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Drew and Kate Carter
The Carters made the move across the country from Western Australia, following the deregulation of the Australian dairy industry, to take advantage of the lower cost of production and the high returns from dairying on Tasmanian soil.
The venture has been a great success, with steady growth and progression on the farm in the seven years since then.
"We began with 190 cows on a total farm area of 152 hectares, of which 128 hectares could be milked off and 27 hectares was irrigated," Drew says.
"We have progressively added to our herd size and been in a position to purchase additional land. We now have a herd of 290 cows on the same grazing area and have purchased 64 hectares, with plans to develop this into dairy ground in the coming years," he says.
The Carters built a new dam and installed a centre pivot for the 2005/06 season and have increased the irrigated area to 60 hectares. They are planning another 30 hectares of irrigation in the future. The additional irrigation will allow them to increase the herd further and to run the young stock at home.
"We have had support from field staff and local farmers since arriving in Tasmania, which has been a great help. Attending workshops and discussion groups held by the Department of Primary Industry has kept us on track to keeping our costs down, so that the business is running efficiently," Kate says.
The Carters' transition to dairying in Tasmania has been relatively easy.
"While the summer period can be quite challenging, this has been managed with our irrigation systems and effective use of silage and concentrates," Drew says.
The Carters enjoy the lifestyle Tasmania offers them, and, while growing the business has been challenging, the rewards of its continued growth have been rewarding.
Drew and Kate Carter
