Day 6

Our group after our tour of the plant with all of our tour guides.

We started our day at SPC Ardmona, which is a local vegetable and fruit canning facility. The operation is owned by Coca Cola Amatil in Shepparton. Their peak fruit season is over their summer months, December through May. During this peak season they will employ around 800 people and in the off-season will employ around 350 people. They process many fruits, including: apples, peaches, pears, tomatoes, apricots, plums, and much more. They do a variety of canning, juicing, and pureeing. They manage their waste very well. For example, they use the not suitable pieces of fruit to make the juice like the rinds and cores. They also use damaged cups or cans that are still safe to eat just not sell, that they donate to the food pantry or local pig farmers. We each had tours of the facility but, unfortunately, we were not able to take pictures in the factory. 

SPC produces a variety of different products like pictured, they gave us samples to taste and take.

We also ate lunch in Shepparton at the Noble Monk’s. Julie was able to get a cake, with candles, to celebrate Nick’s birthday. Bill also bought everyone a soft drink (softie) in celebration. 

This was a group picture of us at lunch celebrating Nick’s birthday, cake arrived later.

 Markus was a great speaker and had a lot of information about his dairy and irrigation systems. 

Next we were off to the Lang Dairy farm where we met Markus Lang. Markus and his brother, Phillip, took over their parents’ farm. Their parents came to Australia from Switzerland. Their parents started out on just 50 hectares and 90 Holstein cows. Now, between their three farms they have 1,500 hectares and 1,100 cows.  Markus mentioned that the average husband-wife farm with 1 hired helper would have about 300 milking cows. 

This building had 5 calves per pen with many more outside in paddocks. 

On his farm, they only bred Holstein replacement heifers for themselves and the rest are bred to increase value. For example, they would breed to Angus or Wagyu. They also may cross a Jersey and Holstein for calving ease in their maiden heifers.  Markus was very knowledgeable and passionate about his work. 

Our view as we arrived back in Melbourne.

After our visit at the Lang Dairy, we headed for Melbourne. We then checked into our hotel and had the night free to eat and do as we chose. 

We also had a great view of the Melbourne Star.

Ashley Bakko, Brittany Harazin, Lexi Schmidt