Dairy News Australia August 2021 by Dairy News Australia

Genetics Australia sells Parwan Park for $3 million PAGE 23 END OF AN ERA

John Gardiner’s Avonlea Holstein herd to go under the hammer� PAGE 4

GRANT SUPPORT

Milking trade opportunities� PAGE 29

AUGUST, 2021 ISSUE 130 // www.dairynewsaustralia.com.au

FULL CIRCLE From the Northern Territory to northern Victoria - James Dillon has a long history of working in a range of environments but now he’s returned to Gippsland. PAGE 6

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MARKETS // 3

Aussies love their dairy IN THE world of COVID-19, things tend to

Seven farms and growing. PG.10

Silage key to long-term future. PG.21

Knowledge helps build a resilient business. PG.26

NEWS �� 4-30 ANIMAL HEALTH ��31-32 MACHINERY & PRODUCTS ��35-39

move quickly. One week travel and social catch-ups are in place — and then the next, snap-lockdowns and border closures are the new norm. In light of all these changes, Australian’s love for dairy has remained consistent, as reported in Dairy Australia’s latest Situation and Outlook report. Whilst domestic dairy demand overall has remained strong throughout this pandemic, some changes have emerged which are impacting the broader supply chain. One of these key changes is where consumers like to spend their money. During the three months to March, Australians spent slightly more (0.8 per cent) in foodservice channels than the same period in 2019. Café and restaurant demand has started to improve, however continues to track lower than before the pandemic. Takeaway and quick service restaurants remain the catalysts for the recovery in overall foodservice sales, as consumers across the country continue to prefer to eat their meals at home. Generally, more dairy is used in these outlets — for example, shredded cheese on pizzas — and thus consumers’ move to these shops is supporting dairy product demand.

Alongside a shift in where consumers spend their money, there has been a notable pivot in what sort of products people buy. During the past year, consumers have grown increasingly mindful about their spending habits and are taking more care when choosing what products to buy. This has led to consumption changes and seen an increased focus on branded products over private label variants. Everyday-style cheese sales grew 3.7 per cent in volume in the past year to 18 April, due to a rise in demand for branded packs, which was up nine per cent. In comparison, sales of private label everyday-style cheese only grew 0.3 per cent. A similar trend can be observed in the sales of most dairy products. This development has been apparent across almost all income levels, with only above average and high affluence households increasing their purchases of private label products. These groups bought more private label fresh milk and Greek-style yoghurt in the past year, while people in lower income brackets turned to branded products. This is a marked change to usual sales patterns, as low affluence households tend to be overrepresented as buyers of private label

products. This signals a potential change in what consumers favour when making shopping decisions, leading to improved value creation opportunities for the industry. Additionally, consumers continue to shop less often than before this pandemic and opt for more planned trips. As such, they are buying more and larger pack sizes each time they shop, at the expense of smaller pack sizes and more frequent store visits. Dairy Australia’s domestic sales data also shows that sales of three-litre milk bottles grew faster than smaller pack sizes, up 5.8 per cent in the six months to February compared to the year prior. The dairy industry as a whole has so far managed to navigate its way through COVID19 disruptions reasonably unscathed. With the pandemic being far from over, rapidly changing restrictions are likely to remain part of our ‘new normal’. Encouragingly, consumer demand for dairy products appears reliable no matter the latest COVID-19 development. An increased focus on branded products by consumers also bodes well and is likely to support returns through the supply chain going forward.

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA AUGUST 2021

4 // NEWS

Bowing out in grand style SOPHIE BALDWIN

IT WILL be the end of an era for John Gardiner when his well-known Avonlea Holstein dairy herd goes under the hammer in September. The decision to sell has been a hard one for Mr Gardiner, who describes breeding and showing cows as one of his greatest passions — but at the end of the day, the physical demands and 24/7 nature of the industry have taken their toll. “Dairying and the show world have given me so many great memories over the years. It

will take some adjustment and support from my family as I learn to cope without it,” Mr Gardiner said. The change will be a huge adjustment for the whole Gardiner family, including Mr Gardiner’s wife Cherie and children Luke and Amy. Mrs Gardiner has been an enormous support and shared the workload with her husband, along with Luke and Amy; Luke in particular has an avid interest in showing and preparing the cattle. Avonlea Holsteins has played an integral role in the Australian dairy scene, and its proud history can be traced back to 1948 when Mr Gardiner’s

father Harley first started milking Friesians at Colac. “Back then they weren’t a very popular breed and nowhere near the quality of cattle they are today,” Mr Gardiner said. Despite the poorer quality of the cows, Harley had an eye for breeding good cattle and he soon set about improving herd quality. Harley passed away a couple of years ago at 94 years of age, and he remained passionate about the cows until the day he died. Mr Gardiner said back in those early days it was the purchase of three bulls, Glenjoy Belinda

Duke, Glenjoy Raelene Duke and in particular Glenjoy Darkie Dream Boy the 2nd, that formed the strong foundation for the cows Avonlea is so well known for today. “The Glenjoy cows played a significant role and left their mark as beautiful dairy cows who also knew how to work hard, and by the early 70s we had the top production herd in Victoria,” Mr Gardiner said. It was about this time the family started to host an annual on-farm sale, selling in-calf heifers, a few cows and about 20 bulls. “By the mid 70s we had certainly embraced AI

Judge Brian Leslie, Drew and Glen Gordon (Gorbro Holsteins), and John, Cherie, Luke and Amy Gardiner (Avonlea) with Supreme Senior Champion Murribrook Reginald Victory, owned by the Gorbro and Avonlea studs, at the 2021 Winter Fair.

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NEWS // 5 and Dad was one of the early breeders to take on embryo transfer, it was his initiative and resulted in a definite improvement in our genetics.” Mr Gardiner began his own journey into dairying when he left school at 15, milking 100 cows on one of the family farms at Five Ways, Devon Meadows, Victoria. “My life passion has always been to breed better cows. It has been a blessing in many ways and never been just a job, I have always gone and done that little bit extra because I have such a love for cows,” he said. Mr Gardiner said a pivotal moment and one of his fondest memories was when Avonlea won its first champion cow at the Melbourne Royal show. “This was a huge show back then and there would have been over 200 cows, so to win was a pretty big thing and such an amazing feeling.” He also remembers the 1990 Royal Melbourne where Avonlea took home ribbons for champion and reserve champion, junior champion and reserve champion, and junior and reserve champion bull. “Showing always helped us compare the quality of our cows to others and it was also a great way of promoting the herd. “It is always a joy to work with cows to bring out and show their true potential — cows have four stomachs and to learn how to work with all of them and to get them to look like they do, while producing milk, shows just how amazing they really are.” And while it is always hard to pick a favourite, Mr Gardiner says Avonlea Jet Essie would have to come close after winning All Australian cow three times and All World Cow in 1994. “She was bred up by the family and there will be some of her descendants to go through the sale in September.” The Winter Fair held in Bendigo at the end of June was the final swansong for the Gardiner family, and Mr Gardiner said he couldn’t have written the script any better. Avonlea bred or owned nine class winners and took home the trifecta in the intermediate class, winning champion, reserve and honourable mention. “We had a half share in the senior champion and bred the honourable mention senior champion and we also earned premier breeder and exhibitor titles,” Mr Gardiner said. The sale will be hosted by Dairy Livestock Services on September 29 at Cardinia. It will include in-calf heifers and milking animals with the young stock to be sold the following year.

Cherie and John Gardiner with Avonlea Linjet Fran at International Dairy Week, Tatura in 2005.

The sale will be a big change for the whole Gardiner family, including John’s wife Cherie and children Luke (pictured) and Amy. Photo: Fleur Ferguson photography

Avonlea Holsteins’ history can be traced back to 1948 when John Gardiner’s father Harley first started milking Friesians at Colac. Photo: Fleur Ferguson photography

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6 // NEWS

Ruby’s rain is James’ gain JEANETTE SEVERS

James Dillon’s gumboots get a regular workout since he started share farming at Ruby, where annual rainfall averages one metre.

JAMES DILLON is in a 50:50 share farming arrangement with Michael Malone, at Ruby, in South Gippsland. Mr Dillon brings labour, the milking herd and machinery to the agreement, and Mr Malone provides the land and infrastructure. All feed and contractor costs are 50:50. Mr Dillon moved to South Gippsland from Waaia, in northern Victoria, after milking for some years on an irrigated dairy farm he owned in partnership. He sold his interest in the farm in July this year. “We owned a fair bit of water but unless you had consistent good seasons, it was a battle to make a living,” he said. “From my experience share farming for nine years in West Gippsland, I wanted to come back to the region.” Mr Dillon has a long history of working in diverse environments in the dairy industry — he

Two good seasons means James Dillon was able to retain 300 bales of silage from each of the past couple of years.

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA AUGUST 2021

NEWS // 7 has milked cows at Katherine in the Northern Territory, on King Island in Tasmania, in West Gippsland and northern Victoria. It was previous experience milking and managing herds in Gippsland that saw him move to Ruby, frustrated with trying to buy irrigation at ever-increasing prices in northern Victoria. He was after a more kind climate and reliable rainfall. In the past couple of seasons Mr Dillon’s business plans have benefited from the reliable rainfall of South Gippsland. The Ruby district has an annual rainfall of one metre and it rains pretty much every week. On the other side of the coin, Mr Dillon has also experienced m anaging black beetle and cockchafer infestations on a substantial part of the milking platform. He milks a herd of 300 cows — a mix of Holsteins, Ayreshires, Aussie Reds, Jerseys and cross-breds — off a 154 ha milking platform of steep hilly country. The farm is 182 ha and an out-block near Inverloch is used to raise heifers from 12 months old to point-of-calving. The split-calving herd is joined using artificial insemination followed by dairy and beef mop-up bulls. All heifers are synchronised before AI. Mr Dillon uses age as an indicator for when the heifers are ready to be joined. He has only had to sell two heifers that didn’t get in-calf.

“Joining is done to fit with the calving pattern,” he said. “Autumn-drop calves become autumn-calving heifers; spring-drop calves become springcalving heifers.” The heifer calves from AI are retained. The progeny of mop-up bulls are sold as week-old calves, as are the bull calves that result from the AI joining. Mr Dillon uses production figures to decide if empty cows are carried through and get a second chance to join, or are sold. “Split calving means I can carry over cows that are good producers,” he said. For the past 10 years Mr Dillon has used Speckle Park bulls as mop-ups. “Heifers get one AI, followed by mop-up with Speckle Park bulls,” he said. “I chose the Speckle Park 10 years ago for heifers and still use them for the resale value of the calves.” Production averages 7000 litres/cow/year, with 4.3 per cent fat and 3.4 per cent protein. Although Mr Dillon originally thought he’d milk Holstein cows, he likes the mixed breed status of his herd. He has also spent most of his life showing Ayreshires at International Dairy Week. “Everything in the herd is here because of its production. The Jerseys are here because they pay their way.

The split-calving herd of 300 cows contains Holsteins, Ayreshires, Jerseys, Aussie Reds and cross-breeds.

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“I added in the Aussie Red as a first cross, and the crossbred cows outperform the Holsteins, whereas the pure Aussie Red don’t. Jerseys keep getting in calf and their production is pretty good, so they stay here. “The Ayreshires are in the herd because I enjoy showing cows, and have since I was a kid.”

Infested pasture Normally 20 ha of country is resowed every year. A contractor spreads fertiliser in March/early April to boost pasture before winter grazing and drive spring growth to meet the needs of twothirds of the herd being fresh-in-milk. From late September to November, hay and silage is harvested. “We made 600 rolls of silage in my first year, and 900 last year, with 60-odd rolls of hay,” Mr Dillon said. “This year I’m carrying over 600 rolls of silage — each year I’ve carried over 300 rolls because the summers have been good.” He sowed turnips as a forage crop in his first season. “It helps in the cultivation of these paddocks, and I sow perennial rye-grass following the turnips,” he said. “I’m looking to sow again this year for summer foraging.

“It’s taken a fair bit of work in the paddocks in the last two years to create the system that I like to work with.” The black beetle and cockchafer infestations over summer limited the number of paddocks in the rotation and required 60 ha of damaged pasture to be resowed this year, in late autumn. Both beetles can be a problem in high rainfall zones, such as parts of Gippsland. Pupae can be an additional problem, living in the soil and eating the roots of grasses. “The first indication something was wrong was the flocks of birds in the paddocks,” Mr Dillon said. “I went to investigate. I found the beetles were needling away in the soil. They really destroyed the pastures. “I had to spray out and resow 60 ha of what’s normally productive pasture. “I’ll just have to keep an eye on it and hope the beetles don’t recur.” At the other end of winter, pasture recovery is looking good, and a drier-than-normal winter reduced pugging in the paddocks. “The season has been good. Pasture growth is where I want it to be at this time of year (late July),” Mr Dillon said. “I calved 20 heifers in autumn and 42 heifers calved down in winter.”

James Dillon had to spray and resow 60 hectares of pasture this year because of cockchafer and black beetle infestations. The paddocks in the background have taken time to come back from the pest invasion.

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8 // NEWS

More positive news for sector AUSTRALIA’S AGRICULTURE sector, including dairy, is forecast to perform strongly in the second half of 2021, further demonstrating its resilience in the face of trade impacts and COVID-19, according to Rural Bank’s Australian agriculture mid-year outlook 2021 report. The report, which analyses the performance of six industries — cattle, cropping, dairy, horticulture, sheep and wool — and the broader economy, expects that as the Australian economy recovers, demand for domestic commodities will continue to rebound. Seasonal conditions, COVID-19 and trade conditions, all of which shaped the success of agricultural markets in 2020, have continued to actively influence the sector’s performance in 2021. These themes will continue to be the major influencing factors in agriculture for the remainder of the year. Rural Bank’s chief operating officer Will Rayner said even when taking these factors into account, there was cause for optimism on the outlook for Australian commodities. “Although South Australia and western Victoria experienced a dry start to 2021, the probability of a wet winter is looking positive for the production of most commodities and will assist continuing efforts to rebuild livestock numbers,” he said. “Market sentiment has improved on early signs of recovery from the impacts of COVID-19 as outbreaks in key export markets slowly come under control and vaccine distribution rolls out.” Rural Bank’s Agribusiness — Tasmania regional manager Dean Lalor said milk supply would continue to climb higher relative to 2020– 21 in most states, led by Tasmania and Victoria. “Supply growth will be assisted by strong milk prices, favourable levels of feed and cheaper input costs for water and grain,” he said. “However, early winter rainfall in parts of Victoria which caused flooding will present ongoing challenges for some farmers. In global markets, strengthening demand for finished dairy products, particularly from Asia, is expected to underpin historically high prices.” Dairy sector summary ■ Australian milk production is forecast to increase one to two per cent in 2021–22, building on production growth of about one per cent in 2020–21. After a year of consolidation, the focus is expected to shift towards herd growth. However, high cattle

Rural Bank says it expects farmers will have an increased focus on herd growth during the next 12 months.

■

prices, strong competition for land and instances of labour shortages may cause herds to rebuild at a slower rate. Increasing milk supply in Australia will provide a higher exportable surplus, which is likely to lead to growth in export value of five to eight per cent for 2021–22. Demand for milk powder is expected to remain above year-on-year levels for July to December. This is driven primarily by

■

underlying demand from China but also interest from other countries. However, the bulk of China’s purchasing in 2020 occurred between January and May, suggesting there is a low likelihood of exceeding the monthly highs set earlier this year as supply of finished product traditionally dips over winter. Australian milk processors have reacted to a buoyant global dairy market and highly

competitive domestic milk pool by raising opening milk prices. Closing price estimates and revisions to opening prices suggest there may be multiple step-ups during the season. The mid-point price across southern Australia is expected to be four to five per cent higher than 2020–21. Read the full report here: www.ruralbank. com.au/knowledge-and-insights/publications/ agriculture-outlook/

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10 // NEWS

Seven farms and growing RICK BAYNE

WITH SEVEN farms under his belt and another to join the stable later this year, Chris Procter could be excused for thinking it’s time to relax on the beach. His seven farms are in south-east South Australia while his new addition, which he expects to occupy by December, will be his first in Gippsland in Victoria. Mr Procter has been on a buying frenzy, adding four farms in the past two years, but has no plans to slow down. When asked if he was ever going to stop buying farms, Mr Procter doesn’t hesitate in saying no as he loves being on the land.

“There won’t be any more buying farms. . . for another 12 months or so.” Speaking at a WestVic Dairy Young Dairy Network (YDN) Getting Ahead in Dairy field day, Mr Procter said he had always had too much energy to simply relax on the beach, but he had devised a plan that meant he could step out of the spotlight and enjoy a bit of sun at some stage. “I’m trying to get enough scale so that my job disappears,” he said. “We’ve set up the governance around an independent chairman of the family board, my three sons and accountant. We hope to appoint a COO by the end of this year to ease my workload.” Mr Procter has three sons who don’t plan to be active farmers but have invested money in two of the farms.

“They want to grow as well,” Mr Procter said. “I want strong governance to keep the business going forward so I can maybe have a little holiday at the beach.” He has different management structures for each of the farms with sharefarmers, managers and contract milkers. Mr Procter has always thrived on independence and setting goals. He didn’t inherit the family farm, but knew he wanted to build enough capital to step back from the milking shed by the time he was 40. With advice from good mentors, teenage Mr Procter in his native New Zealand started as a farm cadet on three different farms in the Waikato region before winning a scholarship to Massey University to study agriculture. He then

contract milked for two years before 50/50 sharemilking on two farms for seven years. He bought his first farm in Ashburton in 1994. In 2007 with increasing land prices in New Zealand, and poorer cash returns, Mr Procter looked to Australia. “I have always worked on cash returns,” he said. Mr Procter entered an equity partnership with two friends that ended up with two farms milking 1025 cows while still farming in New Zealand. He moved to Australia permanently seven years ago and since then the expansion has been huge. “Six years ago, I had 25 per cent share over the two farms. I have since bought the partners

Chris Proctor has seven farms in South Australia and his new addition, which he expects to occupy by December, will be his first in Gippsland in Victoria.

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NEWS // 11 out of those farms and purchased another five and with the Gippsland farm it will take us over the 5000 cows producing up to 2.8 million kg/ milk solids.” His constant growth is part of a long-term strategy. “I love buying and developing farms and bringing people into it and helping younger people along,” Mr Procter said. “I’m hoping in another few years the business will be still investing in agriculture with some serious governance around it.” Four of the farms are run by 50:50 sharefarmers, one has a contract milker and two are run by managers. When purchasing, Mr Procter looks for simplicity of the system, water and profit potential. “I want simple systems for the people and the cows; one calving, usually around 550– 650 cows that will be run in one herd, and irrigation. Having farmed with irrigation for 25 years, I understand how to apply water to grow grass.” The farms usually run around a 4.3 cows/ha stocking rate — 2400 kg of liveweight per hectare under the irrigation, so they need to grow 20,000 kg/DM/pa under irrigation. They usually start calving on August 5 and finish in the middle of October. Even though there’s only one calving, most of the farms milk every day of the year with the system built around growing a lot of grass under the pivots. The system is pasture-based and uses two perennial rye-grasses and two white clovers that have performed well in the forage variety trials under irrigation.

About eight to 10 per cent of the irrigated platform is renovated each year. All the farms use Agri Net, an Irish-developed pasture software to monitor pasture growth, demand and pasture curve, with the results posted on a WhatsApp group weekly. Mr Procter also wants farms close to a staff pool and properties that have aesthetic appeal. All his farms’ names finish with ‘park’. “The aesthetic side of it is almost as important as the returns,” Mr Procter said. “If anyone drove past any of my farms, they’d say it’s well presented.” He also wants a 10 per cent cash return. The farms don’t have a nutritionist or agronomist. “We do that ourselves; we have a lot of experience amongst all of us.” The machinery is basic and just what the farm needs. “If I’m buying a farm, I budget on $180,000 — $190,000 for machinery,” Mr Procter said, with one tractor, farm utility, mower, bale buggy, motorbikes and calf equipment. “I like getting as much cash out of the farms as I can, not to reinvest in machinery and concrete but for putting into more land and cows. “I don’t change the farming system to match the milk price,” Mr Procter said. “Our system matches the pasture growth curve. We’re stocked to the hilt but only feed one to 1.4 tonne of grain and only put silage into the milkers at the end of autumn and winter.” When looking for staff, Mr Procter seeks farmers who want to grow their own stake in the industry, but they need to have skills “at the

far end of the bell curve” to contribute to the financial and physical performance. “For me to employ sharemilkers I need people with outstanding skill sets and attitude to give me the returns I need,” Mr Procter said. “I’m confident a number of my share milkers will go on to their own farms either on their own or in partnership with me.” Mr Procter has been able to replicate a sustainable model of farming around Mount Gambier and is confident his first Victorian investment will be a success. “When I first came across from New Zealand, I thought I would be buying in Gippsland,” he said. “I struck it lucky in South Australia. “With a number of farms, people have rung to see if I would be interested in buying them. I only got caught in one bidding war.”

He also hopes to continue to play a part in developing young farmers, saying “they keep me young”. “It’s a great industry,” he said. “There is a way for young farmers to grow capital that maybe isn’t there in other agricultural sectors by using the share farming, contract milking model. “I’m on the farms most of the time and I enjoy being out there with staff and sharefarmers. “My skill sets have changed over time. A lot of those running my farms have more farming skills than me. “I don’t have any target. It’s around growing a sustainable business and having superb young farmers running the farms. “I had a couple of great employers back in New Zealand when I was a teenager who gave me great advice and were very supportive to me. I hope I can do the same.”

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA AUGUST 2021

12 // NEWS

Rain equals milk in the vat JEANETTE SEVERS

Neil Bjorksten, of Sale, is very happy with production after solid rainfall backed up a strong irrigation season.

Using batch calving, milking herd numbers haven’t dropped below 170 during the year.

NEIL AND Kerry Bjorksten are celebrating one of their best seasons in a while, with solid rainfall throughout late autumn backing up a successful spring and summer irrigation period. “The season is looking very promising. We’ve had some rain and everything is wet,” Mr Bjorksten said. He operates a single-person dairy farm on the outskirts of Sale, in the Macalister Irrigation District in south-east Victoria. He milks a herd of 200 cows off a dairy platform of 85 hectares, and runs heifers and steers on turnout country. “We had plenty of water available when we needed it during the irrigation season, August to May. We had a dry February and March, but could irrigate all the dairy platform,” Mr Bjorksten said. “We’ve also had regular rainfall through the year, which has given us one of the best seasons we’ve had in a long time.” The Bjorkstens recently sold their out-block and bought an irrigated property closer to the home farm, which has improved their options for producing pasture. Mr Bjorksten over-sows the dairy platform every year, direct drilling with Crusader biennial forage Italian rye-grass. Sown between the middle of February to the end of March, it’s a

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NEWS // 13 strategy that enables Mr Bjorksten to plan for cows to graze year-round on the flat country of the farm. He cuts silage and hay opportunistically off the farm, when the season enables a grazing surplus and contractors are available. Otherwise, he buys fodder — silage locally and hay from northern Victoria.

Easing the load One of the ways Mr Bjorksten manages the workload is to batch-calve his cows. It means there is more calf-rearing spread over the year, but reduces risk and input costs. “The cows calve in five batches. It reduces the labour required to raise calves, and it reduces risk,” he said. “If a calf gets sick, there’s fewer calves at risk of exposure when you only have small groups to worry about. You can also keep the pens cleaner.” Because Mr Bjorksten keeps all the calves to grow them out, it also enables him to have a rolling income from the sale of steers throughout the year. “I grow out the steers to 550 to 600 kg. We grow them out to 400 kg on our turnout block, then I move them to opportunistic agistment. “I sell most of them direct through Coles and McDonald’s, and any excess I sell through the saleyards. We raise about 80 steers throughout the year.” They are two examples of management system changes he has made to improve workload as a sole operator.

Seeing red About seven years ago, Mr Bjorksten started transitioning the herd from Holstein-Friesian to Aussie Red.

Using AI, he now joins the herd with 20 per cent Aussie Red semen and 80 per cent Friesian semen. “About 40 per cent of the herd is Aussie RedFriesian cross,” he said. “I transitioned to build more strength into the cows and improve their fertility.” Production is down this season — about 10 to 15 per cent on last year — after selling 50 cows during the year because of improved prices. “We’re down 200,000 litres, but we’ve also dropped our grain from six to four kilograms per day/cow, and that has also, no doubt, affected production,” he said. “In the last 12 months, the herd hasn’t gone below 170 head, with drying off and batch calving.”

The herd is 40 per cent Aussie Red-Friesian cross. About seven years ago, Neil Bjorksten started using Aussie Red semen in an AI program to transition his herd away from Friesian.

The dairy platform is over-sown with Crusader biennial forage Italian rye-grass.

Silage and hay are purchased rather than harvested.

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA AUGUST 2021

14 // NEWS

From London to Ecklin and a life in dairy THERE AREN’T many dairy cows on the streets

of London, but former Londoner Lillie Smith has found her calling in life on a dairy farm at Ecklin South in south-west Victoria. Ms Smith, 26, arrived in Australia on a backpacking holiday five years ago with partner Ethan Brown. Working on a banana farm at Cairns was their first taste of the country’s farming system, but Ms Smith wanted to give dairy farming a go. “The banana farm was very different and we came to love the farming lifestyle,” she said. But she wanted more. “I don’t know what it was, but something in me wanted to try dairy farming. We eventually ended up on a dairy farm and fell in love with it and haven’t changed since.” Neither Ms Smith nor Mr Brown had any connection to dairy farming back in London, where Ms Smith worked as a swimming teacher, but they are making up for lost time. Ms Smith is now progressing in the industry with a Diploma of Agronomy and Advanced Diploma of Agribusiness Management from Longerenong Agricultural College, supported by a DemoDAIRY Foundation scholarship. She completed the courses alongside Mr Brown.

Ms Smith and Mr Brown are also making a move in their careers, progressing to a management role on a farm at Nullawarre as they continue their campaign to become permanent residents. With mooing in the background as Ms Smith goes about her daily calf-raising duties, she says the dairy industry is full of opportunity. “It’s hard work but the rewards you get from it are worth it. You know you’re working towards something and you’re helping to feed the world. “It’s hard to explain but when you’ve pulled a calf out of a cow and two years later you see her in the dairy, it makes it all worthwhile. “The winter is the only negative but I really love the south-west. It reminds me of England a little bit and we want this to be our home.” Her parents were initially a bit unsure about their daughter relocating to Australia, but they visited early on and share Ms Smith’s enthusiasm. “Now they both want to move here,” she said. Ms Smith said her and Mr Brown’s diploma courses had added to their on-farm experiences. “Although it wasn’t dairy focused, it was a good all-round course with valuable information about use of chemicals, weed control, animal

health and soil health. There was a lot of information that I didn’t know if I would need, but I actually did,” Ms Smith said. The DemoDAIRY Foundation scholarship made it possible. “Every weekend we would drive two-and-ahalf hours to and from college to work at the dairy,” Ms Smith said.

“The scholarship really helped out with fuel costs and we also put it towards the course costs because it’s more expensive for international students.” Information about DemoDAIRY Foundation scholarships can be found at www.demodairy. com.au

Lillie Smith says her DemoDAIRY Foundation scholarship helped cover training costs.

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA AUGUST 2021

16 // NEWS

Lactalis in the Federal Court THE MAJOR dairy processor Lactalis Australia

has been hauled before the Federal Court on charges relating to the new Dairy Code of Conduct. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission alleges Lactalis breached a number of provisions of the code, and, in doing so weakened the bargaining power of farmers who supply milk to the company. All of the allegations against Lactalis relate to milk supply agreements offered to dairy farmers in 2020; more recent agreements published on Lactalis’ website on June 1, 2021 are not the subject of the ACCC’s allegations. Lactalis Australia issued a statement saying it regretted that the matter (has escalated to this point), and that the ACCC had instituted proceedings. “Lactalis Australia believes that we fully complied with the Dairy Code of Conduct, which is currently subject to its own review by the ACCC and industry to address widespread implementation concerns. “The issues raised by the ACCC regarding Lactalis Australia are technical, legal issues that did not adversely impact our farmers in any way,’’ the statement said. “In any event, we have made all required changes to address those technicalities.” Lactalis is one of Australia’s largest dairy processors and purchases milk from more than

400 dairy farmers across all Australian states. The company produces a wide range of dairy products across a number of brands including Pauls, Oak, Vaalia and Ice Break. ACCC deputy chair Mick Keogh said the allegations made by the ACCC included that Lactalis failed to make its milk supply agreements publicly available on its website by the deadline of 2 pm on June 1, 2020, as required by the code, and instead required farmers to sign up to a mailing list to receive a copy of the agreements. “This had the effect of reducing the transparency of the terms and conditions in Lactalis’ milk supply agreements during a critical and limited timeframe in which farmers had to weigh their supply options. “Farmers need to have access to timely information when making decisions about which processor to supply milk to,” Mr Keogh said. The ACCC also alleges Lactalis failed to publish genuine non-exclusive milk supply agreements, which is a key requirement under the code as it gives farmers more flexibility in choosing who to supply to. Instead, Lactalis required farmers to supply a minimum of 90 per cent of their monthly production volume, which the ACCC alleges would prohibit most farmers from supplying milk to another processor. It is also alleged that Lactalis failed to comply with the code’s “single document” requirement

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by failing to provide farmers with all three documents that made up Lactalis’ milk supply agreement. In a majority of cases, only one of the three documents was provided to farmers at the time the agreement was executed. “It is very important that farmers have access to a complete record of the milk supply agreement they have signed up to. This safeguards against any subsequent changes to the agreement, and allows both parties to understand their rights and obligations,” Mr Keogh said. In addition, Lactalis published and entered into milk supply agreements with farmers that permitted it to terminate the agreement when, in the opinion of Lactalis, the farmer had engaged in “public denigration” of processors, key customers or other stakeholders.

“The ACCC alleges this clause would allow Lactalis to terminate agreements in circumstances where there was not a material breach, when the code requires that for processors to unilaterally terminate agreements, the circumstances must involve a material breach by the farmer. “We are continuing to assess agreements published on 1 June this year for compliance with the code,” Mr Keogh said. “The ACCC reminds dairy processors that failure to comply with the dairy code may result in enforcement action by the ACCC and attract penalties.” The ACCC is seeking orders including penalties, declarations, injunctions, a corrective advertising order and costs.

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA AUGUST 2021

18 // NEWS

Farmers control fate of levy DAIRY FARMERS will soon hold the fate of

The levy is being reviewed by the Levy Poll Advisory committee

the dairy service levy in their hands. Soon a poll will be conducted of all dairy farmers to help determine the direction the levy takes — possible options include increasing, decreasing or wiping the levy entirely from existence. Levy Poll Advisory Committee chair Ron Storey said the decision to let dairy farmers have a vote was unanimous. “The last levy poll was almost 10 years ago,” Mr Storey said.

“A lot has changed during that time for farmers and the industry looks quite different. “There are challenges, but there are also great opportunities.” The levy is being reviewed by the committee, which will now develop the voting options to go in the ballot. The poll is expected to take place in March 2022, with an outcome on the levy in April 2022. “It’s important that the Australian dairy industry has the right settings for future investment, so that it can develop and realise its full potential,” Mr Storey said. “This poll puts the decision in the hands of those with most at stake, the dairy farmers.” The committee and its members will continue seeking input and feedback from farmers in the coming weeks to determine the voting options.

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The International Dairy Federation recently launched the fourth edition of its Dairy Sustainability Outlook series, which it says provides new case studies to support the dairy sector in delivering on its commitment to sustainable development. The release of IDF Dairy Sustainability Outlook 4 coincided with the United Nations Food Systems preSummit held in Rome on July 26. “The UN Food Systems Summit (to be held in September) and presummit are an important opportunity to focus attention on milk and raise awareness of dairy’s part in healthy diets, responsible food production, and supporting livelihoods and communities,” IDF director general Caroline Emond said. Seventeen case studies from the dairy community are presented that look at how dairy contributes to global health and wellness by delivering vital nutrition in the form of high-quality protein and essential vitamins and minerals. Ms Emond said the case studies also demonstrated how dairy helped reduce poverty and contribute to nutritional security, and how global dairy production was part of critical infrastructure. “The edition also shows clearly how dairy is a staple food with traditions deeply woven into societies all around the world. The versatility and affordability of milk and dairy products allow for varied use and incorporation into various dietary patterns and across different cultures. This is supported by (Food and Agriculture Organization) data showing that more than one billion people’s livelihoods are supported by the dairy sector and that dairy is consumed by more than six billion people globally.” The commitment of the global dairy sector to the UN Sustainable Development Goals was formalised by the Dairy Declaration of Rotterdam signed by the IDF and the FAO in 2016. IDF Dairy Sustainability Outlook 4 is free to all and can be downloaded from fil-idf.org/

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA AUGUST 2021

20 // NEWS

Rochester factory still idle THE FORMER Murray Goulburn factory occupying the heart of Rochester still lies idle after three years. Residents are growing weary of the inaction over the site’s future and fear a repeat of the Leitchville experience, where the former dairy factory, owned by Murray Goul-

The gates at the Rochester factory remain locked.

burn, was locked up and not offered for sale for 10 years. Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh said the site had left a huge empty hole in the middle of the town, and was becoming a monument to the decline of the dairy industry. He said dairy companies were reluctant to release assets that could be used by a competitor when there was such a demand for milk, and this may be why the new owner was reluctant to sell the site. However he said he doubted the factory, devoted to cheese and milk powder, would be that attractive for today’s dairy industry which was focused on more higher value products. The factory closed in 2018, and in 2019 new owner Saputo suggested the site would be prepared for sale. Lino Saputo Jr, the chief executive officer, told Dairy News in 2019 that the site was likely to go on the market the same year. Mr Saputo said the company’s global practice on redundant factories was to close them and remove the equipment and machinery, and then sell the property. Asked about the plans for the factory, Saputo released an anonymous statement on June 14, saying: “Saputo Dairy Australia is in the process of repurposing equipment and machinery from the closed Rochester factory, with a view to undertake a sale process for the site.”

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Victoria’s new online game licensing system, My Game Licence, is now available to all new, existing and prospective game hunters in Victoria. MyGL is compatible with mobile devices, allowing people to easily apply for a game licence, update personal details, renew their licence, book hound hunting and waterfowl identification tests, apply for hog deer tags, and transfer hound ownership. Victoria has recently recorded more than 60,000 game licence holders, up from nearly 52,000 at this time last year. Game Management Authority chief executive officer Graeme Ford said all of Victoria’s game licence holders would benefit from the new online system, which provided education materials including eLearning modules for hunters, helping to ensure game hunting was conducted in a safe and sustainable way. “MyGL will also be used to communicate important information to licensed hunters on changes to game hunting laws and regulations, including season arrangements,” he said. “The new online game licensing system is a modern approach to game licensing in Victoria, replacing the previous system where hunters were required to mail in their licence application and renewal requests.” For more information and to access MyGL, visit gma.vic.gov.au

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA AUGUST 2021

NEWS // 21

Silage key to farm’s long-term future FOR THE 1000-cow Glenbank Farm outside

Tocumwal, silage is a must. The boom or bust water allocations NSW farmers have come to know mean dairy farmers need to be ready to go big — or survive on nothing — at the drop of a hat. Kristen Clark and her sister Donna run their mother’s dairy farm together. “When water is available we have to grow as much fodder as we can so then we’ve got this year’s and next year’s in storage for the drought times,” Kristen Clark said. “We would like to have two years in reserve. In the drought we’d drawn right down on it and now we’re building up again. We did well with the corn last year and hopefully we can do it again this year.”

Last year the Clarks produced 4500 tonnes of fodder off their farm — 2500 of that corn and 2000 dryland cereals. “When there is water we do a bit of grass silage, otherwise it’s other crops,” Ms Clark said. For more than a decade the farm has been steadily adopting a barn-style, intensive approach to dairy farming as the sisters plan for the effects of climate change. Their sheltered feedpad was constructed in 2005 and continues to hold up against daily use in winter and near-constant use in summer. The feeding-out becomes more intensive in summer when the pasture is taking a hit from the heat and lack of rain. “We’ve got a feed-out guy who is pretty much full-time feeding cows,” Ms Clark said.

Kristen Clark and her two sons, Isaac (7) and Xavier (5) Crighton in Glenbank Farm’s covered feedpad. The area can hold the farm’s entire milking herd, which fluctuates between 900 and 1000 cows.

“At the moment we are still grazing so he’s not so hard-pressed, but in the summer he needs to be ready to go as soon as the cows are being milked.” The Clarks use contractors to harvest their fodder, with practically everything going into pits. Pit silage is then pulled out with a grab head on a JCB telehandler and taken to the feedpad in a silage mixer wagon on the back of a truck. Ms Clark said the farm was evolving towards the barn system more and more as time went on, which meant more and more silage. “By having the shed it helps with animal welfare. The shed is a response to climate change and those hot summers,” she said. Recently the farm was awarded a grant from Coles to construct loafing barns adjoining the feedpad.

The loafing areas will help the farm turn the herd’s bedding and waste into compost, while also giving the herd better facilities in summer. Glenbank Farm became a Coles supplier in 2020. A hard lesson the Clarks have learned over the years is to not relax when it comes to quality. “You need to keep on top of quality. All of it, but particularly at harvesting,” Ms Clark said. “Harvesting it at the right stage is the easiest way to get best quality. “It is easier to make up a mix if you’ve got good ingredients to start with. “If you start with ordinary ingredients you struggle to make a mix the cows will eat from. Then you have to add in extra and it becomes an expensive way to do it.”

Glenbank Farm runs a 1000-head Holstein-Jersey mix dairy herd.

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA AUGUST 2021

22 // NEWS

New directors for Genetics Australia GENETICS AUSTRALIA has strengthened its corporate governance with the appointment of two specialist non-member directors. Genetics Australia has the capacity to make such appointment in order to bring specific skills and experience to the board. Mike Carroll and John Duffield have taken on the roles, bringing experience in finance, project management, board governance and agribusiness. Mr Duffield and Mr Carroll replace Stuart Horsburgh as specialist non-member director. An accountant by trade, Mr Duffield is set to retire at the end of the year from his role as senior project manager at Saputo Dairy in Allansford. He was formerly financial controller of Saputo’s predecessor Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Company and brings finance, strategy and planning experience to the board. While this is Mr Duffield’s first board appointment, he has held positions in several sporting clubs and community organisations. He says the opportunity to join the board was timely. “I’m at the stage in my life where I’m ready for retirement but I don’t want to retire totally,” he said. “I’ve led a busy life through my work so would like to spend more time with my wife but I want to stay connected to the community and believe I have some skills that could be helpful to Genetics Australia in finance, strategy and planning.”

John Duffield.

Mr Duffield’s work has given him a strong association with people from a dairy background. “I have a fairly good understanding of agriculture and the dairy industry and I’m a community-minded person,” he said. “I look forward to contributing. Being a board member is not necessarily agreeing with everything but about working with the team to row the boat in the same direction.” During the past 15 years since leaving NAB where he established and led its agribusiness division, Mr Carroll has served as a non-executive director on more than 15 different boards, all in the food and agribusiness area. “I have a deep-seated interest in the food and

Mike Carroll.

agribusiness sector and the board roles gave me an opportunity to get a deeper understanding of how companies work in those fields,” he said. He grew up on a family farm, studied ag-science and runs a Derrinallum-based performance-recorded Angus enterprise. Along with a life-long interest in animal genetics, his experience as a non-executive director covers private and publicly listed companies, investment firms, government boards and notfor-profits, including Warrnambool Cheese and Butter, Meat and Livestock Australia, Paraway Pastoral Company and The Gardiner Foundation. He says genetics is an exciting area that continues to develop.

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“The systems involved in identifying superior genetics have continued to progress a long way and the whole field of genomics is very exciting and allows us to improve the accuracy of assessing genetic merit at a much earlier age and gives us an ability to assess the merit of animals in hard-to-measure traits. Artificial breeding programs have also been refined and are easier to use and the success rates higher. Genetics Australia has a very important role to play in that.” Genetics Australia chief executive officer Anthony Shelly said the new directors would bring great expertise and experience to the board.

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA AUGUST 2021

NEWS // 23

Bacchus Marsh “bull farm” sells for $3million A PROPERTY at Bacchus Marsh that has been the cornerstone of Australia’s artificial breeding industry for more than 60 years has been sold for $3 million. Genetics Australia has sold Parwan Park to neighbours Boratto Farms, which will use the land to expand their vegetable production. The sale follows Genetics Australia’s purchase of Total Livestock Genetics and its decision to relocate its bull management, semen management and semen collection and production services from Bacchus Marsh to the TLG site near Camperdown. Genetics Australia chief executive officer Anthony Shelly said the sale of the property known locally as the “bull farm” was part of GA’s acquisition of TLG and long-term plans for consolidation in south-west Victoria. “We’re very happy with the sale as it allows our plans to continue as the money will be used to invest in TLG,” Mr Shelly said. Genetics Australia will continue to have a presence on the Bacchus Marsh site. “The other positive is that we have been offered at least a two-year lease to retain access to the office complex,” Mr Shelly said. In 2014, Boratto Farms acquired 60 ha of river flats that were part of the original Parwan Park farm, and in 2017 GA sold Parwan Park South. “This was Genetics Australia’s last landholding in the Bacchus Marsh area,” Mr Shelly said. “Since the land was acquired more than 60 years ago, it has been the cornerstone of the Australian artificial breeding industry so it is a significant move. However, we’re doing it with a really strong plan about how we want to go forward based around the TLG acquisition.” The changes are already reaping rewards. “Each month since the acquisition in J anuary we have been building our semen production volumes, and June was another record month,” Mr Shelly said. There are now more than 250 bulls on licensed semen production at the Camperdown and Glenormiston facilities, the largest number ever in Australia, including third party bulls managed for other customers. “The increase reflects the volume of bulls and demand for Australian beef and dairy genetics,” Mr Shelly said. “Both dairy and beef markets are very strong, with continuing high demand for sexed semen.” Settlement on the Bacchus Marsh property at 144 Woolpack Rd is due in September. Boratto Farms plan to develop as much of the arable land as possible and continue to expand their vegetable growing operation.

Genetics Australia has sold Parwan Park to neighbours Boratto Farms.

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA AUGUST 2021

24 // NEWS

Help review industry code The feedback period on the Dairy Code of Conduct is open until August 15.

DAIRY AUSTRALIA is encouraging farmers to take part in a review of the Dairy Industry Code, formerly known as the Dairy Industry Code of Conduct, which came into effect on January 1, 2020. The code regulates the conduct required in the commercial relationships between farmers and milk processors. It aims to improve the clarity and transparency of trading arrangements between dairy farmers and those buying their milk, and in doing so create greater market transparency and competition.

The Federal Government has established a dairy code review reference group to support the review process, which is now under way. The government is inviting feedback on the code from farmers, processors, industry representative bodies, government agencies, and consumer organisations until August 15. The review will assess the role, impact and operation of the code, and determine whether it is operating as intended and delivering improved outcomes for the dairy industry.

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Establishment of the Dairy Industry Code was a recommendation of the Australian Competition and Consumer Corporation inquiry into the dairy industry in 2018. The inquiry found imbalances in bargaining power at each level of the dairy supply chain. Some of the key elements of the code included: ■ Requiring processors to publicly release standard forms of agreement by June 1 each year; ■ Requiring all agreements to be in plain English (or contain a plain English overview) and consist of a single document; ■ Requiring all agreements to set out minimum prices; ■ Requiring a cooling off period of 14 days for farmers after signing a contract; ■ Prohibiting retrospective step-downs in all circumstances; ■ Prohibiting unilateral prospective step-downs except in limited exceptional circumstances; ■ Establishing a dispute resolution process; and ■ Restricting unilateral changes to the terms and conditions in agreements. The ACCC published initial observations on the operation of the code in December 2020, which indicated the code was making a difference to market transparency in the industry. The Federal Government’s Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment is managing the review process on behalf of the Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia. The minister will provide a review report to the Treasurer by December 31, 2021. The review report will include recommendations regarding the future role and operation of the code (if required), following consideration of the feedback. To provide feedback on the code, visit haveyoursay.awe.gov.au/ dairy-code-of-conductreview

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A Gippsland farmer features in a new podcast released by AgVic. The podcast includes Jess Knight, a young dairy farmer from Stratford in central Gippsland. Ms Knight discusses her unconventional pathway into farming and how a passion for agriculture and a can-do attitude have resulted in her transformation into a confident young farm business manager and community leader. This season’s podcasts turns its focus to the many voices shaping the resilient agricultural industry, including native foods entrepreneurs, rural women and young and immigrant farmers. In the first episode, Young Farmers Advisory Council chair and Purnim farmer Dr Sarah McLean discusses how a near-miss while working alone was the catalyst that encouraged her family to recognise that their own health and safety was their most important business asset. ”We’re always conscious of safety with everything we do, but we’ve had to think outside the box to make things safer for ourselves and our kids,” Dr McLean said. “That’s the key message, safety improvements don’t have to be expensive.” For the podcasts, go to: agriculture. vic.gov.au/agvictalk

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA AUGUST 2021

26 // NEWS

Knowledge helps build resilient business SOUTH GIPPSLAND dairy farmer Graeme

Graeme Nicoll says knowledge gained after undertaking a Nuffield Scholarship in 2010 continues to influence his operation and his attitude towards agriculture.

Nicoll has learnt a lot about resilience in his 25 years in the industry. Mr Nicoll, who farms in partnership with his wife Gillian at Fish Creek, has had good times and tough seasons but is celebrating his silver anniversary with a positive outlook. With a good year under his belt and strong opening milk prices, Mr Nicoll says things are looking bright. However, he’s been through enough to know you have to be ready for the hard times. He’s also learnt the benefits of being open to change and new ideas. Much of his knowledge was gained from undertaking a Nuffield Scholarship sponsored by Gardiner Dairy Foundation in 2010 where he studied ways to enhance the resilience of high rainfall dairy systems. The experiences continue to influence his operation and his attitude towards agriculture. “If farmers farmed today the same as they did 25 years ago, they probably wouldn’t be profitable,” he said. “To be a successful farmer, you need to continue to change and evolve.” The Nicolls run a pasture-focused crossbred herd along with dairy beef as a sideline. The 250 ha property includes the farm where Mr Nicoll grew up. He is interested in the bigger picture of dairy farming and agriculture more broadly, and recently returned to the Dairy Australia Board

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NEWS // 27 to fill a casual vacancy after retiring at the most recent election, and is a former chair of the GippsDairy board. The Nuffield scholarship further opened his horizons. “It helped me think more broadly about how I approach our agricultural business,” Mr Nicoll said. “Once you’ve seen a lot of different businesses and how they operate, you see opportunities that you may not have seen before and recognise the need to keep moving and evolving the business.” His key study areas were cross-breeding, pasture management, and farmer learning development. “The opportunity to visit a diverse range of agricultural systems, not just dairy systems, really opened my mind to different concepts and the potential of agriculture,” Mr Nicoll said. His investigation into cross-breeding exposed a variety of systems in New Zealand, Europe and North America. Mr Nicoll crosses between Holsteins, Jerseys and Red dairy breeds, with Monbéliardes to a small degree. While seeing the systems at work on farms, he also wanted to understand the science behind them and his scholarship took him to universities, departments of agriculture and research farms. “A lot of my learnings confirmed the practices we already had in place in Victoria,” he said. “The data behind the long-term profitability of three-way cross-breeding systems was strong then and it remains that way today.”

He also looked at the science behind resilience, a popular buzz word at the time that continues to appeal to government funding bodies. “I looked at the concept of resilience and how it applies to productive agriculture and is challenged by our inputs and outputs,” Mr Nicoll said. “I think we all have a good understanding of what a resilient farm is, but it’s a bit like sustainability — it’s a term that’s very hard to tightly define. For me, the basic concept is the ability to adapt to change and thrive. “We’re constantly adjusting to different pressures, probably more to external pressures now than in the past, but that’s part of the evolution of agriculture.” Along with validating his successful three-way cross-breeding, Mr Nicoll said the scholarship created a helpful network of connections that continued to provide diverse input into his thinking about farming. “To have connections with people farming in low rainfall areas to growing barramundi in tropical zones and all systems in between is invaluable,” he said. Mr Nicoll said farmers with an eye to the future should consider applying for sponsorship from Gardiner Dairy Foundation for a Nuffield Scholarship. “I really value the role Gardiner plays in developing people in the industry. The outcomes can be seen in so many people,” he said. A decade after his study, Mr Nicoll believes Victoria’s dairy farmers remain resilient, adaptive and poised for a strong future. “The dairy industry is a changing environ-

To be a successful farmer, you need to continue to change and evolve, says Graeme Nicoll.

ment but there are some really good opportunities,” he said. “The current aggressive opening milk prices show there is strong demand for dairy products from processors, but we’ve got to keep working at it. “To be a successful dairy farmer you have to

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be resilient and focused on the big picture. It can be challenging at times but those attributes are what make successful dairy businesses and why we have so many of them in Victoria.” Find out more about the scholarship at www.gardinerfoundation.com.au/nuffield

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA AUGUST 2021

28 // NEWS

Helping to address water issues UNIVERSITY student Tom tevenson has been playing an important role S in improving the Victorian dairy industry’s use of wastewater. As part of the Monash Industry Team Initiative (MITI) Dairy Program, Mr Stevenson has helped both Burra Foods and Agriculture Victoria to investigate more efficient use of water and re-use of wastewater. For someone with no previous connection to the dairy industry, Mr Stevenson has relished both opportunities and will seek work in the field after completing his chemical engineering degree. He said the program, which is a collaboration between Gardiner Dairy Foundation and Monash University, opened his eyes to opportunities in dairy and the benefits of living in the country. “I’ve got no background in dairy farming in my family and I’ve lived my whole life in Melbourne, but I definitely learnt a lot from both experiences,” Mr Stevenson said. While at Burra Foods, Mr Stevenson assisted with a water resource strategy which aimed to improve efficiency, detail water usage in each department, and ensure precise monitoring of re-used water. More recently at Agriculture Victoria’s Ellinbank research farm, Mr Stevenson joined a team trialling different chemicals to separate solid manure from liquids in washdown water to improve the quality of water for re-use.

MONASH

The team also looked at developing biogas opportunities from manure on farms by combining it with other waste streams from the Gippsland area to improve biogas generation. Mr Stevenson said the research could have lasting benefits for farmers and the environment. “Advancing these techniques would mean benefits for farmers because they can re-use water and potentially create a source of energy,” he said. Mr Stevenson said the team found several promising chemical treatment options and the biogas preliminary results were also promising. “Preliminary research shows it’s feasible but more research is required on a bigger scale,” he said. While farmers and the environment stand to benefit from the research, Mr Stevenson has no doubt the placements have benefited him as well. “I made the most of it. I’m now working at Monash University in the chemical engineering department during the last year of my course, and the MITI experience definitely helped me to get that role,” he said. It also gave him an insight into the joys of country living. “I went hiking in the fresh air and got to relax a lot,” Mr Stevenson said. “There’s a bit more freedom out there and it was only 10 minutes to get to work, from Warragul to Ellinbank.”

Mr Stevenson is now looking to apply for graduate programs in the dairy industry. “I felt a bit out of my depth when I first got there but I learnt fairly quickly,” he said. “I learnt a lot about the dairy industry and a broader overview of agriculture, and what we learnt about water could be applicable to other industries. “From these experiences, I’m much more likely to want to get involved in the industry and I thank Gardiner Dairy Foundation for making that possible.” Senior research scientist and Ellinbank site leader Dr Sharon Aarons said MITI students were involved in research that explored new opportunities for the dairy industry. “We give them tasks that extend the work we do,” she said. “In this case they tested a range of chemicals to separate solid material out of manure and dairy factory wastewater to assist in improving management. We also asked them to measure biogas production from manure and manure mixed with other waste streams, such as dairy factory waste.” The research could lead to a range of benefits such as preventing manure ending up in the e nvironment, preventing loss of greenhouse gases and ammonia to the atmosphere and giving farmers and industry the opportunity to generate energy through anaerobic digestion.

Monash university student Tom Stevenson (left) is keen to work in the dairy industry following two stints on the Gardiner-Monash dairy program.

Dr Aarons said the MITI team had produced useful data that was supporting further work in the area. “Part of the program is to encourage students to consider working in the dairy industry, and at least one of our students went on to work with Burra Foods,” Dr Aarons said. “It’s a mutually beneficial program. It provides us an opportunity to dig a little deeper into an area we want to explore, it gives students a chance to learn about the dairy industry and it gives the industry a potential source of employees.”

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MARKETS // 29

Grant to look at trade options

Registration now open for conference

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DAIRY AUSTRALIA has been awarded a $310,000 grant from the Australian Government to reduce technical barriers to trade across six markets in South-East Asia. Agriculture and Northern Australia Minister David Littleproud said the grant would enable dairy exporters to build on our trade agreements. “What this grant will do is identify and reduce the impact of technical barriers to trade,” Mr Littleproud said. “Technical barriers include measures such as product testing, shelf life and food labelling. “These requirements add costs to exporters and often impede their ability to get Australian products to international markets. “As a government, we help make trade easier by pursuing trade agreements, and we have taken steps to do so.” Dairy Australia’s trade and industry g eneral manager Charles McElhone said the grant would build on work already undertaken by the government. “We are trying to identify and address resolvable obstacles to trade that might exist in six key markets: Indonesia, Malaysia, T hailand, Singapore, Vietnam and the Philippines,” Mr McElhone said. “Once we’ve identified the obstacles, we will be able to work with our industry counterparts, agriculture counsellors and stakeholders in these countries to make life easier for exporters.” Fast facts: ■ The Agricultural Trade and Market Access Cooperation grants have been awarded under the Australian Government’s AgriBusiness Expansion Initiative. ■ The Australian Government has invested $72.7 million through ABEI to help Australia’s agricultural, forestry and fisheries industries diversify and expand their export markets. ■ The Australian dairy industry is forecast to be valued at $4.3 billion in 2020–21. ■ Dairy exports are forecast to be valued at $3.7 billion in the same time period.

A $310,000 grant from the Australian Government will help Dairy Australia reduce trade obstacles in six South-east Asia markets.

THE DANISH National Committee of the Inter-

national Dairy Federation will host the first IDF Global Dairy Conference in Copenhagen, from October 13 to 15. The conference will be held as a hybrid: live sessions in Copenhagen and the possibility to attend online. The theme of the conference is “A changing climate for dairy”. All sessions will address this very important issue for dairy in the years to come. For more information and to register visit idfglobaldairy.org/

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA AUGUST 2021

30 // NEWS

2021–22 seasonal watering plan released THE VICTORIAN Environmental

Water Holder has launched its Seasonal Watering Plan 2021–2022. The plan provides a detailed outline of Victoria’s commitment to delivering the environmental watering program under different climate scenarios: drought, dry, average and wet. Planning for the upcoming watering season comes on the back of last year’s La Niña weather pattern which provided much needed rainfall in the Gippsland, central and northern regions of Victoria, resulting in good inflows to many reservoirs, some minor reservoir spills and unregulated flows in several river systems. In western Victoria the La Niña had less effect; water storages remained low and there was a heavy reliance on the available environmental water allocations to provide flows in the Wimmera and Glenelg systems. VEWH co-chief executive officer Paulo Lay said water for the environment was a critical aspect of waterway management in Victoria and involved strong collaborative relationships with delivery partners. “In 2021–22, environmental flows are planned for 19 major river and wetland systems across Victoria, and will directly benefit over 100 species, one third of which are threatened,” he said. “To help ensure we are able to achieve positive outcomes with this precious resource, collaborative planning for its management and use across the state is crucial.

“Water for the environment protects river health by improving water quality and providing vital habitat for plants and animals, such as platypus, native fish and waterbirds.” He said the plan was underpinned by s cientific understanding, Traditional Owners’ ecological knowledge, and local knowledge from across all parts of Victoria. VEWH co-chief executive officer Dr Sarina Loo said the planned deliveries of water for the environment in 2020–21 produced environmental outcomes, Traditional Owner outcomes, and social and recreational outcomes. “Last year, environmental flows supported plants and animals including the iconic platypus and Murray cod,” she said. “In addition, at least 10 environmental watering activities were delivered in partnership with Traditional Owners whose knowledge is integral to the management of water for the environment.” Lockdowns and restrictions across much of Victoria during 2020–21 resulted in the social and recreational values of rivers and wetlands becoming increasingly important. “Families, friends and individuals seeking fresh air and open spaces took advantage of walking, running, riding and picnicking at many of the rivers and wetlands that receive environmental flows,” Dr Loo said. The Victorian Environmental Water Holder’s Seasonal Watering Plan 2021–22 can be found at www.vewh.vic.gov.au/watering-program/ Environmental flows are planned for 19 major river and wetlands for 2021–22. seasonal-watering-plan

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA AUGUST 2021

ANIMAL HEALTH // 31

Humane euthanasia BY LUCY COLLINS

BY DEFINITION, euthanasia is the practice of

intentionally ending a life to relieve pain and suffering. Euthanasia is generally accepted as a compassionate option where health or welfare is irredeemably compromised, injury or illness is terminal, or alternate treatments have failed or are unviable. Euthanasia should be: ■ quick; ■ humane (performed with minimal pain and distress); ■ safe; and ■ confirmed and recorded. It is important that those who care for dairy animals have the skills and resources to ensure euthanasia occurs in a skilled and timely manner if required. The dairy industry’s euthanasia policy aims to reflect the expectations of the law and our community, and uphold the best standards of animal care. The recommended methods for best-practice euthanasia or humane killing of adult cattle and calves are by use of a close-range firearm or penetrative captive bolt to the brain. There are two locations where these methods may be p erformed (poll or frontal shot) but the frontal shot is preferred. The brainstem should be targeted, and it lies midway along an imaginary line drawn between the base of the ears (not between the eyes). Animals must always be restrained to allow for safe operator access. Euthanasia by blunt force trauma should not occur on Australian dairy farms, except in

emergency situations. An emergency situation is defined by the Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Cattle as “the calf is under 24 hours old and the calf is in severe pain or distress and there is no other practical alternative”. Once euthanasia has been performed, death should be confirmed using all the signs listed below. Signs of death include: ■ loss of consciousness and all deliberate movement; ■ absence of a corneal ‘blink’ reflex when the eyeball is touched directly; ■ maximum dilation of the pupil with no response to light; ■ absence of rhythmic respiratory movements for at least five minutes; and ■ flaccid tongue and jaw. Always keep records of deaths on farm and dispose of livestock carcases responsibly and inline with state law. It is essential that staff are trained appropriately if they will be required to perform euthanasia on-farm. Training courses are frequently offered, equipping farmers with the tools and knowledge they need to remain compliant with best practice and industry policies on-farm. It is imperative that euthanasia equipment is stored securely and locked away from children. Performing euthanasia can be distressing. Not having the option to provide prompt euthanasia to a suffering animal when needed is arguably more distressing. Having an appropriate and clearly communicated plan for how the euthanasia of dairy animals on your farm should occur if required, and having the right training and

Frontal shot

equipment in place, will help ensure the best outcome for all involved. For further information, visit: www.dairyaustralia.com.au/animalmanagement-and-milk-quality/approach-toanimal-welfare/euthanasia-of-livestock#. YOOWfbUzaUk

Poll shot

• Lucy Collins is completing her Dairy Residency with The University of Melbourne. She works as an on-farm veterinarian for Apiam Animal Health, and alongside her partner on his family’s dairy farm in south-west Victoria. She is a 2021 Nuffield Scholar supported by Gardiner Dairy Foundation.

Advice for flood recovery FARMERS AFFECTED by recent floods and storms have been encouraged to monitor the health of their stock as wet conditions continue to affect parts of Victoria. Floods and sustained wet paddocks can bring a range of animal health problems, from food shortage and plant toxicity to dehydration, infection and disease. Agriculture Victoria veterinary officer Dr Jeff Cave said pasture and crops damaged by flooding may leave farmers needing to find alternative feed for stock during the coming months. “In particular, mould growth on water-damaged feed reduces the nutritive value and palatability of both standing and stored feed, with some mould toxicity causing death or longerterm health problems such as liver damage,” Dr Cave said. “Surprisingly, dehydration can also be a problem with stock often refusing to drink floodwater if it is polluted or tastes different from their normal supply. “Farmers and producers in flood-affected areas should watch their stock carefully to ensure they are drinking adequately and monitor them for any signs of illness and infection.” Lameness is another concern, with all stock breeds susceptible after long periods of immersion in water or standing on wet, muddy ground.

Abscesses and other foot problems will be common where an animal’s feet are constantly wet. Most bacteria thrive and multiply in a moist environment, so bacterial diseases could become a real problem after heavy rain. Pneumonia and diarrhoea are also likely to occur in flood-affected stock due to stress and exposure to prolonged cold. Mastitis is a problem as a result of the combined effects of udder abrasions and poor hygiene associated with muddy conditions. Vaccinating with 5-in-1 after floods is important as the sudden flush of feed can make stock susceptible to pulpy kidney. Bloat in cattle or redgut in sheep could occur, especially on lush clover or lucerne. Worm larvae survive much longer on pasture in moist conditions and parasite burdens may increase rapidly. Establishing a stock containment area with adequate shelter, feed and water supply will be beneficial in maintaining the health of your stock. If your stock are experiencing health issues, seek professional help either from your private veterinarian or local Agriculture Victoria animal health officer or district veterinary officer.

Farmers have been advised to watch for contaminated feed in flood recovery areas.

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA AUGUST 2021

32 // ANIMAL HEALTH

Building good microbes ADDING MYLO feed supplement to the calf

diet has helped produce much healthier animals on the Baxter dairy enterprise at Ellerslie, in south-east Victoria. Chris Baxter said the dairy milked 490 cows and calved each year during the cool, wet conditions of autumn. He said scours was always an issue with the calves and this year Mylo, from Terragen Biotech, was recommended as an option to help reduce sickness in the young stock. “One of the people that milks for us recommended it and we thought we’d give it a try,” Mr Baxter said. Mylo is a liquid microbial feed supplement designed to aid the building of microbes in the gastrointestinal tract. It was used at the Baxter dairy as soon as the first calves were born in April, with 10 ml a day added to the milk for every calf. Mr Baxter said the results had been outstanding with the calves responding well. “The calves have done really well on Mylo. They are showing good weight gains, are nice and shiny and are very healthy. “There is nothing worse than sick calves. They are worth too much to be sick.” Just one calf was lost during the period, which is well down on previous years. “Some of the calves did go down a bit but it seemed to be a lot easier to get them back up with Mylo,” Mr Baxter said. “One of the biggest advantages is the time savings. We were not spending time with electrolytes and drugs.” The first lot of calves were weaned in July and looked particularly good. “There is enough evidence that Mylo is definitely working with the calves,” Mr Baxter said. “We are also using Mylo for our cows and I think we’ll have a good idea in the next 12 months how it is working there.” The milking cows are also getting a dose of Mylo per day with the supplement added to the bail at a rate of 5 ml twice a day. Terragen’s pump system has been installed in the dairy and meters Mylo out easily when the cows come in for milking. “It is early days with the cows, but we are seeing some benefits in what we are doing.” The use of Mylo, and the implementation of a teat spray system, has seen a reduction in the cell count numbers.

Chris Baxter with his calves, which are fed with Mylo.

Calves brimming with health and vitality at Chris Baxter’s Ellerslie farm.

“We were quite good at a cell count of 100,000 and have improved that to be down to 50,000 to 60,000. A combination of factors is helping that.”

He said the co ws ce rtainly looked healthy and it would be interesting to see how they performed in the months and years ahead.

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The Baxter farm is family run and milks about 90 per cent Friesian, with some Jersey cattle making up the remainder of the herd.

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA AUGUST 2021

NEWS // 33

Dairy farmers lead industry outcomes from Climate Futures project DAIRY FARMERS in north-east Victoria are leading an industry response to climate change — identifying changing rainfall patterns, increased temperatures, availability of water, weather extremes and access to health services as challenges and/or opportunities for the next decade. The North East Dairy Climate Futures Project invited dairy farmers to have a say about their own businesses in response to data released by the CSIRO in 2020 that supported predicted climate change impacts across the valleys of north-east Victoria. At a series of workshops across the region earlier this year, dairy farmers embraced the opportunity to identify what should be the focus for their industry. North-east dairy farmer and Alpine Valleys Dairy Inc chair Patrick Glass said there had been a high level of participation at the workshop and the key priorities for the industry had come from the farmers themselves, not from consultants. “The voice of farmers has not been diluted in any way in this final report,” Mr Glass said. “It’s now up to the farmers themselves to drive this and demand some answers or ensure more questions are asked. “We don’t want this to be a document to sit on the shelf, because we will be the ones impacted by these changes.” The project convenor on behalf of Alpine Valleys Dairy Inc, Patten Bridge, said through their participation in project workshops, northeast Victoria dairy farmers had sent a clear message they wanted to be on the front foot around the challenges and opportunities presented by the changing climate, as well as be part of developing relevant solutions. The project’s final report recommends Alpine Valleys Dairy Inc., set up by dairy farmers to maximise opportunities for the region’s dairy industry, should: ensure responsibility for climate change adaptation actions is shared among relevant shareholders; regularly communicate progress regarding climate change adaptation activity and outcomes to dairy communities; and ensure younger farmers have a strong ownership of the overall climate adaptation strategy and o utcomes. The report recommends 10 farmer-driven industry projects related to the five challenges and opportunities identified: ■ optimising changing climate conditions with appropriate fodder species and feed management; ■ building soil organic matter and improved productive performance; ■ determining the best and most costeffective way to create more tree cover to shade dairy herds; ■ developing a guide for building shade management infrastructure on dairy farms; ■ developing a water map that includes predicted runoff declines, mapping of groundwater, springs and unregulated streams and trading rules; ■ improving irrigation water management; ■ farm risk management decisionmaking — investing in drought preparedness; ■ extreme weather preparedness; ■ improving health/mental health services support at a local level; and

understanding community resilience among farming communities. Mr Bridge said the industry projects covered the main commercial imperative for dairy farmers seeking to create profitable and sustainable businesses. “The breadth of projects underlines there is no one strategy or answer which will cover the adaptation requirements for the region,” he said. “There is, however, a clear emphasis on supporting good decision-making and particularly the challenges of risk assessment in the context of longer-term time horizons.” Mr Glass said it would be the responsibility of dairy farmers, particularly those coming into the industry, to drive the project’s recommendations. “It will be critical that this project remains a conduit for the farmer’s voice,” Mr Glass said. “Farmers are not always listened to and too often reform is top-down driven. We need to ensure these questions are answered and the responses reflect what farmers need.” Mr Bridge said the nominated projects should be a catalyst for partnerships between local dairy farmers and key stakeholders about how these farmer priorities might be addressed. They include North East Catchment Management Authority, Albury Wodonga Health, local government, Murray Dairy, AgBiz Assist, Goulburn-Murray Water, local tertiary institutions, other agricultural industries, Agriculture Victoria and commercial service providers. “Hopefully this will lead to partnership projects which can draw on the strength, resources and expertise from a range of sources, who have a shared interest in improved outcomes,” he said. “An immediate focus should be how to determine how a 10-year agenda is best tackled and how to develop the partnerships required to deliver the outcomes outlined in the report. Central to successful implementation of such a plan will be ensuring the farmer’s voice continues to be heard.” The North East Dairy Climate Futures Project was supported by Alpine Valleys Dairy Inc., AgBiz Assist, the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, and the North East Catchment Management Authority through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program and the Victorian Government’s Community Climate Change Adaptation Grants Program. ■

Edith Peters and Rebecca Bingley at the workshop.

North-east Victoria dairy farmers say they want to be on the front foot around the challenges and opportunities presented by the changing climate.

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MACHINERY & PRODUCTS // 35

Machinery industry unites on ‘right to repair’ THE TRACTOR and Machinery Association of

Australia has released its statement of principles outlining its support for farmers to maintain and repair their own machinery. “Our members are committed to supporting farmers through provision of high quality and safe agricultural machinery that reduces downtime, maximises productivity and minimises environmental impact,” TMA executive director Gary Northover said. “That includes providing farmers and repairers with training, diagnostic information and support, plus information on service, parts, operation and safety. The statement of principles reinforces the industry’s commitment to industry changes that improve machinery without adding additional cost or putting safety, performance or environmental standards at risk. “However, recent inquiries into the agricultural machinery market and ‘right to repair’ have made recommendations that will have farreaching unintended consequences for the industry and more particularly for rural and regional Australia.” On May 4 the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission released its report into the agricultural machinery market, and following that the Productivity Commission released its draft report into Right to Repair. The Productivity Commission’s draft report found the competition in the agricultural machinery repair sector was “limited”.

The ACCC report also found agricultural machinery buyers would benefit from more independent competition in servicing and repair markets. “Agricultural machinery is often highly complex and requires extensive training and experience to repair or service,” Mr Northover said. “These recommendations will have unintended consequences for the Australian agriculture industry by creating safety, warranty, and environmental concerns that will affect dealers and their customers. “We support the right for farmers to carry out their own repairs or maintenance, but that does not mean a right to modify. These machines are often complex and set up to operate safely while optimising performance. Modifying them creates significant safety risks. “In addition, agricultural machinery and tractor dealerships operate all over Australia, largely in rural, regional and remote areas. These dealerships are a crucial part of their local economies, as employers, providers of traineeships and education, supporters of community initiatives. “If the recommendations from the ACCC and Productivity Commission are implemented in their current form, we are concerned repairs will be made by people who don’t have the required training and may result in machines not being fixed correctly the first time. That can in turn

The Tractor and Machinery Association of Australia says it supports the right for farmers to carry out their own repairs or maintenance, but not to modify machinery.

lead to increased downtime and other breakdowns, which create knock-on effects that can be expensive to remedy. “We urge the ACCC and Productivity Commission to work with our industry to develop

workable solutions that won’t create safety, warranty or environmental issues, or adversely affect rural communities.” The Productivity Commission’s final report to government is due in October.

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA AUGUST 2021

36 // MACHINERY & PRODUCTS

Making life easier PAUL TOBIN says his dairy operation in Eskdale, Victoria, has been made a lot easier since he started using a Hustler Combi CM116 to feed out into his feed pads. With his Swifthitch, he’s able to connect and disconnect the tractor from the wagon with ease, use his Softhands to load feed into the Combi, then reconnect and get to work. Mr Tobin has been farming since he was 22 years old. His farm is located in the Mitta Valley, about 20 km down the Mitta Mitta River from Dartmouth Dam, one of Australia’s major water storages. The rich alluvial soils of the river flats have supported a thriving dairy and beef industry for five generations. The farm is about 100 ha, including an 80 ha milking platform. With 160 cows, the ratio is about two cows per hectare. In a normal year, Mr Tobin usually feeds his herd with lucerne bales, silage and summer crops. He is using a Hustler Combi wagon to feed into a feed pad. Mr Tobin said this system “stops the feed being wasted and the cows using it as bedding in the paddocks in the heavy winter rains”. Mr Tobin was initially a bit worried that he would not be able to properly feed out into troughs, but his concerns were quickly allayed in the first few distribution sessions.

Paul Tobin usually feeds his herd with lucerne bales, silage and summer crops.

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MACHINERY & PRODUCTS // 37 “You can raise and lower the conveyor so that it drops nicely in the troughs,” he said. As well as being suitable for all types of feed, the tilting side elevator of Hustler’s new Combi CM and RX ranges allows the operator to feed out anywhere around the farm — on the ground, in a trough, in a feed pad or over a fence. They also come with a standard feed pad kit designed to eliminate spillage of feed in the aisle. “The machine works perfectly, my feed pad is right next to the dairy,” Mr Tobin said. With Hustler, “instead of getting up at 4.30 am, you’re getting up at 5 am, that’s the benefit of the machine”. When Mr Tobin bought his Combi CM116, he decided to buy two other Hustler implements — a Swifthitch (three-point linkage quick hitch) and a set of Softhands (bale handlers) — for an even quicker operation. “I can drop off the Combi pretty quick, grab my silage, put it in the back, hooking back up so I don’t need two tractors to do the feed-out, which is really handy,” he said. Standard Combi CM has features such as: ■

■

Self-aligning bearings instead of bushes for longer service intervals, more reliability and lower maintenance; Low maintenance elevator spillage fans reduced to the minimum number of panels to eliminate a maximum of wearing parts from the design; and Axles have a central greasing station to easily and quickly access the grease points.

Tractor sales finish on a high SALES OF agricultural tractors exceeded 15,800 units for the financial year ended June, 29 per cent ahead of the previous year, Tractor and Machinery Association of Australia executive director Gary Northover said in a recent update. In the update he said delivering such a result against a backdrop of lockdowns, social distancing restrictions, supply challenges, staff shortages and climatic extremes was a credit to the industry. All states reported increases on the previous year with NSW leading the pack up ten per cent in June to finish the Year 57 per cent ahead. Victoria was down two per cent for June to be 18 per cent up for the year, Queensland up four per cent for the month ending 25 per cent up. Sales in Western Australia dipped nine per cent in June to be 34 per cent ahead for the year, sales in South Australia reported a 13 per cent decrease for the month to be 10 per cent up full year, Tasmania finished 24 per cent ahead for the year and sales into the Northern Territory enjoyed an 11 per cent yearly rise. All performance reporting categories enjoyed strong rises for the year with the under 40 hp (30 kW) range up 27 per cent following a 20 per cent dip in June. The 40 to 100 hp (30–75 kW) range was again up strongly five per cent in the month, 34 per cent for the year, the 100 to 200 hp (75–150 kW) category

Despite the challenges, sales were strong in 2020–21.

was steady, ending the year up 20 per cent. The large 200 hp (150 kW) plus range had another strong rise up 41 per cent and was 57 per cent ahead for the year. Baler sales ended the year up 23 per cent and sales of out-front mowers finished the year strongly recording a 33 per cent rise. Mr Northover said it was hard to see 2020– 21 levels being repeated but “there is no doubt that demand is still hot”. “The Federal Government’s Temporary Full Expensing program which essentially replaces

the Instant Asset Write Off scheme will continue to support demand,” he said. “Farming conditions and demand for product are in a good place with locations such as Western Australia looking very prosperous.” He said ongoing supply challenges due to factory capabilities and shipping challenges would offset these positives to a degree and that pricing pressures were likely to be experienced during the next 12 months and that spare parts supply would also be stretched.

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA AUGUST 2021

38 // MACHINERY & PRODUCTS

A better freight future THE DEPARTMENT of Transport will

A study will look at improving freight connections across the Swan Hill and Gannawarra regions.

work with Swan Hill Rural City Council and Gannawarra Shire Council on a road freight study to improve freight connections, boost safety and efficiency, and cut costs in the supply chain.

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The Victorian Government will contribute $50,000 towards the $75,000 study. Ports and Freight Minister Melissa Horne said the plan was an essential first step to improving the freight network for local farmers and industry. The project would analyse the changes needed on council-owned roads and structures to allow better access for efficient and modern high p roductivity freight vehicles, which are considered to be safer, more modern heavy vehicles, and can reduce the number of trips required on the network and lessen the environmental impact of travel. “We’ll work with the local councils to establish a stronger and safer high productivity freight vehicle network by identifying works that need doing across the Swan Hill and Gannawarra region,” she said. “Road freight plays a vital role in transporting Victorian exports such as fruit, grain and other agricultural products, and this work will cut costs for farmers and freight operators, delivering better outcomes to local communities.” Freight Victoria will provide specialist advice, with National Heavy Vehicle Regulator data and local freight industry knowledge also being used to inform the study.

CENSUS HELPS SHAPE POLICY

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Farmers are being encouraged to participate in the Agricultural Census to provide an accurate picture of the nation’s agricultural activity. From this month, the Australian Bureau of Statistics will be asking farmers about their agricultural production, land and water use in 2020-21. National Farmers’ Federation chief executive officer Tony Mahar said the participation of farmers was crucial to ensure statistics accurately reflected the reality of what is happening across the agricultural sector. He said the statistics helped inform policy and programs that would drive profitability and productivity of the sector. “Agriculture has faced a turbulent year of drought, flood, mice, and the ongoing impacts of COVID-19. It is important that farmers share their experiences and provide insight into the challenges faced over the 2020-21 period,” he said. “This information will enable government to work closely with industry to adapt and shape both the huge opportunities and expected challenges going forward.” The ABS had taken on board participant feedback from previous years and made changes to the survey that make it easier to complete, via an online portal or in paper form. Farmers participating in the survey are asked to complete and return forms by August 5. More information about the census can be found at https://www. abs.gov.au/statistics/research/202021-agricultural-census-topics-anddata-release-plan

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA AUGUST 2021

MACHINERY & PRODUCTS // 39

Accident numbers ease THE NUMBER of fatal farm accidents across the nation has fallen this year, compared to last year. In the first six months of 2021 there were 20 fatal accidents, compared to 58 for the whole of 2020, according to Farmsafe Australia. While the numbers are comparatively down, the report also discovered that one in 10 fatalities and injuries in the first six months of 2021 involved children under the age of 15. The annual report produced by Farmsafe Australia — a not-for-profit body working with farmers to improve their awareness of hazards while educating them on best practice ways to mitigate risks — found there were misconceptions underpinning farmer safety, health and well-being. Based on 215 interviews with Australian farmers across eight agricultural sectors, Farmsafe Australia executive officer Stevi Howdle said this year’s report focused on digging deeper into farmers’ understanding of their own health and safety decision-making, while dispelling the safety myths circulating in rural communities. Although Australian farmers identified they are most concerned about animal handling (47 per cent) and operating machinery

(40 per cent) as their top safety issues on their farms, the report reaffirmed that quadbikes (21 per cent) and tractors (20 pre cent) remained the leading causes of fatalities in the past 18 months. In 2020, nearly 60 per cent of farming injuries occurred in Queensland, while males accounted for more than four in five (82 per cent) of the fatalities on farms. Ms Howdle said there was a common misconception that more knowledgeable and experienced farmers equalled safer farmers. “In reality, those who are older than 45 years of age accounted for nearly two thirds (62 per cent) of fatalities. “Having broad agricultural experience does not necessarily correlate to a ‘safety at all times’ mentality on farms,” Ms Howdle said. “Our goal is to ensure that when fatigue and stress sets in, farmers do not get complacent and accidently put themselves, their loved ones or their colleagues at risk. “These heartbreaking figures have not seen a reduction in more than a decade, and we want to positively shift farming culture, to prioritise a ‘safety-first’ mindset so that all farmers, whether they are aged 2 or 92, are safe at all times,” Ms Howdle said.

Dairy News Australia August 2021

Articles inside

Silage key to long-term future