The Young Dairy Network (YDN) International trip explored sustainable and emerging technologies on a 14-day study tour of the dairying regions of Ireland. South Australia sought applications from 9 young farmers to participate in this tour.
Support for YDN International Study Tour – (Total Project Cost $127,000 – SADIF Contribution $50,000)
The main objective of the Young Dairy Network (YDN) International trip was to explore sustainability and emerging technologies on a 14-day study tour of the dairying regions of Ireland. South Australia sought applications from 9 young farmers to participate in this tour along with farmers from Tasmania and Western Australia.
The SADIF funding application was specific to the South Australian cohort only.
The tour aimed to:
Highlight new and emerging technologies from Ireland that can be adapted and implemented on farms in South Australia Teach participants about how Irish farms are using innovation to meet EU regulations around environmental sustainability, animal health, production and pasture management. Increase the leadership skills and confidence for individuals to contextualise options and plan for how they can implement new learnings to their situation Provide a legacy of peer networks, contacts and information that can continue to be leveraged from, including advancing leadership skills across the dairy industry
Intended outcomes
Outcome 1: Enhanced skills among participants, by showing initiative in the application and interview process. Showing accountability and learning leadership skills through planned pre tour development and post tour activities.
Outcome 2: Completion and active engagement of a 14-day tour to Ireland that encourages participants to think differently, build new relationships and challenge themselves to step out of their day to day and be open to new ideas and experiences.
Outcome 3: Organizing and showing initiative to create their post tour presentation. Successfully presenting and convening their learnings into SMART actions in front of the dinner guests.
Outcome 4: Enhanced farm efficiency and sustainability, successful adoption of innovative practices on farms, and long-term industry impact through new ideas and improved farm management.
Outcome 5: Build networks that will sustain them throughout their careers and increase their enthusiasm and commitment to the Dairy Industry.
The study tour was delivered in three (3) sections, pre tour, during tour and post tour.
Pre Tour
The tour was open for young farmers and/ or farm employees in South Australia.
The tour included participants from similar dairying regions Tasmania and Western Australia. There were 9 places for South Australian dairy farmers/employees to be participate. Interested participants were required to fill out and application form and go through an interview process. An interview panel was made up of DairySA Board members and sponsors. Successful applicants were invited to participate in pre-tour activities to build their knowledge and expectations and increase their leadership skills.
Tour
The trip consisted of 14 days in Ireland, exploring main dairy regions such as County Meath, County Kilkenny and Corke. The participants also got to experience The University of Dublin working dairy farm, network with Macra nafeirme (YDN in Ireland), Board Bia (dairy safety board) and Teagasc (RD&E). The trip aligned with the Moore Park open day which only opens to the public once every 2 years and highlights new technology and sustainability methods occurring across Ireland.
Post Tour
After the conclusion of the study tour, participants wer paired up and asked to create a 5–10-minute presentation on their learnings from the tour. This was included their key take-aways, highlights of the trip and actions that were implemented from the trip. Participants were expected to present their presentation at a post tour dinner, which included major sponsors of the event, DairySA Board and the participants of the tour.
The tour provided participants with exposure to global best practices in sustainable dairy farming, equipping participants with the knowledge and skills to drive the South Australian dairy industry forward.
The tour consisted of visiting Moorepark Open day, a world-renowned research farm that participants visited during the tour. Moorepark stands at the forefront of research in pasture-based systems, making it an invaluable resource for South Australian emerging dairy leaders. This visit, alongside other strategic engagements in Ireland, provided participants with critical insights into best-inclass systems and cutting- edge technologies that are directly applicable to South Australia’s agricultural landscape.
The cross collaboration between states and countries will provide participants with life-long networks, with a hub of knowledge between a newly established cohort. These relationships will help bring confidence to the participants to implement new practices and learnings onto farm, helping grow the workforce and innovative practices in South Australia.
In the long term, this initiative was designed to ensure that South Australian dairy industry remains competitive by developing leaders who are committed and prepared to implement sustainable practices, leverage digital technologies, and ensuring that South Australian dairy sector is positioned to thrive amid future challenges and opportunities.
Methodologies to measure success will include:
- Surveys (pre and post tour) for participants and sponsors
- Interviews with participants before, during and after tour
- Participant presentation outlining the trip, learnings and actions which will occur
after the tour at the post tour dinner
- Detailed report of the tour insights, learnings and actions created from all information gathered pre and post tour, including case studies from sponsorship/participants.
This was a once in a lifetime opportunity for participants to see innovation in practice in the context of an international dairy industry. Over 18,000 dairy farmers milk Ireland’s 1.55 million dairy cows. With a temperate climate, Irish dairy farmers can grow large quantities of grass over a long season.
This advantage makes dairying the most profitable of Ireland’s mainstream agricultural enterprises. Coupled with their use of research, advisory and education services, Irish dairy farmers are
among the most competitive on the world stage. There is a lot for Australia to learn from the innovate practices being used in that country.
The project offered substantial value for money by providing participants with critical insights and practical knowledge that will directly enhance the efficiency and sustainability of South Australian dairy farms.
The integration of advance technologies and sustainability practices is expected to lead to cost savings, increased productivity, and improved profitability. The cross collaboration between
states in Australia (SA, TAS and WA) and international (Ireland) helped build critical networks, providing a legacy of peer learning, contacts and information that can continue to be leveraged from, including advancing confidence, leadership and innovation across the Australian Dairy Industry.
DairySA leveraged funding from sponsors to also offset the cost of this tour for participants. By supporting this application, the SADIF Board/SADA were major sponsors of the event and were promoted as such through via communications pre and post tour and in tour material.