Farmers have been at the centre of identifying innovations to advance the Victorian dairy industry through Elevate Dairy, a new program powered by Gardiner Foundation.
A statewide roadshow in August will give dairy farmers in South West Victoria, Gippsland and Murray their first opportunity to meet the seven innovators selected for Cohort One.
Together, the Cohort addresses challenges that reach across the dairy business, from energy security and workforce wellbeing to herd management, soil health and financial performance.
For farms constrained by unreliable electricity supply or the capital required to upgrade, Surge Energy offers reliable power without the upfront investment.
Its Embedded Energy as a Service (EEaaS) model combines a complete on farm microgrid, including solar panels, battery storage, backup generation, and smart controls, all fully managed by and operated by Surge.
Levno provides another form of reassurance, helping dairy businesses monitor milk vats, feed silos, fuel tanks and water through a single dairy-focused platform, with alerts sent directly to the farmer’s phone.
It is particularly valuable for businesses operating across multiple farms or relying on several staff, reducing the risk of costly errors or unexpected supply shortages.
For farmers taking their first steps into farm management software, Resolution offers a simple and accessible option.
Built by New Zealand dairy farmers, it has an easy-to-learn interface with multilingual support, without the complexity of systems designed for businesses requiring highly advanced features.
Ocean2Earth takes a different approach to farm productivity, helping farmers improve nutrient efficiency and soil health while reducing reliance on synthetic fertilisers.
It is the first Australian company approved by the EPA to produce composted seafood processing byproducts and kelp, and is well suited to businesses investing in the long-term sustainability of their farming system.
Workforce health is the focus of Skelex 360 from K2 Agri.
The lightweight support reduces the physical strain and fatigue associated with milking, while fitting over existing clothing and allowing freedom of movement.
It can be adjusted quickly and worn as easily as a light backpack, and farmers who have tried it say they do not want to return to milking without it.
At the individual cow level, UNIFORM-Agri brings together information on feeding, health and reproduction. It supports farmers who are deeply engaged in herd management to track performance more closely and make decisions sooner.
Trev provides a whole-of-business perspective, benchmarking financial performance across farms and against regional averages. Alongside its decision-making insights, it simplifies processor reporting on inputs such as fertiliser and spraying.
The August roadshow will give farmers the opportunity to explore these innovations firsthand, ask questions and consider where they could create value in their own businesses.
Follow Elevate Dairy on social media for showcase details.