Pasture improvement and embryo transfer innovation drives world-leading breeding success
Pursehouse Rural: Moving North
In late 2024 Pursehouse Rural reached further north than ever before with the acquisition of branches in the north Queensland towns of Innisfail and Tully
How one simple idea can change livestock handling for the better
Ballandean Station Maremma Program
Effective training of working Maremmas prove one part of a wider strategy to combat wild dogs at Ballandean
Glen Niven
Cultivating quality in every bite, your apple-a-day produced for over thirty years at Glen Niven
Image: Jessica Rea, Maremmas at Ballandean Station, QLD
SCOTT PURSEHOUSE: GROWING FORWARD WITH PURPOSE
At Pursehouse Rural, growth has always been more than a numbers game. It’s about people. It’s about purpose. And it’s about building a future for Australian agriculture that we can all be proud of.
Over the past 12 months, our footprint has grown significantly with the addition of eight new branches, a move that reflects our long-term strategy to diversify across regions and better manage the climatic risks that are part of farming today. This expansion allows us to offer something different to new communities, while reinforcing our commitment to being accessible, dependable, and genuinely local.
But growth, for us, only matters if it’s sustainable. We’ve made considered investments in areas that reflect that thinking including the rollout of solar energy systems at selected sites, helping us reduce our environmental footprint and operate more efficiently. We're in the process of upgrading our internal systems too, including a new ERP platform designed to simplify operations across our branches. As that project progresses, it will unlock improved account visibility and enable us to introduce some exciting new services for our customers.
Another focus is enhancing how we share information. New tools are being implemented to deliver timely, relevant advice including market insights, product information, and agronomic support across a range of platforms. These tools support, rather than replace, the trusted personal service our customers already rely on.
Of course, none of this works without great people, and we’re fortunate to have some of the best. Many of our employees have long-standing ties to the agricultural community, and whether they’re in customer service, logistics, or agronomy, they bring knowledge, commitment, and care to their work every day. It’s that human connection that makes the biggest difference.
We’re also proud to be a family-owned business. In an industry that’s seeing increasing consolidation, our independence gives us the freedom to act with integrity and take a long-term view, both for our business and for the communities we’re part of.
The journey ahead is one we’re excited about. With a clear vision, we strive to be a rural business partner for the future. We’ll continue to invest in our people, in our systems, and in ways to better support farmers. We’re not chasing growth for growth’s sake. We’re building something to last. To everyone who’s part of that, thank you.
Scott
CEO
NSW DPI (2020) Duck Creek Endoparasite Trial (data on file)'. ''Weight gain''
30% 2.5% 20%
UNLEASH THE POTENTIAL OF YOUR WORKING DOGS WITH WAYBACK ENDURANCE
Wayback Feeds are pleased to announce the release of the latest feed in their line for working dogs, Wayback Endurance. Specifically formulated for high performance dogs with the toughest of workloads, Wayback Endurance is built to sustain the demands of high-energy activities, all day, every day.
Fuel for outstanding performance in your working dogs, Wayback Endurance was meticulously formulated to provide the optimal balance of proteins, fats and carbohydrates to ensure your dogs receive the energy they need to perform.
Wayback Feeds understand that for high-performance working dogs it's not just about immediate energy, but about laying the foundation for long term health, enabling working dogs to maintain their condition throughout their working career.
Wayback Endurance has been trialled on-farm by producers who utilise large teams of working dogs in cattle operations over the trickiest of terrains, proving a demanding environment for their dogs. Fuelled by Wayback Endurance, Luck Wilkinson and Matt Stanley have seen an improvement in the overall condition of their dogs, as well as a reduction in the amount of feed
they have used.
Luke Wilkinson, who works on a property in the Coolah Tops with a breeder herd of Black Angus cattle, said,
“We’re up in the Coolah Tops so the country can be rough and rugged. The dogs need their energy and they’ve gotten that from Wayback Endurance.”
“I reckon I’m feeding less for a better result and the dogs enjoy it.”
Matt Stanley, who runs a team of ten dogs and was also part of the trial process of Wayback Endurance, said,
“[The dogs] are doing really well on it. I’m really impressed.”
Wayback Feeds looks forward to supporting producers and their high-performance dogs in the future. To find out more about Wayback Endurance, contact your local Pursehouse Rural branch today.
Pictured: Luke Wilkinson
Wayback Working Dog is a complete, nutritionally balanced feed to keep the hardest worker on your farm fuelled all day long. Produced in a tasty, bite-sized kibble, Wayback Working Dog provides affordable quality in every mouthful.
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Wayback Feeds were developed with quality at the forefront of our formulations. Wayback Feeds aim to provide optimal nutrition to your livestock, at an affordable price, using only Australian sourced ingredients.
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The breeding program at Glenisa Angus, fuelled by a passion for quality cattle from Ced Wise, is growing rapidly with the development of a new breeding centre at the property on Queensland’s Granite Belt. We spoke to owner Ced Wise, and farm manager, Ben Lobegeiger to understand more about the many moving parts to Glenisa Angus and the Wise Repro enterprise.
Article and photography by Jessica Rea
From orchard to breeding centre, the history of Glenisa
Glenisa homestead, located at Glen Aplin in Queensland’s Granite Belt region, forms the nucleus of operations for Glenisa Angus, propelled forward by Ced Wise’s commitment to cattle genetics. Originally a stone fruit orchard and vineyard, the Glenisa property has been in the Wise family for four generations. A young Ced Wise set out on a career quite removed from his parent’s stone fruit orchard, when he ventured into veterinary work. This was the mid-1970s, when the beef depression made work a little hard to come by for a large animal vet, so Ced took on work with the Warwick Veterinary practice to assist with the administration of the Brucellosis program on the Darling Downs. What began as a three-month contract quickly extended to years at the practice. One quiet winter afternoon in the Warwick practice, Ced suddenly heard the distinctive quick step of his boss making its way towards him down the hall, so he grabbed the closest paper to him to appear deep in thought in the veterinary journal in front of him. When quizzed on what he was doing, young Ced answered, reading up on embryo transfer in cattle, a new concept at the time. To which his boss replied, good, you should get up and go learn about it. So began a career in embryo transfer and genetics that would take Ced across Australia and overseas, to America.
A start in embryo transfer for Ced Wise
With work in the embryo transfer space in its infancy in the mid to late 1970s, Ced had to travel to Colorado State University, the only place in the world, at that time, conducting research into the practice of embryo transfer in cattle, to learn more. Between 1980 and 1984, Ced worked between the veterinary hospital at the University and the lab, with more and more time dedicated to lab work to learn all he could about embryo transfer. Sadly, back at Glenisa, Ced’s father had passed away, so the operation of the stone fruit orchard and the vineyard fell to Ced’s mother. Before long, it was clear, it was time for Ced to come back to Glenisa.
By 1988, embryo transfer for cattle had grown considerably in the Australian cattle industry and Ced could dedicate the majority of his time to working on semen collection in bulls and embryo transfer work, keeping him on the road for extended periods of time.
Back at Glenisa, the stone fruit orchard and vineyard quickly became the home of the Glenisa stud bull herd. Over the years, Glenisa Angus extended their footprint in the district, acquiring a number of properties, including Greenwood and Killara located to the east of Stanthorpe, The Glen located north of Liston, and Tallagandra and Springdale to the east of Cottonvale, extending the property portfolio supporting Glenisa Angus’ operations across a total of 16,000 acres.
Ced Wise (left), and Glenisa Angus Farm Manager Ben Lobegeiger (right)
Day to day duties at Glenisa for farm manager, Ben Lobegeiger
In 2021 , Ben Lobegeiger joined the team at Glenisa Angus as farm manager. Ben brought with him a wealth of knowledge from a career in the cattle industry including time spent with Palgrove as the Bull Production Manager. Ben was quick to undertake projects which would propel the Glenisa herd forward in their nutrition, productive capabilities and fertility rates.
There are many moving parts to the Glenisa Angus operation which Ben juggles at any one time. Glenisa itself is home to the stud bull herd and stud bull complex, hosting the annual bull and commercial heifer sale. This year’s sale is set for September 5th, offering a mix of spring twoyear-old bulls, yearling bulls, approximately 50 commercial heifers and 6 to 8 registered stud heifers. After that, Ben also manages the recipient herd of Glenisa bred cows, ran at the Springdale property.
The recipient herd
As part of the genetics program at Glenisa Angus, they offer the opportunity to implant an embryo into one of their recipient cows. The calf is reared at Springdale and returned to the customer at the point of weaning. The recipient program at Glenisa Angus is intricate and carefully managed. Ben’s wife, Sam, is heavily involved in this process, utilising a computer system to log embryos upon their arrival to the Glenisa breeding complex, track the availability of cows as well as logging their 30day pregnancy test, their 90 day pregnancy test and their calving report. All cows in the recipient program have lifetime traceability utilising this
system, meaning the team at Glenisa Angus can look back at any cow’s calving record at any point in time.
600 cows bred at Glenisa make up the recipient herd, bred specifically to thrive in the sometimes tricky conditions presented by the Granite Belt region. There is also significant investment into nutrition and pasture improvement practices by Ben and the team at Glenisa Angus, to maximise the recipient herd’s productivity and to give the recipient cow the best possible chance of a successful pregnancy. In fact, Ben pinpointed nutrition as his number one focus for ensuring the success of both the stud cattle and the recipient herd.
Pasture improvement leads to breeding success at Springdale
This focus led Ben to an ongoing pasture improvement program at Springdale, assisted by Pursehouse Rural agronomist, Simon Piccini. From his early days at Glenisa, Ben saw the potential in pasture improvement to aid in the productivity of the Glenisa herd at their Springdale property. For the past three years, Ben has undertaken the program laid out by agronomist Simon, working across multiple paddocks, and seeing clear returns in carrying capacity at Springdale. The pasture improvement program has three main focus areas, to remove and compete with dominant unproductive grass and paddock weed species such as lovegrass, coolatai grass or mat rush, spike rush or blady grass to name just a few. To generate income and increase productivity at the point of pasture preparation, and to correct nutrients and other soil and paddock issues that may be of concern.
Below left: Glenisa Moe S154, top price bull at the 2023 Glenisa bull sale, selling for $48,000. Image provided by Glenisa Angus
Below right: Glenisa bred angus cows, part of the recipient herd at Springdale.
Here is what Pursehouse Rural Agronomist, Simon Piccini, had to say on the pasture improvement program at Glenisa Angus;
In the case of Glenisa Angus, there were issues with Lovegrass and unproductive areas covered in Blady grass (Cogongrass). Other issues were regrowth timber, evasive weeds such as blackberry and areas that were undrained, wet and unusable.
Timber and blackberries were treated, controlled and removed and the dominant grasses and blady grass were chemically controlled, then the area was planted to annual forage crops such as, oats, ryegrass and forage sorghums through the summer period. These paddocks were soil tested so the correct nutrients could be replenished and soil amendments applied where needed to ensure the best productivity from the paddocks during these “conditioning” stages. Often this is repeated in a 2-3 season cycle and at some stage these paddocks are often conventionally cultivated to help level the paddocks and return them to a condition where paddock operations (mustering / weed control / fertilising) could be done without damaging equipment, due to the rough nature of
these sites.
When we are happy with the condition of the soil, and the paddock is acting as a profitable paddock rather than a low-production area on the property, the paddocks are planted to high productive pastures. These pastures are varying mixtures and combinations of Premier Digitaria, Rhodes Grass, Continental Fescue, Phalaris, Ryegrass, Creeping Bluegrass, Panic Grass, Arrowleaf Clover, White Clovers, Sub Clovers, Red Clovers, Plantain, Lucerne, Chicory and Vetch. Planted as combined or individual species to maintain weed control in the establishment phase, these paddocks have a very strict and restricted grazing program over the first 6 – 12 months to ensure establishment and seed set.
Once the permanent pasture is established, it is managed well to ensure no overgrazing. It is monitored for nutrient requirements and other practices, such as mulching or slashing, are implemented to remove rank pasture growth and to ensure ground cover. This whole process usually takes 3 – 5 years depending on the severity and original condition of the paddock.
Below: drone shots provided by Simon Piccini, Pursehouse Rural Agronomist
Left: Recipient herd on improved pasture at Springdale.
Middle: 55ha of Pioneer MegaFeed forage sorghum for silage production at Greenwood Right: Example of the lane way system at Springdale from the air
So far, a total of 3000 acres are under improved pasture, doubling their carrying capacity and assisting in improved productivity, particularly in the recipient herd, helping them meet weight targets set for both cows and calves.
Nutrition is clearly at the forefront of operations at Glenisa Angus. When it comes to the recipient herd, the wet cows are often prepped to take on their next embryo so maintain or gaining weight where possible is of the utmost importance. Improved pastures and good nutrition has helped wet cows reach targets of 200g per day weight gain on the approach to embryo transfer. Her weight is logged at the point of implantation and then again at her 30 day pregnancy check. Ben is clear that from implantation to 30 days, nutrition is crucial.
A close second to nutrition for the Glenisa Angus recipient herd, is stress reduction. Again, from the outset of his time with Glenisa Angus, Ben undertook projects which would aid in reducing stress when handling the recipient herd. The main project being a complete redesign of the lane way system.
A complete redesign for stress-free handling
The lane way system redesign introduced smaller paddocks, and connected properties, ensuring cattle had just one lane way direct to the yards as opposed to moving through multiple fences. Ben started by creating calf-proof fencing at Springdale to protect the recipient herd and the calves they are carrying on behalf of Glenisa Angus clients.
The recipient herd is checked twice per day when calving. Should a cow get into distress whilst calving, the new lane way system means she can easily be moved to the yards utilising just one lane way. At weaning, the lane ways are used by cows moving between the paddock and the yards, minimising her stress.
In the lead up to implantation of her embryo, a recipient cow can be brought in up to four times in a 10 week period. The linked lane way system is used to minimise her stress during this time. The cattle are not pushed but rather allowed to walk themselves back from the yards to the paddock she is familiar with, using the lane way system, minismising stress and giving her the best possible chance of a successful embryo transfer. At the most recent embryo transfer program undertaken by the Glenisa Angus team, 360 cows in three mobs were included in the program, with 290 eggs successfully implanted over two days.
It takes a committed team to keep the wheels turning at Glenisa Angus. Ben and Ced credit the entire team and their commitment at all levels, especially for the vets and vet students on staff who assist with a variety of jobs from feeding bulls or working the yards to pregnancy checking cows or prepping cows for their embryo transfer. In total, Glenisa Angus have three to four vets on rotation at any one time. But over the years, Ced has found it increasingly difficult to attract and maintain large animal vets. This is a problem he finds increasing across the industry, specifically in a large animal practice. For the embryo transfer work, specific to the Wise Repro enterprise, it means extended periods of time spent on the road, servicing clients across the country. As a work-life balance prospect, this is becoming less appealing to the next generation of vets. The current set up for Wise Repro and Glenisa Angus is as follows, bulls are collected at the existing breeding complex at Glenisa. Semen is then shipped up the Rocky Repro at Rockhampton, another arm to the Wise Repro enterprise, where it is distributed to individual straws and sent out as needed. Embryos are also transported to Glenisa for the embryo transfer program. The innate need for road or air transportation of genetics leaves the entire program at the mercy of couriers, which can, in some instances, lead to disappointment.
A centre for excellence – Wise Repro at Glenisa
The combination of unreliable couriers and the strain of travel on vets, led Ced and the team at Glenisa Angus to come up with a plan for an improved breeding centre at Glenisa that would have the facilities to collect, process and store semen, have its own lab for embryo transfer work and embryo storage, have more pens to house bulls, a conference room for training and
accommodation for vets and vet students. What began as a small idea to improve the set up of the breeding centre at Glenisa, quickly snowballed into a world-leading centre for breeding excellence.
Work is now under way on the new breeding centre at Glenisa. It is hoped that the new facility will bring the many arms of Wise Repro and Glenisa Angus together. It will enable vets to work from the centre and cut down on time spent on the road. It is also hoped that the centre will attract vet students and talent in the industry, interested in developing their skills. Currently, students are limited by a lack of facilities allowing them to actively work in embryo transfer as more often than not, the work concerns a client’s embryo worth a considerable amount of money. But the new breeding centre at Glenisa will allow for students to gain experience in the field without compromising the services offered to clients.
Work is progressing rapidly at Glenisa with the goal to complete the majority of work in time for a field trip of producers from across the world, visiting as part of the World Angus Forum’s AngusTREK in May.
From humble beginnings as a stone fruit orchard, to a centre for excellence in cattle genetics, Glenisa has come a long way, propelled forward by Ced Wise’s commitment to elevating the cattle industry, helping cattle producers and workforce talent to achieve their goals, leading excellence to the Australian bovine genetics industry. His passion is catching, spilling over to the entire team at Glenisa Angus and Wise Repro, from Farm Manager Ben, committed to improving the Glenisa herd from the ground up, to the wider Glenisa Angus and Wise Repro team at all levels, who continue to build for the future of the cattle industry in the form of the Wise Repro Breeding Center at Glenisa.
Left: Striving for excellence and kicking goals, Sam Lobegeiger and Ced Wise receive award on behalf of Glenisa Cattle Co., first place in Class 40 of the RNA Paddock to Plate competition awarded at the 2024 Ekka in Brisbane.
The competition judged commercial steers from Queensland's top producers, with Glenisa Angus prevailing victorious in Class 40, and placing highly in a number of other classes awarded on the night.
Image provided by Glenisa Angus
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StockProtecta
Big innovations for simple solutions, Darling Downs producer Beau Skerrett, has developed a portable panel attachment for easier and safer livestock management in the yards
Oftentimes we come across a very simple solution to a universal problem and think, why didn’t I think of that? Well, for Darling Downs producer, Beau Skerrett, he did just that. Upon returning to Australia after some time spent training horses in Argentina, he went about setting up a round yard to break horses in. The round yard was never intended to be a permanent fixture, so Beau was looking for a temporary lightweight alternative to the heavy rubber traditionally used to line a round yard. Yet, no such alternative could be found.
That particular conundrum was around 15 years ago, fast forward to around three years ago, when Beau and wife Nicole moved to their property Blue Hills, located just outside of Warwick QLD, they again set about building cattle yards for their mob of angus cows and round yards for their horse breaking and training business, and still no lightweight alternative to the heavy cumbersome rubber could be found.
Though, this time Beau was in a position to do something about it. Alongside friend Rory, who just so happened to run an Australian owned business manufacturing recycled plastic goods, Beau set about putting together the early sketches for the first prototype of the StockProtecta.
What emerged from those sketches was a lightweight, durable attachment to a portable panel, made from recycled plastic. The StockProtecta will attach to any standard portable panel being 2400mm long and around 600mm high with specially designed features to prevent warping in the sun. Three StockProtectas can fill any portable panel, blocking out distractions and gaps for easy animal handling in cattle yards, sheep yards, loading ramps, round yards and more. Weighing in at just 8kg, and without the need for screws to affix them to panels, they are easy to move and rearrange for any yard set up.
The use-cases are endless for the StockProtecta. Beau and Rory have tested the StockProtecta for eight iterations of the design, making changes to perfect their suitability in practical situations on farm. They have been trialled by feedlots, cattle studs, and by Beau himself for his equine training set up. Simply lift and hook onto the panel rail, the StockProtecta can be rearranged to suit different livestock work in the yards, blocking the stock at eye level to minimise stressful handling in the yards, and to protect workers and even working dogs operating from outside of the portable panels, protecting them from wayward kicks.
By November 2023, Beau saw an opportunity to showcase the StockProtecta to the masses at one of the biggest meetings of cattle producers in Australia, Beef Week. Applications to the Evoke
Ag Pitch in the Paddock were open, and Beau was one of just eight finalists who would get the opportunity to present their pitch at Beef Week 2024 in the hopes of winning $10,000 for their project. Beau came up against some tough competition, it was widely thought that Beau’s idea was the most simple and effective solution for a real on-farm problem. Though he was eventually pipped to the post by winning pitch, Agscent, the experience was immeasurable for Beau.
Now, Beau is ready to take the StockProtecta to market. We can’t wait to see this simple, effective, Australian solution become commonplace on farms across the country. If you would like to find out more, you can reach out to Beau directly via Skerrett Equestrian online.
Article and photography by Jessica Rea
BALLANDEAN STATION
Guardians of the flock, Maremma program thrives at Ballandean Station
Article and photography by Jessica Rea
A pastoral history at Ballandean Station
Settled in 1840 by Robert Ramsay Mackenzie, Ballandean Station has stood the test of time, operating on Queensland’s Granite Belt for 185 years. Some may say not an awful lot has changed in that time, the granite traprock country remains rugged in part, but suited to the rearing of livestock.
By 1844 Mackenzie was forced to file for bankruptcy and so the leasehold of Ballandean Station was passed to the then Station Manager, Henry Hayor Nicol. Nicol left his mark on the station by building one of the finest homesteads in the district, complete with covered ceilings, early French doors, mud rendered walls, a detached kitchen, milking shed, cream house, stables and a blacksmith’s forge. He was also the first to plant grape vines from France, an early investor in the vineyards that the Granite Belt would be widely known for in years to come. By the 1870s Ballandean Station covered some 133,202 acres and in 1872, part of the land, including the homestead and surrounding buildings was sold to Robert Reid Cunninghame Robertson. It would then pass hands to James Fletcher in 1889 who cleared much of the run and built the first dingo fence on the property in an attempt to protect the Ballandean flock from predators.
Pictured: Walcrow Me-Go
Ballandean Station remained in the Fletcher family until 1973 when it was purchased by Tim O’Neil. By this time the homestead and outbuildings were in a dilapidated state. O’Neil undertook a restoration project to bring life back to the old station. Upon the completion of the restoration project in 1979, the station was sold to Warwick Freeman. Ballandean Station remains owned by the Freeman family to this day.
Leaving their mark, the start of the Maremma project at Ballandean Station
Each owner of Ballandean Station has left their mark upon the property, from the grand homestead and outbuildings to dingo fences to restoration projects. Today, Ballandean Station is managed by Wayne Wayte, on behalf of the Freeman family, where he too sets about leaving his mark on the legacy of Ballandean Station with a project he hopes will influence pastoral operations across Australia.
For many years, pastoralists at Ballandean Station have battled against predators and their destructive influence on livestock. James Fletcher had the right idea back in 1889 with his early dingo fence, however, the vast size of the station and the rugged terrain made fencing extremely difficult to erect and maintain, not to mention expensive. Although exclusion fencing remains part of the protection program of the sheep, it was clear that something else needed to be done, to prevent massive losses occurring and to make sure the sheep operation at Ballandean Station remained viable.
Station Manager, Wayne Wayte, is an experienced stockman and renowned breeder of working Border Collies under his prefix Walcrow. Wayne could see the devastating effects the wild dogs
were having on the livestock, recalling in 2018 the lambing percentage was decimated by wild dogs. It was clearly time for action.
For many years, Wayne had been fascinated by the capabilities of Livestock Guardian Dogs, especially the Maremma. So, in 2019, after much research and consideration, Wayne picked up his first two Maremma pups from "Old Munbilla", near Grafton, named Old Munbilla Freeman and Old Munbilla Buddy.
A brief history of the Maremma
The Maremma, or Maremmano-Abruzzese Sheepdog to use their full name, were originally bred in Italy and have been used for livestock protection for thousands of years, with a strong instinct to protect their livestock from predators such as wolves or bears in regional Italy. Their characteristics are derived from a mix of the protection dogs of the Abruzzo region, a mountainous to coastal region located to the north east of Rome, and the guardian dogs of the Maremma Plains of southern Tuscany.
Physically, the Maremma is selectively bred for a protective role, typically working in packs of three to four to deter predators via their presence, with physical confrontation being a surprisingly rare occurrence. Though, if it did come to confrontation, their large size and muscular build would give the Maremma every advantage, with a male Maremma typically weighing between 35kg and 45kg and standing 65cm to 73cm at the shoulder, whilst the female Maremma weighs in at 30kg to 40kg, standing a little shorter than her male counterpart at 60cm to 68cm at the shoulder.
Image provided by Ballandean Station
The early training of the Maremma pack at Ballandean Station; bonding and learning
The rugged and undulating country of Ballandean Station, along with the presence of wild dogs in the area, called for extra measures of protection for the flock on the station. This led Wayne Wayte to invest in his first pups from "Old Munbilla". What would ensue was a series of life-changing lessons in the training and management of the livestock guardian dogs as well as the evolution of a deep passion for Maremmas in Wayne that has grown over the past six years.
Over the years, Wayne has learned the intricacies of how the Maremma operates. Though his lessons were a little on the unconventional side, the lack of literature or training available to owners in Australia led Wayne to take his own path to learning. Wayne lived out in the bush with the dogs, he observed their behaviours from living with them, walking through the grazing area them, and fending off potential threats to their livestock. For Wayne, a strong relationship between him and his dogs emerged, one that he would nurture with his own methods of training for years to come.
For Wayne, the clear pathway to success with working Maremmas is in the bonding process from 8 to 16 weeks of age. This is a critical period in any pup's life, one at which they learn and lay the foundations to foster the traits for a trustworthy guardian dog.
The Maremma is a highly intelligent breed, one that will mature quickly and use their independent thinking when allowed to do so. From 8 weeks of age, Wayne will introduce the pups to livestock to begin the bonding process. The stock are carefully selected, with Wayne choosing stock that will not
overrun the young pup and knock their confidence but also stock that will not be too timid. Usually pups are bonded to maiden ewes that will become part of the flock the pup will go on to protect throughout their life. A Maremma will form a very strong bond to what they consider “their” livestock. Thus, in the early stages of training, owners should choose livestock that will remain with the Maremma throughout their training and into their working life. Though the primary bond of the Maremma is to their livestock, human contact remains essential in the early days, making the pups comfortable in the company of people. As with any working dogs, the training of working Maremmas is far removed from that of a pet, and something that should be kept in mind in the early stages of their training, with the ultimate goal being to raise a dog that displays attentive, trustworthy and protective behaviours towards their livestock.
Between the ages of four and six months, their training dictates more and more time spent in the holding paddock with their livestock, settling near them and reinforcing positive social behaviours. At this time strong protective instincts are developing though the pup is still not old enough to protect their livestock on their own. When the pup reaches their ‘teen years', at 6 to 12 months of age, they may become playful with the stock. It is imperative that this is corrected. By 12 to 24 months of age, a Maremma can be turned out with their bonded stock as well as additional livestock, and can include older mentor Maremmas. At Ballandean Station, Wayne runs a team of 13 Maremmas, with a ratio of one dog to 50 sheep. The accepted standard is one dog per 100 sheep, but the rugged, undulating terrain at Ballandean Station calls for a higher dog to livestock ratio, to allow the Maremmas to perform effectively.
Pictured: Old Munbilla Buddy
Calling on more training for producers
What became very clear to Wayne as he embarked on his Maremma training journey was the evident lack of literature or discussion on effective training of working Maremmas in Australia. This is not surprising as so many Maremmas end up re-homed or fail, oftentimes due to failures in their training at a young age. Wayne found one publication on the subject, which laid the foundations of training for guardian dogs, the Best Practice Manual for use of Livestock Guardian Dogs (2010) by Linda van Bommel, written for the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre. The training principles Wayne relied upon thereafter lent on his own experience as a dog breeder, stockman and past training of working dogs.
Today, Wayne takes the time to post examples of his working Maremmas at Ballandean Station to social media. For Ballandean Station, since introducing the Maremmas as one part of a larger project to protect their flock from wild dogs, sheep losses have ceased completely, and their lambing percentage is up to 125% which they hope to increase by improvement to their ewes and breeding stock.
Below: Wayne Wayte, Ballandean Station Manager. Image provided by Ballandean Station.
Learning from across the globe: back to the origin of the Maremma
To expand on his knowledge on the breed and their training, this year Wayne will travel back to the origin of the Maremma, to Italy to learn more from producers that have utilised the working Maremma for centuries. Wayne will also visit with individuals in Italy who have developed specialised training programs for producers in Italy. They work with owners to choose the right pup, developing individualised training strategies and continue working with owners to ensure the success of the working Maremma in their operation. Currently, no such program exists in Australia, though there is a clear need for experienced handlers to share their knowledge with producers who look to take on a working Maremma for the protection of their livestock.
Wayne’s passion for his dogs and advocating for the working Maremma is clear to anyone who spends time at Ballandean Station, or for those who come across his posts on social media. It is a passion that has developed based on the needs of the station and the livestock that have come to depend on their guardian dogs for protection. This wild dog issue is a growing concern for producers on the Granite Belt, as well as nationally. We look forward to following Wayne’s journey with his training program and advocacy of Working Maremmas.
Above: Image provided by Ballandean Station
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Cultivating Quality in Every Bite at Glen Niven
For Wayne and Marissa Thomas, apple growing has been a labour of love for over 30 years at their property, Glen Niven, on Queensland's Granite Belt. Today they continue to invest in new apple varieties and on-farm practices to better their organic enterprise
Article and photography by Jessica Rea
Built on a long history of apple and grape production, the Stanthorpe region of Queensland is famous for its horticulture. The cooler climate, comparative to the rest of the state, is conducive to apple production as well as a whole host of other agriculture pursuits, split distinctly into their regions surrounding the town. Farms to the south of Stanthorpe are home to the grape growers and stone fruit producers due to the sandy loam soils. The western farms of Stanthorpe are suited to raising sheep and the Eastern farms are generally more suitable for cattle production. But it is the farming country to the North of Stanthorpe, where we find ourselves at Glen Niven, one of a number of small family-operated farms, set upon rich, volcanic soils, primed for producing the very apples the Granite Belt and Stanthorpe are famed for.
For over thirty years, Wayne and Marissa Thomas have been producing apples, alongside a rotation of other vegetables, on their property Glen Niven, near Stanthorpe. When the couple were first starting out at Glen Niven, an array of vegetables, including zucchinis, silver beets
and cucumbers, funded the purchase of the first apple trees. Together, Wayne and Marissa planted the 8000 trees which now make up their apple orchard, home to a range of apple varieties including red ladies, pink ladies, granny smith and the newest variety, developed by the DPI in Stanthorpe, Kalei.
The apple trees at Glen Niven typically, in a favorable season, produce 150 bins of apples per ha, during the picking season beginning in late January. Though famous for their apples, the Stanthorpe region actually straddles a thin line between being suited to apple production and not, with apple trees being rather temperamental. Conditions have to be just right, for the trees to thrive and produce a decent yield of fruit throughout the season, not too humid and not too much rain, warm days up to 25 degrees, and cool nights. Production at Glen Niven is supported by Pursehouse Rural Stanthorpe, and Sales Manager Sam Marino, who assist in sourcing custom fertiliser blends as well as conducting sap leaf tests and soil tests to ensure the right nutrient mix is supplied for the horticulture enterprise at Glen Niven
Below: Wayne Thomas (left) and Sam Marino (right) check apple trees at Glen Niven
A fourth-generation apple producer, Wayne Thomas has ridden the wave of change in the horticulture industry which influences everyday operations at Glen Niven. The introduction of irrigation to the apple orchard, though helpful in most instances, means that the trees, sometimes, do not set down roots quite so far, meaning they now have to be supported by cables.
Aside from infrastructure changes, Wayne and Marissa were forward thinkers when it came to moving to organic produce. 10 years ago, they made steps towards gaining their organic accreditation, which they still hold today. They were pleased to discover gaining and maintain organic certification didn’t mean making too many changes to what they were already doing. The main change they undertook was moving away from a reliance on chemical to clean up the weeds in the orchard. This meant accepting that it wasn’t always going to look like a manicured park at Glen Niven, but the apples they produce
are all the better for it. They developed their knowledge around beneficiaries, allowing insect predators to build and pests to control themselves, as well as utilising weed matting to aid in weed management on the farm.
Today, Wayne and Marissa are just one of a handful of produces on the Granite Belt that hold organic status. This has meant a lot more time hand weeding or on the mower for Wayne. In the long run though, it has opened up a new, all be it more niche, market for their produce as apples and veggies from Glen Niven find their way to resellers in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne via a marketing agent. From the farm gate you can even pick up a bottle of Glen Niven Organic Apple Juice, containing only Glen Niven apples, and juiced at a local plant, and we can confirm it is delicious. We snuck a bottle back to the Pursehouse Rural Stanthorpe office to try for ourselves!
Wayne and Marissa Thomas in the apple orchard at Glen Niven
Wayne and Marissa keep operations small on the whole, taking on the majority of the work at Glen Niven themselves and hiring seasonal assistance from local pickers and backpackers. This covers everything from maintenance of the apple trees and vegetable crops, mowing, weeding, watering and bug checking to picking and packing the produce on site. Monitoring the apple trees and their needs is precision work; watering at the right time at the correct rate, when to apply fertiliser, constantly checking for diseases. It’s labour-intensive work but clearly a labour of love for Wayne and Marissa.
This year at Glen Niven, the apple crop is supplemented by a healthy capsicum crop from 16,000 capsicum plants yielding around 3kg of capsicums each. This was a late edition to Glen Niven this season, as last years apples were troubled by disease and Wayne and Marissa wanted to hedge their bets, supplementing production at Glen Niven with a capsicum crop. It turned out to be a bet that is paying off, with a healthy capsicum crop in the ground by mid-September 2024, ready for picking from January through to April or May, whenever the first frost arrives on the Granite Belt. For the apple trees, they flower in September, ready for picking from January also, when they ripen to a tempting red colour.
The Red Lady variety of apples are a clear favourite at Glen Niven, with her deep red colour and fresh crunch, but she’s not the only resident variety that Wayne and Marissa have invested in. The latest addition to the variety roster at Glen Niven is one developed especially for the region, by the DPI at the Applethorpe Research Facility. Kalei was developed to be black spot resistant, and tolerant to Altermaria disease and western flower thrip, all of which can be a hindrance to apple producers in the region. Kalei is a vibrant red colour, sweet and juicy, all of which makes the product appealing to producers and consumers alike.
For Wayne and Marissa Thomas, their dedication to the horticulture industry on the Granite Belt has been a career long investment of time (and money) tending to their apple trees over a span of 30 plus years. Today, their organic apple and vegetable enterprise stands out as just one of a handful on the Granite belt, highlighting their commitment to producing top quality produce, from their family to yours.
Prodigy Prodigy
G r o w t h e g r a s s t h a t m a k e s
t h e m o s t o f t h e w h o l e s e a s o n .
Grow A pAStUrE thAt mAkES thE
moSt of thE whoLE SEASoN
Farmers in Northern NSW and Southern Queensland often face the challenge of choosing between annual ryegrasses for quick establishment and Italian ryegrasses for extended feed into the season. However, annuals can fall short of exploiting the whole season, while Italian ryegrasses come at a higher seed price, and depending on the sowing time, they can lack early production compared to annuals. Farmers end up effectively paying for second-year potential that they may never see.
Introducing Prodigy, an Australian-bred annual ryegrass by AGF Seeds that is combining the best of both worlds. Perfect for environments with potentially good shoulders to the season but harsh summer and autumn periods. This means achieving two years out of Italian ryegrass is unexpected, or early sowing times are unreliable. Prodigy shines with the quick establishment of annual ryegrass and the late-season feed quality of Italian ryegrass. Selectively bred in Australia, Prodigy is designed to thrive in your local
conditions, providing an economical solution without compromising quality. With the blurring of the lines between Annual and Italian, AGF Seeds refers to Prodigy as an Annual-Italian Ryegrass to differentiate its fit on a farm between Annuals and Italians.
Imagine your pastures flourishing with high-quality feed late into the season without having to hope for a second year of growth to justify the spending on seed. Prodigy has shown incredibly positive results in paddocks and independent trials, such as the Pasture Trial Network and the Forage Value Index by Dairy Australia. Farmers like you have already experienced the benefits of this innovative variety.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to enhance your pasture production at a palatable cost of production. Choose Prodigy for this planting season and experience the difference it can make. Contact AGF Seeds or Pursehouse Rural today to learn more and secure your Prodigy supply.
GrAIN GrowErS crUcIAL to SorGhUm SUccESS
‘Trials for miles’ could be the catch cry of the Pioneer Seeds grain sorghum trialling program in the 2024/25 season. With over 115 commercial scale side-by-side trial strip sites located from the Liverpool Plains up to Central Queensland, grain sorghum growers are getting a first-hand look at hundreds of hectares of key hybrids in the Pioneer A Series grain sorghum range.
According to Sam Gall, Pioneer Seeds Territory Sales Manager for Northern NSW and the Liverpool Plains, this greatly expands the opportunity for growers to make their own assessments of performance against other hybrids that they might normally grow.
Sam said that grain sorghum growers often switch hybrids or sow more than one hybrid for a range of reasons – including to take advantage of seasonal opportunities, to spread risk at critical times such as flowering, or to compare how new genetics perform against known varieties that they have grown before.
“Pioneer Seeds is committed to supporting growers with their decision-making regarding hybrid selection, and a sideby-side trialling program of this scale positions many farmers, their neighbours, agronomists and consultants with the opportunity to see for themselves how hybrids stack up against each other” he said.
Last season’s strip trialling was particularly focused on the newest hybrids in the A Series range; A88, A50,
and A90.
“With the early results coming through, these hybrids have all demonstrated high win percentages against current leading hybrids. Growers who are seeing the comparative results in the bin so far are telling us they have greater confidence in their decision-making regarding A Series hybrids as they start planning for the summer crop season later this year,” Sam said.
The team at Pioneer Seeds said they appreciate the support of the many growers who participated in the strip trials. “The benefit of this support is immense. Without growers, the opportunity to test hybrids throughout key growing environments is lost, and that would be to the detriment of the industry overall” said Sam.
Sam also noted,
“Importantly, the data obtained in the sideby-side trials will support the results from Pioneer Seeds STRIKE trials, GRDC NVT and other industry trials, giving an even greater picture of hybrid performance potential”.
For more information about Pioneer Seeds grain sorghum hybrids, growers can contact their preferred reseller or local Pioneer Seeds representative.
(L-R) Ben Vercoe, Sam Gall and Ivan Calvert - Pioneer Seeds
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HASTEN tackles the challenges of effective weed control by breaking through the waxy plant cuticle, crucial for enhancing herbicide penetration. Its key mechanism, lipophilic diffusion, involves Ethyl and Methyl Esters that help transport active ingredients directly through these protective barriers.
HASTEN also contains non-ionic surfactants which ensure thorough coverage and adhesion of the herbicide on the plant surface, mitigating the risk of evaporation and runoff. By maximising your herbicide contact time and minimising wastage, HASTEN transforms every herbicide application to a precise and efficient endeavour.
HASTEN’s ability to extended herbicide contact time on plant surfaces by slowing the evaporation of spray droplets is delivered through it esterified oil in its formulation and further enhances retention by preventing the crystallization of water-soluble herbicides, guaranteeing precise and targeted application. Additionally, HASTEN aids in maintaining adhesion of spray droplets to plant surfaces, significantly reducing runoff and wastage, and improving the results of your herbicide.
With HASTEN, uniform wetting and spreading on plant
targets are guaranteed, thanks to its ability to increase the coverage of spray droplets. This ensures that every part of the plant receives the necessary herbicide treatment for killing weeds. Moreover, HASTEN's formulation ensures dispersion and forms a stable emulsion in tank mixes, delivering consistent and reliable performance with every application, thereby offering growers predictable results and maximum efficiency.
“The most expensive herbicide you’ll ever use is the one that doesn’t work, so you should ensure you have confidence in all the products you put in your tank. HASTEN Spray Adjuvant’s unique formulation is a proven performer that is well recognised in the industry for improving the efficacy of a wide range of herbicides. HASTEN’s proven results over the years empowers growers to fill their tanks with a quality Australian made product, at the same time as filling them with the confidence that they’re putting their best foot forward in the war against weeds” says Jesh Smith, Agronomist and VICCHEM Territory Manager.
To discover more about how VICCHEM’s HASTEN Spray Adjuvant can improve your herbicide performance, contact your local Pursehouse Rural store or visit VICCHEM.COM.AU
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Visit pacificseeds.com.au to find out how these varieties can help take your wheat to the next level.
pUrSEhoUSE rUrAL IN
thE pAddock
Pursehouse Rural have been busy over the past few months, out and about on farm and at field days, hosting and learning with growers and producers from our agricultural community.
Friday 21st March, students from the Abbotsleigh School in Sydney visited the Pursehouse Rural Quirindi branch. Over the week the students took a trip to the Quirindi region to explore career opportunities in agriculture.
This opportunity for the students was initiated by Windy Station, for women/girls looking to pursue careers within the agricultural industry. The students toured Windy Station before arriving at Pursehouse Rural Quirindi where Kim Sizer (Agronomist), Haylee Murrell (Graduate Agronomist), Olivia Meier (Merchandise Sales), and Lara porter (Marketing) spoke about their roles within the company.
GUNNEDAH YOUTH EXPO
In early April, Pursehouse Rural attended the Gunnedah Youth Expo. in Gunnedah. The Pursehouse Rural team had the opportunity to speak with students in year 10, 11, and 12 about the various career opportunities that Pursehouse Rural and the agricultural industry has to offer.
In March, Pursehouse Rural Allora hosted producers from across the Darling Downs at their Seasonal Workshop. The workshop spanned most of the day, with in-depth talks from representatives from leading agricultural suppliers. Discussions focused on maximising profitability and efficiency for producers on farm, with updates on seed and product availability, effective chemicals for weed management and improving infrastructure for easy animal handing in the paddock and in the yards.
AGLINK NORTHERN BROADACRE AGRONOMY CONFERENCE
The annual AgLink Agronomy Conference gathered Agronomists from the AgLink group across NSW and QLD to complete a series of workshops and learn about new products to the industry. On March 18th, 19th, and 20th, Agronomists travelled to Newcastle, NSW, to listen to various speakers about new products, complete a series of workshops, and hear from mentoring graduates.
Above right: John Redden, Agronomist PHR Coonabarabran
Left: Speakers at the Allora Seasonal Workshop. From left, Ben Ree AgSolutions, Will Bazley, AGF Seeds, Malcolm Sailsbury, Nufarm, Marty Kerlin, Pursehouse Rural Allora and Cam Griffin, Datamars AU.
Left: Seasonal workshop at Pursehouse Rural Allora, welcomed producers from across the region.
Above: students from Abbotsleigh School explore a career in ag with Pursehouse Rural Quirindi
Pursehouse Rural Agronomists gathered in March, to attend the Premer Field Day. The field day is organised by local growers and aims to celebrate the hard work, dedication, and achievements of grain growers on the Liverpool Plains with awards presented to growers as well as farm tours of award winning crops. This year attendees were even treated to a spot of polo at the historic Bundella polo grounds.
Pictured right: Pursehouse Rural agronomists attend the 2025
INNISFAIL GROWERS INFORMATION EVENT
On Monday 31st March, Pursehouse Rural Innisfail held their first Growers Information Evening at the Innisfail Bowls Club. The event was led by Craig Young, Head of Sales & Marketing, and Bruce Nixon, Operations Manager, who shared presentations on industry insights. The evening welcomed around 60 growers.
CSD x PURSEHOSUE RURAL PADDOCK WALK
On Monday 24th February, Pursehouse Rural teamed up with CSD and Bayer for a XtendFlex Variety Trials Field Walk. Local growers headed to ‘Drayton’ on the Liverpool Plains, to showcase the varieties containing XtendFlex on farm.
Pictured upper left: Haylee Murrell, Graduate Agronomist Pursehouse Rural Gunnedah, with CSD Representatives Natalie Aquilina and Rachel Russell Pictured lower left: CSD variety trial
Pictured right: Pursehouse Rural employees at Innisfail event (from left) Johnnie Meloni, Josh Alvero, Elizabeth Kippin, Neil Stoter, Bruce Nixon, Craig Young, Sam McCarthy, Dave Doolan, Tricia Park, Peter Finitsis
Below
TULLY GROWERS INFORMATION EVENT
The following night, Tuesday 1st April, Pursehouse Rural Tully invited local growers to attend their first-ever Growers Information Evening. The evening was held at the Tully Country Club and welcomed over 60 guests from 6pm for dinner and beverages. The evening was also attended by Craig Young, Head of Sales and marketing, and Bruce Nixon, Operations Manager for another successful event. Thank you to everyone who attended these first growers' evenings and making them both such a success!
Premer Field Day, a highlight to the agronomy calendar.
Below left: Bruce Nixon, Operations Manager, and Warren Ash, Branch Manager Pursehouse Rural Tully
right: Tully growers attend information evening hosted by Pursehouse Rural
Pictured left: Innisfail growers attend information evening hosted by Pursehouse Rural
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Growing Together with Bruce Nixon
Get to know Pursehouse Rural’s Operations Manager Bruce Nixon
Bruce Nixon was born and bred on the land, on a family property in Dulacca, Queensland. It was the cattle and mixed farming operation in which Bruce was raised that formed the backbone of his passion for agriculture. After leaving his hometown of Dulacca, Bruce made the 430km move over to the Gold Coast, where he dabbled in agritourism before eventually moving to the rural town of Quirindi, New South Wales.
After managing a broadacre and beef cattle property in Quirindi for 10 years, Bruce started working as a customer service representative at Pursehouse Rural Quirindi, with a focus in animal health.
“I started there serving customers, sweeping floors, and going out on farm and speaking to local growers”. Bruce’s background and commitment to the livestock and cropping industry helped pave the way to his success and connection with local growers.
Bruce’s experience on his family farm in Dulacca and his role on a farm in Quirindi has given Bruce the ability to understand where growers and customers are coming from and connect with them, having been on both sides of the fence.
Throughout Bruces’ role as a Customer Service Representative, he enjoyed his delivery duties as they offered the opportunity to get out on farm, supplying the highest-quality products and services to the local growers in the Quirindi region. Bruce soon progressed to the Branch Manager role in Quirindi where he continued to develop strong relationships with customers across the Liverpool Plains. From here Bruce secured the Operations Manager position at the end of 2024.
“Working on farms has given me the ability to understand where customers are coming from, as a farm operator, what challenges you face and what you need from a service provider and how Pursehouse Rural can help” says
Bruce.
Bruce has gone from strength to strength in each role he has pursued during his career with Pursehouse Rural, taking each new adventure in his stride.
As Bruce has been with Pursehouse Rural for 10 years, he shares what he enjoys most about working with in the Company, “I enjoy the people. It’s a family-type atmosphere and everyone is really good to work with and I think everyone has the same morals, that’s agriculture in general. It’s the people you get to work with, some of the best people around.”
Although having been raised around livestock, Bruce enjoys all aspects that the industry has to offer. For Bruce, it is the lifestyle, the people, and the communities that make agriculture so rewarding. “I enjoy all aspects of it, there are different rewards in every sector.”
The best advice that Bruce has been given is to “treat people how you want to be treated.” Bruce shared that he has gone through life doing that everywhere. “I think to me, that is gold”, says Bruce.
Be sure to say hi to Bruce next time your in the branch!
If you would like to read more about Bruce visit our website at pursehouserural.com.au
Article by Lara Porter
“It’s just that sense of achievement in having grown something and being able to share that with people” says
Bruce.
Bruce Nixon, Operations Manager Quirindi NSW
brANch profILE: INNISfAIL & tULLy
Pursehouse Rural extends their footprint in northern Queensland with acquisition of branches in Innisfail and Tully.
Article by Jessica Rea,
Late last year, Pursehouse Rural were pleased to announce the acquisition of three branches in the far north Queensland towns of Innisfail and Tully. Previously operated under the GF Rural and Frank Lowe and Sons brands. This latest acquisition represent growth in the Pursehouse Rural business as their branch footprint extends further north than ever before.
The move signifies strategic growth in the Pursehouse Rural business, to extent their offerings to the agricultural supply sector in Innisfail and Tully. Pursehouse Rural’s presence in agricultural distribution continues to grow rapidly over the past 12 months with an expansion of six additional locations in Northern New South Wales and Southern Queensland in July 2024.
“We at Pursehouse Rural are proud to welcome the Frank Lowe & Sons Rural Supplies and GF Rural Supplies employees and customers into our
growing network,” said Pursehouse Rural CEO, Scott Pursehouse. “With deep respect for the legacy built by the Lowe Family, we are committed to maintaining the same high standards of service and expertise that customers have come to expect while introducing new opportunities to enhance our service offerings. Together, we are stronger, and we look forward to serving the Innisfail and Tully communities for many years to come. On behalf of everyone at Pursehouse Rural, we wish the Lowe Family all the best in their future endeavours.”
The new Pursehouse Rural branches become part of a 35-branch network extending across Northern New South Wales and Queensland. Pursehouse Rural branches support customers in the farming enterprises in several ways through the supply of agricultural chemicals, solid and liquid fertilisers, planting seed, animal health supplies, feed and produce and general agricultural merchandise.
photography by Josh Alvero
Pursehouse Rural is also part of the buying group, AgLink Australia, alongside 15 independent agribusinesses. AgLink Australia and the businesses who make up the group, strive to connect and strengthen independent businesses who support farmers across Australia, establishing a leading agribusiness retail network. All agribusinesses within the AgLink group adhere to the values of collaboration, efficiency, trust and innovation.
Pursehouse Rural are committed to maintaining the high standards of service to their customers in the agricultural sector, established by the Frank Lowe & Sons business in Innisfail and the GF Rural Supplies Business in Innisfail and Tully. Pursehouse Rural will endeavour to limit any disruption to customers during this transitional period as the GF Rural supplies branches become Pursehouse Rural branded branches and the Frank Lowe & Sons site at Innisfail will become Frank Lowe & Sons Rural Supplies, operated by Pursehouse Rural. All branches of Pursehouse Rural adhere to the Company values
of respect, reliability resilience and responsibility. Your local Pursehouse Rural branch is committed to assisting your farming activities in any way possible, from the supply of agricultural chemical, seed and fertiliser, rural merchandise, feed and produce to agricultural services including agronomic advice. Your local Pursehouse Rural branch is primed to assist in your future farming success.
Pursehouse Rural are also committed to helping the communities in which our branches are located. We make every effort to support local community groups in which our customers are also invested. These can include, junior sporting clubs and schools, show societies and community events.
The Pursehouse Rural Group are excited to engage with the communities and customers at our new branch locations in Northern Queensland and are proud to be expanding the reach of the Pursehouse Rural branch network. We look forward to growing together for success in Innisfail and Tully QLD.
Below: Pursehouse Rural Innisfail employees, (from left) Neil Stoter (Merchandise Sales), Anna Keith (Merchandise Sales), Johnnie Meloni (Merchandise Sales), Mandy Adams (Finance and Credit Officer), Sam McCarthy (Administration), Tricia Park (Assistant Manager), Peter Finitsis (Branch Manager). Not pictured: Dave Doolan (Agronomist), Lorraine O'Brien (Administration), George Bugeja (Merchandise Sales), Josh Alvero (Merchandise Sales), Elizabeth Kippin (Merchandise Sales) and Lloyd Lynn (Merchandise Sales)
Financing made easy
Conservation of capital budget
An alternative to your traditional bank overdraft. The seasonal crop inputs facility is dedicated to funding your seed, fertiliser, and agri checmicals. With a fixed repayment after harvest it will help preserve your cashflow during the growing season.
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DLL will fund the full cost of your seed, fertiliser and agri chemicals. No deposit required.
With a maximum term up to 15 months, you can choose the repayment timing that best suits your cashflow after harvest.
Fixed repayments, suited to your cashflow, allows you to better budget for the upcoming season.
Allora
Lot 1 Forest Plains Road 07 4666 2800
Cecil Plains 4 Warfield Avenue 07 4567 7900
Clifton 58 King Street 07 4612 4800
Inglewood 86 Albert Street 07 4652 1499
Pittsworth Cnr Mallard & Box Streets 07 4693 6800
Proserpine
Sarina 34 Homebush Road 07 4859 3700
Stanthorpe 93a Folkestone Street 07 4681 2055
33 High Street 07 4653 1400
Innisfail 9/13 Charles Street 07 4061 1066 Tully 59394 Bruce Highway 07 4068 1002
