The C4Milk Project, a three-year collaboration led by Dairy Australia, Dairy Australia Murray, the Gardiner Foundation, and the Queensland Department of Primary Industries, is working to improve dairy farm profitability through enhanced milk yield and cost-effective forage cropping. Operating in northern Victoria and south-east Queensland, the project focuses on sustainable and resilient farming practices.
Farms in these regions are increasingly dependent on conserved forage to ensure consistent feed for dairy cows and mitigate climate variability. The C4Milk Project seeks to identify optimal crop combinations that are both high-yielding and cost-effective to grow and feed, ultimately improving farm productivity.
Research to Improve Crop Sustainability
A key aspect of the project is studying the long-term effects of forage crop species, crop sequencing, and time on productivity and sustainability. The research in northern Victoria is particularly focused on crop-on-crop effects in intensive fodder systems, providing valuable insights for farmers on profitable and sustainable forage cropping practices.
By analyzing soil health, nutrient cycling, and crop sequencing, the C4Milk Project aims to develop data-driven strategies to strengthen farm resilience and efficiency. The initiative is designed to help farmers make informed decisions that enhance both environmental sustainability and economic returns.
Expert-Led Research in Victoria
In Victoria, the C4Milk Project is led by Dairy Australia team member Yvette Williams, a research and innovation coordinator for the Murray region. With a PhD in dairy cow nutrition from the University of Melbourne, Yvette has spent decades studying dairy farming and animal digestion.
We’ve been fortunate to secure research sites in the Murray region, allowing us to guide the project effectively, We oversee the research sites, ensure reporting requirements are met, and make sure the science is solid. Our experiments are well-structured and progressing as planned.”
Yvette Williams
Dairy Australia’s Commitment to Innovation
With the decline of major research institutions in northern Victoria, Dairy Australia has intensified its research efforts by collaborating with groups such as the Birchip Cropping Group and the Irrigation Farmers Network. These partnerships allow for field experiments to test break crop strategies, improving yield and quality in intensive fodder systems.
One of C4Milk’s key goals is to assess the long-term effects of crop rotations. Yvette describes this approach as a marathon rather than a sprint, emphasizing the need for multi-year research to capture the full agronomic and economic impact of different cropping systems.
It’s about seeing the full picture. A single-year snapshot doesn’t provide enough data, Long-term research helps us understand the real impact of intensive cropping systems on both the environment and farm profitability.”
Yvette Williams
Progress and Future Plans
The C4Milk Project has already yielded promising results. Winter season crops were planted and harvested in 2024, and summer crops are now nearing completion at the irrigated research site. The final stage of crop rotation strategy treatments will take place in the upcoming winter of 2025, featuring a mix of cereal-based crops.
We aim to finish with several consecutive seasons of cereal crops to analyze the residual effects of break crops.”
Yvette Williams
The project is scheduled to conclude in June 2026, at which point researchers will assess the practical implications of their findings for dairy systems across the Murray region and beyond.
Strengthening Australia’s Dairy Industry
Australia’s dairy industry depends on continuous innovation, and Dairy Australia plays a vital role in driving collaborative research that delivers practical solutions for farmers.
Through key investments and partnerships, Dairy Australia ensures that research translates into tangible benefits, promoting higher productivity, profitability, and sustainability across Australian farms.
By integrating scientific research with real-world farming experience, the C4Milk Project is equipping dairy farmers with actionable strategies to enhance resilience, improve milk yield, and optimize forage cropping systems.
As climate variability and resource constraints continue to challenge the industry, projects like C4Milk provide the scientific foundation for a stronger, more adaptable future in Australian dairy farming.
