Dairy farmer grants available to improve technology uptake on farm
EastAUSmilk has been successful in securing funding through the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries to improve technology uptake on the dairy farm. The first round of grants for the Dairy Farmers Technology Uptake Program (DFTUP) has closed, offering 25% of total tech cost up to a maximum of $15,000 ex GST, per dairy business.
There are two parts to the program, multiple information and training workshops in each dairying region, and provision of financial assistance for technology uptake. The program aims to increase knowledge and adoption of technology to improve labour efficiencies as well as cow health, welfare and fertility. The dates for workshops and training sessions will be announced soon. However, if there is a particular technology you are interested in and want to learn more about, please get in touch.
Grants available to eligible dairy farmers in Queensland which includes eligible items such as:
Autodrafting gates
Automated feeding systems
Cup removers
Auto calf feeders
Drones (spray or fertiliser)
Heat detection collars or ear tags
Precision technology
Mobile app upgrades and towers
Somatic cell count sensors/ in-line SSC detectors
Businesses in general are struggling with labour shortages with businesses located in rural or regional areas, facing bigger challenges due to lack of population density and accessibility. Mechanisation or technology investments on farm looks to not only improve labour efficiencies resulting in less time demanded per job but also improve decision making and enhance business planning.
The addition of technology on farm can provide additional benefits which includes improved herd health management and monitoring. Automated calf feeders, for example, reduce labour and improves overall welfare for the calf, with the option to tailor feeding rates per calf but also maintaining optimal hygiene of the equipment.
Jade Chan, eastAUSmilk Project Officer
Installing a water chiller and solar pays off for dairy
A dairy in the Darling Downs region, milking 280 cows, has implemented a photovoltaic (PV) system with load shifting through chilling water management opportunity based on the energy audit report the farm received through the Energy Savers Plus Program Extension. Through the program the business site received a dairy shed energy audit carried out by AgVet Energy and a further assessment carried out by Websters Group followed by an electrical site analysis performed by Solar Energy & Battery Storage Solutions (SEBSS) all engaged by eastAUSmilk.
The goal of the business was to reduce electricity costs by firstly lowering supply from the grid and secondly, with the reduced grid supply, transitioning from the demand tariff to a consumption tariff such as Tariff 20.
Implementing the solar system along with water chilling allows for increased solar utilisation by the business as large portions of the business’ energy use occurs outside of daylight hours with milking. Excess solar energy is used during the day to chill water and then the cold water is used through a plate cooler to reduce the temperature of milk before it reaches the vat offsetting energy use by the refrigeration system.
Monitoring the farm energy use from July to October 2021 an average PV energy utilisation of 67% was achieved.
The total load was 319 kWh/day with an average 210 kWh/day being supplied by the grid. With a grid supply charge of 29.46 c/kWh and a 109 kWh being offset by PV the system conservatively achieves an annual electricity bill saving of more than $11,700.
Additionally, on average 53.92kWh were exported daily at a feed in rate of 6.581 c/kWh the PV system is generating export income of over $1,200.
The total expenditure invested by the business was about $76,000. With over $12,900 in annual savings from reduced grid supply and income generated from solar PV export the calculated payback period of this investment is 5.9 years with a return on investment of 17%.
Implementing the 30kW PV system the grid supply has been under 272 kWh/day. Four consecutive months of this reduced grid supply makes the business eligible for a consumption only Tariff such as T20. This will provide the business further annual savings reducing the payback period and increasing the returning on investment.
Solar Energy & Battery Storage Solutions can provide a comprehensive electrical data analysis for your business, Paul Reynolds on 0414 636 099.
Torie Harrison – eastAUSmilk Project Officer
Automation Saved Labour, Water & Energy for Solid Set Irrigation
A Jaggan dairy has implemented an irrigation energy management opportunity from the energy audit report they received through the Energy Savers Plus Program Extension. Through the program the business received a dairy shed energy audit, carried out by AgVet Energy, as well as an irrigation energy audit, completed by The Energy Guys, both engaged by QDO.
The farm aims to increase their homegrown feed and have been increasing their irrigatable area with implementing sections of solid set irrigation systems.
With more and more sections of solid set irrigation systems to manage the business chose to invest in automation.
eastAUSmilk Project Officer, Jade Chan, and I visited the site and conducted a performance test on the irrigation to evaluate the actual energy savings and outcomes achieved since implementing a recommendation from the energy audit.
Installing an automation system to their solid set irrigation has resulted in labour-saving benefits.
When irrigating manually the irrigations would be run for twice in five-hour intervals (per station) which meant a late-night run into the paddocks to switch over the stations. To apply the 287ML per year there are 16 cycles of the 17 stations per year. With each cycle taking 9 nights the business was irrigating 144 nights per year.
Labour required to open and shut valves on the irrigator is estimated to be 15 mins costing the business approximately $2,880 per year. The new automation system uses a controller to manage irrigation scheduling with minimal time required to switch over sections.
The automation has also increased the water efficiency of business as previously there was approximately a 10% over application of irrigation. The improvements have allowed the irrigation to be applied across three-hour intervals instead of two five-hour intervals. Reducing the excessive application of irrigation water, saving 14ML.
Reducing the hours of irrigation also results in a lower energy use saving the business 4,861kWh annually.
With smaller application rates soil moisture remains at optimum for longer, smaller amounts are applied which reduces excess irrigation water applied and will improve pasture production.
The farm also upgraded the sprinklers on a section of the irrigations to improve their water use efficiency.
The pre-existing sprinklers were replaced with NaanDanJain 5035 sprinklers which improved the irrigation’s distribution of uniformity (Du). The new sprinklers were able to achieve 79.91% in comparison to the 58.4% achieved by the old sprinklers. This also increased the average application rate to 9.7mm/hr from 4.4mm/hr. Improving the irrigation efficiency of their solid set will also improve levels of production by increasing effective irrigatable area.
The total expenditure for the business to implement the upgrades was over $47,000. Valuing the increased pasture production at $5,000, plus the labour saving of $2,880 and $2,166 for electricity savings the calculated payback period of this investment is 4.7 years with a return on investment of 21.3%.
Torie Harrison – eastAUSmilk Project Officer
Big attendance at Dairy Resilience Dinners
Well we managed to pull it off. In two weeks eastAUSmilk hosted eight Dairy Resilience Dinners across the flood impacted regions of Queensland.
The meetings were held in Wondai, Kandanga, Maleny, Beaudesert, Plainlands, Allora, Toowoomba and Pinelands.
Another Dairy Resilience Dinner is to be held in Malanda at The Top Rail (Old RSL) on Thursday 21st April.
Please RSVP to 0437 923 398. Jade looks forward to seeing you there!
The events were a huge success with attendance reaching over 160 people. Big thank you to all our farmers who supported the events. I also need to thank the DAF Dairy Team and the eastAUSmilk team for their support made it possible.
When all types, social, sporting, community and industry events were being cancelled due to flooding it made me convinced that Dairy Resilience Dinners were needed now more than ever.
These events have been delivered through the Farm Business Resilience Program which aims to build the strategic management capacity of farmers to prepare for and manage business and climate risks.
Feedback received has been positive with most expressing the dinner was a great opportunity to get off farm for a couple of hours and check in on how our friends are coping. The general sentiment is that we should have more of these events for the dairy industry.
Discussions focused on the flood impacts on farm and the various assistance available for primary producers to assist their businesses with flood recovery as well as touching on the new drought assistance suite.
It was fantastic to have representatives from QRIDA, Rural Aid and the DAF Dairy Team in attendance to support the discussions.
The Farm Business Resilience Program are co-funded through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and the Queensland Government’s Drought and Climate Adaptation Program DCAP.
Torie Harrison – Project Manager eastAUSmilk
Invisible Dangers after a Flood
It seems like we can’t catch a break, first the fires, then the drought and now floods. Farmers have been affected all around South East Queensland and North East NSW where there is a big clean-up job and damage assessments underway. However, these wet and humid conditions that follow a flood event are the ideal environments for bacterial diseases to thrive posing a risk to yourself as well as staff who are assisting with clean up.
In previous floods the rates of Leptospirosis, Melioidosis and mosquito borne viruses (Ross River, Barmah Forest virus etc) increase. Incubation periods are 5-15 days for Leptospirosis, 1-21 days for melioidosis and 2-15 for mosquito borne viruses although symptoms can present up to 30 days after.
Symptoms include:
Leptospirosis – flu like symptoms, red eyes, stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, cough, yellowing of skin and eyes, skin rash
Melioidosis – Fever, pain/swelling, chest pain, headache, stomach pain, joint pain, all depending on where the infection is present
Mosquito Borne Virus - headache, fever, joint or muscle pain, skin rash, fatigue and nausea
Minimising your risk:
Cover cuts and abrasions,
Wear gloves where possible and wash hands thoroughly before eating, drinking and/or smoking
Shower thoroughly after contacting contaminated floodwaters, soil and mud
Application of insect repellent, especially dawn & dusk; wearing loose, light coloured clothing
Use respiratory protection (P2 or higher) if possible to minimise melioidosis infection
Various Government and Non-government assistance is available and the list continues to grow for those who are affected by the floodwaters.
Government:
Disaster recovery payment - $1000 per person, $400 per child under 16 for eligible LGA’s
Emergency hardship assistance grants - $180 per person, $900 for families of 5+ persons
Extraordinary Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants - $75,000 for flood affected producers
Disaster assistance loans – Up to $250,000 for 10 years
Not for profit:
Rural aid – financial aid, fodder, farm army and counselling
Lions NEED4FEED – assistance with emergency fodder
Drought Angels – financial support and farm assistance
BlazeAid – resurrecting fences and clean up
Please feel free to contact with the team at eastAUSmilk on 07 3236 2955 or Jade on 0437 923 398 if you need any assistance with application forms, resources and/or want to register for BlazeAid to come to your property to help with fencing.
Jade Chan – Project Officer eastAUSmilk