Dairy direct murray december 2015 (low res)

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Country News PUBLICATION

MURRAY Issue 21, December 2015

Celebrating a Legendairy community » page 8

Strategies for the season » page 17 Where is the milk price headed? » page 6 Ramping up dairy in the Alpine Valley » page 7

How cool are your cows? Take the test » page 41

New members appointed to Murray Dairy board Murray Dairy has appointed Dhurringile dairy farmer Tony McCarthy and Echuca’s Chris Thomas as the newest members to the Murray Dairy Board at its Annual General Meeting, held in Tatura in October.

Mr McCarthy is the owner and manager of a Dhurringile dairy farm near Tatura. He has had a very strong, varied and international career in dairying, spanning more than 25 years.

Opportunities have allowed him to experience working in Ireland and Saudi Arabia for extended periods before heading to Australia, which is now home.

Chris Thomas is Fonterra’s supplier forum manager and is

the founding board director of GMH Agcare. With a Masters in Corporate Leadership and also in Applied Science (Rural & Regional Development), Mr Thomas has a demonstrated focus on the sustainability and wellbeing of farming families, their employees and their rural communities.

During the meting, Murray Dairy also appointed Richard (Rick) Cross as chairman and Karen Moroney as deputy chair. These appointments follow from the conclusion of terms for outgoing chairman Malcolm Holm and the outgoing deputy chair Tony Flett.

Editor Geoff Adams editor@countrynews.com.au Writers Geoff Adams, Sharon Wright, Sophie Bruns Photographers Ray Sizer, Julie Mercer

Cover: Charlie Pekin, 4, sports a milk moustache after celebrating Stanhope’s win in the Dairy Australia Legendairy community competition recently.

Story page 8

Graphic design Teresa Lagozzino, Brendan Cain, Alysha Bathman, Bella Considine Advertising James MacGibbon james.macgibbon@countrynews.com.au Published by Country News PO Box 204, Shepparton, Victoria 3632 (03) 5831 2312 www.countrynews.com.au

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DECEMBER 2015

I got a rude shock recently when I thought I was going along well.

Couple of stories written, photos organised, my workers powering along.

But, whoops, didn’t take a step back and look at what was ahead. Another publication to do and it crept up on me. I suppose it’s about taking what some people call ‘the helicopter view’.

You know, hovering overhead and seeing what’s around.

It reminded me of some sage-like advice offered by farm consultant Cam Smith recently: “Know how you are travelling.”

He pointed out, at the workshop, if you don’t know where you are, it’s harder to achieve your goals and put in a plan to reach the desired outcome.

Cam has a few more gems on page 17 today.

Good luck with that, and don’t forget to slow down a bit over Christmas.

— Geoff Adams Dairy Direct

contents Doing Dairy

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Dairy news Legends come out to celebrate

Stick to your plan National balance is key

We are now into December and I hope we all have a plan to help us work through this challenging season.

Yes, it can still rain as we saw in early November, but we need to stick to our plans. Each will be unique to our own business: some will plant summer crops, some will dry off parts of the farm and only water through the better performing pastures, while others will cease watering altogether and lot feed their cattle. Whatever choice you make, the nutritional balance of the ration needs to be carefully considered.

I hope the information days hosted by Murray Dairy on “Optimising your Summer Strategy” and facilitated by Cameron Smith were useful in assisting you to formulate your plan. Feedback we received was very positive.

Heat stress is another challenge we face in the Murray Dairy region and is discussed in this issue.

There are many methods available to attempt to alleviate this, such as natural shade, shedding and

4–7 8

Animal health

10

Stressful season

12

Women want to know about water

14

Summer strategies in spotlight

16

Drying off pastures and restarting in autumn 19

sprinklers, just to name a few.

The stress heat places on the milking cow cannot be overlooked and can severely impact production. I encourage you all to take a look on the Murray Dairy website under “seasonal conditions” to find further information on managing heat stress.

The advantages of drying off pastures means that poorly performing paddocks can be completely renovated prior to irrigating in the autumn. In some cases, incorporation of compost and manure to the soil profile not only helps the soil structure but also increases the moisture carrying capacity. In this edition you will find an article that highlights the value of compost/ manure for your pastures.

With Christmas only a few weeks away, I will take this opportunity to wish you a merry and safe Christmas. I hope you can all find some time to relax and be with family and friends.

— Rick Cross Murray Dairy chairman

Feeding values versus cost

19

Intake measured

20

Less water, better growth

22

New team to engage youth in agriculture

24

Studying biological farming

26

Rye-grass pasture establishment checklist

28

Longer lactation means less work

30

Mastitis app saves time and money

32

Pushing effluent uphill

34

Leaders want answers

36

How much pasture?

39

Showtime in the north

40

Take the Cool Cows Quiz

41

Cattle society lends hand to goat breeders

43

Irrigation guide available

44

Making better business decisions

45

Determination wins

46

Does it pay to irrigate a perennial pasture during summer?

48

Don’t delay calf records

49

Asian demand may boost production

50

Reminders for November/December

50

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DECEMBER 2015

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Doing Dairy

with SOPHIE BRUNS

Life after the farm Well here I am post-dairy-farming and not really expecting to continue to write a column anymore, but I guess to everyone out there wondering, yes, there is a life after farming.

Losing the habits of many years cannot be done overnight, though. For a person who struggled to get out of bed every morning I am now struggling to sleep-in and I now fear the early morning call is going to haunt me forever.

The other strange phenomenon I have been experiencing is 3.30-itis and no matter where I am or what I am doing, I seem to have an unconscious thought that it is milking time and every time I look at the clock in the afternoon amazingly it is 3.30.

The dogs are adjusting to city life on an acre. The border collie is yet to give up his love of chasing cars but he has had a haircut, put on weight and seems to be enjoying quite a bit of down time relaxing on his doggie bed.

I do miss the cows and the smell of them grazing a paddock and I miss not having calves to rear, but luckily in my job I still get to go out and see and talk to people who are doing a great job on the farm.

There are still many passionate people out there who are doing great things and I hope to be able to talk about that in the future.

While the October rains may have been too late for many, there were some

positives out of it. One Waaia dairy farmer I spoke to received 104 mm which was perfect for his new lucerne stand.

What wasn’t so perfect was the storm damage that went along with it, trees and fences down — but hey, that’s farming, two steps forward, one step back!

With the end of the year fast approaching take time to reflect on all the good things you have achieved, and most of all take time out over Christmas to cherish your family and friends.

One thing I have learnt this year is no matter what happens, the sun still comes up, life goes on, and there is always a tomorrow. Merry Christmas everyone and have a safe and happy new year.

dairy news Prestigious awards move to dairy week RASV to present its interbreed awards in Tatura for the first time.

The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria’s highly coveted interbreed champion award will for the first time be presented as part of International Dairy Week in Tatura in 2016.

The prestigious awards of RASV junior interbreed champion, intermediate interbreed champion and Australia’s grand champion will be awarded by a panel of six judges — including local and international experts from Australia, Canada and the United States — on the final day of competition.

The IDW champions and reserve champions of the Illawarra, Ayrshire, Guernsey, Brown Swiss, Jersey and Holstein breeds will be eligible for the sought-after RASV awards that carry with them significant cash prizes, recognised as the highest offered in the country.

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DECEMBER 2015

Australia’s grand champion will be awarded a cash prize of $2000, with the reserve receiving $1000. Junior and intermediate RASV will increase its involvement in champions will be awarded $1000 each, with International Dairy Week, which will be each reserve taking home $500. held from January 17 to 21.

RASV chief executive officer Mark O’Sullivan said the awarding of the RASV dairy program, which has seen a youthinterbreed champion as part of the IDW focused heifer competition take place at the schedule would provide greater opportunity Royal Melbourne Show in September and for participants of the event, the largest expo increased support of the IDW event. in the Australian dairy industry.

IDW director Brian Leslie said he was extremely proud to be able to host the RASV “RASV is delighted to continue as a partner interbreed competition as part of the event. of IDW, which is highly regarded as Australia’s premier dairy event, and to offer “We look forward to seeing some outstanding participants the chance to be named RASV cattle compete for these prestigious titles,” interbreed champion,” Mr O’Sullivan said.

Mr Leslie said.

The decision to award the interbreed prize Further details are available at internationaldairyweek.com.au during IDW is part of RASV’s revised

dairy news Partnership will produce infant formula Bega and Blackmores team up to make nutritional foods in Tatura.

Bega Cheese has announced a joint project with vitamin and supplements manufacturer Blackmores to make nutritional foods through Bega’s Tatura Milk subsidiary, pushing up the share prices of both partners.

The joint, equal share project was discussed at the annual meetings of both companies, held in October.

Blackmores recorded an after-tax profit of $46 million on group sales of $471 million in the 2014–15 year and is being hailed as an Australian success story.

The company recently announced large bonuses in profit shares for its staff.

Speaking about the deal, Blackmores chief executive Christine Holgate said they were aware there was significant demand for infant formula.

“We’re developing the range of Blackmores and Tatura products to ensure we have an offering that meets the highest quality standards, with premium ingredients,” Ms Holgate said.

“We believe that, with the combination of Blackmores and Bega, we’re uniquely positioned to support those women unable to breastfeed.”

Ms Holgate said the market focus was not just Asia.

“I believe the combination of Bega and Blackmores is very powerful,” she said.

Bega managing director Barry Irvin said the two businesses had similar

aspirations and saw opportunities in nutritional products.

Tatura Milk makes infant formulas as well as skim milk and whole milk powders and milk protein concentrate.

While Bega’s revenue increased during the past financial year to $1.1 billion, it was hit by a slump in commodity prices and resulted in an after-tax profit of $12 million.

Mr Irvin told shareholders the company’s decision to hold farm gate prices in the face of declining commodity prices affected the bottom line result.

He said the company’s milk supply and growth program resulted in supplier participants lifting milk production by 20 per cent in three years.

Bega chief executive officer Aiden Coleman said the company would be expanding Tatura’s production of bionutritional products, including Lactoferrin.

Lactoferrin, found in high levels in colostrum, is used for treating stomach and intestinal ulcers, diarrhoea, and hepatitis C. It is also used as an antioxidant and to protect against bacterial and viral infections.

At the annual meeting, Toolamba farmer Rick Cross and Ardmona farmer Jeff Odgers were re-elected to the board.

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dairy news Milk price to strengthen Murray Goulburn Co-Operative managing director Gary Helou is hoping for a milk price of $6.05. investors to invest in the MG Unit Trust and “Since August prices have risen by around 60 Murray Goulburn Co-operative is hoping share in our future success,” Mr Tracey said. per cent.” a milk price of $6.05 is achievable for the current year if certain conditions are met, “The successful implementation of the Mr Helou said the company had secured managing director Gary Helou has suggested. access to a large parcel of high reliability capital structure was the culmination of a two-year journey to develop and implement water, which would be sub-leased to Speaking at the annual general meeting in a structure that gives MG the strong and suppliers in the northern Victorian and October, Mr Helou said the forecast forthe stable capital base it needs to pursue growth southern NSW regions. southern milk region could be achieved and maximise the distributable milk pool in provided dairy commodity prices continue “Already we are seeing strong interest in the the years ahead.” to materially strengthen during the balance offer and we will continue to look for further of this financial year. opportunities to secure high reliability water on behalf of our MG suppliers,” he said.

However, he said if the company’s expectations Murray Goulburn do not materialise, the price was likely to be in The company is also offering its suppliers the range of $5.60 to $5.90/kg milk solids. statistics (2014–2015) medium and short-term finance for water purchases.

“MG continues to believe in the solid longMilk intake: up 5.5% term growth prospects and fundamentals of At the meeting, Murray Goulburn chairman Final 2014–15 milk price: $6.02/kg the dairy industry,” Mr Helou said.

Philip Tracy said the past financial year had milk solids been a historic one for the co-operative “We are confident that a global supply Revenue: $2.87 billion following the successful implementation response is emerging as a result of the low Capital projects spending: of the capital structure and listing of the dairy commodity price environment and $126 million MG Unit Trust on the Australian Securities starting to have an impact on prices.

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DECEMBER 2015

dairy news

Alpine Valleys projects The Alpine Valleys Dairy Pathways Project has supported students of Tallangatta Secondary College in their agricultural studies.

The project, which has a long-term vision to provide support to facilitate milk growth from 220 million litres to 400 million litres by 2025, assisted the school to attract funding from North East Catchment Management Authority and Murray Dairy.

Students and teachers visited a new dairy shed and the AgriBio labs in Bundoora, and were exposed to new dairy technologies and equipment and modern farming practices.

They were also engaged by enthusiastic PhD students from the Dairy Futures Cooperative Research Centre and a range of young agricultural service providers such as agronomists, extension officers and agricultural scientists.

The Alpine Valleys project had identified the need to reinvigorate agricultural education and found that Tallangatta was one school that still offered agricultural courses and was well positioned geographically.

The project is also involved in the Alpine Valleys Dairy Succession project to address family succession and dairy business transition.

All 183 dairy farm owners in the region were sent a copy of a survey designed to describe their current status with succession/ transition planning, and 83 responses were received.

The key responses from farm owners were: • 80 per cent see continued operation in dairy for the next five years.

• 53 per cent know what they would like to see happen with succession/transition.

• 59 per cent have started the discussion with their family.

• 50 per cent have discussed their plans with professional advisers.

• 24 per cent have documented and shared their plans.

• 36 per cent have requested direct support with planning for transition.

The project noted that in the Upper Murray two farms installed new milking plants into existing sheds.

In both cases, these 200-cow farms are supporting ‘next generation’ farmers with

young children who have made a long-term commitment to dairy farming.

In the Kiewa Valley, there have been two new 54-unit rotary dairy sheds built on 400-cow farms.

In the Upper Murray, the Nankervis family started building a 60 unit rotary in October 2015.

Peter and Barbara Nankervis and their children Alex, Jane and Will have been developing farm transition plans during the past six years.

The property previously produced peppermint oil and beef, however a desire of the children to return to the family farm saw them investigate other enterprises that would support the next generation.

DECEMBER 2015

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Dairy farmer Andrew Hipwell is proud of Stanhope’s community spirit and said the people were always willing to help out one another in good and bad times.

Legends come out to celebrate

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DECEMBER 2015

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Community spirit alive and kicking.

The small town of Stanhope, home to about 490 people and the Fonterra milk factory, celebrated winning Australia’s Legendairy Capital at the town’s recreational reserve on Thursday, November 12.

Dairy Australia hosted the celebratory event, attended by more than 150 people, and established the inaugural ‘Legendairy’ campaign this year.

The community of Stanhope was awarded $10 000 for winning the ‘Legendairy’ title.

The competition searched for the nation’s most vibrant and resilient dairy community and aimed to bring the community and dairy farmers closer together to realise opportunities in the dairy industry.

Dairy Australia managing director Ian Halliday said local communities and dairy farmers operated “synergistically” and they wanted to recognise a town that embraced that concept.

“Communities rely on the dairy industry and the industry relies on a vibrant community,” Mr Halliday said.

Dairy Australia’s marketing and communications group manager Isabel MacNeill said the response to the competition had been overwhelming with more than 100 applications.

“It’s not about how big the town is but how big the community spirit is — and that’s what has been captured here today,” Ms MacNeill said.

Volunteers from virtually every community group in Stanhope, including the local CFA and men’s shed, volunteered their time for the afternoon.

Campaspe Mayor Leigh Wilson said the strength of community at Stanhope, reflected in the afternoon’s attendance, was the reason Stanhope won the title.

“It’s sad that it’s common for people to get together like this in small towns but you don’t see it in a big town,” Cr Wilson said.

Dairy farmer Andrew Hipwell, who put in the submission for the award, was the master of ceremony for the event and was very proud of the town’s community spirit.

“I never thought we’d win the Murray region let alone the national one,” Mr Hipwell said.

He said the people of Stanhope were always willing to help each other out and locals had turned up at 8 am that day asking if they could assist with the set-up for the celebrations.

“We are a little town ... there’s nothing pretty about us but the community is amazing.”

Kids from Stanhope enjoying the new playground that was built with the $10 000 community grant the town received for winning the ‘Legendairy’ title. (Bottom to top of slide) Lucinda Threlfall, 4, twins Bill and Jim Hipwell, 7, Belle Hipwell, 10, and Lennon Hall, 1.

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animal health

A regular column from Rochester Veterinary Practice

Heat stress in dairy cows • In severe cases become It would be a brave man that would bet recumbent and die. against this summer being hot and dry, so As well as affecting milk we must be aware of the problem of cows production, heat stress overheating. All mammals including dairy dramatically lowers cows are capable of maintaining a relatively conception rates, shortens constant body temperature in a wide range oestrus periods and delays or of environmental temperatures. interrupts early development of the embryo.

This ability to stabilise body temperature is In hot and humid areas, conception rates as essential to various biochemical reactions low as 10 per cent have been recorded. and processes that occur in the lactating cow.

It has also been shown that the fertility of When cows are heat stressed, this constant maiden heifers is less affected by heat than body temperature is not maintained. The that of lactating cows. This is likely due to increased body temperature changes the the extra heat produced by milk production. whole metabolism of the cow leading to Heat stress does not prevent the occurrence reduced performance and eventually (if of normal oestrus (heat) cycles but it will temperature exceeds 42°C) death. reduce the length of the heat period from The most comfortable temperature range 18 hours to about 10 hours with a greatly for lactating dairy cows is between 5°C and reduced intensity. This makes the job of heat 25°C. Above 25°C cows will eat less in order detection even harder, and inadequate heat to reduce the amount of heat generated detection is one of the most common causes by digestion in the rumen. They will also of reproductive inefficiency in dairy herds. redirect blood from the internal organs to Heat stress can also increase the incidence the skin to try to cool down which also has the effect of reducing the rate of digestion. It of early embryonic death so even though conception may have occurred, the has been calculated that dry matter intake is developing embryo may die in the following 90 per cent of normal at 30°C, 75 per cent two or three weeks. of normal at 32°C, and only 67 per cent at It has been shown that there is a critical 40°C. 48-hour period around joining when heat SIGNS OF HEAT STRESS stress will result in embryonic death later Cows under heat stress will show the on, giving rise to variable intervals between following signs and behaviours: heats. Some herds that are milking three • Eat less; times daily and doing their AI after the night • Produce less milk; milking, have reported a perceived increase • Become less active; in pregnancy rate to AI. • Seek out shade and breezes; • Stand in dams — can lead to outbreaks TREATMENT of environmental mastitis; Where cows are severely affected by heat • Increase their respiratory rate stress the main priority is to reduce the body (open-mouth breathing); temperature. This is most readily achieved by cold hosing while applying a fan to the • Sweat more; and

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animal to give maximum evaporative cooling.

Avoid adding to the stress by handling the animal quietly and provide cool drinking water. Additional fluid therapy and supportive drugs may be required.

PREVENTION In our climate most heat stress is due to the effect of direct sunlight. The following points are some practical ways in which heat stress can be avoided or reduced: • Graze cows in paddocks with plenty of shade; • Graze cows in paddocks with the best pasture at night as they will be more inclined to eat when it is cooler; • Provide shade and sprinklers in dairy yards — putting sprinklers on timers (10 mins on 10 mins off ) gives maximum cooling and reduces the risk of contaminating udders with run-off from the cows’ backs; • Graze cows in nearby paddocks so as to reduce the distance walked; • Plant shade trees, especially along northern and western boundaries; • Hold cows waiting for AI in a cool place, not on concrete; • Provide fans in the dairy; • Get as many cows as possible in-calf early to avoid having to mate in December/January; • Provide plenty of cool water close to grazing areas; and • Erect shade shelters or have sheds over feed pads.

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DECEMBER 2015 11

Stressful season

Trying conditions and high water prices are making things tough for Murrabit farmer Simon Morton.

Simon Morton is the fourth generation of his family to farm the land around Murrabit.

He loves the area, the river and the community and most days he loves his job as a dairy farmer, but this season trying conditions and inflated water prices are making things very tough for his family: his wife Ange and their daughters Belle, 7, Lyla, 5, and Pippy, 2.

Mr Morton estimates his expenses this season will increase by $200 000 as he sources additional hay supplies and purchases temporary water.

“We knew we were going to lose money this year, so all our decisions have been based around trying to lose as little as possible, which is no way to run a business,” Mr Morton said.

“I am a passionate farmer and I love it, but it can be stressful and cost you a lot of money to stay in.

12

DECEMBER 2015

“We are better experienced to cope with bad water situations than we used to be because we are NSW irrigators and we have also learnt from the drought back in 2002, and I am an optimist, but still there is no denying it, things are very tough.

“I have 96 years of equity behind me and I know how tough it is. I really worry about the future of the industry and how people are going to survive, especially those that are new to the industry.

“Something needs to be done about the water situation or none of us will be here to farm in the future.”

Acknowledging things were going to be tough, making decisions early and consulting, planning and budgeting have been the method the couple has chosen to use this season.

Choppers were sold early to take advantage of record prices and all their hay

requirements have been sourced early.

Temporary water will still need to be purchased for autumn which is a major concern as prices continue to rise week by week, with no floor in the market in sight.

“It is heartbreaking really. You set things up on the farm the way you want — you get your pastures right so you can provide the cows with grass all year round and then you get a year like this and you are back to the start,” Mr Morton said.

“If water prices weren’t so high, some of the costs could have been absorbed, but current prices are just making things worse.”

Normally the Mortons grow all their own hay requirements and have a feed bank of pasture waiting to go, but high water prices in autumn and no major rain events, have meant things haven’t been irrigated as they should.

The family leases a 283 ha property which

High water prices and tough conditions are making dairying difficult for Murrabit farmer Simon Morton who is pictured with daughter Pippy. He estimates his expenses will increase by $200 000 as he purchases additional hay and temporary water.

provides them with hay, and a place to run their young stock.

This year the block has provided them with nothing because they couldn’t afford to water it in autumn.

Pastures that are normally watered twice have only been watered once and Mr Morton has stopped irrigating a couple of months earlier than he normally would.

The only pasture he is considering watering is a 17 ha lucerne stand but that too is dependent on water prices.

“We are also considering exporting some heifers but I really would prefer to hang on to them if I can,” he said.

“Back in the drought we sold a lot of our young stock and when things

improved it took me four years to get my stock numbers back up and I don’t want to go through that again.”

Mr Morton believes changes need to be made to the Water Act to enable farmers to access unused environmental water, and the market needs to be protected from corporate buyers and ruthless brokers.

“I just want to see a fair, even playing field that will sustain both agriculture and the environment,” he said.

“Our communities depend on a thriving agriculture industry and when things are tough for the farmers, they are tough for everyone.”

DECEMBER 2015

13

Women want to know about water Large turnout for information night shows women want to know what’s going on.

Fiona Beer and Kellie Crossley, both from Deniliquin, at the Women in Water conference.

Women in farming gathered to hear the Ms Pubrick said the negativity surrounding After sharing the story of losing his younger latest on water issues at Blighty in November. the NSW catchment needed to be clarified, brother in a farm accident when he was in and even in challenging times, the interest his 20s, Mr Wilson talked about his struggle The Women in Water event attracted a showed women still loved agriculture and with depression and how it affected his life, broad demographic and groups included rural life. including his productivity on the farm. farmers’ wives, farmers’ daughters, women Six presentations, including four from who had worked on farms and other women He talked about how his resilience was women, covered a range of topics including involved in the community. eroded and his struggles to cope, especially how water is stored, how it is shared across when the drought hit.

Event organiser Hayley Pubrick said she was the states, trading rules, environmental water not expecting such a big turnout but the Mr Wilson encouraged the women to look management and market behaviour. numbers were a clear indication that women after their mental health and not be afraid to wanted more information about water issues. All presentations encouraged women to seek talk about it with husbands, fathers, brothers the information available from organisations’ and other men they know in the farming “Water is a commodity now, because it’s so websites and engage with industry meetings. community. scarce,” Ms Pubrick said.

The final presentation focused on the “Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed She said a lot of women missed out on importance of mental health, with farmer about — it’s just a shame to do nothing the complex information and discussions and representative from Riverina Bluebell, about it.” about water due to other work and family Chris Wilson, captivating the audience with commitments. an open discussion about his personal battle Riverina Bluebell, a not-for-profit group with depression. based in Wagga Wagga, is committed to “We want to understand the basics so when we delve into water politics it’s not so “Mental health is just as important as physical improving the lives of those affected by confronting.” mental illness. health,” Mr Wilson reminded the crowd.

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Cameron Smith

Farmanco facilitator Cameron Smith presented a series of workshops across the region to help farmers make management decisions over summer and into autumn.

Tough seasonal conditions prompted Murray Dairy to host the workshops focusing on optimising summer strategies.

A variety of topics including drying off pastures and restarting them in autumn, feed values versus cost, feed rations and the many tools available to assist dairy farmers with budgeting and planning, were discussed.

Mr Smith said the most important piece of advice he could give to farmers for the year ahead was — you should know exactly where your business is sitting this season.

“The baseline is different for every farm, because every farm is different,” Mr Smith said.

“It is important that you know how you are travelling — in the black, break even or in the red — so you can make appropriate decisions.”

When Farmanco did its first round of budgets for clients in August, it found the ‘average’ dairy farm was looking at making a $40 000 profit (before tax). Tough climatic conditions and increases in water prices have

pushed that figure down to a break even scenario.

(The average farm is based on data collected from Farmanco clients using figures collected from last season and consists of a 330-cow herd milking off 210 ha.)

“There are so many variations in the way farms are set up these days,” Mr Smith said.

“For a farmer with enough high reliability water shares (HRWS) to grow their fodder requirements, this season will not be significantly different to last year, but for those with no HRWS and complete exposure to the water market, they are in a great deal of difficulty.

“The baselines are different for everyone and it is appropriate to budget accordingly.

“Make sure you take advantage of field staff, Murray Dairy and other organisations that are there to help you.”

Koondrook dairy farmer Skeeta Verhey has cut a fair bit of silage and has already purchased his hay requirements.

He opted to irrigate his farm twice in spring and will do the same again in autumn.

“I have taken water out of the equation now and focused on hand feeding until April so I know where I am at,” Mr Verhey said.

“This has taken the pressure off us and if water is not affordable, then I am of the opinion why worry about it and try to make it work?

“We can’t control the prices so focus on things you can, like buying hay early in the season when it is at its cheapest.”

Calivil farmer Norm Humbert has been farming for 40 years.

He finds it very beneficial to attend events like this workshop.

“You get off the farm, have a yarn and pick up odd things that jolt your mind and get you thinking,” Mr Humbert said.

“You are never too old to learn new things.”

WATER Every northern Victorian farmer is familiar with the state of the water market — reduced allocations, tough seasonal conditions and increasing demand have pushed water prices up over $300 (at the end of October).

Farmanco said the majority of its clients would need to purchase water to fulfil their irrigation requirements for the 2015–16 season.

Many are using up the last of their allocations in October/November and will be looking to enter the market. >> Continued on page 18 DECEMBER 2015

17

Some farmers have chosen to sell some or all of their allocation and use it to fund the purchase of bought-in fodder.

When budgeting for water requirement, use conservative figures: anything better is a bonus.

Know where the cut-off dollar value for water purchases is and consider buying in feed-tested fodder.

Forward purchasing water for next season can be a good management tool and can help with peace of mind, although careful consideration must be given if prices are at the higher end of the scale.

Carrying over water season to season against low reliability water shares (LRWS) is another option, although five per cent is lost every year.

The other risk is the rules could change and this may not be an option in the future.

DRYING OFF PASTURES AND RESTARTING IN AUTUMN Research indicates that yields on established lucerne stands will not be impacted if irrigation ceases.

Anecdotal evidence suggests fescue and paspalum-dominant pastures are more resilient then rye-grass-dominant pastures.

Pasture that has gone a month without 18

DECEMBER 2015

“

It is important that you know how you are travelling — in the black, break even or in the red, so you can make appropriate decisions.

“

>> Continued from page 17

Cameron Smith

irrigation will survive better than something that has gone three months without irrigation.

When drying off perennial pasture for an autumn restart there must be pasture cover, which unfortunately means no final grazing.

A summer rainfall event can turn things around.

If drying-off pastures early be prepared for oversowing costs in autumn.

FEED Assess your feed requirements and budget accordingly and don’t be afraid to re-do your budget if you have to.

Purchasing fodder at the start of the hay season can often result in cheaper prices rather than buying later in the year, when demand is at its highest.

Calculate the cost of dry matter, energy, protein and fibre and purchase according to needs.

Prior to purchasing bought-in fodder check out the physical characteristics if possible.

Get a sample feed tested and feed some to the herd to check palatability.

When determining feed rations, take into account dry matter intake, energy, protein, fibre and micro-nutrients.

Take advantage of the many online tools available to help you with your budgeting.

Some helpful tools: DairyBase — www.dairybase.com.au Murray Dairy business tool and feed and water budget tool — www.murraydairy. com.au Water pricing comparison Rumen8 — www.rumen8.com.au DietCheck — www.agriculture.vic.gov.au/ agriculture/dairy/feedingandnutriton/ dietcheck

Feeding values versus cost

Drying off pastures and restarting in autumn • Research evidence from DEDJTR indicates that not irrigating an established lucerne pasture will not have a significant impact on the future production potential of that pasture.

• There is no similar research for either rye-grass-based, fescuebased or paspalum-based perennial pastures although it is under way.

• Anecdotal evidence suggests: • Rye-grass-dominant pastures will be least resilient, fescue and paspalumdominant pastures more resilient.

• The period without irrigation

has an impact. One month without an irrigation will result in a higher level of a critical mass surviving, than three months without an irrigation.

• A summer rainfall event can be the saving grace.

• If drying off perennial pasture for a restart in autumn, maintain cover on the pasture over the summer period. This means no final graze.

• Be prepared to oversow in autumn.

— Cameron Smith, Farmanco, with Murray Dairy workshops

• A tonne of feed is not a tonne of feed.

• Different feeds will contain different quantities of moisture and different quantities of energy (MJ ME), protein (CP, RDP, UDP), fibre (NDF, ADF, CF) and vitamins and minerals.

• The energy, protein and fibre that we need are found in the dry matter contained in the feed, not in the moisture.

• In the ideal world, prior to purchasing feeds we should: • check out the physical characteristics of the feed; • have a representative sample feed-tested; • offer some of the feed to the herd to check palatability; and • Calculate the cost of the dry matter, energy, protein and fibre that it contains and purchase according to our needs.

— Cameron Smith, Farmanco, for Murray Dairy workshops.

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Intake measured Implications for partial mixed ration herds.

Deficits in pasture dry matter production and nutrient supply are often alleviated with supplementary feeds, typically in the form of concentrates fed in the bail during milking.

Feeding supplements this way allows cows to be fed individually resulting in controlled supplement intake.

However, feeding supplements as a partial mixed ration (PMR) on a feed pad between periods of grazing is becoming more common in Australia.

Cows in PMR feeding systems are groupfed both the pasture and supplement component of the diet, which may result in a large variation in feed intake between cows, thus making it difficult for farmers to assess the overall efficiency of their herd.

A research project at Ellinbank is focusing on this variation in individual cow intake in the PMR feeding system.

A recent experiment conducted by research scientist and PhD student Marlie Wright investigated the variation between cows in terms A cow wearing an automated feeding behaviour device that detects every jaw movement the cow of feeding behaviour, which can makes which then can be identified as picking up be used as a proxy for individual feed, chewing the feed and chewing the cud, to enable intake. the determination of feeding and ruminating times.

The major discovery from this research was that the variation investigated variation in individual intake between individual cows doubled when in Ireland. the amount of total supplement increased Collaborators on the project were The from 6 to 13 kg DM/cow/day (range: University of Melbourne and Teagasc: The 303–475 and 218–450 mins/cow/day for Irish Agriculture and Food Development the low and high amounts of supplement, Authority. Dairy Australia and the Victorian respectively).

Government have funded the research.

This research is defining best feeding For more information contact Marlie management practices for reducing the Wright, marlie.wright@ecodev.vic.gov. variation between cows in a PMR-fed au at the Department of Economic herd, primarily through optimising the Development, Jobs, Transport and ratio of pasture to PMR to increase Resources. milk production. Ms Wright has also

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21

Russell Pell on his farm.

22

DECEMBER 2015

Less water, better growth Study warns that irrigating too often leads to a reduction in pasture growth.

Goulburn Valley dairy farmers are being warned that irrigating too often could result in a 20 per cent reduction in pasture growth, according to a recent study.

The study, directed by Goulburn-Murray Water and carried out by the University of Southern Queensland’s National Centre for Engineering, observed water application efficiency by looking at one irrigated bay on nine different Goulburn Valley farms in the 2013–14 season.

“If dairy farmers are irrigating 15 times in a season, and each time they lose two days’ pasture growth due to waterlogging, there’s 30 days out of a 150-day season gone,” research team leader Professor Rod Smith said.

Farmers who participated in the study used Rubicon Water’s FarmConnect automated watering system and soil probes which store all data online and continuously measure soil moisture down to one-metre depths.

Dairy farmer Russell Pell lives on a property in Wyuna with his wife Cath and son Michael, growing an annual pasture as well as maize and wheat crops.

Mr Pell participated in the study and was also one of the first farmers in the Goulburn Valley to use the Rubicon system about four years ago.

Mr Pell said the moisture metres had been “invaluable” and prior to the technology decisions about when to irrigate were based on looking at the pasture or crops.

“I was giving it more water than I needed to,” Mr Pell said.

“We (farmers) probably didn’t know we were doing as much damage as what we did.”

During the study, when his “gut feeling” was that the maize crops needed water, Mr Pell said the moisture metre revealed there was still at least 30 per cent of moisture left to absorb.

Timing is essential in irrigation management and Mr Pell said the general rule was to have the plot (no bigger than 2 ha) watered in under two hours to avoid a surplus of surface water and consequent waterlogging.

“Once you get beyond two hours you get deterioration in crop,” he said.

“Watering is a two-prong thing: you need to know when to water and you need to water quickly.”

Mr Pell said farmers growing maize were getting on board with the technology quickly.

“Why wouldn’t you?… It’s inexpensive for what you get out of it and with the price of water nudging up towards $300/Ml, you need to grow a lot of tonnes per Ml to justify the price,” he said.

Mr Pell said faster irrigation resulted in more crops and a drier pasture and since using the moisture metres he had produced a larger quantity and higher quality of maize at a more efficient rate.

“We were growing about 16–17 tonnes/ha of maize and now it’s up 25 tonnes… and that’s even with a little less water too,” he said.

Mr Pell also said because the moisture metres were read through an online system, farmers could take the data anywhere and enjoy greater flexibility.

“If you go away, you can take it with you and project where and when you need to water, otherwise you have to be at home to look at it and there is some guess-work involved,” he said.

Prof Smith said the results of the study called into question the common belief that pastures were shallow-rooted and must be irrigated frequently.

Irrigating too often leads to waterlogging of soil and drainage run-off which causes a halt in pasture growth for days.

Prof Smith said the potential 20 per cent loss in production was due to over-saturating

pastures and while many Goulburn Valley dairy farms have installed on-farm automation systems, more farmers needed to understand that less irrigating and the correct amount of water would produce best results.

“You don’t have to irrigate every seven days; you can stretch it out to 10 or 12 days and pastures will respond by putting roots down deeper, which means you end up with a much drier profile on average,” he said.

The results showed irrigation application efficiencies greater than 90 per cent were achieved through precise management of automated irrigation.

“One grower looked at his soil moisture graph on his computer and saw there was adequate soil moisture, so he didn’t water and his pastures took off when the days got cooler.

“Another saw his crops wilting during that same hot period and irrigated again after only four days, so he super-imposed waterlogging on top of heat stress.”

The strongest-performing participant was achieving 12 days of growth and eight or nine days available for grazing out of every 12-day watering period, Prof Smith said.

Mr Pell said the new system would not be able to function under the old G-MW distribution system, due to the flows being too inconsistent, and the modernisation of technology had been vital to growth production.

“The G-MW distribution system couldn’t supply water for the new technology — they had to get the system upgraded before we could do our stuff and it’s given us some really good opportunities,” he said.

“We need all the technology we can get in Australia because we are an expensive country to do business… We have to be smart about how we do things.”

DECEMBER 2015

23

New team to engage youth in agriculture Victorian Government is keen to attract and keep young people in agriculture.

Sarah Thompson from Kialla is on a new advisory board.

The Victorian Government has appointed young agri-business professionals to lead the development of initiatives to attract and retain young people in agriculture.

The Young Farmers Ministerial Advisory Council will advise Agriculture Minister Jaala Pulford on the critical factors for young people in agriculture and on opportunities for attracting youth to the food and fibre sector.

To extend the ideas and suggestions for the advisory council to consider, a series of online forums will run during the next two years on topics relating to the big issues for young people in agriculture.

The advisory council members have already provided some of their thoughts on this topic to get the conversation started at www.oursay.org The Young Farmers Ministerial Advisory Council members are: • Caitlin Scholfield, chair — Geoffrey Gardiner Dairy Foundation, business manager, Geelong.

• Andrew Bulmer, deputy chair — horticulture business managing director, Calulu.

• Skye Vermaas — Victorian Young Farmers representative, Newlyn.

• Will Ryan — Young Agribusiness Professionals representative, Dumbalk.

• Prue Milgate — sheep meat/wool and mixed grains business farm manager, Salisbury West.

• Thomas McGrath — mixed meat and wool/cropping farmer, Murtoa.

• James Terry — integrated grower, packer and exporter, Koo Wee Rup. • Sarah Thompson — Murray Dairy engagement and workforce development officer, Kialla.

• Leila Sweeney-McDougall — farmer and secondary school teacher, Tatyoon.

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DECEMBER 2015

25

A more biological approach on John Keely’s farm has seen improvements in yield and plant health.

Studying biological farming Cohuna’s John Keely will use his Nuffield Scholarship to look at ways effluent can be re-used.

John Keely is looking forward to spending a large part of 2016 researching, studying and looking at ways effluent from his 330-cow herd can be re-used on-farm, as part of his 2016 Nuffield Scholarship.

Mr Keely has been dairying at Cohuna for more than 30 years and for the past 10 he has been mucking around with biological farming and composting manure and a bit of green waste.

“It has always been a bit of a half-hearted 26

DECEMBER 2015

attempt from us. There is a lot of time, and effort required to get compost right and we don’t have the proper equipment — the finished product is not as good as it probably could be,” Mr Keely said.

“I am very interested in improving my soil and I don’t want to rely on bought-in fertiliser to maintain soil health.

“I was asked a few years ago to apply for a scholarship but I didn’t really have the time or a topic — now my son Harrison is home

on the farm, the timing feels right.”

As part of the scholarship Mr Keely will spend eight weeks on a personal study tour visiting six countries.

“I am really looking forward to visiting the Netherlands,” he said.

“They farm below sea level and they are really good at what they do.

“I am also looking forward to the manure expo in the USA and visiting some farmers around Minnesota and Wisconsin who are

John Keely is including a manure expo on his overseas tour.

“

“

doing great things with biological farming.

“I am particularly interested in increasing the biological methods we use here at home.”

For the past seven years the business has been using humates, humuric acids and foliar spray on pastures.

A biological blend has been used on summer corn crops and Mr Keely has noticed an improvement in both yields and plant health.

The Keelys runs their dairy operation across 400 ha.

They are mostly self-sufficient for feed.

This year they have cropped 57 ha of vetch and 57 ha of pasture for silage and cut another 18 ha of hay.

There will be no summer pasture sown

I am particularly interested in increasing the biological methods we use here at home.

John Keely

and the area of corn will be reduced from 25 ha to around 12 ha because the rising cost of water makes growing these crops uneconomical and water will be needed to irrigate the annuals once autumn comes around.

This season the cows will be fed twice a day

on the feed pad — until around mid-April, so there will be additional stockpiles of manure that can be used for composting next year.

Soil tests are used to find out what nutrients are available in the soil and then bio-ag fertilisers like rock phos, lime and Pasture Premo blends have been applied.

“We are continually changing our management and there is no end point really,” Mr Keely said.

“I wouldn’t consider going organic but I do think there is a place for everything in farming.

“You are never too old to learn and the day you stop learning you are probably going down in a box.”

International Dairy Week —Tatura

17–21 January 2016

Murray Dairy will host two topical seminars during this international event: 1. Analysing your business with DairyBase Speaker: Tom Farran — Dairy Farm Business Consultant — Farmanco DairyBase is Dairy Australia’s online farm business management tool designed to make analysing and understanding your overall farm business performance much easier. This seminar will include a demonstration of how DairyBase can track your farm business overtime, identify opportunities to lead to profit and reduce risk. You can also compare your business to those of a similar size and create annual reports and forecasts.

2. Getting the dry period right – Why the dry period is the most important time of the year for future milk quality Speaker: Mark Humphris – Project Leader Countdown 2020

Visit www.murraydairy.com.au

Find out why there is such great variation between herds with performance after a dry period. Have you noticed that using the same products at dry off, some farms will achieve very low BMCC’s and calving mastitis of <5% (mastitis in the first 14 days after calving) and others will have BMCC’s out of premium and calving mastitis of 10–15%? This session will explore how to achieve better milk quality and reduce mastitis at and after calving through group discussion.

For more information please contact Murray Dairy on (03) 5833 5312 or admin@murraydairycom.au DECEMBER 2015

27

Rye-grass pasture establishment checklist

Focus Farms Open Days – Gundowring and Strathmerton Two upcoming Focus Farm Days for December will be focussing on the following: • Seasonal farm business plans • Reproduction • On-farm developments and updates Gundowring Focus Farm: Where: Glass family farm, 1620 Gundowring Road, Gundowring When: Tuesday 8 December 2015

Strathmerton Focus Farm: Where: Brad Adams (home farm), 553B Mywee - Koonoomoo Road, Strathmerton.

When: Thursday 10 December 2015.

Each Open Day commences at 10.30 am–1.00 pm followed by a BBQ lunch. All welcome.

To RSVP or for more information please contact Murray Dairy on (03) 5833 5312 or email admin@murraydairy.com.au 28

DECEMBER 2015

Visit www.murraydairy.com.au

Farms achieving higher pasture consumption tend to be a lot more profitable than those with lower consumption.

Dense, productive pasture is essential for high pasture consumption, and establishment is an important step in achieving this.

Good pasture establishment should be plant densities of at least 600 seedlings/m2.

In achieving this, there are several points to consider: seed selection, soil temperature, sowing depth, fertiliser, weed and pest control and first grazing management.

If establishment is poor the paddocks will need to be resown, if nothing is done, a weedy, unproductive pasture may result.

When selecting a variety to sow consider its purpose in your feedbase.

Short-season annuals and Italians tend to be cheaper than long-season, but what is the value of the late spring/summer feed to you?

Long-season varieties may be more expensive but provide flexibility in the system with the ability to produce until late November/early December, allowing an extra grazing or two.

If water is short, watering can be finished early.

Perennial rye-grass is slower to establish than annuals or Italian rye-grass though it provides feed in the shoulder periods from late spring through to mid-autumn.

The ideal soil temperature at sowing is 20–25°C. While it is best to measure soil temperature directly, a good indicator is when daily

maximum air temperatures have averaged less than 25°C for five days.

Hot conditions in conjunction with irrigation during the establishment period can reduce germination by 90 per cent.

The sowing depth of seed is proportional to the seed size: in general, sowing depth should be twice the length of the seed, which for rye-grass means 1–2 cm.

The seed should be surrounded by moist, firm and fine soil to maximise germination.

If seed is sown too deep it will take longer to emerge or may not emerge at all, resulting in poor plant densities.

Sowing with fertiliser such as superphosphate, superphosphate/lime or DAP can help seedling root development, but fertilisers containing potassium, copper or large amounts of nitrogen (over 20 kg N/ha) can reduce germination if they are in contact with the seed and should not be added at sowing.

Direct drilling places fertiliser close to the seed allowing the plant quick access to nutrients when compared to broadcasted fertiliser.

Apply any follow-up fertiliser blends (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulphur) prior to or soon after the first grazing.

Effective pre-and post-emergence weed control will reduce competition from weeds.

Newly sown pastures should be monitored for pests such as crickets, red-legged earth mites and lucerne flea and sprayed if required.

If oversowing, competition from the existing sward can be reduced by grazing pastures down to less than 4 cm just prior to sowing.

This will reduce the rate of regrowth of the existing pasture, minimising shading and allowing the new seedlings a chance to grow.

Before the first grazing, check if the root system is developed enough by using the pull test.

If it breaks without pulling the plant out of the ground, it is ready to graze.

The pasture should be at least 10 cm high and at or past the two-leaf stage.

Graze to a residual height of 4–6 cm.

This will help promote tillering, minimise damage to the pasture and set the residual height for future grazings.

For subsequent grazings, graze the pastures at the two-to-three-leaf stage or canopy closure, whichever comes first, down to a residual of 4–6 cm to gain the best balance between quantity and quality and maintain a residual to support growth for the next grazing.

Establishing dense productive pastures requires good management, so select the right variety for your needs, wait until temperatures are cool enough for establishment, check your sowing depths, check you have good seed soil contact, control weeds and pests, fertilise and make sure your grazing management is right, and make the most of your investment in pastures.

— Sarah Brown, Dairy Services, DEDJTR, Tatura

Employment Made Easy (eMe) eMe is a free website which provides a job matching service for dairy farm employers and job seekers. eMe makes it simple to find, recruit and retain the right people for your farm.

The website enables you to: • Advertise job opportunities • Search and contact perspective employees • Recruit and manage employees • Order an Employment Starter Kit (ESKi)

Visit www.murraydairy.com.au

Register at www.eme.org.au or for more information contact Murray Dairy on (03) 5833 5312 or email admin@murraydairy.com.au DECEMBER 2015

29

Longer lactation means less work

Dairy farmer John Archard is pleased he has extended cow lactations on his Murrabit farm. type of management just seems to suit our Swapping his 470-cow herd from a herd. traditional 305-day lactation to 18 months has helped cut costs and reduce the work “There is no way I would go back to what I load for Murrabit dairy farmer John Archard. used to do before.”

Mr Archard is the first to admit extending The first group of EL cows produced 950 kg cow lactations (EL) will not suit every dairy of milk solids and about 13 500 litres. operation, but for him and his 485 ha farm, The business is now up to its third group it has worked well. and looks on target to produce about “Essentially we have cut our costs by a third, 1000 kg milk solids and about 14 000 litres cut stock losses by a third and cut our of milk. workload by a third,” he said.

“We have a herd of pretty good cows and “Animal health has stayed constant because we haven’t lost anything by moving to 18 the cows get extra time to clean up and put months — over a three-year period they on condition before they are joined, and this probably produce similar but they have less

dry period, less costs and less work,” Mr Archard said.

“When we started I had no idea what the cows would produce and I have been surprised by how well they have done.

“I do believe EL only suits certain dairy herds — purebred jerseys or smaller-framed cows might struggle.”

Mr Archard began the EL process about six years ago.

The herd is still calved twice a year, in spring and autumn.

When it comes to fertility, Mr Archard said

Seasonal Conditions Information Murray Dairy’s website now includes updated information regarding current seasonal conditions.

This will provide you with information and resources to assist you in planning for the current dry conditions. You will find information, resources and tools in the water, feed and climate areas. Also listed are workshop dates and workshop resources. www.murraydairy.com.au/seasonal-conditions For further information please contact Murray Dairy on (03) 5833 5312 or email admin@murraydairy.com.au 30

DECEMBER 2015

Visit www.murraydairy.com.au

John Archard, left, with employee, Peter Heffer.

he now has a lot more cows in calf to AI than he used to and because the cows are getting in calf earlier, semen use has halved.

Next joining season the business will use sexed semen for the first round on the milking herd and then normal semen after that.

“We still get the animals that we can’t get in calf at all and I wonder if that is just a genetic thing with some big Fresians, but all in all, I would say EL has worked well.

“It really suits the heifers because they get a chance to find their way in the herd and clean up before they have their second calf.”

“

When we started I had no idea what the cows would produce and I have been surprised by how well they have done.

“

John Archard

Instead of calving cows in large groups, numbers have been reduced to a much more manageable 170 at a time and instead of

bringing in 25 calves and wondering who conscious effort to ensure he has a couple of years’ worth of silage on hand. the mums are, a big day is now five calves and identifying mums is now a lot easier.

“During the drought we learnt things we would never have thought of doing,” he said.

One thing Mr Archard said he had to watch was the cows’ weight in the last six months “Previously we used to just cut hay but now of lactation. we try and get two cuts of silage, a cut of hay and some grazing on some of our pastures.”

“Some cows can get fat and I have found that Pastures consist mainly of shaftal and rye weaning the whole group back from their and a bit of 150 and white clover (this will grain ration does help,” he said. be watered until December then dried off ).

“I have lost a couple of cows this year from When the industry was deregulated, Mr fatty liver which is something I still need to Archard invested in a large 250 Ml re-use work on.” dam. He now uses that to water up 280 ha of This season tough conditions have meant the pasture before the irrigation water comes on, farm is down a cut of silage. to give his pasture an early start if needed.

“The cows will graze until Christmas and “I think the irrigation season needs to be then be fed silage until mid-March.” moved forward to August 1 so farmers can Mr Archard still has horrible memories of water when they need, rather then having to wait for the season to start,” he said. the millennium drought so he has made a DECEMBER 2015

31

Mastitis app saves time and money Farmers are using the Countdown app to tackle cow health in their herds.

Dairy Australia’s Countdown Mastitis Toolkit app is not only improving cow health and milk quality but also helping farmers saves thousands of dollars every year.

The app, which has had more than 3000 downloads since it was first released in September 2013, was designed in consultation with dairy farmers, advisers and vets and is based on the Countdown 2020 mastitis control program and associated resources.

South-west Victorian farmers Stephen and Tania Luckin said mastitis had been a major challenge on their 500-cow farm but by using the app as a control mechanism to monitor udder health and teat condition, they were saving up to $70 000 a year.

The app had proven its worth not only for the information and ease-of-use but for getting the problem out of the dairy and

Zoe Vogels was part of the team that created from their minds onto paper so they could analyse and fix it, Mr Luckin said. the app. She said the app was easy to use and an invaluable resource, particularly for “What I like about the app is that it takes newcomers. a lot of stuff out of your head you can just access it instantly and come up with an “It’s pretty much everything you need to know answer,” he said. from calving to drying off,” Dr Vogels said.

“You don’t have to rush home and look it “It gives you access on your phone straight up or think about it, and that’s worth a lot away to the most up-to-date information on when you are milking.” mastitis control and milk quality.

Divided into four sections, the app offers “The app is invaluable for anybody new to a range of the latest information and the dairy industry and also for milkers in resources farmers need to manage mastitis the dairy, advisers, milk factory field officers, in their herd including: vet students and vets. I just think it’s really • Tools. useful for anyone in the dairy industry.”

• Topics specific to common The Countdown Mastitis Toolkit app is mastitis control scenarios. available for iPhone and Android mobile • Countdown farm guidelines. devices (including tablets).

• A library featuring related For details on how to download the app visit articles, tips and traps.

South-west Victorian farmer and veterinarian www.dairyaustralia.com.au/countdown-app

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DECEMBER 2015

Save time and labour Upgrade your dairy with the experts at Mark Angel Engineering with over 36 years of experience Pneumatic Entry and Exit Gates for Herringbone Dairies These newly designed gates have been refined for two years.

The heavy duty, one-piece gate is made to last with a 50 mm pneumatic ram and 20 mm shaft.

With the increase in herd sizes these gates can be mounted higher in the bale for clearance of large cows and milking operators.

Entry and exit gates can be operated through a solenoid control box with a red cord for exit and a blue cord for entry right through the full length of the pit.

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.

New

Exit Gate

Automatic Feed Systems for Herringbone and Rotary Dairies HERRINGBONE

These feeds systems are fully automatic with 65 mm PVC pipe supply filling 225 mm PVC hoppers.

Discharge is a 50 mm PVC which runs through the bottom of the hoppers. Push-button controls with timers for complete control in the bale. Direct geared motors drive this system. There are no belts or bearings making it maintenance free.

ROTARY FEED HEADS

We have Rotary feed heads in stock with either 65 mm PVC or 100 mm galvanized auger delivery pipes. The main control box with timer and sensor for bale activation, transformer box for clutch are all supplied and requires hard-wiring by your electrician.

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33

Pushing effluent uphill Andrew Holman installed a mainline last year to meet the challenge of effluent application on a steeper property.

The management of dairy effluent provides many opportunities for dairy businesses.

The Holman family met the challenge of effluent application on a steeper property by expanding their application area through installing a mainline last year.

The family is now starting to see the benefits of improved pasture growth.

The family’s property is located at Loch in the Strzelecki Ranges, and has some steep slopes across part of the farm which makes the pumping of effluent particularly challenging.

The dairy operation milks about 400 springcalving cows.

Manure from the yards is collected into a solids trap and a 50 000 litre sump.

The sump is pumped daily to pasture using an effluent pump via a 1300 m-long mainline and a gun irrigator.

Expanding the effluent application area has enabled better use of the nutrients in the effluent, particularly potassium and nitrogen.

The gun irrigator is moved around every couple of days.

“I’m able to apply nutrients now to areas of the farm that were difficult to drive over and apply fertiliser to: and we’re really able to see a response,” Andrew Holman said.

The effluent was tested and in one Ml contained 232 kg of potassium, 95 kg of phosphorus, 22 kg of sulphur and 200 kg of nitrogen.

This is equivalent to around 0.46 tonnes of potash, 0.43 tonnes of urea and one tonne of single superphosphate with an approximate

value of $1015/Ml (prices are a rough guide to illustrate value of effluent).

Each year about 7.4 Ml is generated on the property with a fertiliser equivalence value of about $7511.

Reducing the on-going maintenance cost of Andrew Holman has the effluent system is also needed to gain the reaped the benefits most value from the nutrients in the effluent. of dairy effluent Management challenges for the Holmans’ management. effluent system include being able to generate enough pressure at the irrigator blockages by keeping the pipe cool over and managing solids so they don’t create summer, reducing the baking of manure blockages in the pipes. inside.

Mr Holman used a plumber to size the Two posts and horizontal rails have been mainline to ensure it was the right pressure placed around the hydrants to protect them rating for the steeper property to ensure from stock and machinery. pumping efficiency and reduce the risk of splitting pipes.

Mr Holman prefers managing the effluent on a daily basis.

Solid material from the effluent is removed by a trap but some solid material does enter “At the end of each milking the effluent is the sump which gets agitated and applied gone; it’s not another job that I have to do,” daily to pasture. he said.

Mr Holman said having the ability to flush “There are no excavators, tankers or weeds on the mainline was important to remove solid dams to deal with later.” material if it did get pumped through.

These are the benefits of a direct application Placing hydrants at 50 m intervals for the system; however it can be difficult to manage first 200 m of the mainline, then at 100 m these systems when conditions are wetter. intervals after that, is something Mr Holman It is therefore essential to have some back-up said he would do differently next time to storage capacity for these conditions. enable ease of flushing.

The Holmans have a back-up storage dam Mr Holman also removed the foot valve on where effluent can go if conditions become the effluent pump, which is immersed on too wet. a pontoon, to allow effluent in the line to drain back to the sump when turned off to The Melbourne Water Rural Land program flush the pipe. has supported the installation of the effluent mainline through a 50 per cent The mainline has also been buried to protect co-contribution financial incentive. it from stock trampling, and to help reduce

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Natalie Akers addresses the water forum.

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• 100% lasered with very good fencing and good laneways with excellent paddock access. Some auto irrigation and mainly Padman outlets.

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Leaders want answers Lobby group plans to take water concerns to the government.

Water industry leaders are pleading for a halt in Commonwealth water buybacks and an urgent review of the social and economic impacts of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan on rural communities.

A meeting of 90 key leaders at Tatura in October has agreed to set up a lobby group to take the Goulburn Murray’s concerns to governments.

Rising water prices and a deepening dry season have contributed towards the appeals to temporarily halt the transfer of water from agriculture to the environment.

Dairy farmer and Murray Goulburn Co-operative director Natalie Akers outlined the importance of the Murray Dairy region which she said generated about 25 per cent of the national milk production and was reliant on water for irrigation.

She said dairy farmers had already adopted more efficient watering systems, but were also now more exposed to higher temporary water prices.

She estimated about 120 Gl of water had been transferred from dairy farmers to the environment which equated to about 289 million litres of milk.

That 289 million litres of milk is conservatively worth $144 million at the farmgate, and $360 million in regional economic activity.

Foregone dairy production in the GMID is not being offset by increased production of, or investment in, other industries, or new commodity ventures such as almonds.

Loss of more entitlements owned by dairy farmers to the environment will see the industry lose its modest postdrought recovery, and slide backwards.

She suggested the remaining water required for the environment should be obtained through capital investments in water savings rather than simply taking it from farms.

Ms Akers said farmers were interested in a balanced outcome for the environment.

Why temporary price is so high • Less water in the productive pool and on the market, and more people relying on the market to meet needs, having sold some or all entitlement.

• Average 400 Gl a year carried over by private water users, including irrigators each year; previously it was used under the old ‘use it or lose it’ system, or returned to the collective pool for reallocation.

• Additional 300 Gl held in Victorian public reserve to guarantee 100 per cent HR allocation in the following season, reflecting drought’s effect on inflow models. This was previously allocated as sales water or against Low Reliability entitlement.

• 488 Gl early season reserve to cover GMID system losses and ensure the system will run the following year. This was previously allocated towards

HR and LR entitlements in the current season.

• Low general security allocation NSW Murray (12 per cent) and Murrumbidgee (29 per cent), and increased competition from new investment in commodities such as almonds and cotton, are driving demand and price.

• Very dry conditions, with a strong El Niño and positive Indian Ocean Dipole driving up temperatures and reducing rainfall across the southern basin, and increasing irrigation demand earlier in the season.

• Environment allocated 850 Gl a year against entitlements that irrigators used to own.

• Environment carries over less than irrigators in Victorian system (2014–15): irrigators: 615 Gl; environment: 266 Gl. — Dairy Australia DECEMBER 2015

37

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How much pasture?

If asked how much pasture is harvested (directly grazed by cows or cut with machinery) on your farm over a year, could you answer the question?

And if you could, what would it mean for your farm?

By estimating the amount of home-grown feed harvested on your farm you’ll be able to benchmark your farm’s performance over time.

This will allow you to quantify the impacts of management practices and seasonal conditions on the amount of pasture harvested on-farm each year.

It can also help determine how much additional feed you may need to purchase.

This is particularly valuable when developing budgets and planning for feed purchases.

A robust, scientifically sound tool for backcalculating pasture harvest (tonne DM/ha) is available online at http://dairypastureconsumptioncalculator. com.au/ This tool is easy to use on your computer or mobile and has three versions of complexity designed to suit your needs.

The calculator delivers results on how The “Ask a question” is a three-step process designed to generate a quick estimation of much home-grown pasture has been annual pasture consumption: consumed, either by cows directly grazing or mechanically harvested, and how much 1. Ask a question of the calculator, such as energy this represents.

‘How much home-grown feed was eaten and conserved last year?’

It can also answer questions like: “How much feed did my herd eat last year?” and 2. Enter details about your farm milking “Based on last year’s rainfall and irrigation, area, herd, feed produced on the farm and how much home-grown feed did I use or ‘brought in’ feeds. conserve?”

3. Allow the calculator to provide answers The true value in this calculator is reflecting to the selected question based on entered on the results over time. details and industry averages.

You are then able to see how your Data can be saved by creating an account. production of home-grown feed changes You can also elect to ‘upgrade’ to the from year to year, and how your herd’s feed intermediate version of the calculator which requirements vary. minimises duplication of data entry.

The Pasture Consumption Calculator is The more detailed versions of the calculator delivered through a partnership between require additional information but can Dairy Australia and DEDJTR. provide greater precision because calculations For further information, visit http:// are based on farm data rather than industry dairypastureconsumptioncalculator.com.au/ averages.

New from Bale-Up Hayfeeders Our modular feed pad model, the next level in feed pads, comes in 4-metre units. Buy two ‘bookend’ units and add as many open-ended centre units as you need. No more feed on the ground and extremely low waste, and like all our feeders it comes with our rolled corrugated floor.

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39

Showtime in the north Top dairy cows are chosen at Spring shows.

Clockwise from top left: Ellie Hourigan, 16, of Milawa has a lot of success with her Jersey cow ‘Darrenvale Marks Bonnie 15’, winning the Intermediate Champion Dairy Cow in the Inter-Breed Class at the Shepparton Show.

Ellie owns the three-year-old cow with her dad Darren and has competed in shows in the past including the 2014 Shepparton Show where Darrenvale Marks Bonnie 15 took out the Reserve Intermediate Champion and Dairy Week 2014, receiving an honourable mention and winning a class at just two years old.

Janelle and Neville McDonald from Kyabram are pictured with their Jersey Cherry 103 which took out the Interbreed champion prize at Numurkah Show.

Champion ... Sandlewood Karen is pictured with owner Gavin Broad, 21, of Lockington at the Shepparton show. The 10-year-old cow won the interbreed Senior Champion Dairy Cow. The mature cow also won first place in the six years and over in the Jersey section.

Mikaela Daniel, 10, from Nathalia showed her four-month-old heifer Cleveland Dashawn Butter and took home two ribbons for the first time at Nathalia Show.

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40

DECEMBER 2015

Take the Cool Cows Quiz

By Dr Steve Little — Capacity+ Ag Consulting For the next few months, a priority for dairy farmers in the Murray region will be keeping cows as cool as possible, to minimise the immediate and longer term impacts that heat stress has on cows’ production, fertility, health and welfare.

To help you re-focus on heat stress and test your knowledge, here is a short True / False Quiz (Sorry — there aren’t any prizes on offer, but have a go anyway!).

Read each of the 12 statements opposite and circle whether you think it is true or false.

Statement

True or false?

(Circle bleow)

1

Heat stress is only a concern on days that exceed 30ºC.

True

False

2

Unusually warm days in late spring - early summer can stress cows as much as much hotter weather later in the hot season.

True

False

3

Cows are very effective at offloading heat through sweating.

True

False

4

In paddocks and laneways, providing shade to the herd should be your first priority as it the most effective way of reducing heat load.

True

False

5

Having cows standing in the holding yard for a prolonged time before milking on hot days can lead to a significant increase in their heat load.

True

False

6

Sprinkling cows in the dairy holding yard presents a high risk of mastitis, so should only be done on very hot days.

True

False

7

It is good practice to wet the dairy holding yard by hosing, flood washing or sprinkling for the hour before cows arrive for afternoon milking.

True

False

8

It is important that cows are given ready access to drinking water as soon as they leave the dairy after milking.

True

False

9

Shade over the dairy holding yard is of greatest benefit if cows are free to move between the holding yard and a feed pad nearby.

True

False

10

Anyone can easily install an effective, long-lasting shade-cloth structure over a dairy holding yard. There is no need to get a professional designer/installer involved.

True

False

11

Heat stress is really only a concern in lactating cows. It doesn’t have any significant impacts on dry cows.

True

False

12

There are several nutritional strategies that can be used to help cows manage their heat load and minimise milk production drops in hot weather.

True

False

When you have completed the quiz, turn the page to see how well you did.

DECEMBER 2015

41

Answer 1

False

Your herd feels the heat more than you may realise. Even at 25ºC, cows begin to feel uncomfortable and must start actively managing their body heat content or ‘heat load’ to maintain a normal core body temperature and keep cool. So don’t wait too long to start implementing cooling strategies such as using your sprinklers in the dairy holding yard.

2

True

Cows that have not been pre-conditioned to hot weather will have a greater stress response. Cows need time to acclimatise. So unusually warm weather events in late spring — early summer need to be taken seriously. That’s why the Cool Cows Dairy Forecast service issues alerts on such days early in the hot season.

3

False

Sweating is the cow’s primary mechanism for heat loss, but cows are not great sweaters (A cow produces only one tenth as much sweat per square metre of skin as a horse). Individual cows in a herd also vary widely in their ability to increase sweating rate and control their core body temperature. Air movement is required to increase evaporation from the cow’s skin. So in hot weather, sprinklers and fans are very useful aids.

4

True

Trees planted in paddocks or laneways can reduce radiant heat load by 50 per cent or more. The aim is 4 m2 of shade per cow at noon. Use the Cool Cows method to rate your paddocks from coolest to hottest based on shade cover and walking distance from the dairy. If redesigning your farm layout, consider orientating the long axis of paddocks north-south to help maximise shade throughout the day.

5

True

A cow produces as much heat on a hot day as a 1500 watt hair dryer on high! So when cows are standing close together in a dairy holding yard, a lot of heat is transferred, and their body temperatures can rise quickly (within half an hour).

Actions you can take to ensure your holding yard is a cooling centre (and not a sauna) are: Use sprinklers, consider a shade structure and fans as the next upgrade for your holding yard, finish morning milking by 9am and delay afternoon milking until 5pm on hot days, run smaller sized milking groups if practical.

6

False

Sprinkling cows shouldn’t lead to putting cups on wet teats and increasing the risk of mastitis. By inserting an adjustable on/off timer to your sprinkling system, you can ensure that you wet cows effectively to the skin without getting their udders wet (while also conserving water). You will need to adjust the on/off cycle to suit your sprinkler nozzles and water flow rate — start with 2 minutes on/10 minutes off, and adjust as necessary.

7

True

Pre-wetting your dairy holding yard for the hour before cows arrive for afternoon milking really helps dissipate the heat stored in the mass of the concrete. This can be done by hosing, flood washing or sprinkling, but using a sprinkler system with an adjustable on/off timer (eg. 2 minutes on/5 minutes off ) will conserve water.

8

True

In hot weather cows’ daily water consumption doubles to 200 litres plus, and standing in a holding yard before milking and eating dry grain / concentrates in the bail makes them thirsty. A large, easily accessible water trough on the exit side of the dairy is therefore a must, and if well positioned, shouldn’t disrupt cow flow. (Why would you want to limit cows’ access to drinking water when it makes up 85 per cent of the product you sell – milk?)

9

True

The ultimate aim of any shade structure is to optimise feed intake. Feed and water should ideally be provided within close proximity to the shaded dairy holding yard so cows can readily move to and fro.

10

False

A shade cloth structure must be carefully designed to withstand loads from wind, rain, hail, and the weight of the structure itself. So you should consult a registered builder or structural engineer who understands how to design and build a structure that will withstand these loads. Alternatively, if buying a package, ensure that structural computations are supplied, the installers are experienced and local building regulations are met.

11

False

While dry cows in late pregnancy produce less metabolic heat than lactating cows, they are still affected by heat stress through impaired function and development of the udder and placenta, and suppressed immune function. Cows that are dry in hot months may therefore have reduced milk production in the next lactation, smaller, less viable calves and a higher risk of the health problems commonly seen around calving than cows that are dry in cool months.

12

True

Nutritional strategies are available which are worth discussing with a professional nutritionist. These include: Feeding high quality, highly palatable forage, replacing some of the wheat/barley in the diet with a slower fermenting starch source such as maize grain, using a bypass fat supplement, adding extra buffers to help manage ruminal acidosis risk, feeding higher quality protein sources and using feed additives with potential to assist cows in hot weather such as betaine. However, remember that the highest priority should always be to provide cows with adequate shade and evaporative cooling.

If you correctly answered true or false to 10 or more of the statements, well done! You have a pretty good grasp of heat stress and how to minimise its impacts on your cows.

For detailed information on infrastructure options and farm management strategies to help keep cows cool, browse Dairy Australia’s Cool Cows website at www.coolcows.com.au There are also several tools on the Cool Cows website you may find very useful, including the Cool Cows Dairy Forecast Service.

— Dr Steve Little Capacity+ Ag Consulting For Murray Dairy

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DECEMBER 2015

Weather Forecaster As the hot season progresses, it is important to keep an eye on weather conditions which may impact seriously on your cows’ heat load and take additional steps to keep cows cool when appropriate. So take advantage of the free Cool Cows Dairy Forecast Service.

This service enables you to set up your own farm (using your GPS co-ordinates) as a site-specific weather station, monitor daily weather conditions (including the Temperature Humidity Index) and receive alerts by SMS, email or fax when heat stress events are approaching.

To register, go to www.coolcows.com.au and click on ‘Weather Forecaster’.

PRECAST CONCRETE PRODUCTS

Cattle society lends hand to goat breeders Sharing access to databases and services. values will mean that, for the Dairy goat producers can first time, goat buyers will be now access a range of herd able to see objective performance management services through information about members’ Holstein Australia, the country’s animals for sale. largest dairy cattle breed society.

Chris Lamin, secretary of newly- “At the moment if you want to buy a stud buck the best formed Australian Dairy Goats, available information is likely to said the arrangement would be its dam’s 24-hour production also allow members’ herd data figures. With dairy cows it’s to be professionally managed the norm to expect production and integrated, particularly data figures for a whole lactation and from herd recording, registration that’s the direction we want to and classification. head. Holstein Australia has the “Being such as small industry, it tools and the people to take us is not economically viable for us there,” she said. to develop databases and services Ultimately the organisation from scratch. The alliance with aims to provide progeny testing, Holstein Australia enables us to estimated breeding values and piggy-back on their experience, DNA (genomic) services. staff and systems in place,” she Holstein Australia’s chief said. executive officer Graeme Gillan Dairy farmer and owner of said the alliance was a ‘win-win’.

Allawoona Dairy Goats at “For Holstein Australia, this is Briagalong in Gippsland, Ms an opportunity to add value to Lamin said Australian Dairy the dairy goat industry through Goats Inc was formed to services that we are already wellpromote genetic improvement of placed to provide. At the farm all dairy goats in Australia. level, there’s a big difference “ADG is a commerciallybetween cows and goats but in focused organisation offering terms of genetics and records breeders genetic improvement management, the needs are facilities, including classification, very similar so it’s relatively estimated breed values, DNA straightforward for us to provide profiling and stud registration.” the services that Australian Dairy Goats are looking for,” he said.

The availability of breeding

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DECEMBER 2015

43

Irrigation guide available A weekly email update is now available for irrigation farmers to help plan their watering requirements.

It includes evapotranspiration figures from the previous week at Deniliquin, Kyabram, Tatura, Kerang, Echuca, Yarrawallah and Numurkah as well as forecasted rates for the current week from the same locations.

It also has a water commentary with some useful market information.

Department of Economic Development senior irrigation officer Rob O’Connor said the service was trialled last irrigation season with about 30 irrigators and service

providers with positive feedback.

Currently there are more than 200 people on the email list including dairy farmers, tomato growers and croppers. They have a range of irrigation systems including surface border check, centre pivot and sub-surface drip.

Mr O’Connor said those farmers who had more control applying their irrigation water were likely to get most benefit from the service.

For example, someone fortunate enough to have an upgraded layout or a pressurised system is more likely to put it to good use than someone with an old layout — just because it’s easier to apply water when it’s needed with improved systems.

“A driver for providing the service is to help irrigators grow as much per megalitre as possible — particularly with current elevated water prices,” Mr O’Connor said.

“Research and common sense tell us significant gains in production can be achieved by getting irrigation timing and quantity right. With an improved irrigation delivery service and upgraded farm layouts, the next step is to match irrigation with plant requirements.”

Anyone interested in the service should email Robert.OConnor@ecodev.vic.gov.au

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DECEMBER 2015

Making better business decisions New tool helps dairy farmers manage their accounts. could be utilised for budgeting Dairy farmers will be able within businesses.” to extract greater value from the accounting process and The new Standard Chart of make better informed business Accounts is based on previous decisions with the launch work including the Financial of a new Standard Chart Records Guide for Dairy of Accounts for the dairy Farms from Murray Dairy industry. and the Dairy Farm Monitor Project from DEDJTR. Developed by Dairy Australia in response to requests The launch of DairyBase, the from farmers and service industry’s new online farm providers, the Standard Chart business management tool, of Accounts will also drive also prompted a review of consistency in how the dairy farm business management industry reports and discusses terminology. farm business performance.

Mr Lane said the Standard Dairy Australia’s Farm Chart of Accounts had not Business Capability Program been established as a rigid tool manager Neil Lane said the to prescribe the exact set-up Standard Chart of Accounts of farm accounts on all dairy enabled dairy farmers to farms, but a guide for farmers manage the flow of financial to keep financial records. information through their If used correctly, it would give business and establish an consistency in record keeping, efficient system for paying he said. bills and complying with As well as providing Australian tax regulations. farmers with data to make “While ensuring tax informed financial and farm compliance, the Standard management decisions, the Chart of Accounts can also Standard Chart of Accounts be converted to management will also allow farmers to accounts with relative ease effectively compare their to enable farmers to make business with others. informed decisions in their “The use of comparative businesses,” Mr Lane said. analysis by some sectors of “The management accounts the dairy industry is more enable farmers to complete accurate if each business end-of-year and comparative doing the comparisons has analysis on their business by put their income and expenses ensuring a consistent approach in the same category in their to the allocation of financial financial recording system,” information and financial Mr Lane said. terminology used within the To find the new Standard dairy industry.

Chart of Accounts go to www. dairybase.com.au or www.

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waiting on high res pics

Determination

wins

It has been a rocky road for the Daniel family since they began their foray into farm ownership seven years ago.

Country News has followed their story over the years and this update sees them still doing what they love: milking cows, growing grass and expanding their operation. Pictured left to right are Xavier, Diane, Angeline, Damian, Jessica and Isabella.

Clever planning and hard work has helped the Daniels succeed.

It hasn’t been an easy ride for Damian and Diane Daniel since they purchased their Waaia dairy farm in 2008.

The couple has experienced drought, milk price drops, the global financial crisis, floods and storms.

Country News first visited the family in 2009 after the milk price drop and then again in 2010 to see how they were faring and despite their rocky road they have managed to hang on and keep doing what they love, farming.

Careful budgeting, advice from industry professionals and being honest with creditors about repayment have helped the couple keep their business afloat, and while there may be only small gains at times, the couple 46

DECEMBER 2015

focuses on these and uses them as motivation expensive truck loads of hay away. to move forward.

“When we first began leasing the block we “This is our seventh season and my advice to had an agreed value but we didn’t know how anyone out there is to don’t give up. Back in we were ever going to raise a deposit. We 2009 when things turned really bad we had decided to purchase some young calves and two options, get out with absolutely nothing rear them with the idea of selling them on or run the risk of going bankrupt and still the point of calving. We had a bit of luck leave with nothing — we took the latter with an export order and were able to sell the and here we are today still hanging on,” Mr animals at seven months of age instead and Daniel said. that worked out very well for us.”

The couple has accumulated equity through The couple is currently milking 150 cows on their dairy herd which they now own and 95ha. The heifers are all agisted off farm. earlier this year they purchased a 50 ha block This year with another tough season across the road that they had been leasing for approaching, the couple enlisted the help the past two years. of their agronomist who told them to spray The purchase will help their business grow out their shaftal and rye paddocks and plant more green grass and hopefully help keep more lucerne.

“

Initially Mr Daniel thought the idea was just plain stupid because he was envisaging The water issue really cuts of silage and hay, but as the season progressed he has realised he wouldn’t have needs to be sorted out. been able to afford the water to irrigate the grass anyway. Spraying it out and sowing an We have beautiful soils additional 16 ha of lucerne has been another and can grow anything good management decision.

The farm now has 32 ha of lucerne and the we want, but we do need 104 ml of rain the farm received in a storm in water to do that.

November was just perfect.

The couple has no permanent water but does Damian Daniel have a couple of spear-point bores with a many other farmers in the region, are 375 Ml water licence. worried about what is going to happen with All the lucerne plantings have been sown in irrigation water. paddocks that can be directly irrigated from the bore.

“The water issue really needs to be sorted out. We have beautiful soils and can grow “If the spear stops we are in a lot of bother, it only pumps slowly but it ran for most of the anything we want, but we do need water irrigation season last year,” Mr Daniel said. to do that. I mean how stupid is it we pay $13 000 a year in water fees for a system we Looking to the future, the Daniels, like

can’t afford to use? I mean, who is the stupid one here?

“The water issue is not transparent and the little family farm is being pushed aside. I appreciate that is business, but if you want to have farmers in the area generating money and spending it in regional communities then farmers are needed,” he said.

Last season the business used 278 Ml of temporary water but this figure is reducing each year as prices continue to rise.

“Ten years ago we were wasting water and improvements in delivery have been great, we all want to be as water efficient as we can, but the inbalances in the system really need to be sorted out.”

Mr Daniel believes that every investor that owns water must have associated delivery shares so they are helping to pay for the upkeep of the system too.

DECEMBER 2015

47

“

Does it pay to irrigate a perennial pasture during summer?

With temporary water prices sitting above $230/Ml many farmers may be asking themselves, does it pay to irrigate perennial rye-grass pastures this summer? The decisions made now will not only have an effect on farms in summer but also for the coming 12 to 18 months.

During spring and autumn it makes sense to irrigate perennial pastures, because these conditions are ideal for rye-grass growth.

During the summer period, water-use efficiency tends to be poorer. This is due to lower in-season rainfall, higher evapotranspiration and higher temperatures.

However, the lower response rate does not mean summer irrigation is not suitable for individual farming businesses.

Irrigating perennial pastures over summer Perennial rye-grass pastures can provide a valuable source of protein in the herd’s diet this season with lower availability of lucerne or vetch hay. Well managed, dense pastures have the potential of producing 4 tonnes DM/ha during the summer period and provide feed in early autumn.

If you plan to only water a portion of perennial pastures through summer, select the best performing paddocks. Often these paddocks are highly fertile, largely dominated by desired species and have minimal weed burden. Remember, pastures are only as productive as their most limiting factor. Poorer performing paddocks should be flagged for renovation in autumn, because

• The longer the time pastures are dried off for, the higher the chance the pastures will not come back at satisfactory pasture densities; • The conditions over drier, hotter summers are believed to reduce survival rates of rye-grass tillers; • Maintaining a residual of 4–6 cm has anecdotally been seen to be crucial to survival of the pasture sward; • A pasture with good density prior to drying off will potentially respond better than pastures with poorer tiller densities; and • Younger pastures are thought to be more successful than older pastures.

If you are considering drying off perennial Dry off perennial rye-grass rye-grass pastures and restarting them, pastures over summer and restart consult people who have experience in late summer/early autumn including agronomists. You will find some Currently there is only anecdotal evidence, have not had success while others have. with no research results, on drying off Carefully consider the benefits and risks pastures over summer. The idea is to reduce in watering pastures through summer and water usage and resow with pasture to be drying pastures off. Complete water budgets ready to graze within three to four weeks of and financial budgets taking into account watering in autumn. Some farmers succeed feed requirements for autumn and make the while others have been unable to restart their best decision for your farm. pastures. Those who have had succeeded DEDJTR offers a Weekly Irrigation have at some later stage failed to achieve Requirements Summary to help land a repeated good result, which has reduced production, delayed the start to the season as managers make irrigation decisions. To receive this email service phone Robert well as adding resowing costs of more than O’Connor on 5482 1922 or email $400/ha.

There are a few factors thought t your milk robert.oconnor@ecodev.vic.gov.au ecimpact • Protto on pasture survival when dried off ityover the — Sarah Brown, Dairy Extension Officer qual summer period: DEDJTR Tatura on cooling they will not be as productive or profitable under summer irrigation.

Maximise your water usage by selecting paddocks which irrigate well. Paddocks with longer irrigation times or poor drainage have increased risk of scalding. Stretching the irrigation interval will not save water, it will only stress the plants and use more water at each irrigation, reducing pasture production and quality.

Manage the grazing rotation to achieve the optimum balance between quantity and quality for the dominant species in the paddock. In perennial rye-grass pastures, aim to graze at the two to three-leaf stage to a post grazing residual of 4–6 cm.

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Improve the accuracy of your herd’s Genetic Progress Report by transferring your calving records to your computer or herd test centre sooner rather than later.

Don’t delay calf records Farmers are being reminded to transfer their calf records on to computers.

As the spring-calving period draws to a close, it’s time for dairy farmers to make sure valuable records in their trusty paddock notebook are transferred to computer records, either on the farm PC or at the herd test centre.

Michelle Axford from the Australian Dairy Herd Improvement Scheme (ADHIS) said it could be tempting to delay transferring calf records until a heifer’s first calving.

“By then the paddock book may have gone through the wash, or been lost, and if any of the information needs clarification, it may be too long ago to remember.”

Calf records serve a variety of purposes, including establishing an animal’s pedigree, which influences its financial and breeding values.

“For most dairy businesses, the herd is the second most valuable asset so it’s worth looking after the information that contributes to that value,” Ms Axford said.

“Plus there’s an added bonus from getting calf information into herd records early: your herd’s Genetic Progress Report will be more accurate. ”If you herd record, you will automatically receive a Genetic Progress Report after the April and August release of Australian Breeding Values (ABVs).

“Having calf records entered into the system from an early age means your herd’s genetic progress report will show the impact of more recent breeding decisions,” Ms Axford said.

“Having this feedback sooner means you can take action earlier if needed.

“Without calf records, your Genetic Progress Report will always be lagging for the most recent two years.

“It’s definitely worth making the effort to get your paddock records into your herd recording system in the next few weeks.”

For more information, contact Ms Axford at ADHIS on (03)8621 4240 or email maxford@adhis.com.au DECEMBER 2015

49

REMINDERS FOR DECEMBER/ JANUARY

Not all green pastures Report shows some farmers are struggling.

Gundowring Focus Farm Open Day (Murray Dairy)

Tuesday, December 8 10.45 am to 2 pm. Lunch included Strathmerton Focus Farm Open Day (Murray Dairy)

Thursday, December 10 10.45 am to 1.30 pm. Lunch included International Dairy Week 2016

Sunday, January 17 — Thursday, January 21, 2016 Murray Dairy www.murraydairy.com.au Phone: (03)5833 5312 NCDE www.ncdeagotafe.vic.edu.au Phone: 1300 468 233 DEDJTR www.depi.vic.gov.au Phone: 136 186

A new report by the University of Canberra shows that while Australian farmers are economically efficient producers, they also experience unique challenges to their wellbeing.

Farmers and Agriculture report author Jacki Schirmer drew on data from 3700 Australian farmers who took part in the 2014 Regional Wellbeing Survey to produce a snapshot of how those who work the land for a living are coping.

“While many Australian farmers are going well, with positive wellbeing and experiencing good farming conditions, that’s not the case for everyone,” Dr Schirmer said.

“What is particularly concerning is that farmers are twice as likely as those outside farming to be experiencing moderate to high levels of psychological distress.

“The data shows that farmers in Queensland, much of which is currently experiencing severe drought — as well as crop growers, wine grape and other fruit and vegetable growers and those making a loss on the farm — are more likely to be suffering high psychological distress.”

Dr Schirmer said the financial situation on the farm was important to wellbeing.

“Just under half of all our farmers surveyed are profitable and another 20 per cent is covering their costs, but about 32 per cent is losing money each year and finding it hard to service their debts,” she said.

The report shows farmers commonly report facing numerous barriers to the successful development of their farm, including: • Rising input costs (82 per cent of Australian farmers).

• Falling prices (74 per cent).

• Drought (70 per cent).

• Lack of adequate telecommunications infrastructure (63 per cent).

• Red tape (62 per cent).

• Rising electricity costs (62 per cent).

The 2015 Regional Wellbeing Survey is now open, and Australians living in rural and regional areas can take part by completing the survey at www. regionalwellbeing.org.au or by phoning 1800 981 499 to have a copy of the survey posted to them.

Asian demand may boost production Research suggests Australia’s milk production could increase almost twofold.

The Australian dairy industry has an opportunity to increase milk production from 9.2 billion to 15 billion litres per year due to the growing demand from Asian countries, according to new research.

Most of Australia’s dairy exports are to Asian countries — the key markets being China, Japan and Indonesia — and accounted for about 75 per cent of the total export value in 2014.

According to the research report, Looking for a Sign, released by the ANZ in October, greater China (including Hong Kong and Macau) is now the most important export market for Australia, accounting for 19 per cent of exports by volume and value.

ANZ regional business banking manager

50

DECEMBER 2015

Christine Linden said Australia’s agricultural sector was crucial for the future prosperity of the economy and its growth offered substantial employment opportunities on farms, in processing and in the services sectors.

“As we benefit from Asia’s growing population and expanding middle class, we need a renewed focus on agriculture and the dairy sector in particular, to help underpin a stronger and more profitable regional Australia”, Ms Linden said.

The report highlighted the need for the Australian dairy industry to innovate and embrace new approaches, which may be restricted by key industry issues such as a fragmented dairy supply chain.

The report said although Australia currently only accounted for about two per cent of the world’s milk production, there was potential for all dairy export products to increase due to the rapid growth of the Asian middle classes and their increased preference for dairy in their diets.

ANZ’s head of agribusiness Mark Bennett said the report showed that domestic dairy consumption had “barely changed” in the past decade and this could be offset by the opportunity presented by the Asian market.

According to one of the report’s key findings, the recent wave of acquisitions and largescale investments from multinationals indicate Australia is being recognised as a reliable and profitable destination for dairy investment.

Kick Off 2016 with Australia’s Dairy & Farm Machinery Field Days

a u s t r a l i a

19 to 21 January, Tatura, Victoria Your chance to see and hear the latest on: • calf rearing equipment

A good place to do business and a good place to socialise.

Follow us on

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• feeding, milking & dairy machinery, matting & flooring and free stall barn equipment • animal health products • tractors, airseeders and planters • hay, silage, mowers, slashers and fodder equipment • pastures, seeds & additives • hay and feed supplies • irrigation equipment, pumps & water storage and treatment systems • tanks, cartage and storage • artificial breeding systems • solar technology and solutions, air-conditioning & heating • farm supplies & merchandise

Gates: Open from 9.00 am.

Proudly Supported By

Entry: $10.00 adults, children free. Free Seminars & Workshops to attend Venue: Tatura Park Exhibition Centre, Hastie Street, Tatura, Victoria. www.internationaldairyweek.com.au Commercial exhibition space is available for the field day event, proudly supported by Dairy News Australia.

See www.internationaldairyweek.com.au for booking forms; call Robyn on 0418 656 082 or email info@internationaldairyweek.com.au.

DECEMBER 2015

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DECEMBER 2015