Dairy News Australia - December 2018 - With Gippsland Region

Page 1

DECEMBER, 2018 ISSUE 98

GIPPSLAND REGION

Ron and Vicki Cornall have quit the dairy industry and the stress of East Gippsland’s drought.

Drought stress takes toll JEANETTE SEVERS

THE DAIRY is silent and the cows are sold on Ron and Vicki Cornall’s Clifton Creek farm. Rising two-year-old and one-year-old heifers will be sold in stages over the next year.

The pressure of milking every day for diminishing returns and trying to source enough fodder to balance the production system, is over. This is the outcome of East Gippsland’s threeyear drought. Ron and Vicki Cornall set trigger points for decision-making. But that did not stop the stress

WHEN BIGGER IS BETTER

0%

P.A.

of wondering: ‘what if the rain comes the day after we sell the milking herd?’. In the end, they received a good price for their herd, sold as a dispersal at Koonwarra saleyards to eager South Gippsland dairy farmers looking for well-bred cows to come straight into their dairies.

Take your farming operation to the next level with the new M7-1 series.

*Terms and Conditions apply. Offer is only available for ABN holders who are using the equipment predominantly for business purposes. Credit provided by Kubota Australia Pty Ltd ABN 72005300621. Terms, conditions, fees charges and credit criteria apply. Offer expires 30/12/2018.

Continued page 8 >

MASSARO MOTORS

FINANCE* FOR 36 MONTHS

M7-1 is powered by a next-generation 6.1 litre, four-cylinder diesel engine, incorporating Kubota’s clean-air technology and available in 130HP, 150HP or 170HP variants.

“We milked in the evening, gave them their usual ration, then loaded them onto the truck,” Mr Cornall said. “They were sold the next day and the feedback we’ve received is they were very welcome additions to other farms.”

PH. (03) 5191 9369 Luke 0448 024 461 Special rates up to 60 months

497 Princes Drive, Morwell VIC 3840

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA DECEMBER 2018

2 // GIPPSLAND REGION

Chairman’s message

Investing in the future THERE’S CURRENTLY a study under way

on my farm to determine if different parts of each paddock can be fertilised at customised application rates to increase efficiency and reduce waste. The Precision Agriculture study is being done in conjunction with Agriculture Victoria and other organisations and will be conducted across farms in Gippsland and other dairy regions. It’s too early to know if the study will produce any important findings, but the fact it’s being done is significant in itself.

The Australian dairy industry is extremely fortunate to have scientists and researchers constantly striving to produce greater on-farm efficiencies, whether that’s in fertiliser applications, breeding values or better varieties of pasture. It’s no accident that Australian dairy farmers are among some of the best in the world. Our cows are producing more milk than ever, our rye-grass is constantly improving and efficiency gains in fertiliser usage saves money for farmers and helps the industry meet its environmental obligations.

There’s never a silver bullet that can change farm business performance in one season. Every farmer can tell you that it’s the incremental change — the one percenters — that build solid farm performance over years and decades. It’s the same with the investment being made in dairy research. It could be a research project that one day saves me money when I’m spreading fertiliser or a rye-grass trial plot may uncover the right pasture variety for a particular region that could offer a much needed boost to productivity. From the Good Bulls Guide to DairyBase or

COMBY RANGE

the Forage Value Index, the dairy industry is constantly building a store of knowledge based on farm performance that is keeping us at the forefront of production efficiency. As every farmer knows, hard work done today pays dividends down the track. We’re lucky to work in an industry where investment in research has built a solid foundation for today’s farmers and will continue to do so for the next generation. • Grant Williams GippsDairy chair

BUILT TO YOUR REQUIREMENTS

– Feeds out all bale sizes, types and shapes

It literally feeds out every supplementary type of feed you can lay your hands on, including all bale types and any type of loose feed that can be loaded with a loader including fine chop silage, maize silage, root-crops, vegetables and more. Comby feeders are the only multi feeder on the market that is scalable, meaning should you grow your operation, you’re not up for a new feeder. Simply add the forks and bin to any standard machine and the load level capacity increases from 10.5m3 to 13m3.

Also Stocking: Super Combi Mega Combi XL Comby PR Series

Keeping Gippsland growing! www.gendore.com.au LEONGATHA 82–84 Yarragon Road | (03) 5662 4044 TOORADIN 79–83 South Gippsland Highway | (03) 5998 3216 WARRAGUL 180 Queens Street | (03) 5622 3875

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA DECEMBER 2018

GIPPSLAND REGION // 3

Mixed season for region’s farms Gippsland seasonal breakdowns

DIVERSE CONDITIONS have produced mixed

results for dairy farmers across Gippsland, with drought and high feed prices hitting much of the region’s east hard, according to Dairy Australia’s latest Situation and Outlook report. Yet while rainfall was scarce in east Gippsland, west and south-west Gippsland are relatively well placed, the report said — despite being drier than average and in need of follow-up rain. High feed costs are continuing to affect all regions, with abattoirs registering higher throughput in August and September as many farmers were forced to cull their herd. Feed prices remained high throughout Gippsland, with stockfeed wheat increasing 58 per cent to $455/tonne, while shredded cereal hay registered an even more dramatic increase of 169 per cent to $485/tonne. Some areas such as east Gippsland and the Yarram area continue to face prolonged conditions of extreme dryness. East Gippsland experienced very poor pasture growing conditions for the entire season, having only one large rainfall event in December with little or no respite for the remainder of the season. Despite the milk price improving 19 per cent to an average of $5.74/kg MS, the persistent dry conditions forced farmers to utilise fodder reserves and purchase additional fodder, impacting their bottom line. However, the average earnings before interest and taxes increased slightly from the previous year to $144 000/farm and net farm income increased to $49 500/farm. The tough seasonal conditions have taken their toll across the country with this season’s milk production expected to fall by eight billion litres. The October report points towards a five to seven per cent milk production shortfall on last year’s production levels. However Dairy Australia senior industry analyst John Droppert said there was some positive news, with domestic sales markets strong, seeing an increase of 0.9 per cent in Australian milk, cheese and yoghurt sales.

BOOST TO DROUGHT FUNDING

2015/16

2016/17

2017/18

Cash Milk income (net) $/kgMS

5.28

4.84

5.74

Total Farm Cash Income $/kgMS

5.81

5.46

6.15

Total Farm Working Expenses $/kgMS

4.33

3.74

4.24

Farm Operating Cash Surplus $/kgMS

1.49

1.72

1.91

Total Farm Gross Income $/kgMS

5.88

5.50

6.26

Total Variable Costs $/kgMS

3.34

2.68

3.21

Total Overhead Costs $/kgMS

2.29

2.17

2.21

5.63

4.85

5.42

0.26

0.65

0.84

0.64

0.68

0.69

-0.38

-0.02

0.15

Profit

Cost of Production (includes inventory change) $/kgMS Earnings Before Interest and Lease (EBIT $/kgMS) Finance Costs (Interest & Lease) $/kgMS Net Farm Income $/kgMS

Wealth Return on Total Assets % Return on Equity %

He said while farmers’ key priority was to navigate their way through the immediate challenges, on-farm decisions made in the coming months would be fundamental to the industry’s ability to seize the opportunities when seasonal conditions improve. “While farmers continue to feel the impact of the feed shortage and increasing cost of production, domestic and global market trends provide a timely reminder that dairy has an important role

1.0

2.1

3.0

-2.8

0.1

1.0

in Australian diets and improving the nutrition of millions of people around the world,â€? Mr Droppert said. “Dairy demand has remained robust, with dairy exports from the six major exporters increasing 3.7 per cent over the past 12 months. “Greater China and Japan helped drive this growth, while demand from the Middle East and North Africa region increased for the first time in over three years.â€?

Help with living expenses DROUGHT-AFFECTED FAMILIES in Gippsland can now access financial assistance for up to $3000 through an Australian Red Cross and Rural Financial Counselling Service partnership. Red Cross emergency services manager Kate Siebert said with families in the east of the state experiencing drought conditions similar to those in NSW and Queensland, it was timely to also provide support in the Gippsland region. “We are pleased that funding is going to support drought-affected families in NSW, Queensland and South Australia, and that farmers living in Victoria’s Gippsland region can do the same,â€? Ms Siebert said.

“We encourage families in east Gippsland and Wellington areas to come forward for the financial support available to them.� The funds are designed to help ease living expenses such as rates, school fees and groceries. “We are keen to have these funds distributed to our farming families as soon as possible to ease some of the burden of living expenses,� Rural Financial Counselling Service Gippsland executive officer Kylie Holmes. To apply, contact Rural Financial Counselling Service in Gippsland by phoning 1300 045 747 or emailing: comms@rfcsvg.com.au or for more information visit: www.ruralfinancialcounselling.org.au

A drought support fund has been made available to farmers in east and central Gippsland after the Victorian Government announced $11.1 million for the region. Former Victorian Agriculture Minister Jaala Pulford announced on October 24 several councils had been added to a list of local government areas that were now able to apply for the funding. The $11.1 million is part of a broader $25 million Drought Preparedness and Support Package aimed at helping drought-affected communities. The Gippsland funding will be used to focus on family relief, boosting mental health and wellbeing and small business services, with support for families including the back-to-school fund; the camps, sports and excursions funds and kindergarten support. The government is also set to increase the funding pool for the OnFarm Drought Infrastructure Grants Program, support farmer health and wellbeing through AgriSafe drought health checks, health and lifestyle assessments, and to add a small business financial counsellor to the Rural Financial Counselling Service. But Victorian Nationals leader Peter Walsh said council rate relief should be part of assistance measures. While the VFF welcomed the expanded drought relief measures, it said relief from fixed-term costs such as council rates should also be addressed.

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA DECEMBER 2018

4 // GIPPSLAND REGION RURAL RUMENATIONS

with Katie MacAulayRURAL RUMENATIONS

with Katie MacAuley

Columnist Katie MacAulay lives in South Gippsland, and has been married to a dairy farmer long enough to appreciate the smell of good silage. She loves chooks, enjoys stacking hay bales with the tractor and wonders why the lawn grows twice as quickly as the grass in the paddocks.

Black and white army has no mercy JUNIOR WAS grounded. He wasn’t even allowed to leave the house. Hubby and I were disappointed. He was normally such a good kid: helpful, friendly, well-behaved. But try telling that to the magpie who’d placed him under house arrest. They say magpies have excellent facial recognition. Well, this one certainly did. Sure, it lazily swooped the rest of us occasionally but it did NOT like Junior. Every time Junior went outside, he was assailed from all directions. He took to wearing a bike helmet and carrying a stick but the wily magpie would dive in between stick swipes and scrape its claws along the top of his helmet. It even flew into our semi-enclosed verandah and swooped Junior while he attempted to

put on his gumboots. In contrast, I was allowed to visit the garage as often as I liked, Hubby was free to walk to the machinery shed and Tinkerbell was permitted to play on the trampoline. We wondered what Junior had done. Was it because he had a history of riding his bike past the tree where the magpies had decided to nest? Was it that he walked past their nest to get to the bus stop? Or was it simply that he’d failed to barrack for Collingwood in this year’s Grand Final? Regardless of the cause, the magpie had him targeted. Junior tried carrying an umbrella but the wind turned it inside out. Borrowing Hubby’s Akubra provided a

reprieve. The magpie left Junior alone when he went outside to feed his chooks. Victory! Twice. Then on the third attempt, the magpie nearly dislodged Hubby’s hat and we were back to square one. The kids on the school bus watched eagerly each morning and afternoon as Junior duelled his feathered nemesis Harry-Potter-wand-style. They hadn’t shown this much interest in anything non-electronic since I’d fainted at the bus stop during my last pregnancy. Even the bus driver started scouring the skies trying to spot the magpie when Junior was about to disembark. Then the magpie got a taste of its own medicine. A pair of willy wagtails built a nest in the lemon tree in our backyard. If there’s anything more peskily persistent than a magpie in nesting

season, it’s willy wagtails in nesting season. As soon as they completed their nest, they launched a full-scale attack on the magpie. Their goal? Backyard dominance. Whenever the magpie ventured into our backyard, two indignant bundles of feathers buzzed around it like oversized mosquitoes. Each time, the magpie lost its balance, dropped its mouthful of grubs and fled for the safety of its tree. Having made their mark, the willy wagtails took possession of the backyard while the magpie continued to persecute Junior in the front yard, driveway and bus-stop. While we waited for nesting season to end, I did wonder whether the ’Pies will be back next season.

ADD A LOADER FROM JUST * ,

$13 400

ULTIMATE LOADER PACKAGE MF 5610 CAB | 105 HP With over six decades of muscle behind it, the MF 5610 is designed to provide excellent manoeuvrability for hard work in the yard, in the field or on the road. • Unique power control lever for full transmission control on the shuttle • Fully integrated loader system from factory

$85,900

• Brake to neutral and shuttle sensitivity adjustment for customised operation • Fuel efficient and powerful AGCO POWER engines

INC GST *

CONTACT YOUR LOCAL MASSEY FERGUSON DEALER TODAY Bairnsdale Dandenong Leongatha

Donalda Motors Small Horse Tractors Chapman Machinery Service

672-678 Princes Hwy 18 Lonsdale Street 58 Yarragon Road

03 5152 3058 03 9791 6414 03 5662 3973

Maffra Warragul Yarram

Donalda Motor Service R.E.N. Machinery Andrew Dunkley Machinery

131 Little Johnson Street Normanby Street 49 Rodgers Street

03 5147 1744 03 5623 1255 03 5182 0666

*Offer ends 31 December 2018, while stocks last. Prices may vary depending on customer location and distance from Melbourne, Brisbane or Perth warehouses.GST paid in month 4. Contact your local Massey Ferguson dealership for full terms and conditions.

MASSEYFERGUSON.COM.AU

A world of experience. Working with you for 60 years.

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA DECEMBER 2018

GIPPSLAND REGION // 5

Cutting costs to increase returns JEANETTE SEVERS

ROB AND Jenni Marshall have tried various

business models for their milking twice-a-day dairy farm at Lardner. They have employed apprentices and farm workers, they have worked as sole operators and used relief milkers and contractors; and they have utilised a farm business consultant. At the moment, they are using a farm business consultant, relief milkers when they want time away from the farm and agisting heifers in a new arrangement. A contractor comes in to harvest the silage, because harvesting always coincides with calving and joining.

“Anything that didn’t have a future in the herd, we got rid of.� The management program is focused on utilising assets and reducing inputs and costs. “We’re not high producers, but using a pasture-based system, our production is up 15 per cent per cow but farm returns are down 20 per

The Friesian herd’s production peaks at 1.8 million litres.

cent,â€? Mr Marshall said. “So we’ve been focusing on cutting costs and inputs.â€? Lardner is a historically reliable heavy rainfall district, with 1000 mm of annual average rainfall. In most seasons, the district is well set up for dryland dairy farming. The Marshall’s 121 ha dairy farm is on rolling land, with natural springs in some paddocks and a creek running through the flat country (although not available for irrigation). Production normally peaks around 1.8 million litres, milking in a 20-a-side herringbone dairy.

Rob and Jenni Marshall.

Calving begins in late July and, with a joining period that incorporates three weeks of artificial insemination followed by mop-up bulls, goes through into September. Heifer calves are raised and bulls sold as

bobby calves. The milking herd of 320 self-replacing Friesian cows is currently down to 270 after a recent culling period. Continued page 6 >

the Champion in Liquid Nutrition For more information, please contact:

Wayne Bott the Champion in Liquid Nutrition Territory Manager for VIC, SA

0429 220 125 Rod Hancock Gippsland

0455 071 711 Argi-Gene P/L:

Wangaratta & surrounding districts

03 5722 2666 KOBER:

Nth Central Vic & Sth Riverina

03 5480 7087

1300 ANIPRO | www.performancefeeds.com.au

1300 ANIPRO | www.performancefeeds.com.au

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA DECEMBER 2018

6 // GIPPSLAND REGION

Pit silage is an integral part of the production inputs.

Rob Marshall in the dairy.

Chicory is used for grazing to offset fodder needs.

< Continued from page 5

“Anything that didn’t have a future in the herd, we got rid of,â€? Mr Marshall said. He is relying on 72 heifers he raised to join the herd at the end of this year. “This year we were focused on rearing heifers to build up the herd,â€? he said. After years of growing heifers out on an agistment block, Mr Marshall recently changed that program. His decision had a lot to do with changing down to a two-person operation. “We didn’t have the time to go check on them every day,â€? he said. Now, heifers are raised until 12 months old on the dairy farm, then relocated under management onto an agistment block until they are ready to calve. “It’s his responsibility to manage them, check their water and watch grazing pressure,â€? Mr Marshall said. “We do the herd care and organise vet care.â€? After an initial foray into chicory in 2015 and 2016, the Marsalls sowed 15 ha of the crop this year, for grazing and to take pressure off the pit silage. That 15 ha is on top of a 4.6 ha crop sown last year and a 6 ha crop at the end of its cycle. Apart from a high energy grazing option, the chicory crops have been part of a pasture renewal program to combat cockchafers. There was also 100 dry tonnes of silage left over from 2016.

“In 2017, we cut 150 per cent silage and only 120 per cent has been eaten,â€? Mr Marshall said. “We three-quarters filled the pit last year and we’ve used the lot.â€? He started feeding pit silage in February this year and has used a “favourable grain contractâ€? to offset minimal growth in autumn. This year’s silage harvest has produced only one-third of the farm’s needs, but the spring break and November rain has him hopeful of achieving the usual quotient. Using the farm consultant is like holding a mirror up to business decisions. It is the second time Mr and Mrs Marshall have utilised a consultant for their farm business. “We’ve been meeting with him for five months now and I find it builds your confidence in your own decision making,â€? Mr Marshall said. “You’re holding up a mirror and reflecting your decisions onto that person. “But they also bring expertise and knowledge from other farms. For instance, we changed our mineral fertiliser mixture, based on his input.â€? Mr Marshall is also planning an underground mains reticulated pipe system, to better utilise the effluent pond’s contents. “So we can spread the effluent further and, because of where the pond is located, still use gravity to distribute it.â€? The effluent pond is on rising land.

Cows in the dairy.

Plans for an underground reticulated piping system will move effluent more efficiently around the farm.

Heifers grow out to 12 months old on the farm, then are agisted until point-of-calving.

Find us at IDW Tatura in January and Sungold Field-days in Feb The Wrangler makes hoof care hassle free. Strong, durable, safe for the cow, safe for the farmer, easy and efficient – saving you money.

Also home of:

pays

itit pays to tohave have aa wrangler

Great for Pivot Irrigators

wrangler

• Affordable – Fast – Safe • Aordable - Fast - Safe • Walk through headbail • Walk Thrurear Headbail • Braked hoof winch • Braked Rear Hoof Winch • Positionable back leg support bar • Positionable Back Legwith Support Bar • Braked belly winch 2 girths • Braked Bellydouble-locking Winch with 2 Girths • Winched • Winched double-locking front supports front supports • Removable leftSides sides Left • Removable • Solid construction • Solid construction THE

WRANGLER

Ph 0475 0475 757 Ph 757720 720 thewrangler.net thewrangler.net

www. www.

Natural springs in some paddocks help keep pasture growing.

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA DECEMBER 2018

GIPPSLAND REGION // 7

December reminders Pastures/forages â–

â–

â–

â–

â–

â–

Rye-grass leaf appearance rate: 8–11 days per leaf. Area of farm to graze today: 1/20th to 1/25th of grazing area in 24 hours — monitor seed heads and manage for quality. Average daily pasture growth rate: 50 to 80 kg DM/ha/day — with adequate moisture. Recommended pre-grazing decisions for all stock: Ideally graze rye-grass when canopy closure occurs or at 2–2½ leaf stage to maintain pasture quality and best regrowth — continue to monitor seed heads in late heading varieties. Recommended post grazing decisions: Graze down to 5 cm pasture height between the clumps. Consider topping/silage to help in maintaining the 4–6 cm post-graze target. Seasonal management tasks: Only cut genuine surplus pasture for fodder.

Cows â–

â–

Do a feed budget to ensure you have enough fodder to get through the summer and autumn. This will also estimate the grain usage and give an idea of the purchased feed bill for the summer and autumn. It’s best to have this plan early. If you are nearing the end of the joining

period it may pay to assess the number of cows not in calf. to allow early decisions to be made on what you will do with the empty cows.

Calves and heifers â–

â–

â–

Ensure your young stock received a second 7-in-1 vaccine. This builds immunity against clostridial diseases and leptospirosis. Talk to your vet about vaccinating your young stock for pink eye. Calves require a high protein and high

energy diet to keep growing. AÂ feed budget can be done to ensure calves and other young stock have enough pasture, silage, grain and hay to gain weight and grow to planned joining and calving weights.

Business and budgets â–

â–

Review your last quarter of GST to get an indication of cash flow if you have not done it. Plan expenditure and identify any possible cash surpluses. If or when the cash becomes available, use it in a planned way to ensure it’s effective.

Pasture management â–

â–

â–

â–

â–

Pasture intake per cow depends on having high quality pasture and enough pasture available/ha. This is challenging through the seed head phase on rye-grass but achievable with rotation management. Rotation lengths need to be long enough to get critical volume, and residuals need to be low enough to get quality next time the pasture is grazed. Minimise topping but use it as a tool to reset residuals if required. If you have surplus pasture on the milking area use silage/hay making to control residual and improve pasture quality next round. This will be a balancing act between pasture quality and quantity. In dryland, if pasture becomes limited and soil moisture is still adequate, consider nitrogen and/or a blend to boost growth. If you have paddocks with low soil nutrients that can be irrigated with effluent, it is coming up to the best time of year to apply the effluent, getting some pasture growth and having a low risk of run-off.

Year Round Reproductive and Health Monitoring at your fingertips

Irrigation â–

â–

â–

Consider the best bang for your buck for irrigation water if water is limited. Freecall: 039 Strategically drying 1800 off areas that047 are low www.genaust.com.au yield may be beneficial. Watering fewer paddocks well might yield more than all paddocks poorly. Mix the dairy effluent into the irrigation water if practical — summer pastures are very responsive to the additional nutrients. Complete an irrigation budget now to prepare for late season watering (especially if spill is unlikely).

Summer crops â–

â–

â–

â–

Target paddocks that need to be renovated to improve the pasture base on the farm and reduce the pasture that is not grown in late spring by cropping. Have a plan of crop type, seed bed preparation, nutrient and pest management and planned grazing dates. Get advice from an agronomist if unsure. Application of dairy effluent onto summer fodder crops is a very effective use of this nutrient resource to boost crop yield. Yield responses will be greater on crops than nonirrigated pasture. Don’t forget the risks of cropping, such as dry hot conditions and pest attack.

Cloud Based, Multimetric Smart Collar

HEALTH > Rumination > Resting > Feeding REPRODUCTION > Estrus Activity > Mounting > Chin Resting • Accurate timely alerts via desktop, tablet or smartphone • 24/7 technical support • Automatic software updates • Remote off farm heifer monitoring • Push notifications & text messages • Long range capabilities • Remote gateway for off farm & heifer management

Freecall: 1800 039 047

www.genaust.com.au

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA DECEMBER 2018

8 // GIPPSLAND REGION

Drought stress takes toll < Continued from page 1

This is a story about making decisions in a well-respected management and production system. The ex-Murray Goulburn, more recently Saputo, customers milked an average of 230 cows in a 36-bail rotary dairy. The 202 ha farm and 40 ha lease block had an effective 150 ha milking area and included 80 ha to rear calves and make pit and baled silage. Forty years of breeding using artificial insemination had moved an original Jersey base to a mainly Friesian herd of seasonal calvers; calving began late May. The 36-bail rotary dairy, with automatic cup removers, was among the first installed in Gippsland, in 1993. “We spent 2.5 hours milking twice a day and the old 12-a-side herringbone needed upgrading,â€? Mr Cornall said. “The best thing about the rotary was feeding in the bail; and 20 years ago I was still amazed that first-calving heifers were keen to get on the platform. “It’s a smooth, low-stress process for the workers and the cows.â€? Over 40 years, the herd grew from 120 to 270, averaging 230 cows in a self-replacing herd. Annual production was around 1.3 million litres.

Rising two-year-old Friesian heifers that will be sold in-calf.

Mr Cornall was part of the Bairnsdale district dairy discussion group for 40 years, enjoying the benefits of sharing knowledge with others in the industry. “It was also good for social support, particularly during five major droughts, milk price fluctuations and disease crises,â€? he said. He was also involved in Landcare, where he learned about soils and managing and improving pastures while protecting the environment. “We were probably more like a sheep farm

Your local NAB Agribusiness Bankers supporting communities.

Ron and Vicki Cornall.

milking cows,� he said of his dryland system, on steep hilly country. Irrigation was from on-farm dam storage, dependent on rainfall for filling, and utilising effluent to lift fertility across the paddocks. “Two of the things we lacked most on this

farm was fertility and water, so we learned to selectively irrigate it,â€? Mr Cornall said. Looking back, he said production stress began in late 2015, although he made pit silage as usual. But a failed spring in 2017 meant there was no extra silage in the system.

Facial eczema danger period The 2018/19 facial eczema danger period has already started. Facial eczema is caused by the spores of a pasture fungus that multiply rapidly in warm and humid conditions. It can kill or cause serious health problems in dairy cattle.

With more local Agribusiness Managers on the ground, living in our farming communities, there’s always someone to help you navigate the daily business challenges and realise the opportunites. Call your local NAB Agribusiness Banker, to see how we can help you.

Dave Davies – North Vic 0429 001 885 Nick Davison – South East Vic 0475 836 165 Jaime Barr – South West Vic 0428 387 566

To help dairy farmers manage the risk, GippsDairy and Dairy Australia have once again funded the Facial Eczema Pasture Spore Monitoring Program. The aim is to try and predict when spore counts are rising so that preventative can be taken before severe liver damage occurs. Go to www.dairyaustralia.com.au to check spore levels in your region and see the latest advice on preventative action. If you have any questions, call GippsDairy on 5624 3900.

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA DECEMBER 2018

GIPPSLAND REGION // 9

Ron Cornall can now focus on pasture recovery and renewal on his hilly, dryland farm at Clifton Creek.

In March this year, he sowed cereal crops for winter grazing and spring fodder. With no run-off rain this year, the idea of fodder was discounted. The only carry-over was a rye-grass crop on the creek flat. “We’ve always built our management around a buffer of two years reserves of fodder,” Mr Cornall said. “We fed out the 2015 pit silage this year, beginning in winter and finishing in September. “By then we’d hit our staged trigger point plan.” They had already reduced the herd size to 160 cows and fodder was getting more expensive and harder to source. They considered the options in that plan and discounted leasing or parking the herd, looked at the Bureau of Meteorology forecast for the rest of the year and talked to their livestock agent.

In October the milking herd was sold Mr Cornall is already seeing the benefits of not milking twice a day. “I loved getting up early but now I can get more done, without truncating the afternoon to begin milking,” he said. The Cornalls will now invest their time and energy into the heifers and a beef herd.

There are a few bales of wrapped silage still available for the heifers.

The dairy platform stands silent on the Cornall farm at Clifton Creek. It was one of the first three rotary platforms installed in Gippsland.

1300 REID FEED|1300 7343 3333 REAL INGREDIENTS, NO FILLERS. BOTH IN THE MIX AND ADVICE.

Kim Price Ruminant Nutritionist m | 0417 152 855 e | kprice@reidstock.com.au

Daniel Espinosa Ruminant Nutritionist m | 0418 179 811 e | despinosa@reidstock.com.au

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA DECEMBER 2018

10 // GIPPSLAND REGION

Leading change with a healthy dose of kindness IN LIFE’S big and unassuming moments, Sallie Jones thrives on creating positive change with kindness. From fostering community pride to empowering rural women, and inspiring dairy farmers to nurture their mental health, Ms Jones’ generosity of spirit anchors her personal life and business. Home-schooled until Year 6, the former Gippsland Grammar school captain has long had a knack for making good things happen — and inspiring a band of helpers. As a mother-of-three and businesswoman, Ms Jones’ people-centric and collaborative nature brings her “outside-of-the-box ideasâ€? to fruition to enhance her dairy community. “I think I just naturally like joining the dots and putting things together,â€? she said. “I like to add value wherever I can to make this world a better place. You can’t just sit around waiting for a good community to happen, you have to take a role.â€? For Ms Jones, this means being a ‘yes’ person, sharing contacts with Warragul locals while shopping, leading committees on

unconventional initiatives, and finding and inspiring ways to overcome life’s challenges. After the devastating suicide of her father during the 2016 milk crisis, Ms Jones and dairy farmer Steve Ronalds founded Gippsland Jersey. Sharing the same values, they built kindness and fairness into their business model. Their small milk brand offers district farmers fair milk prices, and shines a light on the mental health and emotional wellbeing of farmers. Tackling the stigma of suicide took courage and exposing vulnerabilities — Ms Jones shared the story of her father Michael Bowen, a Lakes Entrance dairy farmer and ice-cream businessman. In doing so, other dairy farmers also published their mental health journeys on a calendar aimed at suicide prevention. Distributed to 1400 Gippsland dairy farms, the calendar promotes conversations about mental health and lists support services. “We set aside one cent a litre for random acts of kindness,â€? Ms Jones said of another notfor-profit initiative. “It might be a voucher for dinner or for a hair appointment, a float therapy session, ride

on a camel with the kids at the beach, or a counselling session. “It’s to say to those people that someone cares about you — this little bit of kindness can be a circuit-breaker for where they are at with their mental health and wellbeing.â€? Whether random or thoughtfully planned gestures, or a courageous response, Ms Jones role-models “seeking to understand and responding with kindnessâ€? as a catalyst to positive change. Ms Jones’ life was “already at capacityâ€? when she applied for the six-month Gippsland Community Leadership Program, sponsored by the Gardiner Dairy Foundation. Busy parenting two primary schoolers and a pre-schooler with dairy farmer husband Pete, she was on numerous committees; supporting her mother as a calming influence for her autistic brother; and establishing Gippsland Jersey. But rallying “a village of helpersâ€? and using technology to multi-task, she joined the 2017 cohort. “It was an incredible opportunity to gain an enhanced understanding of the

Sallie Jones.

history, opportunities and challenges facing the Gippsland region,â€? she said. Her syndicate project, #ProudGippslandian, helped raise the region’s profile and residents’ pride despite local challenges, such as unfair milk pricing and closure of sawmills and the Hazelwood power station. Ms Jones’ syndicate created media opportunities to share a new, positive perspective of the region. “We thought, ‘Why should it only be the notso-great stories that get the media limelight?’ It’s time to make Gippslandians proud of who they are, and where they are from.â€? Ms Jones has a lot more energy to give her dairy region and broader community.

THE WORLD’S BEST LIVESTOCK FEEDING SOLUTIONS

CHAINLESS – no troublesome feed chains is a key advantage for – Reliability, lower maintenance and quieter operation, the teasing action of the rotors uses feed more economically, because it is easier for the cattle as they can eat it because it is fluffed up FEED ANY BALE – The new rotor shape and bale chamber design has better penetration on tight bales, frozen bales and square bales and the shape cleans sticky bales better. EASY CLEANING – The new Easy Clean Hypaflo wiper panel – The newly developed wiper panel that clears the hay from the rotors better. NO BUSHES – Bushes in the drive system are one of the highest causes of frustration in maintaining a bale feeder. We pleased to announce that the entire drive system on the new Chainless X2000 runs on bearings, for lowest possible maintenance, less downtime and longer service life.

M NE O W D EL

4 KEY BENEFITSOF HUSTLER BALE RANGE

M NE O W D EL

Full product range in stock and ready for delivery

Chainless x2000

Chainless x2400

Chainless Models

Chain Bale Feeder Models

• XR1500 • X2500 • X5000

•SL300x • SL360x • SL450x • SL700x

Keeping Gippsland growing! www.gendore.com.au LEONGATHA 82–84 Yarragon Road | (03) 5662 4044 TOORADIN 79–83 South Gippsland Highway | (03) 5998 3216 WARRAGUL 180 Queens Street | (03) 5622 3875

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA DECEMBER 2018

GIPPSLAND REGION // 11

January reminders

â–

more information on using effluent in your fertiliser plan, go to: http://fertsmart. dairyingfortomorrow.com.au/

Pastures/forages â–

â–

â–

â–

â–

â–

Rye-grass leaf appearance rate: 12 to 20 days per leaf (but highly variable depending on soil moisture and temperature).

â–

Area of farm to graze each day: 1/30th to 1/60th of the grazing area, bearing in mind conditions above. Average daily pasture growth rate: Very little to 30 kg DM/ha depending on soil moisture and temperature in dryland areas and up to 60 kg DM/ha in irrigated areas under ideal conditions. Recommended pre-grazing decisions: Balance quantity and quality of pasture depending on the dominant species. NDF is likely to be higher this time of year and ME slightly lower. Recommended post grazing decisions: Graze down to 4–6 cm pasture height between the clumps. Paddocks should be clean from any high residuals and ready for the autumn break. Top/hay where needed. Estimated daily evaporation: 5 to 8 mm/day. Spikes if we get wind as well as heat.

â–

â–

â–

Pasture management â–

Plan your autumn application of fertiliser in advance and investigate the cost of various options. Include dairy effluent applications in the fertiliser plan and ensure you apply it in a way that keeps it on the farm. For

â–

Monitor any crops that you have planted for pests and manage the crop for best feed utilisation by cows or young stock. In particular, keep sorghum and millet pregrazing height under control (vegetative growth stage; about knee height). Timing of crop grazing should ensure the paddock can be planted back to pasture at the optimum time in addition to feeding cows well. Remember the biggest advantage of planting a crop is improving future productivity of the pasture. Be careful of over-grazing summer pastures. Maintain your 4–6 cm residual, consider stand-off paddocks, supplements and/or crops to protect pastures from over-grazing.

Be on the lookout for the effects of mycotoxins such as facial eczema (looks similar to photosensitisation), affecting exposed areas of pale skin. If facial eczema is suspected contact a veterinary practitioner for advice on prevention or treatment. Information is available on the Dairy Australia website at: www.dairyaustralia. com.au/Animal-management/Animalhealth/Facial-Eczema-Monitoring.aspx

Production and feeding â–

â–

â–

Confirm areas of the farm that would benefit from over-sowing or renovation, plan the best approach and timing for success. If hay has already been cut, watch for any signs of hay heating as a result of green or wet hay being baled. This can be checked regularly using a crow bar pushed into the bales. Regularly monitor wrapped silage bales for the presence of holes and repair as soon as possible with tape that has a matching colour to the bales to give it the best chance to stick to the bale.

potential reduced production when picking paddocks in the summer and even more so for hot days.

Stock

â–

Consider your feed budget — have you got enough feed to reach the autumn break? Don’t forget your young stock in this budget. If you are in the hay market, try to get a feed test. Know what you are buying and how that fits into the cows’ diet. Always best to aim for quality. Feed cows to try to maintain as much profitable production as possible. This can be done by feeding a balanced diet of remaining pasture, silage, crop and grain in a practical way. In irrigation, be mindful of the changes in pasture quality over this period (higher NDF and lower protein and ME). Keep an eye on crude protein levels in the diet. Milkers need to be getting about 16–18 per cent CP in the total diet. As summer progresses, manage heat stress for your dairy herd. See www.dairyaustralia. com.au and search for ‘cool cows’. Consider cow comfort, water and feed intake and

â–

Recent evidence suggests pregnant dry cows can be severely negatively affected by heat stress in the following lactation, as well as in-utero calves born to heat-stressed cows. Consider shade and cooling options for pregnant autumn-calving dry cows also.

Young stock â–

â–

A good guide to feeding young stock, called Heifers on Target, is available at www.dairyaustralia.com.au/ Monitor young stock for pink eye and other seasonal issues which will affect animal health and growth rates.

Business/whole farm â–

â–

â–

Now is a good time to get another income estimation done based on the season so far and the predicted trend for the rest of the year. Review your first half-year management on the farm — use your annual budget to determine how much of the planed expenditure was spent and explore the areas of farm management that could be improved for a better system and business in the future. Start thinking about projected tax implications and repairs and maintenance opportunities now.

M e ad

Roller Mills

Australian

Fully automatic and manually operated roller mills are available in 3 sizes

Taking Stock All GippsDairy farmers can now access free one-on-one advice from experienced advisers through Dairy Australia’s Taking Stock program. The one-on-one sessions take place on farm and are confidential and personalised to address your individual situation and help you map out a plan for the season ahead. Taking Stock aims to address the specific needs of farmers, including any physical, financial and people issues that are identified. This could include: • Feed options, planning and budgeting • Managing a fodder shortage • Herd decisions and animal health • Cash budgeting • Managing your farm team during tough times • Meeting the bank To book a Taking Stock call GippsDairy on 5624 3900 or email info@gippsdairy.com.au

4� 6� 8� Single or Twins

Features • Robust construction • Solid rollers • Belt + Gear drive combo • Easy Maintenance

• 12 Month Warranty • Remote lubrication of bearing • Quick + easy adjustments

• Single or 3 phase • Magnetic protection • Spring loaded roller overrides • Lowline design

Other products • Pencil Augers • Grain Pre-Cleaners • Additive Dispensers

• Feeding System Solutions • Incline Mixers

• Centreless Auger Systems • Attrition Disc Mills

Visit our website to find your local dealer Dealer enquiries welcome www.feedtech.com.au 16–18 Edgar St Tatura, VIC 3616 (03) 58241 466

IRWIN STOCKFEEDS

Sales & Nutrition · Custom dairy mixes · Production pellets · Performance pellets · Premium pellets · Premium Plus pellets · Calf products · Whole & cracked grains · Multiple Delivery vehicle types

Peter Lowry (Sales Manager) 0409 566 543 Shane Doherty (South Gippsland) 0417 500 344 Heath Killeen (East Gippsland) 0400 017 493 Katrina Galindo (West Gippsland) 0408 300 625 Greg Pate (South Gippsland) 0408 266 009

www.irwinstockfeeds.com.au irwinstockfeeds@irwinstockfeeds.com.au 1 Laurens St, North Melbourne VIC 3051 5215 South Gippsland Hwy, Lang Lang VIC 3984

HIGH HIGH PERFORMANCE PERFORMANCE FEED FEED FOR HIGH FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE PERFORMANCE COWSCOWS

CALL CALL US TODAY US TODAY

03 9328 03 9328 26812681

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.