The Briggs

Location: South of Drouin

Family: Colin & Joan Briggs, Rodney & Bev Briggs (son and daughter-in-law), Board member, Organic Dairy Farmers Co-Op

Farm Size: 400 acres

The farm just South of Drouin

Background: Rodney & Bev Briggs farm 400 acres just south of Drouin along with Rodney’s parents Colin and Joan. The farm was first purchased by Joan’s parents Harold and Beryl Cruickshank in 1953. Back then the farm was 164 acres and only half cleared. When Harold became too old to continue farming he sold the farm to Colin and Joan, who at the time, had a dairy farm in Tasmania.

They shifted over to the mainland in 1972 and Rodney and his 3 sisters went to school in Drouin. After leaving school Rodney completed his carpentry apprenticeship. He worked for 10 years in the industry building houses and commercial buildings in the Gippsland area. At this stage Rodney and Bev decided to return to the family farm.

Rodney and Bev started a stud, Miludell Holsteins, a short time after returning to the farm. Rodney’s uncle, Duncan Smith, an accountant who owns an adjoining 100 acres that Rodney and Colin look after, also became interested starting his own Select Holsteins.

Together they purchased animals and embryos from all over the world aiming to supply bulls to the bull farms for A.I. Many bulls were sold. The highlight for them was having 3 bulls in the top 10 in Australia.

However, Rodney and Bev began to question the direction they were heading. Cow health and conception rates were slipping. Some of the calves born from supposedly the best cows in the world were producing some of the poorest calves on the farm.

The farm was suffering from increased lucerne flea each year and the fertilizer representative was pushing for more fertilizer to be applied. Finally the family decided that they were on the wrong track and contacted family friend Ivan Mitchell. Ivan is a Bio-Ag consultant. With his help the Brigg’s planned to turn their farming style biological to work with nature instead of against it.

After a couple of years of improvement on the land Rodney and Bev visited Ron & Bev
Smith’s farm on an organic open day. After being pleasantly surprised that Ron & Bev were not a “couple of hippies on a rough farm” as Rodney put it, they realized that this was the way they wanted to farm. A grade certification was achieved in 2004.

Happy heathy organic cows

Currently: Rodney and Bev now have 3 children. Rachael who is currently working as a nanny in
Switzerland, Matthew who is in year 12 and also studying and training to become a commercial pilot, and Nathan who is in year 10.

The boys, Bev and Joan, help Rodney and Colin on the farm when needed alleviating any need for employees. The Briggs’s usually milk about 230 cows, calving half the herd in March and the balance July-August.

Most of the fodder is produced on the farm although some is still purchased
with the aim of all being made on farm in the near future.

Rodney & Bev still have a stud but have turned more to cross breeding -
trying Jerseys, Swedish Reds, British/Dutch Friesian and Normande.

They also carry 30 beef cows plus calves as well as a flock of 30 sheep. To sell their stock as organic would be ideal although at this stage the market is limited as
are the rewards. Miffy (golden Labrador) is a keen worker on the farm, she is
always keen to eradicate mice and assist moving stock.

When Rodney isn’t working on the farm or attending to board matters he enjoys getting out in the veggie patch or doing a bit of building. Colin and Joan are still active on the farm also they make sure they get away for a decent holiday each year either somewhere in Australia or overseas.