Tasmania welcomes new migrants with open arms - Cowsmo

Tasmania welcomes new migrants with open arms

A new wave of kiwi migrants is being wooed west to Tasmania’s dairying scene.

Milk production is rising, helped by a record price from processor Fonterra of $6.64 a kilogram for milk solids this month.

Tasmania is aiming to increase milk supply by 350 million litres a year to fully utilise the processing capacity of Cadbury, Fonterra, Lion, Murray Goulburn and TDP.

Most of the state’s existing 430 dairy farms are adding cows and increasing productivity, and DairyTas has set an objective to convert at least 50 farms to dairies by 2017.

The growth is being backed by rural trader, Roberts Limited, which has just appointed its first dairy development manager.

New Zealander, Ryan Ashby, has taken up the role after 24 years in the industry around north Canterbury, including 16 years milking cows.

“The growth there has been phenomenal in the last four or five years,” he said.

“It’s mainly on the back of water. Anyone with good reliable water has chased the dairy return.

“And exactly the same thing there ten years ago, is where I see Tasmania is at the moment.

“The land price over here is a lot cheaper than what it is in New Zealand; going forward, probably half of what it should be.

“A dairy farm the other day sold just south of Christchurch for $64 million.

“It was milking 3,500 cows and it was well set up and certainly ticking some boxes, that’s for sure.

“And I’ve got a fair few people watching with anticipation where all this is going to go.

“And who knows, the world’s their oyster at this stage.

“I’m here to oversee the growth in the dairy industry here in the next five or ten years, along the lines of what DairyTas are trying to achieve.”

 

Source: ABC Rural

 

Scroll to Top