On the 600-hectare Mount Compass dairy, the Hicks and Jacobs families run a combined operation, with 750-800 mainly Holstein Friesian herd. They supply close to 5.5 million litres of milk each year to SA-based cheesemaker, La Casa Del Formaggio.
Warren Jacobs says in a particularly tough 2024 season – recording only about 450 millimetres of rain, half of the average annual of 750mm – the bottom line became even more important.
“We’ve been trying to be efficient in what we do so that we stay profitable, because the margins are pretty slim at times,” Warren says.
The business has implemented a range of strategies to reduce input costs or find more efficiencies, including better targeting and timing of fertiliser application as part of its rotational, or ‘block’ grazing system.
“It’s about putting the right amount on after cows have grazed it, and then not grazing again until we’re getting the full benefit of that fertiliser on a rotational grazing system,” Warren says.
“We’re seeing higher growth rates per hectare – more utilised pasture per hectare and from that you get more milk, as the cows can get more of their feed from that pasture. So for us, finding these kinds of operational efficiencies has proved beneficial for the environment.
Emissions focus
Warren says being involved in Dairy Australia’s Dairy Farm Monitor Project, and using their bank’s greenhouse gas emissions calculator, has helped the partners understand the opportunities and the areas of their farm they can improve.
“It’s a first step. For most of our farm’s information we can put figures into these calculators it helps us plan well and see what effect a specific change we make might have on our emissions,” he says.
“It gives us good information and we can look at different scenarios. This helps us better plan for what kinds of things we can do – like if we use less nitrogen fertiliser, if we milk less cows or if we put in more solar panels.
“Like if we improve the production per cow and that means improving efficiency, this also leads to less emissions.”
Other initiatives
At Hicks Jacobs Dairies, solar energy is powering daytime irrigation, and the business is now looking at ways to store and better utilise the energy – including consideration into government-funded battery storage schemes.
Additionally, the dairy effluent is recycled and reused for yard wash down. A solid trap enables waste to be turned into fertiliser and spread on pastures, and liquid effluent waste is used in conjunction with the farm’s irrigation to ensure nutrients are returned to the paddocks.
Sustainability commitment
Warren says Hicks Jacobs Dairies is taking small steps, with potential to make a big difference.
“We need farmers on the land, and we need them to be profitable,” he says.
“We need to take little steps along the way, and we need to be helped through them with support from Dairy Australia, government and local discussion groups.
“We need to be thinking about the future and addressing ways we can continue to remain sustainable.”
To find out more about how Dairy Australia supports farmers to better manage climate and environment, visit dairyaustralia.com.au/climate-and-environment or contact your regional office.
