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THE SOUTHERN

Part of the Farmer Group Rural Newspapers Covering Victoria Published since 1986

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Victoria ers Covering Group Rural Newspap Part of the Farmer

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28 Friday, September AFL Grand Final Eve: 6 Tuesday, November Melbourne Cup Day: December 25 Christmas Day: Tuesday, December 26 Boxing Day: Wednesday, School Terms: 29 (teachers) - March Term 1: January 29 June 29 Term 2: April 16 21 Term 3: July 16 - September 21 - December Term 4: October 8

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Holiday dates: Victorian Public January 1 New Year’s Day: Monday, January 26 Australia Day: Friday, March 12 Labour Day: Monday, March 30 Good Friday: Friday, March 31 Easter Saturday: Saturday, April 2 Easter Monday: Monday, April 25 ANZAC Day: Wednesday, June 11 Monday, Queen’s Birthday:

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Straight from the farm sales@stumpmansa

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More and more people want to know where their meat comes from and how it was handled Ű

QUALITY: Melissa White operates Yarra Valley Custom Meats, running the operation from her parents’ 550 acre farm in the Yarra Valley. In three years, the small business has grown rapidly and now employs a number of part time butchers, an apprentice, plus Melissa and members of her family.

Continued page 2

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“When they come here, they need no convincing; the beautiful landscape is dotted with cheeky lambs running away from their mums, while contented cattle graze. “The whole experience for many city travellers and their children is one in awe at the countryside.” Melissa is able to purchase almost all of the stock bred by her parents – Michelle and Brian – on the farm; assessing each animal for the quality she knows is important for a good ﬁnal product. Running a mix of up to 400 Angus, Hereford, Santa Gertrudis and Charolais cross cattle, the operation has expanded to now include Large White and Saddleback Berkshire cross pigs, free range Isa Brown chickens and a mix of Dorper and Suffolk sheep. More recently, a small herd of Boer goats was purchased to add to the line-up of meat sold at the store. Twice each week, Melissa selects which animals will be taken to the abattoir – cattle and sheep to one, pigs to another.

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PADDOCK to plate is a term heard a lot these days, but hidden away in the hills of Yarra Glen sits a farming business that is literally taking what you see in the paddock, and preparing it ready for the plate. Yarra Valley Custom Meats opened three years ago under the guidance of Melissa White, who opened the butcher store on her parents’ 550 acre farm. Processing around five steers each week, the shop also sells between ﬁve and six spring lambs, along with pork cuts and suckling pigs ready for the spit. What makes Yarra Valley Custom Meats different to the other paddock to plate operations is that the animals grazing out the front of the store are the same ones that end up for sale – there is no middle man. Starting out supplying pork to local restaurants – Melissa soon realised customers were looking for a genuine farm experience when it came to buying meat. “More and more, people want to know where their meat comes from – and how it was handled,” she said.

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NEWS

Page 2, Southern Farmer

December 2017

WHITTLESEA PRODUCE

Over-herd: NEWS IN BRIEF

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In particular I raised the issue of beef and sheep exports from Australia which have been restricted by low volume import quotas and high import tariffs,â€? Nationals Senator, Bridget McKenzie, talking on the importance of trade between Australia and the European Union.

31 Forest Street, Whittlesea STOCKFEED - FARM & FENCING SUPPLIES

This agreement between Murray Goulburn and Saputo provides the industry with some clarity and a path forward to repair trust and transparency in our sector,â€? United Dairyfarmers of Victoria (UDV) president, Adam Jenkins, on new the dairy co-op had accepted a $1.31 billion buyout from Canadian company, Saputo.

PHONE

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THE SOUTHERN

Covering Central South Victoria and West Gippsland 37 Rowan Street, Wangaratta Victoria, 3677

MERRY CHRISTMAS: The Southern Farmer team would like to thank all its loyal readers and advertisers for a great 2017, and we look forward to an even bigger and better 2018. The first edition of the Southern Farmer for next year will be delivered by January 5. Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

Phone (03) 5723 0125 Email: sfarmer@nemedia.com.au Website: farmernews.com.au Advertising:

Juliette Mellon Phone (03) 5733 1109 jmellon@nemedia.com.au

Editorial:

Jarrah Loh Phone (03) 5723 0129 jloh@nemedia.com.au

Senior Journalist

CONCRETE PRODUCTS Farming, Industrial and Domestic

Rhyll McCormack Phone 5733 1107 rmccormack@nemedia.com.au

Livestock David Rizzoli Coordinator: Phone (03) 5341 7870 Pre-Press Coordinator

Noelene Allan Phone (03) 5723 0110 nallan@nemedia.com.au

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 is the copyright of North East Media Pty Ltd and cannot be used without the companyâ€™s permission.

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WHAT A VIEW: The view from Yarra Valley Custom Meats is as much an attraction as the store itself.

Straight from the farm From page 1

Cows are butchered at a dress weight of between 250 â€“ 350 kilos, with sheep turned off at around 22 kilos. Pigs are sold in cuts, or often as sucklings for the spit. From the abattoir, the carcasses are brought back to Yarra Valley Meats, where the team of butchers then begin the process of cutting, packing and creating the gourmet line of sausages. â€œWe had to jump through a lot of hoops to get the store up and running,â€? Melissa said. â€œThere is a lot more

involved than just bringing home the meat â€“ but it has deďŹ nitely been worth all the effort.â€? The White family have owned the property where Yarra Valley Custom Meats is based - just a few kilometres out of Yarra Glen - for more than 50 years. Long term, Melissa hopes to open a bigger butcher store â€“ but still on-farm; thatâ€™s one thing that she has no plans on changing. If you would like more information, visit the website at http://www. yarravalleycustommeats. com.au/.

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I think the introduction of any new technology always brings about unforseen issues and youâ€™ve just got to suck it up and see,â€? VFF livestock president, Leonard Vallance, defending the introduction of the electronic identification technology for sheep and goats, which will become compulsory at all saleyards by March 2018. It took up 600 â€“ 700 ml of the road, and it was quite high, about the size of a Labrador or a Kelpie ... it was a decent size,â€? Yinnar resident, Nick Bickerton, on what he claims was a big cat sighting off the Strzelecki highway, near Driffield in North East Victoria. If current animal welfare compliance efforts are inadequate, then we should look at removing the current structures â€“ not adding another level of insufficient enforcement,â€? Member for Northern Victoria, Daniel Young, slamming a recent announcement that the Victorian Government will fund a new group to ensure compliance of animal welfare. A retrospective price cut by processors to the milk price paid to suppliers in April-May 2016, coupled with continuing dry conditions at the time, was a shock to customers,â€? GMW managing director, Pat Lennon, on news that some 300 irrigators are late in paying their water debts. We spend endless hours filling in vendor declaration forms when we sell sheep and I doubt very much whether that information is ever typed into a computer,â€? Chris Harrison from west of Echuca, talking about the need for stock information to be collected and fed into a police database at saleyards after 96 Merino wethers were stolen from his property.

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NEWS

December 2017

Southern Farmer, Page 3

Millions to be spent across 12 farming projects

MORE LAMBS: One of the 12 farming projects to be endorsed by the MLA’s RD&A program is one that will consider ways to increase the weaning rate of the national sheep flock.

MLA to fund, this year recommending 12 projects.” The 12 RD&A projects endorsed for 2017/18 include: new approaches to increase the weaning rate of the national sheepflock; improving beef production through management of plant toxins; feeding Leucaena to manage the rumen for maximum beef profit; grazing strategies and tools to improve profitability and land condition; development of a single shot immunocontraceptive vaccine for cattle; maximising the value of existing technology for sheep producers; reducing foetal and lamb losses in young ewes;

managing fecund ﬂocks to improve survival of triplet dams and their lambs; boosting lamb survival by supplementing ewes with vitamins and minerals; the gateway to selecting for nutrient efﬁcient livestock – “Better Doers”; “The Sweet Spot”: improving breeder herd performance through optimal pasture utilisation; and grazing with Self Herding to improve breeder nutrition and reproduction. The Red Meat Panel consists of the chair and a producer member from NABRC and SAMRC, two producer members of WALRC, a representative from Cattle Council of Australia (CCA) and Sheepmeat Council of Australia (SCA), and two MLA general managers.

A MAJOR collaborative research partnership aimed at lifting the productivity of Australia’s livestock industry has been expanded – with the potential for up to $50 million worth of projects over the next five years. The Livestock Productivity Partnership (LPP) was initially announced in February between MLA Donor Company (MDC) and NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI), and featured a $17.5 million commitment from NSW DPI over five years, to be matched through MDC, for research projects that address key red meat and livestock priorities. The LPP has now been expanded with the addition of research partners the University of New England (UNE) and CSIRO, with the potential for more partners to join. The MDC board recently approved the LPP Strategic Plan as well as co-investment for the partnership of up to $50 million over five years, with 50 per cent of funds coming via MDC. The LPP aims to develop and demonstrate, by 2022, region- and system-specific feed-base options, new animal phenotyping and farm management tools with quantified potential to reduce the cost of production ($/kg liveweight) in commercial grazing enterprises in the improved pasture regions of NSW and southern/central Queensland by at least five per cent in real terms.

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ALMOST $10 million will be spent on 12 new farming projects – including ways to increase sheep weaning rates, further investigate the development of an immunocontraceptive and the potential benefits to be gained by scanning for embryo numbers in sheep. Livestock producers, through consultation with Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA), have directly influenced the investment of $9.5 million of levy funds into 12 new research, development and adoption (RD&A) projects, all aimed at building the prosperity of the sheep meat and grass-fed beef sectors. The projects address key industry priorities that fit within three themes: whole farm breeder productivity systems; future feed base scenarios; and profitable and efficient ruminant nutrition. The priority areas were determined by producers through MLA’s regional consultation process, which involved 18 regional committees and the North Australia Beef Research Council (NABRC), the Southern Australia Meat Research Council (SAMRC), and the Western Australia Livestock Research Council (WALRC). MLA’s general manager – producer consultation and adoption, Michael Crowley, said the 12 successful RD&A projects were the result of an extensive consultation and selection process. “MLA doesn’t make decisions about levy investment in isolation. “Once the priority areas for 2017/18 were determined via regional consultation, MLA’s annual call sought preliminary RD&A proposals and this attracted 149 preliminary proposals,” Mr Crowley said. “After review by Northern, Southern and Western Producer Panels and MLA, 24 preliminary proposals were found to best address the 2017/18 RD&A priorities, describe producer benefits at a regional and national level, and cost-effectively outline ways to deliver on industry RD&A plans. “The full proposals were subsequently assessed - after expert review, the full proposals were re-assessed by the Red Meat Panel who recommended the highest quality, highest impact projects for

Livestock Productivity Partnership to be expanded

NEWS

Page 4, Southern Farmer

December 2017

Sheep continue to hold firm despite dry start SPRING is normally associated with an inﬂux of lambs and a subsequent decline in price – this, however, hasn’t been the case for 2017. The Victorian trade lamb indicator has ranged between 595¢ and 626¢/kg cwt since the beginning of September, up two per cent on year-ago levels. Contributing to this is a greater presence of buyers from NSW, with the dry and patchy seasonal conditions across the state limiting supply and drawing buyers south. The market conditions have seen new and old season lamb saleyard indicators consistently track above the spring seasonal lows in price for the last ﬁve consecutive years. Spring lamb slaughter in Victoria was approximately 1.4 million head, 22 per cent higher than the same period last year. Mutton slaughter also increased to almost 336,000 head, up 60 per cent year-onyear. The June MLA and AWI wool and sheepmeat survey

indicated that a larger proportion of producers intended to increase their ewe flock, but fewer aimed to achieve this by retaining older ewes. This, combined with producers opting instead to retain a greater number of replacement ewes, is likely to see more cull ewes coming through the system. The spring lamb flush in Victoria has been particularly evident at CVLX Ballarat. Young lamb numbers have increased by 49 per cent on 2016 levels, totalling 87,000 head for spring thus-far. Over a third of the state’s sheep throughput was consigned to Bendigo, with almost 130,500 new season lambs sold as of October 24, increasing by 27 per cent year-on-year. Good rainfall across parts of the state over winter drove this increase, in contrast to the rest of the country which recorded one of the driest winters on record. Please note, all figures quoted are up to date as at late October.

GOOD YEAR: The sheep meat market continues to hold strong, despite a dry start and a vulnerable looking market at beef sales.

New business Agridome is growing farm efficiency

AGRIDOME is a new business that is determined to become a household name in agriculture. Started by Dr Matt Mahoney, the new business offers agricultural advice services locally - here in northern and eastern Victoria - and southern NSW. A fourth generation farm boy from Merrijig, Matt studied science at Melbourne University, Parkville.

He then completed Honours in Plant Biotechnology with the Plant Biotechnology Centre of Victoria at Latrobe University, Bundoora prior to completing a PhD in plant nutrition with the LaTrobe University Agriculture Department. For the last 11 years or so, Matt has worked for large corporate organisations within Australia and New Zealand agriculture.

With his work, Matt has travelled extensively throughout south-eastern Australia and New Zealand - much of this time spent on farm, running trials, conducting training and developing a sound knowledge of many different farming enterprises. Now Matt is starting his own exciting business venture, Agridome. The aim is to bring a more

personalised and practical advisory service to farmers in the region. The goal is to grow your farm efficiency, and therefore profitability, taking into consideration what your aspirations are – knowing that every farmer has different aspirations. Agridome is here to help you achieve your goals and aspirations by providing a range of independent services.

These include soil testing through to Fertsmart pasture agronomy packages, paddock planning and farmer training. A key aspect of Agridome will be running courses and group seminars. One of the courses on offer is the renowned nationally recognised Lifetime Ewe Management course – this course has helped thousands of farmers improve their bottom

line through on-farm practice changes. Now is the time to get a plan together for your farm for the next year and beyond. No matter what your farm enterprise is about, for more information contact Matt and start doing something different - grow your farm efficiency. Matt can be contacted on 0438 209 707 or email him at matt.agridome@gmail.com

NEWS

December 2017

Southern Farmer, Page 5

Proposed pipeline a step closer for Yarra Valley THE State Government is supporting a proposal to pipe recycled water to winemakers in the Coldstream and Gruyere area, to secure their water supply and help them produce more wine. The Minister for Water, Lisa Neville, and Member for Monbulk, James Merlino, recently met with growers and landholders in the Yarra Valley to discuss the $15.6 million Coldstream Recycled Water Pipeline project. “This project will provide water security to local growers, and help boost business, jobs and opportunities in the Yarra Valley,” said Minister Neville. The State Government has submitted a business case to the Commonwealth under the National Water Infrastructure Development Fund and is awaiting the outcome of the assessment process. The application outlines a strong case for the Commonwealth to invest $7.79 million, with the remainder of the project cost coming from local landholders in the region. “We’re calling on the Commonwealth to commit to funding to provide the support the region needs to grow,” Ms Neville said.

nually with more than $340 million generated in wine exports every year. Water security is a signiﬁcant risk for many of these businesses in the Yarra Valley who rely heavily on rainfall or their own dams or catchments to keep their crops hydrated. Access to a reliable and secure source of water will enable these businesses to expand and will support local jobs, increase tourism to the valley and support new development in the area. There are 160 wineries in the region with the proposed pipeline project to beneﬁt a number of wellrenowned wineries including Rochford, Giant Steps, Oakridge, Maddens Lane, Soumah and Levantine Hill. The State Government through its Water for Victoria plan supports the use of recycled water to ease the burden on drinking water supplies, plan for climate change and support economic development and growth. The plan outlines how to make the best use of all sources of water – including recycled water – which can be repurposed for irrigation and watering parks and gardens.

WATER ON THE WAY: A pipeline that would bring recycled water to vignerons in the Yarra Valley is one step closer to reality after the State Government pledged their support.

Visiting local Yarra Valley winery Soumah Wines, Ms Neville and Mr Merlino encouraged the Commonwealth to assess the project so work can commence as soon as possible. “The Yarra Valley produces some of the best wine in the world – this project will be a win for tourism, jobs and the local economy,” said Mr Merlino. The new water pipeline would

supply 1000 megalitres of recycled water from Yarra Valley Water’s treatment plant at Lilydale through a 46 kilometre pipeline to 50 growers, mainly strawberry farms and vineyards in the Coldstream district. The Yarra Valley wine region, world-renowned for its wine and vineyards, generates about $58 million to the Victorian economy an-

Saving the planet one silage wrap at a time A UNIQUE recycling program is being trialled on the Mornington Peninsula, where local farmers are able to dispose of their used silage wrap for free. A joint initiative between the Victorian Farmers Federation, Solo Resource Recovery and the Mornington Shire, the program aims to reduce landfill and on-farm waste. “This new initiative is a great step forward in our effort to reduce waste on the peninsula,” Mayor Bev Colomb, Shire of Mornington Peninsula, said. The idea was first floated by local Victorian Farmers Federation branch vice president, Geoff Coghill, when he approached the shire seeking some kind of recycling scheme. Now, farmers are able to drop off a Bulka bag full of used silage wrap, and exchange it for an empty one. Bulka bags are large lightweight bags capable of holding 1m3 - or one tonne - and can be purchased at the Shire of Mornington depot for $10. The used silage wrap will eventually be recycled into a range of products, such as matting, fencing materials, road barriers and black builders plastic.

FREE DISPOSAL: A silage wrap recycling program is being trialled by the Mornington Peninsula Shire. Pictured is Victorian Farmers Federation branch vice-president, Geoff Coghill.

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NORTHER Australian producers will benefit from a $3 million grant that aims to develop a biological product to help deal with cattle tick and buffalo fly. The grant comes from the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Developing Northern Australia, with the research being undertaken by Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA), in partnership with Microbial Screening Technologies Pty Ltd (MST) and Macquarie University. The three-year Probio-TICK project is aimed at developing a low-cost, chemical residue-free, microbial treatment applied to the hide of cattle to provide life-long protection against cattle tick and buffalo fly.

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THE first Australian blueberries have gone on sale in India. Imported by Kovai Pazhamudir Nilayam (KPN) Group, the company is the first in the world to import locally grown blueberries. Demand for agricultural produce in India is forecast to increase by 136 per cent between 2009 and 2050, according to ABARES research. In 2016, Australia exported $8.9 million worth of blueberries to almost 20 countries, including $4.4 million to Hong Kong. At the berry industry’s request, the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources successfully negotiated market access for blueberries to India in September 2015. Fast facts: India was Australia’s fifth-largest agricultural export market in 2016-17, with exports valued at $3.1 billion, up 475.5 per cent since 2011-12; India is a significant market for Australian chickpeas ($1.1b), wheat ($743.3m), raw cotton ($389.0m), wool ($224.3m), and lentils ($200.0m); India has an estimated GDP growth rate of 7.7 per cent for 2018, compared to the average of 1.7 per cent for G7 economies and boasts one of the world’s fastest growing economies, forecast to become the third-largest by 2030; Australia and China recently agreed to new horticulture market access priorities that will allow work to progress on potential exports of Australian blueberries to China. The inclusion of blueberries on the priority list will progress after the existing access priority of mainland apples.

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NEWS

Page 6, Southern Farmer

Daniel Young slams proposed animal welfare group DANIEL Young (MLC, Northern Victoria) has slammed a recent announcement that the Victorian Government will fund a new group to ensure compliance of animal welfare. Mr Young has called on the government to abolish the RSPCA after the new Animal Welfare Victoria group, which is due to start in February, begins. “In an attempt to clarify why the government needs multiple bodies to enforce animal welfare compliance, I asked the Minister of Agriculture if there would be a removal of enforcement powers held by the RSPCA,” Mr Young said. “I was bemused by the minister’s reply that welfare officers will continue not only through the RSPCA, but also through three state organisations and local governments, with no explanation as to why.

December 2017

SmartShepherd streamlines maternal data collection

NEW CRC CHAIR:

“If current animal welfare compliance efforts are inadequate, then we should look at removing the current structures – not adding another level of insufficient enforcement.” A member of the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party, Mr Young took aim at RSPCA Victoria, which has come under increasing criticism for failing to protect animals across the state. “The RSPCA’s tarnished record and inability to be held accountable to taxpayers begs the question as to why the government feels the need to continue financing the RSPCA while creating yet another enforcement body,” Mr Young said. The government will establish Animal Welfare Victoria in February to focus on animal welfare research, policy, education and compliance.

IAN Wilton has been named the new chairman of the board of the Cooperative Research Centre for Sheep Industry Innovation (Sheep CRC), following endorsement at last month’s annual general meeting. Mr Wilton was appointed on the recommendation of the Sheep CRC’s nomination committee, replacing Duncan Fraser. Mr Wilton has served on the Sheep CRC’s skills-based board for the last two years, during which time he has chaired the organisation’s Finance and Compliance Committee, and is currently based in Sydney.

LIVESTOCK producers will soon have access to technology to automate the collection of maternal pedigree data, as a result of a collaboration between MLA Donor Company (MDC) and agricultural technology company SmartShepherd. SmartShepherd has developed a lightweight, re-usable smart tag to gather and transmit relationship data to enable more efficient, accurate identification of mothers and their offspring in sheep, cattle and goat operations. The technology works without GPS or internet connectivity and utilises low cost Bluetooth technology and Internet of Things (IoT) architecture. It is designed around existing animal husbandry techniques, to substantially decrease the barrier of entry to full pedigree recording and reduce inbreeding. SmartShepherd co-founder and chief executive officer, David Rubie, said the technology was designed to give producers an easier way to improve the maternal side of their livestock genetics. “In any sheep enterprise, the real drivers of profit are breeding ewes – their performance with respect to fertility and mothering ability will always dictate how successful you are,” Mr Rubie said. “Field trials of the SmartShepherd system in Australia achieved 96 per cent pedigree accuracy within 48 hours of the tags being placed on the ewes and lambs. For more information on SmartShepherd, visit https://www. smartshepherd.com.au/.

Harvest mouse reduction strategy WITH mouse populations at high to moderate levels for this time of the year in some cropping regions of Victoria, grain growers are being urged to remain vigilant and take measures during and after harvest to eliminate food sources over summer to reduce the risk of an outbreak in autumn next year. Recent strong winds and hail have knocked grain to the ground – combined with any grain spilt at harvest - this will provide a ready food source to maintain mouse populations through summer. The latest reports from the Grains Research and Development Corporation’s (GRDC) regular mouse monitoring program investment

indicate that mouse populations in Victoria’s Wimmera and Mallee regions are high, and damage to crops continue, although baiting appears to be effective. Given current population levels, a moderate likelihood of an outbreak in north-west Victoria next autumn is forecast, but the extent of this outbreak will be dependent on rainfall for the remainder of 2017. Higher than average rainfall over the next two months is likely to promote increased mouse abundance. Growers are reminded that baiting must not occur within two weeks of harvest, due to the withholding period.

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NEWS

December 2017

Southern Farmer, Page 7

Cattle prices off the record mark compared to NSW and Qld ON the back of widespread rainfall, particularly in Queensland, Australian saleyard cattle prices lifted throughout September and into October. However, Victorian cattle prices, lacking the support of re-stockers and feeder buyers, have been selling at a discount compared to that of NSW and Queensland for much of the spring. The market also remains below the record highs of 2016, with yearling steers in Victoria averaging 22 per cent lower year-on-year, on 267¢/kg for spring-to-date, while cows averaged 202¢/kg, back 14 per cent year-on-year. The lack of re-stocker demand in the market is mainly due to the near full recovery of Victorian herd numbers from the liquidation that peaked in 2015 - consequently, the availability of light weight store cattle being yarded across the state has been limited. Further illustrating the recovery in the Victorian cattle herd is the 13 per cent year-on-year increase in the total number of cattle processed for spring-to-date, totalling 146,681 head. The increase mostly consisted of males, with a more consistent proportion of females being killed as the dairy herd liquidation slows. During spring, weekly slaughter in Victoria has remained consistently above 20,000 head. More than 57,000 head have been yarded across Victorian selling centres during September and October, back 14 per cent from year-ago levels. Saleyard consignments were considerably reduced during Sep-

Red Meat 2017 success THE Red Meat Advisory Council held its flagship event, Red Meat 2017, in Alice Springs late last month. The two day event featured a producer tour, a look at the latest innovations and marketing insights, a trade show and technology demonstrations, a business breakfast, unrivalled networking opportunities and the 2017 MLA annual general meeting. A number of industry leaders were invited to make presentations during the conference, including: Lisa Sharp, who spoke on the global demand for red meat; Dr Jane Weatherley, whose topic was harnessing the power of data to stand by sales; Michael Crowley, who discussed driving profitability on-farm by meeting consumer needs; and Sean Starling, who spoke on innovation being the key to keeping the value chain competitive.

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SLOWING DOWN: The Victorian cattle market hasn’t been as strong as in other states over the spring months.

tember, with 23,679 head yarded, back 22 per cent from 2016. Wet weather impacted supply, particularly in southern Victoria, where improved pasture availabil-

ity resulted in producers retaining stock. Spring to-date throughput at NVLX Barnawartha totalled 15,546 head, while 9047 head were yard-

ed at Shepparton and Leongatha offered a total of 7214 head – similar to year-ago levels. All herd numbers were current as at mid October 2017.

HELD in Shepparton on December 10, the annual Codference will include presentations on: flagship native fisheries and how we got there; record native fish stocking; how fishing licence fees contribute; native fish habitat; native fish population surveys across 10 rivers; and an update on the National Carp Control Plan. The free Codference will be held at the Eastbank Conference Centre, 70 Welsford Street, Shepparton, from 9am until 4pm. Tea, coffee and lunch will be provided. To reserve your seat, visit www.vfa.vic. gov.au/codference2017.

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Page 8, Southern Farmer

December 2017

Taming emissions, cutting feed costs RESEARCH UP-DATE: Dr Martin Auldist talks about what he and his team have been up to in a new column set to feature each month in the Southern Farmer.

By Dr Martin Auldist, Senior Research Scientist, Agriculture Victoria, Ellinbank OCTOBER and November were busy months for Agriculture Victoria researchers at Ellinbank. The initial phase of a large experiment, led by Dr Bill Wales, investigating supplementary grain mixes for use in early lactation has nearly concluded.

In this experiment, four groups of 20 cows were offered one of four different supplement mixes in the dairy at milking times for the ﬁrst 100 days of lactation, in addition to a generous pasture allowance. The experimental design compares wheat and barley mixes with and without maize grain, and with and without canola meal. It is a labour intensive experiment with supplements being hand fed to each of the 80 cows to ensure the correct amount was offered. Pasture allowance and intake has been extensively monitored, with the intake of individual cows measured using the n-alkane technique. One of the team members, Dr Marlie Wright, is a global expert in this technique which compares the faecal concentrations of naturally occurring pasture alkanes (plant waxes) with those of a dosed synthetic alkane to calculate intake. Initial results indicate that the milk yield of cows fed one of the two diets containing canola meal was around 2kg per cow per day higher for most of the ﬁrst 100 days of lactation.

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Conversely, it appears that maize could be removed from the ration with little effect on milk yield, hence making the ration more cost effective. Statistical analyses will be required to conﬁrm these preliminary observations. The next step is to put all the cows back on to a common ration and see how long the cows previously fed on the diets containing canola maintain their advantage. The earliest calving cows reached 100 days in milk and were moved to this common diet in mid-November. The rest of the cows will progressively ﬁnish their treatments according to calving date, with the latest calvers moving to the common diet by mid-December. The “carry over” milk yield effect will then be measured by measuring the milk yield of all 80 cows daily for the remainder of lactation. Carry over milk yield gains from feeding cows to a higher peak milk yield have been observed overseas, and if it happens in Victorian systems it will add to the economic benefits of these rations. Other experimental work

is currently under way and is led by Agriculture Victoria researchers, Dr Leah Marett and Dr Peter Moate. This experiment also uses 80 cows, and has the aim of looking for genetic markers for methane emissions. These cows are being fed a common diet of lucerne and barley cubes through on-site automatic feeders, which enable a precise measurement of dry matter intake. Over the course of the 35 day experiment, the methane emissions of each cow will be measured using the “SF6 technique”. The technique involves placing a bolus into the rumen of the cows, which emits a marker gas (sulphur hexafluoride; SF6) at a known rate. Samples of the cows’ breath are then captured and concentrations of methane and SF6 in the samples are used to calculate total methane emissions from each cow. This technique has been extensively refined at Ellinbank over many years by Dr Moate and his team. Dr Marett and Dr Moate’s collaborators at Agriculture Victoria in Bundoora will then examine the genotypes of low and high emitters with a view to identifying gene markers for methane emissions. Ultimately, the aim is to develop a breeding value for methane that will fit into the current breeding indices.

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NEWS

Page 10, Southern Farmer

December 2017

Look for crop pests now GRAIN growers are being reminded to report any suspect plant pests and symptoms as early as possible to stop the spread of diseases next cropping season. Reporting of odd pest and plant symptoms can be done quickly and easily through Agriculture Victoria’s crop surveillance program CropSafe. CropSafe is a field crop pest and disease surveillance system linked to more than 200 major agribusiness companies and private agronomist networks. In 2016, 226 samples were submitted to CropSafe for identification of unknown pests and diseases, 141 more than the year before, due to seasonal conditions and the Russian wheat aphid (RWA) incursion. The first report of RWA came from a CropSafe agronomist – all of whom receive specialist surveillance training, as well as diagnostic support for unusual or difficult cases. Agriculture Victoria’s acting chief plant health officer (CPHO) Dr Rosa Crnov said CropSafe has become a critical tool in identifying potential exotic pests and disease threats to the state’s grains industry. The CPHO relies on CropSafe surveillance data for market access related area of-freedom (AoF) claims. A recent evaluation of the program revealed that it would require 81 full time staff equivalents to provide the same targeted surveillance coverage. “The more growers we have using our CropSafe tools, the better we can protect our grains industry,” Agriculture Victoria program manager, Kellyanne Harris, said. “The bigger the CropSafe network becomes, the better able it is to detect exotic pests and diseases in field crops and early detection is key.” The program earned a top biosecurity award in March 2017 for its role in the RWA response in Victoria. For more information about CropSafe visit http://go.vic.gov.au/ PQRwiv.

DNA SUCCESS: DNA testing has put Geelong sheep and wool producer, Jack Briscoe, on the fast track to success.

DNA Flock Profile cements foundations for success DEVELOPING a flock with the right mix of genetics can take generations to perfect, but DNA testing has put Geelong sheep and wool producer, Jack Briscoe, on the fast track to success. Mr Briscoe is only a year into breeding his own Merino flock after branching out from his sheep contracting business, by cobbling together a mixture of 800 home-bred and yard-bought ewes as his breeding base. Rather than using a best guess to identify suitable rams to breed a more uniform drop, Mr Briscoe has been able to identify precisely the strengths and weaknesses of his flock using the Sheep CRC’s DNA Flock Profile Test. “Like everyone starting off from scratch, I want to make progress quickly - so the first thing I needed

to know was details of the base that we’re starting off with in terms of fleece weight, body weight, growth rates etc, to make our genetic improvement program as streamlined as possible,” Mr Briscoe said. “So I organised to do the DNA Flock Profile testing, and from here I can really use Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBVs) to my advantage. “I’ve been back to my stud and together we have worked out a fiveyear plan of attack about where we’re going to go with the flock and with our ram selections.” Mr Briscoe and wife Karen run a mixed farming operation south of Geelong which comprises of cropping, Merinos, prime lambs and Kelpie breeding. Mr Briscoe also runs a data collection company for local sheep

producers, which includes linking eID with ﬂeece weights, micron, body weights and pregnancy scanning. This focus on objective data to improve decision making meant the step into DNA testing was a natural progression for Mr Briscoe. The test involves randomly sampling 20 young ewes for DNA testing, with genetic links then linked with animals of known breeding values from the Information Nucleus database. These linkages support a prediction of the flock’s average breeding values, which are then scaled to Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBVs) for major Merino traits, such as yearling weight, fleece weight and fibre diameter as well as the selection indexes for fibre production, Merino production

and dual purpose production. The test results have put Mr Briscoe on the front foot in developing a breeding strategy to improve his flock’s productivity and achieve his objective of breeding easy-care sheep that can be weaned early, have a good growth rate, and yield as much wool as possible per acre. “From the DNA test results I could see that on average my micron was right up there above average, which was great, but I could also see that my fleece weight was down, so that’s the first thing that we’re going to work on with my stud when selecting rams using ASBVs,” Mr Briscoe said. His broader goals are to lift weaning weight, number of lambs weaned, and fat coverage, as well as fleece weight as he moves towards six monthly shearing.

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FIRE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION

December 2017

Southern Farmer, Page 11

Twin impeller pump goes Kubota AUSSIE Pumps’ mighty ‘Mr T’ twin impeller high pressure firefighting pump made a real impact on the market when it was launched five years ago, and each new version features bigger and better design changes. The newly released model is no exception, featuring Kubota’s OC series oil-air cooled diesel engine – designed to meet the needs of every farmer for years to come. The twin impeller pump appeals to all those who need reliable performance coupled with high output, such as farmers, firefighters and contractors. The Aussie Pumps’ Mr T twin impellers and guide vanes are perfectly matched and balanced to provide long, troublefree life, while the high pressure performance of the pump provides up to 200 lpm flow at 80m head - over 100 psi; a phenomenal amount of water for a small pump. When Aussie Pumps

released the original Honda pump, their 9 and 13HP petrol drive version became the benchmark for all pumps. The Mr T pump provides consumers with a record suction lift of 7.6m – with a maximum flow of up to 500 lpm and a shut off head in petrol drive at 135 psi or 95m vertical lift. The direct suction means buyers can get water from creeks, eroded streams or from wells while maintaining a high pressure water transfer – so it doesn’t matter if you need water for firefighting, irrigation or even to run the garden sprinkler, you can easily access the water you need, at a pressure you want, using the Mr T pump. The new Kubota version, with lower performances proportional to the lower rpm of diesel compared to petrol engines, comes in a heavy duty galvanised frame with gal sub based and anti-vibration mounts, and weighs in at

a relatively light weight 105kg. The OC95 engine is a prime power unit and comes with electric start as standard equipment. Kubota’s unique engine features are signiﬁcantly different to all other strictly air-cooled engines, claiming the engines run cooler, quieter and use less fuel - all major features the buyers of diesel drive pumps are looking at for long term reliability and efﬁciency. As a Christmas special, the Aussie Pumps’ Mr T Kubota is being offered at a great discounted rate, and comes with a free battery as part of the package – so get your Christmas sorted early this year, and surprise the farm with the only present that could potentially save the property. Further information on Aussie Pumps’ Mr T Twin Kubota is available from the website at www. aussiepumps.com.au, or by contacting your local authorised distributors.

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Aussie’s free fire smart plan Leaf, Twig The guide deals with the options of stay or go during a fire situation – based on assessing the risks for each situation and putting in the preparation work in advance. “Without wishing to sound dramatic, it can save lives,” Mr Farrugia said. The guide covers how to set up sprinkler systems to provide household protection, and details all of the basics of family fire drills, pump maintenance and selection. The guide also highlights the key questions to ask when selecting a fire pump. “Homeowners should take the trouble to check out the pump specifica-

tions, looking in particular at the amount of water delivered at the required pressure,” Mr Farrugia said. “You may need one outlet on the pump for a sprinkler system and another for a hose to douse spot fires - will there be enough water to supply both? “Reading our guide will arm customers with a realistic expectation of what can be achieved, what equipment will be needed, and how to avoid some of the pitfalls.” Aussie Pumps’ Fire Smart Guide is available free from Aussie Pump distributors throughout Australia or by downloading from the website, www. aussiepumps.com.au.

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BE PREPARED: Steve Bonney, from Glenorie NSW, checks out the new Aussie Survival Guide to get tips on how to get the best out of his fire protection system.

A FREE plan on how to best prepare for this year’s bushfire season has been released by Aussie Pumps. The new booklet takes farmers and home owners logically through the prep needed to defend properties – from cleaning gutters to how to prepare your property boundaries. “Anyone who lives near bushland, coastal scrub, on grasslands or between paddocks is potentially at risk,” Australian Pump Industries (Aussie Pumps) spokesman, Brad Farrugia, said. “The Aussie Fire Smart Survival Guide is our way of giving support to everyone who is potentially at risk.

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WINCHELSEA All About Mowers & Chainsaws 5 Lennox St, PH: 5267 2266

NEWS

Page 12, Southern Farmer

December 2017

Is rural land dear or cheap?

By BRIAN WOOD, Charles Stewart & Co Pty Ltd. SINCE World War II, the price of Australian rural land has climbed steadily, interrupted occasionally by some short periods where values declined or plateaued, but the overall trend line has been a steady increase. There has always been some shorter term volatility due to such factors as interest rates, economic factors, seasons, commodity prices and local supply and demand â€“ and this will always apply. Now, in 2017, land values are probably at their highest level ever in dollars per hectare terms. However, to simply compare prices in dollar terms against previous levels is an over simpliďŹ cation. This leads to the question â€“ what is the meaning of â€œdearâ€? and what is the meaning of â€œcheapâ€?? Any judgement of whether land is dear or cheap

AT WHAT PRICE: As Australians, we tend to consider the price of our farmland as increasingly unaffordable â€“ yet compared to the rest of the developed world, the cost per productive acre is almost half that of the nearest comparable market, Canada.

must, at its most fundamental level, be determined by what annual return can be obtained from the subject land at the current market price, but also recognise the longer term security of the land asset, and the potential for capital gain. And further, the reliability and stability of the country that you are considering must be taken into account. It can only be expected that their demand for product farmland in climatically

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secure areas around the world sill steadily increase. It is claimed that because of the fast growing world population, the world will need to produce more food in the next 10 years than it has in the last 10,000 years â€“ a startling statistic. The amount of quality productive land is basically limited. However, improvements in farming methods, and new marketing and management methods over recent years,

have resulted in massive improvement in production per hectare, and reliability of that production. Obviously because of the limited quantity of land available, the age-old laws of supply and demand apply. Therefore, agriculture must be a wonderful opportunity for investors in the longer term. It might surprise many readers to know that in world terms, Australia has some of the lowest land prices of any

developed economy, based on the number of dollarsâ€™ worth of land needed to produce a tonne of wheat. As at February 2017, the average dollarâ€™s value in Australia of a parcel of land able to produce a tonne of what was around $950 US, and this is one of the cheapest in the world. Some other comparable ďŹ gures were; US $2400, New Zealand $2500, Brazil $2400, UK $2600 and Denmark $3800.

In Canada, perhaps the most comparable country, the ďŹ gure is $1300. So, while rural land prices look high when compared with the recent past, perhaps we are seeing the commencement of a new era where global comparisons of land values are the important factor. The â€˜Global Villageâ€™ view of the world means that overseas investors, many of which are multi-national, see the entire world as their investment arena. Foreign companies searching for good, longer term capital growth, combined with satisfactory year on year annual returns are viewing Australia positively. This is reďŹ‚ected in the number and volume of sales made in recent times to Canadian, American, Middle Eastern, German and Chinese based buyers. One might ask why these players are now buying land in the Western District of Victoria. This is clearly due to our proven seasonal reliability, combined with highly fertile versatile soils, and our favoured location close to international ports, regional population centres and markets. Perhaps we, as Australians, would be wise to consider the value of farmland in our part of Australia in global terms rather than on the traditional local level. And remember, you will never make much money with in the bank at current interest rates.

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NEWS

December 2017

Southern Farmer, Page 13

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Make bad odours a thing of the past

smells

coming

from

your septic system are a good indicator that something is not right. Not only are smells unpleasant and embarrassing, but they could be a clear sign that things are soon going to get worse. Your septic system is the digestive system in your back yard. It relies on naturally occurring, good bacteria to break down all the waste and grease that you ďŹ‚ush away. The wrong type of bacteria or too few good bacteria in your system, leads to smells, clogged drains, overďŹ‚owing septics and blocked absorption trenches. Families have been relying on Australian made Ecocare Activator for years. This Quality Assured product will clean, clear and condition everything from kitchen

Healthy eating advice for your septic system. sinks to drains, relegating smells and blockages to the history books. â€œI have been using your product for over a decade. During that period I

Swap septic system smells for smiles! â€œWith most of our plumbing set under a concrete slab, it really gives us peace of mind.â€? (Lyndall Sleep, Victoria)

n unpleasant smell is often the

ďŹ rst sign that you have a problem with your septic system. But once the smell is there, the problem is already in place. Ecocare Activator, trusted for decades by families across Australia, is your one-stop solution to septic system woes. Ken and Glenise Outch, from Victoria, have been using Ecocare Activator for many years. This is what they had to say, â€œThe product itself is fantastic. We use it around the house for all the

the drain or toilet where it continues to work within your pipes to clear

ever usedâ€ŚThe best product and the only one in my house for cleaning!â€?

blockages and condition your system. No need for expensive maintenance, no need to call out the plumber (and

said Debbie Godfry from Queensland. â€œI purchased Activator as I had a

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â€Śit is keeping our costs low by saving on regular pump outs and having to get a plumber out to remove blockages and/or replace the systemâ€Śwe also donâ€™t have the cupboard full of

cleaning and in turn it is constantly keeping our bacterial level in the septic

all different types of cleaners.

system at optimal levels. It is also removing the need to use any harmful

Thank you againâ€Śâ€?

chemical cleaners which can kill off the

(Ken and Glenise Outch, Victoria)

system. â€œThank you again for your product and the great service you provideâ€Śwe always know you are only a free phone call away!â€?

even used it on my stainless steel oven, stove, sinks, benches, laminated benches and they have come up

Used as an all over cleaner for the house, it is then simply ďŹ‚ushed down

freely, never is there an offensive odour and the septic system works perfectly,â€? commented V. Wright

Healthy, happy and odour free in 3 easy steps

it doesnâ€™t stop with what you can see. As you ďŹ‚ush it down the drain it continues to work unseen within the conďŹ nes of your septic system. Restoring the natural balance of good bacteria and keeping smells and blockages away naturally.

Activator to all my neighbours, and would be happy to speak to anyone who has queries about how well Activator works,â€? said Russell Marsh from New South Wales. Ecocare Activator destroys odours on contact and, because it works to maintain a healthy level of good bacteria within your septic or wastewater system, it prevents problems from coming back. Dissolving blockages and replacing harsh chemicals, Ecocare Activator is safe to use in greywater systems and all around the house. With so many uses, this one product is putting money back into the pockets of hard working families.

â€œWe use it in the drains (toilet, shower, spa etc) and it has been great. I have

have had no occasion to use the services of a plumber. Drains run

from New South Wales. One product â€“ multiple uses. But

problem with odour; a build up of fats; blockages in my seepage drains and wetness at the surface of my trench.

of Activator... I am recommending

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Ecocare Activator is the one product you can rely on to cut your cleaning time down to the bare minimum and keep your house, septic system and Aerated Wastewater Treatment System (AWTS) clean and healthy. â€œI have recommended Ecocare Activator regularly and have seen even the most neglected system turned aroundâ€Ś within as little as one month,â€? said Senior Service Technician Michael Goddard from Wastewater Consultants Pty Ltd. Use to clean all hard surfaces and kill odours on contact, then simply rinse your surfaces and pour any remaining mixture straight down the drain. As it moves into your septic system it continues working, clearing blockages and conditioning your system. You do the ďŹ rst part, leave it to do the rest.

Expert advice that wonâ€™t leave you stranded Competent, experienced and highly knowledgeable in our ďŹ eld of expertise, we are also friendly and down-toearth and here to make your life easier. Ecocare Activator will solve your wastewater problems and prevent them coming back. Read what Michelle Lavinge from Victoria had to say about our service:

â€œI had been told by 3 plumbers there was nothing they could do to help me with the terrible odourâ€ŚYour team worked with me over several months to clean out the waste through the various areas of the houseâ€Ś Thank you for all the times you called me to check and confirm how our problem was going â€“ I didnâ€™t have to call you. Fantastic work â€“ itâ€™s rare to see such great customer service when things get tough. â€œI would like to thank you for the friendly service, after sales support and excellent result I have received from your company and product Ecocare Activator. Our extremely unpleasant experience with this terrible odour from the drains and septic is now over and we couldnâ€™t be more relieved.â€?

I had been told by the plumber that

Find out how we can help put the

it would cost me a fortune to replace my entire system. However, that is no

smile back on your familyâ€™s face with a 3-in-1 solution that cleans, clears and conditions - wiping out septic smells

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1 2 3

from the start. Call our friendly team on 1800 633 866 to ďŹ nd out more.

Cleans Easy to use, environmentally friendly and no harsh chemicals â€“ safe and effective cleaning for every room in the house.

Clears The perfect solution to greasetrap problems, Ecocare Activator breaks down grease and fat, clearing blockages as it goes.

Conditions Resting in your septic system, Ecocare Activator keeps working, conditioning your system and providing essential maintenance.

SEPTICS SORTED, SMELLS DESTROYED Let one of our consultants solve your wastewater issues

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1800 633 866

www.insightenvironmental.com.au enquiries@insightenvironmental.com.au

2018

THE SOUTHERN

Rainfall Chart

Part of the Farmer Group Rural Newspapers Covering Victoria

WHITTLESEA PRODUCE ABN 58 084 899 738

31 Forest Street, Whittlesea STOCKFEED - FARM & FENCING SUPPLIES

JANUARY M T W T F S S

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

FEBRUARY 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30 31

APRIL

PHONE

(03) 9716 2459

M T W T F S S

1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

MARCH 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

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26 27 28

MAY 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

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4 5 6 7 8 9 10

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Solar Powered

Automatic Gate Openers

25 26 27 28 29 30

1 2 3 4 5 6

ate? “Have G n” pe We’ll o

JUNE 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

7 8 9 10

www.solartronics.com.au

11 12 13 14 15

Mower & Ride On SuperStores

www.TheRedShed.com.au

5 Great Locations '$1'(121* &5$1%2851( $5%250$67(5 %$<6:$7(5 0,7&+$0 %81<,3

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The place to go for.... RIDE-ON MOWERS LAWNMOWERS LOGSPLITTERS RAMPS CHIPPERS AUGERS GENERATORS PRESSURE WASHERS CHAINSAWS ARBOR GEAR BLOWERS POWERCUTTERS BRUSHCUTTERS ACCESSORIES SERVICE AND REPAIRS

Leaf, Twig & Stick Rake

For Ride on Mowers

JULY M T W T F S S

30 31

AUGUST 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

OCTOBER

sales@stumpmansales.com

www.stumpmansales.com

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

27 28 29 30 31

M T W T F S S

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

NOVEMBER 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

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M T W T F S S

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M T W T F S S

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5 6 7 8 9 10 11

DECEMBER 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

New Year’s Day: Monday, January 1 Australia Day: Friday, January 26 Labour Day: Monday, March 12 Good Friday: Friday, March 30 Easter Saturday: Saturday, March 31 Easter Monday: Monday, April 2 ANZAC Day: Wednesday, April 25 Queen’s Birthday: Monday, June 11

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

26 27 28 29 30

M T W T F S S

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3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

NOTES:

Public holidays

Victorian Public Holiday dates:

1800 819 493

M T W T F S S

16 17 18 For All Your Animals and Property Needs! **BULK PET FOODS** **VETERINARY SUPPLIES** **FENCING** **COUNTRY CLOTHING** **WORKBOOTS** **PEST CONTROL**

www.pakenhamproduce.com.au

School holidays

Rake up those leaves

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

SEPTEMBER

AFL Grand Final Eve: Friday, September 28 Melbourne Cup Day: Tuesday, November 6 Christmas Day: Tuesday, December 25 Boxing Day: Wednesday, December 26 School Terms: Term 1: January 29 (teachers) - March 29 Term 2: April 16 - June 29 Term 3: July 16 - September 21 Term 4: October 8 - December 21

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Cnr Bald Hill Rd & Bormar Drive, Pakenham. P: (03) 5941 1844 | F: (03) 5941 3024

20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

Working with you for all your machinery needs

P: 1800 802 914 www.masseyferguson.com.au

29 30 31

TOTAL MM PROG TOTAL

END OF YEAR MACHINERY BUYING GUIDE

Page 16, Southern Farmer

Valtra Versu Tractor of the Year THE Valtra Versu T254 Smart Touch has been named the 2018 Tractor of the Year. Announced at Agritechnica in Germany last month, the tractor also took out the award for Best Designed Tractor. According to judges, the Valtra sets a new standard in intuitive operation, offering high levels of comfort, performance, efficiency and versatility. The tractor comes standard fitted with a Smart Touch armrest - with the 9 inch touch screen – an intelligent multiuse drive lever and a new hydraulic joystick, which gives a straightforward user interface – allowing the driver to control and adjust almost any setting of the engine, transmission, hydraulics, auto guidance and telematics. Some 24 international journalists judge Tractor of the Year, with winners chosen from 15 shortlisted tractors across five categories. Other award winning tractors were: Best Utility – McCormick X6 Vt-Drive; and Best Specialised: Fendt 211 Vario V. The week before Tractor of the Year was announced, Claas took out a gold medal at the Agritechnica Innovation Awards for their autonomous threshing system, a hybrid combine harvester. StalkBuster, developed in conjunction with John Deere, took out the other gold medal for innovations. The Kemper StalkBuster is the first stubble destroying technology that forms part of a maize header. The machine destroys all stubble before it is driven on by the forager.

Buyers benefit from increased Serafin range

INCREASED RANGE MEANS INCREASED CROPS: Serafin machinery have increased their range of Semeato and Tatu seeders to offer the best double disc products on the market, including the Semeato TDNG (pictured) which has a row spacing of 170mm.

$ $

1,790 INC GST

2,490 INC GST

Three Point Linkage Backhoe Suitable for 25-45HP

December 2017

5,300 INC GST

Heavy Duty 6 Foot Rotary Hoe Suitable for 40-80HP

Heavy Duty 6 Foot Slasher Galvanised 5mm Deck Suitable for 45-80HP

6 Inch PTO Chipper Hydraulic Feed Suitable for 30-100HP

4,250 INC GST

2,490 INC GST

1300 442 937 or (03) 5940 5869

Silage Soft Hands Suitable for Euro Hitch

AN increasing number of farmers are beginning to understand the importance of accurate seed placement in pasture crops, which is providing improved germination, consistency and early crop vigour. The double disc openers - used on the Semeato and Tatu seeders - provide some of the best seed placement available on the market, as well as versatility and robustness to suit almost any sowing condition. “Semeato has been a brand that Serafin Machinery has been importing for almost 10 years now and we have over 180 machines of different models in the field,” sales manager for Serafin Machinery, Rodney Dunn, said. Mr Dunn said a large degree of the Semeato success could be traced to its double disc opener and its simple and safe hydraulic folding transport option. “More recently, we have had customers - particularly in the dairy and beef industries - look for a seeder that gives them accurate seed placement but with a narrower row spacing than what the Semeato can deliver,” Mr Dunn said. “The Semeato TDNG has a row spacing of 170mm, and with the newly introduced Tatu SDA range of double disc seeders with its row spacing down to 155mm, we are now able to cater for that market as well.” Both Semeato machines have the same accurate seed placement, a robust design and excellent ground following abilities. “So, depending on your row spacing requirements and transport needs, we now have machines to suit almost everyone,” Mr Dunn said. Both ranges of the double disc seeders are available now - call Serafin Machinery on 1300 737 586, find them on Facebook or visit serafinmachinery.com.au for more info.

Heavy Duty Post Hole Digger Price includes 12 inch Auger Suitable for 20-60HP

1,250 INC GST

Heavy Duty Premium Flail Mower 2,000 Cut Width Hydraulic Side Shift Suitable for 50-90HP

3,850 INC GST

www.hayesproducts.com.au

December 2017

END OF YEAR MACHINERY BUYING GUIDE

IN STOCK NOW

CRSG 24 - 48 PLATE PLATE +HDY\ FRQVWUXFWLRQ Rá‚‡VHW GLVF 26â€? or 28â€? x 6mm discs 235mm spacing 2LO EDWK EHDULQJV PXG VFUDSHUV &DVW VSRRO VSDFHU IRU H[WUD GHSWK

Southern Farmer, Page 17

The Seeding and Tillage Specialists

CRI-A 40 - 48 PLATE )ROGLQJ Rá‚‡VHW GLVF H[FHOOHQW IRU SULPDU\ SDVV $ELOLW\ WR SHQHWUDWH KDUG VRLOV 28â€? x 7.5mm discs on 270mm spacing 2LO EDWK EHDULQJV PXG VFUDSHUV -DFNVWDQG LQFOXGHG

20 TO 32 PLATE OFFSET DISCS 26â€? x 6mm scalloped discs on 235mm spacing. Greasable bearings and mudscrapers.

FROM ONLY

$9,980+gst SDA CP DOUBLE DISC SEEDER 19 TO 29 ROW MODELS IN STOCK *UDLQ GULOO WKDW FDQ KDQGOH LW DOO 'ULYH ZKHHOV ZLWK K\GUDXOLF F\OLQGHUV IRU OLIW 3RO\ IHUW VHHG KRSSHUV ([DFW GHSWK FRQWURO PP URZ VSDFLQJ IRU LGHDO VHHG SODFHPHQW

VERY COMPETITVE PRICES FREECALL: 1300 737 586

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END OF YEAR MACHINERY BUYING GUIDE

Page 18, Southern Farmer

December 2017

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1800 772 407 For your nearest dealer

landini-tractors.com.au

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• Hea Hea e vy dut utyy bu uilild d sh show ow ws in n weiigh ghtt of 8 800 00kg 00 kg • Mo od de el rang ra ang ge fr from om 1 m met ettre to 6 me metr t es w tr wor orki or king ki ng w wid i th id h • M Ma ade e iin n It I al alyy Delilive De very ve ryy cha h rg ges app p lyy

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END OF YEAR MACHINERY BUYING GUIDE

December 2017

Southern Farmer, Page 19

HAY EQUIPMENT Proudly Made in Italy

EASY RAKES

t )ZESBVMJD PQFO DMPTF SBJTF and lower. t Raking widths 6.3 and 8.3m. t 4 ground wheels t Includes splitter wheels

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FROM

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CALL NOW WHILE STOCKS LASTS - 1800 648 384 TALK OR VISIT US FOR MORE INFORMATION Bendigo

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www.clarkfarmequipment.com.au

*Freight and assembly charges may be applicable. Clark Farm Equipment reserves the right to correct any printed error. Available while stock lasts.

END OF YEAR MACHINERY BUYING GUIDE

Page 20, Southern Farmer

December 2017

Clark Farm Equipment has your hay making sorted FOR more than 50 years, Enorossi has been helping farmers throughout the year. Whether it is sowing down a summer forage crop, baling hay or moving silage, Enorossi has a machine to get the job done. Right now, Clark Farm Equipment has a full range of hay making equipment in stock – just in time to bring in the last of the summer bales. The range includes: Enorossi linkage Rakes: The three point linkage rake is extremely easy to use – offering a spring suspension system of the tool holder which allows the raking wheels to adapt to any type of soil with the correct pressure without affecting the quality of the forage. This is an ideal rake for hobby farmers.

HAY RAKING: Clark Farm Equipment stock a large range of Enorossi hay equipment. Enorossi Inline Pull Type Rakes: Enorossi pull type rakes (RT7RT9) are equipped with three wheels (or four for the RT 13) to ensure greater stability during raking and transport. They are used for raking hay and all types of forage, and are

ideal for work on all types of ground. Enorossi Easy Rake, Pull Type V Rake: The Easy Rake pull type V has been designed with many technological innovations that are unique to the market and aimed at improving

operator productivity. The two sides are independent from one another, allowing the V rake to operate just on one side – ideal for working on all types of terrain. Enorossi Rotary Rake: The RR 320-350 Windrow rotary rake is a versatile machine. The Rotary rake is made of high quality steel that ensures great performances and long durability. Designed for raking in all situations with excellent results, the RR 350 is provided with tandem wheels, articulated frame and shock absorbers. Ideal for small and medium farms. Enorossi Tedder Rake Combo: The DR 420 Tedder is a versatile machine consisting of twin rotors, allowing it to be easily adapted to do many different operations. The

extra set of arms and tines allow the left hand side head to be operated in both clockwise and anti-clockwise directions. The Tedder is particularly suited for movement of crop away from field edge. Enorossi Disc Mowers: The Enorossi side-mounted disc mower is built to stand up to years of rough mowing conditions, giving you an excellent quality cut. The heavy duty A-frame with category 1 and 2 three-point linkage, and the strong compensation spring, ensure stability and durability. The rotating disc mower has been designed for obtaining high quality forage with a quick cut and without entanglement. Ideal for all farms. For more information, contact Clark Farm Equipment on 1800 648 384.

John Shearer disc maximises germination THE John Shearer Pasture Drill offers more precision sowing – and therefore maximum germination – thanks to its unique double disc design. The drill has many advantages to offer farmers, including a uniform seeding depth, a reduction of draft forces, trash handling ability, reduced soil disturbance and faster sowing speeds. Using discs, rather than tynes, is particularly advantageous when producers are sowing into rocky conditions, while sowing with a double disc opener leaves smother soil proﬁle and will assist in reducing water runoff. The John Shearer Pasture Drill uses a spring pin to lock the press arm into place, which is used to control the depth and provides 6mm increments over 50mm travel.

The spring loaded opener has a mechanical screw assembly to easily adjust the mainspring to decrease or increase pressure for both opening coulters and the press wheel. Downward force can be increased to help cut tough stubble residue, and in drier conditions penetrate the soil for good seed placement. The spring breakout pressure can be adjusted up to 182kg (400 lb), and the unit has 254mm (10”) of vertical ground following capability. For the hydraulic version, pressure is adjusted on the go from the tractor seat to suit soil types and conditions - a pressure gauge ﬁtted into the system allows the operator to monitor the down pressure. The John Shearer opener is designed to perform in many

different soil types and conditions, with its compact design meaning that the press wheel is much closer to the sowing boot than most others on the market with remarkable benefits in terms of uniform seeding depth. The opener is a true parallelogram based around two carriers - the mounting carrier which attaches the unit to either a square or diamond mounting frame, and the main carrier on which the ground engaging coulters (or optional tyne) and press wheel are attached. The hydraulic version of the double disc opener features a spring return mechanism for transport. The John Shearer Pasture Drill offers an investment, not just on time spent in the field but also in increasing yield benefits and soil improvement.

MAXIMISE GERMINATION: The John Shearer disc maximises germination through its use of precision sowing.

WATER MANAGEMENT

December 2017

Southern Farmer, Page 21

Hydrosmart makes water profitable

HELPING WATER: Producer Charlie Thomas successfully used his Hydrosmart unit to remove old build up and prevent more iron from forming in pipes and sprays.

A LACK of usable water is one of the biggest problems facing Australian producers. With around 80 per cent of the country taken up by farms, there is no proﬁt if there is no water. But over the last two decades, Adelaide business Hydrosmart has been helping to turn the tide around Australia for those facing diverse water problems. Hydrosmart manufacture, consult over the phone and supply a smart simple to apply and run, hard water technology. Hydrosmart units disrupt and weaken bonds of minerals by putting an ionising charge onto water molecules. To do so, they use a computer chip and several metres of pipe often shaped into a product with a unique U bend - to simply and electronically improve problems caused by the minerals in water. The issues range from saline ir-

rigation improvements - by moving salt downwards and away from plant roots through soils - and calcium scale removal and prevention from pipe walls and equipment, to magnesium and iron scale removal and prevention. The minerals and salts can often be found in high amounts when using Australian ground water supplies and can cause signiﬁcant crop or stock loss and garden growth problems. Providers of water conditioning units, Hydrosmart treatment plants can offer a water solution for most properties – from helping to drought proof outback stations to making crop success a reality. “We research, develop and manufacture our original 100 per cent Australian products to deal with water quality problems, all over the country as well as overseas,” Hydrosmart owner, Paul Pearce, said.

“Hydrosmart is the leading industry water conditioner, and is trusted by agricultural, industrial and domestic customers alike for solving scale, salinity and iron problems.” Hydrosmart have products to deal with bore water, river water and town mains water. Hydrosmart water treatment products are designed to treat scale, corrosion, salinity and iron, and - in a nutshell – it works by dissolving minerals in water. Dissolved minerals pass into downstream applications without build up in pipes, soil, ﬁne sprays or drippers. Hydrosmart products have been installed in businesses across the country, including BHP, Rio Tinto, Tatura Milk, d’Arenberg Wines, and Wild Duck Creek wines to name a few. “Hydrosmart units are simple to

install and maintenance free,” Mr Pearce said. “The water conditioner improves all water sustainably for decades – whether it is being used in a domestic setting for lawns and gardens, or on a large-scale crop farm all for a one off purchase price without need of any ﬁlters or consumables, just a normal 10 amp power point or solar panel and battery. “The products also improve stock health when bore water is high in salt and minerals – Hydrosmart conditions the water back to a more palatable level and assists animals to better metabolise nutrients in their gut for healthier growth and overall quality, and is used on many types of stock from chooks to cattle, sheep and horses.” All Hydrosmart units are supplied direct from the company. For more information, contact the team on 1300 138 223.

SALINITY, SCALE, IRON PROBLEMS

SOLVED HYDROSMART

New products & prices enquire now

1300 138 223 www.hydrosmart.com.au

j/37d06475/49-17

FEATURE BREED - BORDER LEICESTER

Breeding Border Leicesters over four decades

STUD: One of the Ellingerrin stud rams that sold for $12,000.

ELLINGERRIN Border Leicester stud was founded in 1975, when Heather and Murray Stoney purchased 75 ewes in lamb. Originally situated at Inverleigh, the stud relocated to Modewarre six years ago. Now, more than 40 years on, Ellingerrin annually join 200 ewes – with an emphasis on structural soundness and a soft stylish ﬂeece. Selection of new bloodlines through the introduction of stud sires is extremely important, and

ELLINGERRIN BORDER LEICESTER STUD Founded 1975 Flock No 3691 Brucellosis Accreditation 3313 OJD Status MN3 V Lambplan figures available Enquiries always welcome

Heather & Murray Stoney “Jarrah” 100 Dangers Rd Modewarre Ph 0352661260 H 0407861432 M 0418524742 email heather.stoney@bigpond.com

has proven successful across the decades of operation at Ellingerrin. Bindaree, Baringa and more recently - Jackson and Bauer stud lines have been introduced. Health status is extremely important to all clients, MN3 OJD status plus Gudair Vaccination as well as brucellosis accreditation allows Ellingerrin Border Leicesters access to all states in Australia. Success has also been achieved in the show ring -

with Ellingerrin show teams entered in the Bendigo Sheep & Wool Show, Royal Melbourne Show and Geelong A & P show. This year Ellingerrin was awarded Most Successful Exhibitor at the Royal Melbourne Show – a signiﬁcant achievement. Flock rams are sold on property, and 1st cross ewes sired by Ellingerrin rams often top the Ballarat ewe sale each January. Stud rams are entered in the Horsham Border

Leicester Show and Sale. This sale is a multi-vendor sale and is recognised as the National Sale for Border Leicesters. This year Ellingerrin sold ﬁve rams to a top of $12,000, and averaged $9000. Enquiries are always welcome from those wishing to know more and on-site property stock inspections can be arranged. For more information, contact Heather on 0407 861 432 or Murray on 0418 524 742.

EDUCATION

Page 22, Southern Farmer

December 2017

Why education and positivity are the key to the ag sector’s success An opinion piece, By MICHAEL BEER AGRICULTURE has so many remarkable success stories, and we need to keep talking positively about our sector – to our customers, to each other, to the world, and to the young people who have the power to shape the future of our sector. For customers, giving them the information they need and being open and genuine about food safety, food security, provenance and traceability is so important - for the next generation, exposure through education is critical. Agricultural education, particularly in primary school, is one thing I’m passionate about. Perhaps it comes from having been surrounded by agriculture education from a young age myself – I quite literally grew up among the students and lecturers at what was then known as Wagga Wagga Agricultural College – and being married to a primary school teacher means the importance of early education is hammered home to me. I see a natural ﬁt for school primary students to be learning about agriculture at the same time as they learn about food and clothes. If we’re savvy about it, agriculture can be integrated into so many other subject areas too, especially science and engineering - it’s up to us in the sector to make sure we connect with children in a way that makes it exciting. I also see education as one of our best opportunities to increase agriculture sector diversity for the future. By getting young audiences engaged about agriculture, we will naturally bring in new people and new perspectives, all of which will help shape our industry for the better. By sparking passion in young people for this sector, we will help secure its future. Organisations like the Primary Industries Education Foundation Australia (PIEFA), which is supported by AgriFu-

LEARNING: Emily Webb Ware looks at why studying as an Ag student is the right decision for her.

My life as an agriculture student

OPIONION: AgriFutures Australia’s new general manager, research and innovation, Michael Beer, says there was a lot to celebrate last month during National Agriculture Day. Read about why he thinks a positive approach and education focus is so important.

tures Australia as well as other industry groups and research corporations, are critical to getting this done. They engage with students, teachers and the broader community to talk about Australian agriculture. They work to embed agriculture in curriculums, facilitate partnerships between schools and the industry, and provide all sorts of useful tools and information about the sector that are tailored to school students and designed to get them excited. George the Farmer is another brilliant initiative, and a National Agriculture Day ambassador, designed to get young children excited about agriculture and educate them about life in the country. He is also the brainchild of AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award 2017 national runner up Simone Kain. George is the ultimate mascot for Australian agriculture, telling fun and factual stories from across our sector, through all the channels – social media,

books, events, toys, apps, online and more - the success of George is also a sign that there’s a real appetite in the community for down-to-earth, fun and factual information about agriculture. Alongside our outreach to young people and school students, communication within the sector and collaboration is changing as the next generation of agriculture leaders come through. Technology absolutely has a role to play in this; it provides tools that make online collaboration and information sharing easier than ever. Social media has also broken down some of the isolation and geographic barriers that used to go hand in hand with working in agriculture. Supporting the next generation of agricultural leaders and fostering passion in the young people within our sector is another core tenet of AgriFutures Australia’s strategy that I feel strongly about. We know how important it is that our rural industries be

equipped with skilled people and have leadership that enables them to grow and prosper. To maximise the opportunities ahead for our sector and overcome the challenges, the next generation will need new skills and will have to keep pace with a rate of change and an innovation culture that is very different to the status quo. For me, it all comes back to a positive approach - being positive in how we present Australian agriculture to the world, and being positive in how we look ahead to our future. At the centre of our sector’s success are people and at AgriFutures Australia we know one of the most important things we can do is bring people together; to listen to each other, support one another, connect, collaborate, learn and share positive messages about agriculture. It goes hand in hand with encouraging the emerging leaders for our sector and making sure people stay excited about Australian agriculture.

By Emily Webb Ware, secondyear Bachelor of Agriculture student at the University of Melbourne I GREW up on a family farm in country Victoria, near Yea, and spent my childhood wandering around the paddocks, going round the lambing paddocks in the ute with dad, and building fences on the hill paddocks in summer. I guess this is where I developed a passion for agriculture, so when the time came for me to start thinking about my tertiary education, I spent my energy deciding not what to study, but where. I was really impressed by the University of Melbourne’s new Bachelor of Agriculture and the fact that the university had developed a whole new course said to me that they cared about the Ag program and were investing in its future something that I didn’t see in some of the other universities. I am loving the course, especially now that I am in second year. We have

started to specialise in our degree and I have chosen to major in Animal Health. We have some fantastic lecturers who really care about each and every one of us, and would do anything to help us on our career path (and they’re always up for a chat). The Ag cohort is just awesome. It is such a fantastic feeling being able to walk into a lecture hall and know the people around you. Everyone is just unbelievably friendly, and ready to get stuck in and have a go. As clichéd as it may sound, I know the friendships I am making now will last a lifetime, and I cannot wait to spend the rest of my uni days, and hopefully career, with these people. I would encourage anyone who is interested in agriculture to seriously look into the Bachelor of Agriculture and give it a go. I know I can only speak for myself, but I am having an amazing time at university. I feel like I am learning everything I need to make the most of my career, and I am confident I have made the right choice in coming to Melbourne.

THE SOUTHERN

Covering Central South Victoria and West Gippsland

Read it all online now ~ www.farmernews.com.au

December 2017

EDUCATION

Southern Farmer, Page 23

Bachelor of Agriculture The Bachelor of Agriculture at Melbourne gives you the skills and knowledge to apply science to solve real-world issues in food production. Become a highly-skilled agricultural scientist, ready to take on the world. The University of Melbourne’s Bachelor of Agriculture prepares students to work in a growing, increasingly high-tech industry. From developing foundation knowledge in agricultural science in first year, through to career planning and internships, this industry-focused degree will give you the knowledge you need to start your career in agricultural science or agribusiness and the skills to thrive in a professional environment. Students in the Bachelor of Agriculture will: Q Choose from majors in Plant and Soil Science, Production Animal Science or Agricultural Economics Q Explore the latest precision farming technologies in an optional semester at the University’s recently-refurbished Dookie campus, our 2,440 hectare “living laboratory” Q Understand the broader industry context of agribusiness and develop a global perspective of Australia’s agricultural production Q Learn to work with people with different skills to solve real issues in agriculture, and how to communicate the science of agriculture to experts and non-experts, from farmers to investors Q Receive opportunities for external industry placements and professional development to help them start your ideal career Q Have the opportunity to enter a range of exciting careers after graduation, from plant and animal breeding and genetics, to commodity trading, to research and development.

For more information visit:

fvas.unimelb.edu.au/b-ag

CRICOS: 037228G

STOCK CONTROL AND FENCING

Page 24, Southern Farmer

December 2017

When a fence is not a fence

DON’T FENCE ME IN: Physical fences may soon be a thing of the past after a recent trial showed cattle were receptive to a virtual fence, utilising collars similar to those used to train dogs.

TRADITIONAL fence lines may soon be a thing of the past if a trial – run earlier this year by Goulburn Broken CMA river and wetland health manager, Mark Turner, is anything to go by. Mr Turner has just finished a successful trial of virtual fencing, where cattle were kept away from a river thanks to a special GPS collar. “We know that stock causes significant damage to waterways and traditional fencing isn’t always the answer because it’s vulnerable to fire and flood,” Mr Turner said. “We need to control stock access to rivers, and if we can do that without expensive

fencing then that’s a win for farmers and a win for the environment.” Virtual fencing is an animalfriendly system which controls the movement of livestock without the need for physical fences. The farmer is able to create boundaries through a smart phone or computer, and the system uses Global Positioning System (GPS) wireless technology to control the location of the animals. Cattle are fitted with a special collar that delivers sounds and small electric pulses, as it moves closer to the virtual fence. Mr Turner’s trial was held

on a working cattle farm at Tumbarumba, in Southern NSW. Within a few hours of the system being turned on, the cattle learned to recognise the presence of the virtual fence – and moved away from it. “The Goulburn Broken CMA was among the earliest investors in the eShepherd technology, and that’s because we really believed it could be a useful tool in our work to protect rivers and riparian areas,” Mr Turner said. Sally Haynes is an animal welfare scientist with agritech start-up company, Agersens, and has been involved with the virtual fencing project for some time.

She said the potential benefits were not just about creating exclusion zones for cattle. “It can be used to protect establishing tree lines, paddock trees and sensitive areas such as hill tops after dry times and low-lying areas after wet periods,” she said. “But it’s the production benefits that might surprise farmers, including automated rotational grazing, reduced fence maintenance and the early detection of missing stock.” The eShepherd technology is scheduled for commercial release in the next six months.

SOLAR FARMING: Gallagher has released a new range of solar products that are designed to increase farm productivity, slash energy costs and save time. Pictured is Nick Browne, Gallagher territory manager, with an MB1000i and solar kit.

Solar makes farming a reality

SMART solar technology has added ﬂexibility to the Gallagher i Series range, making them a reliable option for those who farm in even the most remote and toughest places in Australia. The new MB (mains-battery) 1000i, MB1800i and MB2800i energisers are founded on the already

established reputation of the existing Gallagher i Series energisers, but have incorporated a batterysolar power source capability into the system. The new MB i Series have a swappable socket system, providing either a direct connection to mains power, or a connection to a solar

charged battery for use in locations where mains power is not an option. The MB i Series have a solar regulator mounted with the solar panels to monitor the amount of solar energy needed to charge the battery, while the unit itself has the smarts to know the status of the battery and regulate its power output accordingly.

Fences that reach everywhere. Let you farm anywhere. MB1000i, MB1800i and MB2800i Multi Powered Fence Energizers Power your farm your way with market leading efficiency and the flexibility of mains, battery or solar Proven reliability, with adaptive i Series Energizer technology and fence communication accessories Easy installation and simple connectivity Feel confident your livestock are contained 24/7 with Gallagher’s range of new MB i Series Energizers.

1800 GALLAGHER www.gallagher.com

SOL AND M AR A CAPA INS BLE

The Gallagher unit is also equipped with sensors that identify low-sunshine hours, and can adjust the level of power output and pulse frequency to maximise the battery’s life and maintain fence operation. The Gallagher range also includes a remote fault-ﬁnding fea-

ture that enables the farm to be separated into zones that report back to the energiser unit. It also enables alerts to be sent, should a fault be found, and ensures any fault is a lot easier to identify within a certain area. For more information visit www. gallagher.com.

STOCK CONTROL AND FENCING

December 2017

Southern Farmer, Page 25

Fencing that looks good, forever ONE of the most sought after features for aspiring horse property owners is a stunning black or white post and rail fencing. Not only does a beautiful fence frame a property, it also provides the safest method of containment for livestock - a case of good looks meets necessity. Like any installation though, it needs to form part of the planning budget and until now, there has been a maintenance component attached. An Australian company, WoodShield, has now come up with an innovation that provides good looks that will last forever. WoodShield encases natural, untreated timber in smart black or white plastic – giving any fence that ultra-modern look without the maintenance.

Even better, WoodShield is the only organically certiﬁed fencing material available in Australia and New Zealand – thanks to it being made from recycled agriculture products. WoodShield sales manager, Ashley Davidson, said extensive testing had been done in equine settings - including at major show jumping clubs for not only fencing, but for jump poles that don’t rot regardless of the weather conditions. “Most people want the looks, but they also want what lasts and is safe for their horses,” Mr Davidson said. The product is adaptable and can be used for arena fencing or round yards – and it has been proven that the use of WoodShield deters horses from chewing fencing

rails due to the smooth plastic surface. WoodShield is pest-resistant, and has a breaking force of 40 to 50 per cent greater than standard treated pine. WoodShield can carry electriﬁed wire or tape, and can be done one section at a time – with many choosing to ﬁrst put in paddock stays and working out from there. WoodShield can be a do-ityourself project for those with fencing knowledge, or can be installed Australia-wide - 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. Further information: www. woodshield.com.au.

FIX THAT FENCE: Pakenham Produce and Saddlery want to help get your Christmas fencing jobs sorted, so you can enjoy the holidays.

Sort your jobs with Pakenham Produce GOT summer holiday projects? Fix the fence - electric or wire, replace the broken trough value, hang a gate, work your livestock in the yards – it doesn’t matter what the job, Pakenham Produce and Saddlery is the place to go for all your summer holiday farm project essentials. Everything from big jobs to small, the Pakenham Produce team can help you with the information and quality products to get it right. Located just off the freeway in Pakenham, the store has a massive yard, plenty of parking – not to

mention a huge range of pine posts, timber railings and sleepers, and a large selection of gates and hinges to suit. There are many different types and sizes of fabricated fence mesh and barb wire, with the insulators and ﬁttings to help make your job easier. Pakenham Produce offers a range of troughs, rural pipe and ﬁttings to ensure all stock have access to water during the hot summer months. If you are looking for cattle and sheep handling systems, come and see the range on display and talk to the team. Pakenham Produce

is proud to be Arrow Farmquip Victoria’s number one dealer for yard systems and crushes. The team can offer you advice and competitive prices on all the options to make handling your stock safer, secure and efﬁcient. Pakenham Produce and Saddlery have the range and knowledge to help get the summer holiday projects at your place checked off. Get the job done, and get back to enjoying your holidays. The Pakenham Produce team would like to wish all their customers a Merry Christmas and a safe and happy holidays to all.

LOOKING SMART: WoodShield provides a property with good looks that last forever.

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&ĞŶĐŝŶŐ Ͳ ƌĞŶĂƐ Ͳ zĂƌĚƐ Ͳ dƌĞůůŝƐ

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FARM SECURITY

Page 26, Southern Farmer

December 2017

Be safer this Christmas with CFMoto

SAFE DEALS: CFMoto are offering a range of deals on their UTV range, keeping you safer this Christmas season.

THERE has never been a better time to upgrade to a new Utility Task Vehicle (UTV), with a range of Christmas deals on offer to keep you safer on the farm or out and about. Increasingly, producers are turning away from the standard four wheeler and looking for a more versatile work vehicle that provides better driver comfort and added safety on the farm. One supplier, with years of experience in the industry and a reputation that is second to none, is CFMoto. Just in time for Christmas, CFMoto have released two special offers – designed to keep you safer on the farm.

Two UTV models are on offer, the U550 EPS – powered by a single 500cc liquid cooled EFI engine, and the larger U800 EPS that has the powerful 800cc V-Twin with plenty of get up and go. Both feature the same chassis, cockpit and UTV platform. The power from each engine is transferred to a Canadian CVTech transmission with high and low range. Each model has electronic power steering - a must-have when driving all day long. Selectable 2WD/4WD, plus front diff lock are standard on both models, and if the going gets tough, a 3500 lb winch is standard equipment - a handy

feature when on the farm. Each vehicle is fitted with roof kit, tow pack, gas assisted tip tray, indicators, horn and a full set of lights - key features that are often an extra cost, but not with CFMoto. Both CFMoto models come with seat belts and ROPS certified roll over protection. “There is no better time to get yourself a CFMoto,” CFMoto Australia director, Michael Poynton, said. “CFMoto’s Fair Dinkum Deals provide a fantastic opportunity for customers to get rid of their old ATV and move into a more versatile, safer UTV at the same price of our competitors’ ATVs.”

During CFMoto’s Fair Dinkum Deals, the U550 EPS is discounted to just $11,490, offering a saving of $1500. The U800 EPS will be offered for just $13,490, saving $1000 to get the bigger V-Twin. All CFMoto off road vehicles are backed by a two-year factory warranty and supported by an 80 plus dealer network nationwide. Further savings can be made, as all CFMoto UTVs are an approved ‘alternate vehicle’ under the Victorian Worksafe Quad Bike Rebate Scheme. Eligible customers can save a further $1200 off CFMoto UTV models, for full details head to www.worksafe.vic.gov.au.

Have your say about quad bike safety SHOULD all quad bikes come standard with roll-over protection? That is one question the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) wants answered, after last month launching a taskforce that will consider ways to make quad bikes safer. There are almost 400,000 quad bikes in operation in Australia - used in workplaces, recreation, adventure tours and competitive racing. Each year, around 20,000 quad bikes are sold. Despite the launch of the roll-over protection rebate, quad bikes continue to be a leading cause of death and injury on Australian farms. In the period of January 1, 2011 to October 16, 2017: 114 people have died in quad bike-related accidents; and

children under the age of 16 accounted for 15 per cent of these deaths, children 11 and under accounted for nine per cent. Now, the ACCC Quad Bike Safety Taskforce is seeking feedback from stakeholders to respond to proposed reforms, outlined in an Issues Paper released mid November. “The ACCC is investigating a range of possible options to improve quad bike safety and prevent further deaths and injuries in the community,” ACCC Commissioner, Mick Keogh, said. “A key question is whether a safety standard should be introduced for quad bikes under the Australian Consumer Law.” The Issues Paper considers a range of topics and options that may well affect the future of quad bike usage, such as:

mandating speciﬁc design requirements and construction of quad bikes, including features that reduce the risk for children riding quad bikes designed for adults; introducing a safety rating system and the testing of quad bike models before they are sold in Australia; and mandating safety warning information consumers would receive when buying a new quad bike. “The ACCC recognises that quad bikes are important vehicles for many Australians who rely on them for work on farms, or use them recreationally, which is why it is important for stakeholders to have their say,” Mr Keogh said. Among other things, the taskforce is looking for ways to decrease the fatality and serious injury rates of quad bike

users, with more than half the deaths recorded between 2011 and October 2017 being those using a quad bike for work, or recreational purpose. Other startling facts about the injuries incurred include: almost half (55 fatalities) of all deaths were the result of a rollover; ages of the deceased ranged from four to 94 years; 83 per cent of deaths were males; and in 2017 so far, there have been 10 deaths, including a six year old girl and a seven year old boy. The ACCC will be making a draft recommendation to government early next year, with a ﬁnal recommendation to be made mid-2018. The Issues Paper and information on the consultation process is available on the ACCC website.

SAFETY UNDER REVIEW: The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) wants to know how to make quad bikes safer for users.

AG BIKES, ATVâ€™s, RTVâ€™S, UTVâ€™S

December 2017

Southern Farmer, Page 27

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NEWS

Page 28, Southern Farmer

December 2017

SAVE OVER $11,000 WITH A *

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FINANCE

: Brake to neutral and shuttle sensitivity adjustment for customised operation : Fuel efﬁcient and powerful AGCO POWER engines

CONTACT YOUR LOCAL MASSEY FERGUSON DEALER TODAY Offer ends 31st December 2017, while stocks last. * Loader offer refers to MF 5610 tractors and 900X series loaders only. ^ 1.99% ﬁnance with 30% Deposit over 24 months, GST paid in month 4. Contact your local Massey Ferguson dealership for full terms and conditions.

Dandenong Kyneton Nagambie Silvan Warragul

Small Horse Tractors L & G Sheppard & Sons John Sanderson Machinery Darmac Ag Sales & Service REN Machinery

18 Lonsdale Street 88 Piper Street 36-38 Industrial Crescent 249-251 Monbulk Road Normanby Street

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9791 5422 5794 9737 5623

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A world of experience. Working with you.