Dairy Industry benefits from Irrigation in Tasmania

The Tasmanian dairy industry is booming. It continues to grow amid a challenging year for the national industry due to widespread drought throughout the Australian mainland, leading to low milk production. However, Tasmania has bucked the trend with a record year for milk production as Tasmanian farmers have invested in irrigation.

In the 2019-2020 financial year, Tasmania's 394 dairy farms produced 950 million litres of milk.

This is a 4.5 per cent increase on the year before and a 3.9% increase on the previous record of 913 million litres set in 2018.

These record increases are contributed to high rainfall and milk prices as well as an increase in irrigation investment. Tasmanian Dairy farmers are able to increase the number of cows on their properties, through irrigation allowing them to take advantage for high milk prices.

The state's continued success is matched against an industry that has struggled nationally. National production is expected to remain steady this year following an 8 per cent reduction the year before, presenting a continuing window of opportunity for Tasmanian Dairy Farmers.

Irrigation Gives Great ROI

Tasmanian farmers are also the most positive and profitable in the country according to the latest figures.

A June survey found Tasmanian farmers were the most optimistic in the country with 90 per cent feeling positive about their own businesses, compared to 67 per cent nationally.

The survey also found that Tasmanian dairy farmers are the most profitable with 91 per cent expecting to make a profit this year, compared to 70 per cent nationally.

Tasmanian dairy farms are now the biggest in the country with an average herd size of 450 cows, and this is being attributed to increased irrigation investment by Dairy Tasmania.