Dairy Services eNewsletter
Edition 4: April, 2011
The new DPI Dairy Services Branch
 |
A re-structure brings great opportunities to do things differently.
The Dairy Services Branch within DPI is the blending of the Sustainable Landscapes team (bringing professional natural resource management skills) with the Dairy Extension Centre (bringing technical dairy extension).
Together the staff, of close to 90 people, will provide specialist practice change services and advice to dairy farmers and the industry across Victoria.
The Dairy Services Branch committed to ensuring our services align with current and future needs of the dairy industry and the government. To this end $14 million will be invested in dairy related research, development and extension activities annually.
Flood Recovery
 |
When the January flood event affected northern Victoria, DPI staff were quickly on hand delivering an emergency response program. The farming community needed access to quality information on pasture and soil management to get back on their feet.
The expertise of DPI staff and in particular the Dairy Service Branch has met this need and helped to minimise the effects of flooding on the farming community.
Dairy Extension Officer Shayne Ault said information was delivered through information sessions, one-on-one farm visits and information sheets.
“There was a strong need for the Dairy Services Branch to take the lead to provide support services for pasture and soil management given our program has technical and extension capabilities. We have responded to 20 referrals from the DPI Customer Call Centre and more from milk factory field staff in the last eight weeks. These referrals covered a wide range of issues such as pasture recovery, soil impacts, water quality, stock health and access to financial incentives,” Shayne said.
The Flood Recovery program to date has delivered:
- Seven farm enquiries to assess the individual situation and provide tailored technical support on recovery.
- Eight 'Paddock Recovery after Flooding' information sessions across flood affected regions, providing practical tips on getting land back into production.
- Mapping services to monitor extension activities across the flooded region and recovery time frames for specific areas.
- Soil fertility testing and nutrient plans to assess impacts.
- Partnership with DPIs Future Farming Systems Research to establish composting trials to assist farmers manage flood ruined hay supplies.
- Establishment of flood recovery reference groups to coordinate industry activities and ensure consistent information is delivered to affected dairy farmers.
- Fact sheets on pasture, soil and water quality recovery.
Industry stakeholders including Dairy Australia, DPI, Geoffrey Gardiner Foundation, Murray Dairy, milk factories, the National Centre for Dairy Education Australia (NCDEA) and the VFF have established a flood recovery reference group which meets regularly to co-ordinate activities and provide support as needed.
“This project has provided information and support to flood affected farm families to minimise the effects of flooding on milk production and importantly helped to assist in the recovery phase.”
For more specific information on flood services contact Ms Shayne Ault – Echuca 54 821 922
Environmental Site Assessments
 |
The expertise of DPI staff is being utilised to carry out Environmental Site Assessments to ensure there is minimal impact to the environment under the Northern Victoria Irrigation Renewal Project (NVIRP).
The Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) recommended DPI staff undertake this role on a permanent basis because staff had produced outstanding, high quality work in the early stages of the project.
A formal agreement between NVIRP and DPI was signed in January 2010.
Catchment Management Officer Andrew Morrison said the level of experience and professionalism of DPI staff ensured the assessments were carried out in a satisfactory and competent manner.
“Our role includes the assessment of environmental features (native vegetation) within the proposed modernisation works area across the Goulburn Murray Irrigation District, to ensure irrigation upgrades have a negligible environmental impact. Environmental Site Assessments identify both native vegetation and pest plants, as well as taking into consideration cultural heritage issues and farm access issues,” Andrew said.
Since January 2010 there have been 2000 meter assessments carried out, 550 regulator assessments, 400 connection asset assessments and 90km of channel lining.
The DPI is currently undertaking a second scope of works which commenced in December 2010 and includes 160 meter assessments, 127 regulator assessments, 600 connection asset assessments and a 100km of channel decommissioning. These works are set to be completed by December 2011.
For more information contact Andrew Morrison – Tatura 03 58 335 327
Calf Husbandry Workshops
 |
Calves are the future of the dairy farm and their care and management goes a long way toward ensuring the viability of this industry.
DPI Dairy Extension Officers, in conjunction with Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) and Dairy Australia (DA) identified eight areas essential to calf rearing, and presented them in a series of workshops at Warrnambool (27 in attendance), Leongatha(16 in attendance) Maffra (14 in attendance) and Mt Gambier (51 in attendance).
The topics covered included pre-calving, identification and traceability, colostrum feeding, environment, health management, weaning management, residue management and preparation for sale.
Specific regional and key industry issues were taken into consideration at each workshop and practical, workable solutions were delivered.
Over 100 people attended the calf husbandry workshops and feedback received indicated the information delivered was relevant and well presented. Many attendees noted they would be implementing some management changes in particular when it came to colostrum feeding and residue management.
Well attended workshops illustrate just how important it is to deliver relevant and up-to-date information to the dairying sector. The industry will move forward because farmers implement management changes when they receive practical information that is proven to work on farm.
For more information about this project contact Ash Michael – Leongatha 03 56 629 901
Whole Farm Plans
 |
Whole Farm Planning has a strong role in creating a sustainable and water efficient agricultural industry. Whole Farm Plans are a tool to help achieve the goal of modernising outdated irrigation infrastructure under the Northern Victoria Irrigation Renewal Program (NVIRP).
DPI Project Manager for Northern Rivers Irrigation, Craig Dyson, said Whole Farm Plans are a blueprint of a property that enables the farmer to maximise the benefits of irrigation modernisation.
“Some farmers may need to reduce the number of irrigation supply meters, while others may be looking at automation or replacing open channel systems with a pipe and riser system. Whatever the change required, a Whole Farm Plan ensures irrigators have a plan to optimise their water use efficiency and productivity.”
Craig said while some farmers may have completed a Whole Farm Plan in the past, many farm irrigation layouts may need updating to make them compatible with the modernised supply system.
An up-to-date Whole Farm Plan is also one of the eligibility criteria for the On Farm Efficiency program.
CASE STUDY
When Robert Furmancyzk moved to Dingee to set up an organic pig farming enterprise in 2009, he was new to farming, new to irrigating and hadn't even heard of a Whole Farm Plan.
Four months later Robert knew the Whole Farm Plan he had for his farm made the best use of his land and enabled him to irrigate efficiently, which is the key to making his farm sustainable heading into the future.
The Whole Farm Plan process has been a learning curve for Robert, and through it he has developed confidence in DPI to provide useful, relevant and practical information.
He plans to call on the DPI again for advice on future management decisions for his farm.
For more information contact Craig Dyson – Echuca 03 54 821 922
Technology in Extension
 |
Looking at new ways of delivering information to the dairy sector through developments in communication is a key focus of the Technology in Extension project.
Dairy Extension Officer Shayne Ault said projects like this are important to the Dairy Service Branch because they enable information to be delivered to farmers and service providers, using a medium best suited to an individual’s needs.
“A person may not be able to commit the time to attend a two hour information session an hour away from their farm, but they may be able to commit to a two hour session broadcast over the internet (such as “dairy live”). In a world where the demands on time are increasing, the investigation of these new communication technologies will allow us to communicate with clients in a tailored way, to suit their needs and lifestyle,” Shayne said.
Technologies to pilot include text messages, E-news letter, skype, RSS feeds, webinars, podcasts, social networks, blogs, chat rooms, Wiki's, phone applications and animation tools.
“During the project each of these technologies will be tested to see how they fit within the Dairy Services Branch Extension tool kit and if they are a suitable investment.”
Shayne said outcomes from this project have the potential to be implemented right across the department. “Using these new technologies to communicate with farmers and service providers in a medium best suited to an individual's needs, will enable us to ultimately provide a better service in the future to our target audience.”
For more information on this project contact Ms Shayne Ault – Echuca 54 821 922
Milking the Weather
 |
One thing is for certain, weather conditions are an ever changing event that the farming community has always had to deal with. To help best cope with this change, the DPI has implemented “Milking the Weather”, a newsletter that delivers current weather information and adaptive strategies to the dairying community.
Dairy Extension Officer Greg O’Brien said the newsletter can be used as a risk management tool. “The newsletter contains up-to-date information on drivers of weather conditions and comes out at key decision-making times on the farm. It gives the farmer a sense of the likelihood of events such as rainfall on a ‘region by region’ basis. This can help them decide what they might or might not do on their farm,” Greg said.
The newsletter looks at pasture and fodder production, irrigation and cropping as well as fodder and grain markets, to assist the farm operator with strategies to adapt to variability in the weather.
“The newsletter links with expertise from DPI’s own staff as well as information from other reputable places including the Bureau of Meteorology. It helps farmers gain a sound understanding of what is going on around them and can help guide them in their management decisions.”
