AgLife, October 2016 edition

October 26, 2016

Waiting for the rush Shannon Brothers’ Peter ‘George’ Morgan is among grain-handlers anticipating a busy summer harvest as growers ponder grain-storing options for expected heavy crops. Horsham site manager Clayton Shannon said the approaching harvest would be ‘an eyeopener’ after two years of drought. Aglife columnist Michael Phelan provides insight into some of the tough storage decisions farmers face on page 19.

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Challenges of unpredictability with Mick Phelan

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arming is forever throwing up a new set of challenges, and as all farmers will tell you, no one season is ever the same.

After a dry and uncertain start this year we had some good rain, it got a little wetter, then it was ‘whoa nelly!’

Now growers are dealing with wet paddocks and edging their way through the last of fungicide sprays as well as deciding how to approach the hay season before harvest gets underway – all the while watching commodity prices creep lower and hoping that a late frost stays away.

Despite many areas suffering from waterlogged and lodged crops, all forecasting bodies are still tipping bumper yields, with current estimates of a national wheat crop of about 28-million tonnes, as high as 31-million tonnes, and a total harvest of between 46 and 48-million tonnes when including barley, canola and pulses. To put this into perspective, Australia’s average wheat production is about 24-million tonnes and the biggest ever was slightly below 30-million tonnes in 2011-12.

The biggest total winter crop was in the same season, coming in just shy of 46-million tonnes.

With yields set to be high and prices for cereals at very low levels historically, growers in western Victoria are investing in on-farm storage to help manage the logistical and marketing challenges that will be placed upon them in the coming months and year ahead.

As a result, silo manufacturers are busier than a stump full of ants and looking for a grain bag to buy has drawn comparison with looking for a polar bear in a snow storm.

Growers are expecting they will have to hold onto a portion of their crop in the hope that a spike in prices will come at some point into next year or beyond.

The reasons why there is a focus on on-farm storage rather than warehousing are many and varied. But they include avoiding the monthly storage costs of bulk handlers along with the turnaround time and availability of trucks while trying to keep up with the header during the peak of harvest.

All are valid reasons and storing grain on farm is often very profitable. It is worth casting an eye beyond harvest however, and considering what the dynamics of the market might look like after harvest is all wrapped up.

With large amounts of grain on farm, it is likely to put a lot of pressure on domestic markets with the stockfeed market only able to handle so much, and the container and delivered port markets, although forever expanding, are also only able to offer limited opportunities.

This is particularly the case in a year where there is likely to be an abundance of low-quality grain. It is also worth noting on-farm storage has become somewhat of an art in recent years.

Growers who specialise in this area, as well as investing big dollars in their storages, have spent a lot of time grooming relationships with prospective buyers either themselves, or through their marketers, with the aim of being on a buyer’s speed dial when the deal is ready to be done.

Although considered expensive at times, warehousing grain has its own advantages. Quality of grain delivered is maintained throughout.

Depending on the site there are arguably more marketing options and market consistency, and payment terms of most major buyers are short with some as quick as seven days end of week.

Most bulk handlers will also have a period of generally two to three months before monthly storage fees kick in, giving growers a chance to gather their thoughts and potentially offload grain before monthly charges take effect.

Other incentives to deliver grain into the system are sure to come out of the woodwork as pre-harvest site meetings take place in the coming weeks.

Whichever way you look at it, there is likely to be a lot of grain around post-harvest and without a working crystal ball it is impossible to know what is going to happen in the future.

It is also unfortunate that we rely on the hardship of others around the world for our grain farmers to receive high prices for their products.

However, in the event that prices do get on the move quickly sometime in 2017 due to misfortune elsewhere, and without advocating one storage method over another, it might be worth having as many irons in as many fires as possible to take advantage of all opportunities that come up throughout next year. This means not shunning the bulk-handling system completely.

– Michael Phelan is Impact Fertilisers western Victoria area sales manager.

Prioritising safety this harvest 95 Nelson Street, Nhill CALL 03 5391 2106

Grain growers are being encouraged to implement strategies to ensure their 2016 harvest is a safe one.

Grains Research and Development Corporation, GRDC, has backed calls by the Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety for the prioritisation of the welfare of all those involved in harvesting this year’s crops.

GRDC manager of grower services Alan Umbers said harvest was a testing time for the nation’s growers.

“It is important that growers remain firmly focused on planning for a safe and successful harvest, especially after having to contend with numerous challenges during the 2016 growing season, from frosts in the west through to flood-

ing and waterlogging in the southern and northern cropping regions,” he said.

Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety director Dr Tony Lower said now was the time to make sure growers and their most important resource – the people who work with and for them – were safe and up to the tasks ahead.

“Growers experience intense pressure and fatigue during harvest, and there is usually a higher number of inexperienced seasonal workers employed – all factors that expose the industry to a heightened risk of danger,” he said.

Further information about harvest safety is available by calling the Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety on (02) 6752 8210.

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BY JESSICA LEMON BIRCHIP CROPPING GROUP

W

ith potentially high-yielding crops across much of the Wimmera the sight of severe lodging is disheartening.

Usually lodging occurs later in the season when grain filling begins and the plant stem is unable to support the mature head.

However, this year lodging has occurred earlier as a result of the weather conditions.

With the crop’s stem under stress from wind, rain and hail, it cannot support the upper canopy and, therefore, ‘falls over’.

Depending on the severity of lodging, crops can recover, although in readiness for harvest farmers across the Wimmera are already thinking about the use of crop lifters which can help feed the plant head into the harvester when crops are lodged.

This month at Birchip Cropping Group we have been assessing lodging on the majority of our trials and have scored each plot accordingly.

This information will be used to gauge whether trial treatments have affected a plant’s ability to remain upright and to provide background information about the plot if a low, or unexpected, harvest grain yield is obtained.

The good growing season, together with the record-September rain, has presented other challenges for the operations team.

An increased threat of disease, another consequence of sustained wet conditions, has resulted in a very busy spraying schedule.

FARMERS:

Gladly, spraying is now finally drawing to a close with the last of the fungicides and insecticide sprays being applied to trials.

Meanwhile, in an effort to minimise bird damage to canola trials, as experienced last season, scare guns have been erected at trial sites.

Birds can quickly decimate a canola crop so it is important to begin control efforts so that yield losses are minimal.

Assessments also continue to be carried as the season progresses.

As part of the Grains Research and Development Corporation stubble project, which BCG is leading in Victoria and Tasmania, peak biomass samples have been collected from Corack, Scout, Trojan, Scepter and Cutlass wheat varieties.

The head and leaves from 10 stems will be separated and dried, and the percentage that each plant component contributes to the overall plant matter will be calculated.

We hope to use this information to better understand how the type of stubble produced by a wheat plant is influenced by the variety grown.

The New South Wales DPI canola phenology trial at Longerenong is beginning to senesce quickly over the space of a few warm days.

BCG is currently performing maturity cuts on each plot in each time of sowing treatment, again seeking to understand varietal differences.

While doing these maturity biomass cuts, crops will also be assessed for blackleg infection and sclerotinia which are problematic issues for many canola growers in the Wimmera.

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Animal welfare plan set ahead of fire season

CHASING IDEAS: A $14.9-million Farming Together project is now open for applications to boost farmerbased collaborations. The national, two-year Federal Government campaign will help primary producers and processors form groups and claim marketplace power. Program director and beef producer Lorraine Gordon, right, said the concept was to help agricultural groups value-add, secure premium pricing, scale-up production, attract capital investment, earn new markets or secure lower input costs. People keen to know more can call 1800 005 555, email info@farmingtogether.com.au or sign up for newsletters at www. farmingtogether.com.au.

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The State Government has launched an Emergency Animal Welfare Plan to protect animals during natural disasters.

The government launched the plan ahead of the upcoming fire season.

Developed in line with Victoria’s emergency framework, the new updated plan outlines how communities and emergency services can work together to better manage animal welfare before, during and immediately after emergencies such as fires, floods and extreme weather events.

It covers all animals, including wildlife, and sets out the particular roles and responsibilities for animal owners, farmers, breeders, businesses, the community, government organisations and

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Rabbit control A

bout 140 properties will be subject to inspection this month in stage two of a large-scale rabbit control program aimed at protecting the Glenelg River and significant plants and animals at Chetwynd in West Wimmera Shire.

Agriculture Victoria biosecurity officer James Rowe said the program would build on property inspections completed last year and complement a previous extension project in the river’s upper reaches.

“Rabbits inflict significant economic and environmental cost, and the upper reaches of the Glenelg River are particularly vulnerable to rabbits burrowing on the bank making them unstable, increasing sedimentation and leading to the loss of valuable vegetation,” he said.

Mr Rowe said Agriculture Victoria officers would inspect every property within the project area, with properties found with rabbit warrens last year inspected again to ensure rabbitcontrol works were completed.

“During inspections, Agriculture Victoria staff will discuss the program with landholders, provide information to help with rabbit control specific to each property, and comprehensively map areas of rabbit activity,” he said.

“Where infestations of rabbits are identified, landholders will be provided with maps and information to assist with the destruction of rabbit warrens through ripping and fumigation.”

Mr Rowe said a combination of control methods, such as fumigation and ‘ripping’ warrens, was the most effective approach to long-term rabbit control.

“Agriculture Victoria urges all landholders in the area to get involved and do their bit over the next 12 months to eliminate the need for compliance action after properties are re-inspected,” he said.

“It’s vital that landholders act together to minimise the impact of one of our most destructive pests.

“Successful rabbit management is achieved when landholders work together to implement a range of control methods.”

Under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994, it is the responsibility of landholders to take all reasonable steps to control, and as far as possible, eradicate, rabbits on their property.

People can visit http://go.vic.gov.au/HZ3YJV or call Agriculture Victoria’s customer service centre on 136 186 for more information about pest animal control.

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Victoria’s emergency services to ensure the welfare of all animals during an emergency. The plan also incorporates the 2009 Victorian Bushfire Royal Commission’s recommendation to include more consideration of the bond between humans and animals in its planning to enhance public safety and reduce animal suffering in an emergency situation.

People will often not leave their properties without their animals or without knowing their animals are safe, putting themselves at risk.

Knowing animals are safe can make all the difference during an emergency.

People can visit www.agriculture.vic.gov.au for more information.

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Wimmera Southern Mallee Upcoming Agricultural Events

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October 27th 27th 28th 30th

Fox Bounty Locations. 4 Montague Street, St Arnaud. 10.30am - 12.30pm WFN Containing stock to increase productivity in dry times. Warracknabeal WFN Containing stock to increase productivity in dry times. Talopea Downs WWHS 'Loop the Greens' Fun Run. Nhill Golf Club

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Building Healthy, Caring & Engaged Communities in Rural Australia. Harrow Revistalisation and Leadership in Challenging Times. Apsley.

Green Lake 'Full of Fun' day. Come and Try Sailing and BBQ . Green Lake.

Wimmera Branch VFF Meeting. Royal Hotel.

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Nhill Market.

Mental Health First Aid Course. Nhill.

PPS End of Year Farm Tour and BBQ. Amphitheatre.

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Kaniva Lillimur Cemetery Trust is one of many Wimmera community groups to benefit from the Victorian Government’s Drought Response Package.

Crew members from Wimmera Catchment Management Authority’s drought-employment program have completed major improvements at Kaniva Lillimur, Yarrock and Minimay cemeteries, including new paved pathways, tree clearing, pruning, fence repairs, new fencing, weed control and general maintenance.

Sue Holland from Kaniva Lillimur Cemetery Trust said the work had improved the cemeteries significantly and was making a big difference to the many people who visited.

“You’d be surprised at just how many people go to these cemeteries to visit loved ones,” she said.

“We’ve had so many people comment and compliment the work that’s been done. It’s so much easier for people to get around and they have fixed some areas that were quite dangerous in terms of being tripping hazards.”

Ms Holland said cemeteries were often forgotten places, particularly those out of town.

She said volunteer community groups that looked after rural cemeteries were growing smaller, and funding for major work at cemeteries was scarce.

“It means so much to us to have these crew members do all this work at our cemeteries,” she said. “We would never have been able to take on such major projects ourselves. We are extremely grateful for everything they have done, not only at the cemeteries but with all the other community projects they’ve been working on.”

About 30 people are working across the Wimmera on community and environmental projects

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DONE: Drought-employment crews have paved paths at Kaniva Lillimur Cemetery. as part of the drought-employment program, which is providing regular income for farmers, farm workers and farm businesses affected by drought.

Wimmera Drought Employment Program crew co-ordinator Glenn Dixon said it was good to see so many community projects completed through the program, which started in December.

“In our smaller regional communities, a lot of the volunteers around town who do these projects are getting older, so they are limited with the amount of work they are able to do,” he said.

“To have our crew members turn up and do major work such as paving, removing large trees, fencing and landscaping means a lot to these communities. It’s a great program that’s helping support people affected by drought as well as get much-needed work done across our region.”

Crew members work in partnership with councils, Landcare and communities.

The Wimmera Drought Employment Program, funded through the Victorian Government Drought Response Package, has seven crews which will continue working until December.

Wednesday, October 26, 2016