The Kellys converted from conventional dairying to a certified organic system on Staunton Farm in Sheffield, located on the fertile red basalt plains beneath Mount Roland.
The couple bought the former vegetable farm in 2007 when John was working as an environmental scientist in the identification, remediation and risk assessment of contaminated land and groundwater on sites across Australia.
“I realised that some of the people who are best placed to make significant improvements to the environment are farmers,” John says.
In 2015, John took the plunge and became a full-time farmer. They built a dairy with the help of their neighbour, re-fenced the farm and installed a new irrigation system to utilise allocated irrigation from the Don River.
It wasn’t long before they began to reduce the use of fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides.
“In 2018 we decided to go cold turkey and convert to organic farming, through Southern Cross Certification in Brisbane. It’s a commitment, because during the conversion period of three years you can’t use any conventional inputs – no fertiliser, herbicides, or pesticides, including cattle wormers and antibiotics,” John says.
“Consequently, your production drops – you can’t get the premium that organic milk attracts for three years.
“We’ve lost about 20 per cent production through switching to organic.”
With one full-time and one part-time worker, the Kellys now milk 250 cows once a day in a 22-a-side herringbone swingover. The herd is a three-way cross of Holstein Friesian, Jersey and Norwegian Red, and they run another 160 follow-ons and about 100 dairy beef cattle.
Organic benefits
While milk production has dropped, John believes this is counteracted by the environmental and social resilience that organic dairying provides along with the premiums his product attracts.
“We’re not exposed to fluctuations in fertiliser prices, grain prices and supplies from across Bass Strait, and historically we’ve been paid a premium of around 20 per cent on the price per litre for our milk,” he says.
Although John says, it’s not a case of what they’re doing is right, and conventional farming isn’t.
“It’s just the way we choose to do it,” he says.
“We’re trying to farm within the means of our land, make a reasonable amount of money, and ensure our land will be around for the next generation.”
Environmentally, Staunton Farm produces negligible greenhouse gas emissions. All electricity in Tasmania is generated by hydro power and apart from diesel, the Kellys have no other energy inputs.
The improvement of the soil structure due to regenerative practices has locked up substantial amounts of organic carbon. Multi-species pastures cover approximately 70 per cent of the farm and the Kellys are increasing this every year.
Tree planting
Trees to encourage biodiversity and soil stability have become a focus for the Kellys and their three children.
They participated in the local Mount Roland Landcare Group’s Thousands of Trees program, revegetating waterways, fence lines and nature reserves.
“We enjoyed ourselves so much that we offered to sponsor the group for 100 trees a year – for kids to plant,” says John.
The Kellys also successfully applied for funding from the Cows Out of Creeks program to fence off waterways and pipe water to troughs on the farm, as well as receiving a grant from Landcare Tasmania to plant 2,000 trees along the Don River.
“We’ve also started planting wind breaks along our paddocks to encourage biodiversity too. We’ll use natives and fruit trees as well, because the diversity of plants assists soil health,” John explains.
“Undertaking this planting all counts towards a sustainable future.”
To find out more about how Dairy Australia supports farmers to better manage climate and environment, visit dairyaustralia.com.au/climate-and-environment or contact your regional office.
