Group taking lead in farm risk talks

RISK has been the key focus of Birchip Cropping Group’s farm advisory meetings with the farmer-driven organisation taking a lead role across the region in the Grains Research and Development Corporation Riskwi$e research project.

BCG Senior manager research Dr Yolanda Plowman heard from farmers on what they saw were among the biggest areas of risk on farm.

The participatory action research will be used to inform work to help growers manage risk in a future growing in uncertainty. A key finding from the meetings was farmers’ identifying health and wellbeing, as well as relationships, being key areas of risk on farm.

“A clear message from the meetings ... was that health and wellbeing need to be prioritised to reduce financial risk onfarm,” Dr Plowman said.

“It cannot be all work and no play as this not only reduces farmers’ abilities to perform at their best on farm, but work life balance can also affect relationships with those around us, particularly family members.

“As many farms are family businesses, we heard how maintaining good relationships is imperative to the survival of the business with fractures detrimental to a business’s bottom line.”

Dr Plowman said elements raised which are affecting risk levels within the farm business were input costs and the need for more sustainable, less input farming:

“The need for varieties with high resistance to disease, for example, would have several benefits: reduced risk of yield impacts from the disease, which means less inputs which equated to less economic risk.

“Advances such as resistant varieties also reduce in-season decision making which eases pressure on the farmer who is already weighed down by the plethora of decisions needed on farm,” said Dr Plowman.

RiskWi$e is a five-year national initiative running until 2028.

It seeks to understand and improve the risk-reward outcomes for Australian grain growers by supporting grower on-farm decision-making.

Four top Merino ribbons at Sheepvention

KERRILYN Merino and Poll Merino Stud has been awarded four top prizes at Hamilton Sheepvention this week.

The Dunluce stud of Norm Weir took out the champion medium ram, medium ewe, strong ewe and medium poll ram. Kerrilyn also sold three rams at the Sheepvention auction conducted on Tuesday. Among judges at Sheepvention was Terrick West stud’s co-principal Claire McGauchie who tomorrow will answer questions from prospective buyers before the Loddon’s first on-property ram sale of the season at the Prairie West property.

Sheep

THERE was a slight lift in supply to 9450 lambs at Bendigo on Monday, the increase coming from around 1500 new season young lambs.

It was another winter yarding of varying quality that drew mixed support from the regular field of buyers.

The best trade and heavy old lambs were firm to $8 dearer, but any odd lots or drafts in long seedy skins continued to wear harsh discounts.

The market for plain trade and light lambs also remained under pressure and nearly all lamb categories under 22kg cwt trended lower.

Merino lambs were also caught up in the cheaper trend, buyers questioning selling agents about possible carcass seed issues on several lines.

New season lambs are starting to dribble in, with two stand-out heavy trade lots estimated 24-26kg cwt selling for $150 and $154 at close to 600c/kg cwt.

One agency also had a big run of very small and immature young crossbred lambs, consigned from southern NSW, which sold from $22 to $58/head.

Export grade old season lambs $150 to a top of $180; heavy crossbreds 26-30kg cwt $132 to $158, and neatest trades $120 to $133.

All these good processing lambs estimated at 470c to 520c/kg cwt.

There was a lot of light and plainer lambs which sold from $30 to $116 at varying rates, spreading from 200c to 400c/ kg cwt.

The mutton market was cheaper, heavy sheep affected the most to drop $30/head.

Big crossbred ewes to processors $55 to $82, with restockers paying to $118.

There was a lot of sheep priced from $30 to $60, with the most secondary light sheep down to $3 and rams as low as $1/ head. Most mutton was estimated between 150c to 250c/kg cwt.

Suckers

R & C Glen Mathoura (104) $154. W & R Farming Macorna (68) $150. D & D Scott Bunnaloo (20) $144.

Crossbred Lambs

W & H Ladson Mincha West (42) $168. A & T Cole Neilborough (57) $164. FS Cockcroft & Sons Myall (55) $157. Lehmann Family Trust Kerang (147) $155. WF & V Bourke Charlton (23) $155. JM Hiscock & Sons Pyalong (113) $150. S Dorrington, Marong (40) $149. Ian Whatley Goornong (44) $146. DJ & EN McIntyre St Arnaud (37) $134. AJ Sands Corack East (58) $134. F & M Schmidt Pyramid Hill (42) $133. Slater Farming Corack East (40) $132.

MERINO LAMBS

O Toose Boort (61) $132.

MERINO WETHERS

WA & M Thompson Tooborac (95) $76.

Crossbred Ewes

D & D Scott Bunnaloo (56) $80. JM Hiscock Pyalong (48) $80. SJ & MV Trewick Elmore (40) $70. F & M Schmidt Pyramid Hill (66) $65.

MERINO EWES

D & C Gunther Pyramid Hill (234) $75. WD & BJ Jones Donald (132) $75. Ravenshoe Ravenswood (21) $60. D & F Williams St Arnaud (23) $56.

Order of sales next week: Nevins, Elders, McKean McGregor, Nuttall, Nutrien.

Grain

Boort Grain Co-op prices Monday.

Wheat – H1 $381.25 FIS . H2 $362.25 FIS.

APW1 $352 FIS. ASW $345 FIS. AGP1 $342 FIS. SFW1 $342 FIS. FED1 $330 FIS.

Barley - PL1 $328 FIS. SP1 $328 FIS. Bar1 $302 FIS. Bar2 $274 FIS. Bar3 $260 FIS. Bar4 $255 FIS. Faba1 $385 FIS. Faba2 $385 FIS. Canola- Non GM ISCC +/- AOF $688.50 FIS. NON GM CANOLA +/- AOF $678.75 FIS. *GM CANOLA - ISCC +/- AOF $663.75 FIS. *GM CANOLA +/- AOF **CANGS $654 FIS.

On Property Ram Sale

On Property Ram Sale

FRIDAY 18 TH AUGUST 2023

FRIDAY

FRIDAY 18 TH AUGUST 2023

Genomic tested and ASBVS available on the top 80 Rams

Genomic tested and ASBVS available on the top 80 Rams

Also see us at: Victorian State Merino Field Day Marnoo - 28th July

Also see us at: Victorian State Merino Field Day Marnoo - 28th July