Tag / Dr Jo Newton

by Action4Agriculture

Australian dairy industry cheering on researcher Dr Jo Newton in the Victorian Young Achiever Awards

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Dairy research scientist Dr Jo Newton has been named as a finalist in the 2018 Young Achiever Awards for her work fostering change in the Australian dairy industry through the adoption of genetic tools and technologies.
Dr Newton is one of three finalists out of 60 young people nominated under the Leadership Award category for the 2018 awards, with the winner to be announced at a gala dinner on May 18.
Dr Newton currently works for Agriculture Victoria Research on the ImProving Herds Project, which aims to determine the contribution of herd improvement to the Australian dairy industry.

“I grew up in suburban Melbourne and was introduced to agriculture through my experiences at Tintern Grammar’s on campus farm,” she said.
“Work experience in high school helped me set my sights on an agricultural degree and I moved interstate to study for a Bachelor of Rural Science.”

Dr Newton also completed her PhD in animal breeding and genetics before taking on her role with the Victorian Government.

“I saw the position advertised and the chance to work on an applied multi-disciplinary project in livestock genetics with direct engagement with industry was exactly what I was looking for,” she said.
“Working in agriculture means we are in a fast-growing sector; couple that with the digital revolution and a strong demand for graduates – it all makes for an exciting future in agriculture.”

She believes Australia has a strong track record when it comes to delivering cutting edge research, but there is room for improvement with its transfer of knowledge.
Dr Newton encouraged other young people to get into agriculture, particularly young women.

“Agriculture is still a male dominated industry, and being mentored by strong female role models early in my career, including my manager and PhD supervisor, has certainly played an important role in my development.
“I feel honoured to have been selected as a finalist; young people may only be 20 per cent of our current population but we are the future. I really hope to use this spotlight to promote the diverse career pathways and wonderful opportunities in the agricultural sector.”

ImProving Herds is a three-year, $1.8million project that has gathered evidence from real farms to determine the contribution of herd improvement to Australian dairy businesses. Funded by the Gardiner Dairy Foundation and Dairy Australia, ImProving Herds is a collaboration involving the Victorian Government, DataGene, Dairy Australia, Holstein Australia, and the National Herd Improvement Association of Australia (NHIA).

Media Article
Monday, April 30, 2018 | Media contact: Mel Curtis (03) 5561 9938
http://www.agriculture.vic.gov.au

Footnote

Jo has a big fan base across agriculture and we are all cheering her on. You can vote for Jo in the People’s Choice Awards here 

#GoGirlfriend #YouthVoices18 #Youthinag

by Action4Agriculture

Young Farming Champion Jo Newton in the running for 2018 Victorian Young Achiever Awards

Congratulations to the Chair of our Youth Voices Leadership Team Dr Jo Newton who has just been announced as a finalist for the First National Real Estate Leadership Award, part of the 2018 Victorian Young Achiever Awards. This is an absolutely amazing achievement and one to be extremely proud of – well done Jo !

The First National Real Estate Leadership Award acknowledges young people who set an example through their leadership and drive, paving the way for others to follow.

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Jo is a young research geneticist working with the dairy industry who selflessly inspires others to pursue careers in agriculture. Eight years ago she founded the Farming Futures Project at the University of New England – a careers fair showcasing agricultural opportunities, and today she mentors young scientists and visits schools to encourage students to realise their own agricultural journey. She has been recognised with the 2017 Dairy Research Foundation Symposium’s Emerging Scientists Award and the 2018 Endeavour Research Fellowship. Jo is regularly invited to speak about her passion and through her leadership and drive is paving the way for others. See Jo’s story in AGWomen Global here

Agriculture is cheering for you Jo #strongwomen #youthinag

Follow Jo’s awards journey on Social Media

Facebook: @VICAYAA

Instagram: @vicyoungachiever

Twitter: @VIC_YAAwards

#VICYAA

by Action4Agriculture

Dr Jo Newton introduces school students to latest cutting edge technology in the Australian dairy industry

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Thirty schools across NSW, QLD and the ACT have now received their #Archie17 cows and industry allocations

_2017 Archibull Prize schools

17 Young Farming Champions will be visiting  the schools participating in The Archibull Prize 

Thanks to the support of the Aussie Farmers Foundation we are able to bring dairy back and showcase the Australian pork and eggs/poultry industries as well as Wool, Grains, Sheep and Cattle and the Cotton Industry

Gwynneville Public School will be getting a visit from YFC Dr Jo Newton. Wow wont she amaze them with the cutting genetics research she is involved in

You can read all about Dr Jo’s work here In Dairy New Australia

Monday, 26 September 2016 12:28

Genetic merit and profit link out from under the microscope

Dr Jo Newton

TWENTY-SEVEN dairy farms across Australia will be put under the microscope to prove the link between genetic merit of animals and on-farm performance. 

Speaking to Dairy News Australia as part of last month’s Future Ready Expo in Bega, research scientist Dr Jo Newton said the Improving Herds project will ensure the science behind genetics is backed up by real-world application. 

‘’It’s one thing to do genetic research in an office building somewhere, but it’s another to actually take what you’ve learned and translate it into real on-farm applications and results,” Dr Newton, from the Victorian Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (DEDJTR)  said. 

The project has genomic tested each focus farms’ rising two year old heifers, totalling more than 2500. 

“So now we already have information about the genetic merit of these animals before we know their lactation, their susceptibility to disease, etc and through the lifetime of the project we will be able to follow these cows, through their first lactation, through their second lactation and see how that performance in the dairy translates back to their predicted genetic merit,” Dr Newton said. 

“We’re looking to demonstrate the value that better data recording and high genetic merit can contribute to farmer profit.”  

Previous research has confirmed high genetic merit cows are more profitable. 

 ‘’The focus farm model enables the information to be gathered at various regions and various types of farm systems.’’ 

Dr Newton said environmental factors – such as mastitis – are accounted for within the study. 

“’One of the advantages of looking across some many different focus farms is that we can look within a herd. 

‘’And when you are comparing animals within the same herd, they are subject to the same management routines and environmental conditions.”’ 

#archie17 #youthinag #dairylove @aussiefarmers

_ 2017 Picture You in Agriculture Supporting Partners