Aglife - December 2016 edition

December 21, 2016

‘Augering’ well GrainRite’s Marie Jaeschke is enjoying the flow-on effects of a good season for the region’s farmers. The Jaeschkes, of Tarranyurk, manufacture and sell self-propelled augers throughout Victoria, South Australia and NSW. “We’ve had a lot more sales, with crops generally good throughout the region,” Mrs Jaeschke said. She said the confidence in the WimmeraMallee farming community was pleasing following a couple of tough seasons. My Patch columnist Mick Phelan provides a harvest update in the lead-up to Christmas, see page 36. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

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Leader: Harvest to consolidate region 95 Nelson Street, Nhill CALL 03 5391 2106

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BY DEAN LAWSON

ictorian Farmers Federation president David Jochinke hopes a bumper harvest this summer will provide a Christmas ‘shot in the arm’ for regional centres that rely heavily on a healthy agricultural sector.

Mr Jochinke, who farms at Murra Warra between Horsham and Warracknabeal, said small rural townships that had, in particular, felt the full impact of hard years should get a boost from considerable harvest activity.

“I believe this harvest represents a great opportunity for towns that directly service the broadacre farming community to consolidate,” he said.

“The results of a successful harvest run through regional communities and provides clear understanding of how agriculture drives the regional economy.

“Seasonal jobs are up and going. It’s great to have a chat to young kids on bunker sites who are making some

money and generally getting exposed to the benefits of agriculture.

“I also bumped into a truck driver who had been out of work for a while who has managed to pick up a job during harvest. He will now have money in his pocket for Christmas. There’s a significant flow-on effect.”

Mr Jochinke said the impact of promise turning into positive results would be widespread.

“Hopefully this year represents just reward for three years of toil, because to be honest, it’s been pretty tough beforehand,” he said.

“I think many farmers are already having their Christmas because harvest itself is a time when they get reward for 12 months worth of work.”

Mr Jochinke said the Christmas mood in regional farming communities was generally buoyant, but the sheer size of the Wimmera-Mallee harvest was already leading to people getting tired.

“It’s going to be a long harvest, and when it’s all said and done there

“Everyone needs time off to celebrate the reason why we all farm. And I’d say for most farmers, with regards to this Christmas, it will be much more joyous than the past two”

David Jochinke will be a lot of exhausted people out there,” he said.

“It’s been a long season, from sowing and a lengthy management period trying to nurse good crops through threats from extreme variables in weather and disease, to getting it in the bin. I’d be tipping that in our area at least it will be an early January fin-

– David Jochinke

ish, which has traditionally signalled a good year.”

Mr Jochinke urged farmers, despite having ‘itchy feet’ and being desperate to get as much of the harvest done as quickly as possible, to find time for a break at Christmas.

“Everyone needs time off to celebrate the reason why we all farm,” he said. “And I’d say for most farmers, with regards to this Christmas, it will be much more joyous than the past two. I hope people can take a break, recharge the batteries and then concentrate on finishing it all off.”

Mr Jochinke said grain-growers had generally first concentrated on stripping barley and canola before trying to harvest valuable legumes.

“Beans and lentils are pretty much ready to go now in much of the Wimmera and at the moment lentils are among the most valuable cross-margin crops in the ground. But from now on they are also the most vulnerable to frost,” he said.

“Lentils and chickpeas are the crops everyone desperately wants to get off.

Chickpeas are probably a good two to three weeks away and wheat usually matures later.”

Mr Jochinke said he was hearing reports of a considerable amount of localised frost damage, mainly in barley and wheat crops.

“When I say that, many crops are still looking good but they have potentially lost a lot of ‘cream’,” he said.

“But it is still one of the better summer harvests we have had in the past three years.”

HAY THERE: Sisters Matilda and Polly Douglas have embraced the festive spirit by creating a Christmas display with hay bales at Beazleys Bridge on St Arnaud-Ararat Road. Matilda said this was the first year the pair had decorated bales for Christmas. “They have been a real hit, with passers-by and locals frequently stopping to take photos,” she said. “The festive spirit can get a bit lost in the chaos of harvest so it has been fun to create something that keeps the Christmas cheer going for everyone who drives past.”

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Vol. 18 No. 27 Vol. 18 No. 41

FREE PUBLICATI FREE ON PUBLICATION

Wednesday, January Wednesday, April 13, 2016 20, 2016

WAGGING TO HEALTH: Horsham’s Jenna Young and Tyler McRae prepare to take their maremma sheepdogs Oskar and Molly for their nightly walk on the banks of the Wimmera River.

The Heart Foundation is promoting April as the perfect time for people with dogs to get active and healthy by walking their pets or joining walking groups.

Picture: MICK SHANNON

International pla n

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BY DEAN LAWSON

al training for the ongerenong College Australian domestic wants to market for seas inquiring in 127 years. provide agricultural the past couple training of college wants The application years and it basically for overseas students to open got us thinking. from as early the Commonweal to win a place on international arrivals. the doors for “The college board as next year as part th Register of has now listed In- it as of a long-term stitutions and Courses Mr Goldsmith said one of the key expansion plan. for Overseas the college might items to work have Students, CRICOS, towards.” to wait several represents The

the first year and keep growing from there. But before we reached figures of up to 200, we would have to months before college will apply one of inknowing if its vest in resources to register as the biggest and boldest moves application was an international which would include Vocational training in the college’s history. suc- staffing, education provider cessful. classrooms and at the end of this month Longerenong College College general “In the ideal world “It would be another equipment. is near Dooen, in a move that, manager John Gold- north of if successful, is we would be pillar in securHorsham, and is smith confirmed likely to ing the college operated by looking to have overseas a team was adding Skillinvest, as one of the premier bolster student numbers. significantly final touches students in agricultural formerly Workco.

2017,” he said. to a submission institutions in Australia.

It also has the It provides vocational to the “For a start we would potential to dramat- Federal Government.

“It has the training, ofpotential to be looking for ically expand the fering Advanced “As the world becomes be ground-breaking.

Diploma of Agricul- a small cohort of about college’s direction smaller, par- ture and There are obviously 20. and dynamics and Certificate IV in “We want to take several institutions open the door for ticularly in agricultural industries, Agriculture small offering steps to get ucation greater tertiary-based higher edit courses as well as is logical that we it right and we don’t a raft of for international investment in take want to comprostudents but the region. to bring international that next step ricultural-based educational other ag- mise the quality very few in the of training. students to the vocational area. services.

The college has It has 90 students We “We want to get see that provided agricultur- Wimmera,” he said. as being studying for diit right and see how a niche. ploma or certificate “We have had things develop from “It also opens the students from overqualifications full there. potential to draw time and it is in “The intake of in more multi-nationa this study field full-time students l investment the on campus partners.” would lift to about • Warracknabeal 110 in education precinct Phone: 03 5382 1351 Contined page 3 • Anzac Day Read it online:

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Overseas students wait

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ongerenong College officials hope to know early in the new year if they have been successful in a Federal Government application to provide agricultural study opportunities for overseas students.

College business development officer Donna Winfield said the historic school near Dooen, north of Horsham, had completed an audit as part of an effort to win a place on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students, CRICOS. “At this stage we don’t expect to hear anything until early next year after the Christmas and New Year’s break. But we’re hopeful we get a positive response,” she said.

The college had wanted to open the door to overseas students from as early as next year as part of a long-term expansion plan, but needed time to collect further details to strengthen its case.

It now has sights on offering courses to international students from 2018.

The move is likely to significantly bolster student numbers, dramatically expand the college’s direction and dynamics and open the door for greater tertiary-based investment in the region. The application is also in response to a growing number of inquiries from overseas students.

Wool market report 95 Nelson Street, Nhill CALL 03 5391 2106

A spike in the market over the previous few weeks resulted in a surge of extra wool coming onto the market this sale.

There were 53,248 bales offered, an extra 18 percent when compared with the estimate for this series a fortnight earlier, making it the largest total since January.

The five-year high for the AWEXEMI achieved last week was shortlived, with an abrupt drop in prices from the opening lot.

Melbourne sold in isolation on Tuesday and provided a bleak outlook for the week when prices tumbled 30 to 60 cents. Selected low cvh lots attracted most of the reduced support while off-types and lots out of specification were neglected.

The other two selling centres followed suit on Wednesday when they came online, however, Melbourne was more optimistic and showed a firming tendency and less volatility.

Thursday continued to improve and consolidate on the previous day’s levels, increasing by 10 cents. Next week is the final sale before the annual three week Christmas recess and quantities increase to 56,122 bales.

On the local front a big increase in XB LMS shearing has seen prices come under pressure, in particular the 27 micron plus categories. Auction sales of note this week for local clients were – 17.0 0.3 71.2 – 1205 cents, 17.5 0.5 69.3 – 1194 cents, 20.1 4.5 65.0 – 901 cents.

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MOVING AHEAD: Senator Fiona Nash discusses Longerenong College developments with Member for Mallee Andrew Broad, left, and the college’s Barry Ray during the opening of an upgraded student accommodation wing earlier this year.

Picture: DEAN LAWSON Longerenong College, operated by Skillinvest, provides vocational training through Advanced Diploma of Agriculture and Certificate IV in Agriculture as well as many other agricultural-based courses.

This year it had 90 full-time students studying for diploma or certificate qualifications.

The college is undergoing a major evolution as a state-ofthe-art agricultural institution.

Its latest project is a $1-mil-

lion upgrade of the school’s agribusiness centre which follows hot on the heels of a $4.47-million upgrade of student accommodation facilities opened earlier this year.

Longerenong College has provided agricultural training for the Australian domestic market for 127 years. It has endured extreme highs and lows and at one stage was threatened with closure.

A college open day in August

attracted one of its biggest student responses in many years.

Victorian Farmers Federation president David Jochinke said agricultural education was critical for the future of the industry.

“Any developments or facilities that can improve the international standard of education not only benefits students but the industry as a whole in the sharing of knowledge around the world,” he said.

Make more from your wool Call the AWN Wool Buying team and make more from every kilogram of your wool.

Revised forecast for shorn-wool average wool cuts per head in 2016-17 was more than the committee anticipated in August.

“Some regions, notably in Victoria, in the tablelands of New South Wales and in Tasmania, have experienced a rather tough winter after seeing very dry conditions up until May, so fleece weights are only now starting to improve,” he said.

“The full benefit of the improved seasons is expected to be seen during autumn shearing.

“Elsewhere it seems that fleece weights have already improved, and this should

continue as the season progresses.” By state, the committee predicts shorn-wool production will increase in New South Wales, Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland.

The increase in Queensland is particularly welcome after three consecutive years of declines and in part reflects sheep returning to the state after the breaking of the long drought.

Production in Victoria is expected to be steady, with an improvement in the second half of the season, while production in Tasmania is predicted to be slightly lower.

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Australian Wool Production Forecasting Committee, AWPFC, has revised its forecast of shorn-wool production for the 2016-17 season to 332-million kilograms greasy.

The forecast represents a 2.2 percent increase on its final estimate for the 201516 season.

Committee chairman Russell Pattinson said almost all major sheep-producing areas across Australia were reporting ‘very good to excellent’ season conditions and an abundance of feed after a wet spring.

He said the expected result in better

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farming leader believes new safety rules that prevent grain trains from running as soon as temperatures reach 33 degrees have clearly exposed a need for greater investment in rail-transport infrastructure.

Victorian Farmers Federation president David Jochinke said the rule, representing a change from 36 degrees, simply reflected that rail tracks across much of the Victorian grain belt ‘aren’t up to scratch’ to cope with the potential for ‘heat buckle’.

“In anyone’s language, especially when you live in the Wimmera and Mallee, 33 degrees is far from extreme heat. I would suggest that in February it is often rarely below that temperature,” he said.

“We can’t afford to have a restrictive system in place to deal with what’s considered normal conditions – especially during critical periods for shifting grain.”

V-Line announced the bans earlier this month, with the region’s grain harvest in full swing. The announcement came in the wake of two freighttrain derailments near Ouyen in December last year and with the Australian Transport Safety Bureau in the process of investigating the incidents.

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The bans apply between noon and either 8pm or 10pm and might mean extra grain haulage on regional roads already under intense transport pressure and political scrutiny after winter and spring flooding.

Mr Jochinke said developments clearly demonstrated, especially with the State Government investing money into rail, a need to design infrastructure to cope with potential conditions and circumstances.

“It’s about making sure we have rail networks that are applicable to the industry and the environment,” he said.

“We’re going to be in a situation where we’re going to have to try to use a network at half capacity and at night and both makes everything extremely limiting.

“From a global perspective at the end of harvest in March, we in Australia have a great advantage – no one else in the world is producing at that time and we get a free kick in the export market.

“So it is critical we have the ability to operate our train sets when it matters most.

“It’s important to be able to do this all-year round, but it is particularly critical at this time of the year.”

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Marathons: All in a day’s work

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Data from Australian working dogs competing in competition run by a dog-food company is showing the animals are running more than 40 kilometres a day – sometimes on consecutive days – and it is all in a typical day’s work.

Cobber Dog’s Cobber Challenge is tracking the daily routine of eight Australian working dogs in their natural environment on working properties through GPS collars.

The dogs’ average speed, distance travelled and duration are being recorded for three weeks with daily updates available online at www.cobberchallenge.com.au.

The dogs are Larry and Rex from Victoria, Tammy and Minute, NSW, Dixie and Joker, South Australia and Hank and Ace, Queensland.

Last week Larry, a three-year old male kelpie working at Woorndoo south-east of the Grampians for Damien Clifford, was leading overall as well as a speed category, clocking an average 8.72kmh.

He was coming second in a distance category with 519.47km behind Jandre Slabbert’s Grassdale kelpie Rex, 530.78km, and fourth in duraWednesday, December 21, 2016

tion with 59 hours, 34 minutes and 40 seconds in a duration category behind Tammy, 81:35:58.

The Cobber Challenge is the first competition of its kind based on tracking the daily activity of working dogs. As well as generating strong interest in the farming community, the data will provide insight into nutritional requirements of working dogs.

Cobber dog food, manufactured by Ridley, is an Australian provider of high-performance animal nutrition and has been formulated using the knowhow from working with farmers and their working dogs for more than 30 years.

Ridley nutritionist David Nash said food provided to working dogs was extremely important to them performing consistently at an elite level, fuelling them during periods of strenuous exercise and helping in recovery and repair of muscles while at rest.

“Working dogs will quickly lose condition and drop off in performance if not provided with the perfect balance of key nutrients during work and rest, and that will lead to an under-performing dog and an unhappy farmer,” he said.

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Farmers push ahead “Like” Us On Facebook

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I

n the last week before Christmas, harvest is well and truly in full swing and some growers are even pushing hard to have the header back in the shed before Christmas day.

The end is not yet in sight, however, for those in southern areas of western Victoria as most in these regions are still in the process of completing their canola harvest and are only now getting onto cereal and pulse crops.

This is in stark contrast to recent seasons where anywhere from Ouyen to Lake Bolac, crops have seemingly been ready to strip in unison from early November onwards. This season has returned to somewhat of a traditional north to south progression when it comes to harvest, which contractors will surely be exulting over.

Yields being reported have generally been excellent, with canola averages ranging from 2.2mt-ha to a whopping 3.3mt-ha in southern regions. Oil content has also been high with oil percentages coming in at anywhere from 44 to 49 percent – anything over 42 percent receives bonuses per percentage point – which is giving growers a handy oil bonus on top of a base canola price which has so far resisted any major price drops from the pressure of harvest cash sales.

Yields on cereals have ranged from 4-5mt-ha in northern areas and those in the south are expecting winter wheats to yield up to 6-7mt-ha.

The yields being reported are a welcome relief after fears of more extensive losses due to waterlogging throughout the winter and spring months.

This being said, some areas in western Victoria have suffered heavily from waterlogging, which has taken the cream off the cake of what has otherwise been a fantastic season.

A current headache faced by growers is that although crops themselves might be ready to

with Mick Phelan

harvest on the surface, there is still an abundance of green material below the canopy as well as wheel tracks due to the good season and availability of moisture. This combined with a relatively mild summer to date has restricted growers from working too late into the evening because moisture levels can rise quickly. Continuing to work under these conditions can be very hard on machinery, forcing them to pull up.

Even in windrowed crops, which are essentially designed to kill the crop and bring it to maturity all at the same time, green material beneath the windrow itself has still been an issue.

Adding to this, because many crops became lodged during the year, it has forced the creation of the infamous ‘dead cow’.

Dead cows, a collection of intertwined material within the windrow, requires a delicate hand and inevitably creates blockages and constantly brings any forward progression to a halt. If you are lucky enough to sit next to an operator after dealing with a few dead cows, you are sure to learn a few new words that will make your vocabulary just a little bit more colourful.

All in all, grain farmers will always find a way to get the job done and here’s hoping the weather is accommodating and growers are not restricted to bank hours for the remainder of harvest.

If all goes well and they can finish harvest quickly, a well-earned break with their northern counterparts will no doubt be on the cards.

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Farmers: Effort not recognised 95 Nelson Street, Nhill CALL 03 5391 2106

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ictorian farmers are disheartened by a State Government review into native vegetation regulations.

The Victorian Farmers Federation is critical of the new consultation paper, claiming it was a lost opportunity for the government to work with farmers to develop solid outcomes for agriculture and the environment.

VFF president David Jochinke said the paper failed to reduce an unnecessary burden that made life difficult for the state’s food producers.

He said the farmer group was disappointed the paper failed to reflect productive discussions around wiping complexity from the regulations.

“We have argued for a simplified process for managing native vegetation across the state, providing a model that farmers can understand and work towards,” Mr Jochinke said.

“But we’re struggling to see where the government has taken into account the needs of our farmers.

“It looks like a continuation of the same old red tape for farmers to deal with and no recognition of the

extensive revegetation works farmers already undertake.”

Mr Jochinke said the VFF wanted to work with the government to implement specific regulations for farming that would recognise farmers were not changing the use of their land, but using new tools to stay competitive in the global market.

“Agriculture is so critical to the health and wellbeing of rural communities and the Victorian economy,” he said.

“Farmers need access to new technology and bigger machinery in order

to stay competitive, and that could mean the strategic removal of trees.

“Our farmers have demonstrated a willingness to spend time and money on undertaking works such as revegetation in locations where it is good for the farm and good for environment.

“But our members are telling us their efforts to revegetate are not being counted by the government.”

Mr Jochinke said the VFF was also disappointed by the timing of the government’s consultation document, which required responses by the start of February.

“Broadacre grains producers, who are facing the biggest productivity burden from these regulations, are heading into the busiest time of their year,” he said.

“The consultation period needs to be extended to give them the opportunity to get off their headers and get their heads around what the government is proposing.

“After drought and poor seasons, we need to have meaningful engagement to explain how we will all be affected.”

Protect knock-down herbicides Most cropping systems rely fairly heavily on a small group of non-selective or ‘knock-down’ herbicides.

Since the widespread adoption of zero and minimum tillage, these herbicides have provided effective control of many grass and broadleaf weeds – but these useful herbicides could be lost to the industry if steps are not taken to increase the diversity of weed management tactics used.

Independent Consultants Australia Network senior consultant Mark Congreve said the highly effective double-knock tactic, which combined an application of glyphosate followed by paraquat, was at risk if growers failed to remain vigilant and ensure removal of any surviving plants.

“The double-knock strategy of glyphosate, plus a group I herbicide for weeds such as flaxleaf fleabane, followed by paraquat has provided excellent control of weeds that are difficult to kill with glyphosate alone,” he said.

“Recent confirmation of a fleabane population that is resistant to paraquat, found in a New South Wales vineyard, is a clear warning to grain producers there is no room for complacency following a double-knock operation.”

Paraquat is a widely used herbicide, being an active ingredient in more than 100 herbicide products registered for use in broadacre cropping.

It is a group L herbicide and as such is considered a ‘moderate risk’ for herbicide resistance.

A moderate risk rating means resistance generally takes longer to occur, not that it will not occur.

“Paraquat resistance typically takes more than 15 years of consistent use before resistant weeds are noticeable in the field,” Mr Congreve said.

“This critical period has now elapsed on many farms where paraquat is used in cereals and broadleaf crops, and for general weed control around the farm.”

Paraquat resistance has been present and widespread in barley grass in lucerne production systems for many years in Victoria and southern NSW. While paraquat resistance is still relatively

rare outside of lucerne systems, high-level resistance to paraquat was confirmed in three weed species – crowsfoot grass, blackberry nightshade and cudweed – taken from sugarcane and tomato blocks around Bundaberg in 2015.

In the event of widespread resistance to paraquat, Mr Congreve is concerned there are no new modes of action likely to be commercialised within the next 10 years or more, meaning farmers needed to protect what they had.

“It is essential farmers do everything in their power to preserve the effectiveness of the herbicide groups available,” he said.

“The key is to take a diverse approach to weed management and, importantly, remove weeds that survive herbicide applications. This is the best way to keep weed numbers low and when LOOKOUT: ICAN senior consultant Mark Congreve says growers need to look for survivor numbers are low, resistant weeds can be con- weeds after every herbicide application. trolled more effectively. It’s a numbers game.”

Need tyres

Checking steps

Mr Congreve suggested growers check the results of every spray application, looking for individual plants ‘surviving’ or ‘re-growing’ after a spray application that had killed adjacent weeds.

This might be a sign the surviving plants carry the genetic mutation that ‘protects’ them from the herbicide’s mode of action.

“If this is observed, the first step is to remove those individual plants before they shed seed,” Mr Congreve said. “It is recommended to have the plants, or their seed, tested to confirm resistance and determine what herbicides those individuals are still susceptible to.”

There are 10 weed species with confirmed resistance to paraquat – Group L – and 13 species resistant to glyphosate – Group M – in Australia.

• Information from Weedsmart, an industry-led project that aims to enhance on-farm practices and promote the long-term, sustainable use of herbicides in Australian agriculture. For more information about reducing the risk of herbicide resistance, visit the Weedsmart website: www. weedsmart.org.au.

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T

he leader of Victoria’s peak farming body has appealed for the farming community to be vigilant in ‘looking after its own backyard’ when dealing with the welfare of animals.

Victorian Farmers Federation president David Jochinke said people who failed to treat their animals with respect ultimately hurt the industry that provided them with a livelihood.

“Personally, I just can’t understand why this can happen,” he said.

“It is something we as animal custodians we must always be aware.

“We must be in a strong position to willingly identify serious issues involving animal welfare ourselves and speak up if we see anything.”

Mr Jochinke was referring to a court case in Horsham involving a Lucindale man who pleaded guilty to four

animal-cruelty offences in a Neuarpurr shearing shed in 2013. The case was the result of simultaneous complaints lodged with authorities in South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria and a video package loaded onto digital media site YouTube in 2014.

Agriculture Victoria said the information and footage came from individuals who had obtained work as roustabouts in shearing sheds and with

cameras had documented cruel shearing practices.

The process had led to seven shearers being referred for prosecution across the three states and warnings to others identified as having shearing techniques below industry standards.

Mr Jochinke said he understood handling animals could be tough, exhausting and frustrating, but there was no excuse for mistreating animals.

“We’re saying to people that if you see things happening that aren’t right, then speak up. This affects not only individuals but the whole industry,” he said.

“We need to take ownership of this issue and make sure we’re on top of it.

It’s ashame that in the circumstances in 2013 that someone didn’t speak up in the shearing sheds and stamp it out there and then.”

Happy harvest hits halfway mark

BY JUSTINE SEVERIN BIRCHIP CROPPING GROUP Birchip Cropping Group’s trials harvest is beyond the halfway mark, with about 64 percent of the 144 trials harvested.

Excellent yields, lodged crops, small rain events and machinery break-downs have hampered progress, mirroring the common experience of many Wimmera farmers at this time of the year.

Nevertheless, harvest is expected to be complete early in the new year.

With most of the Mallee research trials now harvested, the Wimmera is the focus.

Already trials at Kalkee, Nhill and Longerenong have been harvested, including a barley variety comparison trial at Kalkee.

Outstanding yield results are a reflection on the season, with some barley varieties yielding an impressive 8.6t-ha.

Among the best yielding barley varieties have been Fathom and Rosalind, while Compass, which has been a consistent performer in BCG and National Variety Trials in recent years, failed to finish in the top five – for yield.

The results for BCG crop variety trials are distributed to members within 48 hours of harvest. This allows growers to make early and informed variety choices for 2017.

Last-minute assessments have also been keeping the research team busy, including barley head-loss counts.

This information will be critical in helping to understand how differ-

ent barley varieties respond to wet spring conditions and harvest delays that can occur due to inclement weather.

The results will indicate if varieties reached their peak or if yield was reduced due to lodging or other factors.

Wimmera canola trials have also undergone final pod-shatter assessments before desiccation and harvest.

After Christmas the BCG team will look to finish harvest so results can be interpreted and written up for publication in the BCG 2016 Season Research Results compendium.

Many of the results from BCG’s 2016 research program will be presented at a BCG Trials Review Day at Birchip on February 17. For details log on at www.bcg.org.au.

ON TRACK: Birchip Cropping Group trials at Kalkee, Nhill and Longerenong, above, have been harvested.

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Barrier against storage pests

Make a caretaker biosecurity list

rowers planning to store grain in unsealed storages after this year’s harvest are being encouraged to consider using grain protectants to reduce the risk of insect pest infestations.

Animal Health Australia biosecurity and product integrity services executive manager Duncan Rowland has reminded producers to reinforce the importance of on-farm biosecurity practices to their chosen farm caretakers.

“Unfortunately biosecurity threats such as pest, weed and disease incursions don’t take holidays, which is why if you have someone minding the property over Christmas they need to do more than just feed the cattle and water the crops,” he said.

“If a neighbour, employee, friend or family member is acting as your caretaker, remind them to be vigilant by managing vehicles, people and equipment coming on to your property.

“Get them to check that the water supply is kept fresh and where possible free from insects and faeces, and, if they need to purchase feed, chemicals or farm supplies, make sure they get them from your existing and trusted suppliers.

“Most importantly, your caretaker should be keeping a watchful eye on your livestock and crops, so make sure they have the emergency animal disease and exotic plant pest hotlines handy so they can report anything unusual.”

Mr Rowland said that the new and free FarmBiosecurity smartphone app was a great way to create a biosecurity checklist for caretakers during the summer break.

“I encourage all producers going away over Christmas to download the FarmBiosecurity app and make a biosecurity action list,” he said.

“Once you create that list on your phone you can email it straight to your caretaker.”

The FarmBiosecurity smartphone app can be downloaded from Google Play and the Apple app store by searching ‘FarmBiosecurity’.

G

The use of protectants combined with meticulous hygiene and aeration cooling are especially useful in storages which are not gas-tight and therefore cannot be fumigated effectively.

Southern cropping region grainstorage specialist Peter Botta said grain protectants were designed to prevent pest infestations – not to control existing infestations.

“A common misunderstanding is that grain protectants kill insects already infesting the grain, but those types of contact disinfestants are no longer available for on-farm use,” he said.

“Therefore, grain must be clean and free of pests before applying a protectant.”

The Grains Research and Development Corporation supports Mr Botta’s work.

In order to give protectants the best chance to defend stored grain, meticulous storage hygiene practices before and after harvest are required.

Mr Botta said cleaning storage

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CONSIDER PROTECTANTS: Growers planning to store grain in unsealed storages after this year’s harvest are being encouraged to consider using grain protectants to reduce the risk of insect pest infestations.

Photo: CHRIS STACEY sites and harvesting equipment removed harbours where pests could survive, ready to infest the new season’s grain. The addition of aeration cooling also provides an unattractive environment for pests in stored grain.

He reminded growers to always read the chemical label before choosing a protectant to ensure it was registered for use on the grain they intended to apply the product, and that it would target the main insects commonly found in their storage.

As a general guide, protectants are only registered for use on cereal

MURRAY BRIDGE (SA)

grains and only some, not all, of those protectant products are registered for use on malting barley, rice and maize. No protectants are registered for use on pulses and oilseeds.

Mr Botta implored growers to fully understand the requirements of the targeted markets for their grain before considering application of a grain protectant.

“Some buyers – domestic and overseas – will not take grain that has had protectants applied, so it is critical growers know in advance what those market specifications are so they aren’t limiting their selling options,” he said.

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If targeting markets which accept grain that has been treated with a protectant, knowing the maximum residue limits of those markets is also essential.

“As grain markets have become less tolerant to protectants and maximum residue limits, maximum residue limits are monitored scrupulously – accurate application in terms of the correct rate and spread is vital.”

Commodity vendor declarations are also used in many cases to ensure a parcel of grain is only subjected to one application of the protectant to avoid exceeding the maximum residue limits.

Some protectants start deteriorating 48 hours after being mixed with water so growers should avoid leaving prepared protectants for long periods before applying to grain.

The product label will also indicate the anticipated effective life of the protectant on the grain.

The effective life of protectants is shortened if applied to grain above 12 percent moisture content and at temperatures above 27 degrees, or if treated grain is exposed to direct sunlight, which can occur at the end of a shed or in an open bunker.

Further information on grain protectants is available from the GRDC’s Stored Grain Information Hub at www.storedgrain.com au.

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