Meredith Dairy

Project Profile

Issues

Meredith Dairy is a vertically integrated farming enterprise, producing sheep and goat milk which is processed on farm into cheese and yoghurt. The farm has been transformed from a 500 hectare traditional wool farm in 1990 to a 1450 hectare farm of which 700 hectare is cropped, and 560 hectares is used for sheep and goat dairying. 900 sheep and 1500 goats are milked every day of the year out of three milking parlours to supply the on-farm cheese factory. This integrated farm business facilitates profitability along the supply chain.

Project Detail

Meredith Dairy, owned by Julie and Sandy Cameron has been nominated for a National Landcare Award for promoting and achieving environmental sustainability.

Meredith Dairy is a vertically integrated farming enterprise, producing sheep and goat milk processed on farm into cheese and yoghurt. The farm has been transformed from a 500 hectare traditional wool farm in 1990 to 1450 hectares of which 700 hectares is cropped, and 560 hectares is used for sheep and goat dairying. 900 sheep and 1500 goats are milked every day of the year out to supply the on-farm cheese factory.

The dairying system is constantly refined using research and development and the Camerons are implementing a number of initiatives to improve the environmental sustainability of the Dairy. This includes fencing off areas, creeks and rivers to prevent stock access that retains and improves all remnant bush and endangered native grasslands.  They have revegetated non arable areas, repaired water erosion, preventing soil erosion and controlled pests and noxious weeds.

Meredith Dairy is also working towards achieving carbon neutral status by purchasing green power, instilling solar hot water as well as tree planting and the employment of new generation technology. The Dairy is aiming to be operating primarily on bio-energy within the next two years.

Meredith Dairy promotes sustainable agriculture and the use of green power, on the labels of all of their dairy products, on web sites and in promotional material.

Julie and Sandy are heavily involved within the dairy industry and local community. The Camerons have made presentations to delegates at several dairy conferences and universities. Julie has worked in collaboration with the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) to produce an information booklet and coordinate field days.

The family has hosted ten traineeships via International Agricultural Exchange Associations and 40 Agricultural and Veterinary students for work experience. Sandy has published research papers in International Scientific Journals and has supervised post graduate research contributing to a Masters and a PhD.

Meredith Dairy is one of 88 finalists in the National Landcare Awards to be announced in Canberra on 24 June 2010. Commencing in 1991, the Awards celebrate the achievements of individuals and groups that make a valuable contribution to the land and coast where they live and work.

Photography

Milking Platform