The Business of Dairy

My guest for this episode is Greg Kuchel, Senior Insights Manager at Rural Bank who spoke recently at the “Raising the Roof” conference in Hunter Valley of NSW about farm loans in particular for infrastructure loans related to cow housing facilities. Greg and I had such a good discussion that we have turned this into a two-part series. This first episode covers the general principles and considerations when approaching banks for finance – what you need to do, information you need to provide, what banks are looking for from you and in you and the types of loans available. In the next episode we move into financing large infrastructure projects on farms, so remember to tune in next month for part two! Links to useful resources related to this podcast:Rural Bank Insight ReportsThis podcast is an initiative of the NSW DPI Dairy Business Advisory UnitIt is brought to you in partnership the Hunter Local Land ServicesPlease share this podcast with your fellow farmers and colleagues and feel free to contact us with suggestions or comments via this email address thebusinessofdairy@gmail.comFurther NSW DPI Dairy channels to follow and subscribe to include:NSW DPI Dairy Facebook pageDPI Intensive Livestock Twitter feedNSW DPI Dairy NewsletterTranscriptProduced by “Video Lift”The information discussed in this podcast are for informative and educational purposes only and do not constitute advice. 

What were some of the features of the Top 25% of NSW Dairy Farm Monitor farms in the 2023 financial year? This month’s podcast provides insights into some of the physical and financial metrics associated with their productivity and profitability compared to that of the remaining 75% of farms in the project. Links to useful resources related to this podcast:NSW DFMP Annual ReportDairyBaseLink to January 2024 podcast: Highs and Lows of Dairy Farm Monitor 2023 This podcast is an initiative of the NSW DPI Dairy Business Advisory UnitIt is brought to you in partnership the Hunter Local Land ServicesPlease share this podcast with your fellow farmers and colleagues and feel free to contact us with suggestions or comments via this email address thebusinessofdairy@gmail.comFurther NSW DPI Dairy channels to follow and subscribe to include:NSW DPI Dairy Facebook pageDPI Intensive Livestock Twitter feedNSW DPI Dairy NewsletterTranscript here Produced by Video LiftThe information discussed in this podcast are for informative and educational purposes only and do not constitute advice. 

With a national focus on reducing dairy GHG emission intensity by 30% by 2030, farm greenhouse gas emissions are currently getting a lot of attention. This month we take a look at what has been happening with emissions on NSW dairy farms through the lens of our Dairy Farm Monitor Project.   Links to useful resources related to this podcast:NSW DFMP Annual Report (pg. 35-36)Dairy Farm Emissions (Dairy Australia)Dairying for Tomorrow – links to Aust Dairy Carbon Calculator etc.Episode 26: Dairy Carbon Emissions - What Does It All Mean? This podcast is an initiative of the NSW DPI Dairy Business Advisory UnitIt is brought to you in partnership the Hunter Local Land ServicesPlease share this podcast with your fellow farmers and colleagues and feel free to contact us with suggestions or comments via this email address thebusinessofdairy@gmail.comFurther NSW DPI Dairy channels to follow and subscribe to include:NSW DPI Dairy Facebook pageDPI Intensive Livestock Twitter feedNSW DPI Dairy NewsletterTranscript - Produced by Video LiftThe information discussed in this podcast are for informative and educational purposes only and do not constitute advice. 

The 2023 financial year saw the highest average profit for the Dairy Farm Monitor participants in the 12 years of the project in NSW. Jess Bell hosts this month’s episode as she teases out what the main drivers were behind this performance with Sheena Carter. It was yet another very challenging year with more floods which had a big impact on the majority of farms across the state. Links to useful resources related to this episode:DFMP Annual Report & Interactive ReportDairyBaseFarm Business SnapshotThis podcast is an initiative of the NSW DPI Dairy Business Advisory UnitIt is brought to you in partnership the Hunter Local Land ServicesPlease share this podcast with your fellow farmers and colleagues and feel free to contact us with suggestions or comments via this email address thebusinessofdairy@gmail.comFurther NSW DPI Dairy channels to follow and subscribe to include:NSW DPI Dairy Facebook pageDPI Intensive Livestock Twitter feedNSW DPI Dairy NewsletterTranscriptProduced by Video LiftThe information discussed in this podcast are for informative and educational purposes only and do not constitute advice. 

Rearing heifers well is an extremely important aspect of herd management. Selecting the right heifers and ensuring they reach target weights in a specified time period is integral to the future production of your herd. However rearing heifers is a costly exercise so thought and planning is important to ensure you get it right. Carrying too many heifers can be expensive and tie up farm resources. This is particularly so in dry times which we are currently seeing through much of NSW. Today my guest Neil Moss joins me to discuss the cost of feeding heifers and strategies to ensure you rear the number you need. Links to useful resources related to this podcast:Feed budgeting tool | Dairy AustraliaBack of the envelope feed budget | Dairy AustraliaMonthly back of the envelope feed budget | Dairy AustraliaThis podcast is an initiative of the NSW DPI Dairy Business Advisory Unit It is brought to you in partnership the Hunter Local Land ServicesPlease share this podcast with your fellow farmers and colleagues and feel free to contact us with suggestions or comments via this email address thebusinessofdairy@gmail.comFurther NSW DPI Dairy channels to follow and subscribe to include;NSW DPI Dairy Facebook page DPI Intensive Livestock Twitter feedNSW DPI Dairy NewsletterTranscript hereProduced by Video LiftThe information discussed in this podcast are for informative and educational purposes only and do not constitute advice. 

With much of the State of NSW currently experiencing very dry conditions NSW DPI reached out to Tim Ford, Director at Feed Central to provide an update for the industry on the current situation and outlook for fodder supply. Tim presented this information at our recent Dairy Breakfast webinar in conjunction with a presentation from the DPI Climate team on the seasonal conditions and tools available to farmers to help monitor the current conditions and assess forecasts for the period ahead. Feed Central link buyers and sellers of hay and grain across the country and provide feed analysis on what is being sold as well as a visual description. NSW DPI strongly encourage you to purchase feeds based on quality, so feed tests are a ‘must have’, regardless of where you purchase from.  This episode brings you a recording of Tim’s presentation and the show notes have a link to our YouTube page to view the Climate team’s update as well as Tim’s presentation. Also within the show notes are links to resources including feed budgeting tools and NSW DPI’s Seasonal Conditions Information Portal and Feed Quality Testing Service.Links to useful resources related to this podcast:Dairy Breakfast Webinar - https://youtu.be/fOs4pCCIOaMFeed Central | Buy Hay | Hay For Sale | Sell Hay | Feed Testing | BalesFeed quality (nsw.gov.au)Seasonal Conditions Information Portal (intersect.org.au)Drought and Supplementary Feed Calculator (nsw.gov.au)NSW DroughtHubDrought - Local Land Services (nsw.gov.au)Back of the envelope feed budget | Dairy AustraliaMonthly back of the envelope feed budget | Dairy AustraliaFeeding & Farm Systems | Dairy AustraliaThis podcast is an initiative of the NSW DPI Dairy Business Advisory UnitIt is brought to you in partnership the Hunter Local Land ServicesPlease share this podcast with your fellow farmers and colleagues and feel free to contact us with suggestions or comments via this email address thebusinessofdairy@gmail.comFurther NSW DPI Dairy channels to follow and subscribe to include;NSW DPI Dairy Facebook pageDPI Intensive Livestock Twitter feedNSW DPI Dairy NewsletterTranscript here Produced by Video LiftThe information discussed in this podcast are for informative and educational purposes only and do not constitute advice.  

Dairies are complex businesses requiring a very broad range of skills to manage. In today’s environment, good business management skills are more important than ever. This is recognised by industry organisations whose role is to support farmers such as the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Dairy Australia as well as farm consultants who provide individual farm support in various technical areas. Jane Bower, who is an Extension Officer and Engagement Lead with Dairy NSW joins me to discuss some key support programs for available for dairy farmers. We cover off on the Dairy Business Support Services program, staffing or workforce programs to help you find staff and retain them, Our Farm Our Plan for getting a plan together that will get everyone on the same page and all driving the business in the direction needed to achieve your identified goals, and much more!Links to useful resources related to this podcast:Contact Jane Bower or the Dairy NSW Team (Jane 0427 929 694)Wellbeing and Safety | NSW DroughtHubBusiness Support Services Project Dairy Farm Jobs Board Dairy Standard Chart of AccountsOur Farm Our Plan (Starting 2nd or 10th October, National Online programs)Dairy Farm Business Analysis National Online October 2023 | Dairy AustraliaFarm Business Fundamentals National Online November 2023 | Dairy AustraliaFarming with My Team - Online 2023 | Dairy AustraliaFarm Business Snapshot | Dairy AustraliaDairyBase | Dairy AustraliaDairy Australia Farm Business Program information. This podcast is an initiative of the NSW DPI Dairy Business Advisory Unit – please visit for further information and resources.It is brought to you in partnership the Hunter Local Land ServicesPlease share this podcast with your fellow farmers and colleagues and feel free to contact us with suggestions or comments via this email address thebusinessofdairy@gmail.comFurther NSW DPI Dairy channels to follow and subscribe to include:NSW DPI Dairy Facebook pageDPI Intensive Livestock Twitter feedNSW DPI Dairy NewsletterTranscript hereProduced by Video LiftThe information discussed in

Recently a farmer reference group was formed in the Mid Coast region of NSW to provide information and guidance on an economic and risk analysis of rearing non-replacement calves. The project was led by Dan Armstrong, Senior Consultant with the RM Consulting Group. In the analysis, Dan and his team used two of the farms as case studies where the goal was to sell the non-replacement calves as dairy beef and investigate whether it would be economically practical to hold onto these calves and pursue this alternative pathway.This was the second phase of a Dairy UP project looking at Sustainable Pathways for Surplus calves, led by Dairy Australia. The first phase involved a variety of consultation activities in the Nowra region with consumers, farmers, milk and meat processors and other supply chain stakeholders looking at alternative management pathways.Useful resources related to this podcast:DairyUP website - further information on this project and others www.dairyup.com.au Dairy Australia’s “Surplus Calves” and the Growing Beef from Dairy Project This podcast is an initiative of the NSW DPI Dairy Business Advisory UnitIt is brought to you in partnership the Hunter Local Land ServicesPlease share this podcast with your fellow farmers and colleagues and feel free to contact us with suggestions or comments via this email address thebusinessofdairy@gmail.comFurther NSW DPI Dairy channels to follow and subscribe to include;NSW DPI Dairy Facebook pageDPI Intensive Livestock Twitter feedNSW DPI Dairy NewsletterTranscript hereProduced by Video LiftThe information discussed in this podcast are for informative and educational purposes only and do not constitute advice. 

Interest in NSW and Australia in intensive dairy systems has grown significantly in the last decade due to many factors. These systems require significant capital investment, so it is important that if this is a system that interests you, you really do your homework. Through DairyUP, a large research, development and extension program in NSW, NSW DPI with joint funding from Dairy Australia, has undertaken an economic and social science project looking at the profitability of intensive farms in NSW and why people are considering and adopting them. This month Sheena discusses the project with Nikki Reichelt, a Research Fellow from the University of Melbourne’s Rural Innovation Research Group who undertook the farmer and consultant interviews to understand the ‘why’ of the interest and adoption in NSW and Karen Romano, National Feeding Systems Lead at Dairy Australia. Karen is responsible for a program that is providing farmers with excellent information and resources to help them in their decision making and implementation of system intensification and has a strong background in extension and farm systems.  Useful resources related to this podcast: Adapting Dairy Farm Systems website (includes links to the National Guidelines for Dairy Feedpads and Contained Housing Systems and the Farm System Evaluator) DairyUP website - further information on the Intensive Dairies project and others R,D & E programs funded by this initiative. This podcast is an initiative of the NSW DPI Dairy Business Advisory Unit  (further information and resources are available here) It is brought to you in partnership the Hunter Local Land Services Please share this podcast with your fellow farmers and colleagues and feel free to contact us with suggestions or comments via this email address thebusinessofdairy@gmail.com Further NSW DPI Dairy channels to follow and subscribe to include; NSW DPI Dairy Facebook page DPI Intensive Livestock Twitter feed NSW DPI Dairy Newsletter Transcript here Produced by Video Lift The information discussed in this podcast are for informative and educational purposes only and do not constitute advice. 

Greenhouse gases, carbon emissions, carbon credits, mitigation strategies, emission reduction targets - these are terms that are bandied about regularly in relation to agriculture and dairying. What do they all mean and how do they impact you at a farm level?This month, my colleague Zita Ritchie interviews Blake Cheer a Dairy Development Officer with NSW DPI and Aaron Simmons, a senior research scientist also with the DPI. Blake has a background in Climate & Environmental Management which was the focus of his work in a previous role in New Zealand, where a GHG emissions partnership for primary producers has been introduced.Aaron’s role sees him work on activity focussed around climate change mitigation in agricultural systems and he also dabbles in the policy and market issues around efforts to reduce GHG emissions. Useful resources related to this podcast:Australian Dairy Carbon Calculator DairyBaseThe On Farm Carbon Advice Project - For further information please contact the NSW DPI Team via their email address which is carbon@dpi.nsw.gov.au Dairy Australia online course on Climate Change:  Course: Climate Change (dairyaustralia.com.au)This podcast is an initiative of the NSW DPI Dairy Business Advisory UnitIt is brought to you in partnership the Hunter Local Land ServicesPlease share this podcast with your fellow farmers and colleagues and feel free to contact us with suggestions or comments via this email address thebusinessofdairy@gmail.comFurther NSW DPI Dairy channels to follow and subscribe to include;NSW DPI Dairy Facebook pageDPI Intensive Livestock Twitter feedNSW DPI Dairy NewsletterTranscript hereProduced by Video LiftThe information discussed in this podcast are for informative and educational purposes only and do not constitute advice. 

NSW dairy farmers have faced many extreme weather and climatic challenges in recent years from severe and prolonged drought to bushfires and then widespread flooding. There is no doubt we will continue to see these events and others occur in the future. We need to get better at preparing for, responding to and managing our recovery in these situations.With this in mind, last year a large collaborative research, development and extension program worth $16 million was launched. This 5-year program aims to fast track the NSW dairy industry to a position so that farm businesses have tools and options they can use to help them survive and prosper under the inevitability of changing conditions - be they economic, social or climatic.This project is called DairyUP and is led by one of my guests today, Professor Yani Garcia who is Professor of Dairy Science at The University of Sydney and Director of the Dairy Research Foundation. We will be discussing some of the outcomes to date on a few of the projects and the implications they have for farmers. Joining us in conversation is Juan Gargiulo one of my DPI dairy colleagues who plays a leading role in several DairyUP projects.Useful resources related to this podcast:DairyUP websiteSubscribe to DairyUP e-newsletterRegister to attend the DairyUP South Coast Road Trip (21st & 22nd June 2033)Register for the 2023 DRF Symposium (7 - 8th November 2023)­­This podcast is an initiative of the NSW DPI Dairy Business Advisory UnitIt is brought to you in partnership the Hunter Local Land ServicesPlease share this podcast with your fellow farmers and colleagues and feel free to contact us with suggestions or comments via this email address thebusinessofdairy@gmail.comFurther NSW DPI Dairy channels to follow and subscribe to include;NSW DPI Dairy Facebook pageDPI Intensive Livestock Twitter feedNSW DPI Dairy NewsletterTranscript hereProduced by Video LiftThe information discussed in this podcast are for informative and educational purposes only and do not constitute advice. 

Silage is used to varying degrees and in different ways on NSW and Australian dairy farms, depending on the type of feeding system the farm has. It can be an important component of your herd’s diet and given that producing it comes with additional costs compared to directly grazed pasture, it is important to make sure you do it well to make it economical.My guest this month is Neil Griffiths, a well-known agronomist who worked for many years with the NSW Dept of Primary Industries as a Pasture Production Technical Specialist and has been heavily involved with the development and delivery of the nationally recognised TopFodder program which aims to develop your skills in successful silage making, storing and feeding. In this episode we discuss some of the key areas that drive profitable silage making.Useful resources related to this podcast:Register for Hunter Local Land Services 3 day TopFodder workshop with Neil Griffiths (starts 29/05/2023)Wrapping Your Own Silage: The Hidden Costs of Owning and Operating Machinery (extensionAus article by Sam Henty includes worksheet and example)NSW DPI Guide to Machinery Costs and Contract Rates (PrimeFact 2009)Dairy Australia - Making SilageThis podcast is an initiative of the NSW DPI Dairy Business Advisory UnitIt is brought to you in partnership the Hunter Local Land ServicesPlease share this podcast with your fellow farmers and colleagues and feel free to contact us with suggestions or comments via this email address thebusinessofdairy@gmail.comFurther NSW DPI Dairy channels to follow and subscribe to include:NSW DPI Dairy Facebook pageDPI Intensive Livestock Twitter feedNSW DPI Dairy NewsletterTranscript here Produced by Video LiftThe information discussed in this podcast are for informative and educational purposes only and do not constitute advice. 

Guests Bill Fulkerson and Ken Bryant speak with Zita Ritchie about a new cultivar of kikuyu which has shown resistance to fungal infections, particularly kikuyu yellows. Key management strategies are also discussed for kikuyu. Bill is a well know dairy researcher with many years of experience, particularly supporting farmers on the Far North Coast of NSW. Ken is a dairy farmer at Bexhill near Lismore and a director of the Norco Board and has been involved in the development of the new cultivar as part of the local Dairy Industry Development Group on the Far North Coast.Useful resources related to this podcast:Nathan Jennings (North Coast Local Land Services) nathan.jennings@lls.nsw.gov.auThis podcast is an initiative of the NSW DPI Dairy Business Advisory UnitIt is brought to you in partnership the Hunter Local Land ServicesPlease share this podcast with your fellow farmers and colleagues and feel free to contact us with suggestions or comments via this email address thebusinessofdairy@gmail.comFurther NSW DPI Dairy channels to follow and subscribe to include:NSW DPI Dairy Facebook pageDPI Intensive Livestock Twitter feedNSW DPI Dairy NewsletterTranscript here Produced by Video LiftThe information discussed in this podcast are for informative and educational purposes only and do not constitute advice. 

It is coming up to a key time of the year for many of our dairy businesses, that being the autumn sowing period. There are many things to consider now to get the best outcome for your pasture production in the winter and spring period ahead. My guest this month is agronomist Josh Hack from Ag Farming Systems. Josh recently spoke at an autumn pasture and seasonal update day held on farm near Taree on the Mid North Coast of NSW which was organised by the Hunter Local Lands Services.In this session Josh discusses the 5 key things he thinks every farmer needs to get right before sowing is considered and reinforces the need to be prepared and ready to sow when good conditions present themselves. We also touch on some of the challenges that farmers have faced with pastures over an unusually cool summer period for much of NSW. Useful resources related to this podcast:Drought and Supplementary Feed Cost Calculator appFeed Cost CalculatorDairy Australia’s Feed Budgeting ToolThis podcast is an initiative of the NSW DPI Dairy Business Advisory UnitIt is brought to you in partnership the Hunter Local Land ServicesPlease share this podcast with your fellow farmers and colleagues and feel free to contact us with suggestions or comments via this email address thebusinessofdairy@gmail.comFurther NSW DPI Dairy channels to follow and subscribe to include;NSW DPI Dairy Facebook pageDPI Intensive Livestock Twitter feedNSW DPI Dairy NewsletterTranscript here Produced by Video LiftThe information discussed in this podcast are for informative and educational purposes only and do not constitute advice. 

Genomics - to some farmers this is an amazing innovation that they have embraced with open arms. For others, it may be a bit of a scientific mystery but according to Rob Cooper, my guest this month it is actually very simple to use and a powerful tool that he is passionate about and would like to see more people in the industry adopt.Rob is well known to many in dairying. He was a successful dairy farmer for many years always open to new ideas, reading and travelling widely to increase his knowledge and then implementing this into his business. He first started using genomics in 2013 and since selling the dairy business he has been involved in many industry programs and groups, including board membership on Subtropical Dairy, DairyBio and Dairy FeedBase as well as current Chair of NSW’s Dairy Action Plan Implementation Panel.Rob shares with us the benefits and opportunities of genomics from his experience in a very practical sense today. Useful resources related to this podcast:To contact Rob Cooper robacooper@bigpond.com DataGene website Dairy Australia Cow and Heifer Genomics | Dairy Australia“Genomics at a Glance” webinar with Peter Williams (DataGene) and Rob Cooper.This podcast is an initiative of the NSW DPI Dairy Business Advisory Unit It is brought to you in partnership the Hunter Local Land ServicesPlease share this podcast with your fellow farmers and colleagues and feel free to contact us with suggestions or comments via this email address thebusinessofdairy@gmail.comFurther NSW DPI Dairy channels to follow and subscribe to include;NSW DPI Dairy Facebook pageDPI Intensive Livestock Twitter feedNSW DPI Dairy NewsletterTranscript hereProduced by Video LiftThe information discussed in this podcast are for informative and educational purposes only and do not constitute advice. 

NSW Dairy Farm Monitor results were recently released for the 21/22FY. Analysis of the performance of the 36 farms involved in the project showed a wide range in profitability. All farms experienced above average rainfall for the year - many of them subject to significant flooding and prolonged wet conditions which impacted on performance. However, despite the impact of the incredibly wet year and higher input costs, strong milk prices and livestock trading conditions enabled the second highest average profit position in 11 years of DFMP in NSW at an average of $1.71/kgMS. Useful resources related to this podcast:NSW Dairy Farm Monitor Annual Report and resourcesNSW DFMP Interactive ReportThis podcast is an initiative of the NSW DPI Dairy Business Advisory UnitIt is brought to you in partnership the Hunter Local Land Services Please share this podcast with your fellow farmers and colleagues and feel free to contact us with suggestions or comments via this email address thebusinessofdairy@gmail.comFurther NSW DPI Dairy channels to follow and subscribe to include;NSW DPI Dairy Facebook pageDPI Intensive Livestock Twitter feedNSW DPI Dairy NewsletterTranscript hereProduced by Video LiftThe information discussed in this podcast are for informative and educational purposes only and do not constitute advice. 

NSW dairy farmers have been faced with some incredibly challenging seasonal conditions over the last 2 years which has seen one in one-hundred-year floods, repeated floods and prolonged wet conditions on many coastal farms and now our inland farms as well. These conditions are not limited to NSW, most states on the eastern seaboard have been affected by the impact of la Nina. Apart from the immediate and devastating impacts of floods on dairy farms, the flooding in inland grain and hay growing regions is creating a future feed shortage for the industry.  Neil Moss, consultant with Scibus highlights key things to focus on in times of flood, how to manage wet conditions well and strategies to deal with the coming shortage of spring hay supplies. Useful resources related to this podcast:Farming ForecasterThis podcast is an initiative of the NSW DPI Dairy Business Advisory UnitIt is brought to you in partnership the Hunter Local Land ServicesPlease share this podcast with your fellow farmers and colleagues and feel free to contact us with suggestions or comments via this email address thebusinessofdairy@gmail.comFurther NSW DPI Dairy channels to follow and subscribe to include;NSW DPI Dairy Facebook pageDPI Intensive Livestock Twitter feedNSW DPI Dairy NewsletterEpisode TranscriptProduced by Video LiftThe information discussed in this podcast are for informative and educational purposes only and do not constitute advice. 

This month, Zita Ritchie interviews Paula Gray. Paula is a farmer form Rolland’s Plains on the Mid North Coast of NSW who farms with her husband Mick. The Gray’s have been the NSW case study farm for a project called Dairy Businesses for Future Climates which enables farmers to understand the likely impacts of climate on their farm and help them prepare to better manage the risks or changes.It is the first time this project has been run in NSW with previous work having been done in dairying regions in Victoria, South Aust and Tasmania.This project has been funded through the large R,D&E program DairyUP and Dairy Australia and facilitated by the NSW DPI. Useful resources related to this podcast:DairyUPDairyUP clip of “Gray’s Focus Farm” Dairy Businesses for Future Climates (Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania)This podcast is an initiative of the NSW DPI Dairy Business Advisory UnitIt is brought to you in partnership the Hunter Local Land ServicesPlease share this podcast with your fellow farmers and colleagues and feel free to contact us with suggestions or comments via this email address thebusinessofdairy@gmail.comFurther NSW DPI Dairy channels to follow and subscribe to include;NSW DPI Dairy Facebook pageDPI Intensive Livestock Twitter feedNSW DPI Dairy NewsletterTranscript hereProduced by Video LiftThe information discussed in this podcast are for informative and educational purposes only and do not constitute advice. 

This month our focus is on technology and my guest is Dr Nicolas Lyons, who is Leader Dairy with the NSW DPI dairy team. Nico has had a career shaped by his involvement with dairy farm technology, both in research and on farm implementation.Technology used on dairy farms and agriculture in general is ever evolving and, if suited to the farm and farmer’s business it can help improve on-farm productivity by making tasks easier and labour more efficient, providing the manager with information to help them make more effective and timely decisions in areas such as herd and pasture management. In this episode we touch on some of the technology developments within Australia in recent years and hear from Nico about his involvement with the International Precision Dairy Farming Association based in the Netherlands and his recent attendance at their conference in Vienna.  Useful resources related to this podcast:NSW DPI Dairy website (look for Precision Dairy Farming)Precision Dairy Farming AssociationPodcast 6 - Are AMS systems profitable in Australia?DairyBioThis podcast is an initiative of the NSW DPI Dairy Business Advisory UnitIt is brought to you in partnership the Hunter Local Land ServicesPlease share this podcast with your fellow farmers and colleagues and feel free to contact us with suggestions or comments via this email address thebusinessofdairy@gmail.comFurther NSW DPI Dairy channels to follow and subscribe to include;NSW DPI Dairy Facebook pageDPI Intensive Livestock Twitter feedNSW DPI Dairy NewsletterTranscript here Produced by Video LiftThe information discussed in this podcast are for informative and educational purposes only and do not constitute advice. 

Kevin and Brodie Game with their young family, dairy at Bemboka on the far south coast of NSW and have worked hard at achieving their goals over the last 12 years. From small beginnings they have grown into a large and profitable business, with the inevitable ups and downs along the way. They have also just reached the end of their first year as the NSW Focus Farm which has provided them with great support and guidance, so along with Kevin and Brodie, I am joined by Justin Walsh who is facilitating their Focus Farm project. We often hear that it is too hard for young people to get into dairying and ultimately own their own farm, unless they are fortunate enough to already be part of a family-owned generational business.Today we hear how a dream such as this can become a reality through good planning, management and being able to make the most of opportunities when they present themselves. Useful resources related to this podcast:Leasing dairy assets resource packDairy NSW facebook pageThis podcast is an initiative of the NSW DPI Dairy Business Advisory UnitIt is brought to you in partnership the Hunter Local Land ServicesPlease share this podcast with your fellow farmers and colleagues and feel free to contact us with suggestions or comments via this email address thebusinessofdairy@gmail.comFurther NSW DPI Dairy channels to follow and subscribe to include;NSW DPI Dairy Facebook pageDPI Intensive Livestock Twitter feedNSW DPI Dairy NewsletterTranscript hereProduced by Video LiftThe information discussed in this podcast are for informative and educational purposes only and do not constitute advice.