Milne Feeds was proud to once again exhibit at Western Dairy’s annual Dairy Innovation Day. This year’s event was held in Jindong at Grant and Nikki Evans’ family farm, where their commitment to the future of the dairy industry was clear to see. With a recently installed milking platform, plans underway for a hospital barn, a toddler at foot and another baby on the way, the Evans family are a true example of what’s possible with vision and determination.
The farm also highlights successful succession planning. Grant purchased the business from his parents, who had previously taken it over from Grant’s grandfather. Each generation has brought new growth and investment. Most recently, Grant and Nikki made the decision to upgrade the dairy in 2021, completing the build in late 2023. Their milking herd now peaks at 900 head.
The upgrade has had a big impact on work–life balance. The old rotary platform was labour-intensive, but the new DeLaval system can be run by just one team member. It’s fitted with advanced technology and sensors, allowing both Grant and Nikki to monitor milking from anywhere on the farm or even from home. The platform includes a body condition scoring camera, in-line conductivity metres, an adjustable height platform, automatic cup removers, and vacuum adjustment that responds to milk flow. This kind of technology is still very new to WA dairy farms.
Throughout the day, Grant and Nikki shared their succession planning journey, details of the new platform and effluent system, and insights into their business performance as participants in the Dairy Farm Monitor Program. The program also featured presentations on sustainability, with expert speakers from agribusiness consultants, Rabobank, Dairy Australia, and local processor Lactalis.
The day wrapped up with the Dairy Industry Dinner in Busselton, featuring guest speaker Matthew Evans, author of Milk. A chef and food activist, Matthew shared his entertaining and insightful take on the amazing product dairy farmers bring to life every day.
Being a long-standing sponsor of Innovation Day is important to Milne Feeds, and it was great to catch up with the many dairy farmers and service providers that attend the day. We were also happy to give away multiple Fly Buster fly traps for farms to try. We thank those that stopped at our stall to have a chat on the day.
If you’d like more information on FlyBuster or Milne Feeds dairy products, get in touch with our team today. Call Jonathan Langan on 0407 766 444.
