As we prepare for what will hopefully be a bountiful silage and hay season, signs of very dry conditions are already playing out in the northern regions of Australia.
Now might be a good time to revisit our bushfire plans in the event of an El Niño summer; the CFA website has a very useful template that prompts preparation.
It’s been a busy social calendar in the south-west with another amazing Ladies Lunch presented to a sell-out crowd, Myf Warhurst reminiscing about her country childhood and the terrific panel session hosted by Belinda and Carol Doolan talking all things ice-cream with the incredible Caroline Simmons from Timboon Fine Ice-cream.
Whether you’re a local or a visitor, a trip to Timboon is always a great idea, and the ice-cream highly recommended!
The WestVic Dairy Young Dairy Network held its annual Trivia Night at Noorat, with many thanks to local legends — Gary Ross as MC and quizmaster Jason Smith.
Not only a great social night, the event raised much-needed funds for BlazeAid and Need for Feed, two charities very close to every farmer’s heart.
Congratulations to all the people who help make these events so successful — and the team at WestVic Dairy are a very big contributor!
I spend an awful lot of time in the car, and have been taking full advantage by listening to podcasts.
Obviously I’m not the only one — Australia officially leads the world when it comes to podcast listening.
I particularly valued the Humans of Agriculture four-part Carbon Shortcut series with Professor Richard Eckard. I’ve even replayed them to pick up the bits I missed the first time!
We also have a south-west local, Chloe Brown, creating an informative and entertaining series of stories on the More Than Milk podcast — featuring stories of the farmers and industry professionals that showcase the diversity, challenges, successes and the passion for all things dairy. (You can read about Chloe on page 6 in the main section of this edition of Dairy News Australia.)
Check these podcasts out — it’s a neat way of learning on the run.
Spring also means annual meeting season. The WestVic AGM will be held on October 17, and our Annual Report together with our new Strategic Plan will be available.
Both documents will also be on the website for ready access.
We will be welcoming new directors to the board, so watch our communication channels for announcements.
My thanks to Brad Collins, who has completed his term on the board, for his candid and enthusiastic commitment to WestVic over the past three years.
Jacqui Suares is the WestVic Dairy chair.
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