will decrease the risk of mastitis developing, it’s better for cow comfort and will stop them becoming dirty and you will get the best welfare and production benefits.” At the field day, Mr Lean demonstrated a ball test that farmers could use to measure moisture. He added that the bedding must be cultivated. “You have to turn it regularly and don’t rush the process because increased cultivating time increases bedding temperature,” he said.

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Farmers need to rip the flooring deep enough with a chisel plough to bring the bedding to the surface and allow the airflow to remove moisture, and then use a rotor tiller to break up clumps in the bedding. Mr Lean said farmers were getting much better at managing shelters. “When I started the PhD, there was still a lot of trial and error. “Over the past four or five years, in general there has been a massive jump in management quality and it keeps getting better and better.” More than 50 people attended the field day at the Panmure farm of Simon and Pip Rea which is home to several Dairy Shelters Australia shelters. 2 For more information: https://dairysheltersaustralia.com.au/ or https://www.facebook. com/dairysheltersaustralia/

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2026

NEWS // 17

Smarter herd management GEA HAS announced the launch of CowScout

Cloud, the next generation of herd monitoring technology designed to help dairy farmers make faster, more informed decisions about herd health, fertility and performance. Built on the proven CowScout monitoring platform, CowScout Cloud combines continuous behavioural monitoring with cloud-based data management, giving farmers and their advisors instant access to actionable herd insights anytime, anywhere. The new platform supports real-time monitoring of activity, rumination, eating behaviour and cow health indicators, helping farmers identify issues earlier and focus attention where it is needed most. As Australian dairy farms continue to grow in scale and face increasing labour pressures, timely access to accurate herd information has never been more important. CowScout Cloud helps farmers prioritise daily tasks, monitor herd performance and improve decision-making using a scalable, easy-to-access cloud platform. This includes access to unlimited historical data, multi-farm management capabilities and improved mobile accessibility. Key benefits for Australian dairy farmers include 2 earlier identification of cows requiring attention 2 improved heat detection and breeding management 2 enhanced monitoring of cow health and behavioural changes 2 unlimited historical herd data for long-term

CowScout Cloud centralises data and enables structured, real-time decision-making across the entire operation. Photo: GEA

analysis 2 real-time access via web and mobile devices 2 multi-farm viewing and management capabilities 2 reduced time spent manually monitoring cows 2 integration with DairyNet and compatibility with existing herd management systems CowScout Cloud introduces new tools including health scores, in-heat scores,

customised worklists and advanced reporting, helping farmers move from monitoring cows to proactively managing herd performance. The result is greater visibility, improved consistency and more confident decision-making across the entire operation. Andrew Stansfield, country manager of GEA Farm Technologies Australia & New Zealand, said the launch reflects the increasing importance of digital solutions in modern dairy

farming. "Australian dairy farmers are looking for practical tools that help them manage larger herds efficiently while maintaining animal health and reproductive performance. “CowScout Cloud delivers real-time insights that support better decisions, earlier intervention and more effective herd management, all through a simple and intuitive platform," Andrew shares. The cloud-based solution also provides the digital infrastructure needed to support future farm growth. Automatic updates, enhanced computing power and secure cloud storage eliminate many of the limitations associated with traditional on-farm systems, while ensuring users always have access to the latest functionality and performance improvements. CowScout Cloud does not replace existing systems but complements them. GEA DairyNet remains the herd and farm management system for operational processes and management information. CowScout Cloud also provides individual animal monitoring data in the cloud and can be integrated into DairyNet and depending on the respective farm structure, into other digital management systems. It is available for both new installations and existing CowScout users looking to upgrade. Flexible subscription options allow farmers to choose the solution that best suits their operation and growth plans. CowScout Cloud is now available through GEA's dealer and service network across Australia.

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2026

18 // NEWS

The South West Dairy Ladies Luncheon celebrated its 20th anniversary with over 300 people in attendance.

Photos: Rick Bayne

Luncheon celebrates founder BY RICK BAYNE

THE SOUTH West Dairy Ladies Luncheon

has celebrated its 20th anniversary by honouring the farmer who instigated the event. More than 300 guests were on hand to see a presentation to Dixie farmer Barb Collins, who worked for WestVic Dairy and came up with the luncheon idea. “It was a drought at the time and women were feeling left out,” Mrs Collins said. “There were events to support men, but there was nothing happening for women so we organised some funding and got it started.” Denise Drysdale was guest at the first luncheon held in Terang and it set the tone for future events. “I’ve always followed its progress and it has turned into an amazing event,” Mrs Collins said. Member of the organising team Liza Fahey made the presentation and said the event wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for Mrs Collins. “Barb was at WestVic Dairy when I started and she was a great support who helped make me the person I am today,” Mrs Fahey said. “The luncheon wouldn’t be the event it is if Barb hadn’t got it started.” This year’s luncheon at Deakin University in Warrnambool followed the theme `Come Along for the Ride’ and featured guest speaker retired jockey and first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup in 2015, Michelle Payne. Ms Payne was at home among the dairy farmers. “We had a dairy farm from when I was 7 to about 15,” she said. “Dad had the younger five kids up there helping every day. We had a roster and we all had to help out in the

morning and at night. “I have a real appreciation for how tough it is. There’s no day off and you have to work really hard. “I have unbelievable respect for dairy farmers.” During a question-and-answer session, Ms Payne spoke about the need for resilience, no matter what your industry. “We all go through tough times but it’s important to stay positive through them. “It can be really hard but it makes a world of difference in getting through to the other side if you can stay positive.” Current organising committee chair, Anna Kenna, said the luncheon remained a popular and important event on the calendar. “It’s so important to get women off the farm and come together to enjoy a day out and listen to some great speakers,” she said. “We sold out in four days and still have a waiting list. It’s an event that people mark off in their calendar and look forward to every year.” Mrs Kenna said that there was an upbeat atmosphere at the luncheon. “Like always; there are some people that are happy with the way things are going, and some that aren’t,” she said. “We know there are ups and downs in dairy and there can be tough some seasons, but it’s a great lifestyle for bringing up our kids and overall, most people in the industry are very positive. “This season is better than last year. It’s a bit wet but you can make more money in mud than you can in dirt.” The event is organised by an independent committee, supported by WestVic Dairy and Dairy Australia.

Barb Collins and Liza Fahy.

Jo Stephens and Judy Kent.

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2026

NEWS // 19

Master status for Brindabella BY SOPHIE BALDWIN

JADE AND Georgia Sieben have a goal to con-

tinue to breed balanced, functional high type production cows under their prefix Brindabella. Established in 1997 with just six cows, when the family moved from Queensland to the Riverina, the mother and daughter duo have grown their herd to currently include 200 Holsteins and a few Jerseys at Torrumbarry. They received their first Holstein master breeder status early this year and were delighted by the recognition. “It really is a lovely acknowledgment of years of dedication to Holsteins and an honour for me — I am the third one in my family to receive a master breeder,” Jade said. Jade’s love of cattle was instilled in her from an early age and stemmed from her nanna and pop, Mavis and Eddie McGinn, who farmed at Kenilworth inland from Noosa and established Rickdale Holsteins. “They started out with Jerseys, but Pop got into Holsteins after buying a handful of good cows and doing some embryo work.” Jade thinks she was about six when she led her first cow at a show in 1981. “I got hooked on it — we all got hooked on it actually, and back then, you could go to the show every single weekend from May through to August, and it always culminated in the Ecka.” There have been many good cows over the years and quite a few successes, but Jade said the friendships formed over the years had been just as fulfilling. Jade has never been afraid to buy a good cow in partnership, including the latest purchase View Fort Jagger Satin. The syndicate set an Australian all breeds record for a two-year-old when they bought the cow for $54,000 at the Defining a Decade Sale for Lightning Ridge Genetics last year. Since the change of ownership she has classified EX 93. She has gone through two rounds of IVF and was reserve champion at Sydney Royal Easter Show. She is currently pregnant, and Jade said she remained a great, no fuss cow to work with. Other significant cow families that have performed well over the years include the Nans, Fredias and the Tammys. “The Nans are star brood cows, show cows, and high production, high fat cows, and they have formed an integral part of our show team over the last 20 years,” Jade said. “In fact, I think every team we have shown would have a Nan of some sort in it — we all love the Nans, and they have been an amazing family for us.” She said the genetics could be tracked back to Judel Starbuck Fan from the Hewitt family. The Tammy family was established in Brindabella after Jade was judging an on-farm challenge, and she came across Howava Reginald Tammy in the Howava herd. Again, she bought it in partnership, this time with the Shaw family from Finley and Peter Clark. “We had some great fun with her, and had some great success, including reserve intermediate champion and then a couple of years later reserve senior champion at IDW,” Jade said. The Midas family has great sentimental value after Jade and her sisters were each given a cow from her grandparents. Like all breeders, Jade said she did grapple with selling any of her cows. “It is so hard to part with any of them when you love them all,” she said. The Jerseys remain Georgia’s love, and Jade said, while she had tried to love a good Jersey, Holsteins remained her jam.

Jade and Georgia with reserve junior champion Holstein Brindabella Warrior Natalie in 2025.

Georgia Sieben with View Fort Jagger Satin at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.

“Georgia loves them, and I have no doubt she will develop some great families of her own over the years,” Jade said. Jade said she and Georgia were now considering the future of their operation which could include a move out of zone seven and into a more affordable irrigation system. “Water has made it pretty difficult to farm here,” she said. “When we bought the farm 20 years ago it

was a bit different, and we were surrounded by other farmers, now we are just about on our own.” Jade said over the last two years the temporary water market had been pretty good, but this year, expensive temporary prices had set them behind. “I had to use our permanent water to finish off the corn, so there was nothing left to get the autumn pastures up, so we are a bit behind,”

she said. “We are planning on putting a bit more lucerne in, in the future, to be a bit more water efficient and of course the cows love it. “We don’t grow any permanent pasture, but I will put a bit of millet in over summer if temporary water prices are favourable. “Georgia has dreams to move and grow, but if that doesn’t happen we will be happy to stay here and keep going.”

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2026

20 // NEWS

Bringing Cheer to classrooms SAPUTO DAIRY Australia (SDA) has announced a new national partnership with not-for-profit Eat Up, supporting their work to provide free lunches to children experiencing food insecurity. Through its new in-kind partnership, SDA is providing more than 400,000 Cheer tasty cheese slices annually to Eat Up’s school lunch program to ensure children have access to simple, nutritious food. Eat Up currently supports more than 1200 schools across Australia. They deliver thousands of lunches each week to students who may otherwise go without, helping them stay nourished and focused in class. Demand for Eat Up’s services has surged, with 68 per cent of schools reporting a rise in students needing support. For many of these children, a sandwich made with cheese is more than just lunch; it’s the fuel they need to concentrate, participate and thrive. The partnership builds on SDA’s existing support of Eat Up. Since 2024, more than 350 employees from across its sites have come together to prepare 18,000 sandwiches for Eat Up using donated Saputo products. SDA senior vice president commercial, Cam Bruce said the expanded partnership was a natural progression to help reach more children in need and reflects the company’s focus on supporting communities in practical, everyday ways. “We’re proud to strengthen our support for Eat Up through this partnership.

Saputo’s Cam Bruce and Lyndon Galea.

“It’s about taking something as simple as a cheese sandwich and making it count for more. “Through our products and the ongoing commitment of our people, we’re pleased to be working with Eat Up to help put lunches into the hands of more students,” Cam said.

Eat Up Founder and spokesperson, Lyndon Galea, said the partnership comes at an important time as demand for the organisation’s services continues to rise. “Demand for our program continues to grow, and partnerships like this are critical to

helping us keep up and deliver school lunches at scale. “Support from Saputo ensures we can continue to provide lunches to students who need them most, without additional cost pressures on the program,” Lyndon said.

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2026

NEWS // 21

Geoff and Stan Cox are the Tasmanian dairy business of the year award winners for 2026.

Tassie brothers top of the list BY SOPHIE BALDWIN

Geoff and Stan Cox might have claimed the ANZ Dairy Business of the Year Award at the recent DairyTas awards, but it remains very much business as usual. Established by their grandfather, the brothers are the third generation of their family to operate the business at Ringarooma in the north-east, which has grown to include three dairy farms, a dairy beef business turning out around 500 animals annually and a processing potato enterprise. Northview Estate is run by the brothers and milks 1380 cows, producing 7428 litres per cow and 546kg/ms, with a stocking rate of four cows to the hectare. This is high for Tasmania but made possible due to the business’ ability to produce home-grown feed, including 25ha of maize. The business employs two full-time workers and up to 10 casuals; Stan and Geoff spend most of their time at Northview. The other two dairy farms are operated by managers. In 2026, the three farms all supply Lactalis. Of the 504ha of usable ground, the milking platform sits at 341ha. “We grow rye grass and clover and cut any excess in spring for silage. “Tasmania has a great climate and a good environment for growing maize and we can usually harvest over 25t/ha of dry matter,” Geoff said. The brothers have been benchmarking their business for quite some time. “It’s a great tool and enables us to continuously improve our own business – not so much to compare our business to others but more to look at our own enterprise year on year. “If we do make any changes we can look at our own profitability and see why it has gone up or down and that is the main reason we benchmark.” In recent times they have seen some TASMANIAN BROTHERS

significant rises in the price of most inputs, which has eroded profitability, particularly around energy, freight and fertiliser costs. Sexed semen is used for the dairy herd and beef bulls for the dairy cross enterprise. Approximately 80 per cent of the farm is irrigated and is a key contributor to the high pasture productivity and overall profitability. They access water from the river, via on-farm storage and through water bought from an irrigation scheme. They use a combination of pivots, soft hose irrigators and solid set irrigations. This is the first time the brothers have entered the Tasmania farmer of the year award and while they were pleased to win, it certainly will not be going to their heads. “It’s nice to be recognised but we will just get on with running our business and we will keep doing what we know,” Geoff said. Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture dairy development extension officer and judge Symon Jones said the panel was impressed with the brothers’ high level of pasture and milk production per hectare. “The production was driven by a high stocking rate without compromising cow performance and resulting in above-average per-hectare profits. “The brothers continue to drive improvement by reinvesting in critical infrastructure to maintain and improve animal health and welfare and cow performance. “They also continue to improve efficiency in and around the workplace and ensure staff are safe and supported. “The farm is self-contained with all young stock grown out on farm support blocks and were assessed by the judges as outstanding.” The ANZ Dairy Business of the Year Award is conducted by the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA) as part of the Dairy Farm Monitor Project, which is funded by Dairy Australia and TIA. About 30 farm businesses participate in the program to have their physical and financial performances benchmarked.

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2026

22 // AUSTRALIAN BREEDING VALUES

US catches on to AUS strategies THE AMERICANS might finally be taking a

leaf out of Australia’s dairy breeding book after the latest Australian Breeding Value (ABV) release. ABS Australia has seven of the top 14 Australian proven Holstein bulls, including sires first selected and marketed in Australian herds. The results come as the US Holstein industry shifts its breeding focus towards moderate stature, strength and functional cows that last - the same direction as ABS Australia. ABS business operations manager Bruce Ronalds said we’ve been looking at productive life, fertility and longevity, and that’s all linked to a moderate cow rather than a tall cow. “It’s about creating the ABS cow - that’s the cow that gets in calf, avoids mastitis, has a functional udder and feet and legs, produces well and comes back into the dairy year after year. “In other words, she’s the cow you hardly notice.” And there are plenty of these types of genetics sitting near the top of the ABV rankings. Long-time ABS favourite Ellis PP sits at number six with 612 BPI and continues to lead the homozygous polled proven bulls. A game-changer when released as a genomic sire, Ellis-PP is also set to become ABS Australia’s biggest-selling bull of all time. Melinda and Peter Smith milk 570 cows with their daughter Mikahl and son-in-law Daniel at Koyuga, near Echuca. As an organic operation, the family breeds

Organic dairy farmer Mikahl Cavill farms at Koyuga with her husband Daniel and her parents Melinda and Peter Smith at Koyuga. The family choose genetics suited to their business. Photo: Melinda Smith

cows to get the job done with as little intervention as possible. “We look for a shorter stature with strength - cows capable of walking a long distance,” Melinda said. “We focus on polled, A2, heat tolerance, health traits, short gestation and temperament - almost an invisible cow, that doesn’t have problems.” Polled genetics have been a priority for the

Smiths for the past seven-to-eight years and with the herd now entirely polled, it remains non-negotiable when selecting bulls. It was one of the reasons they chose Ellis-PP. “He’s polled, A2 and short gestation,” Melinda said. They are now milking some Ellis-PP daughters, but Melinda admits she doesn’t particularly notice them. And that’s exactly how the family like their cows. New to the Australian proven list is Z-Happy Winterfell I at number two with 753 BPI and an Australian Selection Index of 488. He combines production with 108 daughter fertility, 105 type and 104 mastitis resistance. His son, Woodrow, sits at number three on the Australian proven list at 669 BPI. Ranking highly on the new US HCC index, new release Rhizome entered the Australian genomic market at 721 BPI with 334 ASI. With negative stature and strong health and longevity traits, he records 4.6 for productive life in the US - a figure with a direct link to profitability. Bruce said Rhizome’s score equated to about another four months of productive life compared with the average Holstein cow, based on approximately one month for each productive life point. “You think at 40 litres per day, across an extra four months - that adds up,” Bruce said. Genomic bull Gianni sits at 876 BPI and is among the breed leaders for many health and longevity traits, while new-release Redwood

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enters the Australian genomic rankings at 845 BPI. Redwood combines 81kg of fat and protein with 108 survival, strong cell count improver and daughter fertility, while maintaining the moderate stature, strength and body ABS believes commercial dairy farmers want. He is also great for the new HCC at +1.43 Tripp is sitting at number five on the Jersey list while Daytona and Dino featuring prominently among the genomic bulls. Australian-bred Kirky (CSCKIRKY) continues to impress at 526 BPI, combining 110 type and 111 mammary system with the strength, teat length and daughter fertility ABS is chasing in its Jersey program. Juiced a son of globally popular Cal-Mart Jammer, is another young sire to watch, combining 104 daughter fertility and 106 mastitis resistance with added strength, stature and valuable outcross genetics for Australian herds. In Australian Reds, Alme remains ABS Australia’s highest-ranked sire at 499 BPI, combining solid production and survival with 105 mammary system and breed-leading mastitis resistance at 111. Looking to the futur Skoien is also closing in on a fully Australian proven proof, with 51 milking daughters across four herds. Early reports have impressed, backed by 104 temperament and 103 likeability - particularly strong results within the breed. Many farmers are saying they are such a pleasure to milk.

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2026

AUSTRALIAN BREEDING VALUES // 23

Here’s all the ABV results for August 2026 ALL COWS must be genomically tested.

Herds 2 The Emu Banks herd of Bryan and Jo Dickson has retained top spot with an average BPI of 451. They are also the number two herd for both HWI and SI. 2 Geoff and Estelle Boyd of Foster, Victoria continue to hold down second spot of BPI with an average of 405 across their herd. 2 The Kitchen Family of Boyanup, WA holds down third position with a BPI of 397. 2 Stuart Tracy of Waratah Bay, Victoria is the new number one Health Weighted Index herd with an average HWI 342.

sired by 29JE4444 (Cal-Mart Dino) has an SI of 646. White Star Jerseys is owned by Con and Michelle Glennen of Noorat, Victoria.

2 Ayrshires – Trevor Saunders and Anthea Day of Shady Creek, Victoria have the top BPI and sustainability index Ayrshire herd.

Red breeds

Cows

Herds

2 Paul Cocksedge of Tarwin, Victoria, owns the number one BPI genomic Australian Red female. Paco Hosea Birdie 160 has a BPI of 649. She is the number two sustainability Australian Red with an SI of 935. 2 The VIKRTOKYO daughter Barleydew Tokyo Bek, also owned by Paul Cocksedge tops the sustainability index for Australian Reds with a SI of 964.

2 Australian Reds – Ron and Sam Graham of Numbaa, NSW, have the top Australian Red herd for all three key indices. 2 Illawarras – The Hamiltons Run herd of Graeme and Michelle Hamilton, Mt Gambier, SA tops Illawarra herds for all three key indices.

2 “4588” a daughter of VIKRHUVITUS is the top HWI Australian Red with a HWI of 465. She was bred by Frank and Marianne Kelly of Tragowel, Victoria.

Brown Swiss 2 P & S Balfour of Kanoona, NSW have the top Brown Swiss herd for BPI, HWI and SI.

Guernsey 2 The Cleggett family of Glencoe, South Australia are the leading Guernsey herd for BPI, HWI and SI.

Cows 2 Wilara Almamater Collie VG86 is the top ranking cow for Balanced Performance Index (BPI). Owned by the Henry family of Tinamba, Victoria, she has a BPI of 934. Collie is also the highest ranking genomically tested cow in Australia for the sustainability index with an SI of 1190. 2 The number one health weightediIndex (HWI) cow is Jelbart 17369. Sired by 0200HO11983 – Westcoast Rocknroll, she has a HWI of 876, backed by strong weightings for survival and daughter fertility. 2 Emu Banks Manhattan Tiffany 13260 VG85 owned by Bryan and Jo Dickson of Terang, Victoria is the number two BPI cow at 909 BPI and the number two genomically tested SI cow at 1164 SI.

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Herds 2 The prolific White Star owned by Con and Michelle Glennen of Noorat, Victoria, returns to the top of the rankings of all key indexes, BPI, HWI and SI. 2 Trevor Saunders and Anthea Day’s Araluen Park herd, Shady Creek, Victoria, is the number two BPI herd with an average BPI 231. 2 The Parish Family of Bambra ranks third for BPI herd at 210 and second for HWI herd at 152.

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Cows 2 The perennial Araluen Park Jiggy Sandra EX-92 is again the number one BPI Jersey with a BPI of 777. Sandra was bred by Trevor Saunders and Anthea Day of Shady Creek, Victoria. She is also the Jersey breed’s top sustainability index cow at 1146 SI. 2 The leading HWI Jersey is Beulah Gislev H Bouy VG89. Owned by Daryl and Lani Hoey, Wonthaggi, Victoria, she is a daughter of the Viking bull VIKJGISLEV. She has a HWI of 678. “Bouy” is also the number two BPI cow at 772 BPI. 2 In third spot with a BPI of 745 is Balnageith Jenny 317. Owned by Alistair Grant of Balnageith Jerseys, Warragul South, Victoria, she is a daughter 14JE00754 (Grant). Jenny 317 is also the number two sustainability index Jersey.

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“BISHOP is from the Primula cow family and they are a pleasure to have in the herd. They are renowned for their production, high fertility, super health traits and longevity.”

Genomic heifers 2 One of the Jersey world’s most revered Jersey herds, Bushlea, is the home of the number one Jersey BPI heifer. Bushlea Stu Circus 6279 bred by Wayne and Lisa Kuhne of Koonwarra, Victoria, Circus 6279 has a BPI of 621. 2 Daryl and Lani Hoey of Wonthaggi, Victoria are the owners of the top HWI heifer Beulah Star B Vanity 3, a daughter of 7JE01726 (Starlord). She has a HWI of 609. 2 The number one Jersey BPI herd is home to Australia’s number one SI heifer. White Star 7505,

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2026

24 // AUSTRALIAN BREEDING VALUES

Breeding persistence pays off PERSISTENCE HAS paid off for two

Victorian breeders whose herds have taken significant leaps forward in DataGene’s August release of Australian Breeding Values (ABVs). Stuart Tracy of Waratah Bay, Victoria has the new number one health weighted index (HWI) Holstein herd with an average HWI 342. The Parish family of Bambra in southwest Victoria entered the top three Jersey herds for the first time, with the number three balanced performance index (BPI) herd at 210 and the number two HWI herd at 152 HWI. Another Victorian breeder, Basil and Liam Ryan from Grassmere, scored their first top BPI and HWI heifer with Numeralla Bigsur 7662 with a BPI of 882 and a HWI of 938, making her the top HWI cow in the Holstein breed. DataGene stakeholder relations specialist Peter Thurn said the improvements showed the importance of perseverance. “The Tracy and Parish herds show that it takes a long time to move a herd’s average genetic merit but it can be done if you stick to a process.” Mr Thurn said by continuing to select bulls from the Good Bull Guide aligned to their breeding goal, the Tracy family had been able to achieve the number one HWI herd in the country for the first time, moving up from second position in the April run. “They have a large number of cows genomically tested, use DataGene’s Herd

Data App and are part of the GINFO system,” he said. “This long-term planning has paid off, and there is clearly more focus on health and fertility traits in their selections.” The Parish family has taken big steps up the ranks. In the April run the herd ranked ninth for BPI and sixth for HWI, and it also moved from 12th to seventh for sustainability index (SI). “They have achieved quite a dramatic lift,” Mr Thurn said. “They have a large herd with a large number of cows genotyped and a GINFO herd. This shows that if you define your goal, stick to it and make sure your bull selection is aligned with your goals, you will be successful.” The Emu Banks Holstein herd of Bryan and Jo Dickson at Terang, Victoria retained top spot with an average BPI of 451. It also ranks second for both HWI and SI. White Star, owned by Con and Michelle Glennen of Noorat, Victoria, returned to the top of the Jersey rankings of all key indexes, BPI, HWI and SI. For more information, contact DataGene on 1800 841 848 or at enquiries@datagene. com.au or www.datagene.com.au DataGene is an initiative of Dairy Australia and the herd improvement industry. Stuart Tracy’s consistent breeding strategy has resulted in steady improvement in his herd’s genetic merit, now ranking number one in the country for health weighted index.

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2026

PASTURE IMPROVEMENT // 25

Strategies to manage nitrogen GROUND-BREAKING INTERNATIONAL

research has identified ways farmers can create mitigation strategies to efficiently manage nitrogen to meet production while reducing environmental losses. The research, part of an international collaboration, was headed by Dr Garima Lakhanpal and her findings will be presented at the 10th international Nitrogen Conference in Japan in November. Dr Lakhanpal is supported by the Grassland Society of Southern Australia to present at the conference. Dr Lakhanpal completed her PhD last year through the University of Waterloo, Canada as part of a collaborative project fully funded by Teagasc, Ireland’s national body for agriculture and food development. All of her field work and data collection was based in Ireland, with her research focused on nitrogen dynamics in pasture-based dairy systems. “Ireland has a lot of intensive dairy farming and the goal was to understand nutrient management and find a balance so farmers can meet their production requirements and reduce environmental losses specific to nitrogen,” Dr Lakhanpal said. Her research focused on understanding the dynamics of the nutrient-specific nitrogen in intensive dairy farms and assessing the effectiveness of different mitigation strategies, such as restrictive grazing techniques, reducing inorganic or chemical fertiliser applications and using protected urea. Restricted-duration grazing reduced nitrogen leaching and ammonia losses by 40 per

Dr Garima Lakhanpal is part of an international collaboration to help farmers create mitigation strategies to efficiently manage nitrogen while reducing environmental losses.

cent and 24 per cent, respectively, when combined with lower inorganic and organic nitrogen inputs, highlighting its potential as an effective nitrogen mitigation strategy. A key aspect of the work was to investigate legacy nitrogen which was achieved through deep soil coring and integrating results with multi-decade farm management data. “We were able to quantify nitrogen stores

sitting under the soil from years of application of fertilisers,” Dr Lakhanpal said. “We traditionally focus on what is being applied and the impact on groundwater and subsequently rivers and water bodies but we’re missing what is actually being stored in the soil. “I was able to quantify in my PhD what is being stored in the soil and how we can

potentially use that as a free, available resource for the next application while reducing what we apply on the surface. “Legacy nitrogen accumulations of 3,000– 6,000 kg N ha⁻¹ were recorded within the upper 50 cm of soil in a well-drained dairy system. “Despite reduced fertiliser inputs, pasture production remained high and was sustained in low-input paddocks, highlighting the potential contribution of existing soil nitrogen reserves. “This could provide both economic and environmental benefits for farmers, while helping policymakers account for legacy nitrogen when setting realistic timelines and targets for achieving water-quality goals.” Dr Lakhanpal said the research was targeted to dairy but was easily transferable to any other agricultural field. “I’m excited about how I can use this knowledge and transfer it to Australian grazing systems and look at how pastures, including multispecies pastures, can improve efficient nutrient management approaches.” Dr Lakhanpal finished her PhD in December and moved back to Melbourne in April. She developed a connection with the Grassland Society of Southern Australia while drafting a research proposal with its vice-president Dr Paul Cheng at the University of Melbourne. “It’s nice to have avenues for support and I am looking forward to representing the Society at the conference,” she said. ɋ People interested in joining the GSSA can visit https://www.grasslands.org.au

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A key aspect of Dr Lakhanpal’s work was to investigate legacy nitrogen through deep soil coring.

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2026

26 // PASTURE IMPROVEMENT

Planting maize early BY GREG MORRIS AND LEIGHTON HART

EARLY PLANTED maize can support silage qual-

ity and help return paddocks to grazing sooner. Planting maize earlier is usually less about increasing total dry matter yield and more about improving grain fill and getting paddocks back into pasture or a winter crop on time. Delayed planting can push flowering and early grain fill into the hottest, driest months. In cooler regions, where there are fewer heat units, it is also possible for later-planted crops to run out of heat, which can compromise grain fill and maize silage starch percentage. Earlier sowing can bring maize silage harvest forward from late April to late March. This means maize silage is available earlier for autumn feeding. It also reduces exposure to weather damage, wet harvest conditions, and frost during grain fill. Early harvest can also improve the window for establishing pasture or a winter crop, returning the paddock to grazing sooner and increasing subsequent feed production. Earlier sowing effectively buys extra heat units. Planting four weeks earlier can allow the use of a slightly longer comparative relative maturity (CRM) maize hybrid without delaying harvest, or growers can plant the same CRM hybrid and harvest it earlier. Where the hybrid suits local conditions, a longer CRM hybrid can increase dry matter yield potential, but care should be taken not to plant an excessively long maturity hybrid that cannot reliably reach optimum harvest maturity, as this may reduce both yield

Planting maize early is less about increasing total dry matter and more about improving grain fill.

prior to soil moisture reserves being depleted. Before planting maize, ensure soil temperature at 10cm depth is consistently 12°C or higher for several consecutive days.

and silage quality. If moisture is limiting, early maize silage planting can improve drought resilience, because flowering and early grain fill are more likely to be completed

Photo: Stephen Barker

Avoid planting ahead of significant rain, prepare the ground for good seed-to-soil contact, and protect seed with a quality treatment such as Pioneer Seeds Betta Strike.

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PASTURE IMPROVEMENT // 27

Start before spring flush DESPITE THE importance of home grown feed, research suggests objective pasture measurement is still not routine on many dairy farms. Home grown pasture can provide one of the lowest-cost sources of feed for pasture based dairy farms, but farmers need to know what is available and how their feed position is changing to use it effectively. Dairy Australia describes pasture as the most important home-grown feed for most Australian dairy farmers and says successfully growing and utilising is a key determinant of profitability. However, research points to a gap between recognising the value of pasture measurement and consistently using measurement tools. Unlike purchased feed, pasture does not arrive with a known quantity. The amount available differs between paddocks and changes with the weather, grazing and seasonal conditions. Without regular measurement, developing surpluses and shortfalls can be difficult to identify early enough to act. As spring approaches across Australia’s dairy regions, farmers need to maintain pasture quality, keep the grazing round on track, identify surpluses for silage and respond before a feed shortfall puts pressure on the herd. Founder of Pasture.io Oliver Roberts said spring pasture management doesn’t begin when the grass starts taking off. “How pasture is managed through winter helps determine the position the farm is in when growth accelerates. Farmers need

Home grown pasture can provide one of the lowest-cost sources of feed for pasture-based dairy farms.

to know what feed they have, where it is and where their feed position is heading.” Oliver began developing Pasture.io in 2014 to solve challenges on his family’s dairy farm, Robin Hill, on Tasmania’s north-west coast. Historical records have shown after more consistent pasture measurement and grazing management, Robin Hill entered spring with higher pasture cover. Early spring growth response occurred two to three weeks earlier, coinciding with changes to winter pasture cover and post-grazing residual

management. Oliver says he has heard similar reports from other farmers. The timing varies between farms, seasons and regions and should not be treated as an outcome every farm can expect. The broader opportunity is to recognise changing trends sooner and be ready to act as the spring flush gathers pace. Regularly measuring every paddock helps farmers understand their current feed position and what may be ahead.

This can inform upcoming grazings, supplementary-feed decisions, feed inventory and when surplus paddocks can be removed from the grazing round for silage. Pasture.io uses satellite technology to provide regular pasture readings across every paddock, reducing the need to measure the whole farm manually. It brings these readings together in a whole-farm feed wedge and pasture forecasts. Farmers can also enter readings collected with manual tools such as a rising plate meter or tow-behind pasture meter, if desired, and use the same planning and feed-management tools. While Pasture.io is Australian-founded, it is now used by farmers in 18 countries. Dairy farmer Logan Haynes from Taranaki, New Zealand has used Pasture.io for the past three years. Logan said the farm now consistently performs better. “Being ten days ahead of yourself means you can see and act before you get yourself under pressure,” Logan said. Logan also compares paddock performance to identify where pasture improvement may be needed and when surplus paddocks can be removed from the grazing round for silage. “Each year, we look at our poorer-performing paddocks and decide whether they need soil testing, full regrassing or simply undersowing. “We’ve also gone from making about 150 bales of silage a year to 300-400, using the feed wedge to identify when we can confidently take paddocks out.”

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2026

28 // NEWS

Build, upgrade or modernise? AUSTRALIAN DAIRY farmers are increas-

ingly looking beyond today’s challenges and asking what their operation will need to succeed over the next decade. Across the dairy industry, conversations around future planning are becoming more common. Labour availability, ageing infrastructure, herd growth and operational efficiency continue to influence investment decisions on farms of all sizes. At the same time, advances in automation, herd management and dairy technology are providing more options than ever before. As a result, many producers are stepping back to assess where their business is today and where they want it to be in the future. Jurgen Steen, AMS national sales manager, GEA Farm Technologies Australia said looking back over the last 30 years, the biggest changes in our industry isn’t just in technology, but in the questions farmers are asking. The question is no longer simply what needs replacing but more often what do we need our dairy to achieve over the next 15 to 20 years? For some businesses, the answer may be a completely new dairy designed around future growth plans. For others, upgrading and expanding existing infrastructure may unlock additional efficiency and capacity without the need for a full rebuild. Increasingly, farmers are also finding that modernisation projects can deliver meaningful improvements through upgrades to controls, automation, herd management systems and

There are many options for Australian dairy farmers including this one milker rotary.

operational visibility. The right approach depends on the goals of the business.

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A farm planning significant expansion will naturally have different priorities to one focused on improving labour efficiency or increasing throughput within its existing footprint. Likewise, a business preparing for succession may take a different view of investment compared with one concentrating on shortterm production gains. What is becoming increasingly clear is successful projects are rarely driven by equipment alone. The strongest outcomes typically come from aligning infrastructure, technology and management practices with long-term business objectives. When planning for the future, most dairy businesses typically follow one of three pathways: 2 Build new – creating infrastructure designed to support future growth, efficiency and automation. 2 Upgrade and expand – improving capacity and performance by upgrading existing infrastructure rather than starting again. 2 Modernise existing systems – introducing new technologies, controls and management tools to improve productivity without major construction.

Increasingly, farmers are taking a long-term approach to these decisions. Rather than waiting for equipment to reach the end of its life, they are assessing how their dairy needs to evolve over the next decade and identifying investments that align with their business goals. Ultimately, the right pathway depends on the future of the business, not just the equipment. “Choosing the right pathway starts with understanding where you want your business to be in the future. “Talk with your local GEA dealer or trusted dairy advisor early in the planning process. “The decisions made today often shape the next 15 to 20 years of your operation, so it’s important to work with partners and service providers who will be there to support you throughout that journey.” Because when it comes to future-proofing a dairy, the most important investment decision is not what technology to buy. It’s deciding where you want your business to be in the years ahead. 2 Talk to your local GEA dealer or call GEA on 03 8877 9999 to start the conversation about your future dairy. Visit GEA.com/dairyfarming for more details.

Advertising manager: Rachel Fowles | 0429 675 962 rachel.fowles@dairynewsaustralia.com.au

Robotic dairies are becoming increasingly popular.

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2026

NEWS // 29

Achieving full visibility of cost production THE COST to produce a litre of milk is a ques-

tion every dairy farmer could have at their fingertips, with the right farm business data. For Geoff and Tish Manning, and their daughter Claire, at Shade River Dairy in Mardella, Western Australia, finding that answer became the catalyst for a shift in how they manage and plan their business. Geoff is a fifth-generation farmer, whose family were among the original settlers to arrive in Perth in 1852. The Mannings moved progressively south as the city grew, settling along the Serpentine River about 45 kilometres from the central business district. Now, one of only two dairy farms remaining in the area, Shade River Dairy is a piece of WA’s agricultural history. The farm runs about 300 stud Holstein Friesians through a 20-aside herringbone dairy, across a total mixed ration system and the Mannings produce their own silage and hay, supply more than 60,000 litres of locally produced milk a week to Italian artisan cheesemakers, and run a team of six full-time and casual staff. With Claire now working alongside her father, their business blends generations of knowledge, with a fresh commitment to improvement. “I don’t know anyone across all the organisations I’ve worked for globally who is as passionate or just loves what they do as much as dad,” says Claire. Despite decades of experience, the pair recognised they were operating without a complete financial picture of their business. Costs including fuel, fertiliser, feed and general living expenses, were skyrocketing and the broader economic climate continued changing weekly, for at least six months. At the same time, the farm continued growing. The Mannings expanded their herd, integrated new technology and managed increasingly complex data inputs across the business. “We wanted to look at how the farm was performing financially and get all of those data inputs together,” explains Claire. “We thought perhaps it could be optimised to improve performance, but how would we know if we didn’t have the data to look at that? Previously we were probably more so looking at our income, as opposed to everything separately,” she adds. “We didn’t have the transparency or full visibility to really understand our cost of production.” Whole of business visibility The Mannings put their hand up to participate in Dairy Australia’s Dairy Farm Monitor Project (DFMP). They had been involved in the program three decades earlier, but recognised it had since evolved significantly in scope and reporting capability. The DFMP provides a comprehensive physical and financial analysis of dairy farms across Australia, giving participants access to high quality comparative data through DairyBase – a benchmarking and analysis platform available to all dairy farmers. Through DairyBase, farmers can measure and compare their own farm business performance against industry benchmarks, including the top 25 per cent of WA farms, and identify specific areas for improvement. For Geoff, Tish and Claire, it was exactly the kind of whole-of-business visibility they had been missing. The process of collating the required data - pulling together manual inputs across feed, labour, fuel, financials and herd performance took several months - the picture

Geoff Manning and daughter Claire’s business blends generations of knowledge, with a fresh commitment to improvement.

that materialised was invaluable. “It took a long time to isolate different areas and know where to find everything,” says Claire. “But we came out the other side with so much more clarity.” From there, they engaged farm consultant Tom Farran through Dairy Australia’s Our Farm Our Plan (OFOP) program. Designed to support farmers to improve business planning and better manage risk, Our Farm Our Plan provides one-to-one support over 24 months, helping farmers develop longterm goals, identify and prioritise actions, and manage uncertainty and risk. For Geoff and Claire, combining the DFMP data with OFOP’s structured planning support meant they could move from understanding their numbers to actually acting on them. They also became active members of Dairy Australia’s newly established Dairy Business Network WA, a peer support group for WA dairy farmers focused on connecting, sharing insights and building business resilience. Claire attended Dairy Australia’s Raising the Roof 2026 intensive farming conference in Shepparton, where she gained valuable insights into best practice dairy intensification and effluent management in Victoria. Identifying the once-percenters Dairy Australia’s WA representative Jane Packard has been a consistent point of contact throughout, providing access to tools, templates and resources tailored to local conditions including the Fuel and Fertiliser Disruption online series, which helped the Mannings think differently about homegrown feed and navigate rapidly rising input costs.

“Jane has been really helpful with extra tools, templates and day-to-day operations,” says Claire. “It’s been good because otherwise we wouldn’t have that level of understanding and we would probably target areas that wouldn’t make much of a difference, or focus efforts in the wrong area.” With the DFMP data now collated and consultant recommendations in hand, the pair have a clearer view of their business than ever before. The datasets cover EBIT and net profit to herd performance, variable costs, labour, fuel and grain – bringing visibility to the cost of production. “We can work back from there around the areas to focus on that make a difference to profitability,” says Claire. “There’s no other avenue where it really comes together that well.” Key areas of focus identified through the process include feed, labour efficiency and production optimisation. The Mannings are currently working through consultant recommendations while also pursuing quick wins. “We are asking the right questions now,” says Claire. “How does this spend or this change impact the cost to produce a litre of milk? What are our one-percenters that we can swiftly improve, or what do we consider for next season?” The plan is to repeat the DFMP annually, building a data history that allows the Mannings to track performance, compare year-on-year and make more informed decisions over time. For Geoff, having the data has brought a greater sense of confidence and control. “It does give you more confidence if you know your figures and are on the right track,” he says. “Like all small businesses, you want to

try and maximise your profit margin as much as you can, but at the same time you need to keep upgrading your machinery, otherwise you end up in a hole you can’t get out of.” Looking to future opportunities The Mannings acknowledge they are still early in the journey and the full impact of changes made this year may not be visible until the next financial year. However, the foundation is now in place. “We can set some targets of where we want to optimise and improve, with the support of Dairy Australia programs and consultants,” says Claire. “We will pinpoint the areas we want to measure more.” Claire’s message to other dairy farmers is straightforward: ask for help and use what is available. “Just ask,” she says. “Access the support that is readily available to you. Talk to your local Dairy Australia team, they can connect you with the right programs, events and tools based on where your farm is at right now.” “We can always learn more, no matter what age,” Geoff says. “We always make sure we walk away from any session with insights or learnings and look at how we can apply them on the farm.” For support with business management and planning tools and data to improve farm performance, reach out to the local Dairy Australia team or visit our Farm Business page. ɋ The DFMP in Western Australia is supported by Dairy Australia and Western Dairy, through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. – Story courtesy of Dairy Australia.

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2026

30 // ANIMAL HEALTH

Udder health goes to next level THE LATEST innovation from CowManager has

taken udder health to the next level. Dairy farmer and founder of CowManager, Gerard Griffioen said Milk Sensor came about after a visit to a farm struggling with the impacts of mastitis across their herd. “Milk data collection was compromised, inaccurate and unreliable, and I knew we could come up with some technology to correct those issues.” Head of product development at Koen van Meurs said Milk Sensor was developed in collaboration with dairy farmers. It currently alerts for early mastitis onset and has five supporting milk quality indicators: temperature, conductivity, milk volume, milk flow and the vacuum level. A flashing light during milking alerts staff there is a problem in the udder. “Straight away milkers know something is wrong, This is in addition to the detailed overview of milking performance the sensor provides.“Not only does mastitis affect milk production and animal health, it also impacts profit and every farmer is concerned about that,” Gerard. The Milk Sensor is positioned close to the udder to ensure reliable data collection and a clean unobstructed milk flow. The system can be fully customised, and installation is quick and easy, just cut the tube beneath the milk cup, slide the transparent sensor into place and reattach the tubes on either side of the sensor. This allows for individual teat monitoring before the milk gets mixed. “This works with virtually any brand and type of milk cup in the cow shed,”

Early mastitis detection

Helping detect early changes in udder health is one

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of Milk Sensor’s main features. The system monitors indicators (conductivity, temperature, flow) that can flag changes associated with udder health issues — that’s monitoring, not prediction. This has a favourable effect on teat health and can prevent risk factors for mastitis such as teat tip calluses. “This preventive approach has a positive impact on animal welfare. It will help reduce culling due to high cell counts or mastitis problems, This ultimately results in a longer lifespan for individual animals.”

Measure unit performance

Another main feature of the Milk Sensor is the ability to analyse the milking process right down to individual cup level. “The proper functioning of the dairy plant is essential for preventing udder problems. Blind milking, air in the milk or a low flushing temperature aren’t visible, but they can pose a huge risk when it comes to mastitis or a high bacterial count,” Koen said. Milk Sensor also ensures continuity through the milking process when multiple milking staff are involved. “Any differences between milkings will immediately become visible. The combination of the ear and Milk Sensor, and the accompanying drafting gate from the CowManager system offers unprecedented possibilities,” CowManager’s Milk Sensor is available to existing dairy farmers who already have a CowManager cow monitoring ear sensor or are looking to implement the system. 2 More information: www.cowmanager.co.nz/ milk-sensor

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2026

MACHINERY & PRODUCTS // 31

Telehandler launches in Aus FOR THE past two years, the Bobcat TL25.60

telehandler has been proving its capabilities across construction and agricultural applications in Europe — and now, this compact powerhouse has arrived on Australian shores for the first time. The latest addition to Bobcat’s next-generation R-Series telehandler range, the TL25.60, is designed to deliver versatility and performance in tight working environments. With a 5.8-metre maximum lift height, 2.5-tonne lift capacity and 4.46-tonne operating weight, it is suited to construction, agriculture, landscaping and rental applications. Clark Equipment National Telehandler product manager Donald Goodall said there is a strong market for a telehandler of this size. “These telehandlers will be the first machine on site to move material around, and the last machine off the site.” Versatility is a key feature, with a standard quick-attach manual hitch and optional hydraulic quick hitch allowing operators to use attachments including pallet forks, buckets, augers, trenchers and sweepers. The 3.23-metre turning radius also makes the TL25.60 highly manoeuvrable in tight jobsites and confined spaces. Inside the R-Series cab, operators benefit from smart joystick controls, an interactive display, multiple steering modes and a reverse camera. Large glass panels provide excellent visibility, while the longitudinal load management indicator sits within the operator’s line of

Bobcat’s next-generation R-Series telehandler has arrived in Australia.

sight. Power comes from Bobcat’s 75hp (55.2kW) D24 Stage V diesel engine, which operates without AdBlue and is designed for efficient, quieter performance.

A load-sharing hydraulic pump allows multiple functions to be operated simultaneously, helping operators work efficiently. Backed by Clark Equipment’s extensive Australian dealer network, the TL25.60

combines Bobcat’s operator-focused design with the compact size and versatility needed for demanding worksites. “I think once people sit in this machine, they’ll be sold,” he said.

ONLY A 10% DEPOSIT REQUIRED!

TELEHANDLERS

1.99% FINANCE OVER 36 MONTHS *

*1.99% over 36 month finance is offered on new Bobcat telehandlers on a chattel mortgage with 10% deposit required, followed by equal monthly repayments and no balloon. Finance is subject to credit approval and is only available to approved ABN holders. Not available in conjunction with any other offers. Terms and conditions apply. For further details, contact Clark Equipment.

Distributed by www.bobcat.com.au | 1300 736 848

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