EARLY productivity payments are part of an aid package available to all Murray Goulburn farmers affected by the recent floods.

In northern Victoria last week, MG managing director Gary Helou said the assistance package also included leeway on milk quality levels for the period following the flood, doubling of the provision of interest-free finance to affected farm businesses and the availability of "additional trading terms" at MG Trading stores for items such as pasture seed.

Technology update

TECHNOLOGY will be the topic of discussion at Warrnambool and Cobden next month.

Tech 4 Dairy on April 16 will offer information about a small sample of technologies for dairy farmers and a taste of what will be offered at the major Young Dairy Development Program Milk it 4 More Expo.

Dairy Australia InCalf project leader Barry Zimmerman will outline the latest developments in the national project for improving dairy herd fertility with a farm focus on management to get cows in calf as soon as mating starts.

To help farmers improve herd fertility, InCalf has resources for key management areas: transition management, bull management, heifer growth, heat detection and artificial insemination.

Dairy analyst Steve Spencer will explain the Sustainable Milk Production Simulator. Dairy Futures Co-operative Research Centre chief executive Dr David Nation will outline the latest technology and bio-sciences.