School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences - Theses
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ItemA farm management economic analysis of future dairy systems in the Goulburn Valley( 2002)Case studies were used to analyse the organisation and management of two irrigated dairy farm businesses. In particular, the focus was to . identify the economic' aspects of current and future farming systems in the Goulburn Valley. The approach involved focusing on farmers, the farm business, and the specific details of the farm system that farmers were managing. A whole-farm perspective was relevant as it provided details of the farm system and farmer characteristics that substantially influence how they respond to market changes. The economic 'analyses revealed that theoretical concepts often match the practical management of irrigated. dairy businesses. Also, relatively simple farm management budgets, which capture the full effect on management of the whole farm system from development, have a useful role in providing farmers with effective information about the medium-term growth opportunities on irrigated dairy farms in the Goulburn Valley. From these results it can be concluded that 'it is not what you do, but how you do it' that primarily determines the level of success in achieving goals.
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ItemA process for practice : learning for change in the dairy industry( 2002)The dairy industry in Victoria, and indeed agriculture more generally, is facing a new generation of increasingly complex issues. Problems associated with issues such as the deregulation of markets and sustainable farming practices are ones which seemingly can not be addressed through the application of technology alone. In 1999 a review of human resource development and extension (HRD&E) in Australia's dairy industry identified that for farmers to be adequately supported in tackling such issues, the HRD&E system required extensive development, particularly in the area of understanding farmer learning. Learning plans were discussed as a possible means by which this could be achieved, however there was much ambiguity associated with this term, particularly for extension practitioners. Thus this project was born and aimed to explore the learning, motivation and change behaviour of dairy farmers in south west Victoria in relation to improving grazing management performance. After a review of the potential paradigms through which this research could be explored, practice theory and the interplay model were found to be the most appropriate, as such an approach enabled the researcher to engage farmers at the level of on farm practice. The underlying epistemological paradigm through which the area of learning plans was explored combined the constructivist and critical theory positions, while the methodologies applied were a collective case study approach, using a Straussian style of grounded theory. Through the interplay model it became clear that for this research to be effective, an improved understanding of farmer learning needed to be examined in terms of the provision of extension services. As such, new theory generated was explored and applied in practice using an action research approach, engaging five extension practitioners from around the state of Victoria. Overall, this research has produced a new model which describes farmer learning as a process of change where action and intention are informed, challenged and balanced by potentially opposing worldviews. The action research phase of the project identified that such learning would be best facilitated through partnerships with extension. Such partnerships involve the practice of extension working towards better understanding the farmers needs as well as the nature of their farming system, and then using this understanding to inform the application of extension resources. The process through which this concept was generated is clearly outlined and discussed, as are the implications that this research presents for the future development of extension in Victoria.
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ItemLearning from the group : a case study of the focus farm project in Gippsland, Victoria( 2001)This thesis examines the dairy industry 'focus farm project, in Gippsland, Victoria. This study evaluates the effectiveness of the focus farm project as an extension-learning program at the three farmer levels - the focus farm family, the support group and the wider local dairying community. It explores the process of the project, including the communication tools, the facilitated group approach and seeks evidence of the decision-making process. The focus farm project intends to improve on farm production efficiency through improved decision-making processes. It utilises consultant led, facilitated farmer groups. The three focus farms in this study include Labertouche, Nambrok and Yarram districts. The farmer groups are exclusive, and the wider community has access to the program by invitation to farm open days twice a year and through monthly industry newsletters. Qualitative and quantitative research methods were used to assess the focus farm project, including participant observation, semi-structured and structured interviews and thematic document analysis. A participatory action research (PAR) approach was undertaken to identify the applicability of farmer self-evaluation in future projects. This model was referred to as the 'second generation contact model'. It suggests the possibility of creating a bridge between support group members and the wider dairying community that both can use to verify and legitimate project inputs and outcomes. The findings showed that the understanding of the project aims and objectives were varied among the three farmer levels in comparison with the original intentions reported in the policy documents. The principle aim of the project, improving the decision making process, was not well articulated among focus farm groups. This is attributable in part to a lack of planning and focus at all levels on making the decision-making process transparent. The project model has the potential to integrate complexity and sustainable management practices into the focus farm discourse. There is evidence that farmers are interested in integrating approaches. The 'facilitated group approach' was not effectively demonstrated in the current project model. Instead, the findings indicate the project followed a personalised consultant model. The groups' identity was also influential in the project outcomes and activities. Similarly, participation of the wider community was affected by the group identity. Finally, the PAR approach provided a unique experience for core group members to contact the local dairying community and identify their opinions of project benefits. The results of the interviews has led to the conceptualisation of the 'second generation model', that is, farmer participants self-evaluating their core group management as well as supporting the focus farm family; and taking responsibility to disseminate focus farm decisions and activities outside the immediate group. In this way they may be understood as extension activists within the wider community. It is anticipated that this aspect of the model may be useful to future group extension activities planned within the dairy and other commodity industries.
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ItemWater-use efficiency and profitability on irrigated dairy farms in northern Victoria and southern New South Wales( 2001)Three studies were conducted to look at water use efficiency (WUE) and profitability on irrigated dairy farms in northern Victoria and southern New South Wales. The studies consisted of (i) a large survey of WUE on dairy farms, (ii) monitoring WUE on 20 farms over five seasons, and (iii) an economic evaluation of various development options for a case study farm. The factors associated with high WUE, and the potential for farms to improve WUE, were examined in the first two studies. The third study evaluated options for the case study farm that could result in higher WUE, increased profit, and meet the farm owners objectives. Water use efficiency was defined as the amount of milk (kg milk fat plus protein) produced from pasture per megalitre of water (irrigation plus effective rainfall). The survey of 170 randomly selected, irrigated, dairy farms in northern Victoria and nine in southern New South Wales found there was a large range in WUE (25 to 115 kg milk fat plus protein/MI), which indicated potential for many farms to substantially improve WUE. The high WUE farms, when compared with the low group, had higher estimated pasture consumption per ha and per ML, higher stocking rates, used higher rates of nitrogen fertiliser, had higher milk production per cow, and directed a higher proportion of energy consumed into milk production. The survey data also confirmed that irrigated dairy farm systems are complex and variable. Increases in WUE of over 15 kg milk fat + protein/ML were achieved on eight of the monitor farms over the last five years. However, an investment in improving WUE is often complex and is likely to impact on a number of areas of the farm business. For example, increasing WUE by increasing pasture utilisation may require an increase in stocking rate and herd size. An increase in herd size may make it necessary to replace some of the existing infrastructure, such as, the dairy, or employ more labour. The case study farm data indicates that in the past four seasons there was no simple, direct association between WUE and profitability. Economic analysis of some development options for the case study farm found that there were some options that were compatible with the objectives of the farm owners and were likely to result in both increased WUE, and increased profit. Efficient use of irrigation water is one of many factors that contribute to whole farm profit. Therefore, development options that have the potential to increase WUE also have potential to increase whole farm profit, and thus the development options investigated for irrigated dairy farms should always include options that have the potential to increase WUE. The approach of conducting an industry survey to identify areas of farm management where there may be potential to improve, and then looking at production and economic efficiency in past years on individual case study farms, provided a good base for evaluating development options and making farm management decisions. However, survey data and data from previous seasons appeared to be of limited value to farm managers unless they are used as a base to do some economic analysis of options for the future.