The Business of Dairy

In this episode of The Business of Dairy, Sheena Carter explores what business coaching can offer dairy farm businesses. She is joined by NSW dairy farmers Natasha and Rod Yarrington from Bowhill Dairy, along with Liam Dooley, Senior Project Officer with the Farm Business Resilience Program.

Natasha and Rod share their experience of taking part in a farm business coaching program, including how the program worked, what prompted them to participate, and why they have chosen to continue coaching beyond the initial opportunity. Liam explains the current coaching support available through the Farm Business Resilience Program and outlines other opportunities farmers can access to strengthen their business skills and decision-making.

In this episode, we discuss:

·       What farm business coaching is and how it can support dairy businesses

·       Natasha and Rod’s experience participating in a coaching program

·       The practical format of coaching, including meetings, preparation and follow-up

·       The benefits of stepping back from day-to-day operations to focus on business goals

·       How coaching can help farm businesses improve clarity, confidence and decision-making

·       The current Farm Business Resilience Program coaching offer

·       Other support and opportunities available to farmers through the program

Resources: 

Bowhill Dairy Facebook page -  https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=bowhill%20dairy

Farm Business resilience Coaching webpage https://www.nsw.gov.au/regional-and-primary-industries/drought/business-support/business-coaching 

Farm Business Resilience workshops - https://events.humanitix.com/host/nswfbrp 

This podcast is an initiative of the NSW DPIRD Dairy Business Advisory Unit – further information and resources are available here - Dairy | Department of Primary Industries

Host – Sheena Carter (NSW DPIRD Dairy Unit) Connect with Sheena on LinkedIn 

It is brought to you in partnership the  Hunter Local Land Services

Further NSW DPI Dairy channels to follow and subscribe to include;

NSW DPI Dairy Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/NSWDairy

NSW DPI Dairy Newsletter - Connect with us | Department of Primary Industries 

Please share this podcast with your fellow farmers and colleagues and feel free to contact us with suggestions or comments via this email address [email protected]

Produced by “Pacific Studio” www.pacific.studio 

The information discussed in this podcast is for informative and educational purposes only and does not constitute advice. 

In this episode of The Business of Dairy, host Sheena Carter speaks with Sarah Legge, Lecturer in Dairy Science at The University of Sydney, about new research from the NSW DairyUP program exploring whether data from automated calf feeders can help farmers identify underperforming calves earlier.

The conversation focuses on why weaning weight matters, what automated feeder data can reveal about calf performance, and how early intervention may help improve calf growth, survival and future productivity.

What we cover

·       Why calf weaning weight is an important performance measure for dairy businesses.

·       What early feeder data may tell us about calf growth and future weaning weight.

·       The significance of identifying underperforming calves within the first five days of entering the automated feeder system.

·       What an unrewarded visit is, and why it may be linked to calf performance.

·       Practical steps farmers can take when calves are not drinking well or engaging with the feeder.

·       Lessons for farms that do not use automated calf feeders.

·       What the research suggests about the relationship between weaning weight, survival and later lactation performance.

Resources: 

DairyUP Project Summary – P2e Calf husbandry https://dairyup.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Project-Summary-P2e-2026.pdf 

Journal of Dairy Science Communications, Volume 5, Issue 5, September 2024, pages 474-478. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666910224000346 

DairyUP website (publications, final reports, factsheets and other resources) - https://dairyup.com.au/ 

This podcast is an initiative of the NSW DPIRD Dairy Business Advisory Unit – further information and resources are available here - Dairy | Department of Primary Industries

Host – Sheena Carter (NSW DPIRD Dairy Unit) Connect with Sheena on LinkedIn 

It is brought to you in partnership the  Hunter Local Land Services

Please share this podcast with your fellow farmers and colleagues and feel free to contact us with suggestions or comments via this email address [email protected]

Transcript - 

Produced by “Pacific Studio” www.pacific.studio 

The information discussed in this podcast is for informative and educational purposes only and does not constitute advice. 

Dairy farmers are set to benefit now and into the future because of the research and development undertaken by a 5-year collaborative program in NSW that has recently come to an end. The DairyUP program was a unique collaboration that had ten key projects focussing on a broad range of areas including animals, pastures, farmer capability, future systems and products, the future climate and planning. 

Discussing some of the key outputs and resources for dairy farmers, our guest this episode is Sergio Garcia, better known to the dairy industry as Yani. Yani is the Professor of Dairy Science at the University of Sydney and the DairyUP program Leader. He has had a long and distinguished career in the dairy industry initially in Argentina, his country of origin, then in New Zealand and for the last 20 years or more, here in Australia. 

Resources: 

DairyUP website (publications, final reports, factsheets and other resources) - https://dairyup.com.au/ 

This podcast is an initiative of the NSW DPIRD Dairy Business Advisory Unit – further information and resources are available here - Dairy | Department of Primary Industries

Host – Sheena Carter (NSW DPIRD Dairy Unit) Connect with Sheena on LinkedIn 

It is brought to you in partnership the  Hunter Local Land Services

Please share this podcast with your fellow farmers and colleagues and feel free to contact us with suggestions or comments via this email address [email protected]

Transcript - 

Produced by “Pacific Studio” www.pacific.studio 

The information discussed in this podcast is for informative and educational purposes only and does not constitute advice. 

For dairy farms located near poultry farms, poultry litter can be a valuable and cost-effective source of fertiliser. With ongoing volatility in fertiliser prices and availability, many farmers are taking a closer look at both the rates they apply and the alternative nutrient sources available to them.

In this episode, I’m joined by agronomist Peter Beale to discuss all things poultry litter — including how to value it, when it makes sense to use it, and some of the practical limitations dairy farmers need to consider. Peter has worked extensively with dairy farmers and is also a previous guest of the podcast.

Resources: 

Factsheet - Best practice guidelines for using poultry litter on pastures

This podcast is an initiative of the NSW DPI Dairy Business Advisory Unit – further information and resources are available here - Dairy | Department of Primary Industries

It is brought to you in partnership with the Hunter Local Land Services

Please share this podcast with your fellow farmers and colleagues and feel free to contact us with suggestions or comments via this email address [email protected]

Further NSW DPI Dairy channels to follow and subscribe to include;

NSW DPI Dairy Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/NSWDairy

NSW DPI Dairy Newsletter - Connect with us | Department of Primary Industries 

Transcript - 

Produced by “Pacific Studio” www.pacific.studio 

The information discussed in this podcast are for informative and educational purposes only and do not constitute advice. 

Welcome to this episode of The Business of Dairy. In this live recording from the 2026 Raising the Roof conference in Shepparton, Victoria, Claire Waterman from Agriculture Victoria and Sheena Carter share the latest update from the Total Mixed Ration Feeding Systems – Dairy Farm Monitor report. Covering the 2024–25 financial year, the report now brings together nine years of analysis, with insights into farm profit and the key cost drivers shaping TMR systems, including feed, overhead and finance costs. Raising the Roof was a sold-out event hosted by Dairy Australia and its supporting partners, bringing together international speakers, Australian dairy service providers and farmers. A link to resources related to intensive farm systems can be found in the show notes.

Resources:

DFMP – Total Mixed Ration Feeding System reports

Dairy Australia – Farm Systems resource page  

This podcast is an initiative of the NSW DPI Dairy Business Advisory Unit – further information and resources are available here - Dairy | Department of Primary Industries

It is brought to you in partnership the Hunter Local Land Services

Please share this podcast with your fellow farmers and colleagues and feel free to contact us with suggestions or comments via this email address [email protected]

Further NSW DPI Dairy channels to follow and subscribe to include:

NSW DPI Dairy Facebook page

NSW DPI Dairy Newsletter - Connect with us | Department of Primary Industries 

Transcript here

Produced by Liam Driver

The information discussed in this podcast are for informative and educational purposes only and do not constitute advice. 

Dairy farmers and farmers generally are facing significant challenges regarding their autumn sowing plans due to high fuel and fertiliser costs because of the war in the Middle East. Decisions need to be made by farmers to enable them to minimise the effects of this situation on pasture and herd production and ultimately financial performance. Nathan Jennings from the North Coast Local Land Services in NSW joins us to talk about some of the management options that farmers should consider related to urea application and sowing strategies for ryegrass in the current environment.

Resources:

Nathan Jennings’ article “Ryegrass planting options considering fertiliser and fuel supply”

MiniMilkBiz

This podcast is an initiative of the NSW DPI Dairy Business Advisory Unit – further information and resources are available here - Dairy | Department of Primary Industries

It is brought to you in partnership the Hunter Local Land Services

Please share this podcast with your fellow farmers and colleagues and feel free to contact us with suggestions or comments via this email address [email protected]

Further NSW DPI Dairy channels to follow and subscribe to include:

NSW DPI Dairy Facebook page

NSW DPI Dairy Newsletter - Connect with us | Department of Primary Industries 

Transcript here

Produced by Liam Driver

The information discussed in this podcast are for informative and educational purposes only and do not constitute advice. 

Australia’s dairy sector is rich in performance data, and herd recording remains a key source of insights for on-farm decision-making and tracking national herd trends. In this episode, host Sheena Carter is joined by Michelle Axford (DataGene) to explore key takeaways from DataGene’s latest Australian Dairy Herd Improvement Report, including emerging trends in herd performance and how genetics and new research are shaping herd improvement.

Resources:

Australian Dairy Herd Improvement Report 2025

DataGene website

DataConnect

This podcast is an initiative of the NSW DPI Dairy Business Advisory Unit – further information and resources are available here - Dairy | Department of Primary Industries

It is brought to you in partnership the Hunter Local Land Services

Please share this podcast with your fellow farmers and colleagues and feel free to contact us with suggestions or comments via this email address [email protected]

Further NSW DPI Dairy channels to follow and subscribe to include:

NSW DPI Dairy Facebook page

NSW DPI Dairy Newsletter - Connect with us | Department of Primary Industries 

Transcript here

Produced by Liam Driver

The information discussed in this podcast are for informative and educational purposes only and do not constitute advice. 

Starting out as a milker and rising to herd manager of 900 cows, Tegan Gilfillan’s career is a true dairy success story. With more than 18 years spent on the one farm, Tegan has grown alongside Speldon Partnership, owned and operated by the Maslen family in the New South Wales Mid Coast region. Today, she leads both livestock and people, managing a large herd and a committed team of staff. In this episode, Tegan shares her journey and speaks candidly about the importance of people in a dairy business, developing strong teams, and the role the Maslen family has played in supporting her growth.  

This podcast is an initiative of the NSW DPI Dairy Business Advisory Unit – further information and resources are available here - Dairy | Department of Primary Industries

It is brought to you in partnership the Hunter Local Land Services

Please share this podcast with your fellow farmers and colleagues and feel free to contact us with suggestions or comments via this email address [email protected]

Further NSW DPI Dairy channels to follow and subscribe to include:

NSW DPI Dairy Facebook page 

NSW DPI Dairy Newsletter - Connect with us | Department of Primary Industries 

Transcript Here 

Produced by Liam Driver

The information discussed in this podcast are for informative and educational purposes only and do not constitute advice. 

This month we revisit one of our very early episodes which was released on the 1st December 2023 which was a particularly dry period across most of NSW and other regions. My guest was Neil Moss, a veterinarian and consultant with Scibus. 

The focus of our discussion was on heifer management in dry times and while we currently have much of southern NSW, Victoria and SA who have been managing very dry conditions for a prolonged period, these conditions are expanding. I am recording this introduction in December 2025 and the forecast in NSW moving towards Feb 2026 when this podcast will be released, is showing expansion of dry conditions further into central NSW and some coastal pockets.

Useful resources related to this podcast:

·       Farming Forecaster (including instructional videos)

·       NSW DPIRD Seasonal Conditions and drought forecast webpage

·       Dairy Australia’s “Nutritional Strategies” webpage – comprehensive list of feed budgeting and management resources  

This podcast is an initiative of the NSW DPI Dairy Business Advisory Unit – further information and resources are available here - Dairy | Department of Primary Industries

It is brought to you in partnership the Hunter Local Land Services

Please share this podcast with your fellow farmers and colleagues and feel free to contact us with suggestions or comments via this email address [email protected]

Further NSW DPI Dairy channels to follow and subscribe to include:

NSW DPI Dairy Facebook page

NSW DPI Dairy Newsletter - Connect with us | Department of Primary Industries 

Transcript here

Produced by Liam Driver

The information discussed in this podcast are for informative and educational purposes only and do not constitute advice. 

The 2024-25 financial year was one of extremes for NSW dairy farmers with extraordinarily wet conditions in the North and significantly dry conditions in the South. Despite these challenges, average profitability on our NSW Dairy Farm Monitor farms was above the long-term average for the 5th year in a row. Average Return on Total Assets managed was 4.3%, down slightly from the previous year of 4.5%. In this episode we discuss factors that impacted these results and look at some of the regional nuances between the North and South group of farms participating in the project. This project is an ongoing collaboration between NSW DPIRD and Dairy Australia and marks the 14th year of DFMP in NSW.

Useful resources related to this podcast:

·       NSW Dairy Industry Overview 2025 and Snapshot

·       NSW Dairy Farm Monitor Project webpage with links to the Annual Report, Regional Summaries and the Interactive DFMP Report

·       Dairy Australia’s DFMP webpage with links to Annual Reports for all milk producing regions of Australia

This podcast is an initiative of the NSW DPI Dairy Business Advisory Unit – further information and resources are available here - Dairy | Department of Primary Industries

It is brought to you in partnership the Hunter Local Land Services

Please share this podcast with your fellow farmers and colleagues and feel free to contact us with suggestions or comments via this email address [email protected]

Further NSW DPI Dairy channels to follow and subscribe to include:

NSW DPI Dairy Facebook page

NSW DPI Dairy Newsletter - Connect with us | Department of Primary Industries 

Transcript here

Produced by Liam Driver

The information discussed in this podcast are for informative and educational purposes only and do not constitute advice.