NORTH EAST AND GOULBURN MURRAY
Part of the Farmer Group Rural Newspapers Covering Victoria Published since 1984
37 Rowan Street, Wangaratta 3677
NOVEMBER, 2014
PAGES 10-11
$1 at newsagents
PAGES 12-13
Ag bikes, ATVs & RTVs
Hay and Silage
PAGE 14
Fire Awareness and Prevention
Wheat yield hit hard Lack of rain forcing some not to harvest
DAIRY VISION: Dairy cows grazed the lawn of Parliament House in Canberra to celebrate the launch of the dairy industry’s very first Australian Dairy Vision. Cows from Cumberoona Holstein Farm in Cowra, NSW fed on the grass as owners Ian and Lisa Hindmarsh and their children joined in with the launch, together with Australian Dairy Farmers chief executive officer Natalie Collard and communications officer Emily Martyn, which was unveiled to federal parliamentary representatives. The Australian Dairy Vision is a statement by which the industry aims to be known for and proud of into the future. Underpinned by five binding elements, Australian dairy aims to be valued, innovative, responsible, preferred and unified by 2025. Guests at the launch enjoyed a dairy-inspired menu designed to showcase the industry’s world-class produce, including the 2013 Annual Grand Dairy Award cheese winners.
CROP yield rankings based on an average finish to the 2014 season have fallen dramatically across southern Australia, leaving some farmers the devastating decision of whether to harvest at all. According to the Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre (AEGIC) report, median wheat yield predictions have declined rapidly in southeastern Australia as part of a slowly developing El Niño-like weather pattern. The dry finish to the winter crop season is mostly affecting the southern states, with crop yield rankings now predominately below median, with many shires ranked in the lowest 10 per cent to 30 per cent of years in 100 years. The Crop Prospects report, which is published bimonthly during the cropping season, states that the national wheat yield forecasts based on an average finish to the season indicate a 22.3 million metric tonne (mmt) wheat crop, whereas yield projections that incorporate seasonal outlooks now indicate a 22mmt crop.
BY JODIE FLEMING
jfleming@ nemedia.com.au
“The decrease in rankings followed the expected decrease in rankings from seasonal outlooks, but was generally more severe than expected over south-eastern Australia where a very dry August-September was recorded,” the report states. “Except for the southern half of the Western Australian wheat belt, and a few shires in eastern Australia, most shires are now below the median ranking with many in the lowest 30 per cent of years out of 100 years. “In the southern mainland states, expected yields are likely to be 20 per cent to 32 per cent lower than the favorable yields recorded in 2013.” Dookie dry land farmer Tony Ludeman said he agrees with AEGIC’s report, however, cropping farmers in North East Victoria have not experienced the harsh conditions that the western part of the state has. Continued page 7
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