BestWool/BestLamb and BetterBeef Conferences and Dinner 2024
This event is a partnership between Agriculture Victoria and AWI Extension VIC, supported by Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) and the Australian Government Farm Business Resilience Program.
9.00 am Registration and morning tea
Welcome and conference opening by Dougal Purcell, Chief Executive, Agriculture Victoria
- 9.55 am - Cam Nicholson, Nicon Rural Services, Grazing management - balancing the compromise between plant and animal
- 10.40 am - John Francis, Agrista, Thriving under pressure - are you ready for the challenge
- 11.25 am - Jason Trompf, JT Agrisource, Tim Leeming, Paradoo Prime, Rob Inglis, Elders and Jane Gaussen, The Livestock Vet, Panel Session: Lambing in a late break
12.10 pm Lunch
1.25pm and 2.00pm Concurrent session one - select two out of three sessions
- Bruce Jackson, Vet consultant, Feet health - know your enemy
- Angus, Nick and Phillip Locke, 'FairyView' Hollbrook, Early lambing makes life easy, what does it do to profit - a farmer's perspective
- Jess Revell, Rumenate Livestock Services, Unravelling the growth challenges of weaners on green pasture
2.40pm and 3.20pm Concurrent session two - select two out of three sessions
- Jason Trompf, JT Agrisource, More live lambs from ewe lambs - key messages relating to merino and maternal ewe lambs
- Charlie de Fegely, Quamby, Targets and trigger points - driving optimisation of a prime lame system (producer case study)
- Emily King, AWI and Dr Sarah Weaver, University of Adelaide - Bioharvesting - what's the latest?
4.00 pm Mark Ferguson, neXtgen Agri, Flocks of the future - the role of artificial intelligence
4.40 pm Closing Message
6.00 pm Pre-Dinner Drinks and Canapes. 7.30 pm Conference Dinner
Keynote Speaker - Beau Vernon
Thursday 20 June
7.45 am Registration
8.30 am Welcome and conference opening by Kate Linden, Director, Agriculture Services, Agriculture Victoria
- 8.45 am - Angus Gidley-Baird, Rabobank, Domestic and global beef market update - opportunities and challenges ahead for beef producers
- 9.30 am - John Francis, Agrista, Growing the farm - how to prioritise internal investments for profitability and sustainable growth
- 10.15 am - Alison Kelly, Chair, Agriculture Victoria, Prof. Richard Eckard, University of Melbourne and Jess Loughland, HW Greenham, Angus Gidley-Baird, Rabobank, Nick Allen, Mortlake Beef Producer. Panel session: Reducing emissions in the supply chain - what it means for producers
11.00 am Morning Tea
11.30 am and 12.10 pm Concurrent session one - select two out of three sessions
- John Francis, Agrista, Getting back to basics - staying profitable under pressure
- Dr Jillian Kelly, AHN Consulting, Rumen modification - getting the balance right. Rumen modification for production outcomes.
- Lisa Miller, Southern Farming Systems, Building blocks of growth - strategies for bolstering soil nitrogen levels
12.45 pm Lunch
1.45 pm and 2.25 pm Concurrent session two - select two out of three sessions
- Mike Stephens, Meridian Agriculture, Farm succession made easier - identifying blockages and pathways around them
- Cam Nicholson, Nicon Rural Services, The challenge with getting animal demand and pasture requirements to align
- Jake Phillips, Angus Australia, Latest developments in genomic technologies for commercial beef producers
3.05 pm Mark Ferguson, neXtgen Agri, Cattle, complexity and change
4.00 pm Closing message by Kate Linden at 4.00 pm