He started milking in February 2025.
Adam said the cost of production, largely stemming from high temporary water prices, had forced him into the decision.
“To be honest, it has been pretty hard for me from the get-go and I pushed through, but borrowing money to buy temporary water to put my autumn crops in was the final straw,” Adam said.
“The weather hasn’t been kind, we had a hot summer and the late autumn break meant I had to spend even more money on water.”
He said it was particularly hard to budget around water.
“I factored in two waterings in spring, but temporary water prices were pretty high, and one watering wasn’t enough,” he said.
“My paddocks don’t water too well either, and they need to be re-lasered, I did get the channels cleaned out, which helped with the leaks and some wastage.”
Ultimately, the high cost of production, including increasing cartage costs, meant by the time Adam paid his bills, he was left with nothing in his bank account, and a limited ability to reinvest in the business.
The never-ending workload and difficulty finding reliable labour also contributed to his decision.
He now has plans to finish milking by the end of the financial year.
“I am currently milking 90 cows, and I am hoping 55 will head off shortly to a buyer in South Australia, and I will just have to sell the rest,” he said.
Adam said his foray into the industry had taught him a few lessons, particularly about buying stock from people outside the area.
“Any local cows I have bought have been great, but I bought 30 cows from someone outside the area, and I only have eight of them left in the herd,” he said.
“It was a costly and hard lesson to learn.”
Adam will keep the land and is hoping to raise a few beefies and get a job.
He said it had always been his dream since he was a young boy to purchase his own farm.
He grew up in Cohuna, and for a couple of years when he was in primary school, his parents had a dairy farm.
This left a lasting impression on him, along with working on a farm when he was a teenager, which prompted him to fall in love with cows and breeding.
“The little farmers just aren’t here in the industry anymore, which is a real shame, and I don’t really know where the next generation is going to come from if you can’t even start out small and grow,” Adam said.
“It has been mind-blowing to me actually.
“I started out with plenty of young stock to grow the herd, but I ended up having to sell them because I couldn’t afford to feed them either.”
Adam isn’t bitter about his experience in the industry, he is just looking forward to a rest and seeing what the next chapter has in store.
15°C