Dairy direct murray april 2016 (low res) by McPherson Media Group

Country News PUBLICATION

MURRAY Issue 22, April 2016

New fodder crop introduced » page 16

Tinder for cows » page 20 Blindness hasn’t stopped farmer » page 26 Mystery calf disease warning » page 32 Effluent happens » page 34

APRIL 2016

contents Dairy news

4-9

Doing Dairy

Business full of challenges It never ceases to amaze me how complex our dairy businesses have become. As I write this column we are enduring a prolonged hot spell, which reinforces the need for careful planning at farm level. The need to constantly revise feed, water and financial budgets supports one thing I do know, in this business you need to be flexible! The need to manage your water portfolio has never been more critical. Whether you hold permanent, temporary or lease water or use carry-over, it is very difficult. In mid-April Murray Dairy is running a series of workshops to assist you with your water management decisions and understanding the current irrigation landscape. Resilient is a word that describes a dairy farmer. We live in a world of constant change, the ability to adapt plans to situations that vary is critical. Because of this variation there are times of high

stress, and some people handle this better than others. It is important to recognise when stress becomes too great, in both yourself and those around you. When this occurs, seek support from your partner, loved ones or neighbours. Everybody needs a helping hand at some point and Murray Dairy is there to put you in touch with the right people in times of need. Murray Dairy has recently advertised for two new extension officers. All three Victorian Regional Development Programs will increase their capacity to aid farm extension in the near future. This signals the transition of farm extension from DEDJTR to the RDPs and better equips us to assist you in your businesses. Fingers crossed for a great autumn. — Rick Cross Murray Dairy chairman

BVDV — What is it, and should we care?

Drought years spur change

Taking care of business

Hard to beat it

Weather and dollar impact Aussie farmers

Matches made online

Allocation forecast challenged

Water dynamics changing

Navigating the maze of farm data

Water workshops

They breed ’em tough in Nanneella

Extending help to dairy farmers

Scientist wins dairy award

From flattened things, new things grow

Mystery illness may kill calves

All waste is not created equal

Port agreement welcomed

New dairy data

New direction for Connections

Surviving global dairy challenges

Dookie Dairy Report

Wise spending is the key

Good advice means better farms

Sharing dairy experiences

Get them while they’re young

Moving forward with change

2016 Australian Dairy Conference

Family farms still dominate landscape

Take action to maximise pasture growth

Change of direction for Holstein breeders

More than just milk

Country cheese makes the big time

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Cover: Growing fodder beet for the first time in northern Victoria is Tim Rhind, farm manager Ollie Badcock and farm owner Spencer Rendell. See story page 16

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The future of dairying is inexorably tied to the future of water in northern Victoria and southern Riverina. Historically the region has drawn new farmers into the area because of the perceived security of supply. So the $2billion Foodbowl Modernisation Project represented an opportunity to bring new efficiencies into irrigation at a time when it was becoming apparent there would be less water for productive use in the Murray-Darling Basin and the prospect of a changing, drier and less reliable climate. Many dairy farmers have been dismayed to see the project slow down in recent years, and have also been frustrated to find the promises of more reliable and timely flows becoming remote, while they are investing money in updating their own systems on-farm. So the announcement of a ‘re-set’ of the Connections project and the introduction of a new project control group is welcome news. We are all hoping the new management arrangements will result in a kick-start to the vital project. — Geoff Adams Dairy Direct editor

dairy news

No change to milk price Commodity prices are still falling but co-op plans to maintain price for the time being. Murray Goulburn Co-operative is forecasts in financial year 2016. intending to maintain its southern milk “This underperformance is expected to price of $5.60/kg milk solids, unless dairy be partially offset by the growth in the prices deteriorate further. dairy foods segment resulting from the In its half-year profit announcement, the acceleration of production mix shift co-operative’s managing director Gary and the expected strong performance Helou said dairy commodity prices were of domestic and international ready-tocontinuing to fall. consume dairy foods product sales,” Mr “While MG and market commentators Helou said. expect a recovery in dairy commodity prices, this is taking longer than expected Murray Goulburn announced a net profit after tax, for the first half of the year, of due to the ongoing oversupply in global $10 million, compared to $15 million for dairy commodity markets,” Mr Helou the same period last year. said. Overall revenue was up by about three “The weakness in dairy commodity per cent to $1.38 billion, with the biggest prices is now expected to result in the improvement in dairy foods which grew ingredients and nutritionals segment materially underperforming against the by 27 per cent to $694 million.

Mr Helou said the first half of the year saw the continued decline in Chinese imports of commodity dairy ingredients and the ongoing Russian embargo on dairy imports. “This has been compounded by increased European milk supply, resulting in a period of significant over-supply in global dairy commodity markets, driving commodity prices towards record lows.” He announced Murray Goulburn was launching a new infant formula product called Devondale Natra Start, which will be 100 per cent controlled by Murray Goulburn from farm gate to shelf. The product was expected to be available in Australia in March and in China soon.

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Doing Dairy

with SOPHIE BALDWIN

Something must be done With a hot finish to autumn, everyone is desperately looking to the heavens for a break. It is a tough gig this farming game, especially when our irrigation system has been a made such a mockery of. As I travel the countryside talking to farmers, — it doesn’t matter what industry they are in by the way — every conversation seems to turn to water. Whether it be irrigation, rain, the state of our rivers, anything to do with water really. It is a major, major concern and one that runs deep through our community. Agriculture is such a fantastic and rewarding industry to be involved in, it is a heartbreaking and unforgiving one without the one thing we all need to survive though and that’s water. While the decisions of the past cannot be undone, those of the future can be remade and

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I think it is time we started to get some water policies that are going to benefit the farmer. Changing the carry-over rule and making every water owner accountable for the same fees is a start. I understand that things are not black and white and while I don’t have the answers I do know something has to be done. If things don’t change in northern Victoria our industry will be decimated because quite simply we can’t grow grass without irrigation and everyone knows the milk price does not support dairy farmers paying such high prices for water. People will only go on for so long before they look for something else or are forced off their farms because of mounting debt. I normally try to write about happy things but our industry is approaching a crisis and when I hear good farmers say they are contemplating something else because it is all too hard, I just feel sad.

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But let it be said dairying does breed a tough group of people and this month I must say I was inspired by meeting Harry Gibson (story in Dairy Direct) totally blind and still manages in his 70s to work on the farm milking, feeding calves and fixing stuff. I am sure life is not easy for Harry but he approaches it with a sense of humour and I must say Harry Gibson, you are a legend. I also met an athlete in her late 50s who is going to compete in the world championships for outrigging later this year and she swears by the ‘dairy’ gym she attends as a relief milker. It is her secret weapon for keeping her core and upper body strong, it’s cheaper than a gym membership and it also helps her pay the bills. Maybe we need to change the way we market our industry… Hope you had a happy Easter. I can’t believe it’s April already!

dairy news Tassie company sold to Chinese The Foreign Investment Review Board has approved the sale of the big Tasmanian dairy company Van Diemen’s Land, to Chinese interests. The company runs 25 dairy farms and about 30 000 cattle in north-west Tasmania. The New Zealand-owned company will be sold to Moon Lake Investments. Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison said investment commitments from the buyer would mean more jobs in Tasmania and there would be no negative impact on Australian milk supplies, with projects promising an increase in production. The approval is conditional on the buyer complying with Australian taxation laws. Mr Morrison said he considered the national interest test and how it applied to this case, including the likely impact

on local jobs and increased investment to support economic growth. Tasmanian MP Andrew Wilkie said the decision could have direct implications for the price of milk and baby formula. “Selling Van Diemen’s Land to a foreign bulk commodity enterprise will result in milk or milk powder shipped offshore in bulk,” Mr Wilkie said. The 190-year-old company produced an after-tax profit of $7.538 million in 2014. It achieved record production for the year to May 31, 2014 of 6.72 million kilograms of milk solids, an increase of 7.5 per cent on 2013. The average milk price for the year for the company was $7.07/ kg of milk solids compared to $5.09 paid in 2013, an increase of 38.9 per cent.

Program expanded welcomed the announcement. The Federal Government has announced further expansion of “We are strongly supportive the Seasonal Worker Program to of initiatives that improve the include the broader agricultural industry’s access to overseas sector, including dairy. labour, and ADF has been advocating for dairy to be Employment Minister Michaelia included on the SWP for some Cash and Agriculture Minister time,” Mrs Jolliffe said. Barnaby Joyce announced the expansion of the program The dairy industry has a strong from primarily horticulture to track record of contributing to the broader agricultural sector, communities in regional Australia increasing the types of low and and it is eager to similarly make unskilled jobs included under the contributions to communities in program. neighbouring countries. “Employers in a range of “It is great to see ADF’s lobbying agriculture industries including efforts contribute to this result. cattle, sheep, grain and mixed We will continue to advocate for enterprises will now be able to programs which make it easier apply to be part of the Seasonal for dairy farmers to employ Worker Program.” overseas workers who strengthen rural communities when local Workers brought in by employers employees are not available.” are subject to the same workplace relations and work health and To apply to recruit seasonal safety safeguards as Australian job workers visit: www. seekers. employment.gov.au/ information-employers-howAustralian Dairy Farmers recruit-seasonal-workers president Simone Jolliffe

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dairy news Nurturing leadership Dairy Australia and Australian new program. Dairy Farmers have announced “The new program will help a new sector-wide approach to emerging leaders develop their nurturing leadership talent in the skills in preparation for further dairy industry. involvement with the industry, and Successful applicants for the their community,” he said. Emerging Dairy Leaders Program Participants in the program will (EDLP) will develop and hone earn a Diploma of Agribusiness leadership skills and knowledge Management from the National during a 12-month period. Centre for Dairy Education/ Dairy Australia industry education TAFESA using a variety of learning manager Karen Conrad said the tools such as online self-paced program was about participants study, webinars, peer discussion, learning to understand themselves and workplace and mentor and others better while improving discussions. their communication skills. EDLP begins in Adelaide on April During the year-long course the 26 this year and concludes there in group will visit three dairy regions April 2017. and meet inspiring people who are “All costs associated with education helping to shape the development enrolment, travel, accommodation of the $13.5 billion Australian dairy and meals while away from home industry. are covered,” Ms Conrad said. They will also spend 10 days Application forms are available at off-farm (plus travel time) in four the People in Dairy website or from residential blocks. Young Dairy Network Australia. The Australian Dairy Farmers chief closing date for applications is March executive officer Ben Stapley 28 and Ms Conrad can be contacted welcomed the launch of the on 0488 099 891 for more details.

Looking outside the box Dairy Research Foundation’s 2016 symposium’s organising committee chair Associate Professor Kendra Kerrisk said this year’s symposium would be held in Wagga Wagga, NSW, with the program taking delegates on-farm for a field day format on day three. “With the ongoing pressure to produce more from less it makes sense to go beyond our own industry for new approaches,” Prof Kerrisk said. “The pressure is certainly on to improve water use efficiency so we’ll hear experiences from the cotton industry as well as dairy farmers and broadacre growers who have adapted their systems to produce more food from less water.” The program will also look at

maintaining animal welfare while improving productivity, drawing upon experiences from the pig industry and a vet who specialises in preventative health strategies for dairy herds. The key note speaker will be Professor Russ Hovey, an Australian who is now based at the University of California and is world renowned for his knowledge of dairy cow nutrition and lactation. Hunting efficiency from the inside out, the Dairy Research Foundation Symposium will be held between June 15 and 17 at the Charles Sturt University campus, Wagga, Wagga. For more information, phone Tara Wolfson on 0416 251 432 or email tara@ejmevents.com.au

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dairy news Private-label focus The increasing popularity of private labels, which account for about 25 per cent of products sold in supermarkets and grocery stores and are particularly prevalent in the milk, cheese and butter segment, is causing dairy producers to increasingly vie for lucrative private-label contracts with large retailers to ensure their ongoing success in the industry, according to business analysts at IBISWorld. “Increasing numbers of private-label dairy products are contributing to a changing focus for dairy manufacturers,” senior industry analyst Brooke Tonkin said. “For players such as Murray Goulburn, which has won multiple major private-label contracts with Coles over the past two years, including a contract to produce private-label cheese previously held by Bega, the strategic focus is changing. “Private-label products are now accounting for a greater share of

products manufactured by the company.” IBISWorld anticipates that privatelabel sales, including private-label dairy, will outperform branded product sales during the next five years. As a result, private-label contracts are expected to become increasingly important to the success of dairy manufacturers aiming to service the local market. An increasing number of private-label products will also drive diversification in dairy product manufacturing, as manufacturers eye products such as milk powder and cheese as alternatives to traditional dairy products. “Contracts like the milk and cheese private-label contracts won by Murray Goulburn provide an ongoing inflow of cash and give businesses the ability and confidence to invest in their production facilities over the long term,’’ Ms Tonkin said.

Dry times likely NSW Murray irrigators are preparing for a tough year due to a low water allocation forecast. NSW DPI Water said it was likely the general security allocation would start at zero per cent of entitlement on July 1, unless there was significant rainfall. Based on an extremely dry inflow scenario for the remainder of this year, full high-security allocation in the NSW Murray may be delayed. But according to the Bureau of Meteorology, it is anticipated this scenario will improve by July 1. DPI Water said carry-over would be available during the water year. The general security allocation for NSW Murray

is currently at 23 per cent. Last month, DPI Water announced an imminent opening of trade out (also known as intervalley transfers) of the Murrumbidgee Valley and provided details about where to find information on trade procedures. Irrigators can monitor the IVT account balance on the Water NSW website at www.waternsw.com.au/ customer-service/trading/ murrumbidgee DPI Water said actual future conditions were almost certain to be better and outlooks would be updated monthly.

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animal health

A regular column from Rochester Veterinary Practice

BVDV — What is it, and should we care? Bovine viral diarrhoea virus can have serious impacts on your herd if not identified and contained. The cause BVDV (bovine viral diarrhoea virus) is from the pestivirus group. There are two types of the virus but in Australia we tend to see Type 1. How is it spread? The virus is shed in a wide range of body fluids from infected animals including respiratory and uterine secretions, milk, semen, faeces and saliva. What happens to the infected animal depends on whether or not it is pregnant and at what stage it is pregnant. What does the disease look like? There are a number of different scenarios that can result from the infection of a non-immune animal. If the animal is not pregnant, then a transient viraemia (multiplication of the virus in the bloodstream) occurs for 10–14 days resulting in a short-term immunosuppression, fever and possibly diarrhoea, before the body produces anti-bodies against the virus and the animal recovers. If however the animal is in early pregnancy (<40 days) then the virus can cross the placenta and cause foetal death, which can be seen as low conception rates and long irregular service intervals. If the infection occurs during days 40–120 of pregnancy, then the foetus may not die but it doesn’t mount an immune response to the virus so the foetus becomes persistently infected (PI). This is because at this stage of pregnancy the foetus is developing its immune system and starting to recognise the normal body proteins. Since the BVD virus is present at this stage, the body assumes it is normal and won’t form antibodies against the virus. When these animals are born they are a significant source of infection to their herd mates. If the infection occurs later in the pregnancy (days 80–150) then the virus can cause defects in the calf, most notably in the brain, and the calves are usually born “wonky”. They are often

unable to walk or lack co-ordination and may appear stupid. Alternatively infection at this stage can cause abortion. Infection after day 150 will result in an antibody-positive calf, as it is able to mount an immune response, but may still be small and weak. Why is the PI animal important? An animal that has a transient infection will excrete some virus whereas a persistently infected (PI) animal excretes huge amounts of virus for its whole life. This is the main source of virus for the disease to spread within a herd, and buying in a PI animal (or a pregnant cow carrying a PI calf ) is a sure way of introducing BVDV to a naïve herd. The PI will start exposing its cohorts as calves which get transient infections and become immunosuppressed. They may suffer from other diseases such as pneumonia and bacterial scours and are often not as responsive to therapy. There also appear to be reductions in growth rates in groups of calves exposed to a PI calf. When the PI animal survives until it is old enough for joining, it can be a source of infection to pregnant animals leading to either reproductive losses or the production of new PI animals, thus ensuring the continuation of infection within the herd. PI calves can develop mucosal disease due to the virus mutating to a cytopathogenic strain, leading to erosions and ulceration anywhere along the length of the gastrointestinal tract from the muzzle through the stomachs to the intestines. This is followed by diarrhoea, dehydration and eventually death in anything from days to a few weeks. If the PI animal becomes pregnant she will produce another PI calf. How do you identify a PI animal? Since the PI animal is the biggest source of virus, in order to get the level of infection under control we need to identify and

remove PI animals from the herd. Physically these animals may be poor doers and may be smaller than their cohorts with perhaps a history of repeat illness, however many PIs cannot be visually identified. There is an ear notch test that looks for the virus and is very sensitive. This test can be carried out from day one on any age or sex of animal. If there is a suspicion that an adult PI may be present in the milking herd then a PCR test which looks for viral DNA can be done on the bulk milk that will pick up one PI in 400 cows. Is it worth controlling the disease? There are significant economic losses caused by infection of BVDV within a herd as a result of reproductive losses (low conception, abortions, birth defects, reduced bull fertility) and calf losses due to lowered health of calves exposed to PI animals. What to do about it If there is a history of poor reproductive performance and a history of calf rearing problems then BVD may have to be considered as a possibility and you will have to discuss with your vet the best strategy for identifying the presence of BVDV in the herd. There is a vaccine available in Australia now against BVDV and it can certainly give protection against infection, however it is not cheap and once you start vaccinating then you will have to maintain a closed herd or keep on vaccinating strategically. Eradication is possible if all PI animals can be identified and removed from the herd, but again care must be taken not to reintroduce the problem. All introductions should be ear-notch tested to ensure they are not PI before joining the rest of the herd. Bought-in bulls are high risks as a source of infection and it would be advisable to test them before introduction. — Keith Fletcher, Rochester Veterinary Practice

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Gary and Anne Budge have been lot feeding their cows for many years and they now consider themselves crop farmers who also milk cows.

Drought years spur change Pasture-based farm moves to lot feeding and reaps the benefits.

When Gary and Anne Budge started to The milking area of the Budges’ farm is only 50 ha, and milking a large 600-cow herd question the way they were faming during those tough drought years in the mid-2000s, means the cows are lot fed every day. they didn’t realise they were about to change The business is largely self-sufficient except the whole way they farmed; shifting away for its grain requirements. from grazing and instead focusing their “Growing our own feed means I know exactly energies into growing lucerne, corn and how much everything costs, there are no cereal crops and lot feeding their cows. hidden extras. I know there is an element It has been a decision that suits their of risk in growing your own feed but at the business model and their farm, and while end of the day the added cost of buying there are always cows to be fed and rations to feed in from someone else can add a lot to the bottom line if you have to buy in large be mixed every day of the year, the couple is quantities,” Mr Budge said. happy with the way the operation runs. It takes about three hours to feed the cows “Those drought years were hard going, in every day. particular the last four, and it got me to thinking about pasture and what other The beauty of lot feeding is the diet remains options there were out there,” Mr Budge constant from day to day so milk production said. is also relatively constant year-round. “I see ourselves now as crop farmers who milk Five years ago the business decided to grow cows and I reckon that sums up how we run corn just to see how it went — and hasn’t things here.” missed a crop since.

APRIL 2016

Mr Budge relies heavily on advice from his agronomist to get anything he grows right, and a nutritionist to balance the cows’ diet. “They just tell me what to do and I do it. I take notice of what they say so I can grow the best crop I can, which helps take the risk out of growing it in the first place. “The nutritionist balances the ration so all I have to do then is concentrate on the cows and looking after them.” Mr Budge has 65 ha of lucerne which is cut and pitted for silage. “We cut every 30 days so we can get the next lot going, ideally before flowering if we can, to increase the protein level. This year it has been pretty hard to achieve that though and the flowers have beaten us. I don’t know if it’s the season or what it is.” Mr Budge has just sown 48 ha of rye-grass and shaftal which will be watered up with irrigation water.

With minimal grazing, the cows are fed on the feed pad every day.

“

Those drought years were hard going, in particular the last four, and it got me to thinking about pasture and what other options there were out there.

Home-grown silage makes up a large part of the cows’ diet. The couple’s farm is largely self-sufficient except for grain usage.

Gary Budge

“It always comes back to the milk The current 85 ha corn crop is due to be harvested in April. The crop price as to what you can afford to is performing well and looks like it pay for temp water.” will be on track to produce about Mr Budge believes water security 18–20 tonne/ha. is the biggest issue facing famers in When the corn is harvested, vetch our region. He would like to see the and wheat will be sown and this will carry-over rule scrapped. hopefully be grown on rainfall. “I think if you haven’t used all of “At a $5.60 milk price and $250 your water by the end of the season water price the gap is just too big then it’s just too bad. Something and the numbers don’t stack up to has to change, or we won’t have a keep buying temporary water,” Mr future.’’ Budge said.

Lucerne silage is mixed in with the daily ration.

APRIL 2016

Taking care of business For dairy farmers working from dawn until dusk and running their operation seven days a week, it can be difficult to find time for professional development. However, for a dairy farmer from Tongala, making study a priority has been a wise business decision. Andrew Tyler, who runs a dairy farm with 700 Holsteins in partnership with his wife Robyn, was one of the recipients of the 2015 Farm Business Management Scholarships, a Gardiner Foundation initiative supported by Victorian Regional Development Programs. With some additional help on the farm, Mr Tyler used the scholarship to undertake the Owner Manager Program through the University of Queensland Business School to upskill and expand his business knowledge and capabilities. “Our business has grown a lot in the last 15 years — there are lots of facets of running the business,” Mr Tyler said. The program provided Mr Tyler with a valuable learning experience and he encouraged dairy farmers to seek out

learning opportunities where possible. “It gave me exposure to some really good ideas and different things that we can look at doing with our business,” he said. From staff management to growth strategies, Mr Tyler said the topics were insightful and relevant. Although the course was not specifically agriculture-focused and was designed for business owners, Mr Tyler said the concepts taught were relevant to his role. “There was a wide array of business topics relevant to agriculture — I found that really good because we learnt a lot from those other people doing the course.” Collaborating with other industry professionals and being off the farm allowed Mr Tyler to look at things from a different perspective. “You realise and learn things about how others manage risks in their business.” Risk management in terms of water issues and irrigation was always a looming issue as well, he said.

Andrew Tyler

“From a business perspective, you have got to assess your risks.” Mr Tyler said staff management and funding growth were some of the challenges in dairy farming and, since finishing the course in November, he was working towards implementing his new skills to manage these two challenges. “Because of the exposure to different professionals that presented during the course, it’s opened my eyes to seek out professional advice from a vastly different network of people that I haven’t been exposed to previously.” Scholarship recipients are also required to assist the Gardiner Foundation with perpetual improvement of the dairy industry.

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Other options are a hand lever for gate controls. If you have existing entry and exit pendulum gates they can be upgraded with our air-ram kits. This includes a heavy duty 50 mm pneumatic ram with a 20 mm shaft. Either a solenoid control box with a cord or hand lever operation an air compressor is required. These kits can be supplied and installed. >> Brad and Michelle Seabrook Dairy, Rochester Entry Gate

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Growing fodder beet for the first time in northern Victoria is Tim Rhind, farm manager Ollie Badcock and farm owner Spencer Rendell.

Hard to beatit Northern Victoria farmers are trying fodder beet as an alternative for summer grazing. Fodder beet is a high-energy low NDF feed source.

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The beet bucket which is used to harvest the crop for transition.

The beet crop was sown October 1, but next Fodder beet could be the answer some farmers are looking for in their quest to grow season the date will be moved forward to the first week in September so the crop can be a high-yielding water-efficient crop through grazed earlier. the hot summer months. About 23 ha were sown under pivot and Girgarre dairy farmer Spencer Rendell has 15 ha under flood. The pivot crop has grown grown the crop for the first time this year slightly better and will achieve the 40 tonne/ and has been very happy with the results so ha target using only 5 Ml of water, three far. through the wheel and two from rainfall. Fodder beet has been grown in the United The crop provides 12–13 per cent energy Kingdom, New Zealand and some parts of and seven to eight per cent protein. Australia but it is a new crop for northern Victorian conditions. Growing the crop for the first time in the area has been a learning curve and the “We struggle for feed from February through best advice Mr Rendell can give people to autumn and I had seen fodder beet crops thinking of growing it next year is to prepare grown in other places and I thought, `Why your ground well, sow at the right soil not give it a go here?’ It is a water-efficient high-energy low NDF feed source that grows temperature and depth and don’t skimp on ground preparation. under both flood and pivot irrigation,” Mr “We have had a battle with weeds so we are Rendell said.

preparing next season’s ground now. “We have managed to get spray costs down from $1000/ha to $400/ha. Fodder beet is a beetroot crop and there was nothing registered to spray it with. Kober and our agronomists have worked very hard to find the right sprays and get that figure down. “Anywhere you can grow a lucerne crop you grow fodder beet.” The crop must be sown into a soil temperature of at least 9ºC because it is hard to germinate and weed competition can smother it out. “It is the sort of crop that will pay you back if you look after it properly. If it needs spraying you need to spray it there and then and not put it off to next week — next week may be too late.” >> Continued on page 18

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The crop has grown very well, although Mr Rendell has had a bit of trouble with weed growth, something he is working on improving now for next year.

Mr Rendell said growing fodder beet was comparable to maize. “The start-off costs are similar but it worked out it cost us $73/tonne of dry matter to grow with water based at $160/Ml — but unlike maize the cows can harvest the crop in the paddock and you avoid those expensive harvest costs.” The crop is grazed once and the cows will go through and eat the leaves first, which is high in protein, and then start on the bulb which is high in energy. It is important to transition the cows correctly onto the crop. If you don’t, things can sour very quickly. “If you don’t transition properly you can kill cows. It will take about 10 days before they can be put on the paddock for grazing.” The cows are introduced to the fodder beet by being fed small amounts daily. The business has bought a beet bucket to initially harvest the crop but Mr Rendell said farmers

Rendell Dairies’ operations manager Ollie growing it on a smaller scale could just use their front-end loader and bucket. Badcock has grown the crop in Cornwall, in the UK, for a dairy farm and has lent his “Once it is grazed it is finished, there is no expertise to Rendell Dairies to grow it this second grazing.” Mr Rendell firmly believes there is a place for year. “Correct transition is the key. You will pull the crop in northern Victoria. your hair out for the first week because “Fodder beet just provides another tool for they won’t eat it, but once they do they love our industry. The dairy industry has been it — and don’t get in their way when they lacking new innovations and this crop head to the paddock.” certainly provides a water-efficient highproducing alternative for summer grazing.” Mr Rendell hosted a field day in February, Mr Rendell has put his own dairy farm up and about 150 farmers turned out to have a for sale and is looking for a move into the look and learn more about the crop. beef industry in NSW. Dairy farmer Laurence Luckman milks 300 “If I was going to continue dairy farming, cows on his Koyuga dairy farm, and has fodder beet would certainly become a part sown 3 ha of fodder beet. of our growing regime. Beet, maize, lucerne “It has been a big learning curve for us and shaftal and rye will provide the bulk initially because it is different to anything we of our home-grown feed until the farm have grown before,” Mr Luckman said. sells. You can’t afford to grow permanent “I can see it will be an integral part of our pasture anymore because of the high cost of future though.’’ irrigation water.”

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Weather and dollar impact Aussie farmers Falling global dairy prices and dry conditions will create a challenging climate for dairy farmers this year, according to a report. feed reserves without a really high price to Nonetheless, the Australian market Dairy Australia’s Dairy Situation and Outlook February 2016 report has remained in a stable position with a stable support that sort of activity.” revealed that challenging seasonal domestic market and more favourable The report said elevated prices for grain conditions, high input costs and the exchange rate, Mr Droppert said. and hay, combined with lower milk prices, global market will continue to tighten “We have a stable population and it’s small had reduced the incentive for farmers margins for dairy farmers and lead to a enough that we can seize those export to draw on alternative feed sources to reduction in national milk production. opportunities but it’s big enough that it maintain or grow production. The international market remains a “pretty provides that stable base when we need it.” “Milk production has really slowed down depressing place to do business,” Dairy Mr Droppert said the expectation for during spring as dry conditions started to Australia analyst John Droppert said. the 2015–16 season of Australian milk bite. With milder conditions this could “This trough in dairy commodity prices production was about a one to two per recover through autumn but we’re not has gone on for longer than most people cent drop. expecting to see the full recovery this expected,” Mr Droppert said. season.” “We’re likely to see international prices Low milk prices had affected the global stay constrained at least through 2016, In some cases, farmers have responded to market most significantly, Mr Droppert probably some relief on the input side the challenges by culling more cows from said. of things … but we’re expecting a fairly the herd, leading to less production, Mr While production in the Northern subdued outlook in terms of milk prices.” Droppert said; however, according to the Hemisphere has increased, particularly report, high beef values have also been a The dry conditions continue to challenge in Europe, global demand has been on factor that encouraged culling. dairyfarmers with the lack of rain leading a slowing trend and forced international to a drop in pasture production. “If the economics don’t stack up, a lot of commodity prices lower, according to the report. “(Farmers) have been dipping into their farmers will make drastic decisions.’’

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Matches made online New app makes bull selection easier.

Social media app Tinder allows users to swipe left or right to create matches with other people.

It’s like the dating application Tinder — but for the dairy industry. A new application (or app) called the Good Bulls App has been released for iOS and Android, which could allow farmers to find bulls more easily to match their breeding priorities. Tinder is a dating app that was released a couple of years ago, in which the compatibility of matches between people is

based on appearance. You swipe left if you don’t like the appearance of the profile you see, and right if you do. The Good Bulls App is similar, and allows the user to draw from an expansive database of local and international dairy bulls, according to Dairy Australia. However, farmers can filter the searches to find the right bull for their breeding objectives and, like Tinder, can swipe left or right between

Point. Click. Grow.

The Good Bulls App allows users to customise their search.

animals until they find the right one. It also allows bulls to be sorted on Australia’s three breeding indices: balanced performance index, health weighted index and type weighted index. The bulls can be filtered by any trait including protein, cell count, fertility or mammary system, or by semen company, pedigree, genetic characteristics and other factors.

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What can irrigators expect from ‘average’ inflow conditions, consultants are asking.

Allocation forecast challenged Consultants say G-MW may be too generous with its water predictions “To emphasise this point, Murray inflows in stream-flows recorded each year since the An agricultural consultancy is warning that the last year were described as exceeded in 91 Goulburn-Murray Water allocation forecasts 1890s, and do not really allow for the very years out of 100, but actual 2015 rainfall at dry catchments. for next season may be too optimistic. Hume Dam, for example, was within 10 mm “In addition, many people also feel that The RMCG Consulting Group has done of average rainfall (684 mm v 694 mm). some of its own calculations on weather data, rainfall and catchment conditions have “Obviously a key issue for water inflows based on more recent years, and is suggesting changed since the very wet periods enjoyed to our key storages was the very dry 2015 between 1950 and 2000,” Daryl Poole from that irrigators may have less water available spring, leading to low inflows during the RMCG said. in the future. very months when inflows are usually “We need to be focused on inflows and not The group says G-MW is using data highest.” collected over 100 years, whereas the weather rainfall as this determines ultimately what we RMCG’s analysis shows inflows into the two get in allocations.” patterns over the past 20 years give a better biggest storages, Hume Dam and Eildon indication of likely future rainfall. RMCG is projecting that ‘wet’ conditions Reservoir, have both been 23 per cent lower G-MW is forecasting 100 per cent allocation are required to reach the 100 per cent during the past 20 years than the long-term allocations next year. for the Goulburn and Murray systems average inflows recorded over more than 100 by February next year in ‘average’ inflow years. “The key point is that average rainfall will conditions. not equate to average inflows — particularly “This has real ramifications for farmers if the rainfall does not occur in springtime,” However, RMCG said the projections planning for the irrigation season next year — and beyond,” the groupsaid. Mr Poole said. published were based on the average annual

Murray System Outlook for Seasonal Determination of High-Reliability Water Shares Inflow Conditions

July 1, 2016

August 15, 2016

October 17, 2016

February 15, 2017

Wet

42%

69%

100%

Average

35%

67%

100%

Dry

15%

33%

50%

Extreme Dry

Goulburn System Outlook for Seasonal Determination of High-Reliability Water Shares

Inflow Conditions

July 1, 2016

August 15, 2016

October 17, 2016

February 15, 2017

Wet

44%

88%

100%

Average

19%

44%

86%

100%

Dry

22%

40%

54%

Extreme Dry

15%

21%

APRIL 2016

Water dynamics changing

Dairy is expected to be one of the commodities fighting for a share of water, according to a new report.

Horticulture expansion will consume a large portion of Victoria’s irrigation water, says a new report. providing farmers with a way to manage According to the report Water Market industry’s efforts to return to pre-drought Trends: Trends in Northern Victorian Water levels of production in the Goulburn Murray their own risks. Trade 2001–2015, there is no longer a Irrigation District means there has been “It also shows that the driving force behind “familiar balance” between horticulture, dairy, a reduction in the proportion of the total the increase in water prices are the drying rice and mixed farming in the water market. entitlement volume being used for mixed conditions and impact of low water farming, the report said. “The recovery of water for the environment, availability being seen not just in Victoria, the increase in perennial horticulture and the “Therefore when interstate allocations are but in NSW as well. This ultimately impacts reduction in mixed farming are altering the low, there is now less of a buffer in the water prices,” Ms Neville said. dynamics of the water market (its size, water Victorian system before dairy farmers and prices, and availability of water in dry years),” horticulturalists start to directly compete for “The government remains committed to easing these pressures where we can.” the report said. water.” The report did not find any evidence to It highlighted the current lucrative status The report also emphasised that the suggest speculators were having a significant of almonds and other nuts, with set plans environment holds about 26 per cent of all impact on the market. for about 10 000 ha of new plantations in entitlements while 64 per cent of the total Victoria. The report was commissioned by DELWP water share volume remains with irrigators. and provides an analysis of data in the Almonds require 14 to 16 Ml of water/ha/ Since 2001, water available for irrigation in year, meaning the new plantations will take Goulburn-Murray Water’s irrigation districts Victorian Water Register on trends in the about 150 Gl/year. water market over the past 10 to 15 years, fell by 40 per cent while LMW’s water and trade patterns between different water availability saw a 34 per cent decrease. More plantations, at a similar size of users in recent seasons. 10 000ha, are under discussion. Victorian Water Minister Lisa Neville said To view the report, visit www.waterregister. The increasing focus on almonds by Lower the government supported the “fair and Murray Water diverters and the dairy vic.gov.au transparent operation of the water market”

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Navigating the maze of farm data More work is needed to turn valuable data into useful on-farm actions. Dairy farmers at the 2016 Australian Dairy Conference were presented with research findings about sensory data and measurements of cow behaviour. Cameron Clark from the University of Sydney’s Faculty of Veterinary Science discussed his research, in conjunction with work from PhD students, which looked at the use of the data for cow behaviour to increase pasture intake, improve ration management and lift feed use efficiency. Dr Clark said while there was a lot of investment in technology and data collection methods, the industry remained on the “bleeding edge” (a phrase coined by a dairy farmer he met), not the leading edge of dairy farming technology. He believed research needed to focus on how farmers could better use the data collected on farm. “The speed of technological advancement has outpaced our ability to turn data into better actions on-farm.” Drawing on the on-farm trials and research

he has conducted, Dr Clark discussed be 500 cows by 2050; hence there was great robotics, such as automated milking systems, need to translate data into more usable and and how feed could be allocated using data. practical information. He said sensors on cows could also be used The presentation concluded with a look to track animal behaviour as well as detect back to the past, when hand milking issues like lameness, calving, oestrous and allowed farmers to provide better individual heat stress. attention to the animals. “One type of sensor looks at inefficient and Dr Clark said robotics and herd size did efficient cows in automated milking systems.” not allow such individual attention today, however, this could be overcome through Dr Clark also discussed how sensors could using existing data accurately. follow rumination levels through time and reveal more data about cows’ calving activity. “The new sensor behaviours that are out there (are able to) provide that level of individual He highlighted that data from new attention.” technology had the ability to reduce health phenotypes but also challenged future He said technology offered massive gains for research to address the gaps he had found the industry but the data needed to be used in his research, such as the ability to detect effectively. problems before they arise. “There appears to be limitless potential for “If we know which cows are going to have an technology to help enable the optimisation LDA (left displaced abomasums) earlier, can of both profit and animal health to take us we do something about that to prevent it in forward to the past. the first place?” “There is a substantial amount of value that According to his modelling and estimations, can be extracted from what is seen as ‘basic’ Dr Clark said the average herd size would forms of data.”

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Water workshops Dairy farmers must keep up-to-date with the latest water information to help them make important water decisions. Water is such a critical ingredient to irrigated dairy business in the Murray Dairy region as it drives the foundation of our feed base. Our access to water is a constantly changing and is influenced by a whole range of factors. The weather, how much water we have in the storages, how dry or wet the catchments are, carry-over volumes, commodity prices, new irrigation developments, confidence of farmers, and policy change will all have some sort of impact on water price. The rate of change can sometimes feel overwhelming but we cannot ignore it because it has such a big impact on our businesses. As irrigators we need to be able to separate fact from fiction so that we can make informed decisions around water. We not only need to be aware of what is happening at a local level but when looking at water we need to be aware of what is going across the southern connected

The workshops will cover: Murray-Darling Basin. What is happening • Water availability across the southern over the river as well as downstream will connected Murray-Darling Basin. influence the water market and therefore • How policy changes have impact on the decisions we have to make. impacted our access to water. Murray Dairy has recently reviewed its • Future water availability — what Water Trading Tool Kit that has a lot of climate change might mean useful information about how water is for our access to water. managed, water market information and • What water risk strategies can we consider. covers some of the policy changes that • Current and next season’s outlooks. impact the way we can manage our water • Carry-over — how it works and should risk. we or shouldn’t we for next season? To complement the Water Trading Took Kit, • Water calendar — important Murray Dairy is running a series of water decision point triggers. workshops that will further assist farmers in gaining a clearer picture of what it all means The workshops will be on: Monday, April 11 at Cohuna and Kyabram. for their business. Monday, April 18 at Finley and Numurkah. The workshops will not only cover the Refer to the Murray Dairy website at here and now with information about the www.murraydairy.com.au for further current season and next season’s outlooks but will also look at some practical ways you details. can better manage your water risk. — Murray Dairy

How are you travelling? Looking after yourself? What about your neighbour? Here are a few things we should ask ourselves if we are feeling stressed, anxious and overwhelmed: • Have I been getting regular sleep? • Am I grumpy most of the time? • Have I been eating regularly? • Do my thoughts become

consumed on one matter and things become an effort? • How often do I feel sad and nothing seems to cheer me up? • Have I felt so restless I could not sit still?

If you have taken this first step to consider your feelings don’t forget to also ‘check on a mate’! Is my neighbour struggling with these things too? Remember you are never alone, get help from a friend, neighbour, family member, your GP or a health professional. Sharing your thoughts and stories with a caring

professional can often assist you to regain your focus to best deal with your issues. Murray Dairy will distribute resources in the area of resilience and recognising stress and strategies to manage. If you require further copies or more information please contact Melva at Murray Dairy on (03) 5833 5312 or email admin@murraydairy.com.au

Visit www.murraydairy.com.au

APRIL 2016

Harry Gibson has managed to dairy farm well into his 70s, despite losing his sight to the degenerative disease retinitis pigmentosa. Pictured are (from left) Harry’s son Alistair, his wife Joanne and daughter Philippa; Clover the beloved family pet; and Harry and his wife Diana.

They breed ’em tough

in Nanneella

Harry Gibson proves blindness is no barrier to being a farmer. There is a lesson to be learned from Harry Gibson, although he is probably too modest to even realise he is inspiring (and hilarious) in the first place. Mr Gibson is the fourth generation of his family to farm at Nanneella and the fact he is still dairy farming well into his 70s is somewhat unusual but not unheard of.

Doing it totally blind, on the other hand, certainly is. Milking, rearing bull calves, fencing and fixing broken stuff is what he can still turn his hand too, although I am told by someone who wishes to remain anonymous, that he can sometimes throw caution to the wind when repairing things.

The family has only just recently been able to stop him from climbing the grain silos to shut the lids after the grain truck has been. At an early age Mr Gibson was diagnosed with the degenerative eye disease retinitis pigmentosa. He gave up driving cars when he was 26 but could still see well enough to drive tractors until the 1990s.

Focus Farms Come along to the final Open Days for the current focus farms. • Thursday 19 May – Strathmerton focus farmer Brad Adams – 553 B Mywee-Koonoomoo Rd, Strathmerton • Tuesday 24 May – Kyabram focus farmers Peter and Susan Wearden – 539 Sinclair Rd, Kyabram • Thursday 23 June – Gundowring focus farmers the Glass family – 1620 Gundowring Rd, Gundowring

This will be the last opportunity to see and hear about these farm businesses and what has occurred over the last two years. The days will commence at 10.30 am and finish with lunch. Further information will be available on the Murray Dairy website or call Murray Dairy on (03) 5833 5312

APRIL 2016

Visit www.murraydairy.com.au

“

If I had of sat in the corner and said ‘I am stuffed’ back then, well my life would have been very frustrating...

“

Harry Gibson

Diana and Harry Gibson

has come to grief with the electric fence The disease has progressed over the years to the point where all he can distinguish a few times over the years and he can still between now is night and day, and yet he remember the time Mrs Gibson pulled the still manages to put in a decent day’s work. Mule up too close and he found himself with one hand on the electric fence, one “If I had of sat in the corner and said ‘I am hand on the Mule and an electric current stuffed’ back then, well, my life would have coursing through his body. been very frustrating,” Mr Gibson said. “I did get a bit of a shock that day and I did “I have got my own GPS inside my head let out a few swear words but I have learned so I can get around the home farm pretty to attack life with a sense humour and that well, but send me out to the dryland farm certainly helps. It’s no good doing your at Timmering and I wouldn’t know where I biscuit all the time.” was or where to go. Directions can at times get confused “Obviously if our son Alistair wasn’t with us between them both, too. we wouldn’t still be here farming, but he completed an agriculture degree and came “Mum (Diana) might yell out go left but I home so we have been able to keep going.” am meant to go the other left (right) so that The family milks 320 Friesian and crossbred has created a bit of confusion over the years.” cows in a split calving herd. The couple rear the bull calves together; the Obviously Mr Gibson can’t milk by himself old fashioned way with the teats, he says. but he certainly knows his way around the (Alistair is in charge of the heifers and the dairy. automated calf feeder.) “I have to have someone milk with me. I “Mum tells me what to do but she has been can’t see the paint on the mastitis cows but doing that for the last 40 years,” Mr Gibson someone just yells out what number cow laughs. is on the bucket and I know not to put the Over the years the Gibsons have built up cups on that cow.” their land holdings to include around Most days Mr Gibson, his wife Diana and 365ha. They have always practised restraint dog Clover get the cows up. when it comes to buying things and would prefer to pay off one block of land before Diana drives and Harry is the gate man. He

they buy the next one. They have modernised their irrigation infrastructure but they chose not to give up any of their water allocation to do so, instead funding it out of their own pocket. “Water is a big issue for us all now and if too much water leaves the Goulburn Valley our infrastructure costs will be too expensive and nobody will be able to farm anymore,” Mr Gibson said. “It is a big worry. I remember when our block used to have six farms milking 60 cows, supporting six families. Those days are long gone now.” You get the impression from talking to Mr Gibson that he is a man who doesn’t complain. He has attacked life with a sense of humour and he has made the best of everything that life has thrown at him. Alistair said it was surprising how well his dad does cope. “He keeps himself pretty busy and the jobs he does do are quite handy,” Alistair said. “He is involved in lots of different things including the VFF and the lodge and mum is like his seeing-eye dog, she takes him everywhere. They have made a pretty good team over the years.” — Sophie Baldwin

Regional Network Groups Meeting Dates There are five Regional Network Groups (RNGs) across the Murray Dairy Region. These network groups are responsible for the following across the region: • Developing and coordinating the industry consultation process to identify industry needs; • Assisting with the planning, promotion and implementation of industry programs; and • Advising on the relevance of projects. Interested? This group is open and welcoming to all who wish to attend. Your input is sought and is valued.

Meeting Dates for May RNG meetings: • Tuesday 10 May – Eastern RNG meeting • Wednesday 11 May – Riverina RNG meeting • Monday 16 May – North West RNG meeting • Wednesday 18 May – Central RNG meeting Meetings dates for July RNG meetings: • Tuesday 12 July – Eastern RNG meeting • Wednesday 13 July – Riverina RNG meeting • Monday 18 July – North West RNG meeting • Wednesday 20 July – Central RNG meeting

Visit www.murraydairy.com.au

For further information please contact Murray Dairy on (03) 5833 5312 or email admin@murraydairy.com.au

APRIL 2016

Extending help to dairy farmers Six new officers to deliver extension programs and services. Dairy Australia is offering six new industrybased dairy extension roles to work with Victorian and Riverina dairy farmers. Working within the GippsDairy, Murray Dairy and WestVic Dairy Regional Development Program teams, the six new regional extension officers will be responsible for connecting with farmers and the wider dairy industry to deliver effective extension programs and services. Dairy Australia program manager Neil Webster said the new full-time roles were about delivering high-quality extension outcomes that supported practice change on farms to enable farmers to run successful

businesses that are profitable, sustainable and competitive. “These are great opportunities for skilled professionals who know how to work with farmers to deliver a range of services and technical programs,” Mr Webster said. Nationally, Dairy Australia has taken greater responsibility for the delivery of extension services to dairy farmers and works with a range of providers to meet regional needs. The new roles in Victoria see Dairy Australia assuming responsibility for the delivery of productivity-based extension from July, with programs such as Feedbase, Animal Nutrition and Animal Health in addition

to current delivery of Farm Business Management and People programs. “RDPs work with partners, including DEDJTR, to manage the co-ordination and delivery of extension, ensuring what is delivered to dairy farmers lines up with their needs and regional priorities,” Mr Webster said. “Currently a number of activities are being rolled out in response to the challenging seasonal conditions being experienced in most parts of Victoria.” The Victorian RDPs will soon pick up responsibility for the delivery of Feeding Pastures for Profit, a successful program developed by DEDJTR.

Scientist wins dairy award Prize money will help fund research into contagious mastitis. “The identification of carrier animals is Nadeeka Wawegama from the University paramount as there is a lack of treatment of Melbourne has received this year’s Dairy options and no effective diagnostic tool.” Australia Award at the 2016 Science and Innovation Awards for Young People in Dr Wawegama has developed a sensitive Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. testing tool to identify infected cows and her goal is to use the award to enable her to The $22 000 prize was awarded to Dr demonstrate its suitability in ascertaining Wawegama in Canberra on Monday, March the true prevalence of Mycoplasma bovis in 1, and will be used over 12 months to research the prevalence of Mycoplasma bovis Australia’s cows. infection in Australian dairy herds. “Mastitis is a serious problem that impacts Dr Wawegama, who holds a PhD in veterinary the health of animals and farm profitability so I am delighted we have such a worthy microbiology, said the infection had been recipient for this year’s award,” Dairy identified as a significant problem in the Australia’s product innovation program nation’s herds since 2006 and earlier studies manager Mani Iyer said. had found at least 50 per cent of the national herd suffered from subclinical mastitis. The Dairy Science and Innovation Award is a national competitive prize popular among “It’s a problem that costs the industry more young scientists. than $60 million a year,” she said.

Nadeeka Wawegama has received the Dairy Science and Innovation Award to investigate Mycoplasma bovis, an emerging cause of contagious mastitis.

Eleven winners from across agriculture, fisheries and forestry were each awarded a grant of up to $22 000 by Federal Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce, to fund an innovative research project that will benefit Australia’s primary industries. The awards encourage science, innovation and new technology in primary industries and help to advance the careers of promising young innovators and scientists through national recognition of their research ideas.

Stepping Up Stepping Back — Share Farming Workshops The ‘Stepping Up Stepping Back’ sessions have been developed to assist those looking to take the next step in their dairy career, and those who are looking to transition out of dairying but in an effective way. Murray Dairy will be rolling out multiple workshops around the region throughout 2016. Workshops include:

• An introduction to Dairy Australia’s “Share Dairy Farming in Australia – Model Code of Practice” to assist in evaluating if you are suited to share farming • Evaluating options: Working as an employee, share farming, leasing, owning or equity partnerships

• Focusing on building relationships between business partners • Highlight mentor and professional support available • Real life case studies • Starting the process of succession

• Helping individuals sort out what they want

• A resource kit to take away

Please contact Sarah at Murray Dairy on (03) 5833 5312 or admin@murraydairy.com.au to express your interest in attending a workshop. 28

APRIL 2016

Visit www.murraydairy.com.au

APRIL 2016

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The new shed is an impressive sight at 24m long.

Not every tornado has a silver lining but for Claire and Stu Modra it proved to be the case. When a mini tornado touched down on their Gunbower Island dairy farm back in November, flattening their calf shed, they were lucky no stock or people were injured, and they were lucky they had the shed insured. They now have themselves a great new shed, better than the one they had before. “The tornado just absolutely flattened the shed. It was sitting on top of the power lines and they were just hanging on by a thread. We were lucky no-one was hurt,” Mr Modra said. “We decided to build the new shed on a different site so hopefully there are no nasty bugs in the ground and we can keep it that way and the calves will thrive.” The shed is 25 m long and 10 m wide. It will comfortably house 50 calves at a time, plus a few show cows, and provide a bit of storage space. The shed runs east-west, unlike the previous one that faced north. “In the old shed the poor calves got hot, but in this one we can open the doors up each end and create a breeze. The fans also help with cooling and they keep the flies away too.

Inside there is plenty of room for calves, show cows and a bit of storage.

“During that hot spell in March the calves were really comfortable and we didn’t have to worry about them at all,” Mr Modra said. The calves are housed in portable pens that can be made bigger or smaller depending on the number of calves. They have plenty of room to move around and they are happy in their new environment. They will be kept in the pens for about six weeks, then they will be moved out to the new pens which have been built next to the shed.

In a tough financial year the shed has given the couple something to smile about. “It has actually been motivating to get something new in such a terrible year. It has made the job of rearing calves so much easier, and that is great for us,” Mrs Modra said.

APRIL 2016

Mystery illness may kill calves Authorities are investigating nine properties where the disease has struck. A common symptom has been ulcers in the mouths of the calves. Victoria’s dairy calves are being hit by a mystery illness which authorities have not yet been able to identify. State animal health staff are looking into nine properties across Victoria’s three main dairy areas, which have reported the illness over the past two years. Death has occurred in one in 10 cases and affected calves have proven resistant to treatments, including antibiotics. In most cases the calves have suffered from ulcers in the mouth and throat. Chief veterinary officer Charles Milne said serious emergency diseases, including foot and mouth disease, had been ruled out. Other symptoms include weight loss, diarrhoea and death. Ulcers in the mouth and throat region are frequently observed with inflammation of the gut in weaned

calves, up to eight months old. “Almost all of the affected calves are dairy breeds with mortality rates up to 10 per cent,” Dr Milne said. “Affected animals lose weight and scour. They do not improve with worm or coccidiosis treatments and are only occasionally improved with antibiotics. “In seven of the herds closely investigated to date, some affected calves displayed small mouth and/or nasal ulcers. “On post-mortem, severe acute ulceration in the oesophagus with secondary bacterial infection are the most prominent features. Inflammation of the gut is seen in some affected calves. “We want farmers who think their calves may be affected to discuss the situation with their vet.” While the discovery might be bad news, Dr Milne said it indicated that surveillance

systems were working. He said laboratory staff were now working to determine what the cause was. The reason it was discovered in dairy cattle may be simply because dairy calves were more closely monitored than beef herds, he said. They may submit samples to the laboratory for testing and there may be government subsidies available to assist with the costs of investigation. Dr Milne suggested any farmers who were suspicious about any illness could check inside the mouths of the calves for ulceration, although some of the ulcers may only be detected in a post-mortem. Farmers should notify their vet if they have suspicions about illness or deaths, or may contact DEDJTR directly. There will be no cost to farmers for this follow-up investigation and testing.

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All waste is not created equal A dairy farm sludge trap.

New tool calculates the nutrients contained in dairy effluent and sludge. Dairy Australia has released a new calculator that aims to help farmers make better use of the nutrients contained in dairy effluent and sludge — and save money in the process. The ‘Nutrients from Effluent and Sludge Calculator’ assists dairy farmers to determine a suitable application rate for effluent as well as the value of the nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium that is applied during re-use. Users can also calculate a value for their effluent or sludge based on equivalent fertiliser prices. Dairy Australia land, water and carbon consultant Scott Birchall said farmers were often told to sample their effluent and to then get a lab to analyse the amount of N, P and K it contains. “The calculator was developed to answer the usual question that followed about working

out how much to put on,” Mr Birchall said. “The question is critical if it is pond sludge that is being spread, as the contractor’s cost is partly dependent on the application rate, and more importantly, the distance to the paddock that you’ve chosen for re-use. “The temptation to apply heavy rates of sludge in paddocks close to the pond is understandable but if you can match the amount of nutrient available to what the soil or crop needs and then substitute for purchased fertiliser, de-sludging becomes a cost-effective part of the fertility program rather than just another cost.” Kerang-based agronomist Matt Page has been using the calculator while preparing Fert$mart nutrient management plans for his clients. “Knowing how much nutrient is in the

effluent or sludge is an important part of fertiliser planning. The calculator helps me to target the areas of the farm that need the nutrients and also understand when too much effluent on a paddock may be detrimental,” Mr Page said. Early autumn is typically a time of maintenance around effluent ponds in southern dairy regions. Drawing down the effluent storage pond to its minimum level going into the autumn break and also removing sludge that has accumulated in the primary pond are key maintenance requirements to support a functional effluent pond system. The ‘Nutrients from Effluent and Sludge Calculator’ is available for free download from Dairy Australia’s Dairying for Tomorrow website at www.dairyingfortomorrow.com.au

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Port agreement welcomed UDV president Adam Jenkins has Victorian Parliament’s passing welcomed the agreement between of the bill which will allow the the Victorian Government and lease. the Opposition regarding details ADIC applauded the for the sale of the lease of the Port agreement’s inclusion of a of Melbourne. further 10 per cent of port sale The UDV has been actively proceeds — or potentially up engaged in the future of the to $700 million — for transport Port of Melbourne, as the dairy infrastructure projects in industry has been a major regional Victoria. exporter and heavily reliant on ADIC chair Simone Jolliffe the supply chain, including congratulated the government the port, being internationally and opposition for reaching an competitive. agreement on the bill. “When this deal is finally done “With over 85 per cent of and decades after it has drifted Australia’s total dairy exports out of people’s minds, dairy sent via the Port of Melbourne, farmers will still be sending the dairy industry is the fifth increasing volumes of high largest user of the port,” she quality, nutritious dairy said. products that have value-added across regional Victoria to all “The Port of Melbourne is not parts of the world through this only the point of export for port,” Mr Jenkins said. Victorian dairy but also for the dairy industry located in The UDV thanked the Tasmania and parts of South Victorian Government, Australia and NSW. including Treasurer Tim Pallas and Opposition leader Matthew “The much needed investment Guy, for reflecting port user in transport infrastructure will concerns through the process. help to ensure the export supply chain remains competitive and The Australian Dairy Industry Council has welcomed the efficient.’’

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New dairy data New research published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition has found that children and adolescents who ate more dairy foods — including milk cheese and yoghurt — were 38 per cent less likely to be overweight or obese three years later at followup, compared to those who consumed the least dairy. The comprehensive study, which included 46 000 children and adolescents, found dairy consumption was not linked to weight gain — debunking a common misconception. The data found that with each extra daily serve of dairy, the percentage of body fat was

reduced and the risk of being overweight or obese was 13 per cent lower. The research indicated that this is likely due to the high levels of calcium and protein in dairy, which may improve body composition by increasing lean body mass and consequently decreasing the percentage of body fat, resulting in reduced risk of children and adolescents becoming overweight or obese. Despite this, more than half of Australian children are not having enough serves from the milk, yoghurt, cheese and/ or alternatives food group, according to CSIRO data.

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New direction for Connections

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Stalled project to get push thanks to new management group. upgrade of the Mildura, Merbein and Red Cliffs irrigation infrastructure network. The Connections project, designed to upgrade irrigation infrastructure and deliver water savings for the environment, is due to be finished by mid-2018. An independent report delivered to the government late last year found numerous failings with the project and criticised its communications with farmers. The new Connections Project Control Group will include senior water bureaucrat Campbell Fitzpatrick, who has been involved with the Foodbowl Modernisation Project for years, and Cohuna farmer and G-MW director Margot Henty. Mr Walsh promised a new approach would be delivered as soon as possible and also promised to outline the plan ahead by the start of June.

The Victorian Government has appointed a new small group to take over management of the troubled GoulburnMurray Water Connections project. Water Minister Lisa Neville has acted to try to give the stalled $1 billion project a new start and generate renewed confidence among farmers who are supposed to benefit from the irrigation modernisation. Engineer Mike Walsh will head a project control group, which will report to the G-MW board and to Ms Neville. Mr Walsh has had experience in national and international projects during 35 years in the water industry. He is a graduate in Civil Engineering from Monash University in Melbourne and Advanced Management and Leadership Training from the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. He was project director for Lower Murray Water’s Sunraysia Modernisation Project, a $120 million

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The government has also appointed a stakeholder group to give irrigators a stronger voice in the process, which will be headed by Rochester farmer and VFF Water Council chairman Richard Anderson. A report on stakeholder engagement found concern among irrigators about compulsory reconfiguration powers. “While some saw it as the only way to move the project forward, most stakeholders considered that it should only be used as a last resort and that it also depended on the basis of the dispute and whether such action was on reasonable grounds, “ the report said.

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Abhy Maharaj

Surviving global dairy challenges Fonterra is turning market problems into production opportunities. Dealing in international business can be a complicated venture but for the world’s biggest dairy exporter Fonterra, these challenges need to be seen as opportunities. Fonterra Australia’s commercial director Abhy Maharaj talked about the challenges with commodity prices and how global events can affect export value at the 2016 Australian Dairy Conference. He also emphasised how Europe was emerging as a strong competitor in the dairy export sector. “There has been a significant increase out of Europe in terms of milk volume additional into the global market,” Mr Maharaj said. He discussed China being a significant growth market for Australia and New Zealand. Fonterra sells to around 140 countries with about 20 per cent of product going to China, 20 per cent to South-East Asia, 20 per cent to middle-east Africa, 20 per cent to Latin America and the rest to other parts of the world. Mr Maharaj said milk prices, like other commodities, had crashed and while China had always been a strong market, its economy had softened. Fortunately, China had returned

as a major player, he said. “We are seeing Chinese buyers back at the 50 per cent mark.” Like Bega Cheese’s Barry Irvin and Murray Goulburn’s Philip Tracy, Mr Maharaj highlighted the importance of investment and expanding into other areas, such as the food service business and more boutique products. “We supply McDonald’s, Subway, Pizza Hut and KFC — according to our estimates, 50 per cent of our cheese is currently used on pizzas in China. “Food service used to be boutique for us and it’s now closing in on a $2 billion business. “We need to keep growing both so we can extract the high value of our boutique categories, we reinvest and keep growing that, then we create boutique into bulk food service. “If we don’t invest in our business, ultimately, from a farmer perspective, that’s a risk for you because we’re not growing with you.” Mr Maharaj concluded by answering the question of whether it was better to invest in boutique or bulk saying they were complementary and the dairy sector needed to grow both products to add value. “We see ‘bulk’ as the bread and butter but ‘boutique’ is the cream on top.’’ APRIL 2016

Dookie Dairy Report January 1, 2016

February 1, 2016

March 1, 2016

Cow numbers

149

127

118

Kg milk solids/cow/day

2.35

2.51

2.13

Kg concentrate/cow/day

8.7

8.5

8.0 *

Kg fodder/cow/day

7.1

7.6

7.6 **

Pasture (KgDM) /cow

6.5

8.2

6.0

Area in rotation

34.5

Av milkings/cow/day

2.7

2.9

2.6

No. of failures/day

3.5

No. of cows got/day

Litres/machine/day

1585

1395

1130

Rumination minutes/cow/day

365

398

376

* 11.5 MJ ME/kg DM, 22% CP.

** 11.0 MJ ME/kg DM, 12% CP.

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APRIL 2016

return too quickly to the dairy, increasing waiting time. Both problems can interrupt the flow of cows through the automatic milking system. A C-Dax pasture meter is being used to measure pasture mass in each paddock on a weekly basis. The pasture meter is towed on a sled behind a quad bike. Sensors on the sled measure the height of the pasture, which

is converted to an estimate of pasture mass. One of its advantages is that it can rapidly measure the whole farm. The data are used to monitor pre- and post-grazing pasture masses, and to estimate weekly pasture growth rates. In practice, pasture measurements are used in combination with observations of cow traffic to make the pasture allocation decisions.

Wise spending is the key Bega Cheese boss says business investment must start with people. Day one of the 2016 Australian Dairy Conference started on a philosophical note as Bega Cheese’s executive chairman Barry Irvin encouraged farmers to take stock of the beauty of northern Victoria and consider the opportunities presented by Victoria’s foodbowl as he always has. Mr Irvin emphasised how spending money and investing correctly was the best way to develop a business into the future. “The place where that investment must start is with people,” Mr Irvin said. Provenance was the key to companies differentiating themselves, he said, and dairy companies needed to optimise their value adding opportunities by thinking outside the square. “In 2000 we had just begun to emerge out of regulation, we had just begun to realise we needed to value-add. We spent a lot of time the next decade in growing and building.” Mr Irvin highlighted some of Bega’s successes, using the recent example of its partnership with Blackmores.

“That’s how we get along the value chain. Health and wellbeing is a growing sector.” Mr Irvin said expanding into a new area did not mean dismissing Bega’s original product. “Just because I’m moving (the company) from food to health, it doesn’t mean I won’t stay in food —but I want to move into the really high-value market.” Using the Blackmores example, Mr Irvin also encouraged the group to invest in its Barry Irvin external relationships, especially working together with competitors. all about creating value. “Share your dreams, make sure people understand what you’re trying to do, even “It’s about the value you create in the people your competitors — they’ll generally try and that will return to you enormously. help you get there.” “We’ve been able to grow through investment, Mr Irvin focused on Bega’s investment in through courage, through having an the bio-nutrients platform as one of the key evolving but strong strategy.” ways the company had added value to its He reiterated that change did not mean products. forgetting about a business’ history, but He believes the bio-nutrient platform will ultimately it helped a business — and its drive evolution and growth for the company. people — to evolve and introduced more technical skill into the industry. “We’re looking to invest beyond dairy — it’s

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APRIL 2016

Good advice means better farms Business advice can come in different shapes and sizes. Two key speakers at the recent Australian Dairy Conference took slightly different approaches to external advice for farm businesses, but they both agreed on one thing: independent advice will help your enterprise grow. Westlake Governance founder and director Richard Westlake argued for better management and former Fonterra chairman Henry van der Heyden suggested establishing a governing board. Mr Westlake talked about taking the business discussions from the kitchen to the boardroom at the Australian Dairy Conference in Shepparton. He said an advisory board was a group of people who wanted to help you succeed, they were not a group of directors who

Henry van der Heyden met Marcus Lang on the Lang family dairy farm at Tatura during the national conference. The Lang farm was established by Werner and Josie Lang, who migrated to Australia from Switzerland, where their farm milked about 20 cows, in the 1950s. Today the Tatura farm, now run by sons Marcus and Phillip, milks 1500 cows. Sir Henry migrated from Holland to New Zealand, also in the 1950s.

told you what to do — they advise you on what to do and you as the director make the decision. “It’s essentially the first stage of handing over the baby,” Mr Westlake said. “I’m the managing director and I still run the business, but I know my most nervous day is the day before I know they’ll be coming in for a board meeting. “I know they’re going to ask me some tough questions — and they push me to think.” Mr Westlake said at the end of the day they were only there to give advice, but he said it was hard because nobody wanted to give up control over their business. Sir Henry also talked about the role of a

board, and emphasised “strong governance” in running a dairy business, whether it was a farm or a large corporation. He urged farmers to develop a budget which they “lived and breathed”, and which was reported against quarterly. Sir Henry’s five main points in his address were: • Have a clear vision. • Have robust governance. • Understand your end customers. • Seek out new ideas and innovations. • Use technology to help reduce input costs. Sir Henry, a fourth generation farmer, still holds interests in family dairy farms in New Zealand. He is also a director of Rabobank.

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APRIL 2016

A crowd of about 25 people went to the Undera farm visit during ADC.

Sharing dairy experiences Automated irrigation system the focus of an ADC farm tour. “Last week we were in Queensland and I could turn the water on using my phone,” Mr Quinn said. Peter Quinn from Petabern He said it took one to two Dairies took a group of about minutes for the gate to open 25 people around his farm and and close, and it ran on a timed talked about his growing herd system that released water onto and how reducing the amount the paddock until the timer had of labour for irrigating his finished. fodder block was an issue for his business. Mr Quinn said the timer Mr Quinn grows lucerne, maize, provided him with assurance that the right amount of water wheat and canola meal on his had been released onto the property, which has about 900 paddock. cows. Cameron Smith from Farmanco He said 38.5 ha of his property was under pivot irrigation, and facilitated discussion with Mr 90 ha was under the automated Quinn about how his farm irrigation system. worked, while David Robson from Rubicon answered The automated system was technical questions about the “absolutely” needed on his farm, farm’s new automated irrigation he said, because it had reduced technology. the amount of labour needed to irrigate the paddocks. The bay outlets are controlled by a gate that can be opened or “We don’t live on this farm — you just couldn’t run the area closed by Mr Quinn using his without the system.” phone to access the system.

An Undera farm visit gave a practical aspect to the recent Australian Dairy Conference.

Peter Quinn from Petabern Dairies at the Australian Dairy Conference.

Peter Quinn and Cameron Smith from Farmanco talking about lucerne.

APRIL 2016

Get them while they’re young

Alexandra Iljadica talked about the Youth Food Movement at the Australian Dairy Conference.

Group is expanding food skills and knowledge in young people. Youth Food Movement founding director In her experience with YFM, Ms Iljadica Alexandra Iljadica is changing the way young said young people were more open to change. people think about food. “Yes we’re opinionated but we’ll listen At the Australian Dairy Conference, Ms to someone else, when we want to be Iljadica said the Youth Food Movement was challenged. aimed at building the skills, knowledge and experience that young people, between the “I don’t know if you’ve ever had to change ages of 18 and 35, have around food. behaviours in your life, it’s damn hard.” The Youth Food Movement operates in She said YFM attempted to form behaviours Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Tasmania that would stick for the rest of people’s lives. to build a healthy and secure food future for “I’m only one person and I can only do so all Australians. much. But if we talk to each other we can have a support group.” Ms Iljadica said Generation Y tended to waste a lot of food — when they go out, they Ms Iljadica said as part of YFM, an event over-order; when they’re at home, they make called Meet the Maker was a great way to too much or just change their minds and talk about agriculture in Australia. It was an throw out food. event that invited food producers to share their stories and provide background on the “We have this incredible level of hope that industries. things can be different, and we want others She said the event connected people with to be a part of that, too,” she said.

APRIL 2016

others who are just like each other. “If we don’t go, and we don’t ask questions — we’ll never know. “What’s great is that if we don’t understand agriculture, we grab our friends and ask around to answer the questions we have.”

Philip Tracy

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Murray Goulburn says it is meeting the challenges of a volatile dairy industry. Dairy companies are constantly challenged as the industry changes and businesses should seek ways to capture the maximum value of opportunities to manage any volatility created by these changes. That was the view of Murray Goulburn chairman Philip Tracy at the 2016 Australian Dairy Conference when he addressed the company’s strategic shift towards readyto-consume dairy foods and value-added dairy products. Mr Tracy outlined Murray Goulburn’s vision to build a “first choice dairy foods company” for farmers, consumers and customers and said he believed there were opportunities everywhere in dairy and that change was inevitable. “We have to be quite innovative to capture that challenge and that value,” Mr Tracy said. He said the challenge for Murray Goulburn was to extract maximum value from opportunities, which for Murray Goulburn come from South-East Asia, China, India and Indonesia. “One of the advantages (in Australia), is the quality and safety of our food (production).” In order to capture that value and benefit from Australia’s

provenance, Murray Goulburn needed to focus on value adding right across the supply chain, Mr Tracy said. “We need to focus on innovating and differentiating to meet the specifics of our customer that we are trying to appeal to — whether they are domestic or international.” Mr Tracy emphasised how the bulk commodity market was an important way of securing incremental gains on farm gate returns, and Murray Goulburn needed to insulate itself from challenges of volatility in this market, which prompted the transition to higher value consumer goods. “We needed to invest to move along the pathway of where we saw significant value. “Not only did (the investment) improve Murray Goulburn’s balance sheet, it improved the balance sheet of farmers through giving them recognised value for their shares.” The company has made significant investments into cheese, nutritional powders and dairy beverages. Mr Tracy emphasised the importance of remaining flexible and efficient in a changing market. “In order to extract full value for the farmers, we must be at the world’s best.”

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APRIL 2016

2016 Australian Dairy Conference The 2016 Australian Dairy Conference was held in Shepparton in February, and kicked-off with some evening pre-conference drinks at Queen’s Gardens.

Charles Hope from Rabobank, Maree Searle from Novco Co-operative Ltd and Peter Evans from Rabobank.

Tongala dairy farmer Andrew Tyler, Adrian Kirk from ADF Milking and Anders Christenson from European Dairy Farmers.

Roger Matthews and Todd Charteris from Rabobank, Tom Acocks and Ian Halliday from Dairy Australia and Heather Stacy from Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation.

Hamish McAlpin from Rabobank and Duncan Crawford from Tatura Milk Industries.

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APRIL 2016

Alexandra Iljadica from Youth Food Movement, Ruth Kydd from Kydd Family Company and Leigh Shearman from Norco, NSW.

Liza Fahey from Dairy Australia, Warrnambool Cheese supplier Michael Hawker, Maddie Campbell from Heywood and Ashlee Hammond from the UDV.

Alastair Hilli and Vin Delahunty from the UDV and Mark and Sam Billing from Craiglands Partnership.

UDV president Adam Jenkins and Simone Tolliffe and Shona McPherson from Australian Dairy Farmers.

Murray Goulburn chairman Philip Tracy, Philippa Flemming from Philmar Dairy Company in Tocumwal and Scott Price from Rabobank.

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Simon Bennett from Tasmania and Azem Jeka from CW Pacific.

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APRIL 2016

Family farms still dominate landscape ABARES says most investment in agriculture is from owners of family farms. Large family farms have generated, on average, higher returns than their corporate counterparts, according to Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences executive director Karen Schneider. Speaking at last month’s ABARES Outlook conference, Ms Schneider said family farms provided most of the capital underpinning the Australian farm sector. “We know improving productivity will be critical to the success of Australian agriculture on world markets. That’s going to require investment across the

board — in land, in technology and in However, she said corporate investment our people,” she said. wouldn’t challenge family farms in the near future. “And every year, more than $2 billion is added to the productive assets of the “The differences between family farms and Australian farm sector. corporates are also seen in Canada and “Around 60 to 70 per cent of investment is the US, so it’s not just an Australian story. provided directly by the owners of family “It’s been this way for a long time — and farms, while investment by the corporate it’s one of the main reasons that family sector is less than 20 per cent when all farms continue to dominate agricultural factors are accounted for.” industries around the world. Ms Schneider said one reason for the “And, it’s the reason that we don’t expect disparity in investment levels between to see corporate agriculture transform the family and corporate farms might be the family farm model in Australia any time difference in investment returns. soon.”

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Take action to maximise pasture growth Autumn is the time to assess pasture health after a dry, hot summer. Dry conditions affected most of Australia’s dairy regions over summer and, with the arrival of autumn, what can farmers do to maximise their pasture growth and business profitability? Dairy Australia’s Feedbase and animal nutrition program manager Richard Romano shared some expert tips in a recent podcast. First, farmers should carefully assess their paddocks to determine pasture health. Quick action needs to be taken if pasture has thinned-out. “A rule of thumb is there should be less than a hand-span width between healthy, active plants, and if there is more than a hand-span between you need to take action to renovate those pastures,” Mr Romano said. Special care needs to be taken with sacrifice areas if used over the dry summer to ease the pressure on the rest of the pastures.

“Sacrifice areas are most often chosen because they were already a priority for renovating, so take a close look and determine what your program is going to be to sow soon to reap the full benefit of those nutrients,” Mr Romano said. “Concentrated urine and dung mean sacrifice areas can be high in potassium, so be careful not to use those areas for cows that are springers or calving down.” From a business and profit perspective, leaving a thinned-out pasture costs farmers more in lost income than the investment needed to renovate. ”If we think about losing 25 per cent of pasture in a thinned-out paddock, where we might have been producing 8 tonnes of pasture, that’s 2 tonnes lost, and buying in 2 tonnes of feed, the costs soon add up,” Mr Romano said. “Far better to utilise your funds to renovate

and create healthy and productive pasture through autumn and into next spring.” There is more information on the Dairy Australia website but also talk to your local pasture agronomist who can help with local tips on what to do to reinvigorate your pastures.

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186 Annesley St, Echuca VIC 3564. PO Box 241 Echuca 3564 Phone: (03) 5480 7855 www.ausureechuca.com.au The information provided is general advice only. Please be aware that we have not taken into consideration your needs, objectives or ﬁnancial requirements. Before deciding to purchase a ﬁnancial product, you should consider the appropriate Product Disclosure Statement/policy wording to ensure the product is suitable for your needs.

APRIL 2016

Change of direction for Holstein breeders One of the headline animals selling at the Bluechip Genetics dispersal sale will be Bluechip Goldwyn Frosty-ET VG88 Max. She is the granddaughter of one of the world’s well-known cows, Harvue Roy Frosty EX97. Picture: The Bullvine

of Class awards and was named Premier Hard on the heels of a successful showing at International Dairy Week, Bluechip Genetics Exhibitor and Premier Breeder for the sixth time in seven years in the Holstein show. All principals Dean and Dianna Malcolm have the individuals in this year’s show team will announced a complete dispersal sale later sell on October 13 at the Zeerust property. this year. Dairy auctioneer Brian Leslie said Dean Based at Zeerust, north of Shepparton, and Dianna had — along with their Bluechip has achieved three record prices at partners — developed many of the breed’s auction and has been a consistent performer greatest maternal lines, with all saleable at dairy week. cattle selling. At the last event, 20 of the 24 Holsteins Bluechip Genetics was established in 2006, Bluechip showed finished in the top five and the Malcolms said the dispersal was of their class, including Junior Champion Holstein, Reserve Junior Champion Holstein always planned for this moment. The offering will include animals classified to and the popular Senior Champion Holstein, EX94. Windy Vale Contender Rose-ET EX93. “We never been afraid to challenge ourselves, Bluechip won four of the eight Best Udder

or to test the market,” Mr Malcolm said. “We’ve had a lot of success and we’re really grateful for that. But we feel like it’s time for us to step back and have a change of direction. “Bluechip is not our only business. We have our magazine, CrazyCow In Print, and cattle photography and we have Dianna’s family to consider who live off-shore. We’d like more flexibility to visit them. “We feel the time is right. We’ve got a lot of great animals under us now and we’re ready to give people the opportunity to buy them. “It’s important to note that we’re not selling the farm — it’s simply a deliberately planned change of direction.”

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More than just milk Study finds fortified milk can boost the growth rate of calves. between farms, calves on the fortified milk A new Dairy Australia study has found that growth rates of later born calves on seasonal feeding fortified milk increases the precalving farms. were almost 5 kg heavier and 2 cm taller by weaning growth rates of calves. the end of the trial period,” Dr Davis said. Maxum Animal Nutrition has seen great “Animal scientists have known for some time Due to low incidence of calf disease observed interest in its range of MaxCare CMR, that dairy heifers reared on conventional which has been on the market for 18 months. in this trial, no significant differences in calf restricted milk feeding programs do not health were observed between the treatment National manager Tom Newton said they had achieve their full genetic potential for groups. Another trial conducted in winter/ seen some great results with milk replacers growth,” Dairy Australia program manager spring calving herds may be required to show across a number of different rearing programs, Kathryn Davis said. the full benefits of accelerated calf nutrition from complete whole milk replacement to in these conditions. “Recent studies overseas have shown supplementing or fortifying whole milk. improvements in calf health, growth rates The estimated average total cost, excluding “CMR is often considered expensive, however, and feed conversion efficiency when calves the cost of waste milk, to rear a calf to if you take into account the potential health, are fed greater volumes of milk or milk eight weeks of age in the control group nutritional and management benefits, the replacer during the pre-weaning period.” was $33.97, while the cost to rear a calf to cost of using additives and the saleable value To better understand the benefits and risks of eight weeks of age in the fortified group was of whole milk, CMR is often a cost-effective feeding fortified milk on health and growth $93.27. option. of dairy heifers, Dairy Australia funded a “Despite the increased cost of rearing calves “An important step in successfully rearing study on four farms in western Victoria on fortified milk, the potential benefits of your calves on milk replacer is ensuring where a total of 213 group-housed dairy this feeding system extend well beyond calfyou’re using a high quality product and breed calves were randomly allocated into hood because an increased growth rate from understanding the nutrient density. two diets: birth to 12 weeks has a positive impact on “There is a wide range of milk replacers 1. Fortified milk diet (2 litre of whole milk mammary gland development which may available making it important to supplemented with 150 g high quality 25/20 translate into increased milk production over understand what differentiates one from milk replacer fed twice daily); or the life of the cow, and potential increased another. An important component of this profit for the farmer,” Dr Davis said. 2. Control milk diet (2 litre of whole milk is understanding the source of the protein fed twice daily). Strategic use of enhanced calf feeding may and fat and how this affects product “Although there was significant variation performance.” also offer an opportunity to enhance the

APRIL 2016

Country cheese makes the big time Supermarket giant puts artisanal farmhouse cheese on its shelves. Boosey Creek Cheese products are now available in 10 Woolworths supermarkets. The Woolworths stores stocking the cheeses are in northern Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne. Boosey Creek Cheese is a family company that started making cheese on the Cameron family’s Boosey dairy farm in 2007 and selling it at farmers’ markets. Over the years the cheeses have won many awards, including 2015 Champion Washed Rind Cheese for Warby Red Washed Rind in the Australian Grand Dairy Awards. Cheesemaker Ken Cameron said it was a great feeling knowing the products were sought after by such a big company.

“It’s always hard to find new places in the local area that are interested in stocking the cheese, so to have Woolworths jump on board is huge,” he said Mr Cameron said the company still had room to grow from the 10 stores it had started supplying to. “We have the capability to expand our output by around double from what it is now, so we could potentially supply up to 30 stores. “It has been about a year-and-a-half in the making, but I am pretty happy the day is finally here.” The cheese will be stocked at Woolworths in Cobram, Yarrawonga, Wangaratta, Corowa, Camberwell, Kew, Malvern, Middle Brighton, Eltham and St Helena.

Boosey Creek Cheese cheesemaker Ken Cameron with the selection of his cheese available at Woolworths.

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APRIL 2016

2016 Australian Dairy Conference Dairy farmers from near and far attended the 2016 Australian Dairy Conference at Eastbank in Shepparton last month to hear about the current state of the dairy industry and opportunities and challenges. After listening to presentations from Bega Cheese, Murray Goulburn and Fonterra Australia, guests had the chance to network with fellow dairy farmers and industry personnel over a morning tea break.

Networking were (from left) Wyuna East dairy farmer Stuart Young, Rochester dairy farmer Greg Ault and Kyabram dairy farmer Susan Wearden.

(From left) Dairy farmer David Mulcahy, KyValley Dairy chief executive officer Neil Longstaff and dairy farmer Brett Gledhill.

Young dairy farmers (from left) Natalie Kleinitz from Katandra, Luke Minogue from Katandra, Nick Minogue from Katandra and Ben Pedretti from Tallygaroopna.

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