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Help for our dairy farmers and their cows
There certainly is light at the end of the financial tunnel for dairy farmers but many are still finding the going incredibly difficult. I’m a tough old stick but there have been times in the last few...
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The business of dairy farming and what that means for our “stock”
I don’t like to use the word “stock” when it comes to cows. The connotation is that they are simply economic units. Yes, we do rely on their milk for our living but, no, they are not simply the...
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How we nearly lost “Papa” this Father’s Day
Today started well with freshly-baked ginger biscuits and special gifts wrapped with far too much sticky tape but almost ended with tragedy. Wayne was guiding a calf out from among the herd towards the...
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MG makes its move
I used to think of our co-op as a bit like the ABC: your favourite aunty. Comfortable, dowdy, trustworthy and a little quirky. But Aunty MG has undergone a transformation. Since it acquired a new CEO,...
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It’s late
The story of Cliffy Young has just finished on the tele but Wayne is still slogging through his own ultra-marathon at the dairy. It’s 10pm and it’s been a tough day that started at 5am. As I was...
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A brush with fire
It’s all a little surreal. We are still being urged to take shelter from a fast-moving bushfire but the cows are in for the evening milking and the kids are watching Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom....
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Dairy pawn
These days, I feel a little like a chess piece; more pawn than queen. The Australian federal government has rushed into a free trade agreement with Japan that does next-to-nothing to help Aussie dairy...
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Watch a calf being born
Although we keep an eagle eye over cows as they approach calving time, most give birth perfectly naturally without any help from us just like this lovely lady. Her calf was up and walking within the...
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A lunchtime punt on the farm
What a wonderful day to go boating! “Nice? It’s the only thing,” said the Water Rat solemnly, as he leaned forward for his stroke. “Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing — absolutely nothing...
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Social media campaign to support a ‘fair go’ China FTA
The Kiwis already have one. We need one too and Aussie dairy farmers are calling on people power to win it next Monday. A free trade agreement with China is the difference between being truly...
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Isn’t doing the right thing good enough?
I am itching to watch an industry sustainability promo that stands apart courtesy of three missing words: “billion”, “economy” and “jobs”. A discussion about sustainability should be like a love story:...
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Milking in a snake pit
In the midst of a wild storm that pelted the farm with hailstones the size of Maltesers, Wayne texted me a photo from the dairy. That was unusual. I only ever get texts from the dairy when there’s been...
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When Old Macdonald retires, who should own the farm?
Him (distracted by his new iPhone 6): A litre of milk, please. Me: That’s $1.20, thanks. Him: $1.20? No way, I can’t afford that. We go through four litres of milk a week. I’ll get it at $1.00 down the...
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Why the system is broken
The interaction between processors and farmers is bizarre to outsiders. The way it works is this: Out of a handful of processors in the district, you ask one to collect your milk, although, if you’re...
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The big opportunity for MG, the last big co-op
To many dairy farmers, Murray Goulburn is much more than a milk processor. It’s their co-op. I know, it was my co-op too. For the record, our farm had always been a dairy co-op member for generations,...
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Time to wisen up on water
When it comes to survival here on the farm, the three things with the potential to make or break are: Our health Mother Nature The milk price I only truly understood the health thing and the worst...
View ArticleWatch a calf being born
Although we keep an eagle eye over cows as they approach calving time, most give birth perfectly naturally without any help from us just like this lovely lady. Her calf was up and walking within the...
View ArticleA lunchtime punt on the farm
What a wonderful day to go boating! “Nice? It’s the only thing,” said the Water Rat solemnly, as he leaned forward for his stroke. “Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing — absolutely nothing...
View ArticleSocial media campaign to support a ‘fair go’ China FTA
The Kiwis already have one. We need one too and Aussie dairy farmers are calling on people power to win it next Monday. A free trade agreement with China is the difference between being truly...
View ArticleIsn’t doing the right thing good enough?
I am itching to watch an industry sustainability promo that stands apart courtesy of three missing words: “billion”, “economy” and “jobs”. A discussion about sustainability should be like a love story:...
View Article
