Agriculture Digest issue 3

2023

Issue #3

Agrıculture Dıgest

A MAGAZINE FOR THOSE ON THE LAND: AGRICULTURAL ISSUES, INSIGHTS, INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY, THE ENVIRONMENT, MACHINERY, PEOPLE, TOWNS...

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W E L C O M E

Agrıculture Dıgest Welcome to Issue three of Agriculture Digest: a magazine that analyses current agricultural issues from the perspective of those who make a living off the land.

We talk about the environment and how it affects us as primary producers. We showcase the innovation and technology that’s changing our sector and keeping us at the forefront of the agricultural industry worldwide. And we share real stories about real people that provide insights into rural and regional Australia and its diverse culture and towns.

We hope you enjoy this issue.

editorial inquiries editorial@agriculturedigest.com.au

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cover Lynne Beclu, iStockPhoto All content is the property of Agriculture Digest and can only be reproduced with the express permission of Monachello Publishing.

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DIVERSIFICATION

All mixed up

16 A G T E C H Agriculture's digital dawn 24 A G R O F O R E S T R Y The benefits of agroforestry and planting trees on farms 32 F A R M E R

INTERVIEW

Stuart Austin: A fresh approach to farming with Wilmot Cattle Co

disclaimer This publication is intended as an information source only and is not in any way an endorsement of any product or service mentioned. Every effort has been made to ensure the information in this publication is up to date and correct at time of printing. The publisher does not accept responsibility for any errors, omissions or inaccuracies. No representation is made as to the quality or suitability for any purpose of any goods or services offered by any organisations in this publication.

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38 T O W N S Gympie: the town that saved Queensland 41

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D I G E S T

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BUILDING A MORE PROFITABLE FARM THROUGH DIVERSIFICATION w: Amber Howison

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A G R I C U LT U R E

ALL MIXED UP

D I G E S T

D I V E R S I F I C AT I O N

D I V E R S I F I C AT I O N

D I V E R S I F Y I N G W I T H L I V E S T O C K

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D I G E S T

Introducing a new animal industry to your farm doesn’t just give you the opportunity to increase your productivity and profitability, it can also impact the quality of your farm itself.

For instance, legume pastures grazed by livestock can boost the nitrogen and carbon in your soil.

Here are some further ideas that may work for your farm:

DEER

G O AT S

Farmed for meat, hunting and velvet, deer will happily graze alongside sheep but require high fences complete with netting.

Goats easily cross-graze with other livestock, and their preference for eating woody weeds helps with weed control.

ALPAC A S

B U FFA LO

HONEY BEES

Alpacas thrive in similar conditions to Merino sheep and, if run with sheep or goats, will bond with them and protect them from foxes. Their soft feet are ideal for fragile soils.

Farmed across Australia, consumer demand for buffalo meat and milk is growing.

Buffalos produce a rich milk that is perfect to be made into cheeses such as mozzarella and yoghurt.

Bees are another growing industry, with beeswax, honeycomb and royal jelly just some of the additional hive products they can generate. They’re also great for pollination.

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D I V E R S I F I C AT I O N

There’s nothing new about diversification.

In fact, adding complementary crops or livestock to supplement your main activity, is almost as old as farming itself. But since the 1980s, Australian farmers have been taking diversification to whole new levels.

As more and more farmers broaden their output, we’ve rounded up the latest trends in complementary crops and livestock.

sorghum, teff, chickpeas or lentils to a wheat farm can mitigate the With Australian farmers finding risk posed by a wheat-specific themselves under ever-increasing disease or pest.

Then, of course, there are the financial, environmental and environmental benefits, with a market pressures, many are broader approach to planting turning to diversification as and livestock often resulting in a means of generating higher better quality soil and greater returns from their land, sustainability. spreading risk, and building A 2020 Iowa State University resilience into their businesses. study showed that on farms Adding a new plant or animal across the world, crop enterprise to an existing farm diversification maintained can increase both productivity and profitability, helping farmers or even increased yield while turn otherwise unprofitable parts simultaneously producing better environmental outcomes. These of the farm into new revenue included increased pollination, streams. For example, a herd of milk or meat goats can be run on better quality, more cost-effective steep or rocky land unsuitable for pest regulation through natural predators, increased nutrient other livestock or crops.

Diversifying is also a clever way turnover, and higher levels of of spreading the risk from factors carbon sequestration in the soil.

Many farmers also report like disease, pests and drought. experiencing personal gains Adding a heat and drought through farm diversification, tolerant crop such as millet, STRENGTH THROUGH DIVERSITY

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D I V E R S I F I C AT I O N

“Diversifying is also a clever way of spreading the risk from factors like disease, pests & drought.”

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D I V E R S I F I C AT I O N

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such as the challenge and satisfaction of learning a new skill and starting a new business.

Some also noted an increase in interest in their farm from other family members, such as their adult children.

PLANTING A NEW CROP

If you’re looking to diversify by broadening your planting, you have plenty of options. In fact, there are more than 5,000 plant food species, many of which can have wider implications for your farm than just giving you a new revenue stream. − Pulse crops such as lentils, chickpeas, fava beans and lupins have been shown to take less nitrogen from the soil than wheat or canola, reducing the need for fertilisers. − The pasture seeds industry, focused on temperate species such as medics, lucerne, serradella, sub-clover and clover, produces around 20,600 tonnes of seed per year and continues to grow. − Rice, ginger and tea tree oil are all expanding in Australia too.

SETTING UP FOR SUCCESS

But before rushing out to plant a paddock of chickpeas or buy a herd of deer, it’s important

to consider which type of diversification is right for your farm. Factors to take into consideration include: − Your farm’s environmental conditions, such as size, location, soil quality, access to water and climate − Your stage of life and succession plans − Your tolerance for risk and debt − The workload involved in your potential diversification options − How the new crop or stock complements and integrates with your existing business.

Remember to bear in mind the importance of marketing too. If you opt for a specialised product with a niche market, getting the word out and connecting with buyers will be crucial to making your diversification a success.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

If being at the cutting edge of Australian agriculture appeals to you, you could consider diversifying with one of several newly emerging agricultural industries.

AgriFutures Australia has identified several new industries with high growth potential, including native flora such as seaweeds, Kakadu plum, and native pepper, as well as

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recent additions to Australian agriculture like coffee, quinoa, hazelnuts and industrial hemp.

Emerging animal industries include working dogs, game birds, sea urchins, camel milk and crocodile.

AgriFutures Australia has even gone so far as to identify the next generation of potential agriculture industries. Asian vegetables, hydroponic hops, medicinal marijuana, hemp milk, hydroponic berries and insect farming all make the list.

These nascent industries are well placed to meet changing global and local demand and may well one day have an important economic, social and environmental impact on Australia and the world.

IN SHORT

While diversification has always been with us, changing tastes, emerging markets and a growing population means that there has never been a better time to try something new.

Best of all, many of these ideas require little upfront capital, meaning the downside is small but the potential gain is enormous.

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A G R I C U LT U R E

D I G E S T

A G T E C H

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HOW FARMERS ARE USING AGTECH TO TRANSFORM THEIR BUSINESS

w: Alison Bone p: Annie Spratt, Unsplash

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A G R I C U LT U R E

AGRICULTURE’S DIGITAL DAWN

D I G E S T

A G T E C H

A G T E C H

Australia’s variable weather conditions have always posed a challenge for our agricultural sector. Recently, however, farmers have been using the power of agricultural technology (AgTech) to de-risk the effects of the weather and optimise their day-to-day operations.

Agronomeye CEO and co-founder, Stu Adam, says the reason the digital revolution is Digitisation has already happening right now is that falling costs have disrupted industries put cutting-edge tech such as financial within the reach of services, logistics and average farmers. retail. Now agriculture “Until recently is in the midst of its own people haven’t been tech revolution, says able to engage in digital Chris Mendes, Chief technology because it was Technology Officer at too expensive, but that The Yield Technology is all changing with the Solutions. creation of data sets that “You hear about can be reused,” he says. digital transformation “Anything that can be in other industries, and digitised will be,” Adam we are living through that now in agriculture,” says. “Agriculture is no exception.” he says.

Mendes, whose business aims to W E AT H ER T H E MAIN GAME transform food and agricultural practices at The main factor that the farm level, speaks many of today’s AgTech from a position of companies have in authority. The Yield, common is that they’re which taps into the targeting ways to mollify power of artificial the effects of Australia’s intelligence (AI) and notoriously challenging smart sensors to collect weather patterns. masses of hyper-local While some weather weather data, has technology may attracted the attention seem ‘out there’, from of high profile partners. nanosatellites to These include Yamaha, supercomputers, most UTS Sydney and tech agricultural digital giant Microsoft, which platforms are rooted featured The Yield in at ground level, on the a global ad campaign farm. They require demonstrating the the input of farmers potential of AI. themselves and aim to Another Australian supplement and build on AgTech entrepreneur, their existing knowledge

A G R I C U LT U R E

D I G E S T

REDUCED COSTS DRIVING A D I G I TA L REVOLUTION

and experience. Central to how they operate is collecting masses of relevant data using sensors, which can be attached to everything, from infrastructure to animals and plants.

Sensing technology has advanced significantly in recent years with data now transmittable through the Internet of Things (IoT) – a network of objects that can be connected wirelessly.

This data can then be processed and analysed

by AI and converted into usable information with practical on-farm applications.

Mendes says that the sheer volume of data that farmers can now gather with little effort should allow them to detect even the smallest changes and factor them into their planning.

“From data to decision, we turn complex information into key insights by giving growers the right digital tools to consistently and accurately manage risk, and that has a huge impact,” Mendes says.

“There’s definitely a drive from growers who are experiencing the effects of climate

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change. What we do is important, because something that may have been reasonably predictable in the past, just isn’t so anymore.”

GETTING INTO THE MICRO D E TA I L

The Yield’s patented technology observes and forecasts microclimate conditions right on the farm, providing a level of precision and accuracy not obtainable through normal satellite imagery.

Sensors measure conditions in real-time, from air temperature to humidity, sunlight, wind speed and direction, rainfall, leaf wetness and soil moisture. This information is collated with other relevant data such as gridded weather forecasts and customer data, then analysed by AI to provide hyper-local forecasts that farmers can use to make better decisions.

“With a gridded forecast you’re generally getting predictions for a four-kilometre by fourkilometre cell. It’s a big area and just because the weather bureau says there is rain in the cell, it doesn’t mean your farm will have any,” Mendes explains.

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D I G E S T

A G T E C H

“People have been putting weather stations on farms for decades but now we are able to translate that directly into what a grower needs to know.”

Mendes says The Yield has proven to be particularly beneficial for spraying, with one recent study showing microclimate data gave farmers 20% more opportunity to spray than relying on standard weather forecasts. This can have a major impact on harvest volume and can be the defining difference between an A- and B-quality crop.

Knowing the right time to spray also results in less chemistry, less wastage and easier compliance with environmental issues.

For Tahbilk, Victoria’s oldest family-run winery and vineyard, The Yield has brought multiple benefits, including reducing water usage.

“The Yield enables us to track the number of variables, so we can analyse the water available to the vines across different profiles,” says Lachie Thomas, Tahbilk’s Environment & Vineyard Research Analyst. “This knowledge means we can run our irrigation with greater efficacy, only watering when necessary.”

“Understanding soil moisture also means we can time our fertigations so that valuable nutrients don’t simply leach through the profile and disappear below the root zone.”

BRINGING WAT ER TO A DRY LAND

Based in Goondiwindi, Goanna Ag has been leading the way in the sensing business for 15 years and is committed to solving the challenges Australia’s agricultural sector poses when it comes to cost and connectivity. One solution has been to adopt LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) technology.

Already widely used on European farms, this low power, long-range, on-farm gateway can connect to thousands of sensors.

Goanna Ag recently collaborated with another Australian business, Myriota, a global leader in low-cost nano-satellite technology, to help farmers better manage their water resources.

To help stream data more rapidly, the two businesses connected remote sensors with an ever-growing constellation of nanosatellites orbiting the earth at an altitude of 600 kilometres.

The resulting products, GoRain and GoTank, allow farmers to continually monitor widely distributed water assets, from rainfall gauges to water tanks and troughs and receive real-time information, notifications and alerts.

Agronomeye is also helping farmers manage water assets through its 3D modelling technology, joining

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“FROM DATA TO DECISION, WE TURN COMPLEX INFORMATION INTO KEY INSIGHTS BY GIVING GROWERS THE RIGHT DIGITAL TOOLS TO CONSISTENTLY AND ACCURATELY MANAGE RISK, AND THAT HAS A HUGE IMPACT.” – CHRIS MENDES, CTO, THE YIELD

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“FARMERS NEED CLARITY AND CONFIDENCE TO MAKE DECISIONS, OR TO BE PREVENTED FROM MAKING THE WRONG DECISION, AND TECHNOLOGY CAN PROVIDE THE TOOLS TO HELP THEM DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.” – STU ADAM, CEO AGRONOMEYE

forces with Microsoft and CSIRO, to provide farmers with an engaging, ultra-highresolution, bird’s eye view of their farms.

Their digital foundation, known as AgTwin, provides a highly detailed view of the landscape – or digital twin – that Adam describes as, “a dynamic, living, breathing version of the farm which can be analysed to give great insight to farmers, from where to build a dam, to livestock monitoring to the placement of gravity-fed pipes.”

Once the digital foundation – or home base – is laid, all kinds of software and hardware integrations can be added, from soil data to sensors to forecasts and satellite imagery.

“We look at how the landscape is physically formed to see how water flows across it, and from that, we can determine where we could be more efficient,” Adam explains. From preventing erosion and land degradation to moving water away from waterlogged areas to better placement

of dams and creating shade belts for livestock, the model has endless applications for farmers.

“Digital transformation isn’t going to solve problems overnight, but it can help those on the land secure the land for future generations.

We want to unlock the future of farming, by delivering critical data in a way that enables landholders to see more and do better,” Adam says.

“Farmers need clarity and confidence to make decisions, or to be prevented from making

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the wrong decision, and technology can provide the tools to help them do what they want to do.”

“What if your farm could be kept out of drought longer, or brought out of drought sooner?” Adam asks.

For many Australian farmers, the answer could be the difference between profitability and precariousness.

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THE BENEFITS OF AGROFORESTRY AND PLANTING TREES ON FARMS HOW PLANTING TREES CAN HELP FARMERS INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY AND CREATE A REVENUE STREAM w: Emma Sorensen

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A G R O F O R E S T R Y

T H E I M P O RTA N CE O F T R EE S FO R CL I M AT E CHANGE

Tree planting is front and centre when it comes to fighting the climate crisis. As humanitarian organisation World Vision argues, tree planting is one of the simplest and most effective ways of tackling climate change caused by greenhouse gas, because trees are natural carbon capture and storage machines. Through the process of photosynthesis they absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) as they grow.

But, as the number of failed afforestation attempts around the world show, it’s not as simple as just popping a seed or seedling into the ground. While many tree-planting initiatives boast large numbers of plantings, what you plant, and where and how you plant it, is just as important – as is maintaining tree health.

In fact, according to Yale Environment 360, scientists argue that: “failed afforestation projects around the world threaten to undermine efforts to make planting a credible means of countering climate change by reducing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere or generating carbon credits for sale to companies to offset their emissions.”

IN NOVEMBER 2022, DELEGATES FROM THE NATIONAL FARMERS FEDERATION AND AUSTRALIAN FOREST PRODUCTS ASSOCIATION JOINTLY ATTENDED COP27, TO DEMONSTRATE HOW CLIMATE SMART FARMING AND FORESTRY COULD HELP AUSTRALIA REDUCE EMISSIONS, FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE AND INCREASE FOOD, FIBRE AND TIMBER PRODUCTION.

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D I G E S T

There are benefits to planting trees on farms that stretch well beyond economic and environmental, and the fight against climate change is just one of the many motivating factors behind the recent push for ‘agroforestry’.

Planting trees on farms can improve habitats for biodiversity, which adds to natural pest control and helps sustain the ecosystem in which the farm exists. Trees have also been shown to increase productivity by providing shade, shelter and other benefits for stock, crops or pasture. One study from Forest and Wood Products Australia found tree planting had the potential to increase pasture productivity by 30%.

Data from not-for-profit, Soils for Life, shows that trees planted as shelterbelts can reduce wind speeds by up to 50%. Tree planting can also decrease soil erosion and salinity, improving both soil and water quality.

These days, tree planting can also provide a genuine

additional income source, either as a commercial harvest or as a means through which to store carbon, as a 2018 paper from the CSIRO Agroforestry: realising the triple bottom line benefits of trees in the landscape argues.

Strong financial incentives exist in the burgeoning area of private forestry. Tree Alliance, a marketing campaign run by Private Forests Tasmania, quotes World Bank data that says global demand for timber is expected to quadruple by 2050, thanks to growing demand from industries as diverse as building, biofuels and biochemicals.

All these positives exist alongside the less tangible, but equally important, social and community benefits of a regenerated landscape.

And proponents argue that agroforestry has the potential to help on another level, by addressing big global challenges in food production, environmental protection and climate change.

A G R I C U LT U R E

THE ROLE OF TREES I N AG R I C U LT U R E A N D FARMING

A G R O F O R E S T R Y

C H A R L E S M A S S Y

Keen to hit ESG targets and make a tangible difference, many big name corporations – and individuals – are behind other tree planting and reforestation programs. Australian dairy and grocery producer, Bega Group, has been encouraging dairy farmers to move to sustainable practices, including funding tree planting on farms, since 2014. At last year’s COP27, food giant Nestlé announced that, as a part of a global program, it will plant 10 million trees in Australia by 2025.

Charles Massy, regenerative farming advocate, author and fifth generation farmer has planted over 60,000 trees since the 1980's on his sheep farm outside of Cooma, NSW, transforming it in the process.

D I G E S T A G R I C U LT U R E

C O R P O R AT E I N V E S T M E N T I N T R E E S

Made famous with his groundbreaking 2011 book, Breaking the Sheep’s Back, more recently he published a new book which outlines his now successful regenerative, ecological mission.

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Nestlé entered into a 28-year partnership with tree-planting organisations Greening Australia, One Tree Planted and Canopy, to ensure that the carefully chosen biodiverse mix of native plant species will be maintained and cared for as they grow.

At the time of the announcement, Nestlé Oceania CEO Sandra Martinez said: “Our long-term commitment is about more than just planting trees.

The reforestation program works to conserve local biodiversity, and advance regenerative food and farming systems – delivering environmental and economic benefits to communities.”

C A L L O F T H E R E E D W A R B L E R : N E W A G R I C U LT U R E ­– A N E W E A R T H

by Charles Massy

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POWERED BY

A G R I C U LT U R E

D I G E S T

A G R O F O R E S T R Y

“DATA SHOWS THAT OVER HALF OF AUSTRALIA’S LAND IS AGRICULTURAL, SO FARMERS HAVE A CRITICAL ROLE TO PLAY WHEN IT COMES TO ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT.” GOVERNMENTS ENCOURAGE TREE GROWTH

In 2020, the World Economic Forum launched One Trillion Trees, which aims to mobilise a global movement to conserve, restore and grow one trillion trees globally by 2030.

Federal, state and local governments across Australia have similarly announced many tree planting initiatives over recent years, not all of which have been fully realised due to issues including bushfires.

The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, with assistance from Landcare, is behind The 20 Million Trees Program, initiated in 2014 to re-establish green corridors, urban forests and threatened ecological communities.

In mid-2021, a review found the program had regenerated over 30,000 hectares establishing 29,508,062 trees of over two metres.

GET PLANTING

Data shows that over half of Australia’s land is agricultural, so farmers have a critical role to play when it comes to environmental management.

There are many grants available to encourage agroforestry and biodiversity by supporting farmers to plant trees. These range from those encouraging the regeneration of native ecosystems to more economically minded forestry initiatives with the potential to provide an additional income stream.

In 2022, the federal Clean Energy Regulator invited farmers to get involved in its Environmental Plantings Pilot, by establishing a tree planting project and selling Australian carbon credit units (ACCUs) to the Australian Government.

There are also several pilots underway across the country, from Queensland to South Australia, through the Australian Government’s Agriculture Biodiversity Stewardship

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Package, which encourages private investment in biodiversity and other sustainability opportunities.

Niche organisations such as Bee Friendly Farming also offer tree grants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 to farmers across the country.

Schemes also exist to connect landowners with trees or tree planting organisations. The University of Melbourne’s Trees on Farms is an online portal connecting landowners with investors to grow timber, carbon or increase biodiversity on their property, for conservation or for profit. And other local organisations, including the Otway Agroforestry Network in Victoria, are helping farmers in a particular region embrace the benefits of increasing tree cover on farms.

There are also forestry initiatives, like the Farm Forestry Assist Grants that are available for Western Australian farmers to plant radiata pine.

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10/11/2023 20:33

NEEDING TO REPLACE THAT FENCE… AGAIN?

“Our pickets provide a solution to an ongoing, frustrating and expensive problem that so many farmers experience” says Matt Oliver from EnduraPost. “The fact that our products won’t rust or rot away are just two of the amazing benefits to these great Aussie inventions”.

Dreaming of having a fence that lasts a lifetime? There is one cost producers would rather avoid and that’s redoing a fence because it’s rusted out or rotting away. If you’re tired of redoing fence lines because the steel simply rusts out after a few years, then EnduraPost has the perfect solution for you. No matter what type of soil or land you manage (salty, acidic, alkaline, swampy, wet, dry, rocky, sandy, red, or black soil) you won’t be disappointed in their square pickets or droppers.

The EnduraPost pickets and droppers are a superior and environmentally sustainable alternative to timber or steel products. They are made locally by an award-winning Australian company called Plastic Forests.

The manufacture process uses HDPP plastic recycled from reclaimed woven polypropylene fertilizer bulka bags and animal feed bags.

This rusty old star picket is no longer supporting the fence, rather the wire is just holding it together…

“We all want to play our part in recycling and creating a circular economy but you’re not really recycling until you buy recycled” David Hodge MD of Plastic Forests

for now at least!

These solid square pickets have a huge number of benefits. They’re waterproof and insulated making them perfect for electric fencing, thus eliminating the cost of insulators. As many hot wires as needed can be run through them without any extra cost. A common belief is because these pickets are plastic, they’ll go soft in the heat or burn easily. This isn’t the case as they’re made using the toughest soft plastic available and are formulated during manufacture to increase strength and durability. Additional benefits are they’re termite-proof and won’t rot away like timber can.

Another problem with rusted out steel pickets is the corrosive damage they cause to the wire.

Whether its four or 54 years, the EnduraPost square picket will never rust out. It’s better for the longevity of the wire too, meaning it won’t rust out when it vibrates against the picket. The galvanized coating on the wire will be protected for many more years.

Millions of new steel pickets are used every year to replace rusted out steel pickets. Why solve a problem with a problem? Build a fence using EnduraPost Square Pickets and you may never need to replace it again!

They’re UV treated and have passed the longest accelerated UV test of 50 years.

AUSTRALIAN MADE RECYCLED PLASTIC COMPOSITE PICKETS & DROPPERS RUST FREE, CANNOT ROT OR CORRODE TERMITE PROOF & HEAT RESISTANT UP 350⁰C. UV STABLE, TESTED TO 50+ YEARS ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE INSULATED, TOUGH AND DURABLE BUILD IT TO LAST

endurapost.com.au 1300 037 678

They have been put to the test against heat and fire and can withstand up to 350⁰C, adequate protection against most grass fires.

Matt says “My brother Dave and I saw these products last year after they had been in development for two years and we knew straight away that we had to get them to hard-working farmers and producers across Australia. We grew up and still work on the land, experiencing firsthand the frustration and everincreasing cost of fencing. Alot of producers ask us ‘Where were these?’ when they had to replace that 10-year-old fence a few years back. Some Producers with wet or salty soil types are telling us that the galvanized steel pickets are only lasting for five years. Timber droppers and stakes are also becoming very difficult to find, so we believe we have a real solution for that problem too. Think of it as an investment for the future that’s also dealing with our plastic waste in the right way. Square pickets are also great as reusable stakes for tomato production and tree planting.

We are working across Australia to show our products at the many Ag shows. Please come and see us as we’d love to have a chat and help solve a problem or two”.

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Stuart Austin A FRESH APPROACH TO FARMING WITH WILMOT CATTLE CO w: Ralph Grayden

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How did you become involved in farming?

I used to spend every holiday on my grandparents’ farm in the Upper Murray. Both my parents had grown up on farms and had seen some pretty ordinary times so they knew just how tough farming could be. They didn’t want that life for their son.

However, when I left school I enrolled in a Rural Science degree at UNE in Armidale.

I didn’t actually get there, because I went jackarooing in the Northern Territory and I loved it. I loved the work. I loved being up North. I loved everything about it. I briefly tried something different by working on a roadworks crew and I even went on a working holiday to Canada.

But I soon found myself working on farms and ranches over there too. I couldn’t stay away.

While I was in Canada I started an agricultural recruitment company, which became quite successful but changes to the visa process in Australia in 2013 virtually killed the business here overnight.

Did you eventually end up going back to tertiary study?

Each year my mother would send me the university enrolment forms to try and get me to go back to fulltime study. I was 28 when I relented and enrolled in Agribusiness at Marcus Oldham College.

I was actually really lucky doing my degree as a mature age student because I could see how

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my experience working on farms and in my own businesses all fitted together.

What did you do when you finished studying?

I really wanted to get back to managing farms so I went back to the Northern Territory, to join my now wife Trish, and I worked as a station manager for Charles Sturt University, while she worked in extension for the DPI. We also started another successful business together, this time a beef bull breeding business.

The next turning point in my career came when I enrolled in RCS Australia’s ‘Grazing for Profit’ (GFP) course. It’s a weeklong course, which is run around the country, and it promises to improve the health of your land, improve the relationships in your business and increase the resilience of your operation.

I was fortunate insofar as I’d been exposed to other producers who’d studied GFP and I really looked up to them. These were guys who had their houses in order. They were financially stable and they could afford to do things like taking holidays. They weren’t always out just having to chase a dollar.

You and Trish now work as General Manager and Group Business Analyst at Wilmot Cattle Co, who are innovators in farming and have a strong ecological focus. How did that happen?

D I G E S T

Stuart Austin came from a family of farmers but his parents tried to warn him off a life on the land.

Since then, his love of farming and entrepreneurial nature have combined to deliver a satisfying career in agriculture.

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We were recruited to run Wilmot’s beef producing property in the NSW New England area in 2016. We could see right away their values aligned with ours.

The family who owns Wilmot have been very supportive of everything we’ve done and they have a strong growth mindset.

A couple of years in, we sat down together and worked out a strategic approach to shore up the business and reduce risk. We agreed that we needed to expand our operations and I oversaw Wilmot’s expansion, which now includes four separate farms in the New England Tablelands.

Moving stock around is crucial to the way Wilmot operates. Can you tell us about how that works?

To place less strain on the land and the cattle’s food supply, we have large herds that graze on a small area for a short period of time before moving on. Our herds might not come back to the same patch for 30-to-40 days or

even up to 90 days in winter. This gives the pasture the opportunity to fully recover.

By doing this, we’re really mimicking mother nature. If you look at buffalos and other herds, this is how they graze. We have more financial accountability than most farming businesses and ultimately we’re here to make a profit.

There are strong ecological foundations for this approach but there is also a strong business case for it. Because we don’t have to continually buy fertiliser, the cost of inputs into our business has fallen dramatically. We don’t have to produce as much to make the same profit and that also mitigates risk.

determining all of our decisions, such as when to restock, how many head of cattle we can support, and when to sell.

Ultimately, farms are multi-million dollar businesses and if you look at other multi-million dollar businesses outside of agriculture, most operate this way. The thing is, anyone can manage the way we do, making the transition from more conventional methods is not as expensive as most think.

With farming, there are always going to be things you can manage and things you can’t. What data gives us is the power to focus on and manage what we can control.

What GFP taught me is not to stress over the rainfall or the market because there’s nothing we can do to influence them. Just focus on what you can manage.

Can you explain the role data plays in the business too?

We rely heavily on data to make smarter business decisions. We’ve Find out more at automated our data collection wilmotcattleco.com.au. so that we’re always aware of six factors: rainfall, soil condition, grass, cattle, our cash levels and the market. This goes into

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ANGUS & MERINO Strong Genetics Australia Wide Upcoming Sales & Events Northern Performance Angus Bull Sale 2023 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . August 3 New England Sale TAMWORTH 2023 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . August 8 Spring sale COOMA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . September 7 Monaro Ram Sale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . October 20 Elite Ram Sale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . every February

Please visit our website for more details www.hazeldean.com.au

Grain poisoning is the biggest health issue facing grain fed sheep It can cause loss of appetite, minimise weight gains, induce scouring and lameness and, at times, result in death. Nutrimax Ruminant Feedlot 4% contains a proven buffer that helps regulate the acidity of the rumen that is the cause of grain poisoning.

Nutrimax Ruminant Feedlot 4% provides for a safer induction and minimises the risk of grain poisoning throughout your feeding period.

Ruminant Feedlot 4% Grain Additive To find out more contact Rivalea on 02 6033 8062, your local reseller or see:

nutrimaxgrainadditive.com.au

Sumo Wagyu Annual Bull Sale

WORLD FAMOUS GENETICS AVAILABLE!

ON-FARM AND ONLINE AUCTION

Sale on farm:

8 Four Farms Lane, Southgate NSW 2460 On offer a selection of: ● BULLS ● FEMALES ● EMBRYOS ● SEMEN

SUMO WAGYU - MARKET LEADERS IN FULLBLOOD WAGYU GENETICS Contact: enquiries@sumowagyu.com P: (07) 3715 6602 | Mobile: 0438 200 294 www.sumowagyu.com �

TUESDAY 8 AUGUST 2023 11am AEST Elders Agent: James Matts E: james.matts@elders.com.au P: 0421 063 501

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Gympie: the town that saved Queensland

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Situated 168km north of Brisbane, Gympie is one of Queensland’s most important agricultural towns, but farming isn’t what it has always been known for. The town first came to prominence in 1867, when a gold discovery kickstarted ‘one of the wildest gold rushes in Queensland’s history’. w: Ralph Grayden

The colony of Queensland was broke at the time, having recently separated from New South Wales. The colonial government tried to kickstart the local economy – and drive population growth – by offering a £3,000 reward to anyone who found gold. Local farmer James Nash soon discovered rich deposits near the Mary River and the ensuing influx of prospectors, as well as the income from the goldfields, earned Gympie the moniker ‘the town that saved Queensland’.

Nash claimed his reward but the government got off on a technicality (they said the gold needed to be found within a particular 90-mile area and Gympie was just outside it). They later agreed to pay him £1,000.

Fortunately, Nash’s discovery was fruitful and the Gympie goldfields yielded more than £14,000,000, £7,000 of which reportedly went directly to Nash.

Unfortunately, he lost it all on bad investments.

Well before any of this, Gympie was the established home of the local Gubbi Gubbi people who gave the town its name. Gympie derives from ‘gimpi-gimpi’, the Gubbi Gubbi word for a nasty local tree that counts among the world’s most venomous plants. (‘Once stung, never forgotten’, says Australian Geographic.) Later, it became home to Labor Prime Minister, Andrew Fisher, who found his way out of the local mines to represent the federal division of Wide Bay before serving as PM for three separate terms.

Today, agriculture is Gympie’s most important sector and the Gympie region’s total output for growing, processing and selling food and beverage is over $650 million a year. It also employs more than 3,000 people. Key produce includes dairy, beef and other livestock production, as well as fruit and vegetables, especially macadamia nuts. Gympie played a decisive part in the growth of the macadamia industry worldwide.

The origins of as many as 70% of

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the nuts commercially produced in the world today can potentially be traced back to a single tree taken from Gympie to Hawaii in the 19th Century.

One of the reasons for Gympie’s impressive agricultural productivity is its climate. The town receives 1,118mm of rainfall a year with a peak in summer and early autumn. February alone receives an average of 166mm of rain. That also means Gympie is notorious for its floods. In February this year, the Mary River peaked at 22.8m, subduing more than 1,000 homes. It was the third time the two had been inundated in the past 13 years.

That hasn’t deterred people from moving to the town. With its proximity to the Sunshine Coast beaches, thriving local economy, abundant parks and relatively low cost of living, homebuyers have recently been flocking to Gympie. This caused the median house price to rise 30.9% in a year prior to mid 2022 according to realestate.com.au.

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Lees, William. (1899). The goldfields of Queensland : Gympie goldfield, http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-415760312

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Featuring sons of:

SITZ STELLAR 726D

2023 ALPINE ANGUS SPRING BULL SALE

WEDNESDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER 2023 AT 1PM

60 HBR & APR ANGUS BULLS

Also featuring sons of:

At the Alpine Sales Complex, Rosewhite

• ALPINE PABLOS PULSE P348

alpineangus.com.au Chris Oswin: 0427 562 254

• ALPINE JUNIOR M205 • LAWSONS MOMENTOUS M518 • COONAMBLE LEADER Q500 • ALPINE QUALIFIER Q211

Suzy Martin: 0418 577 627 Jim Delany: 0408 535 658

Tandara Angus Stud

On Property Sale ~ September 2nd 2023 ~ 12 noon

34 Yearling Bulls

4 x Millah Murrah Paratrooper NMM P15 10 x Mogck Entice USA 18952921 5 x Promised Land Beast Mode PRO R289

8 x S Power Point USA 18159093 2 x Chiltern Park Moe GTN M6 5 x Farrer M17 NFS M17

23 Bulls suitable for Heifers Bulls will be 11 - 14 months on Sale Day

Open Day Saturday August 26th 9a.m. - 1p.m.

Mobile: 0427 701887 or Elders, Dorrigo.

“Invest in Tandara Bulls to increase your Profit Margin”

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Whilst the Litchfield family have been involved in agriculture for more than 150 years, they are innovators, constantly evolving the management of their properties and livestock practices to remain at the forefront of emerging technologies and genetics.

The Hazeldean Litchfield business specialises in the production of superior seedstock for the beef and wool

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expanded their pastoral interests even further in marketing bulls in Queensland, NSW and South Australia.

Jim’s daughter Bea and son-in-law Ed are coming through the ranks to succeed the business whilst raining two sons, Stirling and Fred.

2023 will see four bull sales and two ram sales. The Autumn bull sale is on the 4th May, QLD sale is the 3rd August, New England sale at Tamworth on the 8th August and Spring sale at Cooma is the 7th September. The Monaro Ram sale is on 20th October and Elite Ram sale is on each February. Hazeldean’s Angus cattle auctions are still breaking records, with just over 600 bulls sold in their recent season.

Contact Ed Bradley for more information: dbradley@hazeldean.com.au, 0412 298 546 or edbradley@hazeldean.com.au

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Hazeldean's Angus auctions break records

industries and is recognised as one of the oldest and largest Merino and Angus cattle studs in Australia. Commercially focused genetics relevant to current profit drivers in the beef and wool industry is what Hazeldean has always focused on.

The historic family property “Hazeldean” was initially settled in the 1860s by James Litchfield who had travelled from England. Five generations have since succeeded the original James Litchfield. The Litchfield family have also had the opportunity to educate many jackaroos, overseers and managers in the art of sheep and cattle breeding, performance recording and objective measurement, coupled with visual assessment to select and identify top animals along with best practice in livestock breeding.

Today, Jim Litchfield is the Managing Director of the company and has

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Alpine Angus celebrate their 25th Anniversary year

Top priced Bull Spring 2022 Alpine 38 Special S021 marketed by ST Genetics, Albury

Alpine Angus are celebrating the 25th Anniversary year since their inception in 1998.

On Wednesday 20 September 2023 at 1 pm Alpine host their 8th Annual Spring Bull Sale presenting 60 Alpine Bulls to be held at the Alpine Sales Complex, Rosewhite Victoria.

Alpine Principal Jim Delany “The Alpine herd has progressed in leaps and bounds over the last decade with the dedicated focus on pursuing genetics to produce fault free, responsibly framed cattle with fleshing ability, good temperament and consistency combining EBV’s promising calving ease and explosive growth”.

Chris Oswin “We place extensive production and structural pressure on the Alpine female herd and are proud of the female base we have developed. From this we aim to breed bulls with the physical and structural quality traits that allow them to last and proliferate their genetics over multiple mating seasons .In turn producing sound, functional daughters in clients herds that will breed on and flourish in the vast array of conditions thrown up in our commercial clients beef environments.”

Dam of Alpine 38 Special S021 – Alpine Lowan M003

Chris Oswin “One of the true strengths of our program comes from not simply relying solely on trait leading AI sires to produce Alpine progeny.

We are constantly seeking to minimise risk by augmenting these high performance genetics with sires sourced from leading Australian herds, out of dominant cow families with the physical attributes and qualities we rely on for longevity and consistency.

Coonamble genetics among others have played a significant role in aiding Alpine Angus to produce fault free, strong, balanced cattle that allow clients to present long lines of consistent progeny that will breed on and grow well.”

Over the recent past Alpine Angus are now gaining widespread industry acceptance with Alpine Main Event Q192, Alpine Rip Wheeler R144, Alpine Real Deal R163, Alpine Ronaldo R232 and Alpine 38 Special S021 all featuring in main stream AI catalogues. Chris Oswin “Whilst this was not the objective as our clients are our prime focus it is a rewarding albeit a humbling outcome. All are sound, well balanced bulls and pleasingly represent a range of genetics

Top priced Bull Spring 2021 Alpine Rip Wheeler marketed by Genetics Australia

from our herd incorporating different sirelines and cow families.”

The 2023 Spring Sale line up features sons of home bred sire Alpine Pablos Pulse P348 displaying deep bodied well fleshed sons who promise calving ease with great birth weight to growth credentials.

USA AI Sire Sitz Stellar 726D has a line of sons in the sale. Extremely popular in the United States due to his ability to produce long, deep bodied cattle with first class structure and foot quality. Stellar’s sons and grandsons have topped numerous bull sales for the highly regarded Sitz program as well as numerous other renowned Stud sales throughout the USA. Lawsons Momentous also has sons in the Spring Alpine sale. Momentous is a highly proven, elite numbered IMF sire with over 4,000 progeny. And has been used

by Alpine over the last few years to increase marbling propensity with his sons being well received. Alpine Junior M205 is another home bred sire with sons in the sale.

Chris Oswin “M205 is a thick bodied, sound, docile sire we sold in our 2018 sale and used after viewing him as an

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older bull. He incorporates high IMF with body, fleshing ability and an elite pedigree.

Sire Coonamble Junior produced numerous quality progeny throughout Australia, and his dam H142 is a high marbling female with a great production record.”

Coonamble Leader Q500 and Alpine Qualifier Q211 also have sons presented. Both sires are stout bodied with excellent phenotypes and are out of elite dams, with Q500 being out of one of the countries finest females in Lowan A61. Their sires Coonamble Leader L325 and Karoo Knockout both excelled at producing strong powerful cattle for Alpine and these two sons were selected to continue this influence on the Alpine herd.

A Sale Preview will be held on Sunday 17 September 11am – 3 pm at the Alpine Sales Complex, Rosewhite.

Refreshments and lunch will be available at the Sale Preview and on Sale Day. Sale Bulls will be yarded by 10am on Sale Day Wednesday 20 September.

For more information please visit www.alpineangus.com.au

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For more information please visit birdcontrolgroup.com

D I G E S T

Mark Wolf is a macadamia nut grower from Bondville near Cox Harbor in New South Wales, Australia. Cockatoos were causing severe damage to the macadamia farm year round, from sunrise to sunset.

The damage was worth a yearly cost of $20,000, which was a significant loss for the small farm with only 400 trees.

Mark decided to invest in the automated laser bird deterrent AVIX Autonomic, designed and manufactured by the Dutch company Bird Control Group. He purchased one system from Bird Beam Laser Bird Control, the trusted Australian partner of Bird Control Group.

AVIX Autonomic uses laser technology to

The laser system has been a major success for the farmer. The yearly cost of bird damage had dropped to around $5,000, 75% less than before, and helped pay for the bird deterrent system in less than a year. The number of birds causing damage on his farm has dropped by 90% from 200 to around 20 since the laser system has been active.

Used in broadacre, seed crops, lettuce crops, ground crops, vineyards, orchards, brassica, nurseries, AVIX is humane, silent, and sustainable game changer for Australian agriculture.

Advertiser note

Willows Prime Lamb Genetics has a Commercial Focus Jon and Tanya Harpley, owners of Willows Prime Lamb Genetics at Coolac which is situated in the Riverina district of NSW. The operation includes an 1800 head Terminal and Maternal seed stock enterprise. The high-quality genetics from the seed stock operation are sold to other seedstock suppliers and to their commercial clients across Eastern Australia.

Jon believes, the key to their success has been to have a commercial focus as a point of difference. Clients remark, many other seedstock producers say the same thing but expect their clients to bid up at auction for rams where they feel pressured and rushed and don’t know what they will have to pay.

Jon Harpley says, how we see it is Willows Prime Lamb Genetics, we walk the talk! we supply industry leading genetics at a set price per ram. Clients are provided a large range of rams that they can select from, they can tailor their

selection to exactly what they are looking for. Its rubbish that everyone wants the same ram says Jon. For example, Merino breeders may prioritise low birth weight rams. A trade lamb producer may select for early growth and muscle. A branded lamb supplier, through their feed lot system may select heavily for marbling.

A client breeding ewes sourcing maternal genetics may focus on fertility and adult weight. Supplying industry leading genetics in a stress-free sale process, we believe is meeting our client’s demands.

We supply Maternal composite genetics for breeding prime lamb dams and Terminal genetics for producing prime lambs. We have clients who call our sheep clean faced Dorset’s, we have others who call them White Suffolks, I always joke, so what do you call the lambs and they say just bloody good lambs!

For more information visit www.willowsplg.com.au

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AVIX Autonomic laser keeps cockatoos away from macadamia farm

effectively keep cockatoos and many other bird species away from crops by projecting a green light that the birds perceive as a physical threat and flee the area. The system was installed about 12 months ago and covered a total of five acres targeting specific areas, such as roosting trees.

At first, the laser system achieved a 100% reduction in bird number. However, the cockatoos are a highly cunning species, and they soon learn that the laser did not actually harm them. By changing the projection patterns and timing of the laser frequently, Mark was able to keep the birds at bay – achieving a steady 90% reduction in bird number. The AVIX Autonomic can be easily programmed and monitored via a user-friendly app.

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Awards in innovation and technology for SheerSpeed

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In the eastern Clare Valley region, SheerSpeed Shearing Products, led by Director Steven Hein, is invigorating the shearing industry. Despite transitioning

from shearing to farming, Steven's unwavering passion continues to drive innovation. SheerSpeed has introduced a lineup of products aimed at improving safety, efficiency, and productivity within shearing sheds. Notable among these innovations are the 'Woolmaster Wireless Control Handpiece' and 'Counter.'

The 'Handpiece' which utilizes the 'Heiniger Icon' handpiece with unique enhancements, is powered by a standard overhead electric motor. The handpiece can be activated and deactivated effortlessly with a thumb-operated switch, eliminating the need for pull cords.

Should any issues arise during shearing, such as a loose comb or a wayward sheep, it can be instantly shut down while still holding the animal, ensuring both safety and precision. This not only boosts efficiency but also enables higher tallies, particularly during tasks like crutching.

Complementing this is the 'Counter, which automatically tallies shorn sheep, eliminating the need for manual counting.

The 'Counter' features an easy-to-read touchscreen and simple programming.

SheerSpeed's 'Magnetic Grinding Papers use a high-strength magnetic bond to attach to steel grinding discs, thus eliminating the need for glue or clamping. They can be replaced effortlessly in less than a minute. They are hard, perfectly balanced, and devoid of the softness associated with wet glue, ensuring precision in sharpening shearing combs and cutters.

Success at both the Sheepvention Rural Expo and Elmore Field Days this year, where they won top awards in innovation and technology, highlights their passion in improving efficiency and safety in the shearing industry. Positioned prominently at the front of their display at this years Field Days were vintage shearing handpieces which proved to be a magnet for many shearers from yesteryear.

Director Steven Hein expressed optimism for the industry's future, given the enthusiastic response from both seasoned shearers and aspiring newcomers.

For more information visit www.sheerspeed.com.au

Advertiser note

Advertiser note

Tandara's outstanding bulls

Hollywood Angus: strategic herd selection

34 outstanding yearling Angus Bulls on offer meeting every market at Tandara Angus Stud's 6° Annual Bull Sale on Saturday 2nd September.

Tandara's ongoing emphasis is on genetic improvement in growth, calving ease and fertility traits, focusing on moderate birth weights.

Significant pasture management consideration with minerals and trace elements has shown marked benefit in production programs.

Temperament is paramount.

EBV figure identify bulls to improve overall profitability in commercial self-replacing herds where daughters are retained for breeding, plus grass and grain finishing production systems.

Bulls are vaccinated 7 in 1, Pestigard, Vibrio, sire verified and will have a fertility certificate.

Tandara's Open Day is an opportunity to view all Bulls prior to Sale Day. Inspection by appointment is welcome at other times

A registered stud since 2000, Hollywood Angus offers bulls and heifers, for private sale, throughout the year. Herd selection is based on phenotype (structural correctness, tight sheaths, neat udders, eye appeal), EMA, docility, feed efficiency, calving ease. Scanned bulls have big EMA, heavy weights and high DWG. ET (from superior home bred cows) and judicious use of AI, complement use of excellent homebred sires. Royal Show winning progeny and efficient paddock sires are the result.

To find out more, please visit www.tandara.info

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Females exhibit longevity, high fertility, excellent mothering, kind dispositions and trouble free calving.

Bulls suitable for use over heifers available, as well as higher performing cow bulls. Heifers suitable for showing available now and ready for junior shows.

Vaccinated and Breedplan recorded.

Inspections invited.

Check out Hollywood Angus on Facebook

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on our farm.

I wanted a tetraploid perennial that was persistent, palatable and responsive to summer and early autumn rains. Having evaluated several varieties on our farm, I now use Base tetraploid perennial ryegrass with AR37 endophyte almost exclusively in our pasture improvement programme. A particular feature of it is its persistency (I have many paddocks untouched for over five years) and its ability to maintain feed quality into the early summer.

It has also been a reliable performer in producing good quality silage in large quantities with up to three cuts on some out paddocks.” explains Tim. DLF Seeds have been the leaders in bringing to market novel endophytes (such as AR37), to provide farmers with insect control, improved animal safety and animal productivity and increased dry matter performance over standard “wild” type endophyte.

We have supplied

the market with novel endophytic grasses for over 20 years, and developed the research, knowledge and understanding of how to ensure we deliver viable endophyte (percentage of live endophyte) in the seed we supply. Viable endophyte means that the grass will provide the level of insect protection we expect.

AR37 endophyte has been sown on Australian farms for over 15 years, taking ryegrass pasture persistence and protection to a premium level by controlling insects such as Argentine Stem Weevil larvae, Pasture Mealy Bug, adult Black Beetle and Root Aphid.

Offering on farm certainty and ample benefits, AR37 provides farmers with → an unbeaten balance of pasture production and persistence → higher tiller density over time → assistance with postdrought recovery and improved agronomic performance → stronger control of more insect pests

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compared to ryegrass cultivars containing AR1 endophyte or standard endophyte (SE) → the potential for greater carcass weight per hectare compared to ryegrass cultivars containing SE → greater return on investment → increased total dry matter production compared to ryegrasses containing AR1 or no endophyte → no Ergovaline (an alkaloid produced by some endophytes) for increased milk production (endophytes containing Ergovaline may impact milk production) → increased sheep performance compared to ryegrass cultivars containing SE → low incidence of dags in sheep Victorian farmer Leigh Weston (Wonthaggi) has seen the increase in milk production a highquality ryegrass with a proven endophyte can offer “Base with AR37 suits our farm and our management style.

When the cows come

in here, you will get another litre or two in the vat, there's no doubt about it.” Explains Leigh.

AR37 is available in perennial ryegrass varieties such as Base and Vast tetraploid perennial ryegrass, Legion, One50, Platform diploid perennial ryegrass and the NEW late heading Reason diploid perennial ryegrass; as well as Mohaka tetraploid hybrid ryegrass.

Endophyte technology has advanced significantly since the 1980's and we have continued to help develop novel endophytes which provide the long-term pasture persistence and protection from pests that farmers require, while reducing animal health issues.

High performance varieties containing AR37 endophyte can be found at all major and local rural retailers.

For more information on AR37 and other endophytes, contact your local DLF Seeds Sales Agronomist on 1800 619 910 or by visiting dlfseeds.com.au

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Endophytes can take pasture performance and persistence to the next level by protecting pastures from insects after your seed treatment wears off.

“While a pasture seed treatment such as Ultrastrike® will protect your pasture from insects during establishment (0-6 weeks), an endophyte provides the plant with protection from eight weeks onwards,” says Isaac Berry, DLF Seeds Product Development Manager.

An endophyte is a fungus found naturally in many grass species, including ryegrass. It protects the plant from insects; in return, it offers the endophyte a place to live and reproduce.

Tim Calder, a farmer from Meeniyan Victoria, has had great success protecting his pasture against African Black Beetle with AR37 endophyte. “Several years ago, African Black Beetle appeared on our farm, decimating our Italian and some permanent ryegrass pastures which brought about a change in pasture variety selection

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Sow certainty on farm with proven endophyte

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Advertiser note

In 2021 Moogenilla Angus sold Moogenilla Quinella Q33 to a syndicate of leading Australian studs, with semen being collected and distributed to Australian and overseas breeders by Agrigene.

Quinella was attractive to the buyers for a number of reasons, including his modest mature cow weight combined with strong growth, however it was the maternal depth that clinched the deal and attracted other leading studs to also purchase semen in following years.

Interested parties were able to inspect not only Quinella’s

dam on farm, but also his grand dam and great grand dam. Moogenilla J39, the great grand dam of Quinella has pregnancy tested in calf to her 2022 AI joining, so will be 10 years old when she calves, and still looks terrific. Moogenilla also has a number of 12 year old cows doing well in the herd. The structural integrity of these cows was what made Quinella so attractive, to go with his strong EBVs. Structural soundness certainly allows cows to fulfi l their potential in the herd, no matter what type of environment they live in.

The Moogenilla cows live in relatively large, dry paddocks in Western NSW, so they have to walk and browse. Structural integrity is important no matter what environment the cows lives in.

They might have to walk up and down hills, cope in muddy conditions, or walk long distances in pastoral areas.

A truly functional Angus cow can do all these things, and of course have a calf every year.

For more information visit www.angusbull.com.au

A G R I C U LT U R E

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Longevity in Cows

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Advertiser note

Water is a high-value asset to farmers – but its value depends on its quality.

Substandard water can cause big problems for crops and stock, not to mention irrigation infrastructure.

Anything that can improve the quality of the water we draw from bores, wells, dams, and rivers, then, is great news for Aussie agriculture.

Zac,Paul & Jai Pearce

livestock farmers. Other satisfied customers include large-scale commercial miners and small-scale domestic gardeners.

The results speak for themselves. In trials on young lemon trees in California, for example, Hydrosmart-treated water increased growth by 30 per cent over the first year.

With water security being a key challenge of our time, we need to make the most of every drop of our water supply – and an investment in a Hydrosmart conditioning system is a step in the right direction.

For further details please visit hydrosmart.com.au

Advertiser note

Noflex Sewage Digestor from DunnyDoo Solutions

The main problem with septic systems and other holding tanks for sewage is that over time a sludge layer will build up at the bottom of tanks thus displacing part of the total volume needed for a Septic to work efficiently. There are products that spruik adding bacteria is necessary.

However, there is plenty of bacteria in human waste and it is unnecessary to add more. The solution is to tickle up those dormant bacteria in the sludge layer. This is what Noflex Sewage Digestor, (made in Canada) for DunnyDoo Solutions achieves. It also kills off the nasty smells that are present when a septic is not

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properly digesting solids before they flow out into the soak away lines. If the smell is coming from those areas, then introducing Noflex directly into the outflow pipe will clean the soak away pipes. Simple and economical to use, it’s just flushed down the toilet, so it goes into the bottom of the tank. If you have a smelly grease trap, then Noflex flushed down the kitchen sink will eliminate the smells and clean the pipes. If you have a boat or an RV the same principals apply.

Available on-line from www.dunnydoo.com.au

A G R I C U LT U R E

“Hydrosmart’s Australianmade water conditioning systems significantly increase the utility of highly mineralised water.”

Enter the Adelaide-based water conditioning company Hydrosmart, which has been working at the forefront of the water treatment space for almost 25 years, with CEO Paul Pearce at the helm.

The company’s core technology is a computerised, chemical- and fi lter-free water conditioning system that softens hard water that’s high in salt, iron, calcium, and other minerals.

A microprocessor unit is attached to the outside of a pipe and directs resonance frequencies onto the water inside, breaking down the bonds in its minerals and in any existing mineral deposits in the pipe. That sounds complex – but the devices are easy to install, don’t require maintenance, and only cost around $10 per year to run.

The benefits they can bring include improved growth rates, reduced scale layers and corrosion in pipes and troughs, decreased water use, and stock that fatten more quickly.

Hydrosmart, which found early success working with South Australian winemakers, has helped everyone from strawberry, olive, and citrus growers to broadacre and

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Hydrosmart: helping farmers make the most of their water supply

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Advertiser note

A G R I C U LT U R E

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Taking control of prime lamb marketing with Abblamb A new online sales concept streamlined to benefit not only the nation’s lamb processors but also producers and stock agents is due to be launched on the FarmGate Auctions platform on October 2. Abblamb is the brainchild of fourth generation Binda prime lamb producer Rob Fraser, who could see new technologies were being underutilised in the prime lamb value chain.

“I felt lamb producers needed a platform where marketing costs can be reduced. That platform could also allow my property’s credentials around biodiversity and carbon management to follow my lambs,” Mr Fraser said.

“Abblamb mimics the saleyards on-farm and gives produces the advantage of passing in the lambs with only the cost of the Abblamb listing. “Physical markets can be so erratic on the day with one pen of the same article differing $10 side-by-side.”

Mr Fraser described Abblamb and FarmGate Auctions as a natural fit and welcomed the joint venture.

“We are not reinventing the wheel, but buyers can push a button and purchase a lamb with more information at their fingertips. Agents are vital for the supply chain and have a role in linking producers together to do business in the marketplace – the system offers a fair marketplace for everyone in the supply chain. “I wanted a system where the lamb producer could reserve their product when at auction that didn’t come as a massive cost or biosecurity risk to the farm. As a lamb producer I wanted to be more of a price maker not taker.” As Abblamb director, he has worked with independent online livestock

selling platform Farmgate Auctions to refine a system which gives a dollars per head price on lambs before they leave the farm gate. To use Abblamb, vendors and processors simply register for free on the FarmGate Auctions website. “The listing cost for vendors is $1.50 per lamb with no transport costs incurred. Vendors have the opportunity to reject an offer on their listed stock,” Mr Fraser said. “In comparison to a physical saleyard where meat buyers assess lambs visually and estimate their dressed weights, Abblamb will present liveweights of every individual lamb and the lots will be drafted into categories from light trade to light and heavy export.”

On-farm livestock assessments will be carried out by independent assessors with each lamb individually weighed with EID details for the processors. Delivery can be the same day or by arrangement. Lots will be offered each day from 8am (7.30am in South Australia) and based on regions along the eastern seaboard and South Australia featuring physical sales that particular day for ease of transport logistics. Vendors are given two opportunities to sell their lambs before the stock are reassessed. “Producers enter how long the lambs have been off feed and shrinkage rates are calculated automatically,” Mr Fraser said.

The digital auctions will run for around 10 minutes with each lot closing as it is sold, unlike other sales platforms where all lots remain open until the end of the sale. Mr Fraser said the low carbon footprint of the Abblamb selling system had been welcomed by many producers. “Going from farm direct to the processor rather

than being trucked to the saleyards and then being loaded onto another truck, helps improve animal welfare and biosecurity, and reduce the carbon footprint,” he said.

“We are going through challenging times in the lamb market both domestically and globally, and people are looking for marketing options.

“As a producer, I was losing interest in breeding prime lambs with the lack of a fair place to sell my lambs. The drawbacks of over the hook, you would be in the queue for about four weeks with no guarantee of price per kilogram and skin value.”

FarmGate Auctions director Richard Norton said Abblamb reassured processors of access to lambs on-farm every day.

“The first sale day is the public holiday of October 2. Agents can list lambs up to midnight the day before and sell them on a public holiday allowing processors to process them the next day,” Mr Norton said. Daniel Croker, Nutrien Ag Solutions livestock manager, Goulburn, said Abblamb would give agents additional avenues of market exposure of their client’s stock without leaving the paddock.

Mr Croker said the new system would drive financial benefits for producers, agents and processors across the board. “It will give more control over the market price and there will

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be benefits for the producer, agent and processor. For the producer to be able to promote what they are doing in terms of their prime lamb product is important for processors to see, in order for the producer to achieve that next level of price,” he said.

“In regard to the processor, lambs are weighed into their optimal weight ranges, whether that be trade, heavy trade or export, to give the advantage of maximising grid specifications. Going straight from paddock to processor optimises animal welfare, lifts the kill average and improves eating quality for the consumer.” Abblamb caters for prime lambs only with feeder sales at 9am each Friday for store lambs.

Sale times: Monday NSW: Dubbo, Tamworth, Corowa – 8am AEST, VIC: Bendigo – 8am AEST; Tuesday SA: Naracoorte, Dublin – 7.30am AEST, NSW: Forbes – 8am AEST VIC: Ballarat – 8am AEST, TAS – 8am AEST. Wednesday SA – Mt Gambier – 7.30am AEST, NSW: Cowra/Carcoar, Yass – 8am AEST, VIC: Hamilton, Horsham – 8am AEST, QLD: Queensland – 8am AEST. Thursday NSW: Wagga Wagga – 8am AEST, VIC: Kyneton, Swan Hill – 8am AEST. Friday NSW: Griffith – 8am AEST, VIC: Shepparton – 8am AEST. Feeder Friday (store lambs) 9am AEST.

For further details please contact Rob Fraser on 0457 956 088. FarmGate Auctions General Manager: Chanel Gallen 0431 465 079.

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Advertiser note

Malleetech Poll Merino Mallleetech Poll Merino has been breeding robust, paddock reared, fertile and heavy wool producing sheep in the heart of the Murray Mallee for over 30 years. Early in the process of setting up the stud David Smith, the stud principal, realised the importance of recording the full parentage of the progeny to maximise the overall generational genetic gain of the animal. To achieve this the ewes are mated to a single

sire and then at lambing the progeny are matched to their dam in a time consuming but worthwhile process.

Knowing the pedigree of the animal is only half the battle however as data must be collected on each animal to ensure the greatest genetic gain is being achieved.

We have been using Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBV’s) since 1999 to leverage the data collected on farm and to be able to accurately compare our sheep to any throughout Australia. Fleece weights, staple strength, eye muscle and fat depth, body weights, weaning rate and many other traits have all been used to give us the versatile and strong producing Malleetech sheep we have today and often in the top 5% of Australia.

Our rams are given no special treatment in the paddock, what you see on sale day is what you get. This also

helps us to notice any poor performers genetically that may have been able to avoid detection under a more lenient management system. Since 2021 no animals have been mulesed at Malleetech as we aim to breed the easiest care and plainest sheep possible.

Malleetech Sire 200119 was recently used in the South Australian Sire evaluation trial where he performed very well all round, topping the results in body weight, eye muscle depth, back fat, fleece weight and staple strength.

Progeny of this sire and others like him will be available at the up coming Ram Sale on the 23rd of August on farm and on AuctionsPlus.

To find out more please visit www.malleetech.com

This year marks the 97th year of the Graham family successfully breeding Angus cattle in the South West Slopes of NSW, run by Bill and Shauna Graham and family. The Bongongo herd is comprised of 2000 stud and commercial females, a quality cow herd, and the important backbone to the proven Bongongo Angus genetics. Fertility traits and lower mature cow size have been the focus for many generations. This coupled with the early adoption of performance and DNA testing, as well as extensive AI and ET programs across the herd has enabled continual genetic gain. This in turn is seen in their clients’ herds.

Bongongo Angus is renowned for breeding Angus bulls for the commercial

producer that are lower birthweight, negative gestation length, calving ease positive with early growth, muscling and marbling and a quiet temperament to match. The bulls are run under commercial conditions in large contemporary groups, resulting in lasting power and purchaser confidence that these bulls will be suited to your environment and ready to perform.

Our annual Autumn on-property bull sale is on Monday 15th May to be held at “Riverview” and will be interfaced with Auctions Plus. In our upcoming sale we have some impressive sons by Australian sires including; Bongongo Be Quick Q227, KO Beast Mode P117 and Murdeduke Quarterback Q011.

Of note is sire Bongongo Be Quick Q227 who is in the ST Genetics Beef Autumn 2023 catalogue. A top indexing bull in the Angus breed with top 2% EMA, top 1% IMF and structurally very sound. His progeny continues to stand out with performance data to match.

An exciting one to watch.

Bongongo Angus also have a Spring bull sale on Wednesday 27th September on property at Riverview and interfaced with Auctions Plus.

For more information please visit www.bongongoangus.com.au Below: Bongongo Be Quick Q227. Far left: Bill Graham (Stud Principal) and daughter Georgia Graham.

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Ongoing quality in Bonongo's 97th year

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Advertiser note

3rd Annual Tamworth Bull Sale Wednesday, August 2, 2023 at Tamworth Regional Livestock Exchange

Lot 31 Woonallee Quixote S466 (PP) Semen tested

•

Vet checked

Tom & Lizzy Baker 0428 475 066

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55 Black Simmental & SimAngus Bulls

Lot 3 Woonallee Sleek S504 (PP) DNA verified

3 day vaccinated

E: tbaker@bakergroup.com.au

Find us on www.woonalleesimmentals.com

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3 germ blooded

Tom Wilding-Davies 0429 570 504

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For the very best in Simmental, whatever the requirement

ADVERTISE WITH US 50 Selected rams available via helmsman auction

Friday 13th

Vi sit www.agriculturedigest.com.au for more infor mation and to dow nload a media kit.

October 1:30 pm 304 Paynes Rd Tallimba Inspections from 11am

LARGE PLAIN FRAME – EASY CARE MERINOS

Call or text Rod Hardie – 0497 676 749 Classer: Michael Elmes - Registered Flock no. 5100

RM6986332

BRIGHT WHITE FREE GROWING WOOL

TE-ANGIE ANNUAL BULL SALE Wednesday 23rd August 2023 "On-Property" Wongwibinda NSW 2350

45 POLL HEREFORD BULLS Inspections & Enquiries Welcome Richard Ogilvie

0488 758 490 RM6932237

Michael Ogilvie

0408 154 472 338 Fishington Road, Wongwibinda NSW 2350

Your big tyres are big value for your local community Better roads, pavements, sporting fields, blast resistant and noise barrier walls are just some of the ways we can use mining and farming tyres when you’re finished with them.

We’re talking big opportunities for regional, rural and remote Australia.

140,000t

Australian off-the-road tyre consumption*

Mining 85,000t Agriculture 37,000t Construction and Manufacturing 15,000t Aviation 3,400t

That’s 140,000 tonnes of tyres a year which can be diverted from landfill and stockpiles to create more commercial opportunities and more jobs** in your community.

Ask your local council to talk to us about: Ways tyre derived material can be used in your community Finding solutions together with mining and farming Local tyre recovery processes Sustainable procurement practices Or talk to us by email: getonboard@tyrestewardship.org.au

Helping us find solutions for the future

*Average yearly tyre consumption: Tyre Stewardship Australia. **The recycling sector generates 9.2 jobs per 10,000 tonnes of waste, compared with only 2.8 jobs for the same amount of waste sent to landfill: Access Economics, 2009 This project received grant funding from the Australian Government.