Brendan leading the way for dairy conference

DAIRYING HAS always played a major role in the Hehir family.

The family, parents Pauline and Terry along with son Brendan, milk 550 cows on an organically certified operation at Wyuna, north of Kyabram.

Brendan has just been appointed chair of the Australian Dairy Conference programming committee for 2020.

As a Nuffield Scholar, Brendan is no stranger to the ADC format and agenda, with dairy debate and forward thinking in his bloodline (dad Terry is a founding director and visionary of ADC).

Brendan will oversee a team of dairy farmers, scientists and industry representatives to shape and form the issues most pertinent to the country’s dairy industry.

He said the Australian dairy industry is currently going through a significant change with many exiting the industry as pressure mounts.

“As dairy farmers we need to be more adaptable, more innovative and more sustainable in order to operate successfully,” Brendan said.

“ADC is never backwards in addressing the issues that are most relevant and confronting and so we have a big responsibility to keep pushing the envelope and bring topics that both resonate and spark some good debate.

“ADC has always been a big part of my life, particularly with Dad being involved in its inception, so to be offered the opportunity to chair is very humbling,” he said.

The ADC is hosting its next conference in Melbourne from February 20 to 21, 2020

About 500 dairy delegates are expected to attend the conference designed by farmers, for farmers.

“The challenge is to deliver the most topical issues the industry needs to confront. Without giving anything away from early discussions, as ADC always manages to do, expect the unexpected in 2020,” Brendan said.