In 2024, much of their region received only 50–66 per cent of its usual annual rainfall.
The impact varied across the region, but like many farmers they were forced to make significant on-farm adjustments to cope with the shortfall.
Changing business focus
The Martin family were originally beef farmers and also worked off-farm. When the opportunity arose to purchase their current property, which had substantial existing dairying infrastructure, they were initially unsure how to use it, planning at first to continue with beef.
With limited off-farm work available during the COVID pandemic, a stock agent family member, suggested they consider buying dairy cattle and taking over the Kariah dairy, 10 minutes north of Camperdown.
Five years on, the Martins have continued with the dairying, despite the challenges of starting a new enterprise under difficult circumstances.
Currently, the dairy represents the larger portion of their business running a holstein herd, pasture-based system, with split calving.
As extreme dry conditions brought significant challenges to much of the region, to support the dairy herd some beef cattle were removed and feed resources redirected.
Over the past 18 months, only productive animals have been retained.
“It was an opportunity to make things better. The outlay to replace those older cows cost us a bit of money, but we're starting to see the value of that in the production,” Richard said.
The changes have allowed them to improve the farm’s efficiency and better adapt to ongoing challenges.
Kylie says the support from Dairy Australia’s Western Victoria team made a real difference during that time.
“They were always available on the phone, and when they didn’t have an answer right away, they’d work to find one,” Kylie said.
Feed management
With traditional hay supplies quickly depleted, sourcing feed during the prolonged dry conditions became a major challenge for the Martins.
They explored options as far away as mid-NSW, including the Wagga Wagga area, and even considered supplies from the Northern Territory.
“Everybody had to work,” recalls Kylie.
“We spent some significant hours on the phone trying to find suppliers to actually source hay – there was a lot of work done.”
By supplementing with grains, cottonseed, and other protein sources to support their nutritional management, they were able to maintain strong milk production despite the tough conditions.
“Dairy Australia’s Nutritional Fundamentals program was the right program for us at the right time to help with the feeding,” Richard said.
Reflecting back, Richard acknowledges that while some of the decisions they made were costly, they have since proven worthwhile.
“It cost us a bit of money at the time but we’re starting to see the value of that investment in our production and in the herd.
“It made us even more efficient.
“We’ve been able to maintain and even grow our production – it hasn’t gone down.
“Slowly but surely, we’re now on a steady plane. Our production’s lifting.
“When we started, we had a pretty ordinary herd of cows, but we’ve spent a lot of money and a lot of time making that better.”
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