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Sustainable Dairies

Sustainable Dairies

Sustainable Dairies is a collaboration between WestVic Dairy and Corangamite CMA, with support from Agriculture Victoria, that works with dairy farmers to enhance nutrient management, soil health, water quality and native vegetation on farm.

WestVic Dairy is the regional development program of Dairy Australia, serving dairy farmers in South-West Victoria.

The program comprises a series of workshops and engagement events for farmers where they can:

  • Participate in the Dairy Australia Fertsmart course, including a farm visit with a consultant, soil and effluent
    testing and a nutrient management plan.
  • Receive advice from Agriculture Victoria on best practice dairy effluent management.
  • Receive Corangamite CMA recommendations and advice on best practice waterway protection (where relevant) and how to increase biodiversity on farms.
  • Attend additional sessions on topics such as soil acidity, soil biology and on-farm composting.

Project History

Sustainable Dairies was initially developed in 2016 and funded as part of the Victorian Government's Department of Land, Water, Environment and Planning’s Our Catchments, Communities Program. Due to the success of the program, funding continued through the Large Farms Project as part of the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.

In partnership with West Vic Dairy and Agriculture Victoria, the Sustainable Dairies program bought together key focus areas of the three organisations into a complete program.

Since 2016, over 60 Dairy Farmers have participated in the program over 5 rounds. Increased skills and knowledge from the program have resulted in planned actions such as:

  • fence and plantings on slips and waterways

  • actively managed compost

  • the incorporation of effluent into nutrient budget

  • the reassessment of lime and fertilizer plans

  • more revegetation on farm

  • better record keeping of our nutrients (soil testing).

  • learnings about Trace minerals

 

Diverse Farms Resilient Catchments

The Sustainable Dairies program is made possible thanks to Corangamite CMA's Diverse Farms Resilient Catchments project, which is supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program.

The Diverse Farms Resilient Catchments project is a series of tailored education programs running from 2024 to 2028 that support farmers to increase their biological diversity and resilience on farms, in communities and across the landscape.

Catering for a range of audiences including dairy, mixed farming, livestock, broadacre cropping and artisan producers, other DFRC programs include the Otway Agroforestry Network Education Program, Southern Farming Systems climate smart farming events, on-farm demonstrations and Landcare innovation and exchange events.

Contact

For more information contact Corangamite CMA project managers:

Sarah Brien – sarah.brien@ccma.vic.gov.au

Karen O’Keefe – karen.o’keefe@ccma.vic.gov.au

Related Projects

Contact Us

Colac Office

64 Dennis Street, Colac VIC 3250
PO Box 159, Colac, VIC 3250
Hours: 8:30am – 5pm, Monday to Friday

T: 1800 002 262
E: info@ccma.vic.gov.au

Geelong office

BARWON WATER OFFICES
Hours: 8:30am – 5pm, Monday to Friday
All mail must be sent via our Colac office
PO Box 159, Colac, VIC 3250

T: 1800 002 262
E: info@ccma.vic.gov.au