Centre Pivot Wins Over Solid Set Irrigation
A Malanda 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.
In the past the farm had always implemented solid set irrigation systems and twelve sections of solid set irrigate a 28Ha area. The energy audit found there would be more benefits for the business to implement a center pivot for their next irrigation project.
Installing a center pivot irrigator with 150mm PVC mainline covering an area of approximately 11.2ha has increased the farm’s irrigatable area and pasture production potential as well as being water, energy and labour efficient.
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.
The main saving for the business has been the increase in irrigatable area and improved uniformity of water application. Across the 11.2Ha an increased in pasture production of around 23 tonnes of dry matter annually could be expected.
Another saving for the business has been labour. A centre pivot requires significantly less labour to setup and operate in comparison to a solid set system, where the addition of several valves that require manual opening and shutting increases the labour requirements.
To apply 75ML over 11.2ha, a solid set system would run for 772 hours/year at the estimated flow of 27LPS and with 12 hour runs this is equivalent to 64 set ups. A solid set station can take approximately a half hour to set up amounting to 32 hours per year.
The center pivot system allows remote control and irrigation scheduling. Minimal time is required to set up and switch on or off. Total labour savings over the course of the year would be $2 560 costed at $80 per hour.
The pivot will also save 1,647kWh/year based on 75ML annual application in comparison to a solid set system saving $378.80/year.
The centre pivot can apply irrigation to the paddock(s) with less head requirement, drawing less energy demand from the pump. The proposed solid set irrigation was estimated to have a duty point for the bore pump of 27LPS at 117m total head, whereas the centre pivot will be performing at 29LPS at 107m total head.
The total expenditure for the business to implement the upgrades was just under $94,000. Valuing the increased pasture production at $5,000, plus the labour saving of $2,560 and $379 for electricity savings the calculated payback period of this investment is 11.8 years with a return on investment of 8.4%.
Torie Harrison – eastAUSmilk Project Officer
Reaching the dry patches in Solid Set Irrigation
A Mount Mee 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.
Replacing the pump, changing the pump location to shorten the mainline and changing sprinklers in the solid set irrigation system has increased the pumping, water, and labour efficiency.
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.
The previous irrigation system did not perform well, and uniformity of the irrigation was very poor, with 20% of the area receiving nil or minimal irrigation applications. Now the dry area has been reduced to just 2% with the wetted diameter almost doubling from 7.2 to 14m.
The catch can data shows the distribution uniformity has significantly improved from under 14% to over 62%. Similarly, the coefficient of uniformity has also been improved from 43.5% to now over 78%.
The main saving for the business has been the increase in irrigatable area and improved uniformity of water application. Across the 4.4Ha an increased in pasture production of around 18 tonnes of dry matter annually could be expected.
The new system almost halved the pumping time; however, uses 541kWh more energy increasing the business’ electricity bill approximately $122 annually. The new pump has a higher energy draw 20kW per hour. With the system flow rate of 17L per second it runs for 220 hours to deliver 13.5mL, a total of 4,409kW per annum. The old pump’s energy draw was 9.6kW per hour with a flow rate of 9.3L per second it pumped for 403 hours to achieve the same 13.5mL, a total of 3,868kW per annum.
The total expenditure for the business to implement the upgrades was just over $30,000. Valuing the increased pasture production at $7,500 and minus the $122 increase in electricity bill the calculated payback period of this investment is 4.1 years with a return on investment of 24%.
There will also be a significant labour saving for the business that was not considered in the calculations. The increased flow rate allows for two lines of sprinklers to be run where previously only one line was operated at a time which will close to halve the labour required to irrigate the area.
Torie Harrison – eastAUSmilk Project Officer
eastAUSmilk outlines its priorities
The leadership of former QDO president Brian Tessmann was acknowledged at eastAUSmilk's first board meeting last week.
New dairy lobby group eastAUSmilk has outlined its priorities, with an emphasis on fresh milk producers.
The organisations board of directors held its first meeting last week.
This provided an opportunity for the new group, representing eastern seaboard dairy producers from the southern border of NSW to the tip of Queensland, to meet to discuss issues challenging the industry.
President Matt Trace said the opportunities arising from the merger of Queensland Dairyfarmers' Organisation and the Dairy Connect Farmers Group were profound.
"They represent a strong platform from which to represent dairy producers with a unity of purpose before government, retailers, processors and industry stakeholders," he said.
"The inaugural eastAUSmilk board meeting illustrated that we had far more in common than what a 'false border' represents across agriculture generally and dairy specifically.
"Fresh milk producers face many common issues and we will be putting forward strong policy positions on issues including 'truth in labelling'; standardised milk sampling, testing and calibration of equipment; environmental and climate sustainability and enhancing the industry mandatory code of conduct.
"All of which will lead to eastAUSmilk seeking strong farmgate prices to ensure a viable dairy industry now and into the future."
Advocacy and lobbying will play a vital part of achieving positive and pro-active policy outcomes in those areas of concern to dairy farmers.
eastAUSmilk co-CEO Shaughn Morgan said the Federal election next year would provide an opportunity to seek commitments from the government, opposition and independent senators to commit to the recommendations of recent Senate and State Parliamentary Committee Inquiries.
"The Australian industry continues to confront issues that date back to dairy deregulation and now is the time to prepare for the future growth of the industry generally," he said
"The NSW Government and Opposition accepted the recommendation from the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into the sustainability of the State's dairy industry in 2018 for the establishment of a NSW Dairy Advocate, a similar commitment federally to the establishment of a Federal Dairy Advocate, with statutory powers and an independent office to oversee the industry, with Australian Competition and Consumer Commission support and guidance, would send a strong message of political will for future dairy growth and sustainability.
"The commissioner would be a 'one stop shop' for the industry and would be an advocate with government as well as safeguarding the welfare of the dairy industry in conjunction with the mandatory dairy code."
The board also acknowledged the commitment, drive and passion that the former QDO president Brian Tessmann had provided to the dairy industry.
Mr Trace said Mr Tessmann's leadership assisted in the creation of eastAUSmilk and "was the catalyst that brought fresh milk producers together to be united and to grow the business of dairy".
"Together, we will move toward a collaborative dairy farmer cohort cooperating collectively for the good of the dairy industry generally."
eastAUSmilk merges QDO and NSW Dairy Connect, starts work on December 1, 2021
Merged advocacy body eastAUSmilk began operation in Wednesday, promising a new era of direct representation for NSW and Queensland dairy farmers.
eastAUSmilk chair, former Queensland Dairyfarmers Organisation vice-president, Matt Trace said the new industry body aimed to represent dairy producers from southern NSW to the tip of Queensland.
"The significance of eastAUSmilk will be its strength in numbers and a unity of purpose that will be underpinned by the new organisation while bringing into play the best of the QDO and NSW's Dairy Connect Farmers' Group," Mr Trace said
"I am honoured to have been elected as inaugural chair and I look forward to working with the other members of the board and staff of eastAUSmilk to achieve a positive outcome for dairy producers in coming weeks, months and years."
Mr Trace said many issues needed to be addressed.
"We must ensure that when increases in dairy prices occurs, such as that recently announced by the supermarkets for home-brand milk, that a part of that increase will be passed down the dairy value chain to ensure a win-win for all those involved in the dairy process," he said.
"Supermarket customers have shown a strong willingness to support dairy farmers due to the high nutritional produce that dairy farmers supply to their processor but they need to be assured that when they pay that extra price at the supermarket checkout, the dairy farmer is receiving a fair share of that increased price."
Mr Trace said eastAUSmilk's stronger cross-state representation would allow it to advocate more strongly to government, stakeholders and other interest groups about the importance of the dairy industry.
Other directors on the eastAUSmilk board are James Geraghty, Gary Wenzel, Waylon Barron, Ruth Kydd and Graham Forbes.
Mr Forbes, a dairy farmer from Gloucester, NSW, was elected vice-chair.
"I am looking forward to working with Matt and the other members of the board to achieve positive and collaborative outcomes for dairy producers from the six district council regions of eastAUSmilk," Mr Forbes said.
"The opportunities for the new organisation to address the systemic issues that remain within the dairy value chain will be immense as will the challenges that we will confront."
Mr Forbes said the organisation would meet with members and other dairy farmers about the opportunities it would provide.
"The Australian dairy industry is a crossroads and being united and speaking with one voice will ensure long-term sustainability and a viable dairy industry for future generations of dairy farmers," he said.
Work begins for eastAUSmilk
Merged advocacy body eastAUSmilk began operation on Wednesday, promising a new era of direct representation for NSW and Queensland dairy farmers.
I am honoured to have been elected as inaugural chair and I look forward to working with the other members of the board and staff of eastAUSmilk to achieve a positive outcome for dairy producers in coming weeks, months and years.
The new industry body aimed to represent dairy producers from southern NSW to the tip of Queensland.
The significance of eastAUSmilk will be its strength in numbers and a unity of purpose that will be underpinned by the new organisation while bringing into play the best of the QDO and NSW's Dairy Connect Farmers' Group.
There are many issues needing to be addressed.
We must ensure that when increases in dairy prices occurs, such as that recently announced by the supermarkets for home-brand milk, that a part of that increase will be passed down the dairy value chain to ensure a win-win for all those involved in the dairy process.
Supermarket customers have shown a strong willingness to support dairy farmers due to the high nutritional produce that dairy farmers supply to their processor but they need to be assured that when they pay that extra price at the supermarket checkout, the dairy farmer is receiving a fair share of that increased price.
eastAUSmilk's stronger cross-state representation would allow it to advocate more strongly to government, stakeholders and other interest groups about the importance of the dairy industry.
Other directors on the eastAUSmilk board are James Geraghty, Gary Wenzel, Waylon Barron, Ruth Kydd and Graham Forbes.
I am proud to have Graham Forbes, a dairy farmer from Gloucester, NSW, as the vice-chair and I look forward to working with all of the board members.
Matt Trace – eastAUSmilk President
Merged dairy body eastAUSmilk hasn’t minced words in its first policy foray
Supermarket operators on the eastern seaboard have been warned that milk-price increases should be passed down the supply chain so dairy farmers get their fair share.
A statement from the newly-formed eastAUSmilk, the brand adopted by the newly merged Queensland Dairyfarmers Organisation and NSW’s Dairy Connect, suggests the body will be taking a more prominent role in advocacy moving forward.
EastAUSmilk chair Matt Trace, the former VP of the QDO, said the significance of the body will be its strength in numbers and a unity of purpose.
Among the issues he singled out that the organisation will be pursuing is the fairness of consumer milk pricing.
“We must ensure that when increases in dairy prices occurs, such as that recently announced by the supermarkets for home-brand milk, that a part of that increase will be passed down the dairy value chain to ensure a win-win for all those involved in the dairy process.
“Supermarket customers have shown a strong willingness to support dairy farmers due to the high nutritional produce that dairy farmers supply to their processor but they need to be assured that when they pay that extra price at the supermarket checkout, the dairy farmer is receiving a fair share of that increased price,” said Trace.
“That is why eastAUSmilk, with increased unified membership and stronger cross-state representation, can put forward strong policy advocacy to government, stakeholders and other interest groups about the importance of the dairy industry and its future to the Australian economy in the long-term.”
The merged body has elected a board comprising members of both predecessor state organisations.
Gloucester NSW dairy farmer Graham Forbes was elected vice-chair and will be joined on the board by James Geraghty, Gary Wenzel, Waylon Barron, and Ruth Kydd.
“The Australian dairy industry is a crossroads and being united and speaking with one voice will ensure long-term sustainability and a viable dairy industry for future generations of dairy farmers,” said Forbes.
‘eastAUSmilk’ – a new dairy era begins
The industry start-up today of merged advocacy body ‘eastAUSmilk’ is a landmark event for dairy farmers in NSW and Queensland and a new era for direct dairy farmer representation on much of Australia’s eastern seaboard.
Recently elected chair of eastAUSmilk and former vice-president of Queensland Dairyfarmers Organisation, Matt Trace, has welcomed this new industry body to represent dairy producers from southern NSW to the tip of Queensland.
"The significance of eastAUSmilk will be its strength in numbers and a unity of purpose that will be underpinned by the new organisation while bringing into play the best of the QDO and NSW’s Dairy Connect Farmers Group,” Matt said
"I am honoured to have been elected as inaugural chair and I look forward to working with the other members of the board and staff of eastAUSmilk to achieve a positive outcome for dairy producers in coming weeks, months and years.
"Many issues remain to be addressed and I look forward to working towards finding the solutions necessary to move the industry forward and to ensure a strong and sustainable dairy future.
"We must ensure that when increases in dairy prices occurs, such as that recently announced by the supermarkets for home-brand milk, that a part of that increase will be passed down the dairy value chain to ensure a win-win for all those involved in the dairy process.
"Supermarket customers have shown a strong willingness to support dairy farmers due to the high nutritional produce that dairy farmers supply to their processor but they need to be assured that when they pay that extra price at the supermarket checkout, the dairy farmer is receiving a fair share of that increased price.
"That is why eastAUSmilk, with an increased unified membership and stronger cross state representation, can put forward strong policy advocacy to government, stakeholders and other interest groups about the importance of the dairy industry and its future to the Australian economy in the long-term.
Matt will be joined on the eastAUSmilk board of directors by James Geraghty, Gary Wenzel, Waylon Barron, Ruth Kydd and Graham Forbes. 2 Graham Forbes, a dairy farmer from Gloucester NSW, was elected vice-chair of eastAUSmilk.
"I am looking forward to working with Matt and the other members of the board to achieve positive and collaborative outcomes for dairy producers from the 6 district council regions of eastAUSmilk,” Graham said.
"The opportunities for the new organisation to address the systemic issues that remain within the dairy value chain will be immense as will the challenges that we will confront.
"Over the coming weeks and months, we will be speaking and meeting with members and other dairy farmers about the opportunities that eastAUSmilk will provide and the way that we can move the industry forward collaboratively.
“Engagement with government, processors and supermarkets will be vital to find the pathway and a mechanism to ensure that we achieve collegiate outcomes which are in the best interests of the dairy industry.
“The Australian dairy industry is a crossroads and being united and speaking with one voice will ensure long-term sustainability and a viable dairy industry for future generations of dairy farmers.