I am a third-generation dairy farmer from Montana Tasmania and have been involved with dairy for over 30 years now on the family farm. My family has been in dairy since 1929. The farm is the only original Soldier Settlement block still held in the same family name from that era. I began milking 180 cows in 1990 on what was a predominantly beef/sheep farm and took over management of the whole farm in 2003, making the move to 500 dairy cows in 2008 and continually growing since that time.
We currently are milking 950 cows twice daily in a 50 unit De Laval rotary. Dairy area is 250ha (200ha of pivot irrigation). Total farm area is 806ha with 150ha plantation forest. Farm has an 800 cow capacity feed pad and 120 cow capacity calving barn for the wetter months. The herd is predominantly Friesian/Holstein with some crossbreds and we have a spring calving pattern. The farm also runs a small but growing beef operation with all young stock grown out on farm.
Off farm I am a member of the TFGA Dairy Council and the Greater Meander Irrigation Scheme Advisory Committee. I am a single parent looking after my teenage son Mathew. We often enjoy bush walking in the beautiful central highlands.