DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA MAY 2017
AROUND THE REGIONS // 11
South Australia Northern Victoria Keep it simple, farmers tell processors Scholarship sends vet student to New York DAIRY FARMERS want simpler
payment systems and more market intelligence from their suppliers, according to a survey commissioned by the Union Dairy Company and co-funded by the South Australia Dairy Industry Fund. The project involved a series of workshops in the Limestone Coast region of SA and south-western Victoria, in November last year, conducted by Freshagenda. Between 10 and 30 farmers operating diverse dairy farming systems of varying scales attended each of the workshops. Freshagenda director Steve Spencer said that while there were no huge surprises, the workshops highlighted that the industry was going through a period of seismic change. “Participants in the workshops made it clear that they want open relationships with their processors the importance of honesty, transparency and trust was raised at every meeting. They also want greater
security, through better forward signals and accompanying intelligence.” The project was initiated late last year by the Union Dairy Company (UDC), which is due to start processing milk at its new plant near Penola in July, 2017. The South Australian Dairy Industry Fund, which allocates money to projects raised from the sale of SADA Fresh milk, provided funds on the proviso key findings could be shared with the South Australian Dairyfarmers’ Association and the broader industry. Fund chair, Dennis Mutton (pictured), said UDC was keen to find out what sort of features they should be offering farmers that would be most advantageous to their businesses. Mr Spencer said there was considerable interest in flat pricing and models that fixed a mini-
mum price for a certain percentage of their milk, as opposed to traditional approaches that built in seasonal adjustments or were highly layered. “Many farmers felt that volume and productivity incentives had complicated farm-gate milk prices and disadvantaged younger, smaller farmers,” he said. “There was also considerable discussion around the seasonality of pricing. S“The workshops showed that challenge is widely felt in the South East and western Victoria, with several farmers commenting that seasonal incentives had in effect forced farmers to change practices and chase incentives for milk that is more expensive to produce.” Mr Spencer said farmers also wanted more transparent, simpler payment systems rather than having to work through monthly statements with multiple additions and deductions.
NSW Push for silage wagon extension NSW LOBBY group, Dairy Connect, has opened discussions with the State Government to ensure farmers can retain the right to carry a load of silage in their silage wagon on public roads. In 2013, the NSW Government introduced a change to the Road Transport General Act, which allows farmers and contractors to carry a load of green chop or ensiled grass
in their silage wagon. “The amendment is very specific about what you can carry in the wagon, dimensions, mass limits, speed and distance of travel, travel restrictions, night travel, warning devices, lights and reflectors, tyres, tow bars, suspension and mudguards,” Dairy Connect CEO Shaughn Morgan said. “If we meet all the conditions we are currently
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Angela was pleased he chose to be a vet and broaden his options rather than go into straight dairy farming. “However, every time he comes back home, he questions us about the cows and what we can do better!” Greenhams Joint Managing Director, Grant Ryan, said the company offered the scholarship to encourage future leaders in agriculture. Scholarship applications each year are assessed by a panel of three independent judges from industry and education sectors.
the main livestock business in the area, dairy cattle account for a large part of the caseload,” says Matthew. “I’m really looking forward to making a serious contribution to the field. I want to get involved in a mixed practice but I’d like to apply my skills to the ongoing challenges of dairy production across both large scale intensive enterprises and small operations.” Matthew grew up on a Merrigum dairy farm helping to milk upwards of 150 cows for his parents, Peter and Angela.
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allowed to cart silage on the road from property to property.” This legislation has a sunset clause and is due to end in June 2018. “We have raised this Regulation with the NSW Government and we continue to seek an appropriate extension of the Order with the NSW Minister for Roads, Melinda Pavey, as well as Niall Blair (Minister for Primary Industry)”.
A VET student from a Merrigum dairy farm, Matthew DeCicco, has been awarded a $12,000 scholarship, and will use it to further his studies in herd health. Matthew is this year’s winner of the Greenham GOTAFE Dairy Scholarship, an award available to students who sell cattle to Greenham beef processors. The scholarship is now in its 12th year, and Greenhams established a partnership with GOTAFE and the National Centre for Dairy Education (NCDE), Shepparton this year. Matthew is in his fifth year of veterinary science at Charles Sturt in Wagga and is keen to concentrate on herd health, transition cow management, metabolic diseases, fertility and reproduction across both small and large operations. He plans to use the money to undertake a four week placement at Cornell University, NY. “Cornell offered me a spot at their ambulatory clinic in Ithaca, New York,” he said. “It’s actually one of the most highly regarded veterinarian teaching institutions in the USA and because dairy farming is
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