Country Journal, Week #64 - March 28, 2022

4000 COPIES DISTRIBUTED WEEKLY IN THE SOUTHERN DOWNS REGIONAL COUNCIL AREA + DAILY JOURNAL & STANTHORPE RECORD

CountryJournal Week commencing 28th March 2022

$300,000 question

Raising the bar

Best ram in the shed

The not-so-great outdoors

Encephalitis risk in our backyards and farms Ben Boland editor@thedailyjournal.ink

S

hooters, hunters, fishers, people who enjoy the great outdoors, and particularly those who get out into the bush, have a new risk to contend with - Japanese encephalitis.

This virus is new to Australia and affects pigs, horses/donkeys and water birds, particularly wading birds.

Thus far it has been found in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, with the Northern Territory is on alert.

Japanese encephalitis cannot be directly transmitted between mammals, so there is no risk

involved with eating pork--it is repellent and utilising mosqui- times. effectively transmitted via to coils at events are great Additionally, hunters and mosquitoes. preventative measures. particularly stalkers actively Although the vast majority As the main mosquitos work to minimise their scent of people who contract which spread Japanese enceph- and most insect repellents Japanese encephalitis will have alitis, Culex sp., are most active smell. Moreover, pigs (feral mild or no symptoms, a small at dusk and dawn organising and domestic), horses/donpercentage of people experi- shoots to avoid these times is keys and water fowl are comence inflammation of the also advisable. The obvious mon across many areas people brain – which can kill. As such problem, however, is dusk and hunt, fish, and bushwalk. Not it is critical in the field, at the dawn are the prime hunting continued on page 8.... range, and at home that people take appropriate precautions.

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COUNTRYJOURNAL

Strange times $12 billion industry Farm groups are urging the U.S. Agriculture Department to allow farmers the ability to plant on acres set aside for conservation, to help fill the absence of Ukrainian corn, wheat, and sunflower oil amid Russia’s invasion of the country. With Ukraine in the top three producers of a number of grain lines, and war not compatible with harvest, the issue is considered urgent.

In a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack on Wednesday, seven agriculture lobbying organizations representing U.S. farmers, feed producers, grain exporters, millers, bakers, and oilseed processors asked the USDA to provide flexibility to farmers to plant crops on more than 4 million acres of “prime farmland” currently enrolled in the Farm Service Agency’s Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) without penalty.

The program pays farmers to fallow land for a 10-year period.

According to the federal government's Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences' (ABARES) March Quarter Agricultural Commodities Report, the value of Australian horticulture this financial year is set to reach the second highest on record. It's given a forecast figure of $12 billion for 202122.

That's based on expectations that most fruit and vegetable production over summer and autumn will be plentiful, supported by favorable seasonal conditions and low water prices.

Its predictions for the year after are even more rosy with a figure of $12.5 billion reported, a rise of 4 per cent.

ABARES said if stronger international demand and less supply chain disruptions were realised, as in the faster recovery scenario, the value of production for export focused industries will be higher.

Country briefs Drying out

Rainfall index

Many fruit and vegetable businesses have resumed at least near-normal trading, following the wild storms and flooding that impacted South East Queensland and Northern New South Wales earlier this month.

The widespread flooding even forced the closure of the Brisbane Produce Markets for four days, with many traders struggling to make alternate arrangements to sell, or even store, their fruit and vegetable produce.

Almost all of the businesses at the market lost produce that was stored on-site at the time, as water inundated the premises - while other supplies were affected and had to be sent to other states to be sold, which had an impact on their markets too. Most are back up and running, but supplies from the growing regions may be reduced or quality affected for some time.

A report by the Queensland government has revealed that for the first time in about two years rainfall probability values have risen to comparatively high levels for most of Queensland.

The chances of the Southern Downs exceeding the long-term median is now 60 to 80 percent, but not in the Southern Downs where they remain a comparatively low 50 percent.

The dry conditions experienced over much of Queensland, has been due to the unusually northern position of the sub-tropical ridge of high pressure this year. This pattern would not normally be expected to persist beyond spring, suggesting some easing of the dry conditions are possible within the next one or two months.

However, over the Southern Downs and northern NSW the probability of exceeding the long-term median for the period between October and December remains comparatively low at close to 50%.

Connecting with Council

MARYVALE

You are invited to connect and engage with Southern Downs Mayor Vic Pennisi and Councillors as they travel to venues across the region to meet with our community.

Come along and share your challenges, triumphs and innovative ideas to help make Southern Downs a great place to live, work, play and stay.

Please RSVP Friday 01 April 2022 on 07 4661 0359.

WEDNESDAY 6 APRIL 2022 From 9am Maryvale Community Hall 33 Taylor Street, Maryvale

Southern Downs online

A great place to live, w k, play and stay.

A great place to live, w k, play and stay.

Funding for this activity is through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangement (2018), a joint arrangement between the Australian and Queensland Governments.

Elizabeth Voneiff

editor@thedailyjournal.ink

Rubbish decision Many rural SDRC residents were blindsided to receive a letter from SDRC informing them they are now in the bin collection area and just days later to receive wheelie bins.

The letter suggested the change was not optional.

Many residents do not want a bin service as their driveways are long, steep and rough and highly unsuitable for wheelie bins. The Country Journal spoke to residents who wrote to decline but instead received two wheelie bins. As such the Country Journal contacted SDRC requesting more information and were told that the wheelie bins collection will be free until June and Council encourages feedback from residents.

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There was plenty of news likely to interest rural residents of the Southern Downs and Granite Belt this week beginning with the shock resignation of three well-known personalities from the Saleyards Advisory Committee.

Councillors were blindsided by the news on Wednesday that Ross Fraser, Matt Grayson and Jim Wedge all emailed the SDRC to resign last week, information the CEO had not shared with Councillors, the Mayor or the Deputy Mayor before the ordinary meeting this week.

Rural ag had a win with a large dog-breeding kennel approved in Leyburn this week, albeit with numerous conditions to improve the health and safety of the canines.

The tension between animal husbandry and urban sensitivities is being played out in several spheres. The approval of dog breeding on a property in Elbow Valley is being contested in Planning and Environment Court, the subdivision of rural blocks for higher density occupation adjacent to agricultural land is highly contested between Councillors.

On the bright side, the Big W distribution centre will continue to operate until 2026 at least with the Woolworths Group keen on remaining in the Southern Downs. The Warwick Show and Rodeo was a huge success and one of the few ag shows not to close down this year due to ongoing COVID

concerns. The Kilcoy Show is in this category, unfortunately.

Lifeline is offering grants of $1000 to $2000 for residents of this shire who have suffered from drought which is pretty much everyone. For more information visit facebook.com/lifelinesouthwestregion/posts.

Finally, a Warwick teen was killed in a car accident on the New England Highway near Glengallan last Tuesday. He was the sole occupant of the vehicle which hit a tree and ran through a fence. CPR on the scene failed to revive the young man. Investigations continue.

For all of this, and much more, don’t forget to pick up your copies of the Daily Journal and Stanthorpe Record wherever newspapers are sold locally

The Daily Journal

CO

Around the shire

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Show jump design - women raising the bar Leonie Fuge editor@thedailyjournal.ink Member of Equestrian Australia Showjumping Committee and Official Accreditation Facilitator, Terri Langdon, has been waving the flag for women show jump course designers for many years.

“It’s a world of boys,” said Terri who has extensive experience in designing showjumping courses as well as showjump judging. "There are not many female course designers and we need more.”

Terri is the creative brains behind the showjumping courses held in ring one at the Warwick Show last weekend where showjumper Hayley Mons took first, second and third place on different horses in the 1.35m show jumping event, and 17-year-old Simone Sorenson took 5th place.

Terri said that with each jumping course she designs she aims “for both horse and rider to be challenged according to their education levels and come out more confident in their ability.”

After many years on the showjumping circuit, Terri remains a strong advocate for female course designers and encourages women to take up the baton.

“It’s a rewarding job,” said Terri who was mentored by Graeme Watts, a leading Australian show jump course designer. “It is an opportunity to give back and see another generation progress through levels in show jumping.”

“We are a small community, and we are employed most weekends.”

However, Terri did admit that course designing isn’t for the faint-hearted, as it involves heavy lifting and comes with its unique pressures and responsibilities.

“Building the course requires focus and dedication, lives are in my hands,” said Terri.

“When I am out there building, I am in my own world.”

Terri explained that each ring is different, and there are many factors to consider.

For example, the recent floods in Warwick had caused damage to the arenas, and according to the President of Warwick Show and Rodeo Society, Dorothy Jephcott, “the arena’s base needs to be redone as it is now uneven.”

Terri explained that issues like an uneven base create hurdles for building a course, and a boggy landing impedes a horse’s momentum. “All these technical difficulties and more

must be considered in the design.”

Even so, Terri at 62 years of age is showing “women can do

this,” and as more women join the designer ranks, “jumping courses designed by a woman will become normal,” said Terri.

Yoie Thomas travelled from Roma to complete her Jump Course Design practicum under Terri's mentoring and has shown the tenacity of a younger breed of women taking on the baton.

Photos show Jump Course designer Terri Langdon with her trainee Yoie Thomas who created the course for place winners, Hayley Mons and Simone Sorenson to compete.

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Best ram in shed Leonie Fuge

editor@thedailyjournal.ink

The Warwick Show was another opportunity for farmers to enter their prime ‘after drought’ sheep for Championship judging.

After an extended season of dry sunny skies, the months of rains have coated paddocks with a consistent fresh layer of grass that has provided good feed for sheep, and the results are already being noted.

Warwick Show Chief Steward Lex Brackin said, “This year’s standard is excellent, good quality sheep are coming through. With more feed, stock grows better.”

Sheep stud owners had their best up for judging and Lex said, “All breeders are improv-

ing, and the breeds are getting better all the time.”

Lyndon Frey from Inglewood told the Daily Journal that he has “three sheep studs and had entered 22 sheep in the competition.”

“We are the only Dorset Horn breeders in Queensland,” said Lyndon who explained that “the Dorset Horn breed is an old English breed bought out on the ships.” According to Heritage Sheep Australia, there are only 19 registered flocks in Australia.

Sheep farmers like Lyndon are in recovery from the recent years of drought and are in the process of rebuilding stock.

“Before the drought, we had 500 sheep,” said Lyndon, “By end of 2019, we only had 200 sheep on the stud.”

With sheep farmers focussed on rebuilding their flocks, the price of lamb has soared. Lex told the Daily Journal that he had never seen anything like it and “prices are the best they’ve ever been.”

“Fat lambs now sell for $200-$250 each where two years ago they were selling for

COUNTRYJOURNAL

$130. The market has doubled."

In a time of replenishing stock, many sheep farmers came to the Warwick Show hoping for their prime sheep to place as champions, and build more recognition for their sheep stud.

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COUNTRYJOURNAL

Krista’s patch.... Fun Farm Fermentation Krista Bjorn

krista@smallnewspaper.com.au

H

arvest is kicking into high gear on the farm as fruit ripens in the orchards and root veggies in the gardens are ready for pulling.

This week I harvested fat yellow quinces, glossy black elderberries, and multi-coloured carrots and added them to the haul I got from the markets of long green beans, ripe white peaches, firm red cabbages, and fragrant lemons.

With all that produce to process, I turned to tried and true preservation and fermentation recipes to make the fruits and veggies last as long and deliciously as possible.

I made rosy quince paste for cheese platters and toasted sandwiches, elderberry cordial sweetened with maple syrup, more spiced white peach jam, and we ate the first lot of carrots fresh dipped in creamy hummus.

The green beans I topped and tailed then set to ferment with garlic and dill weed in a salt

brine. They will be wonderfully salty soon, an ideal snack served alongside a wedge of camembert.

The red cabbages I sliced thinly and massaged with sea salt before stirring in a generous spoonful of caraway seeds.

Then I pressed the whole lot into a sterilized glass jar, allowing the juices to cover the cabbage pieces, topped the concoction with a glass weight and it’s now bubbling nicely on the kitchen table becoming purple sauerkraut.

The lemons I also sliced, but this time into rounds about 10mm thick. These I layered with salt, pressing them gently to exude the juice and let it mingle with the salt to form a potent brine. The lemons were also weighted and covered and will rest next to the sauerkraut for a couple of weeks until they become preserved lem-

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ons. These I will use in tagines, chopped finely in sauces and dressings, or slipped into a glass with gin and tonic water for a delightful G&T. This weekend I will harvest more elderberries and black nightshade berries and ferment them with fresh lemongrass to make a fizzy and delicious drink called a shrub. Shrubs are wonderfully refreshing on these warm autumn days and well worth the seven-day wait.

Preserved Lemons Ingredients: 3 large unwaxed lemons, washed 3 Tbsp sea salt Directions: Slice lemons about 10mm thick.

In a sterilized glass jar (about

1 litre), layer lemons and salt, pressing down firmly after each addition to release juices.

Top with salt and press down to ensure the lemon slices are covered with the brine.

Top with a weight (a sealed plastic bag filled with marbles works great) and cover the jar with a clean dish towel or loose lid. Store in a cupboard or dark spot for 2 weeks, checking every day to ensure the lemons are below the brine so they don’t mould.

When done, store in fridge and use as needed, topping up with lemon juice if required to keep the preserved lemons covered by brine.

Photo shows fermenting green beans, red cabbage, and lemons by Krista Bjorn.

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COUNTRYJOURNAL

Numbers back in yardings Contributed by: Ross Ellis McDougall and Sons The numbers were back as agents yarded 1302 head for the weekly sale.

The yarding was an 80/20split between lambs and mutton. The lamb job was firm for the heavier lambs and hoggets and easier for the mutton with one major processor not operating for mutton. The yarding was again drawn from South -West , Tenterfield , local areas making up the balance. Lambs topped at $231 to average $152.18($7down), hoggets topped at $196 to average $162.57($6down), ewes topped at $185 to average $117.09($2down),weth-

ers topped at $178 to average $143.36($21up), lamb rams topped at $640 to average $178.47($55up). The total yarding averaged $145.37 down $1.20/head on last week. The highlight was the sale of a very good type Dorper ram lamb selling for $640 much to the delight of his owners!

Phil & Gabe Byrnes sold Dorper wether lambs 48.6kg to GR Prime for $207, ewe lambs 43.9kg to restockers for $194, ewes to restockers for $182 David Fletcher sold Dorper wethers to Eversons for $178 Angle C P/S sold Merino wethers with a quarter wool skin to Eversons for $148, $136and $104, rams for $48 Frank Goodwin sold Dorper lambs 60kg to Thomas Foods for $229 Ralph Snars sold Dorper lambs 53.75kg to Thomas Foods for $215

Robert Goldsmith sold Dorper x lambs 47kg to Tonys Supa Meats for $207 Martin Roberts sold Xbred lambs 47.6kg to Thomas Foods for $197, Dorper x lambs 49.1kg to Ashtons Butchery for $208, 43.5kg to GR Prime for $193 Robinson & Elder sold Dorper x lambs 54.5kg to Thomas Foods for $211, 43kg to Young meats for $192, 54.5kg hoggets to Eversons for $192, 54.5kg ram lambs to Thomas Foods for $201

Rory & Kathy Frost sold 40.5kg Dorper lambs to GR Prime for $182 Banbri P/L sold Dorper lambs 47.6kg to Gr Prime for $194, 40.8kg to Elliots Butchery for $162, 50kg hoggets to Eversons for $196, 45kg hoggets to Eversons for $142, 45kg ram lambs to Eversons for $153, 47.5kg ram hoggets to restockers for $140 Warboys Family sold Xb lambs 39kg to Elliots Butchery for $150, 37kg and 34kg to restockers for $159 and $124, 42.2kg lambs and ram lambs to Eversons for $145

simply pig hunters, but anyone who enjoys the great outdoors now has an additional risk to manage. Finally, the flooding and generally wet summer many parts of the country have experienced mean their mosquito numbers are particularly high.

Minimising the chances of contracting Japanese encephalitis while hunting and fishing can easily include loose long-sleeved clothes and insect screens on tents. Additionally gloves and face nets are good investments. There are also a few insect repellents which are low or no odour which may be worth investigating.

The Australian government advises that the best repellents include Diethyltoluamide (DEET), oil of lemon eucalyptus, or picaridin.

While there are two vaccines for people which protect against Japanese encephalitis, since this virus is new to Australia, both access and price are problematic at this point.

Hunters and those who are regularly in areas with feral pigs can also play a critical role in reporting possible Japanese encephalitis in these populations. Specifically, if you find a litter of dead piglets which have not been killed by a predator or there is an unusual absence of suckers but adult numbers are stable, please contact the National Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888. Photo by Ben Boland.

03MH024Tue_CJ_Fon

Encephalitis... cont’d from page 1

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Rabbit hunt Ben Boland

editor@thedailyjournal.ink Rabbit hunt This recipe comes from a Les who is now 85, who in turn received it from a shearer’s cook in about 1952. As shearers will strike if the tucker is not up to scratch its history means it’s a great recipe! The history is also indicated by the fact as it only uses ingredients which are common, non-seasonal and do not require refrigeration.

As a picture tells a thousand words the Country Journal asked for a photo to go with the recipe. So, I had to go hunting – sometimes life is terribly tough!

After work I got the .22 out and checked the scope (the last

time I went out I missed everything) but as normal the issue was the ‘nut behind the butt’ not the rifle so I drove to a nearby farm to get some bunnies. Last time at the farm I had seen only two flashing tails so I was not confident but if you are not out there you won’t get anything!

On the drive in at a large stack of logs I saw about five rabbits but they were all simply flashing tails, but at least that was more activity than last time I had been there. When I reached the very old and decrepit cottage I again saw lots of flashing tails but after a quite stalk I nailed two kittens.

The arrangement with the land owner is to shoot all rabbits and at least they will be tender!

After having a chat to the farmer, I slowly and quietly approached the log stack and

FOR LOCAL AGRBUSINESS SERVICE

COUNTRYJOURNAL

squatted behind a tree. After being bitten by numerous mosquitoes I was feeling like I was prey rather than predatory and about to call it quits when a good size young rabbit bounded out.

Which made three rabbits enough to make the recipe.

Rabbit in Port Serves 2-4 people Ingredients 1 rabbit cut into quarters Plain flour with salt and pepper to roll rabbit in 1 large onion sliced 1TBSP oil 1TBSP dark plum Jam ¼ cup Worcestershire Sauce (some people may prefer less) ½ cup of tomato sauce or puree ½ cup of port ½ cup of hot water Method 1) Taste port to check it has not gone off 2) Roll rabbit quarters in the seasoned plain flour 3) Fry the onion in the oil until tender, then place the onions in the casserole dish 4) Seal the rabbit quarters in the pan used for the onions, then place the quarters on the bed of onion.

5) Simmer the rest of the

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ingredients until they thicken.

6) Pour the simmered ingredients over the rabbit cover with lid or alfoil and cook in the oven (180C for 40minutes).

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Branch Manager Rural Products Livestock & Wool Livestock & Wool Rural Real Estate Residential Real Estate State Wool Manager

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COUNTRYJOURNAL GENERAL KNOWLEDGE CROSSWORD

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Cairns, Queensland (8) 2 What was the surname of Billy the Kid (6)

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eggs, beaten and fried and often served folded round other ingredients (8) Name the second book of the Old Testament (6) Which sword is used chiefly for thrusting (6) Who was Shakespeare’s Prince of Denmark (6) Name a hard, durable, resinous wood (4)

Seahorses are the only known species where the male gets pregnant and gives birth, not the female! Adults can range in size from 1.5cm to 35cm and spend their lives eating, in courtship and pretending to be invisible. There are 47 species, perhaps more; we just haven’t found them yet!

CLUES: All: each and ... one (5) Black (French) (5) Bring together (7) Climbing plant (3) Colour (3) East nor-east (3) Not pro (3) Slice meat to serve (5) Stay alive (7) Vietnamese capital (5)

11

D:5, K:3, L:16, S:19, T:6, W:8, Z:11

1

2

DOWN 1 Pool chemical 2 Exhausted 3 Palm fruit 4 Cease 3

BIYWORD

ACROSS 1 Contributes 5 Layer of paint 6 A fan of 7 Abstruse

E V E E N E R E Y

Solve the crossword.

Each answer has four letters.

4

5 D

K

L

S

T

W

Z

6

5

3

16 19

6

8

11

7

N N N O O R

R S U V V Y

SOLUTIONS

040 S U R V I V E

QUICK THINK

E E E H I I

A C C E E E

5 Coat, 6 Into, 7 Deep.

H DOWN: 1 Acid, 2 Done, C A © 3 Date, 4 Stop.

C O N N O I

19 6

040

040

Build it yourself using the clues and each of the twenty-four letters once only to form ten words: five across and five down. A key word (bold clue) builds on the letter set in the grid.

V

SUDOKU

040

BIYWORD

are shown in the right-hand cells. Create remaining values using clues in centre cells.

© Auspac Media - meq0050

Sir Sit Tan

CURIO

E-QUATIONS

Some values are in the right hand cells.

050 Create remaining values using clues in centre cells.

Letters A to Z have a number value. Some

Z-T S-L Z+D Z+W K+K K+D D+T

Oil Only Pan Ram Ran

13 Which dish consists of

Letters have a number value

D K L S T W Z

C W N H U T

21 22

divisions of a book (8) Which expression describes that which is second-hand (4) Which term is given to an Australian returned soldier (6) To have concurred, is to have done what (6) What do we call a service person who runs away from service (8)

P A N A E I

Find the following words in the grid. They may be read in any direction, even diagonally.

Some letters are used more than once.

20

3 What are the main

M A R M R S

18

SUDOKU

22

10

T I L I V E

No. 739

21

9

S I A E Y E

Solution CROSSWORD

19

8

O N L Y R S

D A T I N G S G R I G R E E E E O R A D O M H E N A M E L M E A L E N T E T U T I L E

18

7

general Western use (6) Port Macquarie lies on which NSW river (8) Name another word for a rupture (6) Which term describes an ancestral line of a dog, etc (8) Who exercises ruling power in a kingdom during the absence of the sovereign (6) Name the legendary treasure city of S America (2,6) What is the death of a circumscribed piece of tissue (8) Which glassy substance is applied to the surface of metal, pottery, etc, for protection (6) Which electronic device performs countless tasks when programmed (8) A special natural ability or aptitude is known as what (6) What is the body of an aircraft called (8) What is titanium dioxide more commonly known as (6)

A B I C U O H A S R N I A E N P E D G E N T Y E L D R E C R O S I S A E M P U T E R I E T S E L A G E R K R

14

6

040

A R T H E E R E T O N E X C O D F U S

11

5

QUICK THINK ACROSS: 1 Adds,

10

4

GS

9

3

X84 -040

8

2

E-QUATIONS D:5, K:3, L:16, S:19, T:6, W:8, Z:11

7

1

MINI WORD FIND

C W N H U T

ACROSS 1 Which numerals are in

739

MINI WORD FIND O S T M P N I I A A L A L R N Y E I M A R Y V R E S E E S I

10

COUNTRYJOURNAL

11

The animal behind the $300k question Ben Boland

editor@thedailyjournal.ink

As we in the Southern Downs pay $318,556 per year to maintain the rabbit fence via the Darling Downs-Moreton Rabbit Board without a cent of Queensland government support and this funding is currently under review it is pertinent to explore the history of rabbits in Australia.

Rabbits were introduced to Australia with white settlement as both a food source, game animal and to remind the settlers of home. However, rabbits adapted incredibly well. Indeed, there spread across Australia is the fastest of any mammal anywhere in

the world. Not only are rabbits widespread they soon became a huge pest and continue to be a major problem for both conservation and farming costing Australia between 600 million and 1 billion dollars each year.

While rabbits have been hunted for both meat, pelt and fur (e.g., Akubra hats) during the second World War Rabbits were primarily hunted for their skins which were used to make cordite, a military explosive.

Locally there is a rabbit museum at the old Texas rabbit works.

Why rabbits are such a pest Unlike humans who have strong binocular vision, a design feature which gives us depth perception and thus enables us to hunt, rabbits have 360-degree vision with very limited depth perception.

Grass does not run away. Furthermore, rabbits' ears not only rotate 270 degrees they also swell in hot weather and contract in cold to adjust a rabbit's body temperature.

Additionally, rabbits are very efficient at absorbing water from their food, as evidenced from both their ability to live in arid environments and the fact they pass hard dry pellets rather than cow pats or horse apples. Finally, as heavy snow is rare in Australia, rabbits can breed year-round.

Breeding like rabbits The average size of a rabbit litter is usually between 4 and 14 blind kittens which results after a short 28 to31-day gestation.

Male rabbits can reproduce as early as seven months of age, and females as early as four months. This means in one year a single female rabbit can produce as many as 800 children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Thus, it is unsurprising rabbits have traditionally been associated with fertility and spring such as the Easter Bunny Rabbit trivia The reason rabbits break their camouflage and flash white tail when startled is to communicate with land-based predators they have been spotted and have taken evasive action.

On the topic of camouflage there is more than some truth in the old hunting joke: what looks like a rabbit? A stick.

Basically, it's saying don't worry about O U T C A trying to catch me F E A R F I'm gone. This strategy is also used by F U M E S some deer and bird E X P O S species.

Other rabbit facts include: bunnies have an average lifespan of five to 10 years, but the oldest living recorded rabbit was 17.

Rabbits can jump almost three feet high and 10 feet long.

Rabbits' teeth like other rodents' never stop growing and are kept 'short' by continual use. Historically a rabbit's foot was not used primary a good luck charm but as a makeup brush. Hopefully with the claws removed first. The concept of a lucky rabbit's foot comes from the American South. Personally, it seemed a strange concept as the rabbit who lost the foot was not lucky, Photos show a 1934 Queensland rabbit gat and the current fence.

Pencilhead solutions

N S I V E G S D

W F N E B A M I

S O H R R R E S

I U A M E L L T

N L L A A I L I

S U T U T T E P T C S L

T L I R H P H K H B A D

D L N E A U O S A U S A

Wordfind: Hidden Phrase: “Diluting with water makes it worse.”

Spot the 5 Differences: 1. Hair changed

A R A N K T R E B T R Y

M L I F E R E B S W A S

O C N R W I S S O O W G

U U S E O D O U R D A R

N S T E N C H I B R Y O

2. Eyebrow moved 3. Finger missing 4. Sleeve changed 5. Elbow missing

T K A K A L C H E M Y S

S I N G A L T Y A R D S

I N T M O L E C U L E E

12

COUNTRYJOURNAL

Ag day at Picot’s Farm Krista Bjorn krista@smallnewspaper.com.au

T

he paddocks at Picots Farm filled with eager learners for National Regenerative Agriculture Day 2022.

The goal of the day was to energise landowners in taking the next steps on their regenerative agriculture journey, and was sponsored by BEAR Biologics, Carbon8 and Condamine Headwaters Landcare Group Inc. One of the speakers was Graham Manual who runs a Soil Carbon sequestration project with his wife Erin at their Kooroongarra property.

They launched the project themselves, going it alone as they grazed livestock using holistic and regenerative models.

In June 2021, the Clean Energy Regulator (CER) approved their 120 hectare carbon project.

Mr Manual talked about his experiences on going alone and setting his own project, sharing some of the bumps in the road that other farmers may face in setting up a project of their own.

The interactive presentations on the day provided ample opportunity for questions and discussions over issues of soil microbiology, decision-making for profitability, links between farming practices and nutrition, the role

that mindset plays in wellbeing and farm management, and marketing and value-adding.

“Was great to host Regen Ag Day on the farm,” a Picots Farm spokesperson said.

Picots Farm is 3000 acres and managed holistically.

“We are working with nature to improve our environmental, social and financial wellbeing,” they explained.

“Our livestock are grazing on grass 100% of the time and are moved to fresh paddocks based on our grazing plan. We use low stress stock handling.”

The next field day was supposed to be held in Killarney in March, but had to be postponed twice due to boggy paddocks.

They hope to reschedule for April and plan a farm walk and demonstration with Paul Graham who will speak on natural sequence farming, soil health and pasture cover, landscape rehydration, and regenerative land management.

For more information contact C o n d a m i n e

Headwaters Landcare Group Inc.

Photo shows attendees of the field day at Picots Farm.

Photo by SQ Landscapes

A s lo n g as p eo pl e h ave liv ed in t he G ra ni t e Bel t, t hey h ave lo oke d fo r w ay s to d epi c t t h e w orl d arou n d t he m . Th i s exh ibi t i on ch arts ou r a rt h ist o ry th ro ugh ti me .

SHO WING MARCH 11 – MAY 1, 2 02 2

S T A N TH O R P E R EG I O N A L A R T G A LL E R Y W E E R O O NA P A RK W EE K E N D S 1 0 A M – 1P M T U E SD A Y – F R I DA Y 10 A M – 4 PM