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Hello everyone,
I have been amazed at some of the newspaper articles that have been =
written about the lack of increased milk production lately.
Reading said articles one would think that green grass was up to the =
tops of the fences across the whole of the State. Just because one part =
of the State is having a booming season it doesn't mean that the rest is =
in the same boat. On our farm we a struggling to survive our nineth year =
in a row with below average rainfall.
In 2005 we recorded 757mm which is the lowest in the 19 years we have =
been here. The 19 year average is 1056mm, the first 9 years average was =
1145mm and the last 10 years av. 975.
There is absolutely no way that we could increase production with these =
weather conditions. Our farm is mostly red soil and for the last 4 years =
we have had to buy in all feed from Christmas through to May. This last =
spring is the first time in 4 generations that no silage or hay was =
made.=20
If there is no good autumn break this year we will be joining all our =
neighbours and nearly all others within a 5km radius and throw the =
towell in.
I don't think that Dairy Australia realises that when then next down =
turn in prices comes that we will probably see the biggest exit from the =
industry ever. There are a number of farmers in the 55+ age bracket who =
are only still milking because we like the job. There again I might just =
sell out and move to another, hopefully wetter area.
What are other areas of Gippy like re rainfall?
Regards,
David Clayton
Warragul =
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<BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Hello everyone,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I have been amazed at some of the =
newspaper=20
articles that have been written about the lack of increased milk =
production=20
lately.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Reading said articles one would think =
that green=20
grass was up to the tops of the fences across the whole of the State. =
Just=20
because one part of the State is having a booming season it doesn't mean =
that=20
the rest is in the same boat. On our farm we a struggling to survive our =
nineth=20
year in a row with below average rainfall.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>In 2005 we recorded 757mm which is the =
lowest in=20
the 19 years we have been here. The 19 year average is 1056mm, the first =
9 years=20
average was 1145mm and the last 10 years av. 975.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>There is absolutely no way that we =
could=20
increase production with these weather conditions. Our farm is mostly =
red soil=20
and for the last 4 years we have had to buy in all feed from Christmas =
through=20
to May. This last spring is the first time in 4 generations that no =
silage or=20
hay was made. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>If there is no good autumn break this =
year we will=20
be joining all our neighbours and nearly all others within a 5km radius =
and=20
throw the towell in.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I don't think that Dairy Australia =
realises that=20
when then next down turn in prices comes that we will probably see the =
biggest=20
exit from the industry ever. There are a number of farmers in the 55+ =
age=20
bracket who are only still milking because we like the job. There again =
I might=20
just sell out and move to another, hopefully wetter area.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>What are other areas of Gippy like re=20
rainfall?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Regards,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>David Clayton</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial =
size=3D2>Warragul</FONT> </DIV></BODY></HTML>
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