Building for the future

Mr Tyler was elected chair of the regional development body, Murray Dairy, in October to replace outgoing chair Karen Moroney.

He has 30 years under his belt since moving from the Adelaide Hills to his current base at Tongala, and he's not afraid to ask other farmers how they tackle on-farm problems.

He is a former chair of the Rochester Bamawm Dairy Business Network and is a great believer in information sharing to improve farm performance — and mindful of the enormous trust that discussion groups engender.

The group — based around the Rochester, Calivil and Bamawm area — is now largely self-funded and employs a facilitator to tease out the issues. They change facilitators every three years.

Professional development was also behind his interest in the Australian Dairy Conference.

“I’ve always had a passion for look at, and visiting other farms, to see how other people are doing things,” Mr Tyler said.

“Most years I would see something on the farm visits and pick up a few ideas.

“And it’s an opportunity to get away and make contact with a network of people.”

Some years the conference has dived into controversial topics.

“You don’t have to agree with it, but it can challenge you in the way you are thinking.”

The ideas he has gleaned has helped propel him in a growth mode, with the 150 cows he started with now reaching 900 at peak, on 400ha of irrigated land and a further 320ha of leased land for cropping.

The cows run through a 56-unit rotary and calve down in spring and autumn. A cow ID system provides fertility and production information for the largely Holstein herd.

He has deliberately opted for a larger scale, intending to create a business big enough to incorporate the specialist skills of his adult sons, James and Sam, who are now on the farm.

He has gradually ramped up the feed input and for the past two years has operated as a total mixed ration business, reducing reliance on summer pasture and growing fodder crops including corn and sorghum.

Silage is also a big part of the operation, and when Dairy News visited a stack of chopped rye-grass was being created.

Mr Tyler takes a robust view of the structural changes needed in the dairy industry for the future.

Reflecting the debate around the national dairy plan and how it might affect regional bodies like Murray Dairy, he says he's not precious about his new job.

“If the future means that the regional bodies have to change and I don't have a title, then that's okay.

“It's about what's best for the industry.”

Mr Tyler prefers a new industry model where advocacy can be part of one larger body delivering representation, information and professional training for farmers, all funded by a levy.

“We can't keep running our industry bodies like we've got thousands of members.

“And I don't think everyone wants to attend monthly meetings in a cold hall in the middle of winter, when we have other communication avenues today.

“But I'm optimistic we can deliver a plan for the industry which will work well.”

Like most dairy farmers, he is currently appreciating a better season.

“The Murray Dairy region is not without its challenges, but this year has been an exceptionally good year seasonally and overall; the whole region is enjoying much friendlier climatic conditions.

“From a business perspective, a lot of dairy operators will be feeling a lot more confident going forward and the (Murray Dairy) board will continue to focus on what is important to our farmers and our region.”

Outgoing chair Karen Moroney said her roles had been both extraordinary and rewarding, filled with optimism of what had been achieved collaboratively, and dotted with challenges through drought, water issues, floods, bushfires and a global pandemic.

“A lot has transpired between my commencement on the board in 2013,” she said.

“I feel very proud of how our organisation has matured in that time.

“I want to thank our farmers in the Murray Dairy region.

“It has been a pleasure and a privilege to work alongside you for these past seven years and I hope that our efforts have touched your business in a meaningful way and continue to do so, through our various extension and education programs.”

The Murray Dairy AGM also saw Dhurringile dairy farmer Tony McCarthy chosen to continue his role as deputy chairman.