Victoria’s Gippsland region, the Fleming family has become synonymous with the land. Locals even refer to the area surrounding their Willung property as ‘Flemingville’—a tribute to more than a century of farming by the same family.

The legacy began around 1910 when Daryl Fleming’s Irish great-grandfather and his English wife first settled near Traralgon. Since then, generations have steadily expanded their footprint, buying up farmland across the valley. Today, Daryl, his wife Emma, and two of their sons, Lachlan and Ethan, operate a 486-hectare mixed farming enterprise that includes dairy, hay, and contracting services, milking 375 cows twice daily.

“We’re honoured to carry on the legacy—it’s a privilege to represent the fifth generation of Flemings on this land,” said Daryl.

The operation runs like clockwork thanks to clear roles within the family: Lachlan manages silage and fodder production, while Emma, Ethan, and Daryl oversee the herd and beef operations.

From First Words to First-Class Machinery

It seems fitting that Lachlan’s first word was “tractor”—a prophetic start for someone now responsible for the farm’s heavy machinery operations. And unsurprisingly, John Deere tractors have been a constant presence throughout his life.

“Back then, I was more excited about the free John Deere toys than the machines,” Lachlan laughed. “Now I’m all about reliability and efficiency—and that’s what John Deere delivers.”

The family’s machinery fleet includes several John Deere 6M Series tractors and a Combi baler. For Lachlan, now 22, these machines are indispensable workhorses.

“They’re tough, fuel-efficient, and designed for long days in the cab—often over eight hours. Comfort and reliability are essential, and John Deere ticks all the boxes.”

 

Precision Technology Reduces Costs and Drives Efficiencies

With rising input costs, precision agriculture tools like John Deere’s AutoTrac™ and Operations Center™ have become essential for the Flemings.

“Fuel is one of our biggest expenses,” Lachlan said. “Operations Center lets us monitor how fuel is used—whether it’s during transport, active work, or idle time—so we can make real-time adjustments and savings.”

Remote Display also adds a layer of flexibility: “I can guide whoever’s in the cab from my phone. Whether it’s settings or performance issues, I can jump in and help from anywhere.”

He adds that the tech helps track everything from field location to hydraulic pressure. “It’s game-changing. Dad was having an issue discing, and I could tell him exactly how to adjust the hydraulics from my phone.”

AutoTrac Boosts Profitability and Precision

AutoTrac’s impact on profitability is clear—it’s used across tillage, mowing, raking, and seeding tasks to ensure pinpoint accuracy.

“I still remember learning to drive our first tractor with auto steer,” said Lachlan. “It felt futuristic—and now it’s the standard.”

He credits AutoTrac with improving productivity by eliminating overlaps and missed sections. “It keeps us exactly where we need to be, all the time.”

Smart Silage: Combi Baler Streamlines Production

Investing in the John Deere C451R Combi Baler has transformed the Flemings’ silage operation by combining baling and wrapping into a single step.

“We’re very particular about bale quality,” Lachlan said. “The Combi Baler nails it—it’s fast, accurate, and the net system works flawlessly. It’s saved us hours in the field.”

He’s excited about future tech too: “We’re hoping for balers that can measure weight and dry matter in real-time. That would be a massive help in fine-tuning cow nutrition.”

Looking Ahead: Next-Gen Dairy Powered by Innovation

As the next generation takes the reins, Lachlan is eager to explore more John Deere innovations to drive productivity, profitability, and sustainability.

“It’s not just about cows eating grass. It’s about growing the best possible feed and using tech to make informed, data-driven decisions,” he said.

“Ultimately, it’s about putting more milk in the vat, with less waste and smarter inputs—and John Deere’s helping us do just that.”

Watch the Fleming family’s story:


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