Lancaster dairy farmers Mark and Charlotte Stevens are looking forward to the next financial year, but they don’t need a repeat of last year’s flooded spring.
The couple is about to start the second year of a two-year milk contract, with a price that is in the range that the other processors are now offering.
Last year should have been outstanding, but multiple factors have impacted northern Victorian farmers like the Stevens and pulled back their returns.
High input prices have eaten away at the profits and the exceptionally wet spring lopped off an estimated 25 per cent in production volume.
The frustration, as Mr Stevens points out, is that they were unable to capitalise on the higher prices.
Fertiliser, chemical and fuel prices all increased at rates far higher than inflation, and coupled with delivery delays, made for a frustrating time.
“Fertilisers went through the roof,” Mr Stevens said, before it eased off later in the season.
Getting quality hay was also a problem.
“There was too much flood damage to the crops.”
Their fuel costs also increased by about 30 per cent, and Mr Stevens estimated chemical costs, in some cases, doubled.
They expect to milk a peak of about 350 cows at 16-hour intervals for some parts of the year.
The practice is common in New Zealand, and Mr Stevens said the milk production had been the same as the regular twice daily intervals and with no cell count penalty.
When the spring calving surge hits they will revert to the more traditional pattern.
Labour has been challenging, but the Stevens have been fortunate to be able to recruit an apprentice, and they employ a full-time manager.
Ms Stevens, a former business manager, said while it was useful to have agriculture skills, it was more important to have a good attitude.
“Experience is beneficial, but attitude is everything.”
The Stevens, who migrated to Australia from the south Island of New Zealand in 2015, are part of a discussion group which they find both challenging and rewarding.