A$1 Million Boost for Dairy Farmers to Save on Energy

The grant was one of 28 announced as round one of the Energy Efficiency Information Grants programme worth A$20 million. Dairy Australia will use the funding for the Smarter Energy Use on Australian Dairy Farms project to provide farmers with information and technical support to improve farm energy efficiency.

Dairy Australia Natural Resource Management Programme Manager Catherine Phelps said the secured funding would help deliver energy assessments to all eight dairy regions across Australia, tailoring it to meet local needs.

“There is a high level of interest in energy efficiency in the dairy industry and farmers are increasingly concerned about the cost of energy impacting on their business, so the conditions are right for a very effective national project,” Ms Phelps said.

“It is expected the project will result in supplying farmers with real practical solutions for significant savings in carbon emissions and energy costs on farm.”

Through on farm assessments, Smarter Energy Use on Australian Dairy Farms will deliver recommendations for dairy farmers to use energy in the smartest, most efficient and cost effective way.

Ms Phelps said recommended options could include changes to management practices, optimisation of current equipment and/or capital investment.

“Dairy farmers are under time pressure at the best of times and don’t have the luxury, or often the resources and information to find the best way to save money by improving their energy use,” she said.

“This will definitely provide the help they need.”

The project will develop and disseminate targeted information resources including an on farm assessment tool and train industry providers to undertake the energy assessments.

The project is also being supported by the Australian Dairy Industry Council, milk processors and state agencies.