Farmers have turned out in force to field days that are aimed at improving outcomes from autumn management.
The Tactics Farms Days were held in West and South Gippsland on Wednesday and Thursday respectively.
Discussion topics included autumn feed planning, pasture renewal, soil testing, fertiliser options, tax planning and transition cow management.
GippsDairy regional extension officer Karen Romano said the days, held at Mark and Trish Hammond’s Labertouche farm and at Graeme, Jenny and Shaun Cope’s Fish Creek farm, seemed to hit the mark with those who attended.
“These days are about using autumn as a launchpad for the coming season as well as consolidating the better spring and summer that most farms have enjoyed this year,” she said.
“We had great guest speakers like Damian Adcock from Murray Goulburn, Richie McGrath from Ridley Agriproducts and Tarwin Vet Group’s Peter De Garis, just to name a few.”
Karen said the strong turnout on both days reflected the dairy industry’s desire to bounce back strongly from a tough couple of years.
“There a positivity around the industry which is more about farmers wanting to control the things they can control, which is what these days are all about,” she said.
The Tactics Farm Days have been delivered through Dairy Australia’s Regional Development Programs and funded by the Gardiner Foundation, the Australian Government, the South Australian Government, the Tasmanian Government and major dairy processors.
The final Tactics day will be held in the Macalister Irrigation District on 21 March at the Anderson farm, 931 Grimmes Road, Denison, from 11am to 2pm. Meet at the dairy.
To register or for more information contact GippsDairy on 5624 3900 or info@gippsdairy.com.au.
