Time to talk dry tactics

A FIELD Day at Lardner on Wednesday 25 November will help farmers deal with the tough seasonal conditions that most are already facing.
The Tactics for Dry Times session will be held from 10am at Rob and Jenni Marshall’s farm at 160 Burnt Store Road Lardner, near Warragul.
Tactics for Dry Times is a Dairy Australia/GippsDairy initiative that is being rolled out across Gippsland during November and December.
GippsDairy projects and events co-ordinator Karen Romano said each session would be unique to the local area it was being held in.
“It’s important that we recognise that what’s happening in West Gippsland isn’t the same as what a dairy farmer in Wonthaggi or Yarram is facing,” she said.
“We will have local people who know local conditions at each session, so we can help farmers develop their plans for getting through a tough few months.”
A recent Tactics for Dry Times session held at Lachie and Vicki McLeod’s Calrossie property attracted more than 40 farmers.
The particularly tough conditions in the district meant there was plenty to discussion on a local level, but facilitator Matt Harms said there were lessons to be had for all Gippsland farmers.
“The universal message is to make a decision and make it early. Hopefully it’s the right decision, but having no decision at all is a disaster,” he said.
“It‘s about planning and organising the feed that you need, so that you have it on-farm or have it locked in, so it can’t be sold from underneath you.
“The reality is, whether we get an early autumn break or it’s slightly late, the length of feeding period is going to be anywhere between four months and six months.”
Matt said low soil moisture levels meant that farmers in the area had to act quickly to take advantage of any opportunity to grow fodder.
“What it points to is that, while there is available moisture, drive it as hard as possible,” Matt said.
“That message is the same whether you are at Yarram, Inverloch or Warragul.”
For Lachie McLeod, making the most of available moisture has meant growing 30 hectares of brassica and turnip crops that will hopefully allow him to keep feeding his cows and maintain milking numbers.
“We’ve gone pretty hard in the cropping area to try and cover the late spring deficit,” he said.
“We’ve made a conscious effort not to let the cows drop too much condition (because) we’re pretty confident that Murray Goulburn will pay the $6.05 milk price.
“That means that even in a poor season there is still that margin on feeding extra to keep the cows milking.”
Lachie, who milks 360 Holstein/ Swiss Red/Montpellier crosses on a 500 acre dairy platform, said his previous involvement with a Focus Farm had left a clear impression on the best way to endure a tough season.
“The take home message from that time was that everyone who fed and fed well got through much better than those who didn’t,” he said.
“I just hope people go away from today with a plan. Your plan may not be perfect, but as long as you are being proactive and doing something, you’ll be a lot better off.”
The next Tactics for Dry Times event will be held at Warren and Kerrie Redmond’s farm on the following Monday (30 November) at 6870 Bass Highway, Inverloch.
The final day in this round will be held at Mike and Sarah O’Brien’s farm at 618 Maffra-Rosedale Road, Denison on Friday, 11 December.
All days run from 10.30am to 1pm with lunch provided.