AgLife – August 26, 2020 edition

August 26, 2020

Border hurdle Contract harvester Chris Bartlett is worried he will not be able to work in New South Wales or Queensland this harvest season.

Story, page 39 Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

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Forging ahead despite pandemic 95 Nelson Street, Nhill CALL 03 5391 2106

BY SARAH MATTHEWS

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immera stud principals Robert Harding and Warren McRae remain confident in the long-term viability of the merino industry despite a tough season brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr Harding, who owns Glendonald Merino Stud at Nhill, and Mr McRae, Oakbank Merino and Poll Merino Stud at Gre Gre North near St Arnaud, had plans for a stellar show season following a strong start at Balmoral on February 29.

Both studs claimed a swag of awards at the Balmoral Sheep and Wool Show, with Glendonald’s grand champion merino ram winning supreme sheep of the show.

Oakbank’s best ram was reserve grand champion and the stud also had the grand champion ewe.

Mr Harding said his ram was likely among the best in Australia and he was disappointed the show circuit was cancelled due to government restrictions.

“I’ve been showing sheep for 40 years and he is definitely one of the better ones – I could say he’s the best ram I’ve ever had,” he said.

“He weighs 175 kilograms, stands over 11 hands high and tested 19.2 micron.

“It’s a shame shows can’t go ahead

BEST IN SHOW: Nhill’s Glendonald Merino Stud principal Robert Harding with his prize ram, which was named supreme sheep of the Balmoral Sheep and Wool Show in January. Mr Harding had grand plans for his show sheep before the coronavirus pandemic hit.

Picture: PAUL CARRACHER this year. I enjoy showing sheep – I’ve shown sheep in every state in Australia and there wouldn’t be too many studs that could say that.

“I’ve won broad ribbons in every state and supreme ribbons in four states.

“Hopefully we will be able to do it again next year.”

Mr Harding said he had already selected and shorn sheep for next year’s competitions, should they go ahead.

He said major industry events, in-

cluding annual Bendigo, Hamilton and Glenelg shows, created a great opportunity for producers to ‘benchmark’ their products.

Mr Harding sells about 200 rams a year, at multi-vendor sales or by private selection. This year, he has participated in several Helmsman-style online sales run by livestock auction platform AuctionPlus.

“The online sales have gone really well, which is a credit to the stud breeders association and other smaller

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organisations that have allowed these sales to go ahead,” he said.

“The feedback I’ve got from purchasers has been really good and the averages have been pretty close.”

Mr Harding said clients were happy to buy online provided they had an opportunity to inspect the merchandise in person.

“Merino rams are a bit different – you’ve really got to see them and feel them,” he said.

Mr McRae is hoping to attract regular and prospective buyers to his on-property ram sale on October 6.

He said he was pleased with the depth and quality of his stud’s offerings this year.

“We had the best ram sale we have ever had last year, averaging $2875, and hopefully this year’s goes well too,” he said.

“We’ve got young rams that were to be offered at Bendigo, Hamilton and Dubbo.

“The paddock-run rams are coming along very well and we’ll be offering more rams in the sale this year.”

Mr McRae said there would be several changes to proceedings this year to comply with COVID-19 restrictions.

“We aren’t able to have a field day this year,” he said.

“We usually have one about 10 days before, but if anyone gets sick then we would have to push the sale back.

“Instead, we’ll start at 9am so people

can inspect the rams on the day. We encourage people to get there earlier than usual.”

Mr McRae said like Mr Harding, he enjoyed seeing how his sheep measured up against the best of the best.

He said he hoped even if COVID-19 restrictions remained in 2021, industry leaders could determine a way to allow competitions to go ahead.

Mr McRae said although the wool market was not going well, the merino industry was a ‘long-term investment’.

“You don’t go and buy a new tractor and then sell it the next year because of a bad season,” he said.

“When people start shopping and buying wool products again, hopefully they will go berserk.”

Mr Harding said unlike meat or grain, wool was a ‘discretionary product’ that needed to be marketed.

He said industry leaders were doing a good job, although he would like to see more exploration of blending wool with other biodegradable products such as hemp, cotton and bamboo to strengthen demand.

“There’s not much we can do at the moment but down the track, when the virus is gone, the demand for highclass clothing will rise, especially for natural fibres and biodegradable products,” he said.

“The merino industry fits pretty well into that.”

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A passion to build on research 95 Nelson Street, Nhill CALL 03 5391 2106

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He said aerial phenotyping had replaced time-consuming manual techniques, building on accuracy and efficiency in field research.

“We are developing this in house now – no one has done this in Australia,” he said.

“This technology can estimate the biomass of the crops, crop-health, growth and disease so farmers can apply fungicide, herbicide or fertiliser timely. The sensors can estimate the issues in the crop much earlier on – before the human eye can.”

BY DYLAN DE JONG

o say Horsham’s Dr Surya Kant is passionate about agricultural research is an understatement.

The head researcher at Plant Phenomics Victoria, at Horsham’s Grains Innovation Park, is being nominated for a Prime Super Agricultural Innovation Award.

The nomination recognises Dr Kant for his research that is changing the face of Australian agriculture.

Dr Kant works with 10 researchers who are looking to develop certain genotype or germplasm crop species such as wheat, lentils, canola and field peas that are best suited for a range of growing conditions.

His team has developed several high-throughput phenotyping platforms that have gained domestic and international recognition.

“We conduct different sets of experiments in glass houses and under field conditions under various scenarios, nutrient regimes and soil and drought tolerance levels,” Dr Kant said.

“In doing that we use advanced sensors, cameras or digital equipment to automate the observations, height or any physical feature of the plant, weight, yield and disease monitoring traditionally done through manual observation.”

Dr Kant said his research was driv-

Well travelled

LEADER: Horsham’s Plant Phenomics Victoria head researcher Dr Surya Kant is being nominated for his work that is improving outcomes for Australian farmers.

Picture: PAUL CARRACHER ing faster production of new graincrop varieties to benefit Victorian and Australian farmers.

“Having this advance genotypic information combined with a digital data set called phenotyping has really sped up the building process,” he said.

“Instead of 10 or 12 years we can produce new varieties in five or six years, which is huge when we’re

talking about output – farmers will have access to the better varieties and faster.”

Dr Kant said his team’s research also involved trialling mounting sensors, cameras, thermal, LiDAR, multispectral and hyperspectral technology on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, UAVs to digitise and speed up crop monitoring methods.

Dr Kant arrived in the Wimmera nine years ago after working internationally for 12 years in agricultural research in Canada, Israel and India.

He said he saw a major opportunity in Australia to carry out research that would allow farmers to grow their crops under a range of challenging conditions, such as drought.

“Agriculture land is in shortage in most countries, but in countries such as Australia we have ample land,” he said.

“A lot is not used because there is not enough water, or rain or other strains like salinity or sub-soil constraint. There is potential to increase agriculture land in Australia – giving farmers better varieties that can be suited for many different conditions and providing better diagnostic sys-

tems so they can efficiently do precision agriculture. That is an aim I’m working towards.”

Dr Kant said when he and his family moved to Horsham in 2011, it was more than just a job that attracted him to the region.

“I came in November 2010 for an interview. I was quite fascinated with the infrastructure, but also fascinated by the fact that Horsham seemed a nice country town and a good place to raise your family,” he said.

“I was really touched when I came and noticed all the local people who always give you a good smile and a welcome feeling.”

Dr Kant is also vice-president of the cultural diversity association while his wife Pragya Kant was a founding member of Oasis Wimmera, an organisation that helps migrants to integrate into the community.

“We knew the challenges you face when adapting to a new culture and country. We wanted to support new immigrants and help them adjust to the local community and adopt that new culture and be connected,” Dr Kant said.

“We find Horsham is a great place and we have time to do volunteer activities as well.

“We are happy with what we have done for our family and giving back to society and wider community.”

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Closures restrict work opportunities 95 Nelson Street, Nhill CALL 03 5391 2106

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BY DYLAN DE JONG

griculture workers across the Wimmera who rely on crossing Australian borders for work are calling on state leaders to reassess travel permit conditions.

Victorian farming leaders have stressed tighter New South Wales and South Australian restrictions introduced this month have posed significant animal welfare and food supply chain risks.

Horsham contract harvester Chris Bartlett, who works alongside brother Dale, is concerned a new cross-border entry condition into New South Wales is likely to be a major hurdle in carrying out their work.

The brothers are hoping to make the most of a forecasted good harvest in the northern states after years of drought hindered their work opportunities.

But Mr Bartlett said border changes would likely present a challenge.

“The state governments really need to revisit this border pass policy – most of us need to go further than 100 kilometres, they don’t know how this will impact us,” Mr Bartlett said.

“This is the first time we’ve had trouble getting into New South Wales and our first time we’re going up to Queensland – but we think it might be difficult to get up there.

“The past two seasons farmers up

there have been in drought. We had no work, so it’s impacted on our business, but this year it’s been a really good year up top.”

Last week, NSW authorities changed permit conditions to give Victorian farmers and ‘critical agriculture workers’ conditional entry into the state for work that is within 100km of the border.

Eligible farmers must comply with conditions including self-isolating when not at work and no travelling more than 100km into Victoria in the past 14 days.

Added fear

Mr Bartlett said forecasts of a wet spring were adding to farmers’ fears of header shortages across southern Queensland and northern New South Wales and the ability to get their crops off in a timely manner.

“There’s certain clients we work for who purely rely on contractors,” he said.

“There will be less contract harvesters up there and there will be a lot of crop needing to be taken off – you can lose 20 percent if it’s not done in a timely manner.”

Mr Bartlett said the state governments must work together to help famers and agricultural workers carry out their work and keep the supply chain open.

“If you have interruption in the food

BARRIERS: Contract harvester Chris Bartlett, who works in partnership with his brother Dale, is worried he will not be able to work in New South Wales or Queensland this harvest season. He is pictured with his dog, Zoe. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER chain, which is already happening, there is going to be greater problem with food security between the states,” he said “The Federal Government needs to step in and override the state governments because they’re not working

with each other.” Farmers and leaders are equally concerned with the tighter restrictions imposed on South Australia, which has been labelled ‘unworkable’ for primary producers.

Premier Daniel Andrews took border community concerns to the national

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cabinet on Friday as South Australia shut almost all Victorians out of the state, causing outrage from farmers, business owners, families and workers.

Horsham’s Andrew Lamont, contract harvester and part-owner of Hoffmann Contracting, is planning to follow the harvest season down from northern New South Wales and finish in South Australia.

Mr Lamont said he was hoping authorities would convene with more viable border entry conditions before the harvest season started in October.

“Border permit conditions will likely change in that time, so we’re confident it will be okay. But there is a fair bit of doubt about what will happen,” he said.

Mr Lamont, like the Bartlett brothers, is looking to take advantage of improved cropping conditions up north.

He said his business was able to transport harvesters to Moree in New South Wales under transport and logistics travel conditions.

But he said the current border restrictions were cause for concern.

“They haven’t had a good harvest for a couple years, so we’ve had some pretty worried customers,” he said.

“We’re making sure we can get machines up there – now we’ve got a few up there, it’s washed away a bit of the stress.”

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Farmers urged to seek support “Like” Us On Facebook

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he State Government is urging farmers affected by drought and dry seasonal conditions to find out if they are eligible for any government support to build resilience for future seasons.

NEW

Agriculture Minister Jaclyn Symes encouraged farmers to apply for help through three grant programs before they closed on Friday.

The State Government has provided grant support for drought-affected farmers under programs since October. These include: • The On-Farm Drought Resilience Grant, providing up to $5000 for farm business planning activities and an additional $5000 for drought infrastructure investments.

This can include new eligible technologies to improve mobile phone connectivity and items such as soil-moisture probes.

• The Farm Machinery Improvement Grant, offering up to $10,000 to businesses in the Millewa region to maintain essential on-farm machinery and equipment for the 2020 season; and • Household Financial Relief, a $3000 payment to help farming families, farm workers and contractors with household expenses.

Ms Symes said farmers should call Rural

Financial Counselling Service on 1300 045 747 to discuss support available and for help with applications.

She said along with these grants, the State Government continued to offer information and advice to help with on-farm decision-making through webinars and one-to-one discussions on seasonal updates, animal health, pasture management and business planning.

Ms Symes said the government was working with farmers to develop innovative ways to deal with these conditions in the long term.

She said more information about drought and dry seasonal conditions support and advice was available online at agriculture. vic.gov.au/dryseasons or by calling 136 186.

“This support will help farmers develop innovative, resilient businesses capable of dealing with more frequent and severe dry conditions in years to come,” Ms Symes said.

“We know there is continued financial pressure on farmers dealing with the impact of drought and dry conditions, and other challenges of recent years.

“I encourage farmers not to rule themselves out and to contact Agriculture Victoria to see if there’s help available.”

Industry-led WeedSmart program has provided insight into how wheat and canola crops offer growers practical options to improve crop competition against weeds, particularly grasses, and vastly reduce weed seed set.

It has detailed how University of Adelaide researchers, led by Dr Chris Preston and with Grains Research Development Corporation investment, took part in an extensive study to identify the agronomic factors that promoted strong early crop growth.

They found that simple strategies of growing hybrid canola and sowing wheat early could

couple with pre-emergent herbicides to achieve an effective double-knock.

The result is more yield, less weed seed produced and less selection pressure on the herbicides.

Dr Preston said a canola trial involved a range of pre-emergent herbicides and compared open pollinated and hybrid canola.

“The bottom line of our trial is that if you grow a hybrid canola with pre-emergent herbicides and do nothing else different, you’re going to reduce your grass weed seed set by 50 percent,” he said.

Having observed that later planted wheat often hosted more

weeds, the Adelaide University team looked at the effect of planting wheat as early as possible.

“In this trial we found that even in weedy paddocks you can put the wheat in early with a robust pre-emergent herbicide package, and the result is more wheat yield and less ryegrass seed at the end of the season,” Dr Preston said.

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Runners keen to forge ahead

BY DYLAN DE JONG

W

immera farmers are keen to contribute to a major hay run that delivers vital fodder to farmers in drought-stricken areas across Australia despite uncertainty surrounding border closures.

Earlier this year a convoy of up to 40 trucks left the Wimmera to deliver more than 7000 hay bales to farmers at Armidale in northern New South Wales.

Efforts were a part of Burrumbuttock Hay Runners’ annual Australia Day appeal to help farmers who were facing hardship due to severe drought Victoria’s involvement in the 2021 event remains in question due to hard border closures in light of COVID-19.

Bungalally farmer Sam McGennisken, who helped lead the Wimmera contingent on the January run, is still keen to contribute to the cause.

“It’s going to be very hard with what happens with COVID-19 and border restrictions – that will be our biggest headache,” he said.

“There are a lot of farmers up north who are older and don’t want people from hotspots in their areas, which is totally understandable.”

The Wimmera farmer hopes authorities can give consideration to the Victorian hay-runners.

“There would have to be some way of doing it. It’s not as though you’re going on a holiday – you’re running feed to

KEEN CONTRIBUTORS: Green Lake farmers donated hay and straw to this year’s Burrumbuttock Hay Runners efforts for drought and fire relief.

Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

animals. It’s a part of primary production. There has got to be some way to make it work,” he said.

Organiser and founder Brendan Farrell is keeping participants updated through his social media account.

He said the event was still likely to go ahead next year.

“We’ve been very quiet, but we’re still trying to raise money where we can,” Mr Farrell said.

“We will still do hay runs, but we will just have to tighten up the belt buckle a bit and try to work with the funds we have.”

A destination for the 2021 hay run is yet to be decided.

Mr McGennisken said the run would likely go to northern New South Wales

or Queensland. “It’s all in the pipeline at the moment. The decision doesn’t get made until about a month before Australia Day,” he said.

Mr McGennisken first got involved in the hay run more than three years ago when he saw the event made national headlines.

He said it was a ‘heart-warming’ experience being able to give to farmers in need.

“People are in tears of joy to see the amount of people involved giving them a hand, it’s a massive thing to be a part of,” he said.

“You get a great feeling. You meet people you’re never going to forget and you’re going to have a connection with them for the rest of your life.”

Mr McGennisken encouraged people to donate to the cause.

“I know with COVID-19 things are tough, but if people can donate, anything is better than nothing,” he said.

“Donations go to the trucks for fuel to make the event go ahead, that is our biggest cost, to get trucks up there.

“We pay up to $1500 to $2000 in fuel for each truck and we’ve got 100 trucks to run.

“A lot of people around here would be happy to see this event go ahead again.”

Donations to the Rotary Club of Sydney, which handles donations on behalf of the hay runners, can be made online at www.paypal.me/BHRHay runners.

Data shows value of rail 95 Nelson Street, Nhill CALL 03 5391 2106

Victorian Farmers Federation Grains Group president Ashley Fraser believes data showing heavy use of the reinstated Rainbow-Dimboola rail line proves the case for further investment in the Murray Basin Rail Project.

He said details demonstrated the high demand for rail freight from the Wimmera-Mallee grains industry.

“We know the demand is there, industry knows the demand is there, and here is the government’s data demonstrating the demand is there. All that is required is a willingness to get on with the job,” Mr Fraser said.

“If the Victorian government builds it, absolutely, the trains will come.”

Mr Fraser said the State Government recognised the need to invest in rail freight with Victorian freight volumes expected to triple by 2051.

He said this would put even more pressure on regional Victoria’s ‘crumbling’ road network.

“The government should heed their own message in this case – improvements to Victoria’s regional rail freight network will take trucks off roads resulting in lower freight costs and better road maintenance and safety outcomes,” Mr Fraser said.

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Need for a younger workforce 95 Nelson Street, Nhill CALL 03 5391 2106

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BY DYLAN DE JONG

Wimmera farmer joining a cohort of young Victorians to guide the future of the state’s agriculture sector wants to encourage more young people to work in the industry.

Nuffield Scholar and farmer James Hawkins, based near Edenhope, is one of the newest members of Victoria’s Young Farmers Advisory Council.

Mr Hawkins took over from Nhill’s Jessica Pilgrim, who served a twoyear term on the council.

The young Wimmera pork, wool and lamb producer will advise the State Government on issues that affect farmers and young people working in the industry.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr Hawkins has been working with cross-border community members near the South Australian border to direct concerns to State Government.

Mr Hawkins said a key reason he nominated himself to the council was to highlight a growing need for young people to support the agriculture industry.

“I was recommended by a friend and she pointed me in the direction of the application process,” he said.

“Being a passionate young farmer,

I’ve always had a desire to help the industry attract more young people to agriculture.”

Mr Hawkins said he believed the future sustainability of the sector would be reliant on a younger workforce.

“Young farmers or young farming kids are going off to do trades or university and move to the regional capitals, or even to the state capitals, and they don’t come back,” he said.

“I really have concerns about sustainability in this industry by losing these potential future farmers.”

Fourth generation

The fourth generation farmer is also a young entrepreneur and has taken many opportunities the industry has to offer.

His agribusiness success started at 18 when he started his own hay-baling business.

Today, Mr Hawkins is the owner and manager of a pig farm that produces more than 12,000 pigs a year at Neuarpurr.

He is also a key organiser and president of Lake Charlegrark Country Music Marathon.

Mr Hawkins said he hoped to provide employment opportunities for young people through his business ventures.

“My passion is in increasing employment in regional and rural areas

and through whatever way possible.

I’ve done that through my business ventures,” he said.

Mr Hawkins encouraged young farmers to take advantage of agriculture work opportunities.

“There’s endless opportunities for any type of personality,” he said.

“There’s really exciting consultancy-type roles where people can be moving around Victoria, the country and the world. There’s really dynamic roles in those situations right across the sector.”

Mr Hawkins said agriculture was recognised as a key contributor to Australia’s economy and that status was likely to strengthen in the future.

“Australian agriculture is something that is a huge part of the Australian economy and will continue to be that way,” he said.

Agriculture minister Jaclyn Symes welcomed nine new council members when they met virtually for the first time last week.

The coronavirus pandemic was the main topic discussed at the meeting, particularly focusing on the impacts on the agricultural workforce and supply chains.

For more information about the council people can visit website vic.gov.au/youngfarmers or email youngfarmer.coordinator@agri culture.vic.gov.au.

SUSTAINABLE FUTURE: Newest member of Victoria’s Young Farmers Advisory Council James Hawkins is calling for more young people to consider working in agriculture.

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hina’s response to Australia supporting an investigation of the outbreak of youknow-what is predictable and ridiculous all at once.

It would be easy to suspect there is more to it than that but I am going for, ‘let’s not overthink this’. China made it abundantly clear that this was on the cards months ago. Australia’s dairy exports are apparently next on the list.

The wine industry organisation, Grape and Wine Australia, is determined to prove China wrong: that wine is not being ‘dumped’ at below the cost of production and that wine production is not subsidised in Australia.

Chief executive Tony Battlegene told Country Today: “We’re going to take this investigation on its face value and we will provide good, honest and accurate information.”

As you would, but I have news for the wine industry. Australia’s barley industry fought the good fight for more than 12 months, giving every minute piece of evidence China demanded in what should have been an open and shut case.

China dithered and delayed and then, months after a decision was due, struck belatedly when tensions peaked and put outrageously high tariffs on our barley.

It claimed Australian barley was subsidised, giving examples of the Murray Darling Basin Plan as a form of government assistance, even though more than half the barley is not grown in the basin, but in Western Australia.

I am guessing that, if the Australian government does not tone down its rhetoric on investigating the source of COVID-19, the worst is yet to come.

Putting it bluntly, the Communist Party leader-

95 Nelson Street, Nhill

ACTION: Longerenong College students Jack Johns, right, and Mitchell Cockerell film Lauren Lees, Douglas Mancarella and Claudia Spencer, back, with the college's show steers, for a virtual open day.

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ship is not going to be greatly fussed if the middle classes have to pay a little more for their wine that instead might come from Chile or Spain.

Do not get me wrong, I do not think our government should kowtow to China. Once it does, where does it stop?

A more important question is, should we be as reliant on the China for our exports?

One in three of our agricultural export dollars currently comes from China.

Producers have been scrambling over each other to curry favour with China.

We have not been as exposed to one importer of our agricultural produce since the Menzies era in the 1950s when more than a third of our agricultural production went to the United Kingdom.

I am guessing the European Economic Community – as the European Union was called in its first incarnation – formed in 1957 put the mozz on that.

So, what to do? Methinks actively pursue other markets.

If China doesn’t come to the party, as it isn’t with wool at the moment because it buys 80 percent of our production and calls all the shots, we should seriously look at our exposure to China and decide whether, maybe, other markets might be smaller but less influenced by politics.

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Keen interest in open day Registrations are pouring in for a Longerenong College virtual open day, reflecting broad recognition that agriculture will play a major role in the country’s economic resurgence from the COVID-19 pandemic.

College business development officer Donna Winfield said the September 13 online event had generated significant interest from students and their families.

She said 2021 course applications were also streaming into the college.

“This is very different for us and we would love to be shaking hands with people and personally showing them around the campus. But we’ve had to adopt an online

format because of restrictions,” she said.

“There has been a lot of inquiries. Interest in agronomy courses at the college for people already working in the industry have gone through the roof. School-leaver registrations are flowing in for the virtual open day – triple of what they were this time last year.

“People know they don’t have to get in the car and don’t have to travel to see what we have to offer.

“Circumstances are forcing us to provide new ways for the college to engage with people and more virtual events are something we will certainty consider in the future.

“We’re looking forward to it, however we hope, when restrictions ease, to be able to run face-to-face events later in the year.”

Ms Winfield said all people had to do to be part of the 10am virtual open day was to go to the college website and follow links.

“There will be staff and students talking about their experiences during the open day and we’ll walk people through the campus,” she said.

“What we’re seeing is just how much people are looking to opportunities emerging in the agricultural industry.

“It’s also giving us a clearer picture of the resilience of the industry.”

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ictoria’s peak farming group has had emergency talks to implement steps to protect agriculture and the state’s food-supply chain from the impact of Victoria’s COVID-19 crisis.

Victorian Farmers Federation president and Wimmera farmer David Jochinke said the agricultural industry was one of few permitted to continue.

“The VFF recognises the gravity of this responsibility. We understand the trust that has been placed in our sector and that we are accountable for keeping Victorians fed during this state of disaster,” he said.

“We have been in constant talks with government to advocate for farmers and ensure that decision-makers understand the importance of keeping the food-supply chain open.

“The VFF developed a detailed COVID-19 action plan, which resulted in $410-million in additional Australian and Victorian government expenditure which has enabled the agriculture industry to continue to operate.”

Mr Jochinke said farmers were becoming increasingly concerned about restrictions to their business, labour shortages, freight and logistics problems along with issues around access to inputs.

“We know that continuity of business is emerging as a big concern for farmers, which is why our discussions with government have

focused on four key principles: bipartisan and comprehensive approach to border issues; smoother flow of goods and services intrastate and interstate; strategies to enable the movement of the agricultural workforce; and regulatory change to ensure that agriculture and its supply chain is classified as a critical service,” he said.

“The VFF wrote to our members to reinforce the importance of implementing COVID-19 action plans, which are critical to keeping the agriculture supply chain open. Our clear guidance to farmers is to be extra vigilant. We must implement the best protective measures for our businesses and our workers.”

Mr Jochinke said the agriculture sector had the potential to be a major contributor to economic recovery regionally and at a state level.

“While this will be inconvenient, if we get it right and we do the hard yards, then it will only be for a few weeks and our businesses will continue to operate,” he said.

“Victoria is Australia’s food bowl. We are Australia’s largest producer of food and fibre and the nation’s largest exporter. We all know how important small business is to our economy. I don’t think Victorians realise that agribusiness, with forestry and fishing, is the highest value add, employs the highest number of people and ranks number five by dollar value in Victoria.”

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Farmers in crime podcast 95 Nelson Street, Nhill CALL 03 5391 2106

A group of Wimmera farmers feature in a two-episode Crime Stoppers Victoria podcast focusing on rural crime.

Farmers Sam Eagle, Bruce Crafter and Victorian Farmers Federation president David Jochinke are in the second episode of the ‘Rural Crime – Intentions, Prevention and Detection’ podcast.

The podcast highlights the impact of crime on farms across regional Victoria and why farm owners must reassess their attitude towards safety and crime prevention in their communities.

The podcast shares stories from the farmers and discusses a larger role communities could play to help prevent farm crime in their areas.

The first episode features a discussion with a rural criminologist, and University of New England senior lecturer Dr Alistair Harkness.

Crime Stoppers Victoria chief executive Stella Smith said the podcast extended the organisation’s spotlight on rural crime after a ‘Locals Get Vocal’ campaign launch at Wimmera Machinery Field Days in March.

“Rural crime is an issue prevalent across regional Victoria and the targeting of farms by

TUNE IN: Wimmera farmer Sam Eagle contributes to a Crime Stoppers Victoria podcast focusing on rural crime. criminals is a matter of concern,” she said.

“The expertise provided by Dr Harkness, David Jochinke, Sam Eagle and Bruce Crafter will provide listeners with information to help protect their properties from criminals and be aware of red flags that might indicate criminal activity at rural properties.

“Crime Stoppers relies on the help of the community for all types of crime and in the case of rural crime, which happens in such remote settings, communi-

ty assistance is integral. People can report any information they know to Crime Stoppers confidentially – they do not need to say who they are, and they can report online or call us on 1800 333 000.”

People can tune in to the presentation on Crime Stoppers Victoria website www.crimestoppers vic.com.au/crime-stoppersvictoria-podcast-series.

The podcast is also available on all podcast-playing services, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

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Growers invited to push boundaries “Like” Us On Facebook

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rowers have a unique opportunity to participate in a new national program striving to push crop-yield boundaries in highyield-potential grain-growing environments.

Grains Research and Development Corporation’s new Hyper Yielding Crops scheme is underway and growers can become involved for their own benefit and that of their peers.

The four-year investment spans five states – Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, New South Wales and Western Australia – and aims to push the economically attainable yield boundaries of wheat, barley and canola.

Hyper Yielding Crops, HYC, involves five research centres of excellence. Attached to each are farm paddock trials and a grower network charged with taking research and development findings from small plot to paddock scale.

Growers can join the networks and host paddock-scale trials on their properties to enable a ‘seeing is believing’ participatory approach to the research.

The concept will identify high-yield-potential cultivars suited to various environments and explore the most appropriate agronomic management tactics, including paddock selection and preparation, canopy management, disease, weed and pest control,

up-scale research to paddock-based trials, providing growers with answers to questions related to their individual farming systems and environments.

“It is really important for people to believe in these yield potentials that we talk about, and then to see that translated into reality in a trial situation at the research centres and, most importantly, on-farm in growers’ paddocks,” he said.

Collaboration

NATIONAL PROGRAM: Hyper Yielding Crops project leader Nick Pool, left, and extension co-ordinator Jon Midwood. and crop nutrition strategies to help grower and adviser decision-making.

Project leader Nick Poole from FAR Australia said HYC built on the success of the Grains Research and Development Corporation’s fouryear Hyper Yielding Cereals Project in Tasmania.

The Tasmanian project demonstrated it was possible to more than double yields in some situations through sowing the right cultivars and effective implementation of appropriately tailored management plans.

Mr Poole and HYC extension co-ordinator Jon Midwood, of TechCrop Services, discuss the initiative in a Grains Research and Develop-

ment Corporation, GRDC, podcast available at grdc.com.au/news-andmedia/audio/podcast/hyper-yielding-crops-initiative.

“This initiative is about trying to improve our productivity, increase our yields and close what we believe is a significant yield gap in some high-yield-potential grain-growing environments,” Mr Poole said.

“We want to not only lift productivity, but also stabilise productivity.

It’s no good having varieties that are boom and bust, performing well one year and then not the next. So, our focus is on improving yields and also stabilising them.”

Mr Midwood said HYC aimed to

The HYC research centres of excellence are being led and managed by FAR Australia in collaboration with Brill Ag, CSIRO, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development in Western Australia, the South Australian Research and Development Institute and Southern Farming Systems. The five centres are sited in Hagley, Tasmania; Gnarwarre, Victoria; Millicent, South Australia; Wallendbeen, NSW; and Green Range, Western Australia.

Mr Midwood said research centres would provide the focus for detailed examination of cultivars, disease management and nitrogen management.

“The core data generated from those small-plot-scale environments will be taken to growers’ paddocks where project officers in each state will work with the innovative grower networks to set up paddock trials on growers’ properties,” he said.

To underpin the ‘whole community

of interest’ concept, a HYC awards program is being established.

Project leaders are seeking nominations of 10 wheat paddocks a region – 50 in total – to enable growers to benchmark the agronomic performance of their crops compared with a regional standard.

“The HYC awards aren’t about tall poppies or who’s got the best yield,” Mr Poole said.

“This is about trying to build a whole community of interest, not just in what went right but also what can sometimes go wrong. We can learn as a group far more from those situations.

“And while we’re keen to look at the profitability of these crops, it’s the agronomic benchmarking that we see as being key.

“It’s an opportunity for growers to look, compare and discuss those individual levers to achieving full yield potential.”

The HYC focus farm paddock trials, innovative grower network and awards involve TechCrop working with the Centre for eResearch and Digital Innovation, CeRDI, at Federation University Australia and four farming groups across the country.

Victorian growers, advisers and others wishing to become involved in the HYC program can email Ashley Amourgis at aamourgis@sfs.org.au.

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