The National Fodder Conference is coming to Victoria.

AUSTRALIA’S leading fodder field day and conference – the 2023 FODDERGANZA — will be held in the Goldfields region of Victoria next month.

The three-day FODDGERGANZA will at Elmore and Bendigo will feature demonstrations of the the latest fodder-making machinery as well as speakers on the scientific developments, industry issues and future technologies.

The Australian Fodder Industry Association is combining its biennial fodder festival and annual National Fodder Conference into the single event, hosting the major hay and silage players in Elmore and Bendigo from Tuesday 15 to Thursday 17 August.

AFIA chief executive officer Paula Fitzgerald said the three-day event will kick off with the 2023 Fodder Festival at the Elmore Field Days site on Tuesday 15 August.

“This event will build on the success of the first festivals held in 2018 and 2021 to become the premier demonstration event for the hay and silage industries,” she said.

“Companies including long-term AFIA supporters New Holland, Kuhn, John Deere, CLAAS, and Krone are all participating in this event which will see the latest machinery – rakes, mowers, round balers, big square balers and a forage harvester – go head-to-head in an annual ryegrass crop grown especially for the event.

“This is a unique event with consecutive demonstrations running for 20 minutes each including a Q&A opportunity with the audience,” she said.

“The day will also include two important discussions – one on safety and the other focusing on Workcover at a time when premiums have increased significantly for farm businesses.”

Shje said for anyone involved in the dairy industry, fodder production, hay contracting or feed lots, this is an event not to be missed.

“Once the Fodder Festival has concluded, much of the machinery will make move along the highway to be on display at the National Fodder Conference the next day.”

The 2023 National Fodder Conference in Bendigo will feature business leaders, researchers, industry experts and farmers, with presentations on a low carbon future; the state of the dairy industry; future protein – opportunity or threat?; heavy vehicle regulation; succession planning; breeding updates; silage wrap recycling; trade and market access.

2023 FODDERGANZA programs are available at: https://afia.org.au/events/program/.