TWO new faces focused on “giving back” to the dairy industry have joined the DairySA Board.
Dairyfarmers Andrew Cavill, Bool Lagoon, and Michael Krichauff, Delamere, have a combined almost 70 years experience in the industry and felt it was time to return something to the sector that had “given so much” to them.
The Cavills sharefarm Corobinna in the lower South East, milking 700 cows on 260 hectares with 120ha irrigation and a run off block of 320ha with 85ha irrigation.
“After dairying for 40 years, I felt it was time I gave something back to the industry,” Mr Cavill said.
“Through that time you gain a whole lot of knowledge that is not much good to you when you finish farming, so I would like to put it to good use.”
One of his key aims is to improve the amount of feed they produce on the farm to reduce the costs of buying it in.
Mr Cavill has also expressed an interest in encouraging young people into the industry.
“I want to help make the pathways for young people in the dairy industry easier with better training and more opportunities, to help create a long and sustainable future in SA,” he said.
Mr Krichauff runs a 250 cow Friesian herd on a mixed enterprise 610ha farm, including beef and sheep, on the southern Fleurieu Peninsula.
The Krichauff family has been on the property since it was cleared more than 70 years ago, with each generation introducing a different enterprise – including a small Angus and Murray Grey beef herd – prior to the dairy being built in 1996.
“I have joined the DairySA Board to give back to an industry that I have gained so much from across the past 27 years,” Michael said.
“I hope to contribute to the decision making process at the board level and to have some input on where our funding money is spent.”
In the short-term, he would also like to see the dairy industry get a better understanding of the roles that DairySA and the SA Dairyfarmers’ Association play, the differences between them and how farmers can leverage the most from each.
The DairySA Board has 11 people, who decide on and direct funding to regionally relevant research and development using funds from Dairy Australia and the dairy service levy.