Moving their dairy operation from Stanhope to Wyuna back in 2012 has enabled the Young family to expend its dairy business and take it forward for the next generation.
Parents Stuart and Julie are now retired, but back in 2012, their irrigation channel was shut down under NVIRP which prompted the move and opened doors for their sons Jack and Alec to step in and grow the business.
At the time, they were milking 180 cows, and Stuart had a dream to one day milk 350.
In 2016, the family started its succession plan with a company the brothers bought in to, and they have slowly worked their way through the process ever since.
Over the years, they have bought four neighbouring farms, and are now milking 650 cows off 472ha.
The split calving herd (60 per cent autumn and 40 per cent spring) is milked through a 24 swing over.
The mainly Holstein herd produces around 670kg/ms.
“We are maxed out on cow numbers for the dairy at the moment,” Jack said.
“We keep the dairy in good order and it pumps the herd through in around three hours, but that is the maximum, and we can’t ask any more of our milkers.”
He said rather than invest in a new dairy, they would look to grow land and that might even come with the opportunity of the purchase of a bigger dairy in the future.
“Growing land enables us to take control over feeding our cows, and we like to have 18-months of feed on hand at any time,” Jack said.
“We have bought land over water, and while we do have some permanent water, we lease around a 1000Ml of water annually.”
Jack said he and Alec each played to their own strengths.
Alec looks after the herd and does the feeding and nutrition side of things, while Jack does the finances and the cropping.
“We sit down and plan together, and we have just brought our wives in as well, and it is all working pretty well,” Jack said.
“We keep to our own lanes – Alec is passionate about the cows and does a great job with them.”
The brothers have three long-term Filipino staff which they have sponsored to Australia and two casuals – a retired farmer and a reliable casual milker.
“It was really challenging before the Filipinos, but since we have had them, we have been able to grow our business,” Jack said.
“At one point, we were milking 400 cows, and we were so tired trying to do it all ourselves, and it was just getting too hard because we physically couldn’t do any more work,” Jack said.
The arrival of Kien five years ago was the saviour followed by Rose and Marie.
“Having them gives us the confidence to grow our business and we couldn’t do it without them,” Jack said.
“Kien brought his wife out, and she works in aged care and his boys go to school, they are all part of the community, which is awesome – it has been a real success for us and for them.”
Jack said despite the threat of El Nińo, they have had a cracker of a season.
“We had a big rain in March,which geared us up for the year ahead, and right now, we are just one rain away from a perfect season,” he said.
“It did get wet for the cows, but we managed to maintain good production during the wetter months.
“We have used bugger all water, which will set us up for carryover water for next year.”
Jack has always wanted to work on the farm.
He did try going away to university when he was younger, but the call of the farm was too great, and he came back home two months later.
“We have gone through a lot of change since we moved to Wyuna, but it has certainly set us up and enabled us to take our business forward and grow as opportunities have arisen.”
Stuart said it had been great to watch the boys progress.
“Julie and I were happy to give the boys the opportunity to take the reins,” Stuart said.
“It wasn’t practical or sustainable for us to hold on and at some point you have to let the next generation have a go so they can learn.
“It’s also great to know when it is pouring rain we don’t have to be out working in it, and Julie and I can take off in the caravan whenever we want.”
“Mum and dad do live a separate life, but they are always happy to help us out when we are busy – all in all, we have been pretty lucky,” Jack said.