THE Department of Primary Industries has reminded dairy farmers to book a milking machine check in the next few months.

One example of a pulsator check-up showed several were not working correctly and the cows' quarters were being incorrectly milked out.

The resulting damage to the teat-end, plus incomplete milking out, could have led to mastitis breakouts and possible unintended culling of stock.

The DPI advised that farmers plan to book an accredited machine tester to come and check the plant when the cows are out or their herd numbers are down.

Australia's top milkers

DAIRY Business of the Year entries are open.

Ten regional winners and three farm system winners each receive $1200 cash prize while a supreme winner is announced at an awards dinner later in the year and presented with a $6000 cash prize.

All finalists get free entry to the Dairy Business of the Year seminar and awards ceremony.

  • Phone, 1800 733 759.

Funding opportunities

THE Gardiner Foundation is calling for applications for this year's round of funding worth $3.26 million.

Funding will be offered in four streams, $1.75 million has been allocated to the innovation program, projects about design, adoption of new science, technology, products and services, with up to $750,000 available for individual projects. Up to $710,000 is allocated for projects about dairy communities and people development.

Another $300,000 has been committed in an application to the Australian Research Council's Linkage scheme for the proposal selected as delivering the most impact to the dairy industry.