Busselton dairy farmer Robin Lammie the new Western Dairy chair

Busselton dairy farmer Robin Lammie and Denmark dairy farmer Andrew Jenkins have been elected as the new chair and vice chair of Western Dairy. The pair were elected at the research and development body’s annual general meeting in Bunbury today, with former vice chair Mr Lammie replacing Jindong farmer Peter Evans in the lead role. The AGM was held at the end of the group’s Annual Spring Forum which attracted about 50 farmers and industry representatives to the Bunbury Dolphin Discovery Centre on Tuesday. The group heard from a range of speakers, including Dairy Australia ambassador Jonathan Brown who spoke about how the industry could “unpack” its carbon footprint. A panel discussion chaired by Bluesee Consulting principal Esther Jones featured Mr Evans, Waroona farmer Vicki Fitzpatrick, Dairy Australia chairman and South Australian farmer James Mann. Rabobank national farm support manager Crawford Taylor also discussed how the company was accounting for “natural capital” and what it meant for dairy businesses. Other speakers included Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development senior development officer Mandy Curnow, Murdoch University associate professor Fran Hoyle, and Lactalis supplier relationship manager Carl Dinkelmann, and agribusiness consultants Kirk Reynolds, Sarah Lang and Brad Weir. More in next week’s Countryman.