OCTOBER 2021 ISSUE 132
WEST VIC REGION
LOOKING BACK AND TO THE FUTURE Since Ron Guyett returned to the Naringal property
his family had farmed since 1864 he has experienced nothing but change. Pages 4 & 5.
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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA OCTOBER 2021
2 // WEST VIC REGION
Chair’s message
Signing off after five years IT’S CRAZY harvest time again.
WestVic Dairy chair Simone Renyard said holding the 2020 Great South West Dairy Awards online would allow more people to get involved.
Tractors everywhere going round and round in circles. A wonderful time though to see the grass growing flat-out and farms looking picturesque. Here at WestVic Dairy we are now extremely skilled at learning to change our mediums of delivery at lightning pace. With restriction changes and lockdowns announced with very little notice, we can now adapt our delivery modes to accommodate the needs of our farmers in a short space of time. We have some incredible programs and a team that is super-capable and ready to work with you for the betterment of you and your business. Please remember to get in touch with any requirements your business has, and make sure you have your COVIDSafe Plan done and that your staff are well briefed on it (the team in the WestVic Dairy office can assist if you haven’t done one yet).
We still have plenty on offer for the remainder of the year and we are really hoping we get a chance to run as many face-to-face sessions as allowed. Otherwise, we have lots online and will be gearing up for 2022, as surely we will be getting back to a ‘new normal’ by then. Sadly, after five years as board chair, this is my last time writing my article for Dairy News. It’s time for a new, eager person to take the reins. I’m so very proud of my time on the board and the people I have been so privileged to work with both around the board table, the team at WestVic Dairy and the wider stakeholders within the region. In my time we have survived some pretty tough and ugly periods where we’ve had to dig deep and just get through to be there for our farmers. The milk price claw-back, the region’s bushfires and the extreme seasonal conditions are just a few of the memories that pop up.
We’ve had some great times as well — moving into a brand new, purpose-built space and being able to expand our team, which has facilitated more offerings of programs to our farmers. Enjoying better milk prices has allowed our farmers more choices to improve their businesses in terms of new infrastructure or equipment. I’ve led a new strategy over the past three years and worked on many collaborations with other industry bodies in the region. I wish all of you a continued wonderful season and thank each of you for what you bring to our industry. While this is farewell for now, it is not goodbye as I am still a farmer in the region and I will continue to follow WestVic Dairy with much interest. I look forward to seeing many of you around the region very soon — hopefully. • Simone Renyard WestVic Dairy chair
Tertiary scholarships open STUDENTS FROM Victorian dairy communi-
ties who plan to start their tertiary studies in 2022 can now apply for a Gardiner Dairy Foundation scholarship. The foundation is offering seven tertiary scholarships to students starting full-time study in 2022. Each scholarship offers $10,000 a year for up to three years of a scholar’s chosen university or TAFE course. The tertiary scholarships are named in recognition of services to the dairy industry by Niel Black, Shirley Harlock, Jakob Malmo, Bill Pyle and Doug Weir. Gardiner chief executive officer Clive Noble said the scholarships were aimed at students who wanted to pursue a career that would directly benefit the dairy industry or dairy communities. “These scholarships invest in the education and training of young people from dairy communities who have the potential to contribute to a vibrant dairy industry and to dairy communities in the future,” Dr Noble said. “We encourage students to return to dairy regions with their tertiary qualifications to share their new skills. “The scholarships help to overcome the financial disadvantage faced by rural students living away from home to study.” Hannah Thorson was awarded the Bill Pyle Tertiary Scholarship, which supported her in obtaining a Bachelor of Agricultural Science at La Trobe University in 2020.
Mitchell Dodds received the Jakob Malmo Gardiner Foundation Tertiary Scholarship in 2014 and is now working as a vet at West Gippsland Vet Care in Warragul.
“It’s a very generous scholarship, so it was good to study without stressing about money,” Ms Thorson said. “It was also a great help for my parents. Without it, they would have had to help a lot more, so they have been very grateful as well.” Veterinary graduate Mitchell Dodds received the Jakob Malmo Gardiner Foundation Tertiary Scholarship in 2014 and is now working as a vet at West Gippsland Vet Care in Warragul. “From a financial point of view, the Gardiner Dairy Foundation Tertiary Scholarship enabled me to really focus on my degree,” Dr Dodds said. “It’s difficult to work while studying veterinary medicine when you have 50 contact hours
a week in the first two years of study.” Scholarship applications are now open. To be eligible, students must start their first year of full-time tertiary study in 2022 and due to study commitments need to relocate from home. To be successful, applicants will need to demonstrate intended future contributions to the dairy industry and communities as well as describe their community involvement and academic achievements to date. Applications must be submitted by 5 pm on November 19. Further information and application forms are available at: www.gardinerfoundation.com.au/ts/ Completed applications must be submitted to: scholarships@gardinerfoundation.com.au
Hannah Thorson was awarded the Bill Pyle Tertiary Scholarship, which supported her in obtaining a Bachelor of Agricultural Science at La Trobe University in 2020.
DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA OCTOBER 2021
4 // WEST VIC REGION
Looking back to the future RICK BAYNE
AS RON Guyett looks over paddocks his family
has farmed since 1864, it might be easy to think that not much has changed over time. But in reality, Ron knows there’s no sense in standing still. When he returned to dairy farming at Naringal in 1994, the industry was nothing like what he remembered as a kid, although the farm itself seemed stuck in a time warp. Now 27 years later, the industry and the farm itself have changed markedly and for the better. “The first mistake you can make is setting restrictive goals,” Ron said. “If someone said to me 20 years ago that I was going to be here, I would have laughed at them. “You don’t want to limit your capacity to grow. Risk can be managed.” There’s no better example of Ron’s bold attitude than how he managed the collapse of Murray Goulburn. Facing one of the biggest crises of his career, Ron went against the flow and bought a second herd. “When Murray Goulburn went kaput, I did a budget and we had to find $140,000 to keep going,” Ron said. “I went to the bank and increased my overdraft so that got us out of that hole, but the price of grain and hay collapsed so I decided to buy another herd of cows.” He was able to get a production incentive for the extra milk and he put a new proposal to the bank and was able to buy the additional 160 cows. “We transitioned them into our herd and we were milking 450 cows and lot-feeding them,” Ron said. “When the new milk price came out, people wanted cows so I went through our herd and sold 120 crossbred cows. We did quite well out of it.” Ron admits he sometimes swims upstream. “I went the other way — only dead fish go with the flow. I’ve got this theory if everyone is going one way, you go the other because you’ve got a better chance of turning up a nugget. “You’ve got to be bold, have a go.” In 1970 when he was 10, Ron’s parents moved from Warrnambool to Melbourne. He hated the city — and still does — and returned to south-west Victoria every holiday and eventually came back to live with his grandparents while finishing school.
Ron is happy for son Louie to take the lead on herd health and rearing the calves, while he leads the way in pasture management and they discuss any capital expenditure.
Ron’s great uncle Albert.
“I was sitting on the verandah with my uncle Norm who is 95, and he said it must be great to look out over the district your ancestors have farmed.”
Ron took on the farm in 1994 after working mostly as a carpet layer. He completed a dairy course at Glenormiston College. “Dairying was vastly different to what I remembered,” he said. “It was way more engaging and challenging.” The farm was milking 60 cows at the time and Ron and wife Bronwyn grew that to 90. They wanted to know if it was going to be viable so consulted adviser Kevin Maher. “The first thing he asked was how many kids do you have. I said five sons — he said good, you’ve got free labour.” Kevin laid out a blueprint for the farm, including milking 220 cows, building a new dairy and expanding the land holding. Ron and Bronwyn gradually bought more land and went to 225 cows. In 2008 they bought an out-paddock at Ellerslie and the most recent purchase was last December with 40 ha from Ron’s uncle Norm, which was subsequently sold to Ron’s son Louie. They operate under a trust — which owns the cows and equipment and trades in milk — and the land is owned by individuals. Louie lives and works on the farm. All up they now farm off 271 ha plus the
out-paddock, and the herd has grown to more than 400. A relocated rotary dairy and a feedpad have helped the growth. “We had a lot of fodder but nowhere to feed it so we put in a feedpad and that has been a great asset,” Ron said. “It gets very wet here. You’d feed out and the cows would trample half of it into the ground.” Ron had planned to renovate the old dairy but saw a 44-stand rotary for sale for $20,000 at Murray Bridge in 2012. Initially he thought there must be a catch but the farmer had sold the land and needed the dairy removed before handing over to the new owners. “We cut it up with a demo saw and put it on three trucks and we loaded everything else up on our truck,” Ron said. Although the reconstruction was temporarily put on hold during a bad autumn in 2013, the dairy was commissioned on August 15 that year. They invested in new technology, including Alfa Laval cup removers with tension bars, soft start pulsators, Easy Dairy computer and auto draft, teat wand, Glycol pre-chill refrigeration and hot water reclaim, and variable speed milk pumps and vacuum pumps to cut down on
electricity costs. “It all works well but probably the best thing is the Easy Dairy because it tracks everything; we can feed in different groups and find cows when we want to dry them off,” Ron said. “We’re not wasting feed — we’re feeding cows that can use it.” A custom mix for heifers through winter has big benefits. “We crush our own grain and feed crushed wheat and when we have to feed a bit more we get a grain mix additive to keep the rumen stable so we buy in a custom mix,” Ron said. “It’s got buffers in it to stabilise the gut.” Ron prefers crossbred cows but the herd is now predominantly Holsteins. “Louie wants Holsteins. I had Jerseys, crossbreds and a few Friesians. “You get hybrid vigour from crossbred cows and you don’t have the feet problems of a big cow that needs a lot of feed, and the Jerseys are a bit too light and frail for this country.” Most of the crossbreds were sold and the herd is now 90 per cent Holstein. Ron is happy for Louie to take the lead on herd health and rearing the calves, while he leads the way in pasture management and they discuss any capital expenditure. “It’s a good set up,” he said. “I’ve always had a fairly green thumb and I enjoy
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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA OCTOBER 2021
WEST VIC REGION // 5 growing grass. I’d rather grow grass than milk cows.” He follows Kevin Maher’s advice and uses plenty of fertiliser. “We’re not frightened to feed in the bail to keep everything on track. If you don’t keep your cows fully fed, they are going to slip.” They have a seasonal calving herd, recently brought forward to May 1 from May 20. “We decided it was getting a bit late and we couldn’t manage cows if we had a poor autumn break,” Ron said. “It’s only a few weeks but it makes a big difference. If it hasn’t rained, they will eat the autumn break. You have to grow grass in autumn if you’re going to get through winter. “If we need to, we’ll feed whatever to keep the cows from hammering the grass.” The farm is getting about 3 million litres from just over 400 cows. Ron keeps his eyes on the future. “I never say no to buying more land. I don’t have my eyes closed to that option. I think there’s a big future in land and we’ve got the equipment and livestock to farm it.” While Louie is the only son working directly on the farm, Ron and Bronwyn’s other sons have also returned to the area and do contracting work, including the home farm. “With all that knowledge sitting below me, I’d be a fool not to tap into it,” Ron said. But he also thinks back. “I was sitting on the verandah with my uncle Norm who is 95, and he said it must be great to look out over the district your ancestors have farmed.” Ron didn’t disagree.
Ron’s family have farmed the property since 1864.
Top and above: The dairy was relocated from Murray Bridge in South Australia but has undergone a lot of improvements since 2013.
The feed pad added in 2008 has been a great asset, ensuring the cows are well fed and wet paddocks don’t get damaged.
The farm has moved from cross-breds to a mostly Holstein herd.
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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA OCTOBER 2021
6 // WEST VIC REGION
Talking loudly for farmers RICK BAYNE
POMBORNEIT FARMER Ben Bennett has
never been shy about expressing his opinions and now he’s looking to have his say on a national stage. Frustrated by city-based influence on the industry, Ben is standing for an upcoming director’s role with Australian Dairy Farmers and says Victoria, as the country’s biggest milk-producing state, needs a strong grassroots voice. He says it’s time for a “bottom-up” approach where farmers can wield their influence to make sure there’s practical and tangible changes under a structure that hears their voices. Ben farms on the Stony Rises and admits his journey has been a bumpy one, but that’s never hindered his ability to speak out. “There’s no sense being shy, otherwise we’re going to be left out,” he said. “We need to front up a bit and those who know me, know I’m passionate about the dairy industry and would be a strong advocate for grassroots farmers.” Ben and his wife Kylee purchased their 300ha farm in 2005, a year after migrating from New Zealand for better opportunities to buy land. “We’ve had the trials and tribulations of droughts, fires, bank managers who come and go and dairy companies that come and go — but we’re still here,” he said.
Pomborneit farmer Ben Bennett keeps a young mixed herd and has a summer-based pasture system.
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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA OCTOBER 2021
WEST VIC REGION // 7 Ben has always been outspoken and in recent years has harnessed that passion as chair of the Corangamite UDV branch. The position has helped him to better understand the “lay of the land” of dairy representation while solidifying his desire for action. “Our branch is quite active; we put up 70 per cent of the resolutions for the UDV conference and got virtually all of them over the line at the policy committee. “We may be high maintenance for some senior people in the VFF, but sometimes you need to be the squeaky wheel and I can squeak reasonably loudly.” Ben said his passion was for improved processes and procedures. “If the set-up is right, the policies will follow from the grassroots. Farmers know where the priorities are; my priority is to get the processes running right.” He said there had been a decline in effective advocacy for dairy farmers in recent years. “We had big expectations from the Dairy Plan but it was a top-down boys’ club situation. “It was conceptually developed in Melbourne and fed down to us, but one positive thing from it is that it shows the existing structure is no longer fit-for-purpose. “The landscape has changed over time. We had a huge number of cooperatives that advocated for farmers, but life has moved on and now it’s dominated by global corporates.” Ben is against including processors in a new management structure. “We can be kissing relations, but we should be living in separate houses.” He said the influence of the UDV had been diluted and many branches were not very active due to farmer frustration that they can’t get their voices heard. “In the Corangamite branch we’ve endeavoured to ensure farmers are heard. “We have the biggest concentration of dairy cows in Australia and it is the lifeblood for a lot of our little regional towns.” Ben said despite a current season surpassing all expectations, it was still a challenging time for farmers. “There is a lot more regulation than ever before. “City people are somewhat disconnected to the real needs of farmers and we need a process for grassroots representation and professional advocacy to take up the challenge.
“We have lots of issues — everything from labour, animal welfare, what to do with effluent, energy supply, road networks — and farmers are frustrated.” Ben said he would stand for the position being vacated by current chair, Victorian Terry Richardson, later this year. “The chair can’t be too parochial in representing any particular area; we need a strong grassroots individual and, warts and all, I’m fronting up. “A lot of the issues that need addressing are based around structure. “Dairy Australia recognises this, but we may be coming at it from a different perspective. They were probably looking top-down; I’m looking bottom-up.” Ben said farmer concerns about quad bikes was a prime example. “Quad bikes are an essential aspect of our day-to-day operation; as integral as a hammer to a carpenter, but they have to be functional. “I’ve got a standard 1.8 metre underpass and they have to fit or are we going to spend tens of millions of dollars revamping every underpass? “If you get on a two-wheel motorbike and go over the Stony Rises, you better have your affairs in order. “Safety is a prerequisite for every single farmer. We’re not cowboys but things have to be practical. “There are a lot of well-intentioned people but we need to work together and recognise we are here for the farmer — first, second and third.” Ben admits he has “the capacity to press buttons” but doesn’t see a potential ADF role so much as a challenge as an opportunity. “I look at the ADF and don’t see a lot of people there who milk their cows with their wives. We need that aspect of the demographic to be represented.” Ben also isn’t one for flashy promotions. “Our dairy industry is fundamentally quite mature and doesn’t need sugar blown anywhere. “We just need the basics done well; we don’t need glossy pamphlets or self-promotion. “Australians very much appreciate dairy farmers. “We don’t need to be on the back foot, we don’t need to apologise. We have the high ground and we should take it, not cower to whichever noisy flavour of the month is happening in parliament.” Ben and Kylee, with help from their five children, currently milk 340 cows in a mixed herd. The farm has been as high as 420 cows and as low as 220 in response to conditions.
“We have smaller-framed cows and push for components and fertility and low maintenance,” Ben Bennett says.
The Bennett farm in the Stony Rises is surrounded by the region’s famous stone.
They were impacted by the collapse of Murray Goulburn but now enjoy the flat milk payment system offered by Bulla. They have a summer-based pasture system centred on lucerne. “Perennial lucerne has its management issues, it’s no silver bullet but it’s a low-cost pasture system and you don’t have to re-drill every year,” Ben said. “Lucerne still needs water so we can get exposed to needing to buy feed, but we can get up to 10 years with the lucerne and with the new cultivars you get a lot of winter activity.
“It’s not for everybody, but it suits our land type. We’re on the Stony Rises. We’re effectively a sheet of concrete with salt and pepper shaker over the top and we manage that.” About 80 per cent of the farm has been cleared of rocks. They have a tight March calving and a young herd. “We have smaller-framed cows and push for components and fertility and low maintenance,” Ben said. “It’s a work in progress. We hope for the best, expect the worst, and take what comes.”
About 80 per cent of the farm has been rock rolled.
DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA OCTOBER 2021
8 // WEST VIC REGION
Hay demand prompts fire warning VICTORIAN FARMERS have a spring in their
step with the onset of strong seasonal growth of pastures and crops, but CFA has warned them to exercise caution when cutting, baling and storing hay. The most recent seasonal outlook for spring, released late last month by the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council, shows that average to above average rainfall is expected to promote strong vegetation growth across the state during spring. Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said the forecast indicated farmers could expect greater yields and hopefully a successful hay season. “Add to that the current high demand for hay — in part due to the mouse plague in NSW wreaking havoc on stored hay in that state — and a lot of farmers are growing hay right across Victoria right now,” he said. “Whether you’re a seasoned hay grower or getting into it more recently, it’s really important to take care of your hay and crops this fire season.” CFA volunteer firefighters responded to dozens of haystack fires across the state last year. Chief Officer Heffernan said haystack fires could start quite easily from lightning strikes or sparks from equipment and machinery, but a major source of ignition was spontaneous combustion of the haybales. Spontaneous combustion can occur when hay has either not properly dried before baling, or has been exposed to rain or damp conditions, meaning moisture content in the bales is higher than the recommended levels.
“This can happen to any hay bales, regardless of size, and it is something farmers can help prevent,” Chief Officer Heffernan said. “After baling, make sure you check the heat and smell of the bales before stacking them into haysheds or large external stacks, and leave any suspect bales separate from the rest. “By doing so, you’re not just protecting yourself from the financial impact of losing valuable fodder, you’ll also be helping your local brigade and community as haystack fires often occupy crucial firefighting resources during the season when CFA volunteer firefighters are required to monitor haystack fires for several days to make sure smouldering fires don’t spread.”
Important tips ■
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It is important to ensure hay is well cured before bailing. Know the history of the hay you purchase. Keep haystacks to a limited size, and don’t stack hay right to the top of a hay shed. Allow some air to circulate at the top — this helps to carry away moisture. Monitor moisture and temperature of your hay regularly. Watch for unusual odours such as pipe tobacco, caramel, burning or musty smells. Store hay in separate stacks or sheds away from farm equipment and other buildings. Keep your hay dry. Protect it from rain, leaking rooves or spouts, and runoff. Cover stacks with tarps or hay caps.
To reduce the risk of haybale fires the CFA is urging farmers to check the heat and smell of bales before stacking them into haysheds or large external stacks and to leave any suspect bales separate from the rest.
Temperature guide — what to do when your hay is overheating Use a thermometer in a probe or insert a crowbar into the middle of the stack for two hours. ■ Less than 50°C (can handle crowbar without discomfort): Check temperature daily. ■ 50°C — 60°C (can only handle crowbar for short time): Check temperature twice daily. Remove machinery from shed.
60°C — 70°C (can touch bar only briefly): Check temperature every two to four hours. Move hay to improve air flow. ■ Over 70 °C (bar is too hot to hold): Potential for fire. Call 000 immediately. Avoid walking on top of haystack. For more information please visit: www.cfa.vic.gov.au/plan-prepare/ hay-and-fire-safety ■
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