Murray Dairy News
Focus Farm Project
This month, Daryl Poole from RMCG Consultants introduces the focus farm from the north west of Victoria to provide an insight into another farm involved in the project.
Leigh Verhey and Angela Turner own and operate a dairy farm located at Koondrook and they have taken on the role of being one of the focus farms for the Murray Dairy Focus Farm Project. Leigh and Angela both have dairy in their blood having grown up on dairy farms in the region, but have purchased their current property in their own right.
They first purchased their farm in July 2005 and began milking 130 cows on 56 hectares in a ten a side herringbone dairy. They had very little equity in the business and the farm was run down, however they could see its potential and took on the challenge. In the following six years they have nearly tripled the land area to 156 hectares and doubled the herd size 260 cows. The dairy itself has remained the same and this is one of the future challenges that Leigh and Angela face as time spent in the shed has become an issue with the increase in operation.
The growth and development of Leigh and Angela’s business has occurred during a challenging period for the region. Their achievement reflects their hard work and the passion that they have for their dairy farm business.
Leigh has a strong focus on utilising as much home grown feed as possible and sees this as an important profit driver for the business. The feed grown on the farm has changed in recent years due to lower water allocations; currently the majority of the area is sown down to shaftal and annual ryegrass, with a small area of lucerne. The feed base for the farm in the future is one of the aspects of the business that Leigh it keen to explore as part of the Focus Farm Project.
Leigh and Angel feed approximately 1.5 tonnes of grain per cow per milking in the dairy and Leigh likes to see the cows produce their bodyweight in milk solids.
Leigh and Angela also have access to two leased properties in close proximity to the home farm, with a total area of 106 hectares. They have a close working relationship with both of the owners of the properties that they lease, and the couple strongly value the contribution they make to their business. The leased properties provide additional fodder and carry young stock and dry cows. Like many other dairy farmers. Leigh and Angela have had some trying moments in the recent drought and questioned their future. However, during that time they have managed to strengthen their business relationships, which they see is as really important for the future success of their business.
Leigh and Angela are excited to be involved in the Murray Dairy Focus Farm project as they see it as great opportunity to help them achieve their business goals. They want to grow the equity in their business to help reduce some of their financial risk and to be able to invest in the farm to improve productivity and make life a little easier.
For more information about the Murray Dairy Focus Farm Project, please contact Tori Rath, telephone (03) 5833 5927.
