THE message from farmers and CFA volunteers was made clear on Tuesday, 20 May as over 5000 protestors used emergency vehicles to block the Spring and Bourke Streets intersection outside Parliament House to protest the state government’s new emergency services levy. A cavalcade of over
100 CFA fire trucks and other emergency vehicles from all over the state had slowed major arterial freeways and roads into Melbourne that morning
FIVE THOUSAND, ONE MESSAGE:
MELBOURNE’S EASTERN CBD CRAWLED TO A STOP AS CFA VOLUNTEERS AND FARMERS FROM ACROSS THE STATE RALLIED OUTSIDE PARLIAMENT HOUSE, COMPLETE WITH OVER 100 EMERGENCY SERVICE VEHICLES.
to bring the new levy to the attention of Melbourne residents and the government.
Mans eld Shire Mayor Cr Steve Rabie attended the
• All tanks are 2.26m (7’6”) in height
• All tanks walls are 130mm (5.2”) thick
• All foundations (tank floors) are 250mm (9.8”) thick
Tanks
algae free
rally with Deputy Mayor Cr James Tehan and did not mince words in taking aim at the government’s lack of communication with councils before the levy’s announcement.
“At no time was there any prior
Burnt by the bill
consultation,” Cr Rabie said.
“There was zero consultation - I think that is disgraceful in the least.” Cr Rabie said the shire had been ‘very loud’ with its message.
■ Continued pages 2-3
PHOTO: DUONG NGUYEN
Country converges on the city in protest
■ From front page
“We oppose this massive increase at this time, when there’s a drought on, when there’s a cost-of-living crisis and when there is mental stress.
“Everybody will be a ected by this tax.
“You can’t increase a levy by 189 per cent and not expect people to jump up and down.”
Cr Rabie also said almost all councils meeting through Rural Councils Victoria and the Municipal Association of Victoria were opposed to the government’s expectation for councils to collect the levy.
“The State Revenue O ce should be collecting this state government tax and not the local governments,” he said.
“We absolutely oppose the collection of this because it’s not only going to be a cost shi for the shire but also a reputational shi onto us as well.
“Local government is the only level of government with a front desk, and our sta in the rates ofce and those on the front desk, they will get hammered.
“I have a responsibility for (sta ) welfare, and I am worried that they will most probably receive angry calls and have angry people coming in.”
Liberal and Nationals leaders
Brad Battin and Danny O’Brien told the rally that a coalition government would repeal the levy legislation if elected in 18 months-time.
“We will ensure that we will cancel this tax,” Mr Battin said.
“We will guarantee you that we will scrap it once and for all and hand that money back to Victorians.”
CFA group o cer Pat Millear from Westmere addressed the crowd and listed o all res attended to by volunteers since Black
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Saturday 2009 when all of Victoria’s units were in service.
He commended those present for their duty.
“You never complain and never get paid; you are on call 24 hours a day and seven days a week,” Mr Millear said.
“You never seek accolades you just go about doing your job of saving lives and property, and at the very least what you want and what you need is support from your government.
“You don’t want to be used as a shield to raise money to retire debt.”
He said it was not the responsibility of those present to be o duty with their service vehicles to attend the protest.
“It’s the state government’s choice to leave the state unprotected, it’s not ours,” Mr Millear said.
“We are all out, just like you will be next election.”
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Glenburn farmer and CFA volunteer of 45 years David Webb-Ware said his main concern had not been answered either at the rally or by the government.
“The one question I didn’t hear answered today is not answered because nobody can give an answer,” Mr Webb-Ware said.
“And that is: why have farmers
and I have never seen such feeling like
been given a higher percentage increase than in any other category?”
Mr Webb-Ware said the current government was treating regional Victoria with ‘utter contempt’.
“They are not worried about anything that doesn’t give them a vote.
“It’s a cost that I don’t want to have to pay, another ten thousand.
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SUCH FEELING: Mansfield farmer and councilor James Tehan is feeling a strong community opposition to the levy. “I have been farming for 40 years
this.”
GRAIN Producers Australia
southern region director Andrew Weidemann spoke at length to the rally and afterwards told North East Media that the government would attempt to ‘water down’ the day’s protest.
“They will use tactics against the people, saying that there’s no real new levy and all that rhetoric,” Mr Weidemann said.
“But that’s nonsense because we know that this is a levy that goes across services we have never funded before and we know also that the money that has already been collected has been misappropriated.”
Mr Weidemann said that only about 20 per cent of the current levy’s collection was going to support volunteers, with the rest going to
■ From page 2
“Clearly, I think we obviously need to fund the fire emergency services but not by using a new tax.”
Mr Webb-Ware said the levy would impact his bottom line, regardless of seasonal success.
“It’ll just mean the pro tability of the farm will be lower or else it will increase my loss.”
Mans eld Deputy Mayor and CFA volunteer James Tehan said local opposition to the levy was unlike anything he had seen before in the bush and that the levy had come at a bad time for farmers.
“I have been farming for 40 years and I have never seen such feeling like this,” Cr Tehan said.
“And I have never seen a drought like this too, so for the government to bring in something like this at this time, to a ect farmers (by cost-
We are the food army, and we are here to stay.
general consolidated revenue.
“That’s why we are seeing thirty and forty-year-old trucks rolling up here today.
“Ripping $2.1b plus out of rural communities in Victoria is something that we can’t afford when the cost of living is absolutely crippling people.”
Mr Weidemann also questioned motives from cross bench politicians in helping pass the legislation for the levy through the upper house.
“I can’t believe the Greens were
ing) three or even four-fold including the last three years is an absolute disgrace.”
Cr Tehan said one farm he knew of would be paying $45,000 for the levy on top of $59,000 in increased rates.
“That’s a family they can employ which they won’t and so that farmer takes on the onus of the work he should not be doing and is wearing himself out, putting himself in danger.
“This government has no sympathy to anyone in that respect.
“They just care about their votes in the city.”
Cr Tehan said the state treasurer had betrayed her grass roots.
“Jaclyn, I thought you were ok; you came from Benalla you’re a good country girl, but you’ve turned your back on the country, and you should feel ashamed of yourself.”
that stupid to agree to it,” he said.
“God knows what they’ve agreed to in terms of some other policy determined down the track.
“The reality is that the Greens have just imposed a rent increase on every renter in Melbourne and anywhere else that is in rural Victoria – the levy cost has got to be passed on.”
Mr Weidemann said farmers were going to stand with the shires and continue the fight, including campaigning in marginal seats.
“We will decide it at the next election,” he said.
“If this government wants to get elected, it is something they have got to consider, there’s no question about that.
“We are the food army, and we are here to stay.”
GREATER Geelong Mayor Stretch Kontelj OAM said council was extremely disappointed to hear Labor and The Greens have ignored the voice of the community and passed the ESVF.
“I understand the Victorian Government is looking to balance its budget, however, raising a new tax while our community is in the middle of an extreme cost of living crisis is no way to achieve this,” Mr Kontelj said.
“Families, farmers and businesses in our community will be pushed to the wall by this increase, which will see the state collect over $55 million from our ratepayers in 2025 – 26, up from just under $37 million in 2024 -25.
“That’s an increase of over 50 per cent.
“We wrote to the Victorian Government and lobbied Upper House Members to convince them to ditch this new tax, but they refused to listen and consult.
“They have no mandate or support for this, especially when it was opposed by every Victorian council, the Country Fire Authority, Victorian Farmers’ Federation and the majority of the community, particularly farmers who will be particularly badly hit.
“I was also disappointed to learn that Upper House MP Sarah Mansfield of The
Greens voted to support the legislation, despite the recent meeting with six local councils who all opposed this.
“As a former Greater Geelong Councillor, I had hoped she would stand up for ratepayers in opposing this levy.
“We don’t want to collect the Government’s unfair and unjustified new tax, but we are bound by the new law, so we will ensure that all ratepayers are fully informed about why their levy has soared when rates notices are sent out.
“Analysis by the City reveals that the levy will cost residential ratepayers an extra $80 per year on average as a result of this legislation, and many people will pay significantly more.
“Primary producers paid an average of $1,145 for the fire service levy in 2024-25, and under the ESVF, will be charged $2,521.
“This is an increase of more than $1,300 for the average farmer and some will face bills as high as $40,000.
“This will force the closure of some businesses and farms which is not acceptable.
“I urge all community members to contact their state MPs to make their feelings known, and I hope this legislation will be overturned.”
•
•
OFF DUTY, BUT ON SONG: Protestors listened to a range of speakers for over an hour between chants of ‘scrap the tax’.
Cultivating spring blooms in winter’s chill
By KEITH SMILEY
NESTLED in the rolling hills of the Dandenong Ranges, just beyond the city’s edge, lies a small but vibrant enterprise brimming with colour, fragrance, and soul.
Thistle and Weeds Flower Farm, owned by Sam Nelson, is more than a ower farm - it’s a living expression of creativity, shaped by the rhythms of the seasons and the beauty they bring.
Spare a warm thought for winter in the Dandenongs, with the sun ltering through the mist, creating a golden hue, gracing the rich mountain soil of Thistle & Weeds, the name bespoke by its owner; a distant memory from where Sam grew up in the town of Denmark, enveloped by the mighty karri forests of south Western Australia, where they meet the Southern Ocean.
“Thistle & Weeds began as a hobby for me, though it quickly turned to an obsession during the early days of the pandemic in 2020.
“I was living on a small block of 1600 square metres in Olinda, near Mt
Dandenong.
“This is where I fell deeply in love with cut owers and almost completely lost myself to the charms of growing Café au Lait dahlias,” said Sam, ever aware that these are Australia’s favourite dahlias.
It didn’t take long before they ran out of space, and by 2023 Sam and her partner David sold up and moved further down the mountain to Avonsleigh, where they found a few acres that allowed them to grow on a larger scale.
A er deep breathing and a sense of destiny, they took the plunge at the end of 2024 and o cially launched Thistle & Weeds in January 2025.
“For me, it’s about growing within the limits of your climate - in tune with the seasons – not in spite of them,” she said.
“I don’t import owers or ght nature’s rhythms.
“What I grow is what the land can give at that moment.
“It means my work is everchanging, and always a true re ection of time and place.
“There’s a gap in the market, I think, for oristry that honours the wildness and leans into the art of
emotion and imperfection.
“Thistle & Weeds is my way of o ering something a little more soulful, grounded in place and season,” Sam said.
Winter is shaping up to be a busy season for the Thistle’ but while the elds are at rest, Sam said she is deep in preparation, sowing cold-hardy annuals like snapdragons, stocks, and trialing some Italian ranunculus and Colibri Pastello poppies to get a head start on spring.
“I’m also li ing and storing dahlia tubers, saving seed from summer blooms, expanding and growing the ower beds.
“It’s a time for planning, re ning, and catching up on the business side of things like admin, marketing, and all the behind-the-scenes work that keeps everything humming. “I document most of what happens on the farm on social media which takes up a surprising amount of time,” she said.
Her biggest concern is predicting the seasons.
A er weathering some intense storms, especially the one in June 2021, they seem to be growing in both ferocity and frequency she suggests.
BOUQUET: Sam Nelson practises floristry that honours the wildness and leans into the art of emotion and imperfection.
FARMER AND FLORIST: Thistle and Weeds Flower Farm at Avonsleigh is owned by Sam Nelson.
and
that the deeper she goes into flower farming, the more she falls in love with it.
Sam said there’s “always the risk that months of hard work could be undone overnight”, but admits the risk is still worth taking.
One of the joys of being both the farmer and the orist is that she can grow delicate, transportsensitive varieties that wouldn’t survive the usual supply chain - which means, she said, they get to create arrangements that feel – “truly unique and ephemeral”.
“I think I’m still in the honeymoon stage yet thriving under pressure,” she said. “Being a micro ower
farm means I have the freedom to pivot quickly, changing what I grow based on curiosity or whatever’s capturing my attention at the time.
“There’s a temptation to always think “if I just had more space…” - but I’m learning to catch myself there.
“Sometimes restraint is the hardest part.”
Sam Nelson is a onewoman band, supported by two dogs, Dixie Cup, a red-heeler-mix and selfappointed head of security who barks at everything; and Shadow, a husky cross with a mysterious talent for locating and peeing on her favourite plants.
Her partner David “isn’t in the eld”, preferring to keep her “fed with incredible meals” and always there when something heavy needs to be li ed or
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where a quiet word of encouragement is required.
“The Dandenong Ranges are one of Victoria’s premium cut ower climates,” Sam said.
“We have rich, loamy soil, cool temperatures, and generous rainfall.
“It’s a paradise for growing, but more than that, it feels like home.
“The messmate and mountain ash remind me of Denmark, WA.
“There’s a strong sense of community here, and I feel lucky to be part of it.”
Sam fesses that the deeper she goes into ower farming, the more she falls in love with it.
“That momentum carries me and I’m endlessly inspired by other growers, orists, and breedersthere’s just so much to learn.
“It’s a cra that never stops unfolding.”
CHOSEN PROFESSION:
Thistle
Weed’s Sam Nelson fesses
Bird flu testing site rolls out of town
By ANDY WILSON
EUROA’S bird u outbreak seems to be nearing its end with AgVic’s testing station leaving its showgrounds site a er over three months meticulously testing birds of all feathers in order to contain the disease.
A local egg-producing company reported outbreaks on four separate properties in February, resulting in closure of all sites and the destruction of over 590,000 chickens.
Fast action from VicEmergency personnel a er the rst reported case and ‘excellent cooperation’ from the community ensured no further infections were reported a er 24 February.
Emergency response local incident controller Banjo Patterson said it was time for the mobile testing station to ‘close up shop’.
“Since we have not had any infections since February, we have spent the meantime eradicating
the disease and more recently concentrating on cleaning and disinfecting all the premises and equipment,” Mr Patterson said.
“It’s time for us to move on.”
Mr Patterson said the task now was to allow the a ected business to return to normal operations by dispatching ‘canaries in the coal mine’.
“We are in a situation nowas part of the process - that we put a ock of sentinel birds into three out of the four sheds.
“That placement is all completed and now it’s in a period where we undertake surveillance of those sentinel ocks.
“The last of those placements was on May 12.”
The surveillance will continue until June 9.
“But in the meantime, we’ve done as much as we can as part of the recovery for not only the producers, but the wider community too.”
“We are very keen to move on
as much as we can and move fully into recovery.”
Mr Patterson said the testing with the wider community had been comprehensive, along with numerous surveys of dead birds reported by the public.
“We have done a lot of testing,
not only of the infected properties, but surrounding properties that have got birds.
“At this stage, all those indications are in the clear.”
Mr Patterson said there were no escapes of the disease into the wider community.
“I think we’ve had excellent cooperation from not only the industry, but the community at large,” he said.
“And that entails certain obligations and responsibilities for not only the infected properties, but adjoining properties that have all been impacted to a greater or lesser extent, particularly being in the controlled area or the restricted area.
“The community have also responded very positively by reporting any suspicious cases to us, which is part of our ongoing surveillance to limit the spread of any disease.
“So we’re very appreciative of all the e orts of people.”
New super tax a threat to farming
WITH the federal election behind us the re-elected Labor government seems determined to progress its plan of a proposed tax increase on super balances over $3 million, the so-called Better Targeted Superannuation Bill.
The treasurer has reaffirmed he intends to double the tax on earnings from super balances above $3 million to 30 per cent.
If the Greens in the senate have their way when the new super tax is legislated, it would apply to funds above $2 milllion.
However of greater community concern is the government’s plan to target unrealised capital gains, or what might be referred to as ‘paper profits’ - taxing profits not made and may never be made.
While the government maintains the changed super tax will be modest, it estimates the new tax will develop $40 billion collected over the next decade.
With no indexing of the super balance limit, it will affect millions of Australians.
Self-managed super funds, who will have to find extra funds to pay unexpected and potentially significant tax bills, will not see the change as modest, let alone costs of valuations and potential legal disputes.
Super industry advisers point to the potential for funds to sell assets to pay tax liabilities for unrealised gains, which might have vanished at the time the asset is eventually sold.
They also say the proposed super tax changes sets a precedent for potential extension of other taxes by the government on unrealised gains.
It’s believed Treasury has been working on the new tax for some time, yet the question of it applying to defined benefits pension schemes remains uncertain.
Of concern to trades people, small business and farming families will be the prospect of liquid assets in super funds such as farms or buildings, and the potential cash flow problems that occur.
Australian family enterprises have for decades planned their business structures, investments, and retirement benefits around super and self-managed superannuation funds. These arrangements have been based on long term plans and predictable guidelines.
The proposed tax changes represent a serious threat to personal and business financial stability and to a reliable income stream.
The government now needs to listen, rescind its planned changes as unfair and destabilising, and consider other revenue raising options.
And with Labor’s strong election result, the National and Liberal parties should put their differences aside, combine their expertise and experience as an effective opposition, to progress a more active response on this and other contentious legalisation.
Tail of two towns
By MIKE SMITH
THE farmers of Mans eld Shire have long resorted to silent gestures when they feel no one is listening.
When frustration mounts and words fail, they sometimes turn to striking acts that deliver a clear message: listen.
One such message appeared on Sunday, 4 May 2025, at the intersection of the Midland Highway and the Midland Link, near the Barjarg Fire Station.
With the region in the midst of a total power blackout, passersby reported seeing a large black dog strung from a tree its body suspended by its tail and back legs.
Some viewed it as a grim warning.
Others called it grotesque.
Conservationists soon joined the outcry, citing new research suggesting many wild dogs are actually pure dingoes.
For generations, farmers in the region have displayed fox carcasses on fences a rural tradition dating back to old estate gamekeeping in Britain.
Some say it serves as a warning to neighbours that predators are active.
Others believe it was a way to show landowners what the keeper had culled.
There’s also the contested idea that the sight and smell of the dead fox might deter others.
But a dog is not a fox.
And in 2025, the distinction carries emotional weight.
To some residents, the incident crossed a line.
“You could clearly see a huge black dog hanging by its tail and back legs from the tree at the intersection,” said one local, who did not wish to be named.
“I understand that farmers need to protect their livestock, but the way it was showcased was disgusting.”
A second eyewitness echoed the concern.
“I believe it’s cruel,” they said.
“People don’t need to be hanging animals in clear view of the road.
Shooting them is one thing this is something else.”
Both expressed concern for the impact the display might have on children, though each acknowledged the threat wild dogs pose to local farms.
As stock losses mount, a farmer’s protest draws concern from townsfolk and conservationists
When asked whether they believed wild dogs should be protected from culling, one responded:
“I’ve never been in that situation,” they said.
“I don’t know enough about it, and it’s not something I care to be informed about.”
North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer contacted the farmer responsible for the display, who agreed to speak on the condition of anonymity.
A seventh-generation landholder, their family has farmed in the Mans eld district since the 1850s.
They drove us across a 1000acre swathe of land one-third of their property that borders Mt Samaria State Forest and now sits empty.
Wild dogs, they said, come from the bush nightly.
Electric fencing hasn’t stopped them.
Until recently, the farmer was a producer of award-winning Merino wool.
They’re just one of numerous farmers in the shire known to have abandoned Merinos altogether due to wild dog predation.
By MIKE SMITH
VICTORIAN farmers must come together to overcome the threat of wild dogs during this upcoming lambing season.
That’s the message from Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) Vice President and Talgarno farmer (pictured).
“It’s a statewide issue and the issue is getting worse,” Mr Starr said.
“Obviously we have increased wild dog activity in the North West where the unprotection order has been lifted and farmers are now forced to watch on helplessly as wild dogs kill their sheep upon their farms.
“Before the unprotection order was lifted it seemed to be singular dogs while we are now receiving more reports of pack activity.
“I keep hearing reports of attacks on sheep in the north east around Mansfield.
“I am increasingly getting phone calls from farmers in my area in the upper north east around Talgarno and they are very concerned by the increase in wild dog activity that they are noticing.
“We can’t use a third of our land anymore,” the farmer said.
“We’re spending nearly $10,000 a week on grain just to keep stock alive.”
The farmer showed us mauled sheep carcasses some buried, others le where they fell.
“You nd ewes with their hamstrings chewed out, lambs dead in the frost because their mothers ran o in panic,” they said.
“It’s constant.”
The farmer con rmed they had hung the dog, explaining the act was intended to make people understand the scale of the problem.
“People in town might see a dog we see a killer.”
While wild dog culling is legal under Victorian law, the public display of carcasses is controversial and unregulated.
In 2016, a “fox fence” near Yapeen, south of Castlemaine, made headlines a er tourists began stopping to photograph the strung-up animals.
That incident divided opinion and prompted a broader discussion about pest control, rural life, and animal welfare.
So too has the Barjarg dog.
In the past few weeks, dingo conservation groups have highlighted recent genetic studies indicating that many so-called “wild dogs” in the region are, in fact, pure or high-percentage dingoes rather than feral hybrids.
These groups argue that such ndings should shi the conversation away from eradication and toward greater ecological understanding and protection of Australia’s apex native predator.
For some in town, the display is a bridge too far an act of cruelty against a creature they see as a pet.
For many on the land, it’s a desperate attempt to draw attention to a silent crisis that continues to cost them dearly.
The incident has highlighted an uncomfortable divide in Mans eld: between those who live by the rhythms of the land and those who have settled in growing residential estates on its fringe.
Whether the act was a justied message or a misstep, it has started a conversation.
And that, perhaps, was the point.
“They have had trouble with wild dogs in Taggerty for a while and now it seems those dogs have pushed in on the city and have been seen around Lilydale.”
The issue is anything but new for Victorian farmers or the federation who represents their interests and is resigned to the fact that more sheep are going to be killed on farms.
“There’s just no silver bullet where wild dogs are concerned,” he said.
“There is or there certainly should be a living to be made in sheep farming but not while they’re being eaten alive on farms around the state.
“Community awareness helps.
“And to get to community awareness we need those going through the dog problem to speak about it, to communicate with each other.
“Report dog attacks and sightings to your local controller.
“The more he knows about what’s going on, the better.
“Use the Feral Scan app whenever you encounter a wild dog on your farm.
“And come together as a community.
“That’s the best tool farmers have at the moment - each other.
“Coordinated community baiting can be an effective tool to manage wild dogs in an area.
“People need to come together to try to contend with the worsening wild dog problem, that’s the way forward.”
A MESSAGE: A large black dog, believed by the farmer to be a wild dog, was strung from a tree near Barjarg on Sunday, 4 May. The display drew criticism from some residents, who said the method of sending the message was distressing and inappropriate.
PHOTO: Mike Smith
State Nats look away from federal split
Victorian leader of The Nationals distances state party branch from federal fiasco
By STEVE KELLY
THE Victorian branch of the Nationals Party has washed its hands of the split between their federal counterparts and the Liberals.
The absence of a commitment from the Liberal Party on key National Party polices was a catalyst for the Coali-
tion split, according to party leader David Littleproud.
These include the $20 billion Regional Australia Future Fund; ‘big stick’ divestiture competition laws that keep the big supermarkets honest; improved Universal Service Obligation for communications forcing a better minimum standard for
regional mobile and internet access; and the potential of nuclear power as a necessary element of a balanced energy mix that secures Australia’s energy security.
However, the Victorian Leader of The Nationals and Member for Gippsland South Danny O’Brien declined to comment on the policies
when asked for his view by this masthead.
“The Federal Nationals will make their own decisions,”
Mr O’Brien said.
“We have a very strong Coalition here in Victoria.
“Recent state events – a brutal budget and protests on the steps of parliament about the emergency services tax
SUPPLEMENTARY FEED:
pregnant
are at risk of pregnancy
if not provided with adequate energy intake.
Twin lamb disease
By DR JEFF CAVE, SENIOR VETERINARY OFFICER, AGRICULTURE VICTORIA
AS WE move towards winter sheep producers may begin to see cases of pregnancy toxaemia or twin lamb disease in their ewes.
Twin lamb disease occurs when ewes have an inadequate energy intake during the last four to six weeks of pregnancy.
During this nal period of pregnancy, ewes’ energy needs increase substantially, as she is providing energy for both herself, and her rapidly growing lamb.
Ewes that are carrying twins are particularly susceptible, hence the name.
In fact a ewe carrying twins has one and a half times the energy requirements of a ewe with a single lamb, and
more than twice the energy requirements of a dry ewe.
Sheep fed in containment areas generally require 10–16 per cent less energy compared with animals walking around paddocks looking for feed.
An outbreak of twin lamb disease is o en triggered by stress and environmental conditions that cause a low intake of food such as during yarding or holding o feed or severe weather conditions.
A ected ewes usually appear dopey, blind and unresponsive.
The condition may progress over several days.
The presence of a ected ewes is an indication that all is not well in the remainder of the ock.
Many other ewes may also be sub-clinically affected and may progress to become further cases of
twin lamb disease.
Twin lamb disease occurs because of a breakdown of body fat at a rate with which the ewe’s liver is unable to cope.
As a result, on autopsy an a ected ewe’s liver will appear swollen, yellow, crumbly and greasy.
A ected ewes can occasionally be successfully treated by an energy-rich drench such as glycerine provided the drench is given during the early stages of the disease.
More importantly, good quality supplementary feeding should be given to those ewes most at risk.
Increasing the ewe’s energy intake through appropriate ration formulation during the last eight weeks of pregnancy can prevent twin lamb disease.
– shows 100 per cent that we need a strong Coalition alternative to the Allan Labor Government.
“The Liberals and Nationals will provide that alternative in November [2026] and we will work together in the next 18 months to make sure we get rid of this terrible Labor government.”
VICGRID has released a dra of its rst Victorian Transmission Plan –outlining locations and details for major renewable energy infrastructure across the state.
The Nationals’ Member for Euroa, Annabelle Cleeland, is urging locals to provide feedback on the plan, saying it’s a crucial opportunity for farmers, residents, and local industries to have their voices heard.
A link to the digital map is on the Engage Victoria project page: http://engage.vic.gov.au/ victransmissionplan Have your
Towns including Colbinabbin, Stanhope, and Girgarre are identi ed in a proposed Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), with large-scale developments like the Cooba Solar Facility already planned for the region.
The controversial Cooba project would see 740,000 eight-metre-tall solar panels installed across 665 hectares –just 4.5 kilometres from Colbinabbin – sparking serious community concern.
Other areas such as Ru y, Winton, Goorambat, Glenrowan, and the
YOU ARE ABLE TO HAVE YOUR SAY BY:
Completing a renewable energy zone study area feedback form, project status survey, or other submission through the Engage Victoria website: http://engage.vic.gov.au/victransmissionplan,
Emailing your thoughts to vicgrid@deeca.vic.gov.au, or Sending written feedback to VicGrid, GPO Box 527, Melbourne VIC 3001.
Feedback about the transmission plan is open until June 24, 2025.
Strathbogie Ranges have also raised objections to renewable projects in recent years, despite not being located in o cial REZs.
Ms Cleeland said changes made by the Labor Government to reduce community appeal rights through VCAT had made projects more divisive and le rural communities feeling powerless.
“Labor has stripped away the ability for locals to meaningfully challenge these developments, creating serious tension and division in our towns,” Ms Cleeland said.
“These aren’t small decisions – they permanently change landscapes, a ect neighbouring farms, and disrupt the lives of people who’ve worked the land for generations.
“Too o en, prime agricultural land is being targeted when there are more suitable sites available.
“I strongly encourage anyone who may be impacted to have their say – it’s one of the few opportunities le to in uence these decisions and ensure proper protections for farming land.”
Ewes
with twins
toxaemia
Virtual fencing regulations one step closer for farmers
VICTORIAN cattle farmers will soon be able to harness the bene ts of virtual fencing and herding technology, with the state government taking the next step to allow this new technology.
Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence announced new regulations will be prepared for the use of virtual fencing and herding technology for cattle in Victoria.
“We know that Victorian farmers are looking to use virtual fencing and herding technology to improve productivity and farmer safety, which is why we’re making decisions to ensure farmers have the best technology up to date,” Ms Spence said.
“It is critical that we have appropriate safeguards in place to protect animal welfare, while enabling innovation on farms and these new regulations will provide a framework to achieve this.” 
The announcement follows engagement with industry, manufacturers, and researchers on virtual fencing to understand the animal welfare impacts of the technology that will create better and more e cient farms. Further engagement will
occur with relevant stakeholders, including animal welfare groups with the regulations to be nalised by the end of the year.
A trial of Halter® virtual fencing technology at Agriculture Victoria’s Ellinbank SmartFarm in Gippsland will continue conducting research until June 30 – giving Victorian farmers the chance to experience rst-hand this new technology close to home.
Since July 2024, dairy cattle at the SmartFarm have been tted with solar powered smart collars that use electronic cues to contain animals within a virtual fence and guide them to areas of the farm via a mobile phone app.
It also allows farmers to monitor their cows’ location, health and reproductive status.
Virtual fencing uses collars with GPS and wireless technology to control livestock without physical fences.
If the animal leaves a designated area, the collars send out three warning noise and vibration cues and additional stimulus to encourage the animal to return to the area.
The new regulations will
make sure the roll out of virtual fencing across the state will improve animal welfare outcomes, farm safety, productivity and sta wellbeing.
Agriculture Victoria is also actively contributing to the development of the Australian Animal Welfare Guide for Virtual Fencing, a project
led by the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
This guide aims to support a consistent regulatory
approach across states and territories, while ensuring optimal animal welfare outcomes where virtual fencing is used.
Only eight dairy farms pass the EPA test
EPA Victoria’s inspections of 43 dairy farms across three eastern Gippsland municipalities have found just eight of them passed the test for appropriate management of dairy e uent.
EPA authorised o cers inspected dairy facilities on farms in Wellington, South Gippsland and East Gippsland Shires for leaks, poorly managed e uent ponds, faulty pumps and pipes, and contamination of nearby waterways and neighbouring farms.
Some of the farms where dairy e uent was best managed achieved success with conventional maintenance of ponds and equipment, while two stood out with new approaches, one with a fully automated dairy system and the other with concrete pads and a porous wall that sent liquid to storage tanks and avoided the need for ponds altogether.
However, EPA Gippsland Regional Manager Jessica Bandiera said poor management of dairy e uent is still
far too common.
“Dairy e uent is valuable fertiliser for your pasture if you manage it well, but it becomes a pollutant and a source of disease if it escapes to a waterway or neighbouring farm,” Ms Bandiera said.
“We continue to identify non-compliant e uent management systems on dairy farms, this round of inspections identi ed risks to human health and the environment from bacteria, algae blooms from the increase in nutrient loads on water-
ways, and other hazards to the environment, livestock and people’s health,” she said.
The inspections through February and March this year comprised the region’s fourth dairy operation over the past 18 months, with more than 100 farms inspected so far.
EPA o cers running the latest operation issued six farms with Environmental Action Notices (EAN’s) requiring the landholders to take speci c actions by a set
deadline, and they gave written compliance advice to the operators of 19 more farms.
“We did not issue any nes this time, but mismanaged dairy e uent is a regular problem right across the region, we have issued nes in past, and anyone running a dairy farm should take the issue seriously,” Ms Bandiera said.
The EPA website has advice on how to manage e uent on dairy farms - epa.vic. gov.au/for-business/find-atopic/e uent-dairy-farm
THE main issues the EPA identified included:
Too much vegetation growing in ponds
Incorrect storage and bunding of farm chemicals
Unregistered stockpiles of waste tyres for silage management
Effluent ponds in need of desludging to restore their effectiveness
TRIALS: Dairy cows at the Ellinbank Smart Farm.
Plenty Valley Produce cultivates
By EMMA OLIVER
ON the river- ats bordering King Parrot Creek - just o the Whittlesea-Yea Road in Flowerdale - a market garden has taken shape, the expansion of Plenty Valley Produce.
Michael Collins is one half of Plenty Valley Produce, a small-scale, organic market garden set-up in partnership with fellow grower Sam Shacklock.
Signing a long-term commercial lease, the new location represents the pair’s commitment to an enterprise that has gone from strength to strength over the last three years.
Previously cropping seven acres in Upper Plenty- four of which were viable with the other three delivering reduced production due to issues with drainage and shade – Michael and Sam had come to the realisation with demand only growing they needed to upscale.
And having outgrown the site that also meant relocation.
It was access to more water and the fertile soils of the valley that made leasing land at Old Farm Happy Valley an attractive proposition, with the bonus of good drainage and direct sunlight for the whole day e ectively sealing the deal.
“Here in Flowerdale we have eight acres in the main paddock alone, with the opportunity to farm up to 20 acres in total with vegetables and herbs - so we now have that room to expand,” Michael said.
A horticulturist by quali cation Michael has travelled from the north of the country to the south.
Working as a park ranger in Cape York before taking up a position at the Mt Cootha Botanic Gardens in Brisbane, followed by a stint in Hobart at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens it was the cooler climes of the southern states that enticed him from the tropics.
“In Queensland you e ectively have two seasons, and so of course you have owering plants and things do happen, but it doesn’t compare to having four seasons.
“When a garden has gone through that cold exposure and then the sun comes out and its springtime, it becomes a completely di erent space.
“I wanted to experience this and learn di erent styles of gardening.”
It was a dream of market gardening that would then tempt Michael from across the Tasman, to rent just outside of Whittlesea.
“I was also interested in livestock management and the initial goal was to learn more about farming and then take the knowledge back to the Botanics and implement it there within that environment,” he said.
Somerset Heritage Produce on the banks of the Goulburn in the grounds of the Somerset Winery at Seymour would be his rst professional dalliance into vegetable growing.
The Collingwood Children’s Farm was his next step, the demonstration space and the urban implementation of agricultural practices similar to the idea he had for the Botanics.
However once he was immersed in the reality of the project, Michael’s goal changed.
without getting too far into the weeds of it - we grow tomatoes, chillis, capsicum, eggplant, zucchini, cucumber, beans, peas, lettuce, radicchio, spring onions, fennel, swiss chard, kale, spigarello, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, pumpkin, potatoes, onions, leeks, Asian greens, salad mix, rocket, spinach, celery, radish, beetroot, carrots and a whole manner of fresh vegetables.”
- Michael Collins, Plenty Valley Produce
“I would eventually come to the realisation that what I really wanted to do was simply grow vegetables,” he said.
It was the move to Upper Plenty, to share-farm with Sam alongside other market gardeners on a larger farm enterprise, that would solidify this vision.
Walwa Park Farm is predominantly livestock run by David Markham, with part of the landholding dedicated to farm start-ups.
“In three years, Michael and Sam have gone from a start-up to servicing several farmers’ markets, employing quite a few people and growing their inventory of plant and equipment to the point they are a stand-alone enterprise and all through lower impact organic growing methods,” said David of the boys’ tenure at Walwa Park.
With tractors and equipment available and
garden beds already set up at Walwa, it represented a smooth transition for Michael and Sam - the opportunity to try their hand at market gardening with minimum risk and reduced outlay.
“I don’t think we would have made the initial commitment if it hadn’t been ready to go,” Michael said of the origins of Plenty Valley Produce.
“The notion of setting all of that up from scratch and investing all that money, would have represented too huge a barrier.”
At that stage both Michael and Sam were just beginning their journey into market gardening and vegetable growing was still secondary to Michael’s other aspirations.
“Initially I was doing it to fund my other farm ideas,” he said.
“However I soon came to the realisation that I didn’t need to do all those other
moved their organic market garden enterprise
VEGIES APLENTY: Plenty Valley Produce have
to the banks of Parrot Creek in Flowerdale.
new growth in Flowerdale
things like chickens, I could just grow fresh produce and I would probably be better o .” It is this focus on keeping it simple and mastering production of a limited range that initially set the two in good stead, building a strong foundation on which to expand the business and increase their portfolio.
“Most people start o with 40 di erent lines and want to grow heirlooms and other specialist lines and embrace this whole-home-gardenerbut-scaled-up idea,” Michael said.
“We had been advised by other market gardeners both in-person and online that this was not the way to go, and so when we began farming it was with a view to do smallscale wholesale.
“We only started with carrots, spring onions, tomatoes, a little bit of pumpkin and radish.
“There was no growing a bunch of stu and going direct to retail and aiming to be that one-stop-shop at the farmers’ market.
“It just seemed to be a really complicated business model which would be di cult to run.
“So in the early days of Plenty Valley Produce this was something we actively avoided.”
Michael admits this is now exactly what they do do.
“It was because farmers’ markets really opened up for us,” he said of the about-face.
Presented with the opportunity to get into two of the biggest markets in Melbourne, Plenty Valley Produce rapidly expanded.
“You almost have to wait for somebody to die to get into the good ones,” said Michael of the state’s most lucrative
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“We were just incredibly lucky – right place, right time – so that when one of the growers who had been in the game for a while wanted to step back, we were able to ll that void.”
With on-selling frowned upon, stallholders are supposed to grow or make everything they sell.
When spots became available at these two markets there weren’t many producers who were of the necessary calibre who didn’t have prior commitments who could take on the responsibility.
Enter Plenty Valley Produce.
“And it has snowballed from there,” Michael said.
The duo now grow a wide and diverse variety of vegetables and all manner of fresh herbs, and service four inner city markets regularly adding Eltham Farmers’ Market into the mix come winter.
“It’s not something I would recommend,” Michael said with a laugh.
“I would recommend selling or growing the things you can sell a lot of.
“And that may mean you don’t generate as much per square metre, but you also don’t have to put as much labour into it because labour is the biggest expense.”
Though small scale, Michael said getting in with a good seedling grower has also proven fundamental to the success of the enterprise and removed a degree of uncertainty from the process.
“We share our order with another farm, which makes the order big enough for them to deal with us.
“And they grow just about anything.
“You can even send them in seed and they’ll grow from that.”
A signi cant outlay, timing is crucial when it comes to farming vegetables with Plenty Valley Produce getting seedlings every two weeks going into each growing season.
Another outlay in both energy and nances was setting up the site as a market garden.
Previously used for livestock, the soil - a sandy red loam similar to up on the Murray – required tilling to break down the clods of compacted dirt before adding organic fertiliser to the mix before planting it out.
Irrigating the site was also a priority, with Michael and Sam dedicated to doing it right the rst time.
The main problem they’ve experienced so far in the new location is deer and ducks.
Leaving the brassicas alone a er a particular point, the deer have a particular penchant for chicory.
“We’ve got ve beds of chicory on the go and when it works the herbaceous plant is really good money, but the deer just smash it,” Michael said.
Fencing o the 20 acres may be another huge but necessary outlay.
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The pair are also considering a Maremma under recommendation of landowner Diego Puyol who uses dogs to protect his chicken ocks.
However both the fencing and the dog are a commitment the pair are happy to make, part of a longterm vision for the enterprise. From humble beginnings and a desire to simply grow good food, Plenty Valley Produce’s relocation to the fertile river- ats of Flowerdale marks the next signi cant step in the journey, the promise of increased organic harvests ensuring the market garden enterprise not just grows, but ourishes.
GET IT RIGHT FROM THE START: Irrigation was a significant outlay both financially and in terms of time and energy.
The Plenty Valley Produce stall can be found at the Veg Out Farmers Market in St Kilda, at Gasworks Farmers Market in Albert Park, at Alphington and Carlton, and during winter at Eltham as well.
FIRST PLANTING: Michael Collins of Plenty Valley Produce at the Flowerdale site.
Where’s the water?
Climate change reality
In just the last few months alone we’ve seen gigantic amounts of water dumped in NSW and Queensland – particularly in the Burdekin watershed – all the way up to Cairns, and down to northern New South Wales.
Moving inland, we saw the “Channel Country” under water with the loss of up to a million drowned beef cattle, and who knows how many sheep.
As the floods continue to subside, the death count grows.
In the meantime, Victoria is in drought, large sections of South Australia and southern New South Wales are suffering as well.
All that, and city folk passively watch it on television without understanding anything like what farmers and our regional relatives go through.
MISSED OPPORTUNITIES
Visionaries like John Bradfield, renowned for designing the Sydney Harbour Bridge, recognized the potential of Australia’s water resources in 1953.
Bradfield proposed redirecting northern rivers into the Murray Darling Basin to irrigate droughtstricken regions, and support agricultural productivities.
Yet, almost a century later, his vision remains unrealized.
Political short-termism has hindered progress.
Ideas like Tony Abbott and Barnaby Joyce’s 100 Dams Project never got off the ground.
Political instability derailed their implementation.
Real progress requires longterm commitment which only state and federal governments can accomplish.
AUSSIE PUMPS’ ANSWER
The Aussie Pumps team have a totally different attitude to most of their colleagues in the pump business.
Aussie has become the most respected business of its kind in the country, with huge organic growth over the last 30 years.
A lot of the credit goes to our Chief Engineer, John Hales.
John has done amazing things in his career, from building power stations to designing earthmoving equipment and, for the last 20 years of so, being the Chief Engineer at Aussie Pumps.
His attitude is indicated by the ethic of producing products “as if we were going to use them ourselves”.
That attitude of - the customer first - goes right through the whole ethic of Aussie Pumps and is shown in their products.
NOT JUST FIRE PUMPS
It’s true that Aussie Pumps make the world’s best lightweight portable fire pump, with 220,000 Aussie QP205SE pumps operating not just in Australia, but around the globe.
Our product is so different to the tired old brands from the past, that consumers can tell just by seeing the outside, what the inside of the pump might be like.
We’re working on new designs all the time and are about to launch a single impeller fire pump that will perform as if it’s a twin impeller.
That new version of the
THE POTENTIAL: A 1946 map of how to bring water security to the inland.
Aussie Fire Chief with incredible performance is an indication of just how serious this Australian home-grown company is.
Aussie has now moved on to become Australia’s pre-eminent high pressure water blaster manufacturer in Australia, by simply making machines that are based on customer inspiration.
Dairies, for example, can rely on the stainless steel framed Aussie range of high pressure cold water blasters, available in both hot and cold configurations.
Aussie’s even got a 4,000 psi hot water machine that runs off the power of the electrical circuit of a Honda 13 hp engine.
It’s called the Heatwave.
It’s a mobile steam cleaner that can be ute-mounted or stationery in the farm wash bay.
Best of all for farmers, it’s at a good price that farmers can afford and even comes in a stainless steel frame.
ELECTRIC DRIVE HOT WASH
A complete range of hot wash and steam cleaners starts with the unique Aussie Sizzler.
THIS story is contributed by Sam Loria, Australian Pump Industries’ Victorian Area Manager.
Sam also works with dealers in South Australia where he has made loads of good friends and established Aussie Pumps as the most trusted business of its kind in Australia.
Here, Sam reflects on the drought and in more detail, the danger of Australia’s inaction in harnessing Australia’s water resources.
This is a low-cost top quality machine with a slow speed pump and motor, that runs an 1,800 psi and 80°C hot wash.
This little machine is a fraction of the price of plastic European imports and is used by a number of dairies in Australia for sterilization and elimination of bacteria.
From there the company has developed some of the best heavy duty steam cleaners in the business.
We even make one that does 4,000 psi and delivers up to 135°C steam.
Best of all the machines are bargain priced for farmers with Gippsland dairy farms able to buy direct from Aussie Pumps and get the very best package deal.
BIG PUMPS TOO
Australian Pump is working hand in hand with the United Nations.
For the past five years, we’ve shipped big 6” trash pumps, powered by Deutz 80 hp diesel engines to the South Sudan to help protect Juba from the annual monsoonal floods.
They are redirecting the Nile River to protect the capital.
Aussie’s got 26 of our big machines over there now, delivering 175 million litres of water a minute.
AUSSIE’S NO FAKE PRICE POLICY
We’ve seen many of our competitors from the old school putting up their retail prices so their dealers can give fake discounts to unsuspecting consumers.
Aussie won’t do that.
The prices are fair and have stayed the same.
Aussie’s superior products are sold at a lower price than lesser products in terms of performance, quality and features.
That applies not only to fire pumps, transfer pumps, trash pumps, and other, but also to the company’s range of high pressure water blasters as well.
INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED:
Aussie’s Chief Engineers and the Big 6-inch pumps saved Juba in South Sudan.
We think about the consumer first and foremost.
We’ll fight for water security for regional Australia
THE POSITIVE APPROACH
Here’s a quote from Ion Idreiss, Gallipoli veteran and famous Australian author of the 40s, 50s and 60s, who wrote after he saw what he called the millennium flood in 1956.
“Pause, and if only for a moment, try to imagine the unimaginable volume of fresh water that is rushed away to sea during these last few years alone.
“Then imagine the broken hearts that would not break, the homes we should save, the jobs we should keep, the individual and national wealth we should retain.”
Imagine what we could do with that water in drought times like now.
Australia has the resources, the expertise and the opportunity to lead the world in water management.
So why don’t we?
With the right investment and leadership anything is possible.
It’s painful to watch politicians gloating over the possibility of a 100 billion dollar agricultural year, when most of them have no idea how it was actually achieved.
They don’t get the work and the sweat that was put into it.
At Aussie, we are for regional Australia.
It’s time we did something about water security.
Visit aussiepumps.com.au for more information.
WATER SECURITY IS THE KEY: Sam Loiria is on the farmers’ side.
Getting kids on-farm critical to increase vegetable intake
A STAGGERING 92 per cent of Australian children do not eat enough vegetables, but a Victorian vegetable grower has identi ed ways to change habits.
Third-generation farmer, Catherine Velisha, used a Nu eld scholarship, supported by Hort Innovation, to explore education programs that were helping people – old and young – value vegetables and the role they play in health.
Catherine’s research focused on grower-led education programs across the globe, analysing programs from the UK, USA, Ireland and Australia.
As the managing director of Velisha Farms in Werribee South, Catherine has developed VEG Education, a registered training organisation which runs curriculumaligned farm gate programs.
She was keen to her understand how her programs could be improved and expanded.
“There is increasing evidence that while the bene ts of getting in your ve serves of vegetables a day are widely reported and known, people’s daily intakes are not meeting the mark,” Catherine said.
“I’ve come to realise just how vital education is for our industry.
“Through VEG Education and our programs we focus on teaching young people about the bene ts of vegetables, aiming to make them a more appealing choice in their diets.”
Catherine and her team host school visits and create teaching resources and content, such as behind-the-scenes videos of their farming practices and recipes to show how vegetables are grown and showcase their fabulous taste and nutritional value.
“I believe that this educational approach not only fosters a greater appreciation for fresh produce among children but also helps address misconceptions about costs and accessibility.
“By equipping future consumers with knowledge about food production, I hope to inspire them to make informed choices that lead to increased vegetable consumption and support for local growers like me,” she said.
As part of her Nu eld Scholar-
ship, Catherine travelled around Australia and to the United States to meet with growers who shared her passion of educating the broader public.
Her report reveals a growing trend of collaboration between the agricultural sector, educational institutions and local communities to help people understand food production and promote healthier eating habits.
Catherine found programs like the National Farm to School Net-
work (NFSN) the US and LEAF Education in the UK share common themes that are crucial to their success. These include hands-on learning experiences, integration into school curricula, use of digital platforms to expand reach, and collaboration between farmers, educators and community organisations.
“There’s great potential for grower-led education models to instil a passion and love for vegetables from an early age, hopefully getting young Aussies eating them more o en, and even working in the industry.”
Catherine’s scholarship was funded by Hort Innovation, using the Apple and Pear, Avocado, Onion and Raspberry and Blackberry research and development levies and contributions from the Australian government.
Hort Innovation is the growerowned, not-for-pro t research and development corporation for Australian horticulture.
Catherine encourages people involved in food or bre production to apply for a Nu eld Scholarship as a means of challenging conventional thinking and fostering new paradigms of leadership and operational excellence.
RECENTLY Landcare Australia and Kinglake Landcare Group coordinated a major project with Coca Cola to rehabilitate the headwaters of Pheasant Creek utilising Coca Cola employees , Landcare volunteers and the Taungurung Biik bush crew.
On a beautiful Kinglake autumn day the many volunteers planted, staked and guarded 1060 trees, shrubs, and grasses, which will be supplemented with further works by the Taungurung Biik Bush Crew.
Projects like this are an essential part of restoring areas of the natural landscape for the future.
First not-for-profit vet clinic opens in regional Victoria
AFFORDABLE, quality veterinary care for the Castlemaine community is now available with the opening of the rst community veterinary clinic in regional Victoria.
The purpose-built Regional Community Vet Clinic o cially opened on May 19 thanks in part to a $530,000 investment from the state government –bringing more a ordable veterinary care closer to home for local families and their furry friends in Central Victoria.
“Recognising the importance of companion animals to community health and wellbeing the co-founders and committee of RCVC have worked tirelessly over the past four years to deliver this vital and innovative project,” said Regional Community Vet Clinic CoFounder Robyn Slattery
“This rst regional Victorian Not-for-Pro t veterinary clinic has been a huge undertaking and could not
have been realised without the support of our grantors, volunteers and supporters.”
The clinic o ers a range of a ordable veterinary care services including desexing, vaccinations, health checks, dental care and minor lump removals, which will provide much-needed support to pet owners doing it tough amid cost-ofliving pressures.
The clinic is currently open on Fridays by appointment between 9am till 4.30pm – opening hours will increase as the clinic expands.
In addition to the physical clinic, it will o er popup clinics in regional towns and will continue to hold these events, up to six annually, throughout the year.
In addition, Regional Community Vet Clinic has provided more than 1,200 volunteer hours in community outreach to date to assist owners in keeping their pets safely and happily at home for longer.
Australian canola fuelling a greener flight path
Unlocking the potential of sustainable aviation fuel
A WINDERMERE oilseed processor and lamb producer is calling for Australia to harness its canola production and take ight in the global shi towards low-emission aviation, outlining a pathway for the nation to lead in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) manufacturing.
Andrew Ham, 2020 Nufeld Scholar, has released a comprehensive report on biofuels and the opportunity for Australia to leverage its canola industry in the production of SAF.
Supported by The William Buckland Fund, Andrew’s research outlines how canola - already a key export for biofuels in Europe - can be used domestically to build a sovereign, scalable SAF industry.
“Currently, over 70 per cent of Australian canola is exported to Europe, where it’s used in biofuel production.
“But with global SAF demand rapidly increasing, and edible oils like canola in short supply, we’re in a prime position to do more than just export raw seed, we can rene, manufacture, and lead the SAF transition right here,” Andrew said.
Andrew travelled to Chile, Kenya, New Zealand, and across Australia, investigating global SAF initiatives, re ning processes, and the scalability of HEFA (Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids) - the most mature and cost-e ective SAF pathway.
drive job creation and regional economic development - particularly as mining-related employment begins to wane.
Andrew also highlights the environmental bene ts.
“Australia
His report argues that converting Australia’s retired fossil fuel infrastructure into domestic HEFA facilities could provide an a ordable, rapid entry into SAF production, without extensive new builds.
“By investing in SAF facilities near Australia’s major canola-producing regions, we can crush, process, and re ne canola domestically, securing protein meal for livestock and reducing reliance on imported fuels, all while helping decarbonise the aviation sector,” he said.
The report notes that Australia currently crushes just a fraction of its canola crop, with the vast majority shipped overseas.
A domestic SAF plant would not only increase local processing capacity, but also
“Using canola-based SAF can cut emissions by over 50 per cent compared to fossil jet fuel.
“The global aviation industry has set net-zero targets for 2050, and they can’t get there without agriculture,” he said.
“We can be part of the solution.”
With Australian government initiatives like the Future Made in Australia Act and ARENA SAF grants gaining traction, Andrew’s report serves as both a roadmap and a rallying cry for industry, government, and farmers.
“This isn’t just a farming story, it’s a nation-building opportunity.
“If we get this right, Australia can become a powerhouse in clean fuels and future-proof one of our most important crops.”
TALKING SUSTAINABILITY: Windermere oilseed and lamb producer Andrew Ham.
New excavators, dozers bolster LiuGong line-up
THE rapid rise of LiuGong equipment across the Australian marketplace is continuing, with more excavators joining the F Series range and dozers hitting our shores for the rst time.
Liam McCormick with LiuGong Australia said the new 22-tonne and 33t LiuGong 922F and 933F excavators added to the manufacturer’s wide excavator range that extended up to 135t and would be suitable for quarry, waste and recycling, and civil works.
Liam said the LD Series dozers extended on the heritage of European manufacturer, Dressta, following LiuGong’s acquisition of the popular brand about a decade ago.
He said it was exciting to be introducing another LiuGong product to the Australian industry with the rst three dozer models arriving, including 20t, 28t and 40t machines, would be attractive for land ll, agriculture, quarrying and civil activities.
“It’s great to be having another product, and, as is renowned with LiuGong equipment, it is very well-priced without compromising on quality,” Liam said.
“The Dressta heritage is there, but it’s been re ned with LiuGong’s engineering.”
He said the F Series excavators and LD dozers continued to feature the latest, improved Cummins engines used in many LiuGong machines, however the cabin in the new excavators had undergone a major faceli .
“It’s all new European styling with a larger cabin and updated operating features, incorporating advanced technologies, that steps it up to any alternatives in the market.
“All functions, including hydraulics, can be adjusted from inside the cab.”
The new electro-hydraulic system provides lightening fast signals between the joysticks, pumps and valve blocks to deliver pinpoint precision and maximise available engine power, while new boom oat technology improves performance and prolongs tool life by preventing excessive pressure during braking applications.
It also reduces fuel consumption by allowing the boom to fall under its own mass.
The boom oat, travel
GEELONG
BACCHUS MARSH
Bacchus Marsh Farm Supplies
126 Main Street
BALNARRING
Balnarring Produce
2990 Frankston-Flinders Road
BALLARAT
Cervus Equipment
Corner Brewery Tap Road
& Western Highway
Brown Hill
Mega Merch Rural & Pet
151 Learmonth Street
Alfredton
Miners Rest General Store
200-202 Howe Street
Miners Rest
BENDIGO
CEPA Farm Supplies
4-10 Stanley Street
Quarry Hill
Elders VP 109 Midland Highway
Epsom
Eaglehawk Newsagency
27-29 High Street Eaglehawk
COLDSTREAM
Rural Fence & Trade
611 Maroondah Highway
Coldstream LPO
670-672 Maroondah Highway
CRAIGIEBURN
Melbourne Farm Supplies
304 Sydney Road
CRESWICK
Creswick Newsagency
65 Albert Street
DELACOMBE
Westag
12 Wiltshire Lane
speed and proportional auxiliary controls are customisable and ngertip controlled.
The operator interface also is now even more intuitive and easy to use.
A large, eight-inch LCD colour screen can be controlled via touchscreen or by a ngertip navigational control dial conveniently located in the armrest control panel.
Liam said in addition to the Cummins engines in the LD dozers, LiuGong’s enhanced serviceability traits were well highlighted with the machines arriving in Australia.
A er opening a large side cover, all maintenance is directly at operator ngertips.
The air lter and fuel lter have been grouped on the le side of the machine, while the electrical box has been con gured on the right side.
Radiator levels also can be easily viewed from the ground.
There is a centralised diagnostic interface as well, and the machine monitors and provides alerts of any faults.
Auto-gear shi ing can manage the dozers under dif-
ferent working conditions.
It selects the shi at the best shi point for more stable and powerful operation, as well as lower fuel consumption.
Liam said a six-way PAT blade was used with the 20t LD dozer, while the larger 28t and 40t dozers featured three rippers and high capacity semi-U blades.
The new excavators and dozers, as well as the wider LiuGong range in Australia, also have been bolstered by enhanced levels of support and backup following the
BIGGER DIGGER: ONE OF THE FIRST LIUGONG DOZERS TO ARRIVE IN AUSTRALIA, THE 20-TONNE LD20 WILL BE ATTRACTIVE FOR LANDFILL, AGRICULTURE, QUARRYING AND CIVIL WORK.
opening of new metropolitan dealerships including Truganina in Melbourne.
The Construction Distribution Australia (CDA) dealerships, backed by the McIntosh Group, have an exclusive focus on the LiuGong brand and provide strong parts support, as well as onhand service technicians and sales sta .
The LiuGong range in Australia is supported by an extensive network comprising 80 dealers nationally, including local parts depots and product support sta .
Geelong Farm Supplies
122 Victoria Street East Geelong Newsagency 78a Garden Street
Hewitt & Whitty Geelong 132-136 Furner Avenue
HASTINGS Hastings Produce 2083 Flinders-Frankston Road
HEALESVILLE
HEATHCOTE
Heathcote Rural Merchandise 85 High Street
INVERLEIGH
Inverleigh Farm Supplies 28 High Street
KILMORE
Southside Stockfeeds 108/110 Powlett Street
KOOWEERUP
Kooweerup Newsagency 44-48 Station Street
KORUMBURRA Korumburra Newsagency 27 Commercial Street
KYNETON
R S Perry & Sons 5 Market Street
LEONGATHA
Gendore Tractors & Machinery
82-84 Yarragon Road
Leongatha Newsagency 30 Bair Street
Healesville Stockfeed and Farm 281-283 Maroondah Highway
LILYDALE
Agpower & Transport 465 Maroondah Highway
LITTLE RIVER
Little River General Store 28-32 Little River Road
MELTON
Jon Kay Agri Service 9 Norton Drive
MONBULK
Murphy’s Mitre 10 Corner Main & Silvan Roads
MORNINGTON
Budget Stockfeeds
125 Mornington-Tyabb Road
MT EVELYN
Mt Evelyn Garden & Produce 41 Monbulk Road
PAKENHAM
Elders VP
2 Livestock Way
Glenmac Sales and Service
85 Bald Hill Road
Pakenham Produce 2 Bormar Drive
PANTON HILL
Panton Hill General Store & PO
586 Main Road
RED HILL SOUTH
Peninsula Farm Supplies
79 Arthurs Seat Road
ROCKBANK
Godings
2129 Western Highway
SEVILLE
Seville Tractors
51 Monbulk-Seville Road
SEYMOUR Seymour Equine & Rural
38 Emily Street
Seymour News Express 66 Station Street
SILVAN
Darmac AG Sales & Service
249-251 Monbulk Road
E.E. Muir & Sons 397 Monbulk Road
SMITHS GULLY
Smiths Gully General Store 914 Main Road
SUNBURY
Sunbury Stockfeeds 295 Settlement Road
SUNSHINE
Western Farm Service 588 Ballarat Road
TAGGERTY
Taggerty Store 26 Taggerty-Thornton Road
TOORADIN
Kverneland-Gendore Australia 78-83 South Gippsland Highway
WALLINGTON Wallington’s WRG 370 Grubb Road
WANDIN NORTH
Wesfarmers Landmark Unit 1, 7 George Street
WARRAGUL Farm Depot
183 Queen Street
R.E.N. Machinery Warragul 14-18 Normanby Street
Warragul Newsagency 43 Victoria Street
WERRIBEE E.E. Muir & Sons
879 Duncans Road
WERRIBEE SOUTH Anglers Anchorage 670 O’Connors Road
WHITTLESEA Whittlesea Produce 31 Forest Street
WINCHELSEA Winchelsea Trading 32 Harding Street
WONTHAGGI Wonthaggi Newsagency & Lotto 31 Murray Street
YARRA GLEN
Hoogies of Yarra Glen 9-15 Bell Street
Yarra Glen Mower & Tractor 21 Bell Street
Yarra Glen Stockfeeds 2/1 Armstrong Grove
YARRA JUNCTION
Baroona Produce & Pet Supplies 2434 Warburton Highway
YARRAGON
Graham’s Seeds 98 Waterloo Road
YEA
Elders VP 4 Station Street
Yea Newsagency 74 High Street
Flexibility is the key in a tough season
BARONGAROOK West farmer Simon Scott is nding that exibility is the key to survival in a tough season.
Over the past three years, Simon has dabbled in exible milking times, returned to conventional twice a day milking and is now mixing it up again.
Starting in 2022, Simon spent the whole season milking three times in two days.
Over 2024, he reverted to twice a day because of the tough season before again opting for 3-in-2 early this year.
Now as Simon – along with the rest of south-west Victoria - endures one of the worst seasons in memory, he has been forced back to the more conventional twice-a-day milking.
“We had been 3-in-2 from the end of January to late April but we’ve gone back to twicea-day for the foreseeable future just because we’ve got no grass,” he said.
“I’ve got to get grain into them to keep up production.
“I’d say we’ll have to keep up twice a day milking through to spring.
“There’s just not enough feed.” Simon said that the exible approach had been the best way to counter to the tough conditions.
“We’re exible – we’ll do 3-in-2 when we can but the season is just not playing ball.
“It looks like it’s going to get pretty bad.
“We’ll go back to 3-in-2 when the conditions are right.”
His 3-in-2 system involves milking at 6.30am every morning and around 3.30-4pm every second day.
“We dropped 7-8 per cent of milk solids production for the rst year we did it, but that was balanced by savings in electricity, less wear and tear on the tracks and the cows and you also have to value your time.
“There’s no doubt the cows were in better condition with 3-in-2.
“It all adds up.”
The exible milking routine is part of Simon’s shi to regenerative and organic farming, which also includes a move to multispecies pastures and a focus on exible management, grazing and stocking.
Despite the region’s prolonged dry spell, Simon’s farm still has a green pick and he says a lot of multispecies pastures are just waiting to take o with some rain.
“The older ryegrass pastures have dried o a lot more but the multispecies, especially those planted in the past two or three years, are still hanging on.
“The plants are still alive.”
DemoDAIRY Foundation has hosted forums and on-farm eld days about exible milking options to expose Western District farmers to a di erent approach to milking that has been shown to reduce labour
inputs, which is a big ongoing issue for dairy farmers, while not signi cantly impacting on production.
Any farmers interested in learning more about 3-in-2 farming can contact DemoDAIRY Foundation https:// www.demodairy.com.au or contact DDF secretary Ian Teese on 0427 358987 or itag@ bigpond.com.
FLEXIBILITY: Tough season impacts milking routine for Barongarook West farmer Simon Scott.
