The Downs Farmer - Edition 1, 2023

Jeff McMahon has made a career out of macropod harvesting and sees it as a way of conservation culling that helps minimise production losses.

Welcome

Apparently, there’s no such thing as a stupid question but I’ve definitely pushed the limits of this saying with some incredibly patient farmers and their employees the last few weeks. But hey, not even Google Maps gets it right all the time, as I discovered 150km down red dirt and gravel roads and two hours later.

Agriculture has always been a mainstay of the Darling and Southern Downs and our produce is some of the best in Australia, if not the world. But those on the land are so busy doing what they do best, sometimes the full story of how something comes from the paddock to the shop doesn’t get told. That’s where I come in with my questions, to save you the hard work. This season’s had it all from fires to much rain to soaring input costs, but despite this, the commitment and the passion of our farmers for growing premium quality food and fibre stays strong.

Enjoy these yarns from the paddock. Cheers, Jac

Jacinta Cummins

Contact Us

EDITOR: Jacinta Cummins

WRITERS: Megan Masters

GENERAL MANAGER: Erika Brayshaw; Phone: 07 4672 9921; email erika.brayshaw@news.com.au

ADVERTISING & PRODUCT

MANAGER: Joshua Slade; phone: 07 4599 3835; email joshua.slade@news.com.au

All material published in Downs Farmer is subject to copyright provisions. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior written permission for the publisher.

DISCLAIMER: The information contained within Western Downs Farmer is given in good faith and obtained from sources believed to be accurate. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher. The Chronicle or News Corp Australia will not be liable for any opinion or advice contained herein.

nike decision

DESPITE Nike announcing that it will stop using kangaroo leather in its products –including the company’s signature soccer boots –by the end of the year, the Australian kangaroo industry is confident about the future.

Nike’s decision came after a Bill seeking to ban the sale of any part of a kangaroo was introduced in January in Oregon, where the business is based.

Arizona, New Jersey and Connecticut are other US states considering similar legislation.

California banned kangaroobased products in 1971, but had a moratorium on this from 2007 to 2015 when the ban was reimposed.

“Shifts in and out of kangaroo and other leather over time are only natural,” said Ray Borda, who founded Macro Group Australia (formerly Macro Meats) in 1987 and is also president of the Kangaroo Industry Association of Australia.

“These relationships don’t underpin the industry.

“We have other manufacturers that are increasing their demand and recognise the environmental benefits of kangaroo leather, which is fast becoming known as an ecofriendly option due to its longevity, biodegradability and sustainability.”

But Mr Borda is concerned about what he says is an emotive misinformation campaign being driven by animal activist groups targeting politicians, particularly in North America.

“Australia is home to more than 40 million kangaroos, and, of this number, around 4 per cent of only a few abundant species are harvested by the commercial industry every year under intense scrutiny and regulation,” he said.

“Commercial harvesting of kangaroos is widely considered by

the scientific community, government, animal welfare experts, Indigenous groups, and the agricultural industry as a responsible way to manage kangaroo numbers while boosting the economy.”

The association is highlighting the need for greater awareness around the benefits of managing an over-abundant species, including increased biodiversity and sustainability, a reduction in adverse animal welfare outcomes, and waste reduction.

Australia is home to more than 40 million kangaroos

Mr Borda describes kangaroo as a distinct, premium-quality meat that is naturally lean, high in iron and sourced sustainably and responsibly.

“It is estimated that kangaroo meat has one-third the carbon footprint of beef , so it’s not only good for you, it’s good for the environment,” he said.

But animal welfare activists such as filmmaker Mick McIntyre argue that monetising a native or protected species leads to extinction, comparing it to whale-hunting.

But Dr George Wilson, an honorary professor at the Australian National University with decades of experience monitoring kangaroos, rejects these claims.

He said kangaroo-harvesting –tightly controlled by government quotas – was necessary to ease pressures of overbreeding and to minimise damage to primary production.

Dr Wilson warned that if the commercial industry did not survive, it would lead to unregulated amateur culling, where no one could be held accountable, and the eventual mass starvation of kangaroos during drought.

Industry and conservation experts say growing efforts to ban kangaroo products are fuelled by misinformation instead of facts

WORDS AND PHOTOS: JACINTA CUMMINS

Eastern grey kangaroos; and Jeff McMahon takes aim. Picture: Jacinta Cummins

futureoftheindustry

explains theimportance ofhisrole

IT’S about 5.30 on a Tuesday afternoon. The sun casts a golden hue over the paddocks as it slowly sinks into the horizon near Wandoan and a mob of kangaroos dots the landscape feeding on the grass, which is bright green after four inches of rain.

But as most people are thinking about what’s for dinner, Jeff McMahon is just starting his work day which will go until sunrise the next day.

The Toowoomba electrician has been an avid shooter for more than a decade, and with kangaroo meat making $1.30 a kilogram and an abundant population across the Western Downs, he’s become a fulltime macropod harvester – or, in layman’s terms, “a roo shooter”.

“I was sparkying and shooting, but I did the numbers last year and realised there was more money in it (macropod harvesting) if you hook into it and I love being in the paddock by myself – you see some pretty spectacular country,” Jeff explains. He shoots 30 roos a night on average and drives them to the chiller box which can be anywhere from 30km to an hour and a half’s drive away before getting to bed about 8am.

These kangaroos are sold to Macro Group Australia, a South Australiabased business which is the world’s largest kangaroo meat retailer and also specialises in kangaroo leather.

Since starting shooting week on, week off, Jeff’s decided to invest in a chiller truck for around $80,000 to save on fuel and time as he’ll be able to store about 250 carcasses in it and then deliver them once a week instead of daily.

But with a wife and a one-year-old son to support, he will have to return to a more traditional trade if there is a big price drop or a decline in demand for kangaroos.

“I don’t know a lot about the

(kangaroo) leather side of things, but if it affects the market and I can’t maintain my income, I’d definitely have to go back sparkying.

“A lot of people think that getting rid of us guys (roo shooters) is doing the roos a favour, but it doesn’t in the long run because the population gets out of control so they end up fighting for feed.

“I’m concerned that if professionals like myself leave the industry, it could open it up to cowboys who don’t respect kangaroos the way I do and may not euthanise them humanely.

“When I take a

There’s plenty of misinformation out there

kangaroo out, it’s in its natural habitat in the paddock and there’s no stress from handling or transporting like there is for other stock, so it’s a pretty ideal way to go.

“I’d happily do a shooting accuracy test every year as I’m confident in my ability; it’s not in my interest to miss.

“If I misjudge, it’s not the wasted bullet, it’s the fact that the roo stirs up the whole mob as it gets away, so I need to be spot on every time.

“What I do is necessary to keep roo numbers in check and minimise damage to livestock and crops.

“There’s plenty of misinformation out there, but at the end of the day I’m making a living and if I don’t do it, then I worry for how it will end up for both the roos and the landholders.”

Buddingidea takesseed andbegins toblossom

chinchilla mum’s floral ambitions spring to life on flower farm as she learns from her mistakes and grows business

floriculture

Miley Cyrus might have the money to buy her own flowers but one Chinchilla mum has discovered something even better: growing her very own flowers from seed.

Annie Johnson loved flowers growing up and was always the one out of her four siblings who picked flowers for her mother.

Fast forward: after moving to Chinchilla and having children, the former hockey player set her sights on agriculture.

But Annie’s not your typical dyedin-the-wool melon grower and there’s not a sorghum crop to be seen.

She’s carrying an armload of bright flowers, the last of her summer crop, as she comes out to meet me when I arrive at her and her husband Mark’s home on the outskirts of town.

Her two-year-old son Cruze is ambling around in a nappy and gumboots and keeping close tabs on mum as Annie takes me out the back to the small field which is the home of Bloom & Grow Flowers.

She shows me her drying and arranging area in their garage which

she plans to convert to a shopfront.

Her one-year-old daughter Esther is sleeping and as any farmer would know, Annie tells me that between parenting and life, there isn’t often enough time in the day to get as much done as she’d like.

“I was out weeding and Cruze wanted to help, so he started pulling things out until I realised there were more plants than weeds getting pulled out,” she says with a rueful laugh.

But aside from dealing with every farmer’s challenges of not enough daylight and inconsistent staff, what has Annie learnt from her first year in business?

Well, she’s learnt just as much, if not more, from her mistakes as from her successes and is now working out where she wants to take the business in the future.

“I didn’t grow up on a farm, but dad was an ag teacher for 30 years and he’s now growing ginger near Gympie. I’ve definitely never been a town person, but I also didn’t know anyone doing what I wanted to do when I started out,” Annie said.

“I got the idea after buying fresh flowers from a small flower farm and then when it came time to plant last year, I just ordered a bunch of seeds and had a go.

“I planted over 6000 seeds in punnets before transplanting them in the paddock but I had weed matting

down and I put a few more holes in it than I had seedlings.

“The weeds loved coming up through that so the next thing to establish is raised garden beds so it’s easier to maintain between the rows and of course, weed!”

With no formal training, Annie has looked to other growers for advice.

“I read a book Grow, Harvest & Arrange Stunning Seasonal Blooms by an American Erin Benzakein who is a ‘farmer-florist’ [someone who specialises in both growing and designing seasonal flowers] and she has a million followers.

“She made a lot of the same mistakes as I have starting out and has done really well so that’s encouraging.

“I factor in that a lot of this content comes from the other side of the world so they’re in the opposite season to me, but most of it’s still relevant and gives me a starting point.

“I’m still working out what grows well in Chinchilla and what’s not so successful.

“The flowers can be looking amazing but a couple of really hot days just knocks them around so it’s like any other farming – you’re at the mercy of the weather!”

When it came time to sell her flowers, Annie turned to Instagram and Facebook.

“I had an amazing response from locals who’ve bought from me after following the growing process online and a lot of them said they want to support a local grower,” she explains.

“I think many also like that my flowers are seasonal – you can get used to buying whatever flowers you want year-round sometimes but a lot of those will be imported.

“I’m trying to keep it at a manageable level as I’ve got two little kids, but I definitely could have sold more flowers if I had them as the demand was really strong, so I’m just trying to tweak it.”

Annie started a YouTube channel to share her journey with people who

I’m still working out what grows well in Chinchilla and what’s not so successful.

WORDS AND PHOTOS: JACINTA CUMMINS

Bloom & Grow Flowers has certainly lived up to its name this year.

Drying flowers gives Annie Johnson options for when she doesn’t have a crop blooming.

Annie Johnson from Bloom & Grow Flowers in Chinchilla.

want more details.

Reusing old materials and working with existing vegetable matter is core to keeping the business sustainable.

“Drying flowers gives me options for when I don’t have flowers blooming and last Easter my mother and I made wreaths from old grape vines and decorated them with dried flowers so I’ve got a lot of requests for them this Easter.

“I’ve found Everlasting Daisies and Bunny Tails grow easily and dry well and I’ve got a second hand fridge to display the flowers in when we get the studio set up.

“I did my first funeral casket

recently which was a bit of pressure, but it was lovely to give the family some of the brightness they wanted in that time.

Heading into winter, Annie knows she’s got some challenges ahead of her.

“My first crop was summer flowers which are the hardiest and easiest to grow, but I’m really looking forward to the winter planting as they’ll come up in spring and are the flowers that you’d see at the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers.

“The seeds all take different times to germinate and establish, but what I learnt from my first season is to not try and grow everything but stick

with what works out here.

“Ideally I’ll have a mix of perennials, annuals and natives as well as filler foliage like silver dollar trees.

“I did plant some of them, but they died from wet feet, so I’ll need to plant more and then adjust the irrigation across different parts of the plot to meet the differing water needs of the varieties.

Annie’s autumn and winter planting includes poppies, ranunculus, snap dragons and sweet peas to name just a few.

“I started out growing really vibrant, super bright flowers and I love them, but now I’ve done a

season, I want to niche down into flowers I really love which thrive out here and grow what works in a palate together.

“I’m drawn to those pastel shades of pinks, purples and lilacs.”

In the meantime, Annie is looking at how to incorporate regenerative farming practises which can be as simple as rolling in the old sunflower stalks to planting a cover crop.

“I’m wanting to focus on soil health and putting back into it.

“We’re running some dorpers on our block (20ha) but they’re partial to the flowers so they’ve been a bit of a management issue.

“We’ve also got cattle on my in-

laws’ property next door.

“It’s learning as we go and improving along the way to get the different parts to work in together along with our family and my husband’s work.

“It’s not been easy but I’ve been able to do it with the kids and there’s something very special about picking flowers in the cool of the evening as the sun sets.

“They rest in water overnight and I make the bunches up the next morning while the kids play and then have people pick them up during the day.

“It’s a pretty amazing thing to do when I stop and think about it.”

Annie Johnson planted over 6000 seedlings for her first flower crop.

The results of Annie Johnson’s hard work in full bloom.

Jobisoneinamelon

in Australia for German travellers

horticulture

Words and photos: JACINTA CUMMINS

International borders opening up has helped ease the horticulture labour shortage with watermelon producers such as Parramagh Farming welcoming backpackers with open arms.

Keanu Bachman and Susi Schaffner have worked for the business run by Chinchilla father and son duo Darryl and Terry O’Leary from the start of the season, and have done it all from planting to harvesting.

The experience has given them a much deeper understanding of the paddock to plate journey.

Keanu explains that Germany doesn’t grow watermelons and while

he always knew where his food came from when he bought it, he now appreciates the time, money and passion which goes into getting it from the paddock on to a supermarket shelf.

The last few months have also been much more than just gaining an understanding about food production.

Susi laughs as she tells me that none of her friends ever thought she’d be on a melon farm or happy driving a tractor, but the work has changed her for the better.

“I’ve got two highlights: experiencing life with the O’Leary family, they’ve just been amazing, and Terry is trying to convince me to defer my studies so I can come back and work here again,” she says.

“The Melon Fest was also spectacular – I never thought I’d be skiing on melons and then there I

was with them on my feet and Darryl was announcing me as ‘Susi all the way from Germany’ and of course, I fell down straight away!

“It was so amazing to see that many melons and all the different activities they were used for. I’d never seen anything like it.”

But like anything in ag, there’s been downsides.

For Susi, seeing what looked like the perfect melon but then having to throw it out because it hadn’t grown properly was hard.

The fluctuating temperatures also challenged the couple when they first arrived.

Landing in Perth at the end of the European summer, they headed to Chinchilla after lining up work with the O’Learys online and so were expecting an extended summer.

But with wild weather in early December, it wasn’t at all what

Keanu expected.

Still, he’s pragmatic.

“It’s kind of hard in the beginning, but you adjust to it and it’s been a great start to our trip,” he tells me before saying he’s already lining his brother up to come and work for Darryl and Terry.

Terry is more than happy with any referrals from previous workers as he knows they’ll be consistent and perform, but he’s still determined to lure Keanu and Susi back to work the next melon season despite their plans for travel and study commitments.

The couple will finish the final weeks of melon harvest before hitting the road and heading north, but it’s unclear whether they’ll still be eating watermelon every day then.

For now, they’re more than happy to cut one open and share it in the paddock before moving on to their next job for the day.

I never thought I’d be skiing on melons and then there I was with them on my feet

Keanu Bachman and Susi Schaffner got a sweet taste of farm life and plenty of watermelons, while working on a melon farm near Chinchilla for the season.

Listenforthesymptoms

Hearing loss among farmers and agricultural workers

The continual use of loud machinery and equipment on farms, such as tractors, augers, firearms, chainsaws, radios and tools in the workshop increases the risk of permanent hearing loss for farmers.

According to a report by the Australian Parliament, the agricultural sector reports high levels of hearing loss. 65 per cent of Australian farmers have a measurable hearing loss, compared to 22-27 per cent of the general population. Hearing loss is also high among young farmers compared to the general population and occurs, on average, 10-15 years earlier than in non-agricultural populations.

Signs that you may have hearing loss include:

• Background noise makes it difficult to hear conversations in crowds or at social events.

• You do not always hear the phone ring.

• Others may complain that the television or radio is too loud but you find it is at a comfortable level for you to hear.

• Constantly asking others to repeat

what they have just said.

• Ringing or noises in the ear or head when away from equipment or machinery (tinnitus).

• People complain that you talk too loudly.

Hearing loss and links to other health concerns

The six major conditions associated with hearing loss are social isolation and loneliness, depression, balance problems and falls, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and dementia.

Prevention

• Ask yourself the question—can the task be completed in a way that reduces your exposure to farm noise?

• When purchasing or replacing machinery ask about the availability of a quieter model.

• Ensure machinery or equipment is maintained with regular checks to ensure it runs as quietly as possible.

• If possible, rearrange work areas to alter your proximity to loud machines or equipment.

• Insulate cabins to further reduce noise.

• Limit the time spent working close to loud machinery. Try rotating work tasks.

• Download a noise meter app to

monitor the noise levels of equipment, machinery and tasks on the farm.

• Wear Class 5 hearing protection such as ear plugs or ear muffs and be familiar with the Sound Level Conversion (SLC) rating of those

items.

Hearing checks

Regular hearing checks are important in monitoring your hearing and your local ihear clinic can provide you with hearing

protection, advice and solutions. Ihear has clinics across the Darling Downs area, call (07) 4638 1277 for your free hearing check.

(1) https://farmerhealth.org.au/2014/03/21/noiseprevention

Hearing loss can be a direct effect of many occupations and exposure to loud environmental sounds.

The continual use of loud machinery and equipment on farms, such as tractors, augers, firearms, chainsaws, radios and tools in the workshop increases the risk of permanent hearing loss for farmers.

Our work related hearing services include:

l Free hearing checks

l Hearing protection solutions.

l Latest hearing devices

Do you feel that your work or environment may have impacted your hearing?

Rinseout, collect, useagain

Agricultural stewardship programs benefit communities

Developed with the environment in mind, Agsafe’s drumMUSTER program collects and recycles eligible, empty and clean agricultural and veterinary chemical containers.

DrumMUSTER is Agsafe’s national product stewardship program, supported by AgVet chemical manufacturers, farmers and growers, industry stakeholders including member and farming associations, as well as state and local governments.

Working with local councils and other collection agencies, drumMUSTER has established collection facilities all over Australia

and has recycled over 40 million containers.

The program benefits the user, the environment, industry and the community by providing a reliable, cost effective and sustainable option for the recycling of eligible agvet chemical containers. Community groups that run the program also benefit by raising money from each drum they inspect and collect.

“Farm businesses who frequent drumMUSTER sites are setting a good example of how the simple act of recycling can keep land and waterways cleaner and litter-free, and communities safer.” said Agsafe’s General Manager, Dominique Doyle.

Farmers in the Darling Downs region have always been great

40 million

supporters of the drumMUSTER program.

Ed Bracey is the Regional Consultant for the region and can be

RINSE THEM OUT ROUND THEM UP RUN THEM IN

Dominique Doyle recycling with drumMUSTER.

Agsafe’s drumMUSTER ® program is a national product stewardship program that is supported by agvet chemical manufacturers, industry stakeholders including member and farming associations as well as state and local governments.

Farmersgowiththeflow

Hydrosmart technology turns poor quality water into free fertiliser

Every now and then an idea comes along that’s so good it sounds fake, so when he’s not busy helping farmers make the desert bloom with brackish water, you can often find Paul Pearce explaining just how he does it.

Mr Pearce is CEO and founder of Hydrosmart, an Adelaide-based company that uses electricity to make poor quality bore, dam, and even hard town water, healthy and safe for animal, plant and crop consumption alike through the removal of scale, iron and impacts upon salinity and corrosion.

He said while the downsides of hard and heavily mineralised water on plants and soil were relatively well known, few people realised just how tough hard water can be on livestock, with farmers using his Hydrosmart system reporting reduced calf scouring, better weight gain, and consequently, better financial yields.

For cropping farmers, he said it was as good as free fertiliser, with treatment of the water breaking down scale and sprinkler blockages whilst also making the minerals much more bioavailable for plants to take up.

“We love scale because you know you have fertiliser ready to be made,” Mr Pearce said.

“People can’t believe the difference, so what we do is really quite fun.

“It seems too good to be true, but it’s not.”

There is no filtration, no added chemicals, no salinity removal and no significant ongoing costs once Hydrosmart is installed.

This is because at the heart of the technology is simply the idea of using electricity to disrupt the bonds between minerals, which takes surprisingly little power and few moving parts.

Mr Pearce said there were plenty of sceptics when it came to such novel technology, but word had already spread throughout the table grape industry and further afield, with growers boasting of lower fertiliser costs, fewer salinity issues, healthier soil, healthier stock, and lower maintenance costs for those who used to spending a sizeable portion of time and money clearing mineral build-up from irrigation equipment.

The best part is the results are almost immediately noticeable, with the treated water acting in a similar

We love scale because you know you have fertiliser ready to be made.

is no filtration, no added chemicals, no salinity removal and no significant ongoing costs once Hydrosmart is installed.

We’vegotfarmerscovered

Find the right cover for all your farm and agribusiness needs

At Fitton Insurance Brokers, we understand that your farm and crop can be both your home and livelihood. Any loss of assets, legal liability claims or interruption to your trade could have a devastating effect on you and your family.

Fitton Insurance Managing Director, Ron Fitton, grew up on the Darling Downs and started the family business almost 40 years ago and has strong relationships in the local community.

Having been in the business since 1984, Fitton Insurance team have indepth knowledge of the insurance market and will ensure your policy is customised to best suit your needs.

Your dedicated Client Broker will work with you to understand what type of cover you need to develop an insurance solution that matches with both your lifestyle and your livelihood.

Our Comprehensive Farm and Agribusiness insurance policies that we arrange include Crop, Farm & Earthmoving Machinery, Livestock and Weather Protection.

We pride ourselves on providing our clients with a personalised, one-

on-one service lodging claims as well as providing claims advice should an unexpected event arise that affects your business. Whether it was a super

Insurance Policies include Crop, Farm & Earthmoving Machinery, livestock, and Weather Protection.

Clearing saleat Ellangowan

WITHCovid-inducedsupplychain disruptionsandthecost-of-living increases,therehasneverbeena moreimportanttimeforclearing salesatRayWhiteRuralPittsworth andWarwick.

RuralsalesconsultantRobCaton hasruncountlessclearingsales overthedecadesandsaidthe demandforqualitysecond-hand farmingequipmenthadneverbeen higher.

“Withtheincreasesinthecostof equipmentfinanceandextended deliverytimesonnewmachinery wehaveseenanever-increasing demandforqualityusedfarming equipment,whichhasseen attendanceatclearingsalessurge,” hesaid.

“Fromstockfeederstoplantingand tillageimplementsthroughto tractorsandtrucks,bothlocaland interstatebuyersareeagertobidat clearingsales.”

Distancewasnolongerabarrierto thesales,withRayWhiteNASCO offeringtheabilityforonlinebuyers toparticipateinauctionsfrom acrossthecountry.

ForfellowclearingsaleguruMatt Cleary,theproofofRayWhite expertiseinthisareaisinthe pudding.

Buyersremainkeen

Quality properties still attracting a lot of interest

Interest rates and the increasing cost of living might be the talk of the city real estate industry, but out in the regions it’s a slightly different story according to Ray White Pittsworth and Warwick sales operation manager Matthew Keeley. While he admitted there was some slow-down in terms of people showing interest in regional and rural properties, particularly lifestyle blocks, the number of serious buyers had remained relatively unchanged.

Ray White Rural Warwick agent Angus Corke echoed the sentiment. “Quality properties are still attracting a lot of interest if marketed and advertised correctly,” he said.

The volume of buyer inquiry has dropped off, but the current buyers inquiring are more genuine and keen to act.”

Part of that was simply market forces at work, but part of it could be attributed to the versatility of a business that forms part of the lifeblood of its local communities while also having access to national and international buyers.

Business principal James Croft said the primary difference he had noticed was that buyers often took a little more time to think about their decisions before making them, but that they were very much still prepared to put it on the line for the right property.

Pittsworth agent James Arthur said the deciding factor could be as simple as making sure the property was perfectly presented to help secure buyer interest and make sure the price was right for the seller.

Mr Keeley said Ray White Rural Pittsworth and Warwick facilitated purchases and sales all across the Darling Downs and were the leading

rural specialists across the region.

“One of the biggest advantages we offer to our clients in any market is we have one of the larger corporate footprints across the region while still maintaining strong regional connections,” Mr Keeley said.

“We’re the best of both worlds.”

He said whether clients were interested in selling to corporations in Sydney, Melbourne or Beijing, or whether they were interested in selling to their next door neighbour, Ray White Rural Warwick and Pittsworth could facilitate.

To inquire about buying or selling across the Darling Downs visit raywhiteruralpittsworth.com.au or raywhiteruralwarwick.com.au.

“WerecentlyheldClearingSalesat “Glengariffe”atGraymareand anotheratEastGreenmount,”he said. “Wesawhundredsofpeople registertobidandattendtheon- siteauctions.

“Throughthesesuccessful campaignswewereabletoachieve unprecedentedresultsforboth vendors.”

Thenextclearingsalewillbeheldat EllangowanonFriday,April14. Thissalewillincludealotofgood quality,low-hourmachinery. Tofindoutmoreaboutthesale contactMattClearyon 0428 987 340.

Matt Cleary from Ray White Rural Pittsworth.

We’ve got the Downs covered.

Ray White Rural Pittsworth

raywhitepittsworth.com.au

Phone: (07) 4693 1644

Ray White Rural Warwick

raywhiteruralwarwick.com.au

Phone: (07) 4661 7200

Buyerslook forquality

Regional real estate remains hot after boom courtesy of covid

It’s no secret that the regions underwent a boom as city folk spread out during Covid lockdowns, but according to the staff at Ray White Rural Pittsworth and Warwick, interest has barely slowed down even as interest rates climb.

Whether they’re looking to move to one of the towns, villages and hamlets across the Darling Downs or buy a small acreage property to enjoy some space, serious buyers are still in the market and many have deep pockets.

Ray White Rural Warwick sales agent Jodie Hughes said the trend in recent years had been serious offers from highly discerning buyers.

“As the Warwick community has grown over recent years, I have seen an ever-increasing demand for higher end property, with more attention to detail and a higher demand for quality design,” she said.

“Discerning buyers are more than willing to pay a premium for these well-built, well

designed properties.”

It was a story echoed by other agents across Ray White Rural’s Warwick and Pittsworth offices, with sales agent Kathy Hohns saying buyers around Pittsworth were finally able to get the best of both worlds as Toowoomba continued to boom and the Wellcamp Airport offered an easy connection with capital cities across the country.

Ray White Rural Warwick sales agent Peter Lane said quality, small acreage properties were spending little time on the market due to unprecedented demand for lifestyle blocks suitable for families and retirees moving in from the farms alike.

In all, despite the doom and gloom in the big city property markets, out in the regions things are still looking bright.

To inquire about buying or selling across the Darling Downs visit raywhiteruralpittsworth.com.au or raywhiteruralwarwick.com.au.

Jodie Hughes from Ray White Rural Warwick.

Discerning buyers are more than willing to pay a premium

application to fund state-of-the-art equestrian centre Olympicdream

toowoomba royal show

words: MEGAN MASTERS

Alot has changed for the Royal Agricultural Society of Queensland since it was founded in Toowoomba in 1860, and change is the one thing we can still count on today according to the organisation’s CEO, Damon Phillips.

Nearly 40 years has passed since the organisation outgrew two previous locations, finding a final home at the site Toowoomba residents know and love at Glenvale.

Mr Phillips said with all the changes across the agricultural sector in the region, show numbers had declined over the years both in terms of exhibitors and patrons, but with plenty of hard work and ingenuity, the site has remained at the heart of the community.

Rather than everything hinging

on a single weekend of takings from the Heritage Bank Toowoomba Royal Show, the annual calendar at the Glenvale site is now jam-packed with an ever-growing range of events.

Far from resting on their laurels, the society has plenty more in the pipeline, with an application to fund a state-of-the-art equestrian centre capable of hosting the equine events for the 2032 Olympics.

Regardless of their success in applying to host Olympic events, Mr Phillips said the centre would be a huge asset not just for Toowoomba, but Queensland. While entrants in the agricultural side of the show had declined over the decades, one area that had seen a sharp increase in numbers was the equestrian events, with equestrian sports becoming more accessible to more people and offering a rewarding source of selfdiscipline and healthy competition for youngsters.

It was a factor Mr Phillips said had led to a greater focus on the

site’s ability to cater to them.

“We’re currently working on the Equestrian Centre of Excellence and we’re hoping to release the plan in the next few weeks,” Mr Phillips said.

“It has the potential of staging the lead-up to the Olympics and maybe hosting some of the events there. Really good quality horses need to perform on special surfaces and there is currently nowhere in Queensland that has this.”

Trucking millions of dollars’ worth of horses from site to site around Brisbane would present a dicey prospect for owners and riders, where Toowoomba Showgrounds could have the capacity to be an all-in-one site.

He said the amount of time and space required to host the sheer number of horses and riders that will descend upon Queensland for the Olympics was staggering, and securing enough space for training, stables and team campsites was something few other sites could offer.

Add that to the site’s proximity to Wellcamp Airport and Mr Phillips said there was a good possibility the State Government would see the benefits.

Olympics aside, however, Mr Phillips said it would still be a boon for Queensland in attracting major events and would be legacy infrastructure.

“We could have excavators in tomorrow is the funding is there and it could be up and running in two years,” he said.

In the meantime, Mr Phillips said it was business as usual as the site geared up to host the Heritage Bank Toowoomba Royal Show, kicking off today and running through to Saturday.

As always, the event promises an amazing way for the region’s youngsters to find out more about where their food and fibre comes from as well as offering the thrill of rides, entertainment and delicious food.

For more information visit www.toowoombashow.com.au.

Trail ride with a difference, covering 3642ha of picturesque hills and creek flats.

Spend Easterin thesaddle

IT’Sonagain,theRACQLifeFlight Charityrideandmusteratthe scenicGlenelgStationinCement Hills,Queensland.

Thisisatrailridewithadifference, covering3642haofpicturesque hillsandmeanderingcreekflats. Thisannualeventisalsoa fundraiserforRACQLifeFlight,an organisationprovidinganamazing rescueserviceforourregion. Bringyourhorse,andspendEaster inthesaddlewithallmealsandlight refreshmentsprovided. Rolloutyourswagunderthestars orgetaroomattheshearers quarters.

Fridaynightpromisestobeanother greateveningofentertainment withlivemusic,charityauction, bushpoetry,raffles,andmuch more.

Tobookforthisweekendof outdoorequineentertainment contactMarkorAmandaAbraon 0427005487.

Royal Agricultural Society of Queensland CEO Damon Phillips is excited about the future of the Glenvale showgrounds site. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Evolutionof recruitment

Labour shortages drive creation of agriculture employment websites and social media accounts

farming background, they won’t know about farm-employment specific websites.

words and photo: JACINTA CUMMINS

THE Queensland Farmers’ Federation launched its Ag Jobs Queensland site in February and AgForce also offers a similar service on its website, while northern stations rely on recruiters specialising in ag to source their dry season workforce.

So why are more and more producers turning to social media to find willing workers?

Labour shortages are not new, but as farmers increasingly embrace tech for drone mapping and surveillance to water supply monitoring, they have also realised that social media is a slightly less sophisticated but just as worthwhile a tool for their business.

Moree-based photographer Heidi Morris, who moonlights as a header driver over harvest, started the Seasonal Work Australia account on Instagram as a way to engage a different audience of prospective workers.

According to her, the account’s success lies in the fact that young people are on the app a lot whereas they may not be reading the paper so they don’t see the ads; or if they’re not from a

She sees it as a win-win for farmers and growers because it’s connecting demographics which have gone unnoticed by each other in the past.

While many of the jobseekers don’t have previous experience, with plenty of work to be done many farmers are happy to train people from scratch so long as they’ve got a good attitude and work ethic.

It takes time but the benefit is they don’t have to try and correct mistakes or break bad habits.

Chinchilla watermelon grower Terry O’Leary has found some great employees through employment websites aimed at backpackers. And he knows that if he finds a good one, any of their friends or family they recommend are likely to have the attributes he’s looking for in an employee.

“Our costs have doubled in two years with everything being more expensive: inputs, machinery and labour,” he explained.

“But if you look after your staff, you usually reap the benefits.

“More and more we are finding them online, but you should never underestimate the power of word of mouth.”

Employers are looking online and turning to social media to tap into a younger demographic of prospective employees, with many finding that what backpackers lack in experience they often make up for with a hardworking attitude.

Aschoollikenoother

AITC offers students the skills and knowledge to achieve their passion

Janica Glasson, current Year 11 student at the Australian Industry Trade College has her sights set firmly on agriculture. She has absolute confidence that her education and experience will lead her back home to the immense family property, Picarilli Merinos, Thargomindah — 900km from Toowoomba.

Studying agriculture while trying to complete senior school presented a challenge at first, especially for a young person with a love of the outdoors, riding bikes to muster sheep, riding horses in polo cross, and helping out with the family business.

“Last year I was home schooling after returning home from boarding school,” she said.

I’m someone who likes to be outside, at home, and in the workplace.”

“I found a school where I could continue my TAFE course and graduate with my Year 12 QCE, and that of course is the AITC.”

“I like everything about the AITC,” explains Janica.

“Everything they teach us leads back to the workplace.

“It’s different to any other school I’ve been to and I love it.

“I’ve never liked school that much, but this school is so supportive and I feel more confident.”

Due to the AITC’s deliberately different program Janica has five weeks of education each term.

During this time Janica’s mum stays with her in Toowoomba.

During Industry Blocks, the other five weeks of each term, the family

returns home.

“I think it’s a great program. I’m working full time at home during industry,” Janica said.

“I love it because the AITC can help you achieve your goals.”

Janica has big career goals.

“I want to travel up north. I also want to go to Canada and work on big ranches there and use that

experience for when I take over the family property,” she said.

With years of experience in farm life from early on, Janica says her Cert III in Agriculture will teach her more about various trades embedded in that certificate.

“Giving animals vaccines is a big part of agriculture,” explains Janica.

“Agriculture is also about taking

care of the land while taking care of your livestock.

“You need to have cycles of where you want to put your livestock every few months, so the feed has time to grow back, and it’s also about maintaining the soil.”

For her online TAFE course Janica sends in video and images for the practical part.

Janica Glasson mustering with AITC.

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Warrantyiskeydifference

Predator Power East expands to supply quality products to customers across Australia’s east coast

AFTER establishing itself as a trusted name in Perth on Australia’s west coast, Predator Power East director Paul Barton said it soon became obvious the company would need to expand to supply quality products to customers on the other side of the country.

The company specialises in Zongshen’s ZS range of power machinery and word had spread about the manufacturer’s reliability and cost effectiveness to the point that it became necessary to establish a warehouse on the other side of the country.

Customers across the Darling Downs now have access to an amazing range of products that includes transfer pumps, inverter generators, conventional generators, pressure washers, hose reels and lawn equipment including scarifiers.

Mr Barton said there were a few

key differences about the range that would impress customers.

“Warranty is a key difference for us,” he said.

“Our warranties are a lot longer than a lot of others.

“Where a lot of companies in this market offer as little as three or six-month warranties on commercial products, we offer a two-year warranty for both commercial and residential uses.”

He said Zongshen was one of the largest manufacturers of machinery in the world and not only backed their products with a long warranty, but also backed them with engineering support and spare parts.

Zongshen is also a leader in low emission and fuel-efficient technology, making it affordable long after it leaves the dealership.

The company also guarantees its production efficiency to ensure that every product is of the high quality that today’s consumers expect.

Mr Barton said Predator Power East was in the process of expanding the range of dealers across Queensland who stocked the products, which were primarily available through both mower stores and agricultural suppliers.

In a more personal sense, Mr Barton is happy to vouch for the fantastic range.

“We are users of this product and were dealers for a long time,” he said.

“The cost of the products compared to some of the others on the market versus how it performs is fantastic, so when the opportunity came up to become suppliers, we took it.

“We’ve been in the power products a long time and we get a very clear message from our customers.

“They demand power equipment that just works with strong technical support and great spare parts back-up.

“So we created Predator Power Products to bring you great brands like ZS Power from Zongshen. We can bring you great equipment, with the best support and a price that is as reasonable as we can make it.”

Mr Barton said keeping customers happy was at the core of their business and they weren’t your average nine-to-five business, because in agriculture, you can’t always clock off at 5pm.

“We know that building a reputation isn’t easy and we have always done the hard yards to help our customers when they need it most,” he said.

“If you need technical support, we are here to support you, and out phone doesn’t get switched off or abandoned at 5pm.

“If you phone or message, we’ll be there ready to help you.”

To find out more about the ZS range and Predator Power East, visit predatorpowereast.com.au.

We offer a two year warranty for both commercial and residential uses

The Predator Power East team is ready to help customers across the Darling Downs.

There in your time of need

Dentures with bite

Toowoomba:

services

bushfire recovery

Bushfires in Miles and Tara in February brought the reality of natural disasters home for many farmers.

Drought Angels is just one of the first responders on the scene in the aftermath of devastation, but Founder and CEO Natasha Johnston said the impacts are felt by people and their communities long after the media has stopped recording.

“There’s so much trauma to process and unpack after the logistics have been dealt with that people will sometimes only reach out for help 18 months after the event,” she said.

“They may look like they’ve got things together, but this is a long term process and Drought Angels’ remit has evolved from helping in times of crisis to becoming a onestop shop connecting people with support services for everything from mental health to financial assistance.

“We’ve always been the little charity with big heart and that’s only gotten bigger and bigger as time goes on.”

Ross Leggett is chief executive officer with Rural & Small Business Financial Counselling Service Southern Queensland (RFCSSQ).

He said there are three stages after a major event.

“There are three phases we call the ‘The three Rs’: reinstatement which occurs immediately afterwards and that’s the obvious things, recovery which generally takes between seven to 10 years but in cases of extremely severe events like the 2019 Northern Queensland floods can be much longer and then there is resilience which is always ongoing,” he explains.

“We find most people aren’t aware of the three Rs and while parts of them can overlap, it can increase anxiety and stress if things take longer to come back from than they expect, but

full recovery takes much longer than most people realise.”

It is unclear yet what rebuilding assistance is available to producers after the fires, but the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA) offers a range of extraordinary disaster recovery grants and some lending with the deadline application for some of the 2022 flooding and rainfall event grants extended to June.

If an affected producer isn’t in a disaster declared area, he or she can apply to be recognised as an Individual Disaster Stricken Property to open up some concessional lending and subsidy rebates.

RFCSSQ also offers a free confidential service to any producers or small businesses seeking counselling or assistance.

“If you see those dark clouds on the horizon and contact us then, you have more options than if you wait until you are in the thick of the storm,” Ross said.

“We are a hand up, not a hand out and our service is here to help people so I would encourage anyone to access it.”

But Tash cautions that while money is important, your physical and mental health is paramount as without that you’ll struggle to get back on your feet.

“Whether you need to talk to someone or need help with everyday necessities, please reach out and if we can’t help, we can connect you to people who can.

“Try not to place timelines around how things come together as you rebuild because it is like grieving the death of a loved one – other people move on, but you’re still processing and it will take you longer than it takes those who aren’t as affected.”

For immediate support phone Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636 or Lifeline Australia on 13 11 14.

For post disaster recovery support find more information at:

• www.droughtangels.org.au

• www.rfcssq.org.au

• www.qrida.qld.gov.au

At AH Diabetes we are committed to providing a high quality, holistic and patient centered service to those living with diabetes, their families, and the community. With a focus on enhancing quality of life, we specialise in assisting all people with every type of diabetes, their supports, and the community.

The AH Diabetes team consists registered nurses/credentialed diabetes educators, accredited practicing dietitians and a Mental Health Therapist. We work closely with local endocrinologists, GP’s and physicians to provide comprehensive care.

Services include.

Community, carer, school, and workplace education

Insulin pumps and CGM

Pre-Diabetes, Type 1, Type 2, Type 3C and gestational diabetes.

General Dietetics and weight loss

Counselling

Individual and Group Education

Healthy Living on a Budget Program

AH Diabetes practices in the following locations – Toowoomba, Springfeld, Dalby, Warwick, Oakey, Chinchilla, Miles, Tara.

We also offer Telehealth and online bookings.

For more information, or to make a booking please call 07 46462 530 or book online at www.ahdiabetes.com.au

Words: JACINTA CUMMINS

Drought Angels has become a one-stop shop connecting people with support

Takingcontrolofquality

30 years of family farming yields award-winning pork

In a market where consumers are becoming increasingly aware of animal welfare, food quality and ethics, it can be tough to keep them happy.

For award-winning family pork producing outfit Merivale Farms, the best way to ensure their pork consistently remains a highquality product - sought after by consumers and restaurants alikewas to take charge of the whole production from farrow to finish.

Company director Don Scheid and his wife Lea-Ann have farmed at Merivale Farms on the Darling Downs for more than 30 years, with son Scott joining the operation with his wife Jemma when he was 21.

In 2016, Scott took over the management role from Don at Merivale’s Allora Breeding Unit, while Jemma took over accounts management.

The close-knit family and their highly skilled team now manage a 1050 sow operation over two state-ofthe-art facilities in Allora and Bell, guaranteeing an uninterrupted supply of premium, award-winning pork.

Merivale’s approach is collaborative, to ensure a quality outcome: working closely with their customers, industry bodies and

Australian Pork Limited to determine specifications and requirements. Merivale Farms produces a quality, premium pork product.

The animals’ feed comprises a careful blend of the highest quality grains, specially formulated by nutritionists to promote optimal

development. With close attention to details such as ensuring the operation is free of gestation stalls and accredited with

the Australian Pork Industry Quality Program and PigPass, the future for this wonderful family business looks bright.

2017 Sydney Royal Fine Food Show - Silver Medallist

2017 Swickers National Pork Carcass Competition: 3rd

2017 Swickers National Bacon Carcass Competition: 3rd

Merivale Farms’ quality fresh pork is used to create award-winning small goods for sale domestically and for export.

Expertisejustaddsup

When it comes to ag accounting on the Darling Downs, it’s hard to go past the incredible reputation the BMO Business Centre in Dalby has built. Commencing in 1990, today BMO is owned by four partners – all with extensive experience and strong local ties –Adrian Rasmussen, Kelvin Tyler, Michelle McVeigh, and David Briese. Senior Financial Planners Mal Smith and Shane Lee are also Principals of BMO Financial Solutions, the firm’s financial planning division. Through the partners’ leadership and their commitment to employees and customers, BMO has grown from around eight staff to a team of over 50.

Over the years, BMO has preempted and adapted to their ag clients’ needs by adding new service areas to their business. Moving from a traditional accounting firm to one that offers a range of services including accounting and tax, bookkeeping, business development, financial planning, loans and leasing, human resources, marketing communications, succession planning, self-managed super funds and even a conference centre.

Their personal approach, coupled with modern technology, makes it possible for BMO to maintain regular contact with their clients, stretching from Queensland to Western Australia, and they’ll even make the effort to visit their clients on farm.

High technical competence, strict standards and a creative approach, has meant BMO has been able to successfully help their clients grow

their businesses and individual wealth. Ensuring they partner with the primary producer to become their sounding board and support in both times of growth and tough times.

BMO has built a reputation as a highly professional, innovative, progressive and caring organisation, proven with their various award achievements and longstanding valued client base.

As a result, BMO have been ranked in the top 58 of tax agents in Australia (of which there are some 12,000), won numerous local business excellence awards, are continuously named in the Australian Financial Review Top 100 accounting firms list, and were finalists at the Australian Accounting Awards and Queensland Training Awards Darling Downs in 2022. BMO Partner Michelle McVeigh also received recognition for her dedication to the industry, winning the Regional Professional of the Year at the Women in Finance Awards last year.

But BMO’s recognition for their excellent contribution to the accounting industry just reinforces the strength of their service and

dedication to connecting with the community and engaging with clients in the farming sector.

All four partners either grew up on the family farm or currently own and operate their own farming enterprises. So, they know the dayto-day struggles, the long hours, the commitment required and the passion driving farmers to continue to feed our country and the world.

Being connected with the communities where their team and clients live and work is a big part of the BMO culture. This is evident when you continue to see the team attending events, speaking at seminars, educating clients and the community at workshops and conferences, holding monthly charity fundraising activities, sponsorships, donations, hosting free events like their very popular The Farmer Wants a Life seminar series, monthly breakfasts and HR shed talks on farms, just to name a few.

But in the office, there’s a busy flow of ag accounting work from registrations, set up and training on cloud accounting software, processing payroll, bookkeeping, completion and lodgement of quarterly BAS’s, to cashflow and budget reporting, tax update planning, succession planning, tax and even providing employment awards and contracts to farming enterprises.

For the BMO Partners and Accountants, tax planning is their favourite time of year. Navigating the latest legislation and tax rulings and implementing tax saving strategies for primary producers before June 30 can make a big difference to not only the clients’ cashflow but also their tax liability.

Ag accountants you can count on to help you navigate your business

BMO Partners David Briese, Kelvin Tyler, Michelle McVeigh and Adrian Rasmussen.

BMO Partner Adrian Rasmussen visiting a client’s property.

BMO HR Manager Dave Adams visiting a client’s property.

You can count on us for all your rural business needs

We are locally owned, regionally based and live in our community. The business owners and majority of our team are from a farming background or are still living on the land, so we know Ag.

Don’t just ‘get your tax done’. Work with an award winning frm that supports you all year round, offering a sounding board for new ideas, a helping hand for building your wealth, and strategies for reducing debt and keeping tax to a minimum.

We offer a 360 degree approach to business services including:

Accounting & Taxation l Financial Planning* l Bookkeeping Business Development l Loans & Leasing l Marketing & Communications

Human Resources l Self Managed Superannuation Funds* l Succession Planning*

We’re here to PLANT the ideas and give you workable options to achieve your goals. Help you NURTURE your business needs through the good and the bad seasons. So you can HARVEST the rewards of fnancial freedom and successful planning.

Truck and Trailer Scales