capitalrestructureplan

MILK METERS The first of
FAMILY TIES Teresa Hicks
MG’s tanker fleet equipped
with new flow meters is on the
road for final testing. Page 3
is only 24 but is living her
dream of managing the family
dairy farm. Page 12
DECEMBER 2013
Volume 28 No. 12 (Issue No. 334)
A new breed
joins the
Jersey ranks
C
HELSEA Dickinson and Matthew
Smith, pictured right, may only be
youngsters now, but they are
following a strong family tradition in
Jersey breeding.
They were at the New South Wales
State Jersey Show last month and are
the next generation of the Brown family
from the Southern Highlands of New
South Wales.
The Browns have a long and respected
history in Jersey breeding, dating back
more than 100 years.
Chelsea showed off her skills with first
place in the 18-21 month Jersey heifer
section in the state youth classes on the
first day of the state show.
Chelsea is so keen on cattle breeding
that she already has her own registered
Chelick Jersey stud.
Murray Goulburn was a sponsor of
the Jersey show which brought together
many of the co-operative’s new
suppliers from north and south of
Sydney.
● More pictures and reports from the
show are on page 10.
Co-op members to have their say on new ...
CAPITAL RESTRUCTURE PLAN
URRAY Goulburn
supplier/shareholders
will be invited to
have their say regarding the co-op’s capital structure
proposal which recommends
allowing external investors to
invest in MG while still
retaining 100 per cent farmer
control.
A series of meetings will be
held throughout MG’s milk
collection regions in December
and January to outline a model
similar to the one recently
implemented by New Zealand’s
M
national dairy co-operative,
Fonterra.
Speaking at the co-operative’s
annual meeting last month, MG
Chairman, Phil Tracy, stressed
that what the MG Board was
proposing was not a ‘fait
accompli’.
“We will consult directly with
you (supplier/ shareholders) on
the recommended capital
structure and why we believe it
is the right way forward for
MG,” he said.
“So please be assured, that in
the coming weeks and months,
there will be ample opportunity
to learn more about the key
aspects of the capital restructure
and for supplier/shareholders to
ask questions.
“Your Board believes we are
facing a ‘once in a generation’
growth opportunity from which
every member of our co-operative can ultimately benefit,” Phil
said.
“These initiatives are aimed at
securing the benefits for all MG
supplier/shareholders.”
MG Managing Director, Gary
Helou, said the Fonterra style
proposal would not affect
supplier/shareholder’s 100 per
cent control. of the co-operative.
He said the MG Board
had considered a number of
ways and means of raising
additional capital for critical
infrastructure developments.
“But changing the co-operative structure and the 100 per
cent control by farmers has
never been considered.”
Gary said the proposal was
still being developed by the
Board, but he added that its
introduction would be dependant
on the response from the
planned supplier/shareholder
meetings.
He said that if there was a positive response, it may be possible to present a final
proposal
to an Extraordinary General
Meeting in mid-2014.
Gary also stressed that the new
equity raising proposal had nothing to do with MG’s bid for
Warrnambool Cheese and Butter
company.
● More reports from MG’s
annual meeting are on pages
8-9.
2
DECEMBER 2013
MURRAY GOULBURN
INTERNATIONAL MARKET REVIEW
DEVONDALER
Stronger prices and a happier Christmas
T
HIS time last year I closed
my article with: “So we
end the calendar year in
reasonable shape with most of
the key price indicators remaining stable with some possible
price upside.
All we really need for
Christmas is some relief on
exchange rates and Christmas
lunch would be all the more
tasty”
My wishes did not come in
time for last year but they did for
this year.
This time last year the Aussie
Dollar was at $1.04 to the greenback.
Main products were trading on
the GDT back then at:
SMP US$3,402/MT
WMP US$3,276/MT
AMFUS$3,066/MT
The result of Global Dairy
Trade Event 104, which concluded mid-November with the GDT
Price Index up 0.1 per cent, is a
remarkable contrast to this time
last year.
So GDT event 104 produced
another stable result which indicates buyers are comfortable that
supply / demand is now in balance and demand remains robust
enough to clear all the product
offered on the GDT auction.
NZ Full Cream Milk Powder
settled in a range of $US4950 $US5185 maintaining current
pricing levels into 2014.
The result for Skim Milk
Powder ended in a wide range of
prices from the five sellers now
on the auction platform for this
commodity.
Amul (India) at the bottom
averaging $US4150; Dairy
America averaging $US4380;
Euroserum, a new European seller on the platform, at $US4345;
Arla $US4520 and Fonterra
$US4760.
We are now seeing a general
firming of SMP prices within
Europe so prices may consolidate toward the upper end of the
range.
Cheddar prices are also rapidly
moving upward at long last as
International Prices $US/MT FOB
tight supply and product shortages emerge from Oceania suppliers in particular who have
favoured FCMP production over
cheese.
We believe we will see more
upward movement in cheese
over the next few weeks.
Butter on the GDT platform
continues to be the weaker
performer and is well below
general market prices for this
ingredient.
That said market prices for
butter are probably lower than
they should be if it were not for
a weak GDT result. However,
we are now largely protected
from any downside risk in the
butter category as our order book
for this category is well sold.
We doubt that there is much
more in the way of upside in the
powders category with NZ milk
production increases most likely
already factored into the supply/
demand equation.
We also note that European/
USA milk production is recovering from last year’s decline.
However demand remains strong
and appears to have been boosted in recent weeks as buyers are
forced to fill depleted pipeline
stocks cause by short term buying in anticipation of prices
dropping which has not eventuated. Weather patterns in NZ
post their peak will be a key factor to watch as a repeat of dry
My Christmas wish
this year is to get a
lot more milk from
suppliers to fully
exploit these
terrific trading
conditions.
Key results:
Main Products
SMP up 0.7%, average price US$4583/MT
WMP stable, average price US$4870/MT
AMF down 1.6%, average price US$5255/MT
Other Products
conditions similar to last year
could quickly swing the supply /
demand balance toward a supply
gap.
So we approach Christmas in
excellent shape, prices are at historic highs which have remained
for an unprecedented period now
exceeding six months and still
going strong.
MG’s order book is in a strong
position. The Aussie Dollar is
sitting at around $0.91 - a great
trifecta!
My Christmas wish this year
BMP down 0.1%, average price US$4753/MT
Butter up 1.7%, average price US$3583/MT
Cheddar up 4.5%, average price US$4584/MT
MPC70 up 0.6%, average price US$7787/MT
Rennet Casein down 5.4%, average price
US$9418/MT
is to get a lot more milk from
suppliers to fully exploit these
terrific trading conditions.
So I wish our suppliers a
”White Christmas” filled with
torrents of milk and to all read-
ers. I hope you enjoy a wonderful Christmas and have a successful and prosperous 2014.
Mal Beniston is MG’s
General Manager, Ingredient.s
●
Dairy changes, but still stays the same
T
HE meetings to broker a
merger between Murray
Goulburn and the major
dairy co-operatives in Gippsland
during the early 1970s were
well before my time in the
industry.
But over the years I have
spoken with many suppliers who
did attend those meetings and
there are two factors that seem
to be common in their recollections.
They talk about the passion
and the vision of the then
Chairman of MG, Joe Curtis,
and the legendary Managing
Director, Jack McGuire.
They were fiery, and at times,
bitter meetings but Joe and Jack
broke through the parochialism
and the conservatism by being
straightforward and open.
They knew that the dairy
industry could not survive with a
scattering of small co-operatives
across the state.
Individually, the co-operatives
did not have the financial
resources to become more efficient and build the plants and
buy the equipment needed to
compete both domestically and
internationally.
Forty years later and I am sure
that both Joe and Jack will be
smiling brightly as they look
down on the situation that
confronts the Australian dairy
industry today and the role MG
is playing.
It is a repeat of the times they
faced and I am sure they would
be proud of the case that both
Chairman, Phil Tracy, and
Managing Director, Gary Helou,
are putting as MG bids for
control of Warrnambool Cheese
and Butter.
I was at last month’s meeting
at Warrnambool where MG
put its case at a community
meeting.
Both Phil and Gary spoke of
the need for scale in the
Australian dairy industry. They
feared for the future if two of
Australia’s iconic dairy companies could not get together and
provide the size necessary to
compete on a demand-led global
market.
Like those who came before,
they spoke passionately of the
need to have a strong co-operative at the forefront of the
Australian dairy industry.
Gary pointed to the fact that
the top two dairy companies in
the world were co-operatives and
a blending of MG and WCB
would provide the chance for
Australia to have a dairy
company in the world’s top 20.
This bigger scale of business
would then provide the chance
for greater investment, greater
efficiencies, greater opportinities
on international markets and
greater returns to farmers.
The events of the past few
months have shown that despite
the passing of the years, there
are some things that never
change in dairying.
Joe and Jack have passed on
the baton and time will tell
whether WCB shareholders turn
to MG or whether they go in
another direction.
Whatever the result, the
strength of the co-operative will
remain the strength of the
Australian dairy industry.
It’s time that everyone who
has a link with a drop of milk
acknowledged this fact.
Bonus for MG mums
W
E all know that Mother’s
Day falls on a Sunday but
next year, MG mums will get an
extra day.
Despite the efforts of my
proof-reading team, the latest
Devondale Country Calendar
lists Mother’s Day on a
Monday.
As one of those who proofread the calendar, I apologise.
It’s usually the most obvious
error that gets through.
So MG mums, you get two
days of your own to celebrate in
2014.
MURRAY GOULBURN
DECEMBER 2013
IN THE NEWS
3
DEVONDALER
MG takes WCB bid on the road
M
MG Chairman, Phil Tracy, addresses the meeting at Warrnambool.
URRAY Goulburn
Chairman, Phil Tracy,
and Managing Director,
Gary Helou, went on the road
last month to outline the
co-operative’s bid for the
Warrnambool Cheese and Butter
company.
The two men addressed
meetings in Warrnambool and
Mt Gambier and outlined MG’s
reasons for wanting to buy
WCB.
They answered questions
during the meetings and then
spent a number of hours
speaking with both MG and
WCB suppliers and shareholders
as well as members of the local
communities.
Phil told the meetings that
MG’s bid for WCB was an
industry issue.
“It’s not just MG and WCB
and it’s not just about the shares.
It’s about the industry’s future.”
He said that for Australia to
compete on the global market,
the industry needed a dairy
icon.
“MG and WCB both have
proud histories and we are now
in a position to create that dairy
icon.
“It would be a combination
of two high quality dairy
companies,” he said.
Phil said that a combined
MG and WCB would have
more than 3000 suppliers and a
milk intake of more than
4 billion litres a year and that
putting the two companies
together would maximise the
milk price to farmers both short
and long term.
Phil said that since deregulation, the Australian dairy
industry had become fragmented
and had not delivered the
benefits to farmers.
“This cannot go on. We are
now at the crossroads and there
is a much bigger prize here and
that’s the long term future of our
dairy industry.”
Gary said MG was passionate
about making the right decision
for the two companies and for
the dairy farming generations
into the future.
“We need a sustainable
industry structure. We need to
upgrade old plants,increase
industry efficiency and we need
to develop an outward focus,”
he said.
He said that putting MG and
WCB together would create an
Australian owned and operated
company with the scale,
capacity, strength and
momentum to capture global
growth opportunities.
Gary said that only a cooperative could deliver such a
future because it was prepared to
invest in that future.
He said the top two dairy
companies in the world were cooperatives and four of the top
eight companies were cooperatives.
“There is something about
dairy that is enhanced by the
operation of a co-operative.
“It would be a missed
opportunity for both sets of
suppliers if MG and WCB did
not get together,” he said.
MG submits
Revised Offer
for WCB
MURRAY Goulburn has put a
revised proposal to acquire
all the issued shares in
Warrnambool Cheese and
Butter Factory Company via
an offmarket takeover offer
for $9.50 cash per share.
The co-operative says the
Revised Offer represents
compelling value for WCB
shareholders, delivers them a
demonstrably superior value
outcome relative to all other
competing proposals, and is
simple and straightforward.
MG notes that Saputo Inc.
has removed the dividend
component of their offer and
included additional ‘contingent’ consideration and that
the WCB Board has stated
that they will not declare a
dividend during the Saputo
offer period.
MG still wishes to explore
the potential of WCB paying
special dividends under its
Revised Offer in order to
deliver franking credit benefits to some shareholders. MG
has requested the WCB Board
engage to enable this value to
be delivered to some shareholders.
The Revised Offer is a further endorsement of MG’s
commitment to acquiring
WCB.
New milk flow meters face their final tests
M
URRAY Goulburn’s first
prototype tanker fitted
with a state-of-the-art
milk flow meter is now on the
road for further testing.
It was sent on its way at MG’s
Rochester plant last month after
a small celebratory ceremony at
which MG’s General Manager
Manufacturing and Transport
Operations, Mark McDonald,
and MG Cobram Field Services
Manager, John Furphy, cut a
symbolic ribbon to mark the
occasion.
The roll-out of flow meters
will take place progressively
from January and will be
completed by June 2014.
While flow meters have been
the milk measurement tool of
choice for leading dairy
companies in Australia for many
years, the introduction of the
new generation of flow meters
provides Murray Goulburn with
a platform to incorporate many
new, exciting initiatives into the
milk collection system.
Flow meters work by
measuring the volume of milk
being pumped into the tanker
using a magnetic flow meter.
The milk is pushed through an
‘air eliminator’ vessel to remove
air bubbles so that only pure
Pictured at the launch of the new milk flow meters from left, Joe Koene, Northern Transport Manager;
Victor Jones, Transport Manager, Maintenance Services; Michael Francis, Process Partners (Project
Manager); Craig Albiston, Group Manager Inbound Logistics; Mark McDonald, General Manager
Manufacturing and Transport Operations; John Furphy, Field Services Manager Cobram; Glen Fulton,
Group Asset Manager Inbound Logistics and Cameron Nicholls, Business Analyst.
milk flows through the flow
meter. This results in an
extremely accurate milk
measurement at +/- 0.5 per cent
of volume.
Flow meters will deliver a
range of commercial, quality and
safety benefits including:
● More accurate measurement of
milk volume
● More accurate milk sampling
● Improved safety for tanker-
drivers and suppliers
● Improved on farm tanker turnaround times
The system will also provide
clear printouts for suppliers at
the time of collection that will
contain key information such as
collection time, total litres
collected and milk temperature,
as well as other data from previous collections such as quality
and milk composition.
Cutting the ribbon to launch the first tanker fitted with the new
milk flow meters are Mark McDonald, General Manager
Manufacturing and Transport, left, and John Furphy, MG Field
Services Manager at Cobram.
4
DECEMBER 2013
MURRAY GOULBURN
Jo inspires a new agri-generation
By SUE WEBSTER
URRAY Goulburn
Leongatha Field Officer,
Jo Duffy, has proven to
be an inspiration to young people, especially teenage girls, who
are considering a career in agriculture.
Jo recently addressed a group
of teenagers from Gippsland and
Tasmania, participants in the
Discover Agriculture Victoria
project.
Afterwards, the word most
used to describe her talk was
‘inspirational’.
The 17 secondary students
came from a variety of backgrounds, not all of them farmbased, to discover the range of
careers that agriculture offers.
Over six days they visited
farms and agriculture-related
facilities, such as a supermarket,
a tractor dealership, a grain trader and a seed company … and
the Murray Goulburn Leongatha
factory.
Jo spoke of her determination
to become a field officer, despite
what she conceded was a shortage of skills on some areas.
“But if you can’t get in the
front door or even the back door,
find a window and prise it open,”
she told the students.
“Don’t let anyone tell you that
you can’t achieve your goal,
whatever it might be.”
Jo is the daughter of MG suppliers at Calivil in north west
Victoria and said that having
grown up on a dairy farm, she
wanted a career that involved the
dairy industry.
She said that although she finished Year 12, some of her skills
M
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such as reading and writing,
were not up to the required mark
to become a field officer.
But she said that she was
determined to improve the areas
in which she thought she fell
short and was awarded a dairy
cadetship with MG eight years
ago.
It was part financed by Dairy
Australia and the then Gippsland
Herd Improvement and she spent
12 months working with MG’s
field staff.
She was appointed to her
current position more than seven
years ago.
One of the students who heard
Jo speak was Georgia Fleming.
She said: “Out of the whole
program, Joanne inspired me the
most. She was great to listen to.
She was passionate about what
she was speaking about and her
story was very interesting.
“I related to Joanne on many
levels and she made me believe
in myself more than I ever
have.”
Georgia’s goal is to finish her
certificate II in agriculture and
“do a year in agricultural college
or work on a station”.
Bree Counsell said: “Joanne
inspired me with her story of
how she got to where she is now,
and taught me that you can do
almost anything you want to do.
“She also taught me never to
give up. One thing that she said:
‘When someone says you can’t
do something, just say watch
me’ will stick in my mind
forever. Now I know I definitely
would like to make a pathway
for my future career in agriculture.”
Elle Woodgate added: “I was
MG Leongatha Field Officer an inspiration to young students considering a career in agriculture.
really inspired by Joanne,
because she never had much
confidence in herself and didn’t
think she was going to go very
far. But now she is somewhere
she never thought she would be.”
Never having seen dairying
close-up, she now wants to gain
work experience in the industry.
Michaela Akeroyd was another girl inspired by Jo.
“She really inspired me with
her story. She is proof that you
don’t need to get good marks in
school to make it in life.
“I have always thought I wanted a career in agriculture and
this has given me the push to
really go for it.”
Jemma Sanderson, a student
from Elisabeth Murdoch College
at Langwarrin, said Jo was one
of the most inspirational people
she encountered on the program.
“She spoke about her journey
to where she was today. So
many times she was told she
couldn’t follow her ambitions. In
the end she turned around and
proved them wrong, succeeding
in whatever she set her mind to.”
Jemma, who hopes to become
a vet, said: “The program helped
me by showing me different
pathways to get to what you
want. In the end, if you are
determined enough to get somewhere, anything is possible!”
On the whole the teenage boys
responded less emotionally to
Jo’s talk, although Tasmanian
Jim Conn commented: "She was
really passionate about her job
and seemed to absolutely love
what she did.”
Zac Jones, a 15 year-old from
Tasmania, was one boy
impressed by Jo.
“Jo was inspirational because
of her attitude,” he said. “She is
now a field officer, which means
she goes around to all the farmers and farms and supports
them.”
Zac was also impressed at the
Trafalgar dairy farm of MG
suppliers, Warwick and Karen
Baum.
“They told us about their farm
and the operation they run.
Warwick told us about the
importance of pasture and even
stressed the point that good pasture is better than a good cattle
herd.
“From the paddock we went
into his milking shed. It was the
first time I’ve ever been in one.
Coming from the midlands of
Tasmania, there’s not a lot
about.”
Lauren Neal is studying for
her certificate in agriculture. She
was very impressed by the
Baum’s enterprise.
She said the visit to the
Baum’s farm “shows that living
the way you want to live – if
you work at it – is a reality.
“I was inspired also by Karen,
who works off-farm in a program that supports young people
starting out. It is good to know
that these people are out there to
help you if you need.
“Karen and Warwick Baum
have developed a successful
business that works for itself as
well as the dairy industry.”
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QUALITY PIG MANU
COMPOST AVAILABLE
Members of the party of MG suppliers from Gippsland who visited MG’s head office in Melbourne.
Gippsland suppliers head to town
Visit us at our new website!
www.gcmonline.com.au
| Ph Jay on | Michelle on |
A GROUP of Murray Goulburn
women and one man from
Gippsland spent a day in
Melbourne recently, visiting
Dairy Technical Services, Dairy
Australia and the new MG
offices at Freshwater Place.
The women’s group, meets on
a bi-monthly basis with
November seeing them learn
about where their milk, and most
other companies’ milk, goes to
be tested for quality and components at the Dairy Technical
Services facility in Kensington.
Then it was onto Southbank
where Dairy Australia provided
lunch and outlined their current
projects including the
Legendairy campaign.
The last stop for the day was
the new MG offices at
Freshwater Place where Ross
Greenaway, Damian Kelly and
Malcolm McCullough spoke to
the group and answered any
questions.
The day was a great success.
- NARELLE SAVIGE,
MG Field Services, Gippsland
MURRAY GOULBURN
DECEMBER 2013
5
Drench resistance a real concern
A Murray Goulburn
supplier and dairy
researcher has
warned that over-use
of cattle drenches
could lead to longterm resistance to
the product aimed at
protecting animals.
By SUE WEBSTER
VER-zealous drenching
has left dairy herds
susceptible to the silent
scourge of resistance, a young
researcher and Murray Goulburn
supplier has warned.
Dr Stephanie Bullen has found
a “quite staggering’ spread of
drench resistance among
Gippsland herds.
The 25-year-old is studying
her Master of Veterinary Science
(Clinical) and Master of
Veterinary Studies at the
University of Melbourne and
working as a clinical resident
veterinarian at Maffra Veterinary
Centre under Jakob Malmo, also
an MG supplier.
Her research project
‘Anthelmintic efficacy against
gastro-intestinal nematodes in
post-weaning dairy calves’
involves 28 farms in the
Macalister Irrigation District.
So far, she has studied four of
them.
“And so far all four farms have
had evidence of resistance.
There doesn’t seem to be any
pattern; they’re showing resistance to different classes of
drenches, so that’s quite staggering,” she said.
“None of the farmers suspected resistance. Without doing the
testing, they wouldn’t have
known it was becoming an issue
on their farm.”
She said the newest drench
class - the MLs - were developed
30 years ago.
“Resistance to one product,
such as an ML (or ~mectin) usually means that resistance will
carry over to different products
within the same class.
“Therefore, you can’t just
swap to a different product within the same class. You actually
need to change drench groups.
That’s why it’s such a major
issue. We haven’t had any new
drench classes in 30 years.”
It could mean farmers were
wasting money on ineffective
drenches, she warned.
“I am also investigating the
effect of using ineffective
drenches on liveweight gain in
replacement heifers as part of
my study… so we don’t yet
know just how much affect
resistance will have on production.
“It depends a great deal on
which parasite species is actually
resistant. If it is Ostertagia (a
small, brown stomach worm),for
example, resistance will have
massive effects. But if it is
O
Cooperia (a black scour worm),
well, that’s what I am going to
find out!”
She said that of the farms she
tested, resistance levels potentially weren’t high enough to
cause obvious production losses.
“But continued use would
mean that the product stops
working altogether,” she said.
“And even if you swap to
another class of drench, the
resistance to the original product
remains because it is ingrained
into that parasite population.
“We want to stop the resistance before it comes to the stage
where the drench is completely
ineffective and it becomes a
massive production issue and,
potentially, a welfare issue.”
Stephanie has some suggestions. Firstly, she suggests testing for worms before drenching.
She also suggests timing is
important, as is selective drenching.
“What I’ve been finding with
my study is that spring-born
calves really haven’t been showing high levels of parasites until
the weather becomes cooler and
wetter in autumn.
It’s an area that’s
not yet been
looked at and I
would like to raise
awareness in
farmers with
regards to a more
sustainable parasite control in the
future.
DR STEPAHNIE BULLEN
“So testing those calves rather
than just drenching for the sake
of it (for example, at weaning)
will make a big difference to
resistance and potentially save
the farmer money,” she said.
She said selective drenching
also had a role.
“After you drench the animals,
the parasites that survive are the
resistant ones and they’re the
only ones that will establish in
subsequent generations.
“But if you’re selective about
which animals you drench and if
you only drench a proportion of
the mob, then you’ve still got
some surviving, susceptible parasites to breed with those
remaining resistant ones, and
hopefully slow down the development of resistance.”
But even if a new class is
released, how do we prevent a
reoccurrence 30 years hence?
Stephanie said: “That’s going
to be a major issue. That’s why
it’s important to educate people
now. The biggest thing is to
encourage farmers to undertake
sustainable practices now
because, realistically, we have
not been sustainable in the past.”
She cited recommendations to
drench every six weeks.
“That’s had massive effects on
the development of resistance,”
she said.
Her study will also look at the
Dr Stephanie Bullen is concerned that over-use of drenches in cattle could cause resistance in
future.
effect of resistance on the
growth rates of replacement
heifers.
“It’s an area that’s not yet
been looked at and I would like
to raise awareness in farmers
with regards to more sustainable
parasite control in the future.”
She plans to run the trial over
two years, finishing next year.
She needs about 30 herds to
complete the trial and is seeking
at least 60 calves from either a
spring or autumn drop.
They will need to be brought
in twice, two weeks apart, and
must not have been drenched in
the previous six weeks. The
calves will be checked to ensure
they have a high-enough worm
burden for testing. They will
then be drenched with one of
three different products.
For the second visit, Steph
collects manure samples and
examines them for worm eggs –
the number of eggs revealing
levels of drench resistance.
Participation is free, although
it does require some time com-
ponent, with drenches and lab
fees all paid-for.
Calves do not need to be separated nor do they need any special management. Participating
farmers receive information
about disease resistance in their
herd, together with sound management advice.
Anyone able to help in the
Macalister area should contact
Steph on 5147 1177 or [email protected]
In September Stephanie was
named this year's Rural
Ambassador by the Royal
Agricultural Society of Victoria
and received $3000 towards her
studies.
She had previously been
awarded a scholarship from
Rural Finance.
Hailing from a small Angus
property west of Geelong, she
graduated from Charles Sturt
University in Wagga Wagga in
2011 with a double degree in
veterinary biology and veterinary science and started work as
a mixed-practice vet in Maffra in
August 2011.
She lives in Denison, on a
400-cow, predominantly
Holstein, dairy farm with her
partner Brenton Llewellyn.
“I used to get nervous going
out to his farm. I had a huge
crush on him!”
He wasn’t her only big passion.
“I am passionate about the
Australian dairy industry, supporting my local community and
educating future veterinary graduates about the plethora of
opportunities rural practice has
to offer,” she said.
Her long-term ambition is to
become a registered veterinary
specialist in dairy medicine.
“The aspect of the dairy
industry that interests me most
is herd health; being able to
work with farmers to improve
their production and their herd
health.
“Having those little light bulb
moment; those little achievements; that’s what really inspires
me in my day-to-day work.”
6
DECEMBER 2013
MURRAY GOULBURN
BUTTERFLY’S KITCHEN
I
T’S been an interesting spring
here in south Gippsland.
We’ve had sunny days, rain,
hail; hot and cold days then back
to rain.
As mid-November nears we
are still harvesting round bale
silage and while we haven’t
quite reached the required
amount to see us through the
summer months I am quietly
confident we will.
Trevor assures me that providing the rain keeps coming, a
crop of sorghum he will plant in
coming days will help us on our
way.
Having said that, for us here
in the hills it has been almost
ideal conditions. We don’t have
to look far to my fellow peers
down over the hill on the flats
who have found themselves with
wetter feet. This has made quality grass growth and silage harvest a real struggle with many
only just now nearing their first
cuts of silage.
There is a positive in this rain
and sunny combination, in that it
lengthens our spring grass growing period and as dry land farmers the closer that can take us to
Christmas the better we will all
be, particularly given fodder
reserves won’t necessarily be
bursting at the seams!
While the seasonal conditions
have been kinder than last year I
will describe this year as the
recovery of the three “F’s. Now
don’t gasp. I am talking about
the recovery of Fodder , Fat
(cow body condition) and
Finance as we all start the climb
out of last year’s perfect storm
of financial and seasonal despair.
The impacts of last year’s perfect storm will no doubt have
varied in differing farming systems but in some form or another we will all be attempting to
harvest extra fodder, improve
our cow body condition and the
finances. And this all takes time.
I think perhaps I should add
another F here … family.
Because here on the family farm
we all carry the highs and lows
of farming, so I hope for you all
that this Christmas is a happy
and prosperous time.
I pondered over what type of
recipe to share this month …
sweet or savoury?
I wanted it to be a simple
recipe yet something special to
delight friends this festive season, so I couldn’t go past one of
my favourite desserts. It’s a very
simple yet delicous no-bake
white chocolate and mango
cheesecake.
The name gives the impression
it would be rich and sweet but
DEVONDALER
instead I describe it at as a subtle
delicate light flavour.
It will take you perhaps half
an hour to prepare and then pop
it in the fridge overnight. It’s a
great dessert to take to friends as
it travels easily. I leave it in the
tin then simply turn out on serving plate when required and top
with mango slices.
The secret to getting a silky
smooth cheesecake is in the
preparation.
Allow cream cheese to soften
at room temperature before beating with the sugar. Have the
cream whipped ready in a separate bowl and melt the chocolate
just prior to mixing. When it
comes to combining it all
together use some good old
fashioned elbow grease.
I line just the base of the
spring-form tin with baking
paper, overlapping the circle so
the paper hangs out the sides,
this makes it easier when
transferring to a serving plate as
you can lever off the paper to
easily place cheesecake on
plate.
I do hope you enjoy and as
Christmas nears take care and
know that, “It is not how much
we have, but how much we
enjoy, that makes happiness.”
White chocolate and mango cheesecake (no bake)
Serves 8, prep time 30 min
(plus refrigeration overnight)
INGREDIENTS
100g Arnott’s Nice biscuits
60g DEVONDALE BUTTER,
melted
500g DEVONDALE CREAM
CHEESE
1/2cup castor sugar
200g white chocolate, melted
300ml Devondale cream,
whipped
3 tsps. gelatine
1/4 cup hot water
2 mangoes, sliced
METHOD
1. Line the base of a 20cm
spring form tin with baking
paper.
2. Process biscuits in a food
processor until fine crumbs
form. Add the melted butter,
combine well. Press firmly into
the base of tin till firm and flat
then place into fridge whilst
preparing the filling.
3. Beat the cream cheese and
sugar with electric mixer until
smooth. In the next step you
will have to work reasonably
fast so melted chocolate doesn’t
start to set. Fold through half
the whipped cream and melted
chocolate stirring it well as it
blends together then add
remaining cream and
chocolate, stirring well to
combine it all smoothly
together.
4. Combine the gelatine and
hot water in a small bowl: use
a fork to stir until gelatine is
dissolved. Add gelatine to
cream mixture: stir well to
combine.
5. Pour the cream mixture
over the biscuit base, cover
and refrigerate overnight.
Just prior to serving
arrange slices of mango over
the top.
NOTE: Sometimes I make this
in a larger spring form tin
with a 23cm base, I then lift
the base ratios to 180g
biscuits and 100g butter.
Dairy breeding is a sisterhood affair
By SOPHIE BRUNS
W
HEN Rick Wishart
finished up playing
football 10 years ago,
he was looking for a new hobby.
Little did he know that heading
into the world of breeding stud
cows would become such a
family affair.
Rick, his wife Tina and their
three girls Emmalea, 14,
Kaitlyn, 12, and April, 10, all
have an interest in the cows and
it is not uncommon to see the
girls representing the Rowlands
Park prefix in dairy shows across
the region, including
International Dairy Week.
The family farms at Mead in
north west Victoria.
“The three girls are all very
keen and we are never short of
help, although it has to be equal
or there is a bit of a fight,” Rick
laughs.
Emmalea loves the whole
showing experience and finds it
particularly amusing when she
discusses it amongst her friends
and they have no idea what she
is talking about.
“The friendships you make
with different people are pretty
good too,” Emmalea said.
Sisterly love ... April, Kaitlyn and Emmalea Wishart from Mead in north west Victoria..
Kaitlyn enjoys the competition
between the studs and her sisters
and she has a real interest in the
cow families, reeling them off as
we walk amongst the herd.
April likes camping out at the
shows, looking after the cows
and trying to stay awake through
the night to keep them clean.
“We wouldn’t be doing all this
if it wasn’t for the girls but they
are really interested in it so we
go along with it,” Tina said.
“They would rather go along
to a cow sale then to school day
any day.”
Each daughter has a particular
cow family that they have
claimed as their own with
Emmalea liking the Lucky family; Kaitlyn the Mabels and
Sharlenes and April the Arlinda
and Chevy family.
“The girls are right into it and
pretty competitive, especially
when it comes to each other.
They share jobs and at show
time they do up a roster with
each one pencilled in for a specific job.
“Emmalea and Kaitlyn are a
bit stronger and are good at
breaking in the cows while
Kaitlyn and April are pretty
good at fine tuning and leading
the cattle,” Tina said.
Emmalea has led some of the
cows at International Dairy
Week herself and has placed
fifth and seventh in different categories over the years. The three
sisters have also placed well at
many of the local shows.
And just because the kids are
girls doesn’t mean they sit back
and wait for Rick and Tina to
help them. They get right into it
and help on the farm whenever
they can.
“Some weekends or on the
holidays the girls will get up and
get the cows and help milk.
“They love jobs like tail painting although it always seems like
they end up with more paint on
themselves then the cattle.At
calving time they will quite
often jump on the bike and head
down to the springer paddock
and tell us what’s going on or
who has just calved,Rick said.”
“Emmalea is probably the best
tractor driver on the farm. She
loves getting in there and cranking up the music but the best
thing about her is she stops if
something is not quite right - she
hasn’t broken a thing yet.”
MURRAY GOULBURN
DECEMBER 2013
7
New members join Field Services
T
ting out and meeting our suppliers and help them with their
problems or just share a few new
ideas,” he said.
WARREN COLLINS
HEN Warren Collins finished Year 12, he saw
himself as either a primary
school teacher or working in the
outdoor recreation sector.
But having grown up on a
dairy farm, the pull of the land
finally became too strong and he
headed off to Wagga University
where he studied agricultural
science.
After completing his threeyear course, Warren, 22, has
now joined Murray Goulburn’s
field services team and is based
at Rochester.
“I did look at a number of
options when I left school but in
the end I thought I would stay
with agricultural and I’m really
glad that I did,” he said.
Warren grew up on the family
dairy farm at Newbridge, near
Bendigo and throughout his
teenage years helped with the
milking and what ever other
duties were called for.
“I think the work I have done
at home is going to be a big help
when I am talking to farmers. I
understand their issues and I
think I will have a real rapport
with them.
“I’m looking forward to get-
BROCK WILLIAMS
ROCK Williams has a strong
dairying pedigree.
The son of Murray Goulburn
suppliers, John and Barbara
Williams at Torrumbarry, Brock,
36, spent 15 years either working or sharefarming the family
property.
In recent years he has worked
in the agri-business sector for a
large banking group and just
recently joined MG’s field services.
Brock’s key role will be in
advising suppliers on farm
finance and promoting MG’s
Next Generation Package which
aims to help new farmers get a
foothold in the industry or existing farmers expand their businesses.
Brock said his new role, which
would take in all northern
Victoria and southern New South
Wales, was an exciting challenge.
“For me it is the chance to
work in an industry that I am
passionate about,” he said.
“I have been impressed about
the way in which MG supports
its suppliers and makes it
possible for farmers to grow.
They are investing in their
suppliers and their people.”
Brock said he believed his
background in dairy farming
enabled him to understand supplier issues and he was confident
his financial knowledge would
help them to better understand
their own businesses.
Brock and his wife, Sarah,
have a six-month-old son, Max.
HREE new field staff
appointed to positions in
northern Victoria all come
to their roles with significant
dairy farming backgrounds.
The youngest, Warren Collins,
was brought up on a farm at
Newbridge, near Bendigo.
Carl Moon’s parents were
leading Guernsey breeders at
Nanneella, near Rochester, while
Brock Williams farmed with his
parents at Torrumbarry, west of
Echuca.
W
B
Retired MG Field Officer, Graham Archard welcomed the new members of the Field Services team,
from left, Warren Collins, Carl Moon and Brock Williams.
CARL MOON
T’S not surprising that Carl
Moon has an expansive
knowledge of dairy breeding.
He was brought up on a dairy
farm that was widely recognised
for the quality of its stud
Guernsey cattle.
Carl’s parents, David and
Bronwyn Moon, are now retired
from their dairy farm at
Nanneelle, near Rochester, but
they were regular exhibitors at
leading shows.
“I grew up milking cows and
I
attending shows and I got the
chance to recognise and understand quality animals,” Carl
said.
That family background led
him to a career studying dairy
genetics and breeding and his
eight years with ABS Genetics
took him around Australia and
the world.
He also spent two years working with a leading stockfeed
company.
Carl said he applied for the
field services position because
it provided a chance for him
to help farmers solve problems.
“I have always dealt with
dairy farmers and my understanding of breeding a nutrition
will give me a chance to advise
and support them.
“I have been brought up on a
dairy farm and milked cows so I
understand the daily demands of
dairying. “
Carl, 34, and his wife,
Rachelle have two children,
Harrison, 6, and Heidi, 4.
Irish Nuffield Scholars study MG operation
Andrew and Sharon Gow with their children, Kyle, Leah and
Caragh.
CO-OPS should co-operate
internationally, according to
Irish Nuffield scholar and dairy
farmer, Andrew Gow.
Having a world view rather
than national competition would
strengthen co-ops globally, he
reported to an Irish Nuffield
forum in November.
“The greater the number of
likeminded, well-informed farmers who partake, the more efficient and sustainable their co-op
will be,” he said.
As part of his scholarship,
Andrew visited many of the
world’s most successful co-ops,
including Murray Goulburn and
also Arla of Denmark, Friesland
Campina of Holland, Vallio of
Finland, Fonterra and Westland
Co-Ops in New Zealand and
Dairy Farmers of America.
His research also revealed the
need for a constant, transparent
and compulsory individual
farmer investment in their co-op;
a structured process for selecting
new candidates for the election
to committees and boards; board
member training; regular
updates from the chairman and
CEO; the need for co-ops and
dairy businesses working together for a common benefit and a
clear milk pricing policy.
Discussing the Irish dairy situation, he said: “We are exporting
90 per cent of our product, yet
we are not operating on a scale
to compete with or ally ourselves with our international
competitors.”
Among his recommendations
were an Annual National Co-op
Dairy Open Day, focusing on
international comparisons and
future products.
He has also suggested developing an open milk pricing
model to transparently show
product prices and trends.
“It became very apparent that
there is a very clear disconnect
between Irish dairy farmers and
the co-ops they supply,” he said.
“This situation has come about
as a result of a number of factors
including the milk quota imposition and stagnation of on farm
growth.”
He also noted a lack of direct
farmer investment in their co-ops
“leading to disinterest among
farmers in partaking in the coops’ election systems.”
Another Nuffield Scholar from
Ireland, David Murphy, also
visited Murray Goulburn and
several MG suppliers.
He reported that his tour of
Australia and NZ in
September/October 2012 was “a
steep learning curve in relation
to how a co-operative can gain
power in the international market
place by farmers coming together and rationalising their industry and having a clear focus on
maximising the value of their
milk,” he said.
“Irish co-operatives over a
number of years have neglected
to maintain adequate capital on
their balance sheets.
“Irish co-ops typically have a
shareholding per litre of milk
supplied of 1-2 cents. Their
European counterparts generally
have a shareholding of 3-16
cents per litre and co-ops in
Australia and New Zealand can
have up to 30 cents per litre of
milk supplied,” he said.
- SUE WEBSTER
8
DECEMBER 2013
MG ANNUAL MEETING
MURRAY GOULBURN
DEVONDALER
Positive results in
domestic market
Former MG Directors catch up. From left, Lindsay Jarvis, John Vardy, former Chairman, Ian
MacAulay and Trevor Ennals.
MURRAY Goulburn Managing
Director, Gary Helou, reported
positive domestic market results
at last month’s annual meeting.
He said there had been a three
per cent increase in Devondale
product sales while sales in
Liddells products had risen nine
percent.
Food service sales had
increased by 13 per cent.
There has also been substantial
increases in sales in both the
ingredients and nutritionals sector of the co-operative.
There was a 33 per cent
increase in valued added ingredients sales volume and a 26 per
cent increase in sales volume of
nutritional ingredients.
“These are massive numbers,”
he said.
Gary pressed the need for
investment for MG to take
advantage of the global demand
for dairy products.
“Global supply is increasing
by 2-3 per cent but demand is
increasing by six per cent,” he
said.
Gary said MG had taken positive steps to take advantage of
this demand by opening offices
in Vietnam, Singapore and
Dubai to serve the market in the
Middle East and North Africa.
Gippsland suppliers from left, Jacqueline McKeown, Jacob Malmo and Tim Dwyer.
MG supplier, John Bilney from Allambee South, left, with former
MG Director, Trevor Ennals.
Northern Victorian suppliers, Noel Mitchell, left, and Max Hann, right, with former MG Chairman,
John Hewlett.
MG Leongatha Field Officer, Gary O’Connor with Gippsland suppliers, Paul Zuidema and Jack Patton.
Former MG chairman, John Hewlett, left, with Denison supplier,
Graeme Anderson.
Glennys and John Tindall from Carapook in far western Victoria
with Kerrie Howard, wife of retired MG Director, Don Howard.
MURRAY GOULBURN
DECEMBER 2013
MG ANNUAL MEETING
9
DEVONDALER
Improved farmgate
price is MG’s goal
MG Chairman, Phil
Tracy, delivered a repport to last month’s
annual meeting outlining
the co-operative’s
position on a number of
major issues.
Following is an edited
version of his comments
relating to MG’s bid for
the Warrnambool
Cheese and Butter
Company and plans for
raising external capital.
AST year at this meeting, I
talked about the Board’s
goals being to return MG’s
business to growth and improve
farmgate returns to suppliers.
These goals remain the same
today and every strategic decision we make is referenced back
to delivering against them.
This brings me to the Board’s
recent strategic decision to make
an offer to acquire Warrnambool
Cheese and Butter.
From a strategic stand point –
the rationale for combining MG
and Warrnambool is compelling.
Our proposal will see two iconic
Australian dairy companies combine to create an Australian
dairy champion well positioned
to capitalise on rapidly growing
demand for dairy based foods in
export markets, particularly
Asia.
In making our offer, we have
laid bare our belief, that
Australian dairy needs a strong
farmer-owned business, at its
core, that can compete globally.
We consider this scale is necessary to compete against the
other giant dairy co-operatives
like Fonterra, Dairy Farmers of
America, Friesland Campina and
Arla - not to mention the multinational giants like Nestle and
Kraft.
If our underlying goal is to
improve farmgate returns…and
it is… then we need a national
dairy co-operative, with the
scale, capacity and capability to
compete on the global stage.
Our bid has highlighted what
has been known to many of us
for some time – the current configuration of the Australian dairy
industry is not delivering for
dairy farmers.
Over the past decade,
Australian dairy has been going
backwards and our share of
global markets has halved from
15 per cent in 2002 to seven per
cent in 2012. Over the same
period, New Zealand’s share has
L
grown from 30 per cent to 37 per
cent.
Today we are faced with a
choice. Do we want to continue
with the current subscale, fragmented industry or do we want a
united dairy industry that is
owned by Australia’s farmers,
focused on industry growth,
exports and higher farmgate
returns?
I think the answer is clear. As
I make my way around, meeting
with both MG suppliers and
dairy industry people, the overwhelming majority agree.
Of the questions I receive,
there are a couple that continue
to come up: are we paying too
much and are we pushing gearing too high?
Let me deal with both.
Firstly, to the price and my
answer is always the same.
When your Board sits down to
consider strategic proposals of
any scale – the key consideration
is the impact on the milk price.
So I want to assure you, our
bid for WCB will have a positive
impact on the milk price in the
short term and in the long term.
The current configuration of the
Australian dairy
industry is not
delivering for dairy
farmers.
PHIL TRACY
This leads me to the question
of gearing.
At the end of last full year our
gearing was at 43 per cent. If
we are successful in our bid to
acquire Warrnambool, our gearing will increase to approximately 57 per cent - a level that
your Board is comfortable with
given we are a co-operative, in a
growth phase and with a range
of funding options available to
us. We haven’t come at this
lightly … our detailed analysis
shows the combination of
MG/Warrnambool will deliver
immediate benefits to the farmgate price, not to mention the
opportunities we have over the
longer term.
On that basis we think our
revised bid of $9 per share will
be money well spent.
Recent media reports suggesting that Murray Goulburn’s
plans to seek an external capital
raising facility to fund its bid for
Warrnambool Cheese and Butter
are incorrect.
The WCB bid, which is comfortably funded from Murray
Goulburn’s existing banking
syndicate, and the proposed new
capital structure we will discuss
today, are separate.
Turning now to the capital
structure review we announced
in September.
In addition to our bid to
acquire WCB, we have also
identified the need to invest in
improved capability and capacity, in MG’s underlying business,
so that we can supply the products our customers and consumers demand.
We have talked on many occasions about the promising outlook for dairy foods growth, particularly in Asia…and while
these growth opportunities are
on our door-step, our existing
plant operations are not geared
to deliver the products these
markets demand. Over the next
five years, capital will be
required to upgrade capabilities
and capacity to meet expected
international demand for infant
nutrition, cheese and liquid milk.
Let me highlight a couple of
important points.
Firstly and most importantly, I
want to stress that the Board is
not proposing to make any
change to our co-operative structure or to farmer control.
Not only are we are unanimous is our belief that co-operative structure is the best model
for a global dairy company, we
firmly believe it is the defining
factor which has underpinned
MG’s success over the past 60
odds years.
I also want to stress that what
we are proposing today is not a
‘fait accompli’. After today’s
meeting, our next step will be to
visit all supplier regions to consult directly with you on the recommended capital structure and
why we believe it is the right
way forward for MG.
So please be assured, that in
the coming weeks and months,
there will be ample opportunity
to learn more about the key
aspects of the capital restructure
and ask questions.
Your Board believes we are
facing a ‘once in a generation’
growth opportunity from which
every member of our Co-operative can ultimately benefit.
These initiatives are aimed at
securing the benefits for all MG
supplier/shareholders.
Securing our rightful share of
the growth opportunities that
exist for the Australian dairy
industry, will require investment
in capability and capacity to
ensure we are ready and able to
supply our customers and consumers with the products they
need.
MG Chairman, Phil Tracy, left, welcomes newly elected
Director, Duncan Morris.
Board seat for Duncan
MURRAY Goulburn’s Board table has a new member.
Duncan Morris was officially endorsed as a member of the
Board at last month’s annual meeting.
He was nominated for the position at the recent Western
Region elections.
He now joins John Pye and Martin Van Der Wouw, who
were both re-elected from the Western Region.
Tribute paid to
retiring director
MURRAY Goulburn Chairman, Phil Tracy, paid tribute to the
efforts of retiring Director, Don Howard, at last month’s annual
meeting.
Don, who had been a Board member for 16 years, did not seek reelection.
“During his time on the Board, Don has overseen significant
change at MG and across the dairy industry,” Phil said.
“Don is passionate about the dairy industry and has given his
heart and soul to this company and the thousands of dairy farmers it
represents.
“He has brought his first-hand experience of running both a dairy
farm and commercial businesses to the table and has been instrumental in making recent changes to reinvigorate this great company.
“I would also like to acknowledge Don’s wife, Kerrie. I know
from my own experience that it’s often my wife who steps in when I
attend MG Board meetings and I am sure the situation is no different for the Howards,” Phil said.
Naomi Pye, wife of MG Director, John Pye, with Ted Taylor from
Tyrendarra in south west Victoria.
10 DECEMBER 2013
MURRAY GOULBURN
NSW JERSEY SHOW
DEVONDALER
MG support for
key Jersey Show
NEW Murray Goulburn suppliers from both north and south of
Sydney were among the exhibitors at last month’s New South Wales
State Jersey Show.
MG was one of the sponsors of the show and MG Field Services
Southern Region for the Sydney milk market, Vicki Timbs, presented
many of the ribbons to successful exhibitors.
The Brown family from Fitzroy Falls. From left, Christina Dickinson (daughter) Robert and Sandra
Brown, Matthew Smith and Chelsea Dickinson (grandchildren) and Stephen Smith (son-in-law).
Dairy breeding is a family affair
WHEN it comes to showing Jerseys, it is a
family affair for the Browns.
The Brown family has a long history in
dairying and is well known for their showing
success.
They started dairying in 1880 in the Illawarra
(NSW) milking Shorthorns.
They switched to Jerseys in 1900 and started
showing at local shows and the Sydney Royal in
1910, winning many championships and two
supreme champion cows at Sydney.
Sandra and Robert took over the stud and
farm 47 years ago.
They now farm at Fitzroy Falls in the Southern
Highlands of NSW and are new suppliers to
Murray Goulburn.
They always have the support of the whole
family when it comes time to show.
Milton Johnston, Taree supplier and President of Jersey Australia
and Vicki Timbs, MG Field Services Southern Region for the Sydney
milk market.
Suppliers at ringside enjoying watching the cattle on show are from
left, Lynn Boyd and Janette Falls from Finley and Winnie Oslear
from Gerringong.
ABOVE: MG gave young farmer,
Patrick Buckley, support in restarting his parent’s (David and
Lynn) dairy farm at Camden.
Patrick is a familiar name in the
show ring and has had success
in the youth and open classes
at the state show.
He is shown with first prize
winner in the Under 12-month
heifer class in the youth
section.
The heifer was paraded by
young Sarah Luddington form
Hurlstone Agriculture High
School.
RIGHT: Judge of the open
classes, Phil Hentschke from
Victoria, and Patrick Buckley
with his Honourable Mention
Juvenile Champion Heifer.
Mark Mangold, from Diamondville at Regentville NSW.
DECEMBER 2013 11
MURRAY GOULBURN
Destiny plays a hand in Doug’s career
By ROBERT WHITE
T appears that Doug Clifford
was destined to be a dairy
farmer.
And not only was his career to
have its destiny, so was the property on which he now farms at
Whorouly, near Myrtleford in
Victoria’s north east.
Doug remembers working
during holidays on the farm as a
14-year-old. Now he is a sharefarmer on the property with his
wife, Daniella and daughters,
Katie, 5, and Ebonnie, 3.
Doug and Daniella have been
sharefarming with the Walpole
family for the past two years.
They are milking 205 cows in
a 21-unit swingover shed.
Both Doug, 34, and Daniella
were brought up in the region
around the Snow Road between
Milawa and Myrtleford and
Doug has a family background
in dairying through his
grandfather and uncle who milk
at nearby Oxley Flats.
“I used to spend most of my
school holidays at my
grandfather’s. I just loved being
involved on the farm,” Doug
said.
Daniella was still at school
when she first met Doug but she
concedes that from very early
on, she knew their future
would somehow be linked with
I
Doug and Daniella Clifford with their daughters, Katie and Ebonnie at Whorouly where they sharefarm with the Walpole family.
dairy farming.
“He has always loved dairying
so I knew that farming would
be our future lifestyle,” she
said.
When Doug finished Year 12,
he undertook a dairy traineeship
on a farm at Undera in northern
Victoria but the drought made it
difficult for him to continue.
He then worked at a timber
mill for four years but throughout that time he took on relief
milking jobs.
He couldn’t get the milk out of
his veins.
One of the people for whom
he relief milked was the sharefarmer on the Walpole farm.
And when he found out the
sharefarmer was moving on,
Doug immediately approached
Tim Walpole and asked to take
over.
The arrangement has worked
well and the couple enjoy the
fact that the farm is near
family.
“Tim lets us run the farm as if
it is our own,” said Doug
“We have our meetings but the
day-to-day operation is left to
us. It makes things so much
easier.”
Since his arrival at the farm,
Doug has concentrated on lifting
the quality of pastures and the
herd.
“I really like the chance to see
the results of changes I have
made and I love to see how a
new calf turns out after a cow
has been AI’d.
“There is a sense of
accomplishment when you see
the results of your efforts.”
Doug and Daniella have no
immediate plans of moving from
Whorouly. They are both very
strongly linked to family and
where they are now suits them,
especially with two young
children.
The farm also has the potential
for further development and
Doug is keen to see his plans
come to fruition.
And after all, he has known
the farm since he was a 14-yearold.
12 DECEMBER 2013
MURRAY GOULBURN
Teresa follows her dairy dreams
By ROBERT WHITE
OR a 24-year-old, Teresa
Hicks knows a lot about
dairy farming. Then again,
she has had good teachers.
Her father, John, and mother,
Christine are well known and
highly respected for their cattle
interests in the Kiewa Valley in
Victoria’s north east.
Now it’s Teresa’s turn to
continue the family’s dairy
lineage. She has taken on the
role of farm manager and has
already introduced a number of
new ideas, which have shown
their value in the milk vat.
While much of her dairy education has been under the tutelage of her parents, Teresa has
been determined to expand her
knowledge and has just
completed a Diploma of
Dairying conducted at the
National Centre for Dairy
Education at Shepparton.
She intends to complete the
Advanced Diploma next year
with the help of a recent $4000
scholarship from Rural Finance.
“The course has been a great
opportunity,” Teresa said. “It
really has boosted my
confidence and expanded my
knowledge of dairying.
“The theoretical background
has really been a bonus and has
added to the practical experience
I get through mum and dad.”
Teresa said that throughout her
teenage years she always
believed that one day she would
return to the family farm and did
so following the completion of
Year 12 in 2007.
She is disappointed at the lack
of promotion of dairy in secondary schools.
“It is certainly not encouraged
and is not painted in a very
glamorous fashion. And that’s
F
Teresa Hicks is now managing the family farm at Dederang in north east Victoria. She has just been
awarded a Rural Finance scholarship to take on an Advance Diploma in Dairying.
not fair because dairying today
is so interesting … so much is
happening.”
At present Teresa is overseeing
a herd of 200 cows. It is well
down on past numbers as the
family starts the long haul out of
the drought.
“It (the drought) is still having
an affect on us. We had to cut
back numbers and because we
are a closed Jersey herd, our
Toolkit to help beat fire
DAIRY Australia and the Country Fire Authority have
collaborated to produce the ‘Prepare your dairy farm for fire threat'
toolkit and a short video to help farmers cope with the oncoming
fire season.
This follows the willingness of Gippsland dairy farmers to share
the lessons they learned during the 2009 Bushfires,
By using this toolkit, DA says farmers can create their own
preparation plan.
DA said a number of Australian dairy regions sit in the most
fire-prone areas in the world.
“Now is a good time to plan and prepare to best protect your
family, staff, livestock, dairy and machinery from all types of fire
threat,” a DA official said.
The toolkit can help farmers better manage an emergency situation, reduce disruption to the dairy business and save the lives.
The toolkit helps farmers establish a fire plan using the following three steps:
1. Preparation: fuel breaks, power options and livestock, feed
and machinery management
2. Response: putting preparation into action
3. Recovery: getting back to normal as soon as possible
The video takes viewers through planning tips step by step. It
can also be viewed on the dairy industry social networking site
www.udderlyfantastic.com.au or at CFA’s ‘Connect’ member site
www.cfaconnect.net.au.
In addition, more detailed fire planning resources, including a
Fire Fighting Equipment for Farms brochures and information
about FireReady Victoria meetings, are available at your local CFA
office or by visiting www.cfa.vic.gov.au.
increase has to be made through
natural replacements.”
But Teresa remains confident
that the next few years will see
numbers rise to around 270.
“We certainly have the land
and the dairy to cope with that
number and we have a feed shed
that can cope with 270,” she
said.
Teresa’s determination to lift
the condition of the herd
throughout the year is paying
dividends and she believes the
use of a transitional feeding program had played a significant
role in boosting cow production
by five litres over the past six
months.
Transition feeding (also known
as lead feeding) is an animal
management strategy that
ensures a smooth, hassle free
and healthy progression from the
late stages of pregnancy through
to lactation, which in turn helps
to produce a successful lactation.
This strategy is now widely
being extended to include the
four weeks after calving.
But Teresa believes better feed
management should be extended
to include the entire lactation.
She believes that retaining a
good condition score for cows
helps in all aspects from production to joining to calving.
Teresa is also working hard to
improve the genetic value of the
herd and her management skills
have helped lower the empty
rate of cows from 20 per cent
three years ago to 10 per cent
this year and a projected seven
per cent next year.
Teresa is also a convert to the
need to constantly update farm
technology.
“Using new technology is
making things a lot simpler and
far more efficient and it is
important to invest in that
technology because the returns
are there,” she said.
Teresa said her parents had
been great role models for herself and her brother Nathan and
sister, Breanna.
Both have worked on the farm
in the past but Nathan is now
working in the mining industry
while Breanna works in the
hospitality industry although she
is always on hand if help is
required.
Christine is also never far
away from the dairy and still
enjoys milking the cows.
“Mum and dad have always
been supportive. They didn’t
encourage me to be a dairy
farmer but wanted me to do
whatever I wanted to do.It just
so happens that I wanted to be a
dairy farmer,” Teresa said.
Support for farm insurance plan
MURRAY Goulburn has partnered with Marsh Pty Ltd and
Allianz Insurance Australia Ltd
in developing a Farm Insurance
Policy designed specifically for
MG farmers.
It is well established that dairy
farmers need a specific range of
insurance products that meet
their individual requirements.
The MG insurance program
was developed to provide a
unique value-added service that
incorporates competitively
priced and broad insurance protection against the everyday risks
inherent to MG farmers.
To gain a specific insight to
the individual insurance requirements of each dairy farm, Marsh
visited nine farmers who volunteered their support to form the
initial MG consultation group.
The farms within this consulting group were located in
diverse geographical locations,
from Mount Gambier in the
west, Gippsland in the east and
Biggara in the north east of
Victoria.
The terrain was markedly different, with each region facing
different challenges both contemporary and historical.
A Marsh spokesperson said
the generosity, hospitality and
disposition of the suppliers made
the survey an enjoyable task.
“The sense of unity and dedication to the co-operative was
also quite tangible and gave us
enormous confidence that our
partnership will reap benefits for
MG supplier shareholders for
years to come,” the spokesperson
said.
Having established the needs
of the co-operative’s farmers,
Marsh sought responses from the
major insurance market and
Allianz stood out in terms of
expertise in farm insurance, the
level of broad cover provided,
and their very competitive premiums.
“Once we were confident we
had the right insurer with the
right cover at the right price, we
officially launched the insurance
program to MG farmers in
September, 2013,” the
spokesperson said.
“Since then, Marsh has been
contacted by 85 MG supplier
shareholders requesting an alternative quote and, with an equal
or superior cover and 85 per cent
of quotes have provided significant savings to each individual
new client.
“In addition to the comprehensive Farm Pack, Marsh has
sought to provide additional covers specific to the needs of MG
farmers.
“Milk tanker cover allows for
up to $10,000 of cover should
you inadvertently allow contaminated milk to be collected by the
tanker. There is also a Locum
Cover which will provide labour
hire coverage for any farmer or
employees who become incapacitated due to accident or illness,”
the spokesperson said.
To obtain a quote, contact one
of the Marsh-dedicated MG
Brokers by calling the free
phone number: 1300 765 239 or
E:mail: [email protected]
DECEMBER 2013 13
MURRAY GOULBURN
City life confirms love of the country
By SOPHIE BRUNS
OMETIMES you have to
leave something to find out
it was actually what you
wanted and for Cohuna suppliers, Greg and Susan Church, this
has certainly been the case.
The couple left the dairy
industry when tough times hit
during the drought and they
made their way to the big smoke
for a stint in the city.
Greg found life working in a
factory in Melbourne wasn’t
quite what he had in mind for
the rest of his life so they decided to return to the country and
Greg began working at the MG
factory at Leitchville.
“I was only back there for four
months and they shut the factory
down. I did a bit of truck driving
and then this job came up and
we both decided to go back to
dairying,” Greg said.
It is a decision the couple certainly hasn’t regretted.
They manage an 320ha dairy
farm near Cohuna for Ray Hay
from the Western District. The
couple milk 300 cows in a split
calving herd and are responsible
for all the day-to-day farming
decisions.
“We get paid a wage and all
the taxes are done for us. We
S
have been on the sharefarmer
roller coaster before and we
decided this time we would be
happy to be paid a manager’s
wage,” Greg said.
Ray decided to buy the dairy
farm as an investment. In his
other life he is a cattle trader and
when he found himself with 200
joined heifers he needed somewhere to put them.
“It all happened pretty quickly
really. I have been fortunate to
have found Greg and Susan as
they are good operators and
while the farm was initially neglected, it is getting better and
better each year,” Ray said.
“We communicate once a
week and every second or third
week I spend a night or two at
the farm. Greg and Susan make
all the day-to-day decisions and
it is working really well. I guess
it was a bit of good luck and
good timing for us all.”
Since the working relationship
began, production has increased
every year and all the milk sent
to the factory has been in the
premium band.
Because the farm had been
vacant for five years pastures
were certainly one of the top priorities, as was breaking in the
heifers.
“When Ray said he had 200
Greg Church ... city life convinced him that he was a farmer at
heart.
heifers I said there was no way I
was going to be able to just milk
them,” Greg laughed.
Together they decided to
export 20 heifers and by in 70
cows.
“We had lots of late nights and
we were pushing up to 25 cows
in each row (the shed is a 20- aside) so they had no room to
move. It was certainly lots of fun
and games there for a while but
we got there in the end and the
herd is milking really well now.”
In March this year construction of a new dairy yard began.
The previous 15 metre long and
nine metre wide yard has been
increased to 40 metres long and
nine metres wide. A new light-
weight PVC backing gate has
also been installed.
“The gate is electrified but it
also has a bell that rings when it
moves. Eventually we won’t
need the power as the cows will
just move up automatically
when the bell rings.
“The new yard has cut at least
half an hour off each milking
just through better cow flow,”
Greg said.
The overhead poles were
placed at a height so Greg can
get a tractor in if needed and
while washing out the yard is
currently time consuming, there
are plans to install a yard blaster
or flood wash when the funds
allow.
All the construction work on
the yard was carried out by
Darryl Jenkinson from
Gunbower.
Greg is comfortable with the
way things are going on the
farm and he and Susan are glad
they have returned to dairying.
“I love how every day is different and you are not doing the
same thing day in day out. It’s
like we own our own farm and
we treat it that way. Ray is a terrific boss.
“He even bought me a brand
new John Deere Tractor,” he
laughs again.
14 DECEMBER 2013
MURRAY GOULBURN
DECEMBER 2013 15
MURRAY GOULBURN
FERTILISER NEWS
DEVONDALER
Achieving correct granule distribution
By LEE MENHENNET
OWER analysis pasture
fertilisers, like SuPerfect,
need to be applied at nearly
twice the rate of higher analysis
fertilisers to apply a similar
amount of phosphorus to the
paddock.
This is because SuPerfect
contains 8.8 per cent phosphorus, and most high analysis
pasture fertilisers contain at least
15.5 per cent phosphorus.
But is the higher phosphorus
analysis an advantage or a
disadvantage?
Where contract spreading rates
are set on a per hectare basis,
there is little difference in the
cost of spreading when
comparing high and low analysis
products.
Higher analysis fertilisers offer
freight cost advantages from port
to farm because there is less
volume to handle.
While this may be of some
financial advantage, another key
issue is nutrient distribution on
the ground.
Using a higher analysis fertiliser also means that fewer
granules will be applied to the
paddock.
The distribution of nutrients in
the paddock is particularly
important for nutrients that are
relatively immobile in the soil,
like phosphorus.
The distance that the phosphate front moves from the fertiliser granule is rarely more
than 4-5cm (Glendinning, 1990).
L
COMPARING EFFECTIVE DISTRIBUTION
TO compare the effective distribution of phosphorus from
SuPerfect with high analysis fertiliser, let’s scale it down to one
square metre.
Get the best results from your fertiliser use.
EXAMPLE 1
!
In this example (see Example
1 above), we will use a typical
fertiliser application of 11 kg/ha
of phosphorus.
SuPerfect has around 10 granules per gram, so an application
of 125 kg/ha (125,000 g/ha or
12.5 g/m2) means there are
about 125 granules per square
metre.
If the phosphorus front moves
4cm from the granule, the area
effectively fertilised with phosphorus will be about 6,280 cm2
out of 10,000 cm2 or about 63
per cent of the square metre of
pasture.
Contrast this with a high
analysis pasture fertiliser with
15.5 per cent phosphorus and,
assuming a similar granule size,
only about 36 per cent of the
pasture will be effectively fertilised with phosphorus.
Despite this, pastures can
thrive from applications of both
high and low analysis fertilises
in many situations.
However, where there are
challenges to overcome, such as
sub-optimal phosphorus levels,
or applications are made late to
cold soils, pastures need all the
help they can get and improved
distribution becomes more
important.
A low analysis fertiliser offering improved distribution of
phosphorus may also be of benefit where there is a higher percentage of clover in the pasture,
because clover has a higher
requirement for phosphorus than
most grasses.
Also take care where low
phosphorus rates are used, as
this reduces the number of granules applied compared with
applying high rates of fertiliser.
In a grazing system, phosphorus will be also be redistributed
around the paddock with the animals. In fact, it can become concentrated in certain areas like
watering points and stock camps.
Annual spreading applications
can improve phosphorus coverage across the paddock over
time, particularly where a low
analysis fertiliser is used.
SPREADING CONSIDERATIONS
THE accuracy of a spreading
machine is critical to the even
distribution of fertiliser.
A spreader which is not correctly set up will not spread fertiliser evenly across the paddock,
resulting in over or under supply
of nutrients.
The angle of the blades, spin-
ner speed, spinner wear, drop
position and bout width can all
affect how accurately the
spreader performs.
Using an Accu-Spread accredited spreader can help to ensure
even spreading.
Fertiliser quality also impacts
on how accurately fertiliser can
be spread.
Aspects of fertiliser quality
which can affect spread width
include fertiliser bulk densities,
granule size and weight, granular crush strength and evenness
of blend ingredients.
However, always assuming an
equivalent phosphorus rate,
SuPerfect can be expected to
provide a significantly higher
number of granules per square
metre than a high analysis product with a similar granule size.
So when determining pasture
fertiliser requirements, ensure
granule distribution across paddocks is a consideration, as well
as the need for water soluble
phosphorus and enough sulphate
sulphur for annual maintenance
requirements.
References :
Glendinning J.S. (1990),
Fertiliser Handbook, Incitec Ltd.
Lee Menhennet is Technical
Agronomist, Incitec Pivot
Fertilisers.
●
16 DECEMBER 2013
MURRAY GOULBURN
‘Crazy’ couple make the right moves
By SHARON CAIN
HEN Ian and Lisa
Goodin made the decision to sell up and leave
New Zealand to buy a dairy
farm in northern Victoria, people
laughed at them.
They said they were crazy and
that they would be back.
That was in 2008 and now five
years on, Ian and Lisa have just
bought a second dairy farm at
Katunga.
Ian was born and raised on a
dairy farm in the Wairarapa on
the east coast of the North
Island. Although he didn’t get
involved in the milking, Ian
worked on the farm and drove
for local contractors.
Lisa’s family operated a pig
farm in the same area.
The couple first met on the
school bus and then dated
through their college years.
After finishing college Ian’s
parents encouraged him to go to
university where he studied to
become an accountant.
Ian and Lisa lost touch with
each other while Ian was away
studying but the romance was
rekindled after Ian returned to
his home town of Carterton.
The decision for a career path
change and to go farming came
in 2004, shortly after their first
son was born.
“I was working as an accountant in Wellington, commuting
each day and leaving home in
the dark and returning in the
dark,” said Ian.
“Within six months of Hunter
being born I decided that working in town was not for me anymore.
“When a group of us left
school, seven of my friends went
farming. Although I was doing
alright as an accountant, I didn’t
really enjoy my work that much.
“I just looked at the assets my
friends had been able to accumulate in the same time. Some
W
Lisa and Ian Goodin with farm manager, Graeme Miles. The Goodins moved from New Zealand five
years ago and now have two dairy farms in northern Victoria.
of them had acquired 10 times
the wealth we had and yet they
left school with no formal qualifications,” Ian said.
Ian and Lisa decided to give
farming a go and worked for
Lisa’s brother in Southland at
Gore.
Two years later Ian and Lisa
purchased a 60ha outblock and
ran dairy cattle on it.
In 2008, the Goodins made the
move across the Tasman, purchasing their first dairy farm in
northern Victoria, a, 85ha property at Yarroweyah and milked
160 cows. Two years later they
bought a neighbouring 20ha.
“Like most Kiwis, we came
over here because the road to
farm ownership in New Zealand,
while achievable, takes a lot
longer and we would have been
50-years-old before we were
able to buy a farm there,” said
Ian.
“After selling a 60ha outblock,
40 cows and 100 young stock,
we have been able to come over
here and buy a working dairy
farm,” he said.
It has not been all plain sailing
for the Goodins with a couple of
tough years through the Global
Financial Crisis (GFC).
“We worked really hard
through that,” said Ian. “We had
a plan and because we stuck to
it, we came out the other side.
“We knew we needed cashflow so we both worked off farm
while still running the farm
itself.”
Lisa milked on the farm during the week while Ian worked
in town as an accountant. In the
weekends, Ian would milk on
the farm and Lisa had a job
relief milking elsewhere.
“We collected calves from
everywhere,” said Lisa. “What
better time to rear calves than
when the milk is worth nothing.
Nobody wanted calves. They
were good AI calves and they
have become half of our herd
now,” she said.
During the GFC Ian and Lisa
reduced their milking herd to
100 as their young stock
increased to 160.
“Our-on farm cash flow was
tiny but then the heifers came in
and away it went,” said Ian.
Their original plan was to sell
the excess cows.
“However, when cows are
worth $600 each you just do not
want to do that,” said Lisa. “We
were better off to buy another
farm and put them there,” she
said.
In August 2013 they purchased an 82ha property at
Katunga which had been out of
dairying for five years and they
have employed manager,
Graeme Miles, to run the farm.
“It has been a really well setup dairy farm in the past,” said
Ian. “ Switching it back from an
outblock to dairying will take
time but we have not had to
change much, With the 14--side
double-up dairy, we just needed
to fix up what was already
there.”
Pastures are currently 100 per
cent annuals with some barley
grass. The Goodins will sow
10-15ha of millet through the
summer, followed with a program of perennials and then an
annual mix of shaftel, clover and
rye grass.
“We use Murray Goulburn
Field Services and Agronomist,
Chris Scott,” said Ian. “All our
seed, fertiliser, grain and hay
come from MG Trading.”
Ian and Lisa have a 70/30
autumn/spring calving pattern.
Once calving is finished next
autumn the herd size will
increase to 300-320 cows
between the two farms with the
goal to be milking 350-360 cows
by spring 2014.
Ian and Lisa enjoy the
lifestyle that farming has given
them.
Lisa is crazy about horses and
dressage competition and has
her own dressage arena.
Ian loves motorbikes and is
involved in the community being
on the local school council and
the Murray Goulburn Supplier
Development Program
Committee. Their children,
Hunter, 9, and Luke, 7, enjoy
motorcross, athletics and
Auskick.
“I believe it is a great opportunity when you can enjoy what
you are doing, have a good
lifestyle and build up equity at
the same time,” said Ian.
Harper joins WestVic board
EWLY arrived from Ireland
(via Saudi Arabia) Harper
Kilpatrick found farmer education programs an invaluable way
of learning about dairy production systems in the southern
hemisphere.
Now he’s returning the favour
after only two and a half years
by committing time as a new
member of the WestVic Dairy
board.
“I find the training and information available to adapt to
farming here very useful,” he
said, highlighting the Cups-OnCups-Off program and fertility
extension services.
“And a lot of the field days are
really good. I thought it was
time to give something back.”
He said that while there were
a lot of similarities between
Australian and Irish production
systems, there have also been
some notable differences.
With his wife Oonagh, the
N
Harper Kilpatrick has joined the board of WestVic Dairy
couple he run 700 milkers and
400 young stock on 450ha with
50ha runoff near Koroit.
He arrived there from Ireland,
having worked in the interim as
head of finance at a Saudi dairy
operation with an annual
turnover of $US2bn, drawn from
a 65,000-cow herd.
The couple looked to the
southern hemisphere to set up
their own dairying enterprise and
chose Australia over New
Zealand for its affordability.
“And we thought we could
adapt to the move to Australia
easier than with the New
Zealand system,” Harper said.
The couple was looking for
water, land to expand and proximity to town. Drought in
Victoria’s north and Gippsland’s
scarce land-bank deterred them
from those regions.
“And South Australia was too
far from Melbourne,” Harper
added. “Warrnambool and Port
Fairy are two nice town centres
and the area has good rainfall.”
The farm operates as a
husband and wife enterprise with
two full-time staff and two
agriculture students from
Ireland.
They milk the split-calving
herd of 80:20 Holstein Friesians
and cross-breeds through a 50bail rotary.
He notes that the cows in
Australia are smaller than the
animals he had milked in
Ireland, but otherwise the systems had a lot of cross-overs,
particularly in timing supplements.
“In Ireland, the cows are on
pasture six to seven months of
the year and then they’re fed
conserved rations for around
four to five months,” he said.
“The significant difference is
that Australian cows are outside
during that time.”
- SUE WEBSTER
DECEMBER 2013 17
MURRAY GOULBURN
‘Rejuvenator’ seed blends:
Providing a complete seed solution
N 2013, MG Trading
launched its very own range
of ‘Rejuvenator’ pasture seed
blends and already farmers have
seen some excellent results in
the field, with increasing dry
matter production leading to a
lift in milk production.
MG Trading identified an
opportunity to provide complete
pasture seed blends that will
deliver both productivity and
value, meeting the majority of
your pasture requirements.
MG Trading Agronomists,
together with the support of our
key seed suppliers, have
developed a range of
‘Rejuvenator’ seed blends
suitable for various conditions,
regions and budgets.
These seed blends are selected
from the best cultivars from a
range of seed suppliers,
including PPG Wrightson Seeds,
Agricom, Vic Seeds, Heritage
Seeds and Cropmark Seeds.
These seed blends, carefully
selected by the experienced
I
Rye, clover mix just right
MURRAY Goulburn supplier, Brad Mason, from Simpson said he
sowed the Rejuvenator High Rainfall Blend at the end of March
this year.
“When the rain did finally arrive the Rejuvenator High Rainfall
Blend was quick out of the ground and showed good early vigour,”
Brad said.
“It also recovered well after grazing and was quick to get into
the rotation.”
Brad said the cows always came off the paddock will full
udders and they milked above expectation.
“They have got it right with the rye and clover mix,” he said.
“This is my permanent pasture mix of choice for the future.”
Agronomy team, have been
designed to deliver the most
productive pasture varieties
possible and maximise dry
matter production in combination with a comprehensive
fertiliser program.
The quality of seed used in the
Rejuvenator blends is the best
available, providing you
assurance and certainty at
sowing time.
The seed count by percentage
of weight is included on each
bag, giving you complete
confidence in the product.
Following the introduction of
the Rejuvenator blends and
Murray Goulburn’s increased
level of focus on safety, MG
Trading will be removing all
pasture seed blenders from
Trading Stores by the end of
December.
This decision has not been
made lightly, but is made in the
best interest for the safety of our
trading store staff.
The operation of seed blenders
and seed bagging exposes the
user to potential injuries to the
back, shoulder and legs and also
significant risk around the
ongoing exposure to dust
particles created by mixing
seed.
By removing this risk from the
business, we protect our staff
from injury and will be able to
provide a more efficient means
of delivering the seed blend you
require.
If there is not a Rejuvenator
blend that suits your particular
requirements, contact your local
MG Trading store or your local
MG Trading Agronomist who
will arrange a visit to your farm
and develop a custom blend to
best suit your needs.
These blends will be produced
off site and delivered directly to
your local store to meet your
timing for sowing.
By placing your order now
you can be assured of a prompt
delivery.
Please provide a minimum
five days notice to ensure
blending and delivery time.
The MG Trading Agronomists
are available to discuss all your
pasture needs in the lead up to
Autumn sowing.
KEY BENEFITS
● Carefully selected by our
agronomy team to meet our
farmers requirements
● Quality seed selected
● Availability and price
confidence
● Selected from the most
productive pasture varieties
● Maximise dry matter
productivity
● Custom blends support and
delivery where required
● Agronomic services
support
MG FarmC@re
DEVONDALER
Would you like to get more from less?
By MARK JAGO,
FARMERS could be excused for
being confused about carbon and
the economy and where in all of
the discussion, the average dairy
farm sits.
With phrases like CO2
Emissions and Carbon
Sequestration becoming part of
the language, it can be difficult
to see the relevance of these and
making a “quid” from growing
grass and milking cows.
However, like all new terms
and language it’s not long before
everyone seems to be speaking
this way and we need to catch
up.
So what does it all mean and
what impact does it have on
farming?
The Carbon Farming Initiative
(CFI) is a Federal Government
scheme whereby farmers can
benefit from lowering greenhouse gas (specifically nitrous
oxide, methane) emissions and
/or storing carbon on their
farms.
Murray Goulburn, through the
MG FarmC@re program, has
been successful in obtaining
Australian Government funding
over three years for a project to
aid suppliers in understanding
these processes.
Titled “Murray Goulburn
More from Less”, this exciting
extension project has been
developed with the specific aim
of helping suppliers make and
keep more income while at the
same time have less /greenhouse
A well-planned and maintained shelter belt of native trees enhances biodiversity, adds protection for
cattle and sequestsers carbon on the property.
gases released to the atmosphere.
By dealing with the extension
of proven information and practises, MG “More from Less” can
aid farmers in making management and investment decisions
when focussing on both carbon
and productivity in their farming
system.
Farmers who choose to participate will have the opportunity to
identify financial gains in one or
more key areas of their farming
business where carbon can be
retained or greenhouse gas
emissions lessened.
The first stage of the “More
from Less” project has been to
appoint an MG FarmC@re
Facilitator for the Northern
Victorian Region and this has
recently been completed with
the engagement of Angela Stead.
Angela has extensive natural
resources management
experience both in Australia and
New Zealand and is a fantastic
addition to Murray Goulburn.
As well, the Department of
Agriculture recently hosted a
face-to-face training session over
two days. Your co-operative was
represented by the three members of the MG FarmC@re team
and two field officers. These
training sessions will continue
biannually for existing and new
extension providers in this project.
The next stage will be to start
seeking out interested farmers to
be involved, not only on their
own farms, but to also have the
option of helping set the longterm goals of the project.
This input is vital to keep
the outcomes relevant to
suppliers.
In addition to farmer involvement, the “More from Less”
project aims to increase the CFI
awareness of MG Field Officers,
Agronomists and Nutritionists
who will in turn be the information multipliers, therefore
spreading information about the
technical aspects of greenhouse
gas emission management and
the CFI to as many MG
suppliers as possible.
Over the life of the project it
is envisaged that, as well as
gaining greater knowledge,
many MG suppliers will undertake a process of identifying
areas of potential gain to their
business and then develop
individual Farm Carbon Action
Plans.
These plans will set out the
priorities and programs that the
supplier can follow to maximise
the gains to their business.
This is exciting project and
will result in MG personnel
working closely with suppliers
to make better informed
decisions for financial and environmental gains.
Suppliers wishing to participate or obtain more information
can contact their regional MG
FarmC@re Facilitator: Northern
Victoria, Angela Stead 0478 402
419; South West Victoria, Sam
Dalziel 0421 577 921;
Gippsland, Mark Jago 0458 400
017, or their Field Officer.
The MG “More from Less”
CFI extension project is supported by funding from the
Australian Government.
Mark Jago is MG FarmC@re
Manager
●
18 DECEMBER 2013
MURRAY GOULBURN
Summer feeding strategies
for your dairy herd
he warmer months are rapidly approaching and this
will have a significant
impact on your herds performance and grazing behaviour.
The following points are worth
considering when looking at
your summer nutrition program:
● Cows will eat less overall on
hot days, so increase the energy
density of your diet where possible. More starch or added fat can
be useful tools.
● Cows prefer to eat in “blocks”
in the cooler times of the morning and evening.
● The natural buffering system
that the cow relies on to combat
ruminal acidosis does not work
T
Devondale calendar now
available at MG Trading
MURRAY Goulburn’s annual calendar is now available at MG
Trading stores.
The calendar will be part of suppliers’ annual Christmas pack
but additional copies can be purchased from your nearest store.
The calendar features landscape scenes from MG’s milk collection areas as well as monthly recipes.
MARK
BROOKES
as well in hot weather.
● Providing a high quality fibre
source that helps maintain a stable rumen and still contributes to
energy rather than just gut fill, is
essential in hot weather.
● Feed higher quality protein
sources in the diet during summer. Higher by-pass protein
sources that are already digested
in the cow’s small intestine can
help offset lower yields of
microbial protein from the
rumen during hot weather.
● Make sure a good quality
buffer is fed to the cow. Use a
buffer that has a longer dwell
time in the rumen.
● Certain additives are available
that have potential to assist cows
in hot weather. These include
rumen modifiers, yeast metabolites, betaine and niacin.
If you would like further
information, please contact Mark
Brooks at MG Trading.
Mark Brookes is MG
Trading’s Ruminant Nutritionist
0447 500 450
●
Geoff Akers
is new DA
Chairman
URRAY Goulburn supplier, Geoff
Akers, has been elected Chairman
of Dairy Australia.
He replaces Max Roberts who retired
from the position at last month’s DA annual
meeting.
Geoff is the husband of MG Director,
Natalie Akers. The couple farm at
Tallygaroopna, just north of Shepparton.
Geoff has been a DA Board member
since 2005 and has a strong background in
dairy extension and politics.
He has worked for Victoria’s Department
of Agriculture and was involved in the work
behind Target 10 and Operation MidLactation.
He was a member of the MurrayDairy
Board for six years and Chairman for four
years.
Geoff also had two years as a member of
the National Dairy Alliance Board.
He has also been a Director on the
Australian Dairyfarmer Board, a Central
Councillor with the United Dairyfarmers of
Victoria and is a former Chair of the
Victorian Farmers Federation Water
Council.
M
Two of the
scenes from
the 2014
Devondale
Country
Calendar.
●
Newly-elected chairman of Dairy Australia, Geoff
Akers.
CLASSIFIEDS
FOR SALE
Keenan mixer wagon 170BH, 17
cubic metres. No further use,
good condition.
Price: $28,000 ONO
PhoneL (02) 6071 7224
2003 John Deere 8420 tractor,
280hp, 16-speed powershift
transmission,
9000 hrs.
Price: $56,000 plus GST
Phone Michael: 0429 635 511
or (03) 5663 5511
Cutting (when weather permits)
perennial hay, ryegrass hay
and lucerne/rye and lucerne
hay in either 8x4x3 or rounds.
Ryegrass silage rolls and
lucerne round hay, ready to go.
Phone: 0408 924 776.
26 tonne GE pellet silo.
Price: $5500 plus GST
Phone: 0429 841193
Set of dual rims with as new
Michelin 420- 85R x 38 radial
tyres, Purchased January 2011.
Price: $5500
20 Calf Tel calf hutches
complete with attaching Calf
Tel mesh pens, as new
condition.
Price: $380 each
Phone: 0407 504 905
Silvan-Gaspardo 6 row maize
planter with fertiliser bin and
monitor.
Tank and tank stand
WANTED
Mains electric fence unit wanted suitable for 200ha property.
Must be in good order.
Phone: 0439 954 494
FARM FOR LEASE
238ha dairy farm for lease at
Dixie, south west Victoria.
Possession available April
2014.
The property features a 50-unit
rotary dairy with cup
removers, computerised feed
system, 14,200 litre vat, flood
wash, 2 x 50 tonne silos with
roller mill, dispenser and 20
tonne feed silo.
The property also features a
freshly renovated 3-bedroom
house, feed pad, 100 capacity
calf rearing shed, machinery
shed,
workshop and hay shed.
The property has a good balance of high country and heavier late flats and has a very
good fertiliser history. It is well
sheltered and sub-divided with
electric fencing with access via
central laneways.
Water is available to all paddocks through pressurized 2”
main line to 1000 gallon
troughs.
It is very suitable for autumn
and split calving with a 35”
rainfall.
Terms available on application.
Phone: 0430 588 034.
POSITIONS VACANT
Koroit area, 400 cow farm,
milking and farm work.
Phone Tess Robinson Field
Service Koroit: 0401 697 689
Relief milker wanted. Available
on Monday until Friday for
morning and afternoon milking.
Phone Jess: 0474 228 399
SHAREFARM OR LEASE
WANTED
A couple who would like to
either sharefarm or lease/purchase a farm milking up to 600
cows.
Would also consider leasing
current herd from owner or
other arrangement.
All areas considered.
Can provide motorbike and
some plant.
Phone Nicole at Rochester
Field Services: 0428 109 630
BLACKBERRY
SPRAYING
All other weed control,
Boom and spot spraying,
Phone Geoff
0420684225.
MURRAY GOULBURN
DECEMBER 2013 19