With high hopes that newborn Toby Greaves will continue a long family dairy farming tradition, his parents, Josh and Julia, are already planning for the future.
Toby arrived in the world last October with a rich family history of pioneering dairy farming spanning seven generations across his parents.
Josh and his partner Julia milk 260 Jerseys at Nerrena in South Gippsland on a farm purchased 21 years ago by Toby’s grandfather Simon.
With an eye on continuing the family legacy, Josh is eager to expand the dairy operation, and this season the family has chosen to supply their milk to Frestine.
Josh sees the supply connection as an important part of the family’s future plans.
He became familiar with Frestine through extended family members who had supplied milk to the company the year before last.
“I spoke to a few local farmers who are pretty savvy and always shop around for the best milk price,” he said.
“When I heard nothing but good things from those who had worked with Frestine, we had no hesitation in coming on board. The price we’re getting is far better than any other offer we had.”
The decision to join Frestine has turned into a family affair.
Julia’s father, Paul Cocksedge, who milks 240 cows near Meeniyan, has also signed on to supply Frestine this season.
In addition to their 121 hectare dairy farm, the Greaves family owns several beef properties, totalling more than 400 ha.
Simon runs an on-farm butchering business and remains heavily involved in the day-to-day farm operations.
Josh’s primary focus is on the dairy side of the business, with invaluable support from Julia, who is currently on maternity leave from her role as a large animal veterinary technician with the Gippsland Veterinary Group.
Now with Toby in the family, Josh sees the competitive milk price offered by Frestine as a potential key factor in purchasing a neighbouring property that has come on the market.
Acquiring the land, currently used for beef, would enable the family to increase cow numbers and continue the growth of their dairy business.
Toby will be a third-generation dairy farmer if he decides to milk cows, and Josh wants to make that an easy option.
“My parents purchased the farm in their mid-20s,” Josh said.
“They had to do it on their own, but I’d like to be able to pass it on to the next generation if we can.
Everyone in my family is a farmer and it’s the same on Julia’s side. Agriculture is in the blood for both families.
“We’re already fairly large, so the opportunity is there, but they’re not making any more farm land so if you have the opportunity to purchase some, it’s going to be better for the future.
“It’s better than buying Bitcoin.”
If they can expand, they will stick with Jerseys.
“They’re the only cow to milk,” Josh said.
“We have a bit of an undulating farm and the furthest paddock is three kilometres away, but they’ve got good feet and can handle walking long distances.
“They eat less and produce well and have good components.”
The move to Frestine is part of a long-term industry outlook.
“I’ve been happy with them and they’ve been easy to deal with,” Josh said.
Frestine Dairy Australia chief operating officer John Best is enthusiastic about the Greaves family joining their supplier network.
“We are delighted to have the Greaves family supplying milk to us this season,” he said.
“Their production profile aligns perfectly with our needs, and our payment scheme ensures they’re compensated competitively.”
The competitive milk prices offered by Frestine play a key role in the family’s planned expansion, ensuring the farm's long-term sustainability.
Although the Frestine brand is relatively new, the company has been operating in the Australian dairy market for more than 20 years, specialising in Australian dairy products for food manufacturers.
In recent years, Frestine has expanded to produce its own branded products in Australia, sourcing milk directly from local dairy farmers.
Frestine has built a loyal customer base, working with local food businesses, multi-national companies, and long-term clients across South East Asia, particularly in sectors such as chocolate, yoghurt, and ice-cream.
Over the past five years, Frestine has carefully cultivated its reputation at the farm gate by fostering direct relationships with farmers.
The company places great emphasis on being a reliable, honest, and valued buyer of milk, directly off the farm.
“Our commitment to honouring agreements and ensuring timely payments has earned us a strong reputation for trust and reliability among dairy farmers,” Frestine’s John Best said.
“We are excited to continue growing our direct supply relationships as we build our brand and expand our customer base.”