John Mulvany recognised for four decades of dairy consultancy

Despite drought and industry turmoil, consultant John Mulvany says there’s plenty of reasons for dairy optimism. Here’s why.

With his laconic sense of humour, it was only natural that John Mulvany poked fun at himself when he set up his business, OMJ Consulting.

For those not in the know — the technocratic acronyms OMJ actually stands for ‘Old Man John,’ unsurprising given the industry veteran is always keen for a laugh.

But reflecting back on his five-decade career, Mr Mulvany says there are striking parallels for Australian dairy with the tempestuous mid 1970s, back in the days when was ‘Young Man John’, a fresh-faced agricultural science student.

“My first exposure to the industry when I was still at Melbourne Uni in the mid ‘70s doing ag science and travelling through Gippsland,” he said.

“There was a feeling at the time that dairy was really in the doldrums. The issues at the time were European tariffs, extreme seasonal conditions and milk price structures - particularly contract holders versus non-contract holders.

“That’s back in the mid-70s — so there’s always been times of volatility in dairy and some of those same issues that we thought we’re in the past, like tariffs are now back on the agenda.”

Dairy consultant John Mulvany with ADF president Ben Bennett

Earlier this month, Mr Mulvany received a standing ovation from farmers as he was presented with the Australian Dairy Industry Council’s outstanding service award at GippsDairy Muster.

The award has been designated to only a handful of recipients over the years and allowed Mr Mulvany to reflect on a lifetime of research and technological change over his four decades in consultancy.

After graduating from university, Mr Mulvany worked as a teacher before life took an agricultural turn.

“In the mid 1980s, I arrived in Leongatha as a green 30-year-old teacher and hadn’t been exposed to the dairy industry that much. Fortunately, I was thrown a lifeline by four or five dairy farmers who really set me up in the education field,” he said.

“I was working with McMillan Rural Studies, which no longer exists, but was an adult education service for farmers - I did that for about five years, before going to Murray Goulburn and worked in their field services.

“That’s where I really learned about the true dairy industry, because as a field officer, you’re exposed to the whole population of dairy farmers - large, small, different districts.”

John Mulvany at the 2004 'Gippsland River Forum.

In the mid 1990s, Mr Mulvany worked in independent agricultural consulting, under the On Farm Consulting brand before his own OMJ brand was established.

“The beauty of all those steps in my career was that I always had a terrific client base and discussion group base,” he said.

“Dairy farmers are very generous with their time and information. Unlike any other agricultural sector, in my opinion, dairy has always had a culture of wanting to share information - to help other farmers improve and develop.”

While the vagaries of trade and climate in the mid-2020s mirror what he saw as a young student in the mid 1970s, Mr Mulvany said there had also been substantive changes to dairy over the course of his career — most notably herd size and acreage.

“It was pretty common to see herds of 80, 90, 100 cows in the 1970s and 80s,” he said.

“Feed is another change. When I started, you were considered to be an unusual farmer if you feed grain — the common expression was ‘you’re buying your milk’.

“The focus on fodder changed into the 1990s. There was a huge pasture focus when I started.

“Measuring profit is another change. I became obsessed with getting data, measuring profit, looking at what the profitable dairy farmers are doing.

“If you’re not achieving profit at some stage, you become disenchanted.

“I am optimistic about dairy farming though. There are many innovative, hardworking young and youngish people getting into dairy and they do see the opportunities that are there, particularly with the technology on farms that is labour saving or labour minimising.”

Veteran consultant John Mulvany in 2005.

ADIC chairman Ben Bennett said Mr Mulvany’s contribution to dairy farming extended beyond individual consultations, with thought-provoking articles, the development of industry benchmarks and innovation all part of his legacy.

“John has worked with farmers and farm businesses of all sizes across the country, helping achieve their dreams and improve their operations,” Mr Bennett said.

“Most would agree he brought wit, humour and a strong focus in his approach to consulting.”