Episode notes
Twenty-five years ago, Australia dismantled its dairy regulations overnight, promising efficiency and competitiveness. The brutal reality? Farm numbers crashed 65%, yet national milk production fell 26% despite surviving operations tripling in size. Some farmers earned just $2.46 per hour during the worst periods. This episode dissects the hard data behind Australia's "get big or get out" transformation, revealing critical lessons for North American dairy farmers navigating their own market pressures, consolidation trends, and innovation imperatives.
Key Takeaways:
- How did 8,000+ Australian farms disappear while survivors grew from 168 to 534 cows per farm—and what does this mean for your operation?
- Why did productivity gains fail to prevent a 26% national production decline, and what market forces drove this paradox?
Keywords
Data-driven herd managementdairy farm efficiencylarge herd managementdairy profitabilityCanadian Supply Managementdairy herd managementsupply management reformsupply management quotadairy supply managementdairy deregulation