Fish poo to boost organic pastures

WASTE products from a fish hatchery will be used to irrigate farmland on a new dairy operation at Glen Huon.

Huon Aquaculture has joined forces with Bruny Island Cheese Company to use waste from Forest Home Hatchery on pastures at the dairy farm.

Huon Aquaculture executive director and co-founder Frances Bender said the farmland Forest Home Hatchery sat on had been certified as organic in conversion.

“This means waste products from the hatchery can be used to irrigate the new dairy’s farmland,’ Mrs Bender said.

“It will help produce organic-standard fodder for Glen Huon Dairy Company’s rare breed cows.

“This collaboration is something that we have worked towards for a while.”

Nick Haddow, who started Bruny Island Cheese in 2003, said he was now realising a dream of producing his own milk on the 36ha farm site that would be home to 55 cows.

Glen Huon Farm was certified as organic in conversion in May and Huon’s Aquaculture’s Forest Home farmland in September.

Pending audits and spot checks, the land around the hatchery will be certified as organic at the end of September 2019.

“I see our partnership with Huon Aquaculture as a positive outcome and to revitalise this farm as an organically certified dairy farm is an exciting step for us,” Mr Haddow said.

“This is a massive step forward for us and the realisation of a dream.”

Three rare breeds have been chosen for the dairy farm.

The dual-purpose breeds include Australian dairy shorthorn, French breed Normande and brown Swiss.

All three breeds produce milk ideal for cheesemakers.