2021 Winter HP Magazine

Winter 2021

High Performance Magazine

How to succeed in farming: lessons from life and research A seamless start for H&P in Dubbo & Warren

High Performance Magazine Edition 28 Winter 2021

Follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/hutcheonandpearce

Contents

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04

TOPGUN 2021: Meet the newbies

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James’ seamless start for H&P in Dubbo and Warren

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For all editorial and advertising enquiries, contact:

Harriet Forster Marketing Coordinator harriet.forster@hutcheonandpearce.com.au

Welcome to the 2021 Winter edition

Come work for the best with the best!

Mice plague: Tiny pests causing big problems

Put technology to use this season

All-new 9 Series: power, efficiency and comfort

How to succeed in farming

DONATE BLOOD THIS WINTER With winter and the cold & flu season here, many regular blood donors are feeling under the weather.

If you’re fit and healthy, be the sunshine in someone’s life by becoming a blood donor.

Ring 13 14 95 to make an appointment or visit www.donateblood.com.au and sign up to the Hutcheon & Pearce Community.

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Welcome

Welcome to the 2021 Winter edition of High Performance Magazine.

A

s we brace ourselves for the cold outside, things have certainly been warming up at Hutcheon & Pearce as we set our sights on what’s coming next. Over a quietly busy few months, we have been working through our strategic plans for next

financial year and getting started on some big ideas for a couple of big events returning to our calendar.

As always, we’ll be doing our level best to keep our stock up leading into Henty and harvest but if you’re looking to secure a machine that’s built exactly to your specifications and at the best price, now is the time to talk to us about a forward order. Like a lot of industries, we’re currently experiencing delivery delays, with the lead time for John Deere factory orders hovering at around 14 months. But, with the calibre of machines being released, we know

In August, we will once again host our All Employee Meeting

the wait will be well worth it – just check out the 2022 9 Series

(AEM) in person. With COVID-19 putting a dampener on our

release on page 10.

2020 meeting, it feels like a long time between drinks, and we are really looking forward to reconnecting with our colleagues from across the branches. We are particularly keen to welcome our Dubbo and Warren staff to the fold in person. After such a huge transition in interesting times, the AEM will be a great

In other stories in this edition, we introduce you to our newest Branch Manager, chat with a local customer being recognised for his efforts in business and studying how to help other farmers improve theirs, and we discover why a couple of ex-mechanics have

chance for these teams to get to know the H&P family better

made the switch to large Ag machinery at H&P.

and take a much-needed breather from business as usual to

Stay warm and well, and enjoy this edition of HP Magazine.

take stock of the transition and get a feel for what lies ahead at H&P. As always, it’s a mammoth task to coordinate a full-day

We’ll see you at Henty!

closure across all branches and we ask our customers to bear with us as it’s a really important day to celebrate our wins, work through improvements and focus on the future, and we know

Arron

it’s of great benefit to everyone in the long run.

In September, we will return to Henty and to say we are excited is a complete understatement. We’ve had some big ideas for the stand but the most important thing for us is to get out there and connect with people. Of course, we’ll have plenty of incredible machines on display and some not-to-be-missed deals. With the Ag sector really firing at the moment and the government’s instant asset write-off being extended to June 2023, we are expecting a lot of people will be keen to talk about their next green investment.

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High Performance Magazine Winter 2021

TOPGUN 2021: Meet the newbies T

his year marks our seventh intake and a record number of TOPGUN recruits, and we’re excited to welcome this fresh crop of apprentices on board. After a big start to the year, we asked our newest kids on the block to share their highlights so far.

BAILEY CARVER H&P Branch: Albury Hometown: Tallangatta VIC What has been a highlight since starting your apprenticeship?

Meeting Matt Duffy at the interview.

He helped me feel a little less stressed about the day and we had a great conversation. The team I get to work with as well. Schmidty is someone I really look up to.

DARCY GREIG H&P Branch: Albury Hometown: Fitzroy, Melbourne VIC What has been a highlight since starting your apprenticeship?

Working with a great bunch of people. Dealing with people you already know outside of work is also great.

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JIMMY WHITELEY H&P Branch: Albury Hometown: Cudgewa North VIC What has been a highlight since starting your apprenticeship?

Being able to learn and work with some of the best ag technicians in the game. Meeting new people and seeing new places has also been great.

JARED BRAIN H&P Branch: Coleambally Hometown: Coleambally NSW What has been a highlight since starting your apprenticeship?

Working with Duff when he came over to Coleambally for a week. We had a couple of services to do and a couple of breakdowns. He doesn’t mind a VB either. Another highlight was cutting my mullet off. So much easier to maintain…. I have fitted a reversing camera to my ute as well.

LUKE FOSTER H&P Branch: Coleambally Hometown: Coleambally NSW What has been a highlight since starting your apprenticeship?

Meeting new workmates and learning from them all.

JACKSON REEVES H&P Branch: Cowra Hometown: Gooloogong NSW What has been a highlight since starting your apprenticeship?

The new experience of working on John Deere and the prospect of a fulfilling career.

One of the biggest highlights for me so far is being able to learn and work with some of the best ag technicians in the game.

ADAM CASEY SAM BENNETTS H&P Branch: Dubbo Hometown: Dunedoo NSW What has been a highlight since starting your apprenticeship?

I have always been interested in mechanics and machinery and enjoy the challenge of working with John Deere equipment. I enjoy working and meeting different people within the industry.

LINDSEY HONEYMAN H&P Branch: Dubbo Hometown: Dubbo NSW What has been a highlight since starting your apprenticeship?

I was a late starter which was a little hectic, but Duffy made everything happen smoothly and here we are 3.5 months in, and I am loving it.

H&P Branch: Finley Hometown: Home has always been wherever my family is. I spent a lot of time growing up on the outskirts of Melbourne, but always had a second home in Finley.

What has been a highlight since starting your apprenticeship?

Spending each day on the tools. I’ve been lucky enough to learn the trade on a huge range of ag machinery both in the workshop and out in the field and love the constant challenge. Another highlight has for sure been getting to know everyone at the Finley Branch.

JACK DUNSTAN H&P Branch: Finley Hometown: Burrumbuttock NSW What has been a highlight since starting your apprenticeship?

I really enjoy working for Michael and Wombat. They are just really nice blokes. If I could be as good as Wombat one day, I’d be happy.

Would love a beard like his too.

GRACE VEENSTRA H&P Branch: Finley

JAKE BROWN H&P Branch: Finley Hometown: Kotupna VIC What has been a highlight since starting your apprenticeship?

Having the opportunity to go out in the field regularly and meeting new people.

Hometown: Camperdown VIC What has been a highlight since starting your apprenticeship?

Meeting everyone. I am new to the area, so it has been good to meet the customers and the people I work with. Everyone I work with is very friendly, helpful and welcoming, so it was easy to slot into my role here in Finley.

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High Performance Magazine Winter 2021

DAN APPLEBEE

DAN PRATT

H&P Branch: Forbes

H&P Branch: Griffith

Hometown: Parkes NSW

Hometown: Griffith NSW

What has been a highlight since starting your apprenticeship?

What has been a highlight since starting your apprenticeship?

I have been privileged to be able to assemble a couple air seeders and I think that’s what I want to specialise in. I love that the seed is in the tank one day and a plant is coming out of the ground the next.

The positive impact I can make in the branch and the field. I really enjoy working for Simon Garbett. He has a wealth of knowledge and I want to be just like him.

BRAD ANNETTS MEAGAN BYRNE H&P Branch: Forbes

H&P Branch: Orange Hometown: Orange NSW

Hometown: Peak Hill NSW

What has been a highlight since starting your apprenticeship?

What has been a highlight since starting your apprenticeship?

Learning new skills both in and out of the workshop.

It’s very gratifying working for a company as well respected as Hutcheon & Pearce, even more so helping the company have a positive impact in the ag industry.

It’s very gratifying ELIA LELEA H&P Branch: Forbes Hometown: Condobolin NSW What has been a highlight since starting your apprenticeship?

The interview day was really well organised. Matt and the HR team do a great job. In the branch, I really appreciate the knowledge our Techs have. Luke, Mills, Adrian and Darcy are top blokes.

JARRED LEWIS H&P Branch: Forbes Hometown: Parkes NSW What has been a highlight since starting your apprenticeship?

Changing mower blades. I have learned so much from working on mowers and now I’m the mower go-to man.

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working for a company as well respected as Hutcheon & Pearce

LUKE FULLER

ANNA MCGUIRK

H&P Branch: Temora

H&P Branch: Wagga Wagga

Hometown: Temora NSW

Hometown: Nangus NSW

What has been a highlight since starting your apprenticeship?

What has been a highlight since starting your apprenticeship?

The machinery. I just love it. If it were safe to drink diesel, I would. Craig’s a great bloke too.

Getting to know the other Hutchies employees. There are some very good and interesting people that I get to work with, and they bring out the best in the people around them. And after a few beers once work has finished, you start to realise just how interesting they are.

TOM RAY H&P Branch: Temora Hometown: Caragabal NSW What has been a highlight since starting your apprenticeship?

Getting to learn new things each day and work with great people.

Mackenzie is super smart and looks after me.

JAKE MAWHOOD H&P Branch: Wagga Wagga Hometown: Oberon NSW What has been a highlight since starting your apprenticeship?

Being given the opportunity to work on machinery that I have grown up using and have had a strong passion for my whole life. This opportunity has also meant I had to move away from home, making me be more independent.

WILL CANNON H&P Branch: Wagga Wagga Hometown: Tomingley NSW What has been a highlight since starting your apprenticeship?

The in-field work, as I am exposed to challenges which help improve my skills as a young tech. And forming great partnerships with customers in the Riverina area and further afield.

LACHLAN CLARK H&P Branch: Warren Hometown: Warren NSW What has been a highlight since starting your apprenticeship?

Learning more about the agricultural industry and interacting with farmers.

TOPGUN 2022 APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM APPLICATIONS CLOSE 5TH SEPTEMBER 2021 Visit www.hutcheonandpearce.com.au/careers/apprenticeships-trainees for more information and to apply.

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High Performance Magazine Winter 2021

James’ seamless start for H&P in Dubbo and Warren Bringing another dealership into the Hutcheon & Pearce brand can be a big undertaking for all involved. Luckily for us, the teams at our new Dubbo and Warren branches are such professionals, the entire process has been seamless.

J

ames Niemeyer has a long association with agriculture.

Born in Africa to British parents, James and his family moved to Sydney when he was just three. While his father was in the airline business, the rest of his family were all farmers and James remembers having a real passion for agriculture throughout school.

Eventually, this led him to a Bachelor of Agricultural Economics at UNE.

“It was while at AGCO that Martin Muirhead, who was the Service Manager with Chesterfield, happened to mention a position in their Integrated Solutions Department.

Martin knew I was into GPS, and while I wasn’t actually looking for work at the time, I decided to go for the job and ended up working for Chesterfield for near on 10 years.”

Post graduation, James’ passion took him overseas where he worked on various farms around the UK learning different farming systems. He then joined Connor Shea Napier (CSN) as a sales representative before becoming a product manager during his five years there. From 2000 to 2004, James worked at BEELINE Technologies, a job that brought him to the Dubbo area, and then he moved to AGCO Australia where he was a Service Manager for NSW, covering an area from Moree to Goulburn.

Working first in the Integrated Solutions Department for five years, James had the opportunity to manage the Chesterfield’s Coonamble store, which was open at the time, and their Warren store. In 2017, he also took on the Dubbo store, and in October 2020, was instrumental in managing the changeover to Hutcheon & Pearce.

“I’m not a diesel mechanic but I’ve spent a lot of time around machinery and have a sound understanding of engines and hydraulics and I built on that knowledge with the team I had with me at AGCO

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“I’d have to say the transition was seamless. There was a level of trust between Damien Effeney, who was our CEO, and Arron Hutcheon. That trust allowed Arron and the team to come in before it was actually signed over to Hutcheon & Pearce to set changes in motion in terms of IT, letters of offer, uniforms – all that background stuff that needed to be done.

Hutcheon & Pearce Dubbo

“The staff responded well. In yesteryear, we had always heard about this culture at H&P and you’d think, ‘Oh, it can’t be true. Surely there’s got to be some areas that need polish’, like there always are in businesses. I remember talking to a John Deere representative who used to look after Chesterfield as well as Hutcheon & Pearce. He’d been to a H&P Christmas party and said that the engagement there was palpable. And… it turns out it is that good! In fact, I think the general consensus is people can’t smile wide enough.

“Switching over to H&P has seen some changes because business here is done differently to Chesterfield but the H&P approach to sales and to people has made it so enjoyable. And having an owner like Arron who works in the businesses and is so keen to catch up with clients and employees alike makes a measurable difference.

“The changeover has also been received really well by customers, who were all very understanding. We’re coming out of a horrendous drought, the worst in living memory, to the best harvest in living memory, to an amazing season and we’re doing our level best. It has been a challenge with the staffing levels we have, but people are being understanding of those difficulties.”

James said being short-staffed is one of the most challenging parts of his role right now, with workforce shortages an issue right across the Central West.

“We are heads down just trying to get through this purple patch while at the same time trying to recruit people with a passion for agriculture, who are looking for a career, not just a job. It’s difficult to find these people, particularly in Warren and it’s hard to attract and retain people there, particularly when you have the bigger centre of Dubbo just 100kms down the road. But we will keep searching until we find the right people.”

Despite some of the challenges, James says there is much to love about his job, especially when he gets out of the office.

“I love getting out on-farm. Chatting to customers about their operation, their needs and whether we can provide solutions is undoubtedly the most enjoyable part of what I do. I also really love the H&P approach to employee engagement. They make sure people are actually really enjoying what they do and that’s the focus.”

When asked what he’s looking forward to most for H&P in Dubbo and Warren, James has a few ideas.

“I am looking forward to the day when we are at capacity and I can have more time to focus on client relations and staff have more time to focus on what they love to do, which is delivering an even better experience for the customer.

James Niemeyer

“But right now, I’d settle for an inch of rain, to join up with the subsoil moisture so our customers’ winter crops can really get underway. And fewer mice – that would be a great start!”

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High Performance Magazine Winter 2021

All-new 9 Series: power, efficiency and comfort John Deere 9 Series 2022 tractors bring more power and technology to cover more ground in less time. And with reduced operating costs, these beauties are pretty hard to beat. Here we take a closer look at the 9 Series line-up.

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n March this year, John Deere announced its updated 9 Series, designed to deliver greater accuracy and quality, all from a larger, more comfortable cab. John Deere is the only manufacturer to offer all three tractor configurations – the wheel 9R, two-track 9RT and the four-track 9RX. Sales Operations Manager Andrew Watt said there’s lots to love about the 9 Series, and thinks it’s perfect for broad acre farmers using large implements who need a lot of power, and a lot of power to the ground.

“Broadacre farmers will appreciate the added low-end torque and lugging ability of the all-new, John Deere PowerTech™ 13.6L diesel engine. This engine powers models with 390 to 590 horsepower, runs with 50% less engine noise and is Tier 3 compliant, meaning it meets Australian emission control standards with no need for additional fluids. The largest tractors – the 9R 640 and 9RX 640 – are powered by a Cummins 15L diesel engine.”

To accommodate the added horsepower and ballast of the articulated 9 Series tractors, several undercarriage, axle, and front-frame components were strengthened and improved. Strengthening these components has increased the weight of the tractor and the maximum available ballast from 27,216kg to 30,391kg to put the increased power to the ground.

There’s no doubt the 9 Series meets the need for higher flow and higher pressures to handle larger implements.

Select 9 Series tractors can be ordered with hydraulic Intelligent Power Management that provides up to 50 extra horsepower depending on the gear chosen. This added power can be unlocked via intelligent software monitoring of hydraulic demand and engine power, providing the perfect performance boost when pulling equipment through tough terrain or over large hills, or with high hydraulic demands, such as airseeding rigs, giving that extra level of reliability.

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And when it comes to keeping operators on track, Andrew said the integrated technology of the 9 Series cannot be beaten.

“All 9 Series tractors include a Gen 4 CommandCenter™, which houses all the activations and software to do anything from turn automation and auto path to machine sync and implement guidance capability through a single display, with an option of an extended display to give you additional screen real estate. This means operators can spend more time focusing on job quality and less time operating the tractor.

“They also come with JDLink™ Connect for five years and an all-new StarFire™ 6000 integrated receiver built into the cab, which requires no set-up or calibrations from the customer. It’s fully integrated and comes at a reduced price point to the previous model. With reduced pull-in and remote software download times, precision agriculture has never been easier!”

The 9 Series offers three Comfort and Convenience packages to fit your needs: Select, Premium and Ultimate.

“When you’re spending dozens of hours a week in the cab, a comfortable operating environment isn’t just a nice to have – it’s essential to ensuring you and your operators can work at your best, dawn to dusk and beyond.

“For example, the Ultimate option has leather seats with heating and massage, adjustable bolsters underneath your legs and mid-section, footrests, a refrigerator, a huge amount of swivel to easily see the implements at the back without straining your neck, and plenty of outlets to keep your electronics powered. You name it; it’s there. It’s the luxury you’d expect of a cruiser yacht, not necessarily a tractor.”

The 9 Series also offers increased visibility and productivity with three new lighting packages to help operators get more done regardless of what time it is.

“The lighting packages are totally different with this update.

There are now lighting, sunshades and camera options that operators need to be comfortable on long working days, with up to 32 LED lights optional, which is the equivalent of about eight times the amount of area illuminated around the cab versus the older models.

“This gives increased visibility straight from the factory without having to add additional lighting aftermarket.”

One more thing John Deere customers will notice with this update is a new name and numbering system, with the tractor model listed separately from the engine horsepower, bringing it into line with both the 7R and 8R Series.

UPDATES TO 8R SERIES John Deere has also announced changes to the 8 Series – our Swiss Army Knife of tractors.

“These machines are versatile. They are great for anything from towing a boom spray through to a large seeder as well as chaser bins or any hitch-mounted implements for row crop work,” Andrew said.

“The 8 Series has two main updates for Model Year 2022. The first is the Central Tyre Inflation System, or CTIS. This gives onthe-go ability to change your tyre pressure quickly from the seat of the cab, with customisable road and field settings that you can change with the press of a button. The feedback from customers is that this isn’t just a nice to have – it’s something they are using often to reduce wear on the road and wheel slip in the paddock.

“The second is the addition of the ExactRate™ system, making the 8RX the only tractor on the market allowing operators to carry fertilizer in factory-installed 3800L tanks. This offers superior visibility, with the tanks wrapping around the back of the cab and over the rear tracks so the overall machine width hasn’t changed.

“The benefit here is reduced ground pressure compared to third-party tanks on wheel tractors, and compatibility with John Deere planters, all covered under factory warranty.”

ORDER NOW Pricing for Model Year 22 across both 8 and 9 Series has now been released and Hutcheon & Pearce is offering some great order discounts.

We have secured access to an early release 9R 540 from John Deere so if you are keen for an on-farm demo or want to take a closer look, contact your local sales team or head to our website. And if you can’t wait until next year for your new machine, we still have some Model Year 21 in stock.

To talk to your local Hutcheon & Pearce branch about your next machine. Visit www.hutcheonandpearce.com.au/ contact-us for details.

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High Performance Magazine Winter 2021

Come work for the best with the best!

There is no better time to work in Australian agriculture, and there’s no better place to work than Hutcheon & Pearce. Working with the best product for the best customers, we have plenty of opportunities for building a rewarding career in the industry.

But don’t just take our word for it. Here’s a couple of our newest service technicians telling it like it is.

B

rady Gunter encourages anyone considering a career in agriculture to take the leap.

Brady grew up in Port Macquarie and went

into a plant mechanic apprenticeship straight out of school. He also spent some time working on a sheep farm at Booligal north of Hay before moving south and taking on the role as a Field Service Technician at our Finley Branch.

“It’s such a good job. You get really good variation in that you’re doing something different every day and the product itself is cutting edge. I’d never seen so much technology in the machines I worked on before.

“I’m able to take my mechanical background and transfer that over to the John Deere machines and I enjoy getting my head around it. It’s challenging but it’s always good to take up the challenge.

“Hutcheon & Pearce has sent me to TAFE this year to study and there’s always training happening at work. We’re always learning more, especially about the new products, which is great. Every day you learn something new.”

Brady said he was made to feel welcome from day one.

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“The support you get from the branch is great. They’ve made me feel really comfortable. If you’re unsure of anything, you can just ask, and we catch up over a beer every now and then after work. It has helped me meet a lot of people.

“Agriculture itself is a great sector to get into if you’re like me and like working with your hands. And being at a company like Hutcheon & Pearce makes it easy. I can see myself staying with the company for a long time to come.”

For fellow Service Technician Michael Tuck, taking up a role with H&P has been a huge change.

Michael started with us late last year after 12 years working in the Navy as an engineer and diesel mechanic, and says going from water to wheels has been a steep learning curve.

“It’s been a big challenge to go from everything I know and understand well to stuff that I don’t know, but that’s been good. At the end of the day, they’re all engines and working with the John Deere product has been an absolute breeze.

They’re very easy to work on and if you can’t figure something out, there’s plenty of resources around you can tap into to get the job done.

“The people around me are usually my first port of call if I get stuck, because they’ve seen and done it before. If they don’t have the answers, I can get onto Service Advisor and find the information I need there.”

Like Brady, Michael says the move to the H&P work environment was smooth sailing.

Brady Gunter

“I couldn’t have asked for a smoother transition from where I’ve been and where I am now. It has been amazing.

Everyone has been very supportive and has helped me out along the way and it was probably only a week or two until I felt like I fit in. I couldn’t be happier.

“One of the great aspects is the training. I put my hand up for training as soon as I started and have been doing John Deere University to get myself up to speed with what’s required of me. Anytime I need to do more, I can log on and apply for courses to make sure that my knowledge base is continually growing.

“After 12 years in the Navy, I’m used to having ongoing training and development. It’s quite handy to not fall stale.

And Hutcheon & Pearce is almost like a civilian-run military, the way that everything flows. It’s very easy for me to gel here because there are systems in place and everything’s there for a reason.

“I don’t like deviating from what the book says. I’ll follow everything to the letter, so it’s nice to not have to go, ‘Oh, I’ll just do things the dodgy way’. There’s none of that here. It’s all ‘Do it properly so the customer’s happy’. We’re all here for the common goal of keeping the customer happy. Everyone does whatever they can to help each other out and chip in if it’s needed, and I like that.”

While Michael enjoys being on the tools, he’s also keen to share his experience with the next generation and has had a first year TOPGUN apprentice with him for most jobs.

“I enjoy being able to explain to them how a diesel engine works and pass on some of the stuff that I’ve learned over the years to help them, so when they get to TAFE, it makes it a little bit easier because they’ve already got that background knowledge. That’s probably my favourite part, passing on my knowledge to the young ones and watching them grow.

“I could not complain about the way H&P treat their employees in general. I can see myself staying here for a considerable amount of time, and I feel like there’s a good career growth path for me here. There’d be a thousand different avenues for me to take and if training apprentices came up, then I’ll definitely be putting my hand up for it.”

For mechanics interested in a career change, Michael is clear: “If you’re looking for a new challenge, this is the place to do it.”

WORK FOR H&P

Michael Tuck

If you want to work for the industry leaders in the best industry in the world, check out our current vacancies: www.hutcheonandpearce.com.au/ careers/current-vacancies. Along with ongoing professional development opportunities, we have relocation support packages available.

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High Performance Magazine Edition 28 Winter 2021

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Damage caused by mice on a Canola plant

Mice plague: Tiny pests causing big problems Drought… fires… floods… and now a mouse plague. After a bumper harvest, farming communities in the north and west of the state battle millions of mice that are wreaking havoc on newly sown crops. We caught up with Forbes-based agronomist Tom Macleay to get the lowdown on this not so tiny menace.

L

ike many Forbes locals, AgriWest Agronomist Tom Macleay has seen more than his fair share of mice lately.

Forbes is one of scores of farming communities across NSW and Queensland waging war on these rodent pests that have been thriving on the plentiful feed available.

“At harvest, we started to see a fair bit of lodging in crops and that’s when we saw the mice start in because a lot of crops had fallen over and headers weren’t quite up to picking up all the grain off the ground. You see, these were big crops last year - we’re talking seven or eight tonne in yield in some places, with an average of four to six tonnes compared with a the usual two-tonne in this district. This is something farming families around here haven’t seen in living memory. So, a lot of grain was getting lost out the back of headers and left behind due to the sheer volume going through the machines.

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“One hole can house hundreds of mice and they are reproductive at six weeks. So, when you get a good harvest, a wet summer, big stubble loads on the ground, and plenty of tucker – it’s the perfect storm. We haven’t seen the mice in these sorts of numbers since 2011, which was a similar season.

“It’s definitely affecting the farmers around here and I’ve heard stories from around Moree, Narrabri and areas up towards Dalby in Queensland Downs country that they’re experiencing the same types of issues. The mice have been hooking into their ripening summer crops like sorghum, maize and cotton and are having a big impact financially.”

For those farmers sowing winter crops, Tom has been telling clients to use zinc phosphide baits like MOUSEOFF to tackle the infestation.

“Without using baits in front or behind your sowing rig, you can’t protect that crop from being eaten off as it comes out of the ground. We’re also seeing mice fossicking for grain – grain being dug up out of the furrows is a first for me!

“Because the crop is taking so long to get up and out of the ground, we’re seeing farmers who are now going to have to spread baits again in areas where they’ve had slow germination and that extra demand for baits is sharply driving the price up.

While some farmers in the district thought the early March rain may have drowned many mice, Tom said there were enough dry spots throughout paddocks that the mice moved stubble to stubble to find higher ground. At present, most mice are housed in native grass corridors and tree lines and move into the crops at night.

Since then, quite a few farmers have taken to burning stubble as a means of pest control.

“The idea is to burn all their food to get on top of the problem. Due to the sheer numbers and the drawn-out early autumn, that could have been a bit of a backwards step in that it dries out the top of the soil moisture profile when you really want to have that wetter profile to improve success at sowing. But, as with everything in agriculture, it’s a compromise – soil moisture versus trying to prevent pests.

“I think it’s probably starting to wind back a bit due to there being less feed around but the only thing that’s going to really rattle them is the frosty weather. We’re just going to have to freeze them to death. If large deaths don’t occur and mice are still present in current numbers at grain fill time (October – November), serious yield damage will occur.”

Until then, AgriWest and other agricultural merchandise suppliers have waiting lists for baits and traps from farmers and townsfolk alike, with a two-month backorder list for bait at this point. Despite the difficulties of the mouse plague, Tom said farmers remain positive after last year’s harvest.

“We had 15-20mm in May and if we get that rain in June and July, it’ll be game on. All long-term indications say it could be a wet finish to winter, which would be sensational. Another solid season definitely won’t go astray!”

AgriWest Forbes Agronomist Tom Macleay

“At the start of the season, it was about $7 a hectare to cover your country, and now that’s up to around $10 to $13, depending on which form you buy it in. So, some blokes are now spending $20 a hectare on mice control but the return on that investment is the survivability of the plant. In nonbaited crops, 5% damage per night can occur so baiting is essential pre-germination and again post-germination if damage continues. There were people in the Forbes district in 2011 who didn’t get mice bait and they had a 80 to 90% crop damage. Farmers are doing their best to avoid that now.”

The NSW Government has announced support packages for farmers and rebates for households and small businesses.

Bromadiolone, the chemical selected by the government in this support package, is not currently approved by the Australian, Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) due to negative environmental effects on nontargeted species, e.g. birds, snakes etc.

For more information on the government’s support packages, visit: www.nsw.gov.au/ initiative/mouse-control-support-program

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High Performance Magazine Winter 2021

Put technology to use this season With a bumper harvest and a good Autumn break across much of the region keeping us buoyant, now is the perfect time to turn your attention to Precision Ag to help get the best out of the season ahead. Here we talk to TECSight’s Hamish Ross about the help on offer.

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or TECSight Integrated Solutions Manager Hamish Ross and the team, it’s been a busy start to the season helping customers get their 2021 sowing program underway.

“Sowing kicked off in a big way and we were doing plenty of rate controller setups and troubleshooting for customers along the way. Our sales team has also been doing a great job selling plenty of machines and we’ve been helping set those machines up, making sure they’re activated and ready to go before delivery.

“The overwhelming majority of new machines are technology enabled and we’re certainly seeing the benefits of having a connected machine that can be remotely accessed, by the TECSight team or from any workshop.

“We’re fielding a high volume of calls, which is a combination of machine customer calls and our own technicians but we have to remember this is a very different season to this time last year. There’s plenty happening now – we’ve got people sowing, we’ve got people harvesting rice and cotton. It’s chalk and cheese in comparison to last season.

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“And that’s the way we like it. You can absolutely hear the positivity in our customers’ voices. Perhaps it’s that buoyancy that gives people the impetus to think, ‘I’ve got this technology on my tractor, maybe I can look to use more of it’.”

Hamish said customers who have started delving into Work Planner on Gen 4 machines are already reporting the benefits.

“There are continual developments to the John Deere app and online tools. As we move towards automation, we’re going to see more and more jobs itemised. That’s where Work Planner comes into its own.

“You can get Work Planner on your phone and setup and send jobs through to your machine operator. It allows you to program everything from rate controller through to which paddock, through to AB lines. An operator can pull into the paddock, and it’ll pop up with a job for them to complete, ensuring all the jobs are done correctly.

“We’ve had some really great success stories already.

People love having the ability to automate tasks for their operators efficiently at their fingertips, along with the support from TECSight to help them through the process until they get into the swing of things.”

While the TECSight team’s focus remains on answering the phones 7am to 10pm every day, they are looking to focus on build skills within our customer base when it comes to all things Precision Ag, including using online tools like Work Planner.

“We are working on a calendar of customer events, but if anyone is looking at their operations and thinking about getting into some variable rate technology and needs direction on where to start, they can give us a call and we can assist.

“We are looking to expand our Precision Ag offering over the next 12 months as we can see enormous potential, in both technological advancements and our customers’ desire to get ahead. There’s a lot of positivity right now and people are absolutely looking to capitalise on these positive times and make the most of it.

“We live in a challenging world with high input costs challenging gross margins. What we’re trying to do through our technology is to help people keep costs down and improve those gross margins through things like AutoTrac, section control and data recording.

“It’s all about helping customers make the best possible decisions now for future profits. Now the focus has moved beyond sowing, it’s the right time to look at the best way forward.”

For all your Precision Ag enquiries, talk to the TECSight team on (02) 5924 5111.

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High Performance Magazine Winter 2021

How to succeed in farming: lessons from life and research Despite Covid-19, 2020 was a bumper year for farmers across the state with many reporting their best harvest in decades. For Forbes local Jarrod Amery, it was a particularly good year, bringing some impressive industry acknowledgment for his efforts.

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ast year will be one Jarrod Amery long remembers. He was named a cropping finalist in the 2020 Weekly Times/Coles Farmer of the Year competition, which came off the back of receiving a prestigious Nuffield Scholarship.

Jarrod’s social media presence and involvement in the Young Farmer Business program first brought him to the attention of The Weekly Times who put him forward for their Farmer of the Year award.

Jarrod and wife Emma were named cropping finalists after their bumper 2020 season results. Having planted 1300 hectares of wheat, 600 hectares of barley and 450 hectares of canola, the Amerys enjoyed the best season they have ever had.

“It was a really big year and it was very much needed because 2018 and ‘19 were not very good at all. Our canola averaged nearly 3 tonnes (compared to an average of 1.5-2.3 tonnes) per hectare and the wheat averaged 6 tonnes (up from 3.4-4 tonnes). The sheep also went well. It was just an excellent season and really helped us to spring back from the drought.

“As finalists in the award, we were supposed to go to the MCG for a suit and tie presentation, but COVID knocked that on the head. Still, it was a real privilege to be selected. I wasn’t striving for anything like that, but I think when you’re passionate about what you do, some of these things just sort of cross your path.”

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Forbes

While he’s always been passionate about agriculture, Jarrod’s road to farming hasn’t been typical.

Growing up on dairy and irrigation farms in northern Victoria, Jarrod was just 11 when his father told him he would never be given the family farm. Not to be deterred, Jarrod set about saving for his own patch of land.

“I absolutely love agriculture. I love growing crops. I love being outside. I love agricultural people who are down to earth. Maybe my passion is because my forefathers were in agriculture but I always had a dream to own my own farm. Not just to have my own farm but to raise my family on a farm.

“I think all of us have dreams, but to see a dream fulfilled you have to set some goals and that’s exactly what I did.

By the time I was 20, I had saved enough to buy my own small farm.”

From his humble 24 hectare of irrigation country, Jarrod and Emma have built their business to crop more than 2400 hectares across four properties.

“We got married when I was 22 and it took me until the day I turned 35 for Emma and I to buy our third farm which had a house on it, where we would raise our kids.

So it hasn’t been fast but it’s in starting from nothing that we’ve had to try and do as many things right as we can.”

Jarrod said they have made some costly mistakes along the way, but he’s learned to fail fast and fail forward.

“We have made a lot of mistakes, but failure in itself is not a bad thing. It’s what you do with that failure that matters. It’ll either propel you forward to do bigger and better things, or you will sit there and sulk and retreat.”

Far from sulking, Jarrod has embarked on a program of study to look at what it takes to build a successful business, thanks to his Nuffield Scholarship.

“The thing that I want to focus on is studying what it takes to build and maintain a successful, growing business. I’m extremely grateful for that scholarship as it’s allowed me to partner with different people in different businesses to learn the skills and the disciplines required to create a fantastic, successful business.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re in agriculture or mining or retail.

There are certain skills these businesspeople have and I’m happy to learn from them all.”

The Amery family:

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GROWWITH

H&P

WE’RE LOOKING FOR GOOD PEOPLE TO DELIVER GREAT SUPPORT FOR OUR CUSTOMERS. For more information, visit www.hutcheonandpearce.com.au/careers ALBURY 222 Travelstop Way Albury NSW 2640 Phone: (02) 6058 6800

COWRA 64-68 Young Road Cowra NSW 2794 Phone: (02) 6341 4800

LAKE CARGELLIGO 63 Canada Street, Lake Cargelligo NSW 2672 Phone: (02) 6898 1305

COLEAMBALLY 7 Bencubbin Way Coleambally NSW 2707 Phone: (02) 6954 4280

DUBBO 22R Narromine Road Dubbo NSW 2830 Phone: (02) 6885 3300

ORANGE 26 Scott Place Orange NSW 2800 Phone: (02) 6362 9988

CONDOBOLIN 1a May Street, Condobolin NSW 2877 Phone: (02) 6891 2222

FINLEY 16 Riverina Highway Finley NSW 2713 Phone: (03) 5883 1655

TEMORA 101 Kitchener Road Temora NSW 2666 Phone: (02) 6977 1100

FORBES 56 Angus Clarke Drive Forbes NSW 2871 Phone: (02) 6862 1666

GRIFFITH Cnr Oakes Rd & Irving Place Griffith NSW 2680 Phone: (02) 6969 5300

WAGGA WAGGA 57 Moorong Street Wagga Wagga NSW 2650 Phone: (02) 6933 7900

www.hutcheonandpearce.com.au

WARREN 11 Zora Street Warren NSW 2824 Phone: (02) 6847 3522 TECSight® Support Centre (02) 5924 5111