Day 1 - Tuesday 10th August

1:45pm

Welcome

Session 1 - "Agriculture for the Future"

2:00pm

What Consumers Want

Mick Keogh, Australian Farm Institute

A candid view of how consumers influence supply and where the demands will lead in the future. This session highlights the importance of the whole supply chain.

Purpose for Profit, Profit for Purpose

Jack Barclay, CRF (Colac Otway) Pty Ltd

Jack will provide some insights into supply chain management. CRF focus on processing lamb for domestic and export markets. The business recently developed an export marketing arm, Bathsheba Oak, which enabled business growth.

  3:00pm

Afternoon Tea & Trade Fair

Session 2 - "Practical Grazing Syst"

3:30pm

Integrated System

Stephen Poole, Producer, Wedderburn

Hear about integrated farm systems, incorporating cropping, sheep and lucerne. Stephen is a mixed farmer where all enterprises are run in one operation. Be inspired by what is achieved with this successful farming business.

Holistic System

David Marsh, Producer, Boorowa

Holistic management enabled the Marsh Family to get through the dry years. This approach to management has given David a positive outlook and has changed the way he makes decisions. Hear about how they put ecologically, socially and economically sound strategies in place.

Adapting the System

Suzy Martin, Producer, Tatong

Suzy with her husband Jim have developed a 400 cow Angus seed stock herd on their farm between Tatong and Swanpool. They have worked to survive maintain and adapt their system over the drought years to create flexibility that allows changes within the system. Suzy will share insights into what they put in place and the thinking behind it.

Day 2 - Wednesday 11th August

8:30am

 Welcome

Session 3 - Managing Seasonal Choices - Sponsored by MLA

Technology for Change

Charlie de Fegely Producer, Ararat

Managing Seasonal Changes

Daryl Hoey Dairy Farmer, Katunga

Matching Seasonal Productivity

Anthony Leddin, Valley Seeds

Morning Tea & Trade Fair

Concurrent workshops - choose a theme

SOILS

Practical Applications with Carbon

Jennifer Hawking, Producer and Nuffield Scholar, Finley

Highlighting some farm management options for reducing emissions and improving carbon sequestration.

Sub Soil Working for You

Dr Peter Sale, LaTrobe University

Weighing the benefits and costs of sub soil manuring, how do the figures stack up?

Fertilisers in Farming Systems

Dr Chris Dorahy, Ableblue Consulting

Understanding soil and plant nutrient requirements and inputs to meet these needs. This session will look at some of the considerations around alternative fertilisers.

ANIMALS

National Numbers

Jason Trompf, LaTrobe University

What are the predictions for sheep and beef numbers and what are the implications for the future?

Pastures for Purpose

Dr Ralph Behrendt, Department of Primary Industries

Understanding requirements for livestock production systems. What is extra feed worth at different times in the season?

Maternal Productivity

Tom Bull, Lambpro

How important is ewe efficiency and lamb survival and what is the impact on the bottom line?

PLANTS

Grazing Cereal Crops

Don Kirkpatrick, Upper Murray Seeds

Develop an understanding of how grazing cereal crops can complement traditional grazing systems.

Managing Natives

Ian Loche, Producer, Holbrook

In every good farm system is a range of forages. This session will explore incorporating native grasses.

Complementary Forages for Perennial Ryegrass Systems

Catherine Lescun, 30/30 Project

Creating flexibility within the system using complementary forages.

BUS TOURS

Tour 1

"Managing Pastures for Climate Change"

This tour focuses on improving farm profitability through improved sowing and management of perennial pastures. Firstly visit some demonstration sites that showcase paddock preparation, weed control, fertiliser, sowing and grazing management options that will ensure successful establishement. Then visit Judy and Chris Griffiths at Bowmans Forest. Here the focus is increasing the productivity of native pastures while retaining the density of the desirable native species.

Tour 2

"Diversified Systems"

Take a short drive to Russell Ellis's property where pasture cropping is part of the management system. Hear how the integrated system is used, the benefits and the drawbacks. Peter White from the Riverine Plains Group will also be onsite to share insights and experiences with pasture cropping, fertiliser and managing farm systems. A highlight of the tour is the local Grain and Graze site to discuss how cropping is successfully integrated with grazing systems.

Tour 3

"Pasture and Livestock"

Visit the award winning Organic Dairy and sheep property "Avondale" at Springhurst. The Humphry family have been refining their biological mixed farming system (dairy, fine wool, beef and cropping), where restoring health and structure of their soils have led to significant improvements in yields and animal health. Then Jenny Anderson will provide insights into the very successful Rutherglen Premium Lamb, discover the benefits of value adding and marketing. The final stop at Rutherglen Research Institute, will prove very informative with a closer look at feed efficiency with Nick Linden.

Tour 4

"Beef, Pasture and a Little Lamb"

Stop one will take you on an inspirational tour of the Inchbold's mixed farming operation. The business fatures a cropping enterprise, a self-replacing commercial beef herd and a number of diversifications including an opportunity feedlot, an Angus stud, grain storage, export oaten hay production. Then visit the Trompf farm at Greta with a commercial self replacing Angus herd and prime lamb flock. Tying these exceptional enterprises together is the pasture base. A move towards annuals, particularly the highly productive early season varieties to allow pasture manipulation with different stock classes to optimise pasture and livestock production.

Tour 5

"Value Adding the Business"

This tour provides a unique opportunity to see behind the scenes at Brown Brother's Winery, a highlight is tasting some of their finest products, however the real focus is business growth, the future and marketing. Then move onto the Milawa cheese factory for some more product sampling. Again it is a unique opportunity to discuss how the business has grown, developing products, marketing and value adding. This tour will really focus on some of the strategic aspects of agricultural businesses as well as supply chain management.

5:30pm

Buses Return

Sipcam Pacific Australia ~ Annual Conference Dinner

"GLOBAL SOLUTIONS - LOCAL FLAVOURS

Featuring Murray Hartin - Renowned Poet and Author of the poem "Turbulance"

Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre

Day 3 - Thursday 12th August

7:30am

Grasslands Breakfast - Sponspored by Vic Seeds

Control of Weeds in Pastures

Nicholas Tydens, Sipcam Pacific Australia

An update on a new product being developed for the control of broadleaf weeds in legume based pastures.

Session 5 - Adaptive Farm Systems

8:45am

What's with the Weather?

Graeme Anderson, Department of Primary Industries

Fine Tune Grazing Systems

Martin Dunstan, Department of Primary Industries

Gain some insight into the impacts of, and responses to climate variability. What is driving our weather patterns and will this change in the future? How will the grazing industries be affected? Can we increase production efficiency while reducing greenhouse gas emissions?

9:45am

GSSA - Annual General Meeting

9:55am - Morning Tea & Trade Fair

10:30am

Scientific Soap Box

11:20am

Beef Networking - Department of Primary Industries

11:30am

Monitoring to Succeed

Ken Solly, Agribusiness Consultant

Ken will share his knowledge on the best ways to monitor the farm business to ensure productivity and profitability into the future. Breaking down the costs of red meat production will be a major part of the talk. Ken will also help bring the big picture issues back to the farm gate.

Farmers do more than Grow Food

Julian Cribb, Julian Cribb & Associates

A thought provoking address on the grazing industrys role in the global good challenge. "As I see it, the challenge is to double world food output by 2050 using less land, far less water and fewer nutrients. And we need to do it sustainably." Julian Cribb.

12:45pm

Closing Remarks - Hannah Marriott

Lunch & Trade Fair