Grant and Kim Archer win Tasmanian dairy award for the fourth time

A tried and true philosophy of keeping things simple and growing as much grass as possible has helped one Tasmanian couple win their fourth major dairy award.

Grant and Kim Archer when they won their first Dairy Business of the Year award in 2003 while they were farming at Mella.

A dairy farming couple have made history by winning the Tasmanian Dairy Business of the Year award for the fourth time.

Grant and Kim Archer run Mountain Vale farm near Bracknell and have been named as this year’s TDBOY winners, making them the most successful farmers in the history of the awards.

The Archers, who run Active Dairies, also received the award in 2003 on their own farm, and then again in both 2012 and 2015 while they were share farming on other properties.

The award was announced in a special live stream event with the finalists, hosted by the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture and DairyTas.

The Tasmanian Dairy Business of the Year is awarded to the business that records the highest number of points in the judging process.

Farms are assessed on a number of criteria, including the financial performance of the business, along with the management of their farm team, pasture, cows and environment.

Then Archers purchased their current property in December 2013 and began by milking 210 cows.

Since then they have built a rotary dairy in a central location, installed a pivot irrigation system and increased their cow numbers to 1200.

TIA Dairy Extension Team Leader Lesley Irvine said the judging panel were particularly impressed by the strategic growth of the business.

"They have implemented a range of management strategies to achieve high profitability on a predominantly rain-fed dairy farm," Ms Irvine said.

"They have a focus on high pasture consumption which has involved extensive pasture renovation and drainage works, along with installation of pivot irrigation.”

Ms Irvine also acknowledged the success of the other two finalists, Dalmore Dairy, managed by Luke Davey-Baldock, and Rosemount, managed by James Greenacre.

"Despite not taking out the top prize this year, they are still excellent examples of successful dairy farm businesses and should be extremely proud of their achievement in being finalists," Ms Irvine said.

DairyTas Executive Officer Jonathan Price said the organisation was honoured to help co-ordinate the Tasmanian Dairy Awards program.

"Shining a light on the successful dairy businesses in Tasmania is always a highlight of our year," he said.

"It is important that we take the time to celebrate the capability of our dairy farmers and their excellence in business performance, farm management and human resource management."

The winners of the 2020 Fonterra Share Farmer of the Year will be announced at another live stream event at Noon on Wednesday, April 22.

Five other awards, also organised by DairyTas, will be announced in April and May.

• April 29: Dairy Farm Safety Award
• April 29: Dairy Environmental Award
• May 6: Employer of Choice Award
• May 6: Employee of the Year Award
• May 13: Young Farmer of the Year Award