Agronomist and farmer Natalie Schlitz will connect with innovators across the globe who understand and champion the fodder industry, as she uses a Nuffield Scholarship to seek out effective responses to a water-limited future. ANDREW MOLE reports. THE likes of Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein have a lot to answer for, as far as Natalie Schlitz is concerned.
Because when the science junkie, who was born and bred in the city, started looking at university studies in her chosen field, she was prepared to have a go at almost anything.
So long as it didn’t involve physics.
And it wouldn’t hurt if it had an agricultural connection because Natalie’s life might have been all about Melbourne – and then Melbourne University – but in her heart of hearts, she knew she wanted to end up living in a rural setting.
All of which had her leaning towards the biological sciences (including flirting with the idea of applying to be a vet) before she discovered the University of Melbourne had revamped its agricultural course and delivered exactly what she was looking for.
Serendipity springs to mind as Natalie took to it like the proverbial duck to water.
And now she’s a 2024 Nuffield Scholar who, supported by the Future Drought Fund, will be seeking to investigate weaknesses that threaten the viability of the Australian export fodder sector when faced with a water-limited future.
It’s a subject also now very near and dear to her heart. She lives on a Normanville farm with her husband of seven months, Jarred, where they and his family run an extensive cropping, hay production and wool/prime lamb enterprise.
Export and domestic hay production is a key component of the business – and also the focus of her scholarship.
“I went to university and came home with a Bachelor of Agriculture – and a husband,” Natalie laughs.
“But in all seriousness, I could see a lot of opportunity in agriculture and I was able to move between the livestock and cropping sectors because my broader skills were interchangeable.”
“Today I have a role with Dairy Australia in extension development, helping to ensure their outstanding research is delivered to farmers with tangible outcomes allowing them to embrace progress and positive change.”
Natalie says contributing to the Fodder for the Future project though Murray Dairy demonstrated to her the lack of research regarding the production of high-quality fodder.
She says the Australian industry has limited experts to draw on for new information.
“We have a whole generation of individuals who are experts within the field; but where are our upcoming industry champions and what effect could that have on the production of local research?” Natalie asked.
“Our water-limited future, which most people agree is coming for a variety of reasons, could be compounded by deficiencies identified by the AgriFutures Export Hay Strategic Plan, such as technical information on the critical parameters most directly linked to influencing opportunity value and the potential path to reach carbon neutrality,” she says.
Natalie plans to collaborate extensively with industry to build a series of case studies that demonstrate effective response to these challenges by meeting and interviewing farmers, researchers, importers, exporters, peak bodies and relevant stakeholders.
She plans to travel within Australia, as well as internationally. Her destinations include the Middle East, an emerging market for hay, and a potential opportunity for a new trade relationship.
As well as the US (the largest hay exporter globally), Spain and Italy (the largest exporters in Europe), Argentina (which is developing its own export markets) and Japan (where dairy is a significant consumer of imported hay products).
On her family property, Uondo Pastoral, between Kerang and Quambatook, producing oaten hay and vetch is important as it can be quickly scaled up when conditions are good and scaled back in tougher times.
“Not everyone with livestock has the option of covering their own fodder needs or producing it in broadacre-scale quantities,” Natalie says.
“Oats may not be the first choice of dairy farmers, for example, but they are a tool in the toolbox, particularly in cut-and-carry systems where the ration is carefully balanced with feeds that are both cost-effective and plentiful,” she says.
“On the other hand, vetch is a given as a high-protein source.”
Apart from the fact Natalie wants to be a serious contributor to Uondo in the future, she also wants to reach out to like-minded people and innovators who will understand and champion the fodder industry. She sees the scholarship giving her those skills for use at home, with Dairy Australia and the wider livestock sector.
“Right now, I will be working with the Nuffield team to firm up my project, using the network to connect with industry leaders and then branch out from there with travels to target markets overseas – and anything else which might turn up while I am doing that,” she added.
“We have been encouraged by past scholars to be flexible with our travels and follow any leads that pop up unexpectedly.”
Natalie admits to being a little surprised to get the call about receiving a scholarship.
It began as an item in a leadership development plan, “which has been part of my Masters in Business at Adelaide University, and I put it in there as something which would take me out of my comfort zone”.
“From there, I was soon thinking it was now out there, why wouldn’t I have a go? So I did, always expecting the worst thing which could happen was I wouldn’t get one,” Natalie explains.
“Now I am flat-out scoping my next two years, which is about the timeframe to do our project and then compile our reports.”
The 2024 scholars head for Brazil in March for a Contemporary Scholars Conference, after which Natalie joins a small group for a Global Focus session and then it’s off into the wild blue yonder.
Although there may be a little domestic pressure to make sure she is home in time for harvest (at which time she can tell the family about what she has been up to if they’ve got time to stop and listen).
