Subtropical Dairy Programme Ltd (SDP) is a company limited by guarantee governed by an elected skills based

Board. SDP is Dairy Australia’s contracted Regional Development Program (RDP) body for the northern dairy

industry. SDP delivers Research, Development, Extension and Education outcomes for northern dairy farmers

by leveraging levy funds by at least 3:1 from external sources.

For more information please contact:

Neale Price (Executive Officer) email: neale@dairyinfo.biz mobile: 0400 022 843

Subtropical Dairy Programme website: www.dairyinfo.biz office: 07 3396 6229

How do I benefit?

Profitable and sustainable return on levy investment

Gaining increased skills and knowledge

Accessing industry expertise and experts

Influencing agendas and priorities

Board membership

Leading small projects

Undertaking Training

Doing NRM activities

Regional group membership

Becoming a YDN member

Attending Field days, work-

shops, seminars and events

Opportunities to participate

Department of Agriculture

Fisheries and Forestry

(DAFF)

QDO district

councils & branches

NSW Farmers - local dairy committees

Aust. Dairy Industry

Council (ADIC)

Aust. Dairy Farmers

(ADF)

Aust. Dairy Products

Federation (ADPF)

Dairy

Australia

(DA)

Qld Dept. of Ag,

Fisheries & Forestry

(DAFFQ)

NSW Dept. of

Primary Industries

(NSW DPI)

Subtropical

Dairy

Programme

(SDP)

SDP Regional

Groups

YDN NRM Groups QLD / NSW

local extension staff Private providers

Local

Regional

National

Research Development Extension & Education

Advocacy Government &

Industry

Qld Dairyfarmers

Organisation (QDO)

NSW Farmers - dairy committee

Sponsors and

Project funders.

Commonwealth

Government

co-contribution

Dairy Services

Levy

Subtropical Dairy Programme Ltd.

Strategic Plan 2012-2017

VISION

A profitable, sustainable and market focussed industry, practicing responsible resource management, and offering a fulfilling lifestyle to adaptable, professional

people, operating in a global market.

MISSION

To foster a collaborative and unified approach to farm viability, by facilitating research, development, extension and education, improving technology and

empowering people in the industry.

TECHNICAL FOCUS MANAGEMENT & COMMUNICATION FOCUS

IMPROVED PROFITABILITY EDUCATION & EXTENSION LEARNING CULTURE ENGAGED & EFFECTIVE REGIONAL GROUPS ENHANCED COMMUNICATION

Outcomes:

On-farm productivity is improved to enable:

stable, reliable and ‘flat’ production

improved cost base to counteract regional factors

which increase inputs and overheads

effective use of the subtropical feedbase with

improved Feed Conversion Efficiency

greater incentive for uptake of appropriate practices and standards, including NRM, OH&S and animal

welfare

increased and sustained supply of skilled farm

workers and service providers

enhanced farm succession planning options

and in turn:

increased respect for the dairy industry as

responsible and viable

increased confidence in the sustainability of the

subtropical dairy industry

increased investment in subtropical research,

development and extension.

Outcomes:

Improved coordination of education & extension

activities enables:

alignment of effort

efficient and targeted application of resources

and in turn:

improved value return on investment

extended longevity of activities under available

funding; and

more enduring legacy.

Outcomes:

A learning culture is established and embedded as an

integral part of SDP culture and provides:

improved skills availability on-farm and in service

providers

increased valuing of accredited training and awards

for farmers and farm workers

enhanced uptake of appropriate standards and

practice improvement

an industry pathway and improved career

development for farm workers and service providers

and in turn:

enhanced image of dairy industry as a responsible and

sustainable employer

greater incentive for new workers to enter the

industry, and for skilled workers to remain engaged.

Outcomes:

Regional groups form the hub of the SDP, functioning

strongly and effectively to enable:

effective connection with all dairy businesses and

their employees

enhanced communication in both directions

regional customisation of education & extension

activities for enhanced regional relevance

greater local/regional guidance, direction and

ownership

increased regional engagement with research and

development projects and applications

and in turn:

farmers and farm workers identify the value of

group membership and interaction

improved communication and uptake of all

programs and relevant information

improved targeting of effort; and

improved identification of gaps in programs for research and development, education and

extension.

Outcomes: Effective communication enables:

improved coordination of education & extension

activities

enhanced uptake of appropriate standards and

practice improvement

development of energy and momentum in regional groups through strengthened purpose and

engagement

continuing promotion of a positive image for the

subtropical dairy industry

enhanced skills development and career path for

farm workers and service providers

and in turn:

increased respect for the dairy industry as

responsible and viable

increased confidence in the sustainability of the

subtropical dairy industry

increased profile and influence with policy makers

and funding sources

improves access for farmers to current and

appropriate industry information.

Priority Activities:

Define goals for improved productivity and regional milk

supply

Develop a research development and extension prospectus

for flexible farming systems using the subtropical

feedbase, aimed at:

increasing reproductive performance

better genotypes of cattle that suit the subtropical

environment

innovative parasite control

Improved utlilisation of summer pastures

improved cropping options for increased utilisation of

pastures

physical and financial analysis and benchmarking

options for robotic milking and other technology

future role and practices for carbon farming and links

to Feed Conversion Efficiency

Investigate trends in, and develop guidance on

appropriate uptake of, new or altered practices and

standards, including natural resource management/

environmental impact, food safety, occupational health &

safety, and animal welfare.

Priority Activities:

Examine strategic coordination, to include consideration

of:

encompassing feedbase, animals, NRM and people

(Young Dairy Network)

mechanisms for collaboration (including DAFF, QDO, the Vocational Education and Training (VET) and

Tertiary Sectors)

addressing cross-border ‘boundary’ issues which

inhibit effective uptake

In conjunction with a Communication Plan, consider the

value of:

‘Focus Farms’ and demonstration sites in regions

Subtropical Dairy Forum

Dairy Days (based on the Hastings Valley model)

Skills packages and qualifications

Convene a Projects Subcommittee to advise on priority

investment areas, with a focus on improved productivity,

including technical review and assessment of proposal

applications

Identify membership and then convene a Dairy Education

& Extension Providers Committee to advise on alignment

of effort, reduction of duplication and establishment of a

central calendar of activities.

Priority Activities:

Develop an Industry Learning Strategy, to include

consideration of:

the support of newly engaged and effective regional

groups in promoting the strategy

mapping/converting extension to formal training to enhance access to funding (NCDEA and Qld Education

Committee)

initiating a ‘dairy apprenticeship’ style educational

offering in Qld, supported by skills packages

establishment of staffing funded to initiate development of training and career development pathways, linked to practical and operational aspects

of education and extension

aligning regional training coordination with the Young

Dairy Network and NRM.

Priority Activities:

Examine the structure and functioning of each regional

group, to consider:

increasing and broadening membership to benefit from a mix of age, gender, culture, and farm

systems

strengthening coordination and team capacity to

enable continuity

strengthened links with SDP Directors, to work with

champions identified in regional groups

developing capability to contribute to priority

setting and plan development

enhancing social attraction of group membership

sourcing ideas from Young Dairy Network and Dairy

In Action groups

Examine communication structures with regional groups

to enable:

regional customisation and adaptation

regional engagement with field days, forums, trials

and applications

documentation and reporting of all activities, including demonstration sites and testimonial case

studies, highlighting farm families.

Priority Activities:

Develop a SDP Communications Plan to encompass

strategic, practical and operational aspects of:

expanded and enhanced personal contact and

interaction with regional groups

use of social media and Web site

mix of media for newsletters and reporting

regular project reports for Northern Dairyfarmer

and dairyinfo.biz

documentation of demonstration sites and testimonial case studies, highlighting farming

families

interaction with regional groups.

STRATEGIC PRIORITIES 1 Natural Resource Management:

Facilitate the development and uptake of national and regional information packages that enhance farmers’ ability to improve resource management practices, productivity and sustainability.

3 Animal Health and Welfare:

Enhance the adoption of industry accepted animal health and welfare standards to insure the quality of dairy products, minimise animal health and management constraints and ensure market access.

5 Feed Systems Management:

To increase the number of farm businesses adopting key feed base management principles to improve the profitability and sustainability of dairy businesses.

2 Human Resources:

To build the capacity of people to be effective farm owners, managers, employers and employees to contribute to the

development of a sustainable dairy industry.

4 Business Management:

Identify and encourage adoption of practices to improve farm business management, with particular reference to

decision support systems and technology on farm.

6 Communications:

To provide appropriate information to all sectors of the dairy industry and to promote a positive profile and image

of Subtropical Dairy and the dairy industry.