Newsletter Archive

Newsletter Archive for newsletters prior to September 2018

Our Publications page is regularly updated, so return here each month to download our newsletters, information sheets and annual reports.

Newsletters 2018

(The Solar Dairy Project – Nearly done and Field Day notice for October 10th 2018; MDF AGM & Dairy Industry Forum and Dinner October 23rd 2018; Call for Nominations for MDF Directors; Call for Nominations for RF (Bob) Pitman Award; Extension of the VTYeast Trial for a 300-day lactation; Farewell Rachael Finch – You leave with our thanks; Milk fever – MDF Trials Animate this season; Pasture in the zone – Calculating Readily Available Water (RAW); Season 2017-18 … Another strong performance; Have you renewed your LPA accreditation yet?; MDF Demonstrating Dairy Futures Forum – What’s been happening since?)

(The Solar Dairy Project on the move; Is yeast the answer? – Feeding trial final report; Extension of the VTYeast Trial for a 300-day lactation; Smarter Irrigation Project Outcomes; Johnes Disease – MDF response to managing the disease following Government changes; MDF Demonstrating Dairy Futures Forum – You told us what you want the MDF to be; MDF works with Wellington Shire on the silage wrap problem; We’ve got a new Gator!)

(Smarter Irrigation Project Field Day; Is yeast the answer? VTYeast Trial Field Day; We’re looking for a Farm Hand; Mid-season production and financial review; Theileria – Reducing the impact at the MDF; The Solar Dairy Project; MDF hosts Nepalese delegation; Farm Consultant Matt Harms is moving on; MDF – Open for Business!)

Newsletters 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)

(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)

(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

 

Newsletters 2011

 

Newsletters 2010

 

Newsletters 2009

 

Newsletters 2008


hits

      • 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)