News Powercor fined Electricity distributor Powercor has received a hefty fine after tree branches clashed with powerlines, starting fires across regional Victoria. Country News 17 minutes ago 17 minutes ago
News Government focus on farm productivity The Federal Government is investing $5.93million in new research, extension and adoption to boost farm productivity through well managed dams and shelterbelts. The project will also measure the biodiversity benefits of farm dams and shelterbelts. Country News 2 hours ago 2 hours ago
News Paddlers pick up river trash A special clean-up team hit the Goulburn River on April 7 hoping to reinvigorate the waterways and native surrounds. Ashlea Witoslawski 4 hours ago 4 hours ago
News Deputy PM faces challenge Michael McCormack slid into the deputy prime ministership in the slipstream of Barnaby Joyce’s lurid soap opera. Country News 19 Apr 2019 19 Apr 2019
News Authority calls out bullying Growing tensions about the Murray-Darling Basin Plan have led to ‘‘disrespectful behaviour and even bullying’’ in communities according to the Murray-Darling Basin Authority. Country News 18 Apr 2019 18 Apr 2019
News Dairy woman is finalist A Western District farmer is among the top contendors in a competition testing the results of topping up trace minerals in cattle and sheep. Animal health company Virbac Australia says over the past 12 months, seven livestock producers have been... Dairy News 2 hours ago 2 hours ago
News Drone sensor trial measuring nutrients in pasture Imagine using a drone to fly over a couple of hundred hectares of pasture and within hours all the information about its biomass and nutrient levels are on your phone or computer. Sounds a bit too good to be true? Well, welcome to the future of... Dairy News 9 hours ago 9 hours ago
News Proactive comeback When Wayne and Bonnie Johnstone surveyed their burnt paddocks after last year’s St Patrick’s Day fires, it didn’t take long for revival mode to kick in. On the Sunday morning after the blaze which destroyed 75 per cent of their land near... Rick Bayne 19 Apr 2019 19 Apr 2019
Dairy Forced out due to costs Deniliquin is now home to very few dairy farms as numbers plummet in the most challenging times the dairy industry has ever faced. Country News 19 Apr 2019 19 Apr 2019
News Freedom focus on premium products While industry chatter pointed towards a potential bid for Lion Dairy and Drinks, Freedom Foods managing director Rory Macleod has actually set the company’s sights much further from home. Freedom Foods is seeking to become a bigger player in the... Dairy News 19 Apr 2019 19 Apr 2019
Horticulture Horticulture code changes in place, despite grower opposition Changes to the Horticulture Code officially came into effect on Monday, despite widespread opposition from the industry. Country News 16 Apr 2019 16 Apr 2019
Horticulture Funds to fight fly Growers, community groups and the horticulture industry are encouraged to apply for government funding to combat Queensland fruit fly. Country News 13 Apr 2019 13 Apr 2019
Horticulture Not all rosy for apple crop Dry conditions and skyrocketing water prices have taken their toll on this year’s apple crop. Country News 11 Apr 2019 11 Apr 2019
Cropping Herbicide resistance link Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation research has shown a link between cropping practices and the evolution of herbicide resistance in the weed annual rye-grass, highlighting the need to rotate chemical and non-chemical weed control. Country News 8 hours ago 8 hours ago
Cropping Avoid disease Grain growers are being urged to use the new cereal and pulse disease guides when planning for the control of crop diseases this season. Country News 16 Apr 2019 16 Apr 2019
Cropping Investors warm to split GrainCorp’s plans to demerge its global malting business and list the new company on the ASX have been greeted warmly by investors. Country News 12 Apr 2019 12 Apr 2019
Livestock Calls for input to reference group DataGene is on the lookout for dairy farmers who keep meticulous records to join Ginfo, the industry’s national reference group for genetic information. Country News 19 Apr 2019 19 Apr 2019
Livestock Wool test detects pregnancy Researchers from Western Sydney University have found a new, non-invasive way to detect pregnancy in Merino sheep through the analysis of reproductive hormones in wool. Country News 16 Apr 2019 16 Apr 2019
Livestock Merino field day Merino studs from across Victoria will compete for an inaugural and exclusive state title at Marnoo, east of Horsham in the state’s west, in August. Country News 12 Apr 2019 12 Apr 2019
Livestock Processors bracing for pain Australia’s meat processing industry is bracing for further hardship as the impact of natural disasters continues to send shockwaves through the supply chain. Country News 09 Apr 2019 09 Apr 2019
Water Water for Campaspe Up to 900Ml of environmental water will be sent down the Campaspe River across six days this month, and then up to 40Ml a day until winter. Country News 6 hours ago 6 hours ago
Water Go fishing for cash The angler who bags the biggest overall Murray cod at the GoFish Nagambie competition will come away with $80000 in cash. Tara Whitsed 19 Apr 2019 19 Apr 2019
Water Cod worth the wait It took him 33 years, but Echuca amateur angler Jason Caddaye finally got to land a big one. Country News 19 Apr 2019 19 Apr 2019
Management Spot on with grazing management Jan Giliam focuses on grazing management and benchmarks profit by how much of that home-grown pasture feeds his milking herd. To do that, he relies on an annual rainfall of about 1000 mm to produce grass and 2000 wrapped bales of pasture silage. He... Jeanette Severs 19 Apr 2019 19 Apr 2019
Management Farm set-up key to pasture management Setting up farms to make the most of production in a challenging environment is as relevant in Albany, Western Australia and King Island, Tasmania, as it is in the Bega Valley, NSW, and Walpa, Victoria. That was the message from veterinarian and... Jeanette Severs 19 Apr 2019 19 Apr 2019
Management Calving pattern suits business Frank and Fiona Mills operate two dairy farms at Kilmany, in central Gippsland, milking 546 predominantly British Friesian cows (70 per cent), the remainder cross-bred with Jersey and Normandy genetics. The farm has been producing milk for Parmalat... Jeanette Severs 19 Apr 2019 19 Apr 2019
Management Negotiating dry conditions in the east Mark Laity at Wiseleigh, Victoria, runs a one-person dairy, milking 160 cows off just a bit more than 160 ha of dryland country. Mark and Susan, with their children Chloe, Nigel, Lauren and Tori, are the second and third generations respectively... Jeanette Severs 19 Apr 2019 19 Apr 2019
From the Experts Summer heat advice PROVIDING LIVESTOCK with shade and water during extreme heat is ‘‘paramount’’ according to an owner of a northern Victorian veterinary practice. Keith Fletcher, of Rochester Veterinary Practice, provided some tips on the best way to handle... Dairy News 18 Feb 2019 18 Feb 2019
From the Experts March reminders Hay and silage stocks Check your levels of hay and silage and do your sums on potential hay and silage use for the balance of the year. Allow for milking cows, dry cows and young stock. It’s often a challenge to feed the best feed you can and make... Dairy News 15 Feb 2019 15 Feb 2019
From the Experts New tech helps manage cows A NEW cow ‘fit bit’ is making it easier to diagnose sick cows and influence management decisions around fertility and performance. Cow Manager uses a small ear tag to monitor and record cow activity, temperature, eating, rumination and resting... Dairy News 14 Jan 2019 14 Jan 2019
Markets The rise of dairy alternative drinks in Australian supermarkets Australians love dairy products and consume more dairy per capita than most other developed countries. In 2018 Australians drank close to 102 litres of milk per person with a proportion accounted for in coffees. More recently there has been an... Sofia Omstedt 19 Apr 2019 19 Apr 2019
Markets Seasonal milk outlook improves Milk processors will be competing strongly for milk supply, with milk production slowing and robust demand from Southeast Asia and China, dairy consultants Fresh Agenda believes. The seasonal outlook has improved with slowing milk growth in key... Dairy News 19 Apr 2019 19 Apr 2019
Markets Indonesia — a growing market opportunity for Australian exporters? INDONESIA IS the fourth most populous country in the world and one of the fastest growing economies in southeast Asia. It is also a country of increasing importance and interest among South-East major dairy exporters. While some suggest Indonesi... Sofia Omstedt 15 Feb 2019 15 Feb 2019
Machinery & Products For sale: wear and tear on patience Buying things is easy, most of the time. Not as easy as it should be, of course. I for one have had far too many experiences along the lines of “Sorry mate, is me coming here to spend my money at your establishment an inconvenience to you?” In... John Droppert 19 Apr 2019 19 Apr 2019
Machinery & Products Steiger wins Paris award Case IH’s Quadtrac CVXDrive, known in Australia as the Steiger Quadtrac CVT, won the 2019 Machine of the Year title in the XL category at the recent biennial SIMA exhibition in Paris. The accolade was given in recognition of the benefits of the... Dairy News 19 Apr 2019 19 Apr 2019
Machinery & Products NZ Westland Co-operative to be sold The New Zealand Westland Co-operative will be sold to a Chinese dairy company, Yilli. The company is offering shareholders $3.41 a share, representing an enterprise valuation of about $588 million. Yilli is the largest dairy producer in China and... Simone Dunne 19 Apr 2019 19 Apr 2019
Machinery & Products US manager learns the ropes American-born Alyx Selsmeyer was working for Case IH at the brand’s headquarters in Wisconsin, in the United States, two-and-a-half years ago when a job opportunity on the other side of the world was too good to refuse. The University of... Dairy News 19 Apr 2019 19 Apr 2019
Animal Health Proof how critical calf care is Half of a cow’s lifetime height and growth is achieved in the first six months of its life, according to a visiting American calf-rearing specialist. David Kuehnel was raised on a family farm in Wisconsin, which reared 1200 specially-fed veal... Dairy News 19 Apr 2019 19 Apr 2019
Animal Health Raising babies Animal adviser Bob James provided an animated and colourful lesson in calf rearing for the crowd attending the South Australian Dairy Conference in March. The American scientist encouraged, cajoled and inspired the group to raise healthier calves... Dairy News 19 Apr 2019 19 Apr 2019
Animal Health Know your poison There are more than 1000 plants in Australia that have been recorded as toxic to animals. This article discusses some common plant toxicities that can affect cattle. Nitrate/nitrite High levels of nitrate in plants is toxic to grazing cattle... Gemma Chuck 19 Apr 2019 19 Apr 2019
Animal Health Budgets and compromises Tough conditions in the dairy industry have seen every farm closely scrutinising costs in an effort to allocate available funds to the most cost-effective options in virtually every area of their operation. The cost of treatment at drying-off is one... Rod Dyson 19 Apr 2019 19 Apr 2019
