Newsletter Archive for newsletters prior to 2018. View newsletters from 2018 onward at this link.
Newsletters 2017
- NEWSLETTER 106 October 2017
(Jennifer McMillan wins the RF(Bob) Pitman Award; Early season – How is production stacking up?; Is yeast the answer? (Split herd feeding trial); Chasing silage at the MDF – How it pays in our system; Buying fodder – Take the risk out of your purchase; Rearing heifers – Contract or do it yourself?; Welcome to our new Director; Become a Friend of the MDF) - NEWSLETTER 105 July 2017
(A good set of numbers – 2016/17 MDF performance; 2017-18 Budget – So what’s different?; Turning the ship around: Making incremental gains in fertility at the MDF; A letter to the Board of Murray Goulburn; RF(Bob) Pitman nominations for 2017; Become a Friend of the MDF) - NEWSLETTER 104 March 2017
(Meet the MDF Directors; RF(Bob) Pitman Award for 2016; MDF – Farm performance ahead of target at half year; We know the value of the nutrients in our effluent – do you?; Become a Friend of the MDF)
Newsletters 2015
- Newsletter 95 February 15
(First Macalister Focus Farm Field Day / Yellow Rag Bit / Keeping a watchful eye on summer pasture quality early / What’s been going on at MDF? / Upcoming events) - Newsletter 96 March 15
(The road to recruitment / Yellow Rag Bit / Considering pasture renovation this autumn? / What’s been going on at MDF? / Survey – What do you want from your MDF? / Quick bits / Upcoming events) - Newsletter 97 April 2015
(The road to recruitment – continued / Yellow Rag Bit / Keeping on top of liver fluke / What’s been going on at MDF? / Hassle free calving session at the MDF) - Newsletter 98 May 2015
(Vale Mike Larcombe / The road to recruitment – continued / What’s been going on at MDF? / Hassle free calving session at the MDF – Reminder / Biosecurity exercise at the MDF / Silage Wrap Recycling in Sale) - Newsletter 99 June 2015
(The road to recruitment – a Farm Manager and a Farm Hand have been engaged / Yellow Rag Bit / Things to think about as this financial year ends and the new one begins / What’s been going on at MDF?) - Newsletter 100 August 2015
(A rewarding experience: Living and working at Macalister Demonstration Farm / Yellow Rag Bit / Next MID Irrigation efficiency Incentive Program set for September / What’s been going on at MDF?) - Newsletter 101 September 2015
(Notice of Meeting – Macalister Demonstration Farm Annual General Meeting / Call for nominations – RF (Bob) Pittman Award / Yellow Rag Bit – What to do when you run out of lead feed / What’s been going on at MDF? / Focus farm support group) - Newsletter 102 October 2015
(Macalister Demonstration Farm – Future Directions / Dale Scott announced winner of the RF (Bob) Pitman Award / Yellow Rag Bit / Have you seen these pests in your pastures? / What’s been going on at MDF?) - Newsletter 103 December 2015
(Changing faces at the Macalister Demonstration Farm / Yellow Rag Bit / Irrigating during a dry season at the MDF / What’s been going on at MDF? / The costs of preserving silage at the MDF / And last but not least)
Newsletters 2014
- Newsletter 85 January 14
(Australian Dairy Industry Unilever Sustainability Pilot / DEPI – Improving Farm Profitability / MDF Travel and Learning Scholar – Jon Ryan / Upcoming events & courses) - Newsletter 86 February 14
(Spilt Milk – what the MDF did when the vat failed / DEPI – Keeping your cows at their coolest in the MID / Have you done your water budget? / Annual Use Limits in this current season / Upcoming events & courses) - Newsletter 87 March 14
(A big thank you / BVDV at the Demonstration Farm / DEPI – Understanding investments being made by DA / The value in comparing electricity providers / Upcoming events & courses) - Newsletter 88 May 14
(The value of comparing electricity costs – follow up / DEPI – Managing dairy cattle drench resistance / invitation to attend Irrigation Expo and Rubicon Factory in Shepparton / Upcoming events & courses) - Newsletter 89 June 14
(Macalister Demonstration Farm Working Bee / Pour on drenches are absorbed via licking … What? / The Junk Paddock’s transformation / Upcoming events) - Newsletter 90 July 2014
(WTC Irrigation Expo Tour / Yellow Rag / Lameness in Dairy herds / What’s been going on at the MDF?) - Newsletter 91 August 2014
(Macalister Demonstration Farm – GippsDairy Focus Farm / Yellow Rag / High reliability water allocation and the link to Thomson Dam drought reserve / What’s been going on at the MDF? / A big thank you!!) - Newsletter 92 September 14
(Macalister Demonstration Farm – Annual General Meeting / Macalister Demonstration Farm – Nomination of Directors / Call for Nominations – RF (Bob) Pitman Award / Yellow Rag Bit/ MID Irrigation Efficiency Incentives Program / What’s been going on at MDF?) - Newsletter 93 October 14
(Macalister Demonstration Farm – Annual General Meeting / Yellow Rag Bit / Tightening up your dairy herd’s calving pattern / What’s been going on at MDF? / MDF Scholarship – Jon Ryan final report summary – The application of new technology to manage pastures in the Macalister Irrigation District (MID)) - Newsletter 94 November 14
(Macalister Demonstration Farm – Travel and Learning Scholarship / Yellow Rag Bit / How’s your feed and water security for this coming summer? / What’s been going on at MDF?)
Newsletters 2013
- Newsletter 76 February 13
(DPI-Coping in the current dry season / Energy Assessments) - Newsletter 77 March 13
(DPI-Reading your own wheel / The first month for our new farm managers) - Newsletter 78 April 13
(DPI-Are your heifers on target? / MDF Scholarship / Health Field Day / ProHand Dairy Cow Course) - Newsletter 79 May 13
(Welcome to Matt Harms: Thank you to Frank Tyndall / Dry cow options leading into winter / DEPI – starting the next milk season in good shape / MDF Health and Safety Field Day / MDF Performance Graphs) - Newsletter 80 July 13
(DEPI – recovering from a tough season / Macalister Demonstration Farm Report / Rural Finance Natural Disaster Recovery Assistance) - Newsletter 81 August 13
(MDF Notice of AGM / Macalister Demonstration Farm Report / DEPI – Managing cows in poor condition and downer cows) - Newsletter 82 September 13
(MDF Notice of AGM / Crucial issues being dealt with by MDF this spring / DEPI – Key messages for MID from Dairy Farm Monitor Project 2012-2013) - Newsletter 83 November 13
(MDF Open Day/Annual Field day / How hard do you chase for additional silage? / Economics of fodder conservation) - MDF Newsletter 84 December 13
(Springing into Summer! / Update on Theileria in Gippsland)
Newsletters 2012
- Newsletter 61 January 12
(DPI-Year of the Farmer / MDF Farm performance) - Newsletter 62 January 12
(DPI-Your herd’s future / MDF Farm performance) - Newsletter 63 February 12
(DPI-Pasture renovation; Water budgets / MDF Farm performance) - Newsletter 64 March 12
(DPI-Water sales – broker or auction? / MDF diary) - Newsletter 65 April 12
(DPI-Feeding Pastures for profit / MDF Farm performance) - Newsletter 66 April 12
(DPI-To irrigate or not? / MDF diary / MDF Farm performance) - Newsletter 67 May 12
(DPI-Drying off / MDF Farm Manager Recruitment) - Newsletter 68 June 12
(Website announcement / DPI-A lower milk price they say! / MDF Farm performance) - Newsletter 69 June 12
(Farm Trials / MDF Farm performance / Yellow Rag from 1991) - Newsletter 70 June 12
(Farm Trials / MDF Farm performance) - Newsletter 71 August 212
(Taking Care of Pugged Pastures / MDF Farm performance) - Newsletter 72 August 12
(Profitable Cow Feeding Considerations / MDF Annual Performance) - Newsletter 73 September 12
(Dairy Business Management Considerations / MDF Weekly Performance) - Newsletter 74 November 12
(MDF Annual Field Day 2012 – How do you find and retain good staff?) - Newsletter 75 December 12
(DPI – how to retain good staff / MDF performance graphs)
Newsletters 2011
- Newsletter 44 January 11
(DPI-Summer management / Soil tests; Dairy energy audit) - Newsletter 45 January 11
(DPI-Observations around the MID / MDF Margin Over all Feed comparison 2010-11) - Newsletter 46 February 11
(DPI-Pasture renovations / Weeds / Carbon emissions reduction strategies – pumping energy) - Newsletter 47 March 11
(DPI-Choosing ryegrass varieties / MDF Farm performance) - Newsletter 48 April 11
(DPI-Effluent management / MDF Farm performance) - Newsletter 49 April 11
(DPI-Carryovers; MDF diary / Carbon Farming Initiative – What’s in it for dairy farmers?) - Newsletter 50 May 11
(DPI-Facial eczema / MDF diary) - Newsletter 51 June 11
(DPI-Drying off / Grass per cow – a big profit driver / MDF diary) - Newsletter 52 June 11
(DPI-winter feeding / MID Tracker – Feeding for margin / Carbon emissions reduction strategy) - Newsletter 53 July 11
(DPI-Preparing for calving / MDF diary / Dairy energy efficiency – heat extraction) - NewsletterA� 54 August 11
(DPI-Calf trailer / Fertility at MDF / MDF Farm performance) - Newsletter 55 August 11
(DPI-Spring fodder / Profitable dairying / Sub-surface drip irrigation season update 2010-11) - Newsletter 56 September 11
(DPI-Juggling spring / Pestivirus (BVDV) / Sub-surface drip irrigation highlights review) - Newsletter 57 October 11
(DPI-Spring checklist / What is profitability? / OH&S Worksafe inspection report) - Newsletter 58 November 11
(DPI-Cautious optimism / MDF diary / MDF Farm performance) - Newsletter 59 November 11
(DPI-Ensile or not? / MID Tracker margin Over all Feed comparison) - Newsletter 60 December 11
(DPI-MID observations / MDF diary / MDF Farm performance)
Newsletters 2010
- Newsletter 29 January 10
(DPI-Maffra extension group / Sub-surface drip irrigation update / MDF Farm performance) - Newsletter 30 February 10
(DPI-Water trading / MDF Budget to actual; Sustainable soils field day) - Newsletter 31 March 10
(DPI-Climate variability / Seasonal change in feed value in ryegrass) - Newsletter 32 March 10
(DPI-Employee rights / MID Tracker project update) - Newsletter 33 April 10
(DPI-Feeding Pasture for Profit / Feed conversion efficiency / Sub-surface drip irrigation update / MDF Farm performance) - Newsletter 34 May 10
(DPI-Seasonal reminders; Seasonal change in energy levels in ryegrass; MDF Farm performance) - Newsletter 35 May 10
(DPI-Water auction / MID Tracker update / Margin Over all Feed) - Newsletter 36 July 10
(DPI-Locusts / Grass intake and profitability / Sub-surface drip irrigation season update 2009-10) - Newsletter 37 August 10
(DPI-Humane calf disposal / MDF Budget) - Newsletter 38 August 10
(DPI-Hot issues update / Daily margins for profit / Sub-surface drip irrigation season challenges) - Newsletter 39 September 10
(DPI-Nitrogen strategies / Impact of nitrogen application on feed quality / MDF Farm performance) - Newsletter 40 October 10
(DPI-In calf / Nitrogen fertiliser and gibberellic acid trial) - Newsletter 41 October 10
(DPI-Calf rearing / MDF wins award / Carbon emissions reduction strategies / MDF Farm performance) - Newsletter 42 November 10
(DPI-View from the north / Carbon emissions reduction strategies – dairy energy / MDF Farm performance) - Newsletter 43 December 10
(DPI-Rain and heat / Pasture energy vs dry matter)
Newsletters 2009
- Newsletter 13 January 09
(DPI-Irrigation interval / MDF response to step-down / Sub-surface drip irrigation update) - Newsletter 14 February 09
(DPI-Maximise pasture growth / Sub-surface drip irrigation update / MDF Farm performance) - Newsletter 15 March 09
(DPI-Facial eczema / Effect of heat on milk production / MDF Farm performance) - Newsletter 16 March 09
(DPI-Purchasing water / MDF Farm performance) - Newsletter 17 April 09
(DPI-Dry cow treatment / MDF Farm performance) - Newsletter 18 May 09
(DPI-Maximise winter growth / MDF Mating success / soil tests / Sub-surface drip irrigation costings) - Newsletter 19 June 09
(DPI-Selling colostrum / Sub-surface drip irrigation performance review) - Newsletter 20 June 09
(DPI-Cow condition / MDF Budget / Sub-surface drip irrigation hindsight review) - Newsletter 21 July 09
(DPI-Bobby calf options / MDF mastitis / MDF 2008-09 Farm performance) - Newsletter 22 August 09
- (DPI-Lower milk price management options / Partial budgets)
- Newsletter 23 August 09
(DPI-Time management / MDF Farm performance) - Newsletter 24 September 09
(DPI-Fertiliser decisions / MDF carbon emissions – Impact of CPRS on farm costs / MDF Farm performance) - Newsletter 25 October 09
(DPI-Calf rearing / Laneway rock / MDF Farm performance) - Newsletter 26 November 09
(DPI-Dairy shed water licensing / MDF Farm performance summary 2008-09) - Newsletter 27 November 09
(DPI-Hay quality / Sub-surface drip irrigation moisture profiles / MDF Farm performance) - Newsletter 28 December 09
(DPI-Purchasing water / MID Tracker project)
Newsletters 2008
- Newsletter 1 April 08
(Farm performance) - Newsletter 2 May 08
(Farm performance) - Newsletter 3 May 08
(Fertility / Johnea��s Disease) - Newsletter 4 June 08
(Feed tests / Drying off cows) - Newsletter 5 July 08
(DPI-Calving prep / Johnes Disease / Farm budget) - Newsletter 6 August 08
(DPI-Calf deaths / soil tests / fertiliser application rates) - Newsletter 7 August 08
(DPI-After calving feeding / MDF 2007-08 financial performance) - Newsletter 8 September 08
(DPI-diet balance-protein / MDF Farm performance) - Newsletter 9 October 08
(DPI-Feed budgets / Margin Over All Feed) - Newsletter 10 October 08
(DPI-Fertiliser application with rising prices / MDF Farm performance) - Newsletter 11 November 08
(DPI-Water budgets / MDF calf weights) - Newsletter 12 December 08
(DPI-Water unbundling / Sub-surface drip irrigation update / MDF Farm performance)