User Profile

Geoff Adams

Geoff is rural group editor for McPherson Media Group and confesses to being a failed dairy farmer, having grown up on the farm at Rochester. He enjoys visiting farms, taking photos and sharing the odd story about "the old days", milking 60 cows, riding the chestnut mare and raising calves for my brother.

Dairy industry steps up its response to COVID-19

Dairy farmers are wrestling with unprecedented new staff management restrictions and sorting out new guidelines for farm visits from vets to milk tankers, as the coronavirus threat increases. Although farms are classified as essential industries...

Geoff Adams

Lobbying vets get their wish

The Australian Veterinary Association is lobbying governments to ensure vets are classified as essential service providers. Vets are seeking assurances they can continue to provide animal health services in the event of any restrictions or national...

Geoff Adams

Aust Government Coronavirus restrictions

Non-essential gatherings The Australian government is suspending non-essential gatherings to reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus (COVID-19). This will give both businesses and people time to fully understand social distancing requirements. The...

Geoff Adams

G-MW closes offices

Goulburn-Murray Water (GMW) has closed its main office at Tatura, and other regional offices in the face of the Coronavirus outbreak. G-MW said it is implementing additional precautions so they can continue to make sure customers have the support...

Geoff Adams

Connections written off in new report

The Sefton report into socio-economic impacts in the Murray-Darling Basin appears to write-off outcomes of the northern Victorian Connections program. The draft report says: “There is little evidence of the outcomes of off-farm infrastructure...

Geoff Adams

No comment from minister

Federal Water Minister Keith Pitt has welcomed the completion of the new Sefton report, but has not answered questions put to him by Country News.

Geoff Adams

Extra water can’t be achieved: Drum

The new Sefton report on the Murray-Darling Basin Plan points to the difficulty in delivering the extra, 450 Gl of upwater, Federal Member for Nicholls Damian Drum believes.

Geoff Adams

From the independent panel’s basin report:

“When speaking about water recovery, many people told us the reduction in the water available in the consumptive pool exacerbates the effects of drought and climate change. “They noted it removes a buffer to drought conditions, and...

Geoff Adams

Business as usual at Katandra West

While panic buying has created some temporary milk shortages in retail outlets, the cows are still coming into the dairy at Laurie and Gayle Clark’s Katandra West farm. The couple milks about 540 cows on the 250 ha home block, with the...

Geoff Adams

Farmers worry about labour shortage

Australian farmers are facing a labour shortage and are worried about who will harvest crops amid a ban on foreigners entering the country.

Geoff Adams

Don’t panic, urges VFF

While panic buying has hit some Australian supermarkets, the VFF has moved to reassure consumers that Victorians will not run out of food. VFF leader David Jochinke said he understood there was some panic and fear due to the caronavirus outbreak but...

Geoff Adams

Milk production decline halted

Milk production in Victoria has shown some signs of recovery, according to the latest report on the state of the national dairy industry. While northern Victorian farmers are paying up to $600/Ml for water and and north-eastern Victorian farmers...

Geoff Adams

VFF alarmed extra water take still on the table

A further water grab is still on the table, following a new report on the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, the VFF has pointed out. The farmer body has expressed disappointment that the 450 Gl of upwater was not rejected by the report into economic...

Geoff Adams

Basin plan hit for a six

A new report on the Murray-Darling Basin Plan has called for a slowing down of water recovery in a bid to address socio-economic impacts on rural communities and to save costs. The report, conducted by an independent panel, is critical of...

Geoff Adams

Rivers in crisis

National Party MPs have drawn attention to the failure of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan to protect the environment while causing major socio-economic impacts on communities in the region.

Geoff Adams

Mission to DJs

Let me tell you a funny story about how old Colin nearly killed his saintly old grandma. Accidentally, of course. It came about because I was charged with taking the frail old duck into the city as she wanted a new dress for her 80th birthday party...

Geoff Adams

Murray Dairy workshops cancelled

Workshops planned by Murray Dairy have been cancelled due to the Caronavirus outbreak.

Geoff Adams

Finley cattle price hike

Finley cattle prices soared to a record price last week as the effect of recent rains in northern Australia began to have an impact. The top lot, a Limousin cross heifer, offered by Adrian and Pieta Smith from Jindalee, Deniliquin, sold for...

Geoff Adams