Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan said dairy farmers in our community will now be able to show the sustainability of their product on its journey from farm-gate to fridge thanks to a $480,000 Government grant.
“We want to help our local dairy farmers promote their high-quality, sustainable products,” he said.
“Consumers want to be able to make good decisions for their family, support our dairy farmers and reward sustainable farming. It’s a way for our farmers to stay ahead of the curve.
“This project will help farmers show how sustainable their product is, make more informed farm management decisions and be more productive.”
The Sustainable Dairy Products project, led by Dairy Australia, will use new technology such as soil moisture sensors and native vegetation mapping to help Aussie dairy farmers create a shared database of their natural resources.
The trial will involve at least 400 dairy farmers from across the country, in partnership with milk processors and banks.
Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud said many companies, retailers, investors and consumers want to know the food they buy is being produced sustainably and this project will give them clear evidence.
“We want to help our dairy farmers turn good environmental practices in to market advantage,” Mr Littleproud said.
“As part of the project dairy farmers will be using new soil moisture sensor technology, vegetation mapping and monitoring of effluent levels in milking sheds to feed data in automatically.
“There is a proven link between good business practice and good natural capital. For example throughout the trial farmers will be sent handy reminders about what good fertiliser planning is saving them in time and money.”
Dairy farmers involved in the project will also be encouraged to give feedback throughout the trial.
The Sustainable Dairy Products project is an industry wide initiative and will involve dairy farmers from New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and Western Australia.
For more information about the National Landcare Program visit www.nrm.gov.au.
