Hunter Dairy Development Group

Role/Purpose

The Hunter Dairy Development Group is a farmer based research and development group representing the interests of the local dairy industry. It is supported by the regional dairy development program Dairy NSW and by Dairy Australia, and can apply for funding from dairy industry levies to carry out local research projects and extension activities. It identifies issues of importance to local dairy farmers, and then organises trials or training activities to address these issues. It is also strongly supported by Industry and Investment NSW (formerly Department of Primary Industries), milk processors and agribusiness.
 

Geographic area

The Hunter Dairy Development Group relates to the milk producing areas of Singleton, Denman, Muswellbrook, Aberdeen, Scone, Tamworth, Dubbo and Lower Hunter region of Bulahdelah, Stroud, Dungog, Gresford, Paterson and Maitland areas.
 

Activities


2010-11

  • Nitrogen Trial Tocal
  • Woolworths Sustainable Farming Grant:
    Know Your Manure Project workshops held Gloucester
    Wingham and Macksville and field day at Tocal scheduled for April
  • Women 4 Dairy business management workshop
  • Farm Tour at East Gippsland
  • Communities Caring for Catchments Program:
    Improving soil management on Hunter Valley dairy farms
    Field day in March and later in year
  • Mastitis workshops held at Tocal, Aberdeen, Tamworth
  • Digital Media Exhibition
  • Hunter Dairy Calendar
  • 2010 Dairy Research Foundation Symposium at Camden
  • Survey of farmers in the group to update contact database and to gauge issues currently affecting farmers
  • Future Dairy Project
  • Youth Focus Pilot meeting in Tamworth in March
  • Digital Art Competition in May at Dungog
  • Proposed field day on recycling silage wrap
  • Proposed further trials/demonstration on early planting crops
  • Proposed animal health project for later in year
  • Proposed health check clinic for farmers
  • Proposed Q Fever address to farmers

2009-10

  • Woolworths Sustainable Farming Grant - Know Your Manure Project
  • Fertiliser Trial Tocal
  • Women 4 Dairy Forum held at Melbourne
  • Members Forum held at Sydney
  • Australian Institute of Company Directors Course held at Homebush
  • I&I NSW and Dairy NSW Landcare Australia Ltd project on improving energy efficiency on farms
  • I&I NSW Climate risk management workshops for dairy farmers
  • Top Fodder Course at Tocal
  • Dairy Live Project

 

Regional co-ordinator

Diane Klasen
Email: hddg@pacific.net.au (preferred contact method)
Phone: 02 4930 0201
Mobile: 0409 658 677