Ron Paynter is retiring from milking, having sold their spring calving herd. This will be the end of an era when Ron and his wife Kath, sell their autumn calving herd in the near future.
There is a lot of family history associated with the Paynter Farms business. William Henry Paynter selected the original property in Ellinbank in the late 1800’s, having come from Echuca.
Ron’s father and mother, Graham and Joy commenced milking on Joy’s family property in Drouin South, but returned to the Paynter property in 1986 to assume the role of farming at Ellinbank.
Graham was heavily involved in education and training of the dairy industry, and he chaired the Rural Planning council of Victoria.
The need to educate flowed in the family blood, and Ron achieved a degree in agricultural science. Ron spent nine years teaching in the Mallee region, and later in Drouin, before returning to Ellinbank in 1994.
At that time the family farm was 200 acres and milked 120 cows. Now, Paynter Farms covers 400 acres after purchasing neighbouring land when it became available.
Ron built their herd up to 360 milking cows, plus replacements, but the educator in him did not go away.
Ron became involved in the Target 10 program, and became a member of the target’s advisory group.
His CV runs into a long list, including Bonlac Farmer Zone representative, Gipps Dairy sub committee, then a board member of Gipps Dairy, which he chaired for three years.
Completing a 18 months Australia Rural Leadership course, Ron became heavily involved in the Dairy Extension Program.
Ron became West Gippsland’s central councillor for the UDV, which led to the Deputy President’s position. and then to a board member of Australian Diary Farmers, ADV.
He also heads up a steering committee for Dairy Industry People Development. Finding young people to work in the dairy industry remains very difficult, and the development group is working to assist in getting overseas people, through 457 Visa’s to fill the gap.
All the while Ron ran the family farm with the help of his wife, Kath. However, Kath has qualifications if First Aid, and is involved with Melbourne, LaTrobe and Murdoch universities, and some other organizations.
So why relinquish dairying. Ron said there are two major reasons, the first being to dissolve the family trust, the second is their age. While Ron and Kath returned to the family farm, their children will not follow in their footsteps.
Both are approaching a milestone birthday, and they want to ease back and enjoy life a little better. Milk prices, the collapse of Murray Goulburn, and seasonal conditions have aided their decision too.
Winding up the family partnership saw them sell their spring calving herd two weeks ago. Ron had built up strong genetics in their herd, which in these tough times saw their 110 milking cows average around $1000. This was a great opportunity to purchase females from a herd rated among the top 10 per cent of commercial herds in Australia.
Ron will continue his involvement in the industry, having recently been appointed by Agriculture Minister Jaala Pulford, to a ministerial advisory committee into intensive animal farming industry in Victoria.
