July edition of WestVic Dairy News - out now!

WestVic Dairy News – July 2022 is now available to read online.

This edition features Great South West Dairy Awards Employee Award winner Liz Mackley, sharing her journey from 'Print to Pasture'. Her inspiring story shows that anyone with a passion for the dairy industry can develop a very promising career, with some hard work and lots of learning along the way.

Furthermore, a number of challenges facing the dairy industry locally and nationwide are covered.

Lead Regional Extension Officer Libby Swayn provides an introduction to blue green algae blooms, the conditions that may lead to them and some steps farmers can take to protect local waterways. Meanwhile, IT Manager for Dairy Australia, Damian Harrison, provides a valuable overview of how farmers can protect their farming businesses from cybercrime. Useful tools, tips and resources are provided.

Regional Extension Officer for Animal Health and Performance, Debbie Twiss discusses the serious threats posed to the Australian dairy industry by Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD). Details of what to look out for accompany photos showing lesions in FMD and LSD infected stock.

On a lighter note, this edition welcomes three staff members, including Melissa Humphries - Administration Coordinator, Danielle Nipe - Dairy Australia’s Farm Plastics Recycling Trial Coordinator, and Michelle Seabrook (nee Muir) who returns to her role as Regional Extension Officer (Workforce) after some time enjoyed at home on maternity leave.

Find out how to book your tickets to the South West Dairy Ladies' Luncheon and read about how the Our Farm, Our Plan program has helped farmers Luke Harris & Maddy LeBlanc move towards their goals.

Additionally, for a fascinating insight into 'Dairying Overseas', Career Development Coordinator Jim Burrell shares his experience working in Pakistan. In his role as Manager of Community Farms, he had a 'whole of country brief', which offered the opportunity to travel extensively while supporting dairy farms that were spread across the length and breadth of the country. Dairying was certainly done differently, making this article a very interesting read.

This newsletter also contains the WestVic Dairy Focus Farm reports, which can be found on the final page.