A new Young Dairy Network has been launched on the Atherton Tablelands.
The network – part of the Subtropical Dairy Young Dairy Network – supports young people working in the region's dairy industry, through coordinated events and activities.
Subtropical Dairy appointed a new coordinator last year to reinvigorate the network, which met previously in the region many years ago, with great success.
Subtropical Dairy Young Dairy Network coordinator Kirsten Veivers said there had been a positive response to the group since the first meeting in late 2015.
“The young dairy network is a group that brings young farmers together for social activities and for them to discuss the issues they are finding on farms,” Mrs Veivers said.
“My role is to provide effective support for the dairy industry by delivering innovative, well planned and collaborative regional coordination for dairy related activities in far north Queensland.”
“The group has decided to meet once a month. It enables farmers to mingle with other younger farmers on the Tablelands that they may have not known.
“Farmers can talk about issues they are facing as a younger farmer. It also helps immensely with knowledge.”
Mrs Veivers, a third-generation dairyfarmer who grew up in Millaa Millaa and the daughter of industry leader James Geraghty, believes groups like the Young Dairy Network are vital for the future of the industry.
“We are fortunate to have some very passionate young dairyfarmers in the region,” Mrs Veivers said.
“The Young Dairy Network is important so farmers don’t feel like they are living in a silo.
“They can talk to other people and realise they are facing the same things. They can work towards solving that issue or finding a way around it if its not solvable.”
Since forming, the group has hosted a variety of activities, including a farm walk on an bio-dynamic dairy farm and forums on feeding grazing transitions, accounting and farmer debt. Subtropical Dairy Programme executive officer Dr Brad Granzin delivered a session on nutrition while a genetics expert is booked for this month.
The Young Dairy Network aims to enhance the future viability of the dairy industry through supporting its young people. Its membership is typically made up of young innovative farmers who are adopters and seekers of information.
It is a joint initiative of the Subtropical Dairy Programme and the Queensland Dairyfarmers’ Organisation and is supported by the NSW Farmers Association, milk processing companies and the Queensland Government.
Anyone wishing to join the network can contact Mrs Veivers at kirsten@dairyinfo.biz or for more information visit www.dairyinfo.biz/young-dairy-network
