• Dairy farm monitor shows mixed reports across the state
• September and October fox bounty collections for the region
• Webinar on climate change report
• Soil Moisture monitoring results
• Dunkeld hosts International Rural Women's Day lunch
• From beekeepers to boat owners, check out the new biosecurity website
• Time for a cuppa for rural women
• Applications close soon for youth engagement grants
• 2020 Victorian Regional Community Leadership Program - Dairy Industry
• Water reticulation workshops help new pipeline customers
• What’s on

Variability in farm profits and strategies to respond to high costs and seasonal conditions are revealed in the 75 farm survey results of the 2018–19 Dairy Farm Monitor Project.

The Dairy Farm Monitor Project provides annual farm level data related to profit and production in Victoria. The latest report is the thirteenth to be produced in collaboration with Dairy Australia.

The top performing farms in the project have shown timely decision making combined with a business analysis approach were key strategies to managing the dry conditions throughout the 2018–19 financial year.

While profits were mixed across the regions, the project reported average earnings before interest and tax were $85,000 in 2018-19, half of the level set the year before.

When interest and lease costs are considered, average net farm income across the state fell to $24,000, the fourth lowest in the 13-years of the project.

Agriculture Victoria’s Farm Business Economist Claire Waterman said there was a significant variation in profitability across the three dairy regions of Victoria. 

“The dry conditions have led to a 20 per cent increase in variable costs as a result of higher irrigation water, concentrates and fodder prices,” Ms Waterman said. “Farmers also spent more on making homegrown feed, including fertiliser, hay and silage making costs.”

Across South West Victoria’s survey results, net farm income improved on the previous year to $27,000 yet remained below the long-term average.

In the North of the state, net farm income fell to -$85,000, the lowest level in the 13-year history of the project.

Across Gippsland, net farm income reduced to -$15,000 with varied seasonal conditions and profitability results.

Despite the increased costs and earlier culling in some regions, herd size among the farmers surveyed remained constant at an average of 357 cows.

Milk price improved six per cent to $6.13/kg MS compared to the previous year, partially offsetting the increased costs.

“Following a challenging 2018–19 season, more than 85 per cent of farmers predicted their farm profit will improve for 2019-20 underpinned by strong expectations for improved milk price and stable or improving milk production,” Ms Waterman said.

Agriculture Victoria and Dairy Australia provide a range of services to support farmers managing drought and dry seasonal conditions.

These services include one-on-one consultations, workshops and grants.

For more information on the support available to dairy farmers please contact Agriculture Victoria on 136 186 or visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/dryseasons

The annual report is available at agriculture.vic.gov.au/dairyfarmmonitor

Alex Goudy, Agriculture Victoria, Warrnambool.

As we move into the harvest season, using fertilisers to boost yield should be front of mind. Potassium is an important nutrient in spring that affects both plant and animal health.

Too little in your soil means reduced pasture growth, however too much can lead to metabolic problems in cattle.

Therefore, it’s important to think about your soil fertility levels and potassium fertiliser use.

Being over generous with potassium fertiliser in spring has the potential to cause milk fever and grass tetany next calving season. The worst-case scenario from this is the loss of cows, or in less severe cases, an impact on production and profitability.

When soil potassium levels are high, pasture plants can accumulate excess potassium which can cause a mineral imbalance in cows.

A high potassium diet reduces the uptake of magnesium and calcium in the gut which leads to milk fever and grass tetany.

Cows are most susceptible to mineral imbalances prior to and up to three months after calving.

A lot of potassium is removed in a hay or silage harvest, usually between 60 to 100 kg per hectare.

Therefore, many fertiliser recommendations in spring aim to give a boost to pasture growth using nitrogen and replace potassium, phosphorus, sulphur and nitrogen removed in harvested pasture.

However, if soil potassium levels are already adequate, the pasture can accumulate additional potassium beyond what is needed for extra growth.

This is called 'luxury uptake'. It can result in hay that if fed to susceptible animals, will predispose them to metabolic problems. Some caution around adding extra potassium fertiliser to paddocks with a high soil level is therefore necessary.

The following recommendations can help with potassium fertiliser decisions:

1. If potassium levels are high (Colwell K levels greater than 250mg/kg) additional fertiliser won’t increase pasture production. Cutting back on potassium fertilisers (and monitoring with soil tests) will save you money.
2. When using nitrogen to boost spring harvest yields, consider using straight nitrogen fertilisers if soil fertility is adequate and nutrients aren’t limiting.
3. Cows susceptible to milk fever and grass tetany should be on a low potassium diet, fed rough hay or straw prior to calving, and kept off feed and paddocks with high soil potassium levels, prior to and soon after calving.
   Magnesium supplementation pre- and post-calving will also reduce the chance of grass tetany if you are grazing susceptible pastures.
4. Be conscious of where the hay being fed out was made. If it was on paddocks with high potassium levels avoid feeding this hay to springers or dry cows.
5. Remember silage and hay removes a large amount of potassium. Be sure to replace this on these paddocks.
6. Regularly soil test to monitor the potassium (and other nutrient) levels of your paddocks. Potassium levels can change quickly due to leaching and fodder conservation, so make sure tests are done regularly to plan fertiliser use.
   Testing farm management zones assists to monitor the changes in fertility of certain areas of the farm that are managed differently.
7. Current guidelines for fertility target levels can be found at Dairy Australia’s Fert$mart website.

By considering current fertility levels and fertiliser practices, potassium fertiliser can be used with confidence on your farm.

For more information about managing during drought and dry seasonal conditions go to agriculture.vic.gov.au/dryseasons.

Climate change is rapidly ramping up existing threats to global land resources, reducing the ability to feed people around the world.

In Australia, rivers are drying up, the natural resource base is under pressure and climate-related pressures are increasingly impacting on the conservation estate.

Agriculture is under pressure too as heatwaves become increasingly frequent and intense, farm animals are increasingly stressed and less productive, crops yields are shrinking and crops are failing more regularly whilst rural communities are suffering.

At the same time, the land sector is currently making climate change worse, even as it can offer some of the solutions to reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). This is because the global food system produces about 29 per cent of the world’s total GHG emissions. Australian numbers are similar.

But at the same time the land absorbs about 22 per cent of global GHG emissions via natural processes. With the right management, we can reduce the land sector’s GHG emissions and increase the land’s carbon sinks.

If left unchecked, the current situation threatens to increase global warming, and leave the world hungry and with an increasingly degraded natural resource base.

One of the key findings of the report is that there is no way we can limit global warming in line with the Paris Climate Agreement without actively managing our land sector GHG emissions. But even if we do everything right, the land sector alone cannot solve climate change. Reducing fossil fuel emissions remains absolutely vital.

Presenter:
Professor Mark Howden is Director of the Climate Change Institute at the Australian National University. Mark is also an Honorary Professor at Melbourne University, a Vice Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and a member of the Australian National Climate Science Advisory Committee. He was on the US Federal Advisory Committee for the 3rd National Climate Assessment and contributes to several major national and international science and policy advisory bodies.

A webinar on the recent IPCC report on climate change and land and the implications for Australian agriculture will be held at
12 pm Tuesday 8 October.

Please register in advance via the link here
Event password:  IPCC2019
Event number: 570 991 127

To join a webinar, you’ll need access to a computer that has a good internet connection, and a headset or built in computer speakers and microphone. You can also watch via computer and phone in (if you can’t access audio on your computer), or you can watch and interact in the webinar via your smartphone or tablet.

The webinar will be recorded, so if you miss the live presentation you can watch it later at a time that suits you.

Soil moisture levels are varying across the state including in the north, with full information detailed in the latest Soil Moisture Monitoring newsletter.

In the Southwest of the state, the Lake Bolac and Hamilton sites are full and equal to or wetter than levels than at this same time last year. The Yalla-Y-Poora site is also very close to 100 per cent full.

Central Victoria and the North East have crops that have high water demands and have consumed all this season’s moisture following below average August rainfall. There are a wide range of residual moisture levels across the region.

August rainfall totals supported crop growth, but in the north soil moisture is now being actively used by crops.

Wet South West crops have deep soil moisture reserves and to date have not had to use it, as rainfall has met crop demands.

Early rainfall for August was good in the Wimmera, but South West cropping areas continue to be wet.

Totals of more than 25mm were enough in some areas to improve deep soil moisture conditions in the Wimmera but saturate areas of the South West.

For more detailed information on Soil Moisture Levels and the latest report, click here.

'Connecting Rural and Regional Women of the Western District'

The Dunkeld and District CWA in collaboration with Western AG Supplies invites you to join them at their very special Rural Women's Day.

Listen to extraordinary guest speakers from the region and beyond. There are 12 women contributing to the event – with two panel sessions.

The day is all about showcasing every day women doing extraordinary things in regional business, communities and agriculture.

Enjoy a delicious lunch by Jack + Jude while celebrating this unique day.

Date and Time
Tuesday, 15 October 2019
8.45 am – 3.00 pm 

Location
Sterling Place Dunkeld Community Centre
14 Sterling Street, Dunkeld, VIC 3294

Book here.

This event wouldn't be possible without the sponsorship from Look Over the Farm Gate, Glenelg Hopkins CMA - National Landcare Program and Bendigo Bank.

General information contact Jackie Elliott on 0439 541 036 or email jackie.elliott@westernag.com.au.

A new national biosecurity website - which will be a central hub for Australia’s biosecurity information - is about to be delivered by government, industry and environmental groups.

The beta site, beta.biosecurity.gov.au, lets users be involved in the website’s development.

Data and feedback collected during the beta phase will help shape the final website.

The final website will be released when builders are confident it meets user needs.

Be one of the first to explore beta.biosecurity.gov.au.

The website will provide information to the National Biosecurity Committee and its sub-committees, and website users can discover information about how to reduce biosecurity risks and how to report a concern.

The website is being developed based on personas, ranging from a beekeeper to a boat owner, an international traveller to a primary producer, and an animal owner to a pest and weed manager.

Visit the site and provide feedback to help improve it.

The Victorian Rural Women’s Network is excited to celebrate International Day of Rural Women on 15 October by supporting a series of local gatherings across Victoria — Country Cuppas.

Country Cuppas encourages women to take time out to connect over a cuppa with other women in their region and share ideas, networks and knowledge.

Gatherings will take place at venues across the state on 15 October and the weekend prior. You can participate in this relaxed event by registering to host a gathering in your region.

If you want to meet new friends, boost the sense of belonging in your community or simply talk about things that matter to you, Country Cuppas is for you.

Whether you host a morning tea at home, a long lunch or a dinner at your favourite restaurant, Country Cuppas will open doors to creating new friends and connections.

More information click here

The Weeds and Rabbits Project is keen to encourage more young people to connect with their local community and natural environment through invasive pest and weed management.

Grants of up to $15,000 are available to support projects that will increase youth interest, engagement and skills in invasive species management in Victoria.

The grant program is open to community groups, education providers and local councils, with a focus on projects that connect with young people and develop their skills, and therefore deliver broader benefits for local communities.

The program aims to increase young people’s participation in community environmental projects and encourage new ideas and innovations in the invasive species challenge.

Funding can be used to support the engagement of young people in existing groups and initiatives, or to develop new youth-focused initiatives.

Applications for the grants program close Monday 30 September.

For more information visit the Weeds and Rabbits Project website.

Gardiner Dairy Foundation is offering up to eight fully funded places in the 2020 Victorian Regional Community Leadership Program (VRCLP). 

The VRCLP is an opportunity for people who want to expand their contribution to the Victorian dairy industry and dairy communities.

“Our aim is to support emerging leaders by giving them access to professional development training that is based in, and focused on, their region and local communities,” Gardiner Dairy Foundation CEO, Dr Clive Noble said.

The regions covered include south-west Victoria (Leadership Great South Coast), Gippsland (Gippsland Community Leadership), north-west and central Victoria (Loddon Murray Community Leadership) and northern Victoria (Fairley Leadership).

Each recipient has a unique opportunity to strengthen their leadership capabilities and to make a positive difference in their local community and in the wider dairy industry.

VRCLP CEO, Katrina Baddeley, said the regional leadership programs open up new, socially valuable, collaborative opportunities for participants.

“They develop projects that have a community benefit and for many the experience accelerates or changes their life and career trajectory,” Ms Baddeley said. “They also make many lifelong friends.”

The Gardiner Foundation partnership with VRCLP has supported more than 70 participants to develop their leadership skills.

“I’d strongly encourage individuals wanting to contribute to a strong Australian dairy industry to apply for a place on one of these programs and take advantage of the great opportunities they offer,” Dr Noble said.

Application opening and closing dates for 2020 Victorian Regional Community Leadership Program are below:

Leadership Great South Coast
Now open until 11 October - visit https://www.lgsc.org.au/

The 2018 Leadership Great South Coast (LGSC) program opened Peter Gaffy’s eyes up to opportunities to collaborate with peers in the dairy community.

“The program has allowed me to grow and develop, both personally and professionally. I have gained an even greater understanding of the region that I live and work in, and I’ve met some fantastic people and developed a really strong community network.

“Most importantly, the program has really shown me that you don’t need to be at the top of an  organisation to demonstrate leadership. Great leaders have the ability to influence and motivate outcomes at any level,” Peter said.

For more information about Victorian Regional Community Leadership Program please the Gardiner Foundation and follow the links or email: Richard Meredith richard.meredith@gardinerfoundation.com.au or Ashley Eldridge ashley.eldridge@gardinerfoundation.com.au.

Each workshop ran for about six hours and consisted of a mix of practical exercises and formal presentations.

A highlight was a presentation by local farmers, Anthony Pola and Steven Start, who shared their experiences moving to a pipeline-fed farm water reticulation system.

Both Anthony and Steven stressed the importance of careful planning and systematically working through the design process. 

They also acknowledged the importance of seeking professional advice when selecting pipes, pumps and other pipeline components.

Attendees provided excellent feedback following the workshops, describing the content and format as “interesting” and the knowledge of all presenters as “excellent”.

The workshops were run by Agriculture Victoria with support from GWMWater and Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority, with funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.

Further workshops are planned for next year once the design of the East Grampians Pipeline has been completed.

For more information, or to register your interest, contact Clem Sturmfels, Agriculture Victoria on 5355 0535, 0429 018 879 or Sarah Tottenham, GWMWater on 5381 9610.

During the two days of The Business EDGE you will acquire the knowledge and skills to;

• Determine if all the family needs and aspirations can be funded by the business
• Prepare and understand key financial information on your business
• Assess and manage agricultural business risk
• Understand and manage enterprise performance, including understanding what the key profit drivers are, how to influence them and what effect they have on overall business performance. And much more.

Comprehensive course notes are provided, along with decision support spreadsheet tools to help you apply the material to your business. Follow up is available to all participants.

Agriculture Victoria will host the 3rd Australian Pulse Conference in Horsham this October.

Please join us on what will be an exciting journey into pulse research and development – linking cutting edge technological research to improved profitability for growers and providing healthy options for human consumption – taste and technology.

To register or view the program visit: https://apc2019.com.au https://apc2019.com.au.

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