Past Events
February 2015
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN HELD
A REPORT, FARM NOTES AND BUDGET FROM THE DAY ARE AVAILABLE BY FOLLOWING THIS LINK
First FOCUS FARM Field Day on the Macalister Focus Farm
Thursday 26 February from 11am – 2.30pm
This is the first Field Day on this Focus Farm. Facilitator Matt Harms, Farm Manager Bec Horsham and the Support Group members have been wrestling with the farm production and financial budgets, reproduction and pasture production and grazing issues.
Key topics on the day:
- Managing the farm daily decision-making in order to meet the physical and financial budget parameters that have been set
- How does a corporate entity manage the staff, business, inputs and decisions in order to achieve the desired return on asset as set by its Board?
- Exploring the risks faced by this moderately stocked, 100% irrigated dairy business in terms of the farming system and the labour structure in place
- Current farm production and financials
- Plus a walk to check the cows, pastures and related issues .
Light lunch (Thanks to Murray Goulburn Cooperative), tea and coffee provided, come for a cuppa from 10.30am onwards.
All dairy farmers and people interested in the dairy industry are welcome.
The Focus Farm project is funded by Regional Development Victoria, Dairy Australia and GippsDairy.
For more information call John Gallienne 0407 863 493
Events and Demonstrations in 2013-14
October 2014
MDF Annual General Meeting
Tuesday 21st October 2014
The Macalister Demonstration Farm Annual General Meeting will be held on TUESDAY 21st OCTOBER 2014. For this year, the Annual General Meeting will be held during the day at the farm – 10.30 am to 2.00 pm.
Keynote speaker will be John Versteden former chair of GippsDairy. John will be speaking about the Future of the dairy industry: people – development and training and farm ownership.
The winner of the RF (Bob) Pitman award will be announced.
MDF Learning and Travel Scholarship awardee, Jon Ryan who will present his final report on his scholarship project.
FREE CATERED LUNCH — Please RSVP attendance to Sandie on 0488 175 366 or by email at mdf@wideband.net.au
Director Nomination Form – Closing Date – 10th October 2014
RF Pitman Award – Closing Date – Friday 10th October 2014
Events and Demonstrations in 2012-13
November
‘How do you find and retain good staff?’ – Frank Tyndall, MDF
January
‘Managing Dairy Effluent’ – Scott McDonald, DPI
March
‘Soil Biology and pH Interaction Field Day’ – Tony Gardner, WGCMA & Sandie Brown, MDF
May
‘Health and Safety Field Day’ – Various
October
MDF Annual General Meeting and Presentation of the RF (Bob) Pitman Award
Tuesday 22nd October 2013 10.00 am to 2.30 pm
to be held on farm at 285 Boggy Creek Road, Riverslea Vic 3860
Guest Speaker: Joe Jacobs – Principal Scientist – Dairy, DEPI
Free Lunch: Catering by Heyfield Lions Club
RSVP The Secretary 0488 175 366 or mdf@wideband.net.au
Events and Demonstrations in 2011-12
February
‘DPI High Flow Flood Mobile Pump Unit Demonstration’ – DPI farm walk
‘Recalibrating your electric fence post – using ETo for better irrigation decisions’ – DPI farm walk
March
‘Solar Hot Water – Does it Stack Up?’ – Gabriel Hakim, AgVet Projects, Darryl Klindworth, DPI & Neil Baker, MDF
April
‘The Ins and Outs of the MG Domestic Payment System’ – Frank Tyndall, MDF & Andrew Nevill, MG
May
‘Grass Cultivar Trial Field Day’ – Adam Sheedy, Croplands Seeds
Events and Demonstrations in 2010-11
July
People GPS – Frank Tyndall
Calves – How to destroy them humanely – Tristan Jubb with the UDV
August
MID Tracker Project – discover the secrets of high performing farms – Frank Tyndall, MDF
Nitrogen use efficiency – Matthew Mahoney, Incitec Pivot
October
Sustainable farm families – Maffra Focus Farm
November
Gippsland Region Sustainable Water Strategy Farmer Consultation – Neil Baker for Gipps Dairy
December
Drainwatch – Nicole Russell, West Gippsland CMA
February
Bloody weeds everywhere! – Frank Tyndall, MDF; Rachael Hopkinson, MG; Bree Walshe, DPI
March
All paddocks are not the same – Individual treatment for maximum performance – Frank Tyndall, MDF
April
Show me the money! MID Tracker Project analysis of feed margins – Frank Tyndall, MDF
May
What makes a profitable dairy cow? – Andrea Henry, Holstein Australia
MDF Carbon Emissions Reduction plan – Neil Baker, MDF
June
Autumn calving in a variable climate – Does it stack up? – Frank Tyndall & Neil Baker, MDF for the Future Ready Dairy Systems project
Assessment of refrigeration heat recovery to improve milk cooling efficiency and reduce hot water costs – Neil Baker, MDF
Events and Demonstrations in 2009-10
July
Fine tuning before the rush – Reduce your mastitis and calf scours workload – Mark Humphris, Maffra Vet Centre
Lower milk prices – Options for this season – Jason McAinch, DPI Maffra
August
Impact of ProGibb and nitrogen fertilizer on winter pasture – Matthew Mahoney, Incitec Pivot
September
Using the weather station to schedule irrigation – farm walk – Gavan Lamb, DPI Maffra
Understanding the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme – Will it cost dairy farmers? – Neil Baker, MDF
Spring Session 1: Sumer crops – Janice Dowe (DPI, Maffra), Rachael Hopkinson (MG), Peter Norwood (Daly’s)
October
Spring Session 2: Mating – Back 2 basics – Mark Humphris, Maffra Vet Centre Spring session 3: Grain or not to grain – That is the question – Jason McAinch, DPI Maffra
Spring Session 4: Fertilizer – How much is just enough?; Calcium – the role of lime and gypsum – Bree Walshe (DPI Maffra), Cameron Gourley (DPI, Ellinbank)
November
Spring Session 5: In a tough season what have you changed? – Panel discussion local farmers – Cropmark Seeds pasture evaluation trial
February
Healthy soils, sustainable farms – Damian Bougoure & Doug Crawford (DPI), Graeme Sait (Nutri-Tech Solutions)
March
Reducing carbon emissions – What are the options? – Neil Baker, MDF
April
MID Tracker Project – discovery day for farmers – Frank Tyndall, MDF
May
Tweak or leap – What do I do with an underperforming irrigation system? – Gavan Lamb, DPI Maffra
June
People GPS – Frank Tyndall