Making his way in dairy

How do you get into the dairy industry if you’re not from a dairy farming family?

Peter Kerr grew up in suburban Melbourne and had family friends in dairy farming. He spent holidays and other free time on the farm. He liked the animals, working with his hands and working outside.

Peter started an apprenticeship at 16 with those family friends at Simpson and did his Cert 3 in Dairy. From 2014 to today Peter, 29, and his wife Marnie, have progressed from 10% to a 50% sharefarming arrangement at Bostocks Creek, milking 300 cows.

With the demand for food growing, Peter sees agriculture as a definite growth industry. The biggest change he’s seen is the improved flexibility in working hours as farms get bigger, more professional and have more outside employees.

“We plan to employ more people and have more time away as we get more established,” Peter said.