PETER and Judy Johnson have three good reasons not to be slaves to the farm.

"We have three sports-mad kids who are just hitting their straps," Judy said.

    AT A GLANCE
  • Who: Peter and Judy Johnson
  • What: dairying
  • Why: it's a question of balance
  • Where: Carrajung South

"We don't want to be tied to the farm and have to hold them back."

The Johnsons bought their 119ha home farm at Carrajung South, between Yarram and Traralgon, after selling their cattery business 12 years ago.

They were armed with little more than a one-off farm management course, and their friends thought they were barking mad.

Even a farm consultant thought they were crazy.

But despite a roller-coaster ride that has included three droughts and bushfire, the Johnsons have stuck to their commitment, adding an 86ha neighbouring farm two years ago.

Since day one they have focused on making the farm more productive, easier to manage and more user-friendly.

Improvements have included a new 36-unit rotary dairy, a more-effective paddock subdivision that fences off gullies and the creek, and an effluent system that allows them to irrigate with nutrient-rich water.

The improvements and the additional land have allowed Peter and Judy to increase their herd from 180 head to their ideal 250.

"It fluctuates according to the season, but we've found that 240-250 is a manageable number that suits the two of us well," Peter said.

About two-thirds of the property is steep and hilly, with red clay soils, while the remaining third comprises creek flats of brown loams.

The steep terrain and the tendency for the rocky soils to compact makes grazing and pasture management a challenge.

The Johnsons soil-test regularly and split their fertiliser applications to better match plant uptake and reduce the risk of run-off.

"We block-graze for about 10 days and then go around with a urea NPK blend," Judy said.

"We'd prefer to do it like that than put it on a larger amount once or twice a year."

Completion of DairySAT and other environmental management processes through MG FarmCare ensures they manage the environmental impacts of their fertiliser use.

Actions taken include fencing off and revegetating steep gullies and creeks, applying fertiliser at rates and times to avoid run-off, and completing a chemical-users course.

Regular soil testing indicates soil acidity could be affecting the availability of nutrients to their pastures.

Judy said a soil session with Jim Kelly, of Arris Consulting, gave her a greater perception of the link between soil health and farm productivity.

"If you're scratching your head about stale paddocks or some other pasture problem, the soil is the first place to start," she said.

As well as fertilising with the urea NPK blend, the couple added a large amount of lime to the original property about five years ago.

Judy said the lime would have boosted pasture production but there were many variables to consider.

"It's difficult to pin down any one thing, because we are always trying new things," she said.

"We run with seed that has done well for us and then oversow with something new.

"Is it the fertiliser that has made the difference, or was it the new species? And the seasons make such a difference, too."

Peter said they used effluent water to "trigger an autumn break".

"We have limited access to water, so we use what's in the ponds in February to keep a small number of paddocks growing, and then hope for the break to keep it going," he said.

Tests by the Department of Primary Industries indicated that applying the effluent water from the first pond at the rate of one megalitre per 8.7 ha delivered 60kg per ha of potassium, 19kg of phosphorus and 56kg of nitrogen.

At current fertiliser prices, this represents a saving of about $2300.

Similarly, using less concentrated water from the second pond represents a saving of about $1300.

"It's a significant saving if you can use it," Judy said.

"'We'd love to do more paddocks but we're limited by the amount of water we have available."

Judy and Peter intend to continue trialling and questioning new approaches with help from advisers.

"We've been really lucky with the people around us like our consultant John Mulvany, our great hay contractor, and Murray Goulburn's MG FarmCare manager, Marguerite White," Judy said.

"They have really helped us apply the information to our own needs.

"They are conscious of the variability and changeability of farming, however, and that what may work today, may not necessarily work next year.

"It's a fascinating game. The same thing I hate about farming, is the same thing I love about it."

The Johnsons will host a soil health field day next Wednesday.

Speakers will include Jim Kelly, from Arris Consulting, John Mulvany, from On-farm Consulting, and Doug Crawford, from the DPI Healthy Soils Program.

Bookings are essential. Phone Jenny O'Sulivan on (03) 5663 2386 or 0427 086 087 by Sunday.