FEBRUARY 2021 ISSUE 124
WEST VIC REGION
PASSION FOR DAIRY Larpent’s Melanie Ackerley has found her calling as a dairy farmer. Page 8.
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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA FEBRUARY 2021
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Chair’s message
Exciting times are ahead A BELATED happy new year to you all!
As we begin 2021 there is plenty to be optimistic about in our industry — many of us have enjoyed one of, if not the best, season in living memory. Full haysheds and silage stacks, lower commodity costs and a relatively good milk price mean we begin 2021 in a strong position. Now to hope the autumn break times itself perfectly! Although the threat of COVID-19 remains, at WestVic Dairy we are endeavouring to return to business as usual, but we keep in mind there may be a new normal moving forward. We have already offered multiple face-to-face events and workshops this year, with many more planned for the coming months. To suit as many preferred delivery styles as
possible, you will see some programs offered as online and in-person workshops, so the choice is yours. The events of 2020 certainly had a significant impact on our service delivery. One of the areas most affected was our Young Dairy Network (YDN), as many of these events relied on the social aspect of getting together in a relaxed environment, to chat and learn with peers. The first of several YDN evening events was held in January. The night was a great success, and it is wonderful to see the future of our industry embracing these opportunities. More events are planned throughout the region, so look out for further details. If the ‘young’ in YDN doesn’t quite suit you any longer, consider encouraging any younger members of your farm team to get involved.
WestVic Dairy is fully aware of the important role it has in attracting good people to our industry and then helping them develop their skills in order to progress. We as farmers also have our role to play in nurturing the next generation of dairy farmers, first by ensuring those that work on our farms have a positive experience of dairy, then by encouraging and educating employees so they can fulfil their goals and our industry can prosper. One way of helping achieve this is to encourage staff members to attend our workshops and discussion groups. It is no secret that motivated employees who feel supported are a great asset to any business. Another casualty of 2020 was the highly regarded Feeding Pastures For Profit program (FPFP).
Due to its practical, on-farm learning format there was no option but to cancel last year’s courses. This year FPFP will be back bigger and stronger than ever — courses will start in April, so contact the office if you’d like to know more. I must say that I am most looking forward to getting out and about this year and attending some of our field days and events. In the meantime, if there is anything we can assist you with, please do not hesitate to contact us on 5557 1000. All the best for now and I hope to see you out in the region soon. • Simone Renyard WestVic Dairy chair
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Victorian exports hit $2b INTERNATIONAL DEMAND for Victorian
dairy products remained strong in 2019-20, despite disruptions to markets, a Victorian Government report has found. Released late last year, the Victorian Food and Fibre Export Performance Report 2019-20 found dairy exports were valued at $2.1 billion last financial year, an increase of three per cent on 2018-19. Milk and cream products were the highest value dairy category, contributing to 48 per cent of Victoria’s dairy exports. Cheese and whey products were the second highest value category at $869 million, making up 41 per cent of dairy exports, the report found. China continued to be the highest value export market for Victorian dairy products, making up 27 per cent of dairy export total value. Japan was the second largest consumer of Victorian dairy products, with a value of $419 million (20 per cent of total dairy exports), decreasing 10 per cent from 2018-19. “Improved seasonal conditions, particularly in the second half of 2019-20, lifted dairy farm profits and production as compared to the previous year,” the report said. “Greater pasture availability in regions south of the Great Dividing Range and lower feed prices enabled farmers to source relatively cheap feed. “Farmers in the north of the state budgeted for high water prices and many chose to purchase fodder instead of irrigating. “The lower costs along with a 17 per cent improvement in milk price, increased average
farm profits threefold to $346,000 before interest and tax ($1.68/kg of milk solids).” While nearly all surveyed farms experienced positive profits, with consistent performance reported across the regions, many farms are still not fully recovered from the recent years of drought and challenging conditions, the report found. The improved conditions and confidence have supported higher milk production. According to Dairy Australia, Victorian milk production improved by six per cent in 2019-20 compared to the previous year, accounting for 63 per cent of Australia’s dairy production by volume.
NO ACTION ON FARM INVASIONS New Victorian Agriculture Minister MaryAnne Thomas could not offer any hope for action on farm invasion laws. She was asked if the Victorian Government would act on recommendations contained in a parliamentary report into farm invasions by animal activists. Ms Thomas said the parliamentary year was disrupted in many ways last year and it had not been possible to implement those recommendations or make the legislative changes that are required. “At the moment, from advice we have received, we’re not receiving notice of this being a problem right now, but there are other laws in place that can deal with trespass, already,” she said. The National Party has urged the government to move on new laws. Laws to impose on-the-spot fines to better protect farmers against farm trespass still haven’t been drafted, six months after the Andrews Government finally agreed to the change, Victorian Nationals deputy leader Steph Ryan said. A parliamentary inquiry recommended on-the-spot fines be implemented as a solution to stop extreme animal activists breaking into farms, stealing livestock and damaging biosecurity. Ms Ryan said other states had already put similar laws in place so there was no excuse for Victoria’s delays. “Farmers deserve to feel safe in their own homes, but the current soft rules embolden extreme activists to break the law instead of deterring them,” she said. “Victorian farmers were hoping to see the Andrews Labor Government implement on-the-spot fines with the same urgency as NSW, but instead Daniel Andrews has kicked the can down the road.” Speaking before the inquiry in September 2019, UDV president Paul Mumford said dairy farmers and their families deserved to feel safe.
“Dairy farmers choose to enter the industry because it is the thing they love and it helps them provide for those who they care dearly about — their families,” he told the inquiry. “They do all this yet are made to feel unsafe in their homes due to the now prevalent threat of invasion and trespass. “Farming families are made to feel intimidated and unsafe in their homes and places of work due to the persecution by a minority that believe their lawful business is somehow immoral.” Mr Mumford said while freedom of expression was a fundamental in Australia, so was feeling safe in your own home. “As the United Dairyfarmers of Victoria president, I represent some 3500 farmers and dairy farming families — families that now live in fear because their way of life has been seen as unacceptable to a small minority of people. “As previously stated, freedom of expression is a fundamental right. “However, invading a farm, trespassing and treating law-abiding families like criminals in their own homes is not right and is in fact illegal.” Ms Ryan said the impact of farm trespass had taken a heavy emotional toll on farming families. “These farms are not just a business for the families who live on them, they’re home,” she said. “The Andrews Labor Government either stands with our farmers or it stands with the extreme animal activists who want to destroy them.” Throughout 2018 and 2019, Victoria experienced a series of events where animal rights activists intimidated farmers, stole livestock and disrupted businesses. In May 2019, the Legislative Council referred this inquiry to the Economy and Infrastructure Committee and in February last year produced a report with 15 recommendations.
Value of Australian dairy exports by state in 2019-20. Source: Victorian Food and Fibre Export Performance Report 2019-20.
Top 10 countries for Victorian dairy exports by value. Source: Victorian Food and Fibre Export Performance Report 2019-20.
Almost a year has passed since the Victorian inquiry on farm invasions made its report.
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Proof is in the production RICK BAYNE
ROGER HEATH always said he didn’t want a
rotary dairy. But three weeks after installing a repurposed 50-unit rotary to replace his old herringbone, Roger is already seeing benefits in reduced milking time, less friction between big and small cows and improved production.
The fourth generation south-west Victorian farmer, whose family has been on the land for 95 years, came to the change by accident when a neighbouring farm converted to beef, leaving the dairy idle. “I’d always said I’d never build a rotary dairy, mainly because of the cost compared to a good herringbone, but the opportunity came up and the price and timing were right,” he said.
“We had to decide if we wanted to build a new dairy and plan for the next 20 years or look at getting out. “We’ve got kids who are pretty keen. Tayla, 20, works on the farm and Sheridan, 18, is working one day a week and that made the decision a bit easier.” After the platform was installed in October, milking has been cut from threeand-a-half hours to an hour and 20 minutes,
providing benefits to the cows and the Heath family. The relocation was relatively smooth. The dairy was cut into four pieces and moved in a day and built alongside the old herringbone, which will be converted to become part of an undercover yard. Two days later, Roger was a bit worried about how the cows were adapting but within a week they were fine.
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The Jerseys and Illawarras have had showing success but Roger always breeds for production.
DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA FEBRUARY 2021
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Tayla, 20, has joined Roger and Amanda to work on the farm.
“The cows love it; they come in, get their feed and they’re not competing with the cow beside them.” Previously the mix of Jerseys and Illawarras led to some difficulties in the herringbone. Already Roger is seeing production increases of up to three litres per cow. “That’s because of the ease of the dairy and less time spent standing on the concrete and I have no doubt it will increase. “I reckon we’ll put a thousand litres on a cow’s lactation.” They are doing about 22 litres across the herd with solids and fats around 4.9 to 5 and protein between 3.7 and 3.9. Roger predicts even more improvements with use of Easy Dairy automation systems to feed to production. “We’re cleaning the system and getting NILS tags to line up with the right cow. Once we get that nailed in the next couple of weeks, we’ll see a further increase in production. “This is a whole new world and it’s good. It’s easy to use and I’m not disappointed that we did it.” While it has been an exciting time, the big change was tempered by Roger falling off a silage stack and breaking his ribs. “I had a couple of days in hospital and was out for a week. I was really enjoying the process so it was disappointing I wasn’t here. “I would have been stuffed without my dad and kids and brother to help.” The change was further complicated by Roger’s wife Amanda having a pacemaker installed the day before moving into the dairy. Roger and Amanda bought the Bookaar, near Camperdown, farm off his parents Peter and Janice six years ago. The new dairy isn’t their first big investment; two years ago, they purchased another small farm and they have also leased land to bring the two properties together. After milking on both farms for a year, they have now consolidated on the home farm, milking 360 mostly Jerseys but with about 60 Illawarras.
Amanda and Roger Heath have both overcome badly-timed health scares during the transition to the new rotary dairy.
“We won’t milk any more than 380; we want to do things comfortably,” Roger said. “We’re doing less than last year because we were milking 100 cows on the other farm and 300 here. “We’ve combined the herds and taken the tail off and 360 to 370 is comfortable and suits the land.” The original farm is 230ha and the new land about 88ha. After going through the industry downturn and drought just after buying the farm, the Heaths are appreciating the good season. “This year has been incredible,” Roger said. “It’s the most water I’ve seen in the Bookaar lake since 1992 and the harvest has been really good; we’ve done more silage than ever before. “My grandfather always said silage in the stack or hay in the hayshed is the best insurance policy you’ll ever have, and he was right.”
The farm is built around homegrown feed with a bit of added grain, even in this year of plentiful pastures. They use a bail feed mix which varies at different times of the year to fit with the cows’ lactation. “We were previously on pellets but grain is a bit cheaper and you know what you’re getting,” Roger said. “To be able to adjust it to suit the cows will make a huge difference but feeding in the paddock on grass and summer crops is the cheapest and best source of making milk.” In autumn, Roger sows oats and annuals for winter feed, while summer crops include rape, turnips and a bit of millet this year. Roger’s Wanstead Jerseys and Amanda’s Amor Illawarras have both had success at local shows and at International Dairy Week. There are a few crossbreds in the herd but they will be filtered out.
“We’ve got plenty of cows so we don’t need the crossbreds, but they’re good cows and we’ll sell them to a dairy herd,” Roger said. “I’ve always been a big believer that if you breed for production, good type cows will come along. “I don’t breed cows to go in shows; they’ve got to pay the bills.” One cow, Valentino Fernleaf, has been classified 93 points and had an unborn embryo sold at the Global Jersey Auction for nearly $6000. “We were really happy with that and it’s our goal to get her back in calf,” Roger said. At 43, Roger plans to milk for another decade before giving some of his children a chance to move into the business. “We try to be as progressive as we possibly can. “The farm will be here if the kids want it. We’ll give them the opportunity we had.”
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Young farmers find their sweet spot RICK BAYNE
SIX YEARS into a sharefarming agreement,
Danny O’Donnell and Janelle Fisher are seeing the benefits of their learning experiences. On a straight 50-50 deal with farm owners Garry and Judy McNamara at Irrewillipe, their focus on improved pastures and more homegrown feed, investments in technology and a change from spilt to seasonal calving are paying dividends. Although described by Janelle as a “city boy from Warrnambool”, Danny had his heart on farming from a young age, working on the Harlocks’ dairy farm while still at school and then progressing to an apprenticeship and eventually farm management. “I was more interested in tractors at the start and then realised I needed cows to pay for the tractors,” Danny admits. Janelle grew up on a dairy farm at Simpson and worked in financial planning in Warrnambool after completing a Diploma of Agriculture and Agribusiness at Glenormiston. Danny’s experience included managing one of Janelle’s parents’ farms for 12 months, working for the Davis family at Tandarook and managing the O’Connor farm at Glenormiston, during which time they leased land at Boorcan to raise calves to start their herd. The young couple started building their herd and six years ago, aged just 22, started the sharefarming agreement milking 300 cows, including 200 purchased on a cow loan. The sharefarming offer from Garry and Judy McNamara was well timed. “We bought cows at the saleyards; we had 120 head so we had to either incorporate them into a herd or go out on our own,” Danny said. While the McNamaras wanted some of the land for their farming enterprise, about 200 ha was free for the sharefarm. That has now extended to 311 ha and they have grown from 300 to 430 cows in five years. All infrastructure is owned by Danny and Janelle and they employ all the labour.
Danny O’Donnell and Janelle Fisher with Patrick, 2, and Noah, 4 months, are enjoying their progression as sharefarmers.
“It was a bit tough at the start but it was a great opportunity,” Janelle said. “Now that we’ve added on the other blocks, we’re self-sufficient and all the animals are at home.” After moving to the sharefarm and working together for 18 months, Janelle worked offfarm full-time in agribusiness banking. She is currently on maternity leave and the farm employs two staff. The herd is mostly Friesian with a few crossed to Jersey. There have been big gains from the shift from split to seasonal calving and going to smaller-framed Holstein or crossbred cows.
The mixed herd is giving slightly less production but more profit after a reduction in bought-in feed.
“They represent more money and we can follow the grass curve,” Danny said. The couple sold and swapped a lot of cows to try for a quick calving transition. “We weren’t making enough money split calving,” Danny said. “We’re now aiming for 10 weeks calving from April to June, but the first few years it might be 12 weeks as we gradually bring them closer.” They also installed Cow Manager. “I don’t think we would have got to seasonal calving without it,” Janelle said. “We were about 55 per cent in-calf rate over 15 weeks; this year in-calf rates were 82 per cent
over 12 weeks and 72 per cent over 10 weeks,” Danny added. “We’re really happy with that and there are massive lifestyle benefits as well as more profit.” The farm is also benefiting from their improved skills. The first year they cut 800 rolls of silage and zero hay; this year they have cut almost 1000 tonne across pit and rolls, with about 600 rolls of hay. They attribute the transformation to the conditions plus what they’ve done to the farm and learnt along the way. “We’ve done some hump and hollow and drainage work but it’s more just knowing where
From the age of 14, Danny O’Donnell wanted to drive a tractor — now he has the cows to justify it.
DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA FEBRUARY 2021
WEST VIC REGION // 7 the cows should go and where they should graze and where you should cut,” Danny said. “In August, you could be cutting in six or eight weeks so you want to shut your dry blocks up and graze your wet ones. “In the first two years, you’re still learning that. We were busy doing fencing and water works and didn’t have any staff so there wasn’t much focus on grass at the start.” The first year they planed perennials but lost it all in summer. The next year they went 50 per cent perennials and 50 per cent Italians but lost it again. They used Italians for two years full-farm and this year they’ve gone back to perennials but added more potassium through winter and spring. “We’re putting it back to perennials and looking after it,” Danny said. “We didn’t look after them as well as we should at the start but we had to feed everything we could. “We’re a wet farm and the big cows were causing a lot of damage in the paddocks.” They have also increased soil testing. Maize was strategically planted for two years but not this year because there’s plenty of silage around. The feeding routine has also adjusted, impacting on production but improving profit. “We’ve gone from feeding 2.2 to 2.4 tonne of grain to 1.8 tonne because we’re using more homegrown feed,” Danny said. “The big shift was from feeding a lot of grain from November through to May because we had spring calving cows; now we keep it consistent and put silage in because they’re shutting down anyway.”
Production has dipped from 560 to 530 kg of milk solids per cow but profit has gone up substantially. “We’re doing what suits our farm,” they said. After paying off their cows last year, leaving loans only on infrastructure, they are enjoying the benefits of on-farm improvements, including Cow Manager, a silage wagon with the addition of scales to ensure accurate feeding, a feed pad and conveyor belt. On the back of a bumper season, they have shifted to pit storage. “I could see that pits were the future instead of rolls,” Danny said. “With rolls you’ve got to cart them in and take them to the paddock to feed them out.” Saying they have a great relationship with the McNamaras, Danny and Janelle have an unwritten agreement to buy the farm when the time is right. “We’re confident in the industry,” Danny said. “You’re going to have good and bad years like any business, but if you can keep your cost of production as low as possible you should make money most years and capitalise on the good years.” They see the export heifer market as another option, not only as a source of extra income but as a means of avoiding flooding the milk market. Danny and Janelle will continue their “keep it simple” approach to farming. “Do what suits your farm and find a factory that suits that, ask questions and be questioned, learn from your own and other people’s experiences and there must be a reason for every expense.”
The young couple started building their herd more than six years ago.
This has been their best season, with record hay and silage crops.
Focus Farms Expressions of Interest WestVic Dairy is seeking expressions of interest from dairy farmers across our region to participate in the Focus Farm project. Focus Farms operate over a two year period and are designed to improve farm business management practices.
Participants recieve advice from an experienced farm consultant of their choice, as well as a support group of local farmers and service providers. This helps to guide the on-farm decision making process. If you would like further information, or an Expression of Interest form, please contact Laurie Hickey on 0439 833 484. “Being involved in the Focus Farm project has been a great benefit to our business. We have enjoyed working with the Support Group and have embraced new ideas after discussing options with them. Importantly we are making more money as a result of this program.” – Karen Angus (current Focus Farmer)
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Sharing a passion for dairy RICK BAYNE
MELANIE ACKERLEY grew up on a beef farm,
went to a music school to become a saxophonist and studied occupational therapy at university before finding her true calling as a dairy farmer. Now Melanie will be spruiking the industry in a new ambassadorial role for Dairy Australia. Talking about the industry she loves isn’t difficult for the 31-year-old, who runs a farm and raises two children alongside husband Paul at Larpent. “I chose the industry; the industry didn’t choose me,” Melanie said, highlighting her belief that dairy should be promoted as a career of choice and an excellent return on investment. “We recognise how wonderful it is to have the opportunity to do the things we do and what we’ve been able to create for ourselves. “There is a significant amount of risk attached but you can mitigate that and I’m able to do things my friends couldn’t dream of, just living on a farm with a huge backyard. I’ve got friends whose entire backyard is not the size of our sandpit. “This year more than ever, I’ve never been gladder that I live on a farm. I’m a big believer in that you’re where you’re meant to be.” Melanie is unabashed about her love of cows and dairy farming. She says you eventually find your place in life, and after dabbling in music and occupational therapy, she’s sure she’s found her calling and is looking forward to sharing her story and her passion as a dairy ambassador. The pilot program will upskill select farmers to act as ambassadors to promote the industry to the broader community. This could include speaking at events, schools and mainstream media promotions. Although curtailed due to COVID-19, Melanie wants to play her role in breaking down stigmas and encouraging everyone to feel positive about the industry. “It’s important that people understand that as an industry we need a voice, and that’s not always in a union or in politics, there are different types of voices and I’m happy to be a young female voice.” Sadly, Melanie believes there is still a stigma around young women working in agriculture. “It’s definitely better now than when I was a teenager, but it’s still there,” she said. “The more women get up and say I’m here doing this and doing an okay job of it, the more things will change. “The industry needs to be more supportive of each other, especially of young people who are keen to have a go. “I’ve seen a lot of young people wanting to do what we’re doing but they just couldn’t get there.
“Part of the reason I was attracted to the ambassador idea is that I am just three years into the industry.” Melanie grew up on a beef property at Barwon Heads and was showing Limousin cattle from a young age, which sparked her interest in dairy cattle. She met Paul when she was 18; he was working in dairy and they quickly hatched plans to work towards buying a dairy farm. “For me it was about the love of space and being outdoors and I love cows so that helps a lot,” Melanie said. “Paul enjoyed the farm work and the lifestyle and had grown up in agriculture.” They started building a herd and took on a farm manager role. “We loved it so we kept pushing forward,” Melanie said. They purchased the Larpent farm three years ago. “It’s a big investment but it’s not going to depreciate and we appreciate that debt has a place in any business,” Melanie said. “There’s a level of sentiment, passion and love but essentially, it’s a business and we have to make it work. If the numbers don’t add up, the business doesn’t work.” The farm was a “renovator’s delight” but Melanie and Paul have made big improvements over the past three years. “We’re a fair way into the maintenance plan,” she said. “The big expensive things that needed to be fixed in the dairy, the water service and re-wiring, are done, and we’re improving the water system to increase flow to the dairy and access to all paddocks to make sure the cows always have access to water.” There are no calf rearing facilities so part of the hayshed is used; but down the track they hope to have a purpose-built facility. “Every time you fix something, life becomes a bit easier,” Melanie said. Their improvements are working — production is up and this year they harvested more than double the amount of silage compared to the first year. “That first year was a huge learning curve,” Melanie said. “We had a horrendously hot summer, a really dry February and a late and ordinary autumn break so we lost any perennial pasture. “Combined with milk prices and unexpected challenges, it was a tough first year, but that’s the nature of the industry and that’s what we love about it. Now things are good.” Despite her background, Melanie wasn’t tempted by beef. “I don’t think there’s the return on investment. At the moment, beef prices are amazing but in the long-term the dairy industry was the way to go for us to get a return on investment.”
Melanie and Paul have grown their mixed herd from 85 to 180 in three years.
Melanie Ackerley says the dairy industry needs different voices to break down stigma and encourage more community support.
They started with 80 cows and are now milking 185; they will peak at around 200, with a really mixed herd. “We bought young heifers from people we knew and reared them as our core herd, and then purchased cows from other dispersal sales,” Melanie said. The mixed herd comes from opportunity and being realistic about what they could afford. “At the time we were building our herd, the export market was very strong so Friesian calves were bringing about $400,” she said. “We could buy cross-bred calves much cheaper than that. “Mature cows are a bit cheaper but they are also proven and you have the benefits of her traits and if you get a heifer out of her, you’re breeding those traits into your herd. “We’re really happy with how the cows are performing. We learnt early on that it’s important to have the cows in really good condition and optimum health so they give you good results.”
Melanie has increased her understanding of ruminant nutrition, giving her more power to make informed decisions for the herd. Melanie and Paul are a good combination, with his love of growing grass and her love of cows. Together they balance the farm tasks and caring for the kids. “It’s not as hard as I thought it would be and one of the benefits is that we can spend our whole day with our kids,” Melanie said. “We value our time and flexibility and the things we can do as a family.” As an ambassador, Melanie wants people to know that dairy farmers love cows, love the industry “and we’re not here destroying the planet”. “Running a farm is way more than milking cows and cutting hay. “There’s the business side to it as well and a lot of people don’t know how much goes into it. “I just want to share my story and explain what we do as an industry and hopefully inspire young people to think about a career in agriculture.”