Rural news
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Storm and flood help closes at end of month
REGISTRATIONS for Bushfire Recovery Victoria’s Residential Storm and Flood clean-up program will close from 11.59pm on Sunday, October 31. Those affected by the June storms and floods who have an eligible property for the clean-up program should ensure they register now so they don’t miss out. The cut-off date is for new registrations only – it does not affect those who are already registered and are waiting for a call-back, site assessment or works to begin. To find out more and register a property, phone 1800 560 760 (available Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) or visit www.brv.vic.gov.au/cleanup
Climate outlook webinar
A WEBINAR focussing on the current seasonal climate outlook will be held next Wednesday. Hosted by Agriculture Victoria seasonal risk agronomist Dale Grey, the webinar will focus on the current seasonal climate outlook. The outlook will be based on model projections for rainfall using current oceanic, atmospheric and soil moisture conditions. The webinar is an online presentation, during which viewers can ask questions. The webinar will be held from noon on Wednesday, October 20. It will be recorded, so those who miss the live presentation can watch it later at a time that suits them. For more information, email the.break@agriculture. vic.gov.au
Carbon abatement webinar
WITH increasing interest in carbon abatement in agriculture, the CSIRO has developed a landscape options and opportunities for carbon abatement calculator. Today from noon until 1pm, a free webinar will provide an introduction to this tool. The CSIRO’s LOOC-C program leader, Dr Stephen Roxburgh, will explain the calculator’s background. By visiting https://looc-c.farm farmers can use the map interface to select a potential project area and help begin the conversation of carbon abatement options for their businesses. To register for the webinar, visit agriculture.vic.gov. au/climate-and-weather
Macalister Demonstration Farm:
Reducing nitrogen input MACALISTER Demonstration Farm is reducing its nitrogen input, and paddock 16 seems to be showing the nitrogen reduction. Paddock 16 will be grazed soon, on 30 days rest. The average leaf appearance rate since previous grazing was 13.3 days, typical for late September. In between the paddock’s clumps has not grown well, with a yellowish colour and a bit of rust. If nitrogen is to be reduced, the grazing rotation needs to get the full three leaves to get the quantity. Paddock three needs topping. The cows are grazing in between the clumps hard, down to two centimetres, but they are not grazing the clumps well. The clumps make up about 40 per cent of the paddock. It would be possible to graze the clumps with the milkers by putting them back into the paddock for another feed. They would graze the short bits shorter, until the clumps become more desirable. Grass intake per cow would be driven down to get the clumps eaten. Current milk would fall, and there would be an effect on future intake and milk. Intake capacity needs protecting, to maintain cow and feed use efficiency. Also, ration balance needs to remain consistent over time. Less grass will drop the fibre level, maybe to a dangerous level. The Dairy Farm Monitor Project results (20202021) have just been published. The Macalister Demonstration Farm is one of the 80 farms across the state analysed. The local farm achieved a return on asset of 4.4 per cent. The state average return was 5.66 per cent. Nine of the 80 farms had a return more than 10 per cent, and three of the nine farms above 10 per cent return are Macalister Irrigation District irrigators. The demonstration farm’s earnings before interest and tax per cow was $527. All other Macalister irrigators achieved close to or more than $1000 per cow. The state average was $1000 per cow. The demonstration farm has the highest
FEED MARGIN PERFORMANCE
MDF TEN DAYS AGO 10-Sep-21 61 200 3.3 35 37 11.3 $2.72 $73 5.9 $417 0.0
MDF THIS TEN DAYS 20-Sep-21 61 235 3.9 35 44 11.4 $2.72 $62 5.9 $417 0.0
ANOTHER FARM 20-Sep-21 115 480 4.2 35 47 11.2 $2.31 $49 6.4 $418 0.0
114 17.0 31.0% 27.8 3.59% 3.46% 1.96 $6.45 $0.46 $12.64 $3.27 $9.37 $30.72 $1,874
116 17.1 31.0% 28.7 3.61% 3.36% 2.00 $6.43 $0.45 $12.90 $3.14 $9.75 $37.58 $2,292
117 17.5 29.7% 28.2 3.81% 3.48% 2.05 $6.42 $0.47 $13.18 $3.21 $9.97 $41.62 $4,787
Feed cost $/kg MS
$1.67
$1.57
$1.56
$/ kg MS
Proportion of grazed grass in diet
67%
67%
64%
%
Ten days to date: Milker graze area Milkers Stocking rate Average graze rest time Estm'd pasture consmp'n Pasture consum'd per cow Pasture growing spend Estm'd pasture price Conc (incl additives)supp fed/cow Conc (incl additives)supp avg price Hay/silage supp fed/cow Hay/silage supp price Feed Conversion Efficiency Total feed intake/cow NDF Fibre in diet Litres/cow Fat test Protein test Milk Solids per cow Milk price (less levies)/kg MS Milk price (less levies)/litre Milk income/cow All feed cost/cow Margin over all Feed/cow MOAF /ha /day Farm MOAF per DAY
stocking rate — 4.1 milkers per milking hectare. The farm’s milk solids per hectare was 2105kg, the highest in the state, by far. The demonstration farm’s pasture consumption
Units Ha Head cows/ha Days kg DM/ha/day kg DM/cow/day $/ha/day $/T DM kg DM/cow/day $/T DM kg DM/cow/day $/T DM kg MS/tonne DM kg DM/cow/day % NDF l/cow/day % % kg/cow/day $/kg MS $ per litre $/cow/day $/cow/day $/cow/day $/ha/day $/day
per milking hectare was second highest (13.5 tonne, whereas the highest was 15.3 tonne). The demonstration farm’s milk solids per cow was 512kg, while the state average was 530kg.
Funding for irrigation upgrades CENTRAL Gippsland farmers wishing to upgrade irrigation infrastructure can apply for funding under the Central Gippsland Irrigation Efficiency Incentives Program, which closes at the end of this month. The program opened for applications on Monday, September 20 and remains open until Friday, October 29. Funding for the program is limited, and new eligibility criteria is in place. Eligible infrastructure projects that meet the program objectives will be allocated through a random ballot process after the application period has closed. For more information, visit www. wgcma.vic.gov.au/for-farmers/incentives21
or phone the irrigation team at the West Gippsland Catch Management Authority on 1300 094 262. Alternatively, email Alexis Killoran from Agriculture Victoria on alexis.c.killoran@agriculture.vic.gov.au
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Page 22 – Times-Spectator, Tuesday, 12 October, 2021
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Colleen Bye 0467 533 003
Phillip Fleming 0498 242 421
Wayne McKay 0419 486 282
Steve Fallon 0427 352 231
