THE SOUTHERN
Part of the Farmer Group Rural Newspapers Covering Victoria Published since 1986
AUGUST, 2016
HAY AND SILAGE
PAGES 8-13
486 Whitehorse Road, Surrey Hills, 3127
HEDGING OUR FORAGE PRODUCTION By JOHN LYNE
PAGE 17
PAGE 18
Cape beef producer makes LQGXVWU\ EHQFKPDUN ¿ QDOV Rob Ewing represents Victoria for Cattle Council of Australia’s Rising Champions Initiative
CUTE AND CUDDLY: Caley Hood and Ash Purcell had their lambs from the Moralla Corriedale Stud at Baxter all dressed See pages 4 & 5 for results. for the 139th Australian Sheep & Wool Show that was held in Bendigo last month.
Trust only Bondioli & Pavesi and Bima for
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“The complete agricultural driveline solution”
CAPE Paterson farm manager Rob Ewing has been named Victoria’s finalist in the Cattle Council of Australia’s 2016 NAB Agribusiness Rising Champions Initiative. Now in its sixth year, the Rising Champions Initiative caters for 18 to 35 year olds and aims to inspire, empower and support young people who are passionate about the Australian beef industry. Mr Ewing, who manages a 350 Angus stud is interested in retaining and attracting young people in the beef industry and agricultural sector more broadly. As a stud manager, he is passionate about genetics and he sees animal health, welfare and biosecurity as important policy issues. He has developed a small equity ownership model in a stud herd together with his employer and agricultural consultant. Through the model, which operates as a bonus scheme over a 10-year time frame, Mr Ewing is allocated four animals randomly selected from the stud herd each year and retains one third of the progeny.
BY JODIE FLEMING
jfleming@ nemedia.com.au
Mr Ewing, now into the second year of the scheme, said small equity ownership was an alternative option for retaining young producers in the cattle industry. “For young farmers they need an incentive – we get paid a minimum wage, we put so much effort in and can walk away with nothing in retirement,” he said. “This gives me an interest in the stud herd and I’m building my own herd over time with no financial outlay.” A diesel mechanic by trade, he has had a lifelong interest in farming but was discouraged as a school leaver to make agriculture a career. He believes the opportunities in agriculture are endless and aims to be a mentor to disadvantaged young people wanting to be involved in the industry and said it was important for youth to have a voice on industry matters. Continued page 6
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