The new 360-hectare dairy conversion farm milks 900 cows, is 70 per cent irrigated and started in 2016.

Farm development and conversion manager John Wilson, farm owner representative Andrew Beattie and farm manager Tim Salter spoke at the field day.

They discussed what was involved in a conversation, key challenges and critical requirements when undertaking such a project and the DairyTas IntoDairy project activity.

Tasmanian senator Jonathon Duniam said the project built investment, jobs growth and cow herds in Tasmania.

“IntoDairy has engaged agribusiness and banks to encourage investment in automated or ‘robot’ milking systems, increasing dairy farmers processing capacity,” Mr Duniam said.

“The project built cow numbers and developed breeding programs to extend and improve the quality and quantity of viable heifers,” he said.

The IntoDairy project is jointly funded by DairyTas, who contributed $90,000; the Tasmanian government, $740,000; federal government, $372,028 and 10 other industry partners, $366,000.

This project has supported dairy conversions throughout Tasmania in the past four years.