Building drought resilience on the Atherton Tablelands
eastAUSmilk’s project team has been delivering the Farm Business Resilience Program assisting dairy farmers across Queensland develop business plans to improve drought resilience.
Late in 2021, Bill Hamilton, a dairy farmer located in Ravenshoe, North Queensland started developing his business plan identifying increased labour demands, water and feed security as his main farm risk during a drought. Bill runs a certified biodynamic dairy farm milking on average 110 Brown Swiss and Jersey cows across 334 acres with an annual production of 500,000L.
The development of a business resilience plan identified a priority list to improve overall farm preparedness and resilience. In the case of a drought, feed and water security was highlighted as a priority area for Bill. The focus for his business was to increase his total irrigatable area on farm by expanding his current solid set from 20 acres to 50 acres.
Investing into additional sprinklers has increased feed security on farm. Solid set has high water use efficiency where water is evenly distributed across the paddock improving pasture yields and consistency throughout the paddock.
Bill was successful in obtaining a 25% grant for the project cost through the Drought Preparedness Grant (DPG). The irrigation has been utilised over their dry season to maintain pasture production for the milking herd. On average, milk production sits at 14L/cow/d and with the irrigation he has been able to maintain this level of production without the need to supplement fodder.
His next steps are to expand the hay shed on the dairy block from 40 bale to a 120 bale capacity to improve feed security and labour demands during a drought, also partially funded by the DPG. Extra shed capacity will allow Bill to feed bank fodder in preparation for a drought and minimise the risk of spoilage from the humidity and rainfall commonly found in the region.
The farm business resilience program provides great benefits for Queensland dairy farmers - contact Jade for help to access it.
Jade Chan – eastAUSmilk Project Officer
Taking time out for technology
eastAUSmilk held a succession of workshops across the Southeast Corner last month as part of the Dairy Farmers Technology Uptake Program, funded by the Queensland government’s Backing Bush Communities Fund. The first day of workshops started out in the Scenic Rim near Roadvale, venturing up to Esk then across to Pinelands, North of Toowoomba. Warwick was next on the list, finishing up the workshop with a tour and walk around Rob Stewart’s farm. The workshops finished at Gympie looking at automation and monitoring systems within Barb Gear’s dairy.
John van Bergen from Jantec Systems was welcomed along to speak about his herd monitoring systems, dairy shed automation and automated grain feeders. He was able to discuss with each farmer the individual benefits a farm could gain from each bit of technology and how it could be tailored to their systems and integration with heat detection systems. A big focus was on the mechanisms of the CellSense, the somatic cell count monitoring system, which has a benefit to farm managers who aren’t always in the milking parlour.
Farmers were also advised on the different grant opportunities in relation to on-farm technology improvements opening over the next few months. eastAUSmilk was also offering grants via the Backing Bush Communities Fund to improve technology uptake with a successful first round of grants being completed. Farm businesses were able to acquire grants for improving internet connection around farm, upgrading radio towers on irrigation systems, adding extra collars or heat detection units on a current system, autodrafting systems and autosteering. Round two has closed with similar projects proposed by interested farmers to improve labour demand for jobs, herd health and overall business efficiencies.
eastAUSmilk will also be visiting North Queensland to host two more workshops in the last week of November, dates to be announced.
Jade Chan, eastAUSmilk Project Officer
Dairy farmer grants available to improve technology uptake on farm
EastAUSmilk has been successful in securing funding through the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries to improve technology uptake on the dairy farm. The first round of grants for the Dairy Farmers Technology Uptake Program (DFTUP) has closed, offering 25% of total tech cost up to a maximum of $15,000 ex GST, per dairy business.
There are two parts to the program, multiple information and training workshops in each dairying region, and provision of financial assistance for technology uptake. The program aims to increase knowledge and adoption of technology to improve labour efficiencies as well as cow health, welfare and fertility. The dates for workshops and training sessions will be announced soon. However, if there is a particular technology you are interested in and want to learn more about, please get in touch.
Grants available to eligible dairy farmers in Queensland which includes eligible items such as:
Autodrafting gates
Automated feeding systems
Cup removers
Auto calf feeders
Drones (spray or fertiliser)
Heat detection collars or ear tags
Precision technology
Mobile app upgrades and towers
Somatic cell count sensors/ in-line SSC detectors
Businesses in general are struggling with labour shortages with businesses located in rural or regional areas, facing bigger challenges due to lack of population density and accessibility. Mechanisation or technology investments on farm looks to not only improve labour efficiencies resulting in less time demanded per job but also improve decision making and enhance business planning.
The addition of technology on farm can provide additional benefits which includes improved herd health management and monitoring. Automated calf feeders, for example, reduce labour and improves overall welfare for the calf, with the option to tailor feeding rates per calf but also maintaining optimal hygiene of the equipment.
Jade Chan, eastAUSmilk Project Officer
Invisible Dangers after a Flood
It seems like we can’t catch a break, first the fires, then the drought and now floods. Farmers have been affected all around South East Queensland and North East NSW where there is a big clean-up job and damage assessments underway. However, these wet and humid conditions that follow a flood event are the ideal environments for bacterial diseases to thrive posing a risk to yourself as well as staff who are assisting with clean up.
In previous floods the rates of Leptospirosis, Melioidosis and mosquito borne viruses (Ross River, Barmah Forest virus etc) increase. Incubation periods are 5-15 days for Leptospirosis, 1-21 days for melioidosis and 2-15 for mosquito borne viruses although symptoms can present up to 30 days after.
Symptoms include:
Leptospirosis – flu like symptoms, red eyes, stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, cough, yellowing of skin and eyes, skin rash
Melioidosis – Fever, pain/swelling, chest pain, headache, stomach pain, joint pain, all depending on where the infection is present
Mosquito Borne Virus - headache, fever, joint or muscle pain, skin rash, fatigue and nausea
Minimising your risk:
Cover cuts and abrasions,
Wear gloves where possible and wash hands thoroughly before eating, drinking and/or smoking
Shower thoroughly after contacting contaminated floodwaters, soil and mud
Application of insect repellent, especially dawn & dusk; wearing loose, light coloured clothing
Use respiratory protection (P2 or higher) if possible to minimise melioidosis infection
Various Government and Non-government assistance is available and the list continues to grow for those who are affected by the floodwaters.
Government:
Disaster recovery payment - $1000 per person, $400 per child under 16 for eligible LGA’s
Emergency hardship assistance grants - $180 per person, $900 for families of 5+ persons
Extraordinary Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants - $75,000 for flood affected producers
Disaster assistance loans – Up to $250,000 for 10 years
Not for profit:
Rural aid – financial aid, fodder, farm army and counselling
Lions NEED4FEED – assistance with emergency fodder
Drought Angels – financial support and farm assistance
BlazeAid – resurrecting fences and clean up
Please feel free to contact with the team at eastAUSmilk on 07 3236 2955 or Jade on 0437 923 398 if you need any assistance with application forms, resources and/or want to register for BlazeAid to come to your property to help with fencing.
Jade Chan – Project Officer eastAUSmilk