Gippsland - How Now Gippy Cow
December 2010 Edition
Milking the Weather
Are you tired of being a victim of the seasons? If you want to be proactive and manage your weather-related risks, instead of reacting to the season as it unfolds, then get on-board with a free subscription to the new Milking the Weather newsletter.
The Victorian Department of Primary Industries (DPI) recently launched Milking the Weather to provide timely climate information that could help dairy farmers understand and adapt to climate variability.
Staying up-to-date with the main drivers of our climate is a key to understanding and managing seasonal risk on farm. The first challenge is to make sense of what influences our climate and rainfall at different times of the year.
Each issue will contain a wrap up of seasonal conditions for Victoria’s dairy areas, as well as a seasonal update and outlook incorporating the latest climate information.
DPI Climate Change Risk Management Officer Zita Ritchie said multiple climate drivers affect our rainfall and although we can’t change the seasons we can become better informed about some of the key drivers.
“More than ever, weather forecasts and seasonal variability need to be taken into account when making management decisions on the farm,” Ms Ritchie said.
“The business environment that dairy farms are operating in is generally tougher than in the past, meaning that there is less room for error and more attention to detail is required.”
Many of the critical operational drivers of dairy business performance from year to year are affected by seasonal variability. These are related to the herd feed demands which include balancing pasture, crops, bought in fodder and grain.
“The decisions you make around adapting your feed base seasonally are crucial to your profitability, so make sure you are basing your decisions on the latest information.”
In short, Milking the Weather will provide the latest seasonal climate updates as well as a discussion of feed management options dairy farmers might use to adapt to seasonal variability.
The next issue of Milking the Weather will be available early summer. For free subscription please email zita.ritchie@dpi.vic.gov.au or phone 0428 313 742.
