NORTH EAST AND GOULBURN MURRAY
Part of the Farmer Group Rural Newspapers Covering Victoria Published since 1984
FARMER TO FARMER PAGE 13
MAY, 2016
37 Rowan Street, Wangaratta 3677
Capital Tax Write-Off 2015/16
Bruce Diffey talks water
PAGES 16-19
PAGE 21
Tough times ahead as MG cuts price Dairy farmers facing uncertain future after Murray Goulburn slashes farmgate milk price
REWARDING CAREER: On the eve of Sharman Stone’s (MHR Murray)
retirement from politics, she talks to the North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer about her rewarding career and her love of the Goulburn Valley. See pages 4 and 5 for full story.
DAIRY farmers that are carrying a high level of debt could be forced out of the industry after the Murray Goulburn Co-operative (MG) announced it has cut its milk price by 10 per cent. Milk producers are struggling to come to terms with MG’s announcement it has slashed its farmgate milk price for the rest of the financial year from $5.60 a kilogram to between $4.75 and $5 per kilogram. The price cut followed the company’s announcement its net profit after tax would be less than half its prospectus forecast of $89 million and as a result managing director Gary Helou resigned. Some industry stakeholders fear the 10 per cent loss on
BY JODIE FLEMING
jfleming@ nemedia.com.au
milk solids prices will force some dairy producers out of the industry. They have warned that dairy farmers who are carrying a high level of debt and have to pay for feed and up to $300 per megalitre for water will struggle to keep afloat, now that prices they will be paid for possibly the next three years will be below the cost of production. Murrabit dairy farmer Andrew Leahy, who has 600 cows and has been selling milk to MG since 1983 said that he will be “severely hit
financially” as a result of the revised milk price. “The problem is that because we were told we would get that price we committed to paying out grain and hay, fertiliser and water based on those prices and now we are going to have to go back and renegotiate a payment plan with all those businesses,” he said. “The season was going to be tight anyway and we knew that so we had to get an overdraft to cope with that, so it makes it very hard to pay bills and we don’t want to be on bad terms with our suppliers. “I thought with the way the season was going, which wasn’t great anyway, we would at least break even. Continued page 6
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NEWS
Page 2, North East Farmer NORTH EAST AND GOULBURN MURRAY
Covering North East Victoria, Southern New South Wales and Goulburn Murray Valleys
Email: nefarmer@nemedia.com.au Website: www.nemedia.com.au
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Published by Hartley Higgins for North East Media Pty Ltd, 37 Rowan Street, Wangaratta 3677. Responsibility for election comment is accepted by Editor Jeff Zeuschner. Copyright: All advertising and editorial content of this issue edia Ptyy Ltd and an cannot is the copyright of North East Media be used without the company’s y’s permission.
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Editorial
What’s on for North East Victorian farmers
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*REGISTRATIONS are now open for the Australian Farm Institute Conference titled ‘Digital Disruption in Agriculture’ to be held on Thursday, June 2 and Friday, June 3 at the Stamford Plaza in Sydney. The conference will provide the opportunity for a very detailed look at the possibilities that are being provided by digital technologies and pose questions about how to ensure that those possibilities can be realised. For more information contact the Australian Farm Institute on (02) 9690 1388. *THE AgriVictoria-State of Opportunity Summit will take place on Thursday, June 9 in Melbourne at the Park Hyatt. The summit, which is a partnership between the Victorian Farmers Federation, The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria, ANZ and PwC, will be
followed by the Agriculture: The Heart of Victoria gala dinner. The gala dinner celebrates the vital role Victoria’s agricultural industry plays in the state’s economy, showcasing the best of the best in local produce. The dinner will be held at Central Pier, Docklands. For more information contact Sally Edgar on 0425 247 133.
*THE 2016 National Horticulture Convention will be held from Thursday, June 23 to Saturday, June 25 at the RACV Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast, QLD. Hosted by AUSVEG, Central Markets Association of Australia and Fresh Markets Australia the convention will allow vegetable and potato growers, as well as marketers from across Australia to forge business networks, learn from the world’s leading industry experts and gain priceless industry insights that will strengthen the future of Australian horticulture. The convention will conclude on Sunday, June 26 with the Horticulture Field Day, which this year celebrates the innovation and adaption in the industry. The event is free to those who have registered for the convention. For more information contact Shaun Lindhe on (03) 9882 0277. *FARM inventors, backyard tinkerers and students are being sought to display their innovative ideas at the AgriInnovators site at the 2016 Henty
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NEWS
May 2016
North East Farmer, Page 3
Truck tribunal dumped by Parliament
TRUCK DRIVERS UNITED: (From left) Transport Minister Darren Chester, Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce, Nationals senator John Williams, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Liberal candidate for Indi Sophie Mirabella, truck rally organiser Gordon McKinley and Employment Minister Michaelia Cash address the 220 protesting truck drivers in Canberra.
to see politicians in Canberra make a decision that benefited people already doing it tough.” Smaller hirers such as farmers stood to be hit hard by the order, with freight rates for smaller jobs normally undertaken by owner drivers expected to skyrocket, while farmers who also drive trucks to supplement their income faced the possibility of no longer being able to source work. “The trucking industry now has a more level playing field and we’ve been able to keep agricultural transport costs from a steep increase,” Mr Jochinke said. Owner of Dookie-based haulage company Sutherland Freightlines, Dean Sutherland said the tribunal being abolished was “the best thing that has ever happened”. Mr Sutherland, who has run his own business for the past 25 years, running five trucks with bulk grain across Victoria, NSW and South Australia said the good news saved a lot of families from heartbreak, including his own. “I was just really relieved when they abolished the tribunal,” he said. “Anyone who ran a trucking business and was a husband and wife team…well it was really going to kill them. “If it had gone ahead I wouldn’t have been able to keep my subcontractors, which I need when we have extra big jobs. “I also wouldn’t have been able to drive my own trucks as we are a registered company,”
Mr Sutherland said. Mr Sutherland said he is a little concerned that with the upcoming election that the tribunal could be back on the table if Labor wins. Both the Labor Government and the Trade Workers’ Union have publicly stated that if they win the upcoming election they will reinstate RSRT. “It has kind of been swept under the carpet at the moment, so I really hope that Labor don’t get in and bring it back,” Mr Sutherland said. The Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association (ALRTA), the NFF and the Council of Small Business Associations (COSBOA) welcomed the decision, with ALTRA national president Kevin Keenan having said that the 2016 Order had caused widespread damage in just one week of operation and that the Federal Government and cross bench senators had acted responsibly in supporting its removal. “The ALRTA has been calling for the abolition of this tribunal for years and I am relieved that the Australian Parliament has acted decisively to prevent the ruin of 35,000 mum and dad trucking companies’ right around Australia,” he said. The tribunal showed us time and time again that it would not listen to the very owner drivers it was meant to protect. “We told the tribunal about the damage that would flow from its 2016 Order in our formal submissions. “Despite the very public
pleas of over 800 industry participants, the tribunal showed no compassion, refusing any form of delay and dismissing all of the problems we had identified. “As soon as the 2016 Order came into effect I was inundated with calls telling me that hirers had stopped using owner driv-
ers and that finance companies were turning them away. “Very good businesses came to a complete standstill overnight,” Mr Keenan said. NFF president Brent Finlay said that abolition would immediately restore confidence in the supply chain. “The 2016 Order drove up freight rates by as much as 350 per cent and exposed farmers to longer working hours, fewer transport options, new red tape and hefty fines,” he said. “We can’t forget the huge flow on effects the 2016 Order would have had on small rural businesses around the country. “At the end of the day, the tribunal had to go. “Having achieved that certainty in the Senate, farmers can once again be confident that safe and affordable transport arrangements of longstanding can continue,” Mr Finlay said. COSBOA chief executive officer Peter Strong said that
the tribunal was a mechanism to extend union control and political influence under the false pretence of improving safety. “I am still outraged that a government tribunal could be so dismissive of the interests of small owner drivers and deliver outcomes that clearly favoured the larger, more unionised transport companies,” he said. “The tribunal’s true colours were on show when it entertained a TWU proposal to delay the 2016 Order, after angrily refusing to consider a similar proposal from industry and on the same day that the repeal Bill was scheduled to be heard in Parliament. “I sincerely thank the Coalition Government and cross bench Senators who took the time to listen to the facts and urgently acted to repeal this flawed system. “It has undoubtedly saved family businesses and saved lives,” Mr Strong said.
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FARMERS and mum-anddad owner operators of small trucking businesses that would have been hit hard by the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (RSRT) are breathing a sigh of relief after the controversial order was abolished in Parliament. The RSRT was scrapped after the Senate voted 36 to 32 in favour of getting rid of the body. The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) welcomed the decision with vice president David Jochinke having said that the tribunal and its order was “ridiculous” in its decision to set minimum payment rates for contractors placing a huge burden on farmers and small truck owner-drivers. “Our farmers faced the real risk of having fewer, more expensive options of transporting their produce to market because the small owner operators looked like being priced right out of the market,” he said. Legislation to repeal the Road Safety Remuneration Act 2012 was passed with the support of seven crossbench senators, some of whom had reversed their original position. Repealing the act will abolish the RSRT and invalidate both the Road Transport and Distribution and Long Distance Operations Road Safety Remuneration Order 2014 and Contractor Driver Minimum Payments Order 2016 (2016 Order), which were enforced under the tribunal. The controversial Contractor Driver Minimum Payments Order 2016, which stipulates new minimum prices for contracted transport services, had been in force since early April despite efforts by the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) and Australian Trucking Association to have it delayed. “This has been a great result for both the agriculture sector and small transport operators because the tribunal was trying to enforce an order on small businesses, many of them families, that they didn’t understand, with little effort being made to help them understand,” Mr Jochinke said. “It’s a complex issue that many people had trouble understanding, so it’s comforting
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NEWS
Page 4, North East Farmer
May 2016
Stone reveals her heart and soul lies in the region she has represented for 20 years
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SHARMAN Stone’s heart lies in the Goulburn Valley where it always has been after growing up in Pyramid Hill, near Kerang, into a large farming family that is now in its fifth generation and it still working on the land. And on the eve of her retirement from the political stage and as she approaches her 65th birthday, her deep sense of love for her country has never waned during the 20 years she has served as the Federal Member for Murray. Dr Stone’s love for the region began when she attended Kerang High School, where the bus ride into school “took a very, very long time” with the other 42 children on the bus who were all her cousins, except for the water baler’s kids. “It was a very close knit, rural farming community and community engagement
AGRICULTURAL ADVOCATE: Dr Stone’s advice for whoever wins the seat of Murray is to work very hard and put your constituents first.
and involvement was the way of life,” she said. “And of course you volunteered for everything and knew everyone. “There were no government services, we had poor road infrastructure and getting bogged on the way to school was common place.” The final two years of her
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don’t have a different set of opportunities because of your postcode.” Realising how important education was, Dr Stone spent most of her early 20s studying at world-class tertiary institutions achieving a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Anthropology from Monash University, a Master of Arts in Sociology from La Trobe University, a Graduate Diploma in Tertiary Education and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Economics and Business from Monash University. She was married at 19 years of age while in her second year of her anthropology degree and had her first child at 20. “It was always a challenge for me because I wanted a career and a family and I had three kids (a boy and two girls) before the age of 26 and I had to work incredibly hard to make sure that I was raising a family and doing those wife things and looking after my husband that you were expected to do back then,” she explained. Continued page 5
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May 2016 From page 4
“So I was doing all of that while working full time, studying full time and I also wrote a book during that time too. “And I used to think to myself that when my girls are grown up they wouldn’t have the same dilemma of having to do it all on your own and the issues of childcare, working hours and work life balance would all be sorted out and would be resolved, but no, it is just the same.” Before being elected as the Member for Murray, Dr Stone paved her way with an interesting and diverse career before making the move to politics. She worked in the operations of the corrections department, has written a number of books including Aborigines in White Australia: A Documentary History of the Attitudes Affecting Official Policy and the Australian Aborigines 1697-1973 and published journal articles and papers on environmental and rural issues, water law and conservation. She was one of the first female directors at the Department of Agriculture, which is where she decided that she needed to enter the political arena if she was going to do something about the rural and regional issues that greatly concerned her. It was while she was working for the Victorian
SPC SAVIOR: Sharman Stone and Robyn McNeily from SPC Perfect Fruit Sales at the company’s launch of its new product range.
Farmers Federation while she was a member of the Liberal Party that she was asked to stand as a Liberal candidate for the seat of Bayswater – a seat she had no hope of winning. She became a consultant for Melbourne Water working on many different policies and at the same time she studied for a PhD in International Food Trade where she travelled to Korea, Japan and New Zealand comparing the dairy and wheat industries and how Australia was competing with them. During this time the Liberal Party called her up once again to stand for the seat of Murray where there was no Liberal candidate. “I was told there was no money for a campaign, there aren’t any branches and we just need a Liberal name for the how to vote card,” Dr Stone explains. “They pretty much said you are on your own, you
can’t win it, don’t ask us for any help and don’t spend any money because it will be out of your own pocket. “Now I was well known in most of the electorate and the work I had done, so I said to them, not only will I stand, but I will win it.” And win it she did and stayed there for the next 20 years. There have been many wins for the electorate during her time in office, one of her most memorable being the duplication of the Goulburn Valley Highway that she fought voraciously for, not to mention the success of the ‘Save SPC Ardmona’ campaign, ensuring there was irrigation for farmers and drought funding and making sure the region had access to bulk billing. Her advice for whoever wins her much coveted Murray seat is “to work very hard and put your constituents first”. “Whoever the Member
for Murray is has to be a fighter, not a fence sitter. “You can’t just go to all the show openings and the cutting of ribbon events, you have to be prepared to get down and dirty and if the policy is not right, then move into fixing it.” While Dr Stone is looking forward to retiring she is simply changing paths and is still keen to create better opportunities for women and better outcomes for rural and regional Australians. “I’m not going to stay at home and knit socks… although I am a good knitter, there is a book I want to write about my family and I am updating another book and I will still contribute to making better outcomes for people in my region. “I live in Kialla and have a beautiful garden, my daughter lives in the GV, I have three grandsons living in the GV and my heart is in the GV, so I will still be around,” Dr Stone said.
North East Farmer, Page 5
Ag white paper must be part of Federal Budget says NFF THE National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) is calling on the Federal Government to deliver the Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper in full as part of the upcoming 2016-2017 Federal Budget. Australia’s farming lobby group said the government must also commit to arrange of longerterm bipartisan measures, so as to allow the Australian rural sector to perform to its full ability on the global market stage. NFF president Brent Finlay said while industry was aware there were limited additional funds available from government coffers, a commitment to delivery of the White Paper with no costreductions was crucial. “We understand there will be limited short-term cash to put on the table and that $4 billion was allocated to develop the White Paper but the roadmap of practical actions to grow the agriculture industry must be rolled out in full,” he said. “To not follow through with delivery would be a wasted opportunity to drive growth in the agriculture sector.” Mr Finlay said there must also be commitments that stand the bipartisan test and contribute to the long-term robustness and profitability of the sector, including trade, workforce, research and development (R&D),
innovation and climate change. Specific measures sought by the NFF include: Additional agricultural counsellors in key markets to help overcome trade barriers; Commitment to the Inland Rail and a strategic infrastructure projects fund; No change to the fuel tax excise scheme; Extension of the Mobile Blackspot Program; Reform of the ‘backpacker tax’ and the Seasonal Worker Program; Advancing on-farm energy efficiency through rebates for audits, upgrades and online energy use calculators; Ongoing funding for the National Farm Injury Data Centre; and Facilitation of public private sector partnerships to boost investment in agriculture. “Agriculture is one of the drivers of the Australian economy with potential to significantly increase this contribution as demand for our product grows, but to do this we must be able to maintain and build our competitive advantage. “We look to government to make sensible, measured investments that can lift agricultural productivity and enhance the long-term resilience of the sector,” Mr Finlay said.
3% of Victorians work on farms.
Almost 30% of workplace deaths occur on them. While Victorian workplaces have never been safer, Victorian farms remain the most dangerous. It’s up to every man and woman working on the land to stop and think about safety. Because those few seconds could save your life. And your livelihood. visit worksafe.vic.gov.au/farmsafety
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NEWS
Page 6, North East Farmer
May 2016
Tough times ahead as MG cuts price
„ From page 1
I think the board of MG really have a lot to answer for and they have let the side down. - ANDREW LEAHY, DAIRY FARMER Valley this year, Mr Sheppard is accustomed to the cyclic nature of the industry, but concedes this is a big hit. “For us it’ll mean redoing the budget, tightening the belt a bit,â€? he said. “In the past eight years since my son Greg has returned to the dairy farm we have doubled our production with 500 cows. “We’ve invested a lot into the operation and I still do see a good future‌our farm has excellent staff and has been running as good as ever and we’ll just tough things out for a while.â€? He added that a lot of investment has been in pasture improvement, helping the farm produce all its own hay and silage to feed stock. Milawa dairy farmer Trevor Hourigan said he can’t speak for others in the industry, but he is very disappointed by MG’s announcement. “Only a month ago at a suppliers meeting the board told us prices
would hold, so we’ve made decisions around that,â€? he said. “We’ve had no time to prepare. “Things will be tight now‌ we’re just not sure how long prices will be down. “With less cash around there will be a ow-on effect‌most around here produce for Murray Goulburn,â€? Mr Hourigan said. Mr Hourigan’s family has been in dairying for about 60 years and he’s seen its cyclic nature. As a founding member on the Alpine Valleys Dairy Pathways Project he has been helping develop more of the potential for milk growth in the region. He said the industry locally has seen some new start-ups and existing farms grow and modernise, as well as some existing beef farmers move over to dairy. “There is still a good future, but things will be tough for a while,â€? Mr Hourigan said. Australian Dairy Farmers Lim-
ited (ADF) president Simone Jollife said that the situation is particularly troubling during a time when farmers are already experiencing hardship. “Many farmers are already experiencing a challenging season due to dry conditions – market volatility adds to the already difďŹ cult task of managing and budgeting through such a period,â€? she said. “This announcement will signiďŹ cantly damage conďŹ dence and potential investments in the dairy industry. “I know it’s a very frustrating situation facing farming families at this time. “During times like these we need to ensure we are looking out for one another, and seeking support where possible.â€? The ADF is talking to processors to understand the full impact of this announcement on the industry as a whole. “Within the industry there are resources, including Dairy Australia’s ‘Tactics for Tight Times’ and work being applied to help dairy farmers confront this challenge. “We are working in partnership across the industry to support Australian dairy farmers in their decision making and cope with the challenges ahead,â€? Ms Jollife said.
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“We have had very little rain, water is at $250 per megalitre, we have had a hot autumn and we are only recovering from them doing this to us the last time, which wasn’t that long ago. “I’m hoping we will be able to ride it through,� Mr Leahy said. The 45 year old farmer said while he was not sure how long he could survive as it is “too soon to tell� he may have a better idea when he receives his next milk cheque next week, where he said that is when it will hit home. “I think the board of MG really have a lot to answer for and they have let the side down. “I think they will be wearing the anger from a lot of farmers at the upcoming supplier meetings that will be taking place over the next few weeks,� he said. King Valley dairy farmer Brian Sheppard said he was feeling “a bit gutted to be quite honest� about the 10 per cent reduction in the milk price. “We’d been feeling pretty good about things, and were told only last month that prices would hold until the end of the season,� he said. “So to hear the bad news was a shock.� With his family celebrating 60 years in dairy farming in the King
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4 BRIDGE ST WEST, BENALLA
jordan@delatiteirrigation.com.au $%1
Phone: (03) 9308 9688 Fax: (03) 9308 9622
Email: enquiries@animalcontrol.com.au www.animalcontrol.com.au
Excellence in Pest Animal Management
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE
20K
$
606597 Taarup 2832M 3.2m 8 disc mower, centre mount, linkage $15,000+gst - $16,500
606657 Goldacre Pro-reel Traymount 400ltr with 100m single Pro reel auto wind -
Hustler Chainless 5000X (1 only in stock)
1m Berends Blade (2 in stock only)
$19500 + gst -
$21,450
FM750 with Field IQ Sprayer Controls from $8735+gst - priced from
$9608.50
New Hustler 450x Bale Feeder, linkage unit, quick detach, Extension fitted, heavy duty chained machine.
$14,102 inc gst
New Toro Timemaster 30” Walk behind mower, electric start, twin blade, Personel Pace. (stock number 606943)
$1795 inc gst
$8500 GST incl
$750 inc gst.
XCN 2050 high performance GPS guidance display $10,185+ gst -
$11203.50
New Holland Pallet Jack, 2500kg rated, nylon wheels, tight manouvarability. (parts stock)
$574 inc gst
Used Giltrap MX90-100x silage feed out wagon, working condition, floors in good condition. (stock number 200615) $12,000 + gst - $13,200
TAX WRITE OFF
FOR SMALL BUSINESSES 2015-2016
604696 Nugget Slasher 4’ gal with 45hp gearbox
$1925
$1750 +gst -
Goldacres Eco Fire Fighting Unit 1000 litre tank, 36m hose & Honda pump
$5,500 inc gst
JCB Workmax 800D Utility Vehicle $18500+ gst - $20350
inc gst
New Hustler Katipo 3PL Sprayer, 890ltr tank, 8mtr Duraboom, 30mtr hose reel, galvanised frame and boom. (stock number 606678) $7000 +gst - $7700
Kubota 2021 Zero turn mower, 60” deck, used machine, fully serviced. (stock number 200580) $6000 + gst - $6600
Vicon 1500 ROXL Spreader including 3 ext; 36m wide vane kit & cover $15900 + gst - $17,490
EzGuide 250 entry level guidance display $2075 + gst -
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New Howard HD180 6ft Slasher, dolly wheel and skid plates fitted, galvanised deck, bar style blade. (stock number 607015) $8500 + gst -
$9350
New Toro 3000 series Zero Turn My Ride Mower, 60” heavy duty deck, 23.5hp Kawasaki engine. (stock number 607238) $14,900 + gst -
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New Goldacres 3PL Sprayer, 800ltr, 8m boom, 30mtr hose reel, hand wash tank and 4 way controller. (stock number 606015) $8000 + gst - $8800
252 Hammond Avenue, Wagga Wagga, NSW > 02 6921 2148 233 McKoy Street, Wodonga, VIC > 02 6059 7100
NEWS
Page 8, North East Farmer
May 2016
Community says goodbye to beef cattle farmer Bob Andrews THE heavens opened for the first time in autumn as mourners arrived at Bob (Robert) Andrew’s beloved Old Kentucky Farm in Londrigan to say farewell to the beef cattle farmer that stood tall in life with pride. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrew’s father lost his 20 month battle with cancer late last month, taken too early at only 65 years old. A massive crowd consisting of family, friends, farmers, footballers, businessmen and politicians attended the farewell to Bob inside his giant shed that is usually used as a show ring for his prize bulls. Wangaratta real estate agent Garry Nash, who welcomed the mourners including the Governor of Victoria Linda Dessau, described Bob as a straight shooter, a man of his word, passionate, community minded and renowned for his entrepreneurial skills. Bob’s wife, Jan told the gathering that life as the family knew it had changed forever. “Robert was my greatest blessing,” she said. “It was a life well lived and well celebrated.” Bob’s four grandchildren each placed one of their grandfather’s ‘prized’ possessions on his coffin; an Old Kentucky branding iron, his Akubra hat, his mobile phone which never left his side and a silver plate
with all his winning show ribbons. Bob’s daughter Cynthia read a poem that she had also read at her grandfather’s funeral but this time it was “for her Dad”. Bob’s niece, Simone delivered ‘The Farmer’s Creed’ before his son, Daniel gave the eulogy saying that his father had given his children the greatest gift of all – ‘a life better than his own’. He spoke of a tireless worker who would do anything for his family, for friends and the community, a man who side by side with his wife had faced tough times and overcame them, worked hard for success and achieved it, was stubborn and determined and “a genuine man with tones of spirit and intent”. “If his life could be summed up in four words it would be business, cattle, footy, family,” Daniel said. “He’s at peace now, but we can celebrate him and think of better times. “He was never happier than right here in this beautiful place. “Farewell to a big man with a big heart.” Acknowledging the surroundings and his father’s great connection with cattle he concluded by rapping the auction hammer. “And so the auction hammer must fall on this old bull. “All done, all finished, all silent.”
MOVING TRIBUTE: Daniel Andrews delivers the eulogy for his father, while overlooking Bob’s coffin adorned by his ‘prized’ possessions that were placed there by each of Bob’s grandchildren. PHOTO: Luke Plummer
JUST ARRIVED NEW HOLLAND
LM742 ELITE TELEHANDLER
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DEMONSTRATOR DEUTZ-FAHR 6160 C-SHIFT 6 CYLINDER 166HP TRACTOR
DEUTZ-FAHR ARE DEALING
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Cab and front axle suspension
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New C-shift transmission
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50km/h gearbox
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129,400 $ 142,340
+ GST
INC GST
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with lowered engine speed
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Electronic linkage control
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TRIMA X56 level lift loader
1800 872 2867 www.deutztractors.com.au *Excludes PDI and freight. Conditions apply. 36 Monthly Repayments with GST back in 4th Month at just 2.49% p.a. (Lending Terms, Fees and PFG Credit Criteria Applies). Picture for illustration purposes. 2016.
NEWS
Page 10, North East Farmer
May 2016
Alexandra gearing up for its 20th anniversary truck, ute and rod show FOR the past 20 years the main street in Alexandra has come alive with the roar of trucks and utes for the Alexandra Truck, Ute & Rod Show and it is once again gearing up to create its rumble through the town. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the truck show will be held on the Queen’s birthday weekend starting at 10am on Friday, June 10 and wrapping up on Sunday, June 12 at 4pm. There will be live music on the Friday night with the ‘Stars of Country’ concert taking place on the Briggs Oval with food and drinks available. The line-up of acts includes Adam Harvey, Simply Bushed, Jayne Denham and the Iain Archibald Band. Tickets are limited and can be purchased online at a cost of $35 or at the door for $40. According to organiser Andrew Embling, it is the ďŹ rst time in the event’s history that it has been run across the entire weekend. “Normally we only have the show on the Sunday, but this year it will be really exciting to have it run for the whole weekend,â€? he said. “And being our 20th anniversary it had to be a big show. “We will have 300 people attending the sponsor’s gala dinner and inviting past members of our committee back. “This is the third year we have
held a service at the Truck Drivers’ Memorial where Alexandra is the home of the memorial and that service will be held at 2pm at Rotary Park,â€? Mr Embling said. Also on Saturday will be a street market and the Traditional Rod Run. Sunday’s entertainment includes live music, major auction, Victorian woodchop tournament, model trucks and wood turners’ displays, exhibitions and trade display, a major quilt display, children’s amusements and Alexandra’s retail outlets will be open. The event’s rafe is the biggest it has ever run, with more than $60,000 in prizes on offer. First prize is an SS Holden Ute, second prize is a $4000 Caltex fuel card and third prize is a $2000 Foodworks voucher. Mr Embling said that about 12,000 to 15,000 people attend the event each year and travel long distances to attend the annual event. “People travel from all over the place to be part of the show and one of the unique aspects is that it is held on bitumen and takes up nearly three kilometres of the main street in Alexandra. “We do this all for the town and over the years the money we make from the event goes straight back into Alexandra,â€? Mr Embling said. For more information visit www. alexandratruckshow.com.au.
GEARING UP: Visitors from far and wide travel to be part of the Alexandra Truck, Ute & Rod Show with the event running along three kilometres of the main street in Alexandra.
T1880 MOWER
HOW TO CLAIM THE $
18HP with 42in Cut. Standard with mulching deck.
$4,650
20,000
INC. GST
TAX BREAK 2015 – 2016 HOW TO QUALIFY: If you own a registered business with an ABN that has turned over less than $2 million(AUD) then your business qualiďŹ es. THE LIMIT: $20,000 PER item, with no limit on how many items you buy. (Previously the threshold was $1,000.) ITEMS YOU CAN CLAIM: You could claim any item that is used for running =396 '97.2*77 0./* @ #*-.(0*7 &67 3836'./*7 !#>7 !6&(8367 @ 59.41*28 &;213;*67 &(-.2*6= 140*1*287 *2*6&8367 9147
ITEMS YOU CAN’T CLAIM: You cannot claim an item if it isn’t a part of your businesses running costs: @ 0&287 @ 31498*6 3+8;&6* @ 83(/ .2:*2836= END DATE: Small businesses have 2 years to take advantage of the new $20,000 tax break, so it ends on the 30th June, 2017 but it is effective immediately. We recommend that you seek independent ďŹ nancial advice from your accountant as individual circumstances may vary.
Z122RKW-42 Powerful 21.5HP Petrol engine. 42 inch fabricated mower deck.
$5,750
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Contact: BERTOLIS FARM MACHINERY 198-200 Numurkah Rd, Shepparton Phone 03 5821 3299
INC. GST
RTV400 UTILITY Base model. Options also available at additional cost. 2 Units only. kubota.com.au
$12,980
INC. GST
Horned & Polled Genetics
NO IF’S JUST BUTTS =$
Bulls & Females for sale
Elite Blonde Stud
Blonde Bulls BEEF UP THE BUTT
John & Diane Lovison 50 McPherson Rd, Newborough Vic 3825 Ph: 03 5127 8255 M: 0428 124 850
LYNFORD PARK BLONDES Low Birth Weight
High Yielding Carcass
Docile Temperament
Easy Calving
Huge Muscle
Fine Bone
ality Start with qufo llow... l Success wil
Commercial bulls (worth a look) 14-20 months old available
Some very nice heifers just joined to a polled bull, also excellent 14 month old bulls. Grow what the markets want and enjoy life.
Visitors Welcome
2900 Melba Highway, Castella (Castella ajoining Glenburn)
Ron & Susan Radford - 100 Lyndons Road, Callignee PH: (03) 5195 5372 Mob: 0407 184 130 ronsblondes@wideband.net.au
Frank and Shirley Phillips Ph (03) 9735 1318 Mob 0409 357 136
Rupari
RAHNIK BLONDE d’AQUITAINE STUD
Polled Blondes Changing the Face of Blondes in Australia
If you are chasing thick heavy muscled EXOOV IRU H[WUD SURÀW SOHDVH JLYH XV D FDOO NOW Available for Sale Females & Bulls Polled & Horned
blonde, black, & red bulls available late 2016
Polled Blondes is all we have! Greg & Linden Roberts Yarrawonga, Vic. Ph 0357 484 267 www.rupariblondes.com.au
Rudi & Loree Spiteri. Phone 0418575561
Blondes Beef up 3UR²W
'RENARD BLONDES' - Est 1989 131 Irvin Road, Cobram & 'Sandford' Corowa
FOR SALE
EXCELLENT STUD & COMMERCIAL BULLS
600+ PURE BLONDE CATTLE
Contact : Ian Fox 0419 721 881 : 03 587 123 82 Email: foxesblondes@bigpond.com
Horned & Polled Bulls FOR SALE Bell Park Blondes Rohan Bingley 290 Lower Goon Nure Road, Good Nure, Vic Ph: 0418 347 884 Email: bellparkblondes@gmail.com
View online at blondes.asn.au website also on Facebook Blonde d’Aquitaine Society Beef up your profits by using a blonde bull in your herd. Big Muscle : Big Rumps : Big Bucks Add some quality traits to your herd with a blonde sire. Simply choose a vendor near you BUY NOW with the very best genetics to start your own herd
For further information contact Ron Radford (Secretary) 0407 184 130 or Rohan Bingley (President) 0418 347 884
www.blondes.asn.au
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Bulls and Females always available
165 Daisy Burn Road, Seymour
Email: rahnikblondes@bigpond.com | web site: www.rahnikblondes.com
NEWS
May 2016
North East Farmer, Page 13
Farming is in the blood for young Tennyson farmer Give our readers a quick snapshot of your farm at Tennyson. Our farm at Tennyson is a family run dairy farm with stud Simmentals on the side. We also run the odd sheep and put about 500 acres of crop in to cut for hay. How long have you been a farmer? I have only ever grown up on the land - it’s in our blood. Tell us about your family. My father purchased the family farm when he was 19 across the road from my grandparents. My parents started ‘Jamaga’ Simmentals stud
Using podcasts while in the tractor to keep up to date while sowing The weekly regional update podcasts bring the latest news and information from each of the three GRDC growing regions, with each program lasting between 10 to 20 minutes. You can also tune into Ground Cover Radio which covers the top 30 stories in the company’s magazine. Once you subscribe to the podcasts you are notified when a new podcast becomes available. Some of the recent stories featured look at using pre-emergent herbicides effectively and there is a series of four interviews based on a
Hayden Chappel
33 years ago. My brother and I bought our farm in 2013 which he currently runs as a dairy farm. We both have our own stud Simmentals, being ‘Koopa Creek’ Simmentals (mine) and ‘Zantuck Creek’ Simmentals (my brother’s). Best advice or farming tip you have ever received? Don’t put all of your eggs
PJN
GRDC-funded workshop on soil behaviour when using preemergent herbicides. Also featured are interviews with Australia’s leading researchers following their presentations to GRDC Grain Research Updates around the country on diverse topics including micro-nutrients to east-west sowing and the new frost ranking information. Growers can subscribe to the podcasts by going to the iTunes store on their iPhone or iPad and searching the word ‘GRDC’. Those with an android phone or tablet can visit www. grdc.com.au/podcasts.
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FARMERS that are about to spend hours in their tractor sowing this year’s winter crop are able to listen to podcasts inside their cabins providing them with information from the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) while they work. The GRDC is producing a range of podcasts aimed at bringing the latest research results to growers in an easyto-listen-to format. Several podcasts are hosted by presenter Chris Brown including the weekly five minute GRDC Driving Agronomy which focuses on research of national relevance.
FARMER TO FARMER
in one basket. Diversify your farming. Describe your perfect day. Sitting on the couch, watching the Essendon Bombers win. What is the best thing about being a farmer? Working outside in the fresh air knowing that every day is going to be different. What is the worst thing about being a farmer? Waiting for the rain to come. If you could be someone else for the day, who would it be and why? I would love to play football for Essendon at the MCG in front of 80,000 people.
PJN Steel Fabrication Licence No 164513C
Ph: (02) 6029 2411 Email: phil@pjnsheds.com.au
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Utility vehicle and quadbike specialists for farmers since 2009 Now selling Linhai, Crossfire, and Hisun products! HELD ON BITUMEN IN ALEXANDRA’S MAIN STREET
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Events Corporation Ltd
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Hallam Truck Centre
NEWS
Page 14, North East Farmer
County of origin food labelling reforms to come into effect in July
NORTH EAST AND GOULBURN MURRAY
weareonline! __www.nenews.com.au PERMANENT WATER AVAILABLE High Security Water available Zone 6 & 7 - Goulburn Zone 6 & 7 - Murray System 9A & 9B Oven & Kiewa Temporary Water Available All Zones P. 03 5722 3117 F. 03 5722 1388 M. 0419 355 473 brucediffey@westnet.com.au
ABN: 14 060 919 502
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HANDLER IV 870 LTR CHEMICAL BATCH MIXER COMES WITH BANJO PUMP & FITTINGS
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May 2016
1INCH, 2INCH, 3INCH ELEC. REGULATING VALVES ELEC. SHUT-OFF VALVES FLOWMETRES FREE CATALOGUES AVAILABLE & LOTS MORE IN STOCK NOW! COMPETITIVE PRICING! HUGE RANGE OF FITTINGS!
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FROM Friday, July 1, 2016 Australian Government reforms to country of origin labelling for food come into effect after a long campaign by farming groups and primary producers to make country of origin labelling information on food clearer and more transparent for consumers. Minister for Agriculture and Water Barnaby Joyce said the reforms were a win for both consumers and businesses. “We expect Australians will welcome the labelling changes which make good sense and that will give the community the information they have been seeking,” he said. Under the changes, all food that currently needs to be labelled with a country of origin will continue to do so. Most food that is made, produced or grown in Australia will need to carry a label that also includes a kangaroo symbol, as well as text and a bar chart indicating the percentage of Australian ingredients. Labels for most products packed in Australia that contain imported foods which have undergone no or only minor processing in Australia will carry a ‘packed’ statement, as well as text and a bar chart indicating the percentage of Australian ingredients. They will not carry the kangaroo symbol. Imported food will continue to show where it was grown, produced and made. If the food was not grown, produced or made in a single country it will need to indicate where it was packed and that it is of multiple origins or comprises important ingredients. Minister of Industry,
Innovation and Science Christopher Pyne said that businesses could start using the new labels now. “We are providing Australians with the information they have been calling for without imposing an unnecessary burden on business,” he said. “The registration of the information standard ahead of it July 1 start date will give businesses some certainty, so they can start to get the new labels on their food products and onto shelves as soon as possible. “However, businesses that need more time to implement their labelling changes have two years after the July 1 start date before the changes become mandatory. “This means that any food labelled under the current rules before July 1, 2018 can still be sold and allowed to see out its shelf life,” Mr Pyne added. The National Farmers’ Federation welcomed the reforms with the federation’s chief executive Tony Mahar having said they will improve the clarity of information available to consumers in what was a complex policy area. “This is an incredibly complicated and difficult issue given these rules apply not only to simple, single ingredient products, but also to more constructed products like pizzas and yogurt,” he said. “These changes follow what has been a long and open consultation process run by the government to improve the policy surrounding what we know seems simple but is much more difficult to apply.” However, Mr Mahar said some measures would be required to support transition to
the new rules. “There is a need for an education campaign to inform consumers of the changes and to explain how various words and phrases, for example ‘made in’ and ‘product of’, are now used while a transition period of two years would ease implementation for manufacturers in some industries,” Mr Mahar said. The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) president Peter Tuohey said the changes will help rid supermarket shelves of vague and confusing labelling and replace them with clearer country of origin standards. “This means consumers can trust that what they’re buying is genuinely Australian and not something made here with who knows what produce.” However, the VFF is opposed to the use of the kangaroo logo on products which may contain as little as 10 per cent Australian ingredients. Under the labelling changes, products such as Canadian pork could be sold in Australia with the kangaroo logo because it may contain as little as 10 per cent brine and other additives. According to VFF pig group president John Bourke the kangaroo logo shouldn’t be anywhere near those products. “Meat is either grown in Australia or overseas and if it’s not grown here, then we shouldn’t be giving consumers the impression that it is by using the kangaroo logo,” he said. He added that the government decision makers didn’t understand the seriousness of the issue. “The problem is that the people making these rules are too far removed from farmers,” Mr Bourke said.
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16 SYDNEY ROAD BENALLA 3672 PH (03) 5762 8366 , FAX (03) 5762 8377, MOB. 0418 348 417
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May 2016
NEWS
North East Farmer, Page 15
MATERIALS HANDLING MADE EASY Proudly Australian Made
WORLD RECORD: Rupari Blondes principals Greg and Linden Roberts sold their homozygous poll bull, Rupari Joiner d’Poll on a Facebook auction for a claimed world record price of $50,000 last year.
Blonde d’Aquitaines are proving to be the hidden secret to success BLONDE d’Aquitaine cattle are fast becoming the heroes of the cross breeding industry as they continue to make good profits for producers of the breed. The Blonde d’Aquitaine is a heavily muscled, French breed renowned for producing efficient, high yielding beef carcasses. Blondes are the thirdlargest breed in France and were introduced to Australia via semen and embryos in the 1976. Since then, Blonde bulls have been recognised by beef producers across Australia as increasing their profits and are making a substantial impact in prime cattle and carcase competitions. There are more than 2000 active purebred females spread throughout both Australia and New Zealand, and stud calf registrations have been steadily increasing every year. The Blonde d’Aquitaine Society of Australia and New Zealand describes the breed as easy calving, rapid growing, feed efficient with high yielding carcasses. S p o ke s p e r s o n f o r t h e
society Ron Radford said that Blondes are the secret for success. “Beef producers currently using Blonde bulls underline this fact by returning to purchase additional Blonde bulls,” he said. “They are experiencing the Blonde impact with l ow e r p r o d u c t i o n c o s t s combined with increased sale prices both live weight or over the hook.” Calves generally have low birth weights, but muscle up rapidly from two to six weeks of age. H y b r i d Vi g o u r a n d Blonde genetics combine to give exceptional growth under many conditions, with the breed described as having excellent feed conversion. “Their rapid growth flows on into both the feedlot and grass finishing situations where quiet cattle that take to feed quickly are needed to reduce costs and finishing time,” Mr Radford said. “They have a high retail meat yield, with Blondes typically getting more than 57 per cent to 60 per cent dressing weights and 80 per cent yield of saleable meat
NORTH EAST AND GOULBURN MURRAY
weareonline! __www.nenews.com.au
from a carcase because of their high meat to bone ratios and minimal fat.” Blondes are a terminal sire best suited to mating with British females like Angus, Murray Grey, Shorthorn or Hereford or their crosses. The resultant calves perform well both in the baby beef market as well as the store/feeder market. Blonde-cross heifer calves realise the same dollar return as the steer calves. The Blonde d’Aquitaine breed is involved with the internationally acclaimed BREEDPLAN beef cattle genetic evaluation system which is now used in 10 countries. It covers a wide range of traits including birth weight, calving ease, growth, milking ability, fertility and carcase information. “With a growing number of dedicated stud breede r s a c t ive l y p r o m o t i n g the breed and wide spread commercial success, the future of the Blonde breed in Australia and New Zealand looks bright,” Mr Radford said. For more information visit www.blondes.asn.au.
Push Off Buck Rake
Shear Grab
Bison Grader Blade with Depth Wheel
Stick Rake
Forward Bin Tipper
Bison Grader Blade Fully Hydraulic
Stone Bucket
Grapple
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4 in 1 bucket
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3 Point Linkage Back Hoe
Front Linkage and PTO
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CAPITAL TAX WRITE-OFF 2015/16
Page 16, North East Farmer
For more information on country shows visit
www.vicagshows.com.au or www.countryshows.com.au
MECHANICAL SERVICES
Breaking the boundaries of service!
May 2016
Farmers can now deduct capital expenditure up to $20,000 NEW taxation laws have passed allowing small businesses to claim an immediate deduction for assets they are using providing each depreciable asset costs less than $20,000. The new legislation temporarily increases the threshold to allow small business with aggregate annual turnover of less than $2 million to claim an immediate deduction for each depreciable asset that cost less
than $20,000. This temporarily replaces the previous instant asset write-off threshold of $1000. The new laws include changes to allow primary producers to immediately deduct capital expenditure on fencing and water facilities such as dams, tanks, bores, irrigation channels, pumps, water towers and windmills. This measure will end on June 30, 2017.
Assets excluded from these depreciation rules include horticultural plants and inhouse software allocated to a software development pool. In most cases specific depreciation rules apply to these excluded assets. Assets that cost $20,000 or more (which cannot be immediately deducted under other provisions) are deducted over time using the general small business pool.
Under the pooling mechanism a deduction for 15 per cent of the cost is allowed in the first income year with a diminishing value rate of 30 per cent deduction on the opening pool balance allowed for each income year thereafter. For more information visit www.ato. vic.gov.au.
Farm Sheds Commercial Industrial Sheds
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,ɑ Lɢ Fʋɚ ȩɏ ʍʦɵɸɢ ʍɨ 461 Wagga Road, ʋʜ\ʝȸɏ PO Box 5039 Lavington NSW 2641 Lɢ Fʋɚ ȩɏ M: 0419 322 015 ʍʦɵɸɢ ʍɨ P: 02 6040 8452 F: 02 6040 8334 E: mark@macjacsheds.com.au 0Dɋ-Dɋ www.macjacsheds.com.au
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KELTEC BALE SLICE Removes plastic and netting while splitting the bale so you can drop straight into the feedmixer or bale feeder without worrying about contaminating the feed. Slices from bottom up and holds wrap securely. Can be fitted to any loader.
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CAPITAL TAX WRITE-OFF 2015/16
May 2016
North East Farmer, Page 17
Leaf, Twig & Stick Rake
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GREEN MACHINE: Martin McHale (left) and PFG Australia Grass & Cultivation Division general manager Graeme Leigh showing off the latest McHale Fusion Vario baler.
IRISH company McHale’s story reflects deep agricultural traditions of self-reliance, curiosity, creativity and common sense. Company owners Martin and Patrick McHale always ask how they can do something, what happens if they do it and how can they make things better, which is why when they test their agricultural products, scoring nine out of 10 is never good enough. McHale has grown from a small machinery dealership to become one of the major suppliers to the European market, with co-founder Martin McHale recently visiting Australia to speak with customers, dealers and distributor PFG Australia about current products and future releases. McHale’s new ProGlide mower range and the new Orbital high-speed bale wrapper were well received by the Australian market. Following rigorous testing in Ireland, PFG Australia plans a gradual introduction here to ensure they are well suited to the market and Australian conditions. Mr McHale said during his travels he sees many indicators
For ongoing success, whether it’s beef or balers, we improve efficiency while maintaining the quality and integrity of the products. of a bright future for Australian farming. “The way Australian products are rated by the rest of the world is fantastic. “I’ve just come from Japan and Korea and it’s obvious in supermarkets there that Australian beef, for example, is very highly regarded. “For ongoing success, whether it’s beef or balers, we improve efficiency while maintaining the quality and integrity of the products. “If a machine is performing well, if it is simple and strong, efficient and reliable, people want it. “If McHale continues to supply good products that suit
the market, at a fair price, our market share will continue to grow,” he said. McHale released its fixed chamber balers in 2005 and the V660 variable chamber round balers in 2010. Next came the Fusion Vario, and more recently the Fusion 3 Plus. Mr McHale added that farmers and contractors “seem to like our machines” which use top quality, heavy duty components with high specifications. “They are built for a long life and plenty of hard work. “There are Fusion baler wrappers out there with over 150,000 bales on the clock.” McHale now dominate the baler market in Europe and also the baler wrapper market. McHale machines are at work in 50 countries across six continents. “Those sales have been driven by farmers and contractors,” Mr McHale said. “Machines talk and great performance sends the loudest message, and when it comes to McHale machines, it seems just about everyone is listening.” For more information visit www.mchale.com.au.
c12d13327/1916
Bright future for Aussie agriculture with the help of McHale
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With the cost of hay and silage increasing as the drought season continues a Waste-Not Stockfeeder can ensure that your hay goes much further. s Individual feeding spaces between steel arches act as voluntary head bails so uneaten hay and silage falls back in the feeder and there is no trampling on or soiling the hay s Cattle get all the hay including leaf and grain
sometimes lower quality hay s A Waste-Not Dairy Feed Pad can save up to 2kg of hay per cow per day s There is a Waste-Not Stockfeeder to suit your farm and any type of bale - small, round, big squares, FEL’s full, even feed-wagons Hay goes much further with a Waste-Not Stockfeeder
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Page 18, North East Farmer
CAPITAL TAX WRITE-OFF 2015/16
May 2016
Versatile farm fencing for all budgets ONE of the most sought after features for aspiring horse property owners is that stunning black or white post and rail fencing that not only frames a property, but provides the safest method of containment. “It’s a case of good looks meets necessity,” said WoodShield sales manager Ashley Davidson. “Like any installation though, unless money is no object, it needs to form part of the planning budget and until now, there has been a maintenance component attached, whether it’s rotting, snapping, warping or painting.” Australian company WoodShield has come up with a world beating innovation that began as a solution for vineyards looking to avoid the leaching into the soil and eventual rotting of chemically treated timbers. It has also used a masterstroke of organically certified recycling to produce a product that can be tailored to individual needs. WoodShield encases natural, untreated timber in recycled plastic that is sourced from agricultural uses such as irrigation piping or dripper tubes. The disposal of treated pine has become a major issue, with costs now associated with the dumping of it and hefty fines in most states for anyone caught burning it.
ORGANICALLY CERTIFIED: WoodShield’s fences are pest-resistant and have a breaking force of 40 per cent to 50 per cent greater than standard treated pine.
Treated timbers are also no longer to be used in public spaces such as schools or parks. WoodShield’s fencing has a tested life of more than 50 years allowing for the plastic coating to be recycled again. It is this infinite recycling aspect of a generally nonbiodegradable product that has given it the honour of being the only organically certified
fencing material in Australia and New Zealand. Mr Davidson said extensive testing has been done for equine applications, including at major show jumping clubs for not only fencing, but for jump poles that do not rot when subjected to everything from the harsh Australian sun to the coldest and wettest winters. Jump poles can also be left
on the ground and is adaptable and can be used for arena fencing or round yards. “Most people want the looks, but they also want what lasts and is safe for their horses,” Mr Davidson said. “Horses are notorious for chewing fence posts, but testing on this product has shown that they don’t get a grip on the smooth surface.
“The product is also pestresistant and has a breaking force of 40 per cent to 50 per cent greater than standard treated pine.” Post ends have very thick caps ensuring they can be driven into the ground as standard timber posts would be. But, according to Mr Davidson, it is the versatility of
the product that can cater for a wide range of budgets. Mr Davidson said that the first step when fencing a horse property is to plan what you want to do in regard to paddock layouts for your individual needs, then price what suits your budget. The product can also carry electrified wire or tape. “Some people may do one part of the property – front fencing and driveways are a common starting point – and then add to it as the budget allows,” Mr Davidson added. “You can buy a few pieces or in bulk. “Others install the posts with hot wiring to start with and then add the rails later. “Once preferred paddock layouts are planned, they can be done one at a time if that’s the preference.” Even suburban fencing and landscaping is catered for and it can be a do-yourself-project for those with fencing knowledge or it can be installed Australiawide. No special nails or screws are required. “It comes down to the individual specifying what their particular needs are and that can be catered for whether they’re a large racing stud or someone just starting on a property,” Mr Davidson said. For more information visit www.woodshield.com.au.
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BEFORE
Here at ‘Benlowan’ we like to run as clean and efficient dairy as possible. We decided to have HiLowash Pty Ltd come in and do a clean as the yards were slippery, the rails had muck build up and the feed bins had also become pretty grotty. Even with our daily wash downs. Rod Halsted & his team from HiLowash came in with his state-of-the-art hot water pressure washer. We were (& still are) amazed at the meticulous and efficient job they did. They left the concrete floors spotless and safe from slippage and the feed bins were not just pressure washed but vacuumed out of all moisture & residue. We are happy to endorse Rod & HiLowash to anyone in the dairy industry who is looking for a cost effective way of keeping your workplace clean & safe.
AFTER
Jon & Kate McAlister - Benlowan
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NEWS
Page 20, North East Farmer
May 2016
Kevin Sheedy to headline agriculture gala dinner
NORTH EAST AND GOULBURN MURRAY
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FARMING advocate and AFL legend Kevin Sheedy is the key note speaker at the 2016 Agriculture: The Heart of Victoria gala dinner which will be held at Melbourne’s Docklands next month. Well-known for his support of the farming industry, Mr Sheedy will shed light on his vision for rural Australia at the event, which celebrates Victoria’s $12 billion agricultural industry, showcasing locally grown produce and the people who produce it. Rural issues are a cause close to Mr Sheedy’s heart as a result of his travels across regional Australia with AFL over the past 50 years. He said this experience opened his eyes to the hardships faced by farmers and small town communities, inspiring his current mission to bridge the gap between major cities and farming groups. “We need to ask the question, ‘How can we help each other?’” he said. “The agriculture industry is the backbone of our nation – it’s what keeps us going. “For the industry to survive, we need to see that same level of support shown by the wider Australian community
to our farmers and producers. “The Agriculture: The Heart of Victoria dinner is a great opportunity to raise awareness of the efforts of Victoria’s agriculture industry and to ensure those efforts don’t go unnoticed,” Mr Sheedy said. Now in its fourth year, the Agriculture: The Heart of Victoria dinner is the premier event on the Victorian agriculture social calendar, and will be held on Thursday, June 9 at Central Pier, Docklands. It is presented by the Victorian Farmers Federation and The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria, in conjunction with major sponsor Coles. Master of Ceremonies for the evening will be swimming star Giaan Rooney and Victorian Minister for Agriculture and Regional Development Jaala Pulford will shed light on Victoria’s booming agricultural industry and how the State Government continues to support primary producers. Tickets for the gala dinner are now on sale and can be purchased online at www.bit.ly/ HeartofVictix2016.
BRIDGING THE GAP: Key note speaker at this year’s Agriculture: The Heart of Victoria gala dinner, Kevin Sheedy said rural issues were close to his heart.
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NEWS
May 2016
Swings and roundabouts no longer applicable with carryover and spill policy
NORTH EAST AND GOULBURN MURRAY
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By BRUCE DIFFEY Waterwheel Traders IT is of serious concern that the Southern Oscillation Index has dipped below 18 showing continued dry conditions for those in the southern Murray Darling Basin. Also of concern is the data collected by the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) that indicates that the inflows for the two major contributors to the storages of the Hume and Dartmouth are showing more than a 10 per cent decline for spring inflows in the Upper Murray and Upper Mitta since 1970. The positive thing that is happening this week is the advance water deal between Murray Irrigation Ltd. (MIL) and Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Authority to advance 200,000 megalitres (ML) at a fixed price for MIL at $46 per ML. This water will be available in July 2016 and will be welcomed by irrigators. The water will be paid back
North East Farmer, Page 21
in volume when Murray NSW reaches an allocation of 40 per cent. There is talk of a similar offer for Victoria which is yet to be announced. Of concern is the Murray Darling Basin Authority being a major allocation holder in NSW and Victoria and how the carryover is managed, as this will lower allocations for all users’ irrigators’ bulk and the allocation for the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH). The time is now for the states to work together and have a common carryover policy. Currently we have Victoria with the most generous carryover and spill policy at 100 per cent of high and low entitlements, NSW Murray is more conservative at 50 per cent of general security for Murray and 30 per cent for Murrumbidgee.
South Australia has an open carryover of no limit. For a connected river system this seems an opportunistic system for punters to hold SA water entitlement. If the MDBA is serious about the long-term health of the Murray system, then in my opinion the spill policy in Victoria should be cancelled and so too should the off allocation in NSW. The southern Basin for the Murray Darling should have a common carryover policy like for NSW which is 50 per cent for the Murray. States would need to pass regulations to bring this about. Swings and roundabouts and past department recommendations are no longer applicable. The major holder, the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder, makes the current allocation policy flawed.
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Page 22, North East Farmer
NEWS
May 2016
Farm insurance and you
BOARDING RETURNS TO WESLEY To open in Term 4 2016, this new contemporary model of Learning in Residence for senior students in Years 10, 11 and 12, will provide a dynamic and vibrant environment to stimulate their intellectual, emotional, physical, social, cultural and spiritual development. Enrolments are now open with full and weekly boarding options available. For further information please contact Carolyn Roney, Admissions Manager, International and Learning in Residence, carolyn.roney@wesleycollege.net or telephone 03 8102 6617. To apply for Learning in Residence Scholarships go to www.wesleycollege.net/scholarships
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DESPITE Australia’s standing as a thoroughly modern, fully developed nation, agriculture still makes a signiďŹ cant contribution to our economy, and employs hundreds of thousands of our people. With such a long history of working the land right across the nation, right from the time of earliest settlement, you would be forgiven for thinking we have a handle on all aspects of farming. You might be surprised then to learn just how few Australian businesses farms included - have an effective risk management strategy. In EY’s inaugural governance, risk and compliance survey, the company found that 85 per cent of respondents identiďŹ ed an opportunity for their business to beneďŹ t from an improved link between risk management and business performance. Many of the risks to
farms in Australia, whether ďŹ nancial or healthrelated, come from our unpredictable, and often vicious, weather. While large swathes of the countryside have been hobbled by drought for several years, seasonal bushďŹ res, cyclones and oods also play havoc with farmers’ livelihoods each and every year. Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) panellist Arthur Gearon noted that it’s important to concentrate your strategy on those few factors you can manage. “While we certainly can’t control Mother Nature, we can put some strategies in place to protect our crops and proďŹ tability,â€? he said. “More often than not, this will consist of implementing agronomic best practice, keeping abreast of the latest research information and having a good, common sense risk management
strategy in place,â€? Mr Gearon said. Mr Gearon’s advice for developing a good risk management strategy on farms includes tips such as: s )DENTIFYING THE individual business risks as best as you can. s 7EIGHING THE POTENTIAL impact of risks against their likelihood of occurrence. s &OCUSING ON STRATEGIES to manage the major risks. As noted by Mr Gearon and the GRDC, the most effective way to manage the risk of adverse weather is by securing comprehensive crop insurance. While many risks around the farm can be predicted and planned for, there’s no accounting for Australian weather patterns, so all you can do is minimise the ďŹ nancial impacts if and when the storms or drought hit. &OR MORE INFORMATION contact John Houghton, Elders Insurance Wangaratta Insurance on 0407 303 691.
v/31d52683/1916
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May 2016
North East Farmer, Page 23
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NORTH EAST AND GOULBURN MURRAY
Part of the Farmer Group Rural Newspapers Covering Victoria
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NORTH EAST AND GOULBURN MURRAY
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Freemartin calves and cows. What are they and why do they occur? - Dr Kirri Solly- Slade TUESDAY "KING VALLEY RUN"
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What is a freemartin cow? A freemartin cow is one that is born with a specific set of abnormalities of the female reproductive tract as a result of conditions in utero. Why does freemartinism occur? When a set of twins made up of bull and a heifer calf share a placenta they often have a common blood supply between the two foetuses. This shared blood supply means that many cellular products from each of the calves are exchanged between the two bodies. This includes cellular components of chromosomes such as the ‘X’ and ‘Y’ chromosomes that determine an animal’s sex. (A male being characterised as having an ‘XY’ genetic makeup and a female having an ‘XX’ genetic makeup.) When there is the presence of ‘XY’ cellular components in the heifer foetus this can lead to a multitude of
developmental abnormalities effecting the heifers reproductive system. Somewhere between 90-95% of heifers born as part of a bull/heifer twin combination result as a freemartin. What are the physical characteristics typical of a freemartin cow? Freemartin cows have underdeveloped ovaries which sometimes resemble male gonads more than female ovaries. The majority of the rest of the reproductive tract never develops therefore the uterine tubes, uterus, cervix and most of the vagina is absent. The external genitalia are present although they are atypical. The clitoris is abnormally large and often sprouts course hair and the vestibule (or what remains of the vagina) extends only a short distance beyond the vulval lips. These animals will never cycle properly or show signs of being
http://www.thecattlesite.com/articles/975/ what-is-a-freemartin/
on heat. Unfortunately all these attribute mean that freemartins are sterile and impossible for use in a breeding herd. Often freemartinism is picked up during attempts to synchronise oestrus cycles, AI or during pregnancy testing. j/12d12235-v29/19-16
NE 2016 ACT BEFORE 30 OJULA E FOR BEFORE IT’S TOAL YTEA R! THIS FINANCI ALSO 25HP $19,990*
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TYM 27 HP 4WD ROPS WITH FEL
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ALSO 75HP CAB FEL $23,000*
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El-Gra Percussion Post Driver
John Deere 62 HP ROPS FEL
ALSO 51HP $39,990*
TYM 91HP 4WD Cabin WITH FEL
$11,900*
ALSO 1.5MT $2,400*
YTO 70HP 4WD FEL
$18,700*
John Shearer 3.5MT
BCS K300 25HP All Terrain Tractor
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ALSO 3 POINT LINKAGE $1,600*
$13,250* Sitrex 13 wheel
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Loader mount Post Hole Digger
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Rotowiper 3.2mt trailling
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Sitrex 2.3mt finishing mower
Celli 1.8mt mulcher
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Celli 5.00mt mulcher
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Fieldquip 3.0mt G/Box universal topper
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New Landini Rex 85 HP
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Agrex Maxi 10 ton
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TS225 H/D general purpose rear wheels
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2.4mt high body mulcher H/D HYD
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* Freight charges may apply
v/12d12209-v27/19-16