IT’S now two years since Terry and Shannon Blasche swapped the warmth of northern NSW for the, let’s say, seasonal conditions of south-west Victoria. During that short time a lot has changed on the farm they now call home at Jancourt East.

THE annual Dairy Farm Monitor report has revealed that in 2021-22 Victoria’s dairy farmers experienced the fourth best financial returns since the project began 16 years ago. Despite this, and a strong 2022/23 opening price, milk production continues to decline across the region.

INSPIRED by an ABC program on waste – Willie Van Niekerk saw a real need to help address the waste problem. That of course, was the start of an incredible four-year journey, that has brought Willie to recycling milk bottles and tops into furniture and fence droppers.

WITH wet conditions and flooding across the district, it has been a slow start to the silage season.

ANIMAL welfare is critically important but, after reading the Plan for Victoria’s new animal care and protection laws, I am terrified that this is a complete power grab – being pushed through quickly and quietly, before anyone has a chance to stop it. Rarely, in my opinion, have I ever seen such a blatant and over-riding plan put forward to control animal farming.

A letter from the publisher, Richard Beks.

MEAT and Livestock Australia (MLA) is predicting a rise in herd numbers on the back of lower female slaughter rates and positive bull sale results.

DEMODAIRY Foundation’s new chair, Andrea Vallance, wants more people to access the Foundation’s funds to help them advance in the industry.

SOUTH-WEST dairy farmers put their thinking caps on and their general knowledge to the test at the WestVic Dairy Young Dairy Network (YDN) Trivia Night on Friday, September 2.

WOMEN in dairying recently came together for the popular annual South West Dairy Ladies’ Luncheon in Warrnambool.