In 1996 Bruce Knowles and his wife Lyn swapped the snowy slopes of Mount Taranaki, New Zealand for south-west Victoria. The family set their sights on a property in Tyrendarra and have been delighted with their decision since.
For now, Bruce and his son Martin manage the farm and believe the region’s natural assets and reasonable land prices make it the perfect place to produce milk.
“South-west Victoria doesn’t suffer the kind of climate extremes you see in other states, and it's blessed with reliable rainfall and good soils,” said Bruce.
“So, when an opportunity came up to purchase Radnor Properties, we jumped at it because we knew the secure water supplies and land would allow us to realise our farming goals.”
The Knowles currently milk a split calving herd of 1,600 cows with 600 replacement stock on their 2,000-acre dairy farm and have a 1,400 megalitre take and use groundwater licence that underpins their business.
“We’re on sandy limestone country. In summer it is vulnerable to drying so having a secure groundwater supply is critical for us to be able to meet our milk contract requirements,” said Bruce.
Radnor Properties employs 11 full-time staff and is currently building a new calf-rearing facility. Martin believes water is the currency that supports these jobs and investment in south-west Victoria.
“For every dollar earned on the farm, it creates another four to five dollars somewhere else. So, it’s important we look after the resource well so the community can benefit in the long term,” said Martin.
Martin’s farm is located within the Portland Groundwater Management Area. This area has a Permissible Consumptive Volume that is capped at 7,795 ML/yr. This cap provides the right balance of water for productive use with the needs of the environment.
“Managing groundwater sustainably is critical because if you overtax a water system no one wins,” said Martin.
There are five groundwater bores across the property that have water flow meters installed to allow water use to be monitored closely.
“Our water meters enable us to track use and flows across the season and adjust our irrigation program based on soil moisture levels and weather. This is important because it helps us plan and ensure we don’t go over our entitlement,” said Martin.
Bruce said being supported by Southern Rural Water has helped their operation run smoothly.
“I’ve known our Field Officer, Kevin Williams, for years and I’ve nothing but praise for him,” said Bruce.
“Kev is down to earth and knows how to talk to farmers. Every time we’ve called on him, he’s onto issues fast and wants to help us find the best solution.”
Bruce and Martin understand the challenges posed by climate change but believe they have the right philosophy and tools to thrive.
“Over the years we’ve invested in the right irrigation systems and technology to help us use water very efficiently,” said Bruce.
“If we look after the water resource, continuously innovate and adapt as needed, then we’ll be in a good position to run the business, look after our environment and keep our cows happy.”