Top start for dairy farmers

THIS summer’s cool weather has given most dairy farmers an ideal start to 2015.
Inverloch farmers Rebecca and Glenn Casey said the mild winter helped their crops to grow earlier.
“We recently finished our second cart of silage,” Rebecca said.
“The cattle are doing really well too. They enjoy the sprinklers in the paddocks.”
The cows have not suffered any heat distress as there is yet to be a major period of hot weather.
“It has been better than last season,” Rebecca said.
“It has been a great year for good quality silage, hay and fresher crops since we had a better spring.”
Foster farmer Kevin Jones said the weather has kept his property nice and green.
Mr Jones said the winter in 2013 was too wet for too long, so this summer season has been better.
“We’ve set ourselves up for whatever comes,” he said.
“We have crops to feed the cows to cover all bases.”
The milk prices are good at the moment but are subject to change. Mr Jones hopes to see the season continue the way it is.
The weather has been exceptional for Toora farmer Ray Argento.
“I’m a bit more optimistic this season and hope to see it extended and finished on a high,” he said.
“Last winter was drier than normal and the extended spring has kept the season going.”
Mr Argento said this has been one of the best summer seasons.
Mardan’s Lucas Licciardello said his dairy farm is sitting comfortably at the moment.
“It has all been very positive,” he said.
“Last year we faced a week of solid 40 degree days so this year has been a fair turn around.”
Mr Licciardello said last year’s winter was kinder than the year before, the spring was a lot better and production is up this season.
Mark Nicita from Mardan is pleased with the way the season has turned out as there was early talk farmers would be expecting El Nino.
“Our production is ahead of last season,” he said.
Mr Nicita said it is hard to know what to expect but if the weather worsens, he is prepared to make sure his cattle have plenty of shade and water.
He has been growing crop since mid December and has been able to cut enough silage to get through the rest of the season.
Ross Berryman from Koorooman said conditions were ideal at the moment and although cattle do not enjoy humidity, it has had no negative impact on production.
Mr Berryman said he was a bit nervous about where milk prices will end up, but has been told he will finish at the same place as last year.
He has finished his hay and crop but will still buy hay for the milking cows.
“The year has kicked off well and we aren’t as set back as we were last year,” Mr Berryman said.
“We had a really hot February last year. We do need some warmer weather but at the moment everything is ticking away nicely.”

Ideal conditions: Inverloch farmer Rebecca Casey said the cooler summer and mild winter have created a better farming season than last year.

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Posted by Sarah Vella on Feb 11 2015. Filed under Rural News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry