He’s also warned that collaboration is better than confrontation and dairy farmers should work together for better outcomes.
Speaking at the DA AGM in Warrnambool on November 27, James said it had been a privilege to serve the industry for more than 20 years.
“We’ve experienced plenty of tough times with challenges of climate, trade, market conditions heavily influencing our on-farm profitability,” he said.
“Since 2020, the challenges have turned around and the scales have tipped more in our favour.
“We’ve seen four or five years of improved conditions across most regions, notwithstanding those businesses whacked by climate.”
He said Dairy Australia had a role to play in providing tools so farmers could capitalise on the good times and be shielded from the tougher times.
James said investing in research and innovation was a leap of faith that might take time to pay off, but was worth the effort.
“Because of innovation in genetics, our herd is more efficient, our cows get sick less, they produce more milk, get in calf easier and more often, and over the last 20 years, we get an extra lactation out of them,” he said.
“We continue to see improvements as we get more data and as the technology evolves. We need to invest today so that we might see results years from now.
“Traits that were ground-breaking 10 years ago, are commonplace today, particularly around health and transition management. Technology in its infancy today will be conventional in 10 years.”
James said he believed genetics would play a significant role in reducing methane emissions over the next decade.
“Genetics is one of the tools helping us to maximise profitability and sustainability and produce more milk with less environmental impact.
“We must continue to invest in these areas, not just because it makes sense for our bottom line, but because it’s the right thing to do and because the way we are perceived as an industry can have a huge impact on our ability to farm.”
James also called for more promotion of Australian dairy.
The Dairy Matters campaign has seen consumer trust in the industry increase from 68 per cent in 2018 to 83 per cent this year.
“Building community trust influences policy at government level and telling our story will impact on all policy decisions,” James said.
“We have seen policy impact the right to farm in other countries, and we don’t want to go there. We want our voices listened to and respected by people with the power to influence change.”
James said Australian dairy had a bright future and was well-placed to continue capitalising on the good times so it can better weather the more challenging times.
However, he said he was concerned we have become tribal to some extent, working against each other instead of working with each other.
“Industry organisations are at their strongest when farmers with diverse experience unite towards a common goal,” James said.
“We need to support farmers to step up, instead of tearing each other down.
“When we work together, we get better outcomes. Collaboration gets us further than confrontation.”
James and his family own Donovan's Dairying Pty Ltd at Wye, South Australia. He retires from the DA Board following nine years as a director and four-and-a-half years as chair.
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