DairyCo BIDS project helps farmers save £1000s
DairyCo’s Business Improvement in the Dairy Sector (BIDS) project progress report has helped farmers save £1000s and continues to support farmers through established business groups, which meet on a regular basis.
Farmers who attended the DairyCo Business Groups have saved money or improved their businesses in many ways after following technical advice provided by DairyCo Extension Officers, speakers and other farmers’ best practice; from changing electricity contracts, altering housing and bedding regimes, changing breeding strategies, to forming a team approach to management with their vet, nutritionist and agronomist.
DairyCo’s Extension Team Manager, Stuart Goodinson, is delighted with the success of the project and what it has meant for farmers who have participated. "Farmers involved in the initiative are now benchmarking regularly and using this information to improve their businesses, and therefore sustainability, and many have been able to save £1000s as well as improving efficiency.
"Over the life of the Defra-funded project there have been around 1500 farmer attendances at group meetings, where at each meeting we have estimated that efficiency or business improvement savings of around £800 per farmer per meeting have been demonstrated. This gives an estimated potential industry improvement of £1.2 million.
"Communication across the supply chain has improved for those involved and farmers who did not even know each other before this project are now sharing business information as well as best practice with each other."
Routinely collected feedback from farmers who attend the groups showed that 98% felt the meetings were a good use of their time and 95% had done something different as a result of attending. One notable example was from a group that reported a significant reduction in calf mortality and one farmer said milk yield had increased from 2,100 to 2,600 litres a day, adding an extra £31,000 to his bottom line.
The project also aimed to work in partnership with the dairy co-ops to improve supply chain communication and understanding. Outcomes include dairy farmers witnessing more ’joined up’ activities between DairyCo and co-ops as well as co-ops and their field staff reporting a better working relationship with their farmer producers.
At the end of the project 35 groups have been established, which meet, on average, four times per year and more groups will be created in the future. In addition, many farmers are taking advantage of DairyCo’s data collection service, Milkbench+ and engaging in full benchmarking activities.
The DairyCo Business Group initiative has been recognised for its work with dairy farmers and was presented with the award for Partnership & Collaboration at the South West National Training Awards 2008 with judges commenting: "This is a well delivered facilitation training programme with good follow through and review processes established."
