PLENTY of action on dairy in political circles saw 60 farmers and affiliated industry representatives attend Western Dairy's Spring Forum in Busselton recently to find out what is happening.
Western Dairy team members Esther Jones, Kirk Reynolds, Ya-Chun Yu, Dan Parnell, Rob La Grange and Janelle Bowles reported on local projects, while visitors Pieter Badenhorst, from Agriculture Victoria's Hamilton research station where the world's largest pasture field trials are taking place, and Dairy Australia's new animal health and fertility specialist Stephanie Bullen, on antimicrobial stewardship, added technical interest.
Dairy Australia director and Victorian dairy farmer Tania Luckin opened the forum and answered questions later with Dairy Australia's farm profit and capability group leader Peter Johnson.
Australian Dairy Farmers' strategy and policy director Craig Hough reported on the senate inquiry into Dairy Australia's funding and independence and the profitability of dairy farmers, the proposed mandatory dairy industry code of conduct coming early next year and the industry's own Dairy Plan being finalised under former Victorian premier John Brumby.