FARMtalk Magazine - December 2020/January 2021

FARMtalk DECEMBER 2020 / JANUARY 2021

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Advertising & Editorial Deadlines February Edition: January 29, 2021

Ridding the rabbits

In the year 1950 history was made in the Hopefield farming community, north of Corowa.

March Edition: February 26, 2021 April Edition: March 31, 2021 May Edition: April 30, 2021 June Edition: May 31, 2021 July Edition: June 30, 2021

F

or many years, rabbits had wreaked havoc in the region, devouring crops and spreading erosion with their burrows. Nationwide, their population had reached 600 million.

Like the rest of Australia, local farmers desperately tried to control the numbers and regain control of their land. Extermination methods included shooting, fumigating warrens and fencing but had very little success.

Susie Cay was only five years old at the time, however she remembers the devastation the rabbits

had on her parent’s property ‘Warrembool’ in Hopefield.

“My father Fred Taylor kept a station diary, as farmers do, where he recorded the work involved in exterminating the rabbits,” Ms Cay said.

“So much time was spent on shooting, fumigating and ripping rabbits out. The diary goes on and on about it. Nearly every day. It is just extraordinary.

“I remember being with dad while he ripped out rabbit burrows.”

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After WWII, rabbits had reached plague proportions in Australia casing widespread devastation to farming land.

Photo courtesy State Library of NSW.

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SEE PAGE 15 FOR ADVERTISING & EDITORIAL CONTACT DETAILS Information contained in this magazine is presented only after being carefully researched. However, there are differences in state and regional regulations and conditions. Farmers are asked to check with their own advisors. FARMtalk can assume no responsibility for the contents.

HOPEFIELD, NSW After World War II, the situation had become desperate as rabbit numbers reached plague proportions and many farmers were forced off the land. Public pressure was mounting to find a solution.

Beechworth born doctor and scientist Dame Jean MacNamara had campaigned relentlessly for the myxoma virus to be introduced during the 1930s.

MacNamara had heard about the effectiveness of the virus on rabbits in Europe. However, scientists were sceptical as early trials of the virus in dry parts of the country failed.

Dr MacNamara continued to lobby the Australian government and recommended the virus be released in well-watered country.

In September 1950 the officer in charge of the newly formed CSIRO, Francis Ratcliffe and respected scientist Frank ‘Bunny’ Fenner released the virus in various locations around the Murray River region.

An area of Hopefield was chosen, in a belt of pine trees between the properties of Fred Taylor and Jack Izon.

In Mr Taylor’s station diary, he recorded each visit made by the scientists and the CSIRO. Mrs Cay remembered the scientists visiting her family farm frequently during the later months of 1950.

Rabbits were captured in the night, caged and injected with the virus before being released again.

While some infections were reported between September and December, to the disappointment of the scientists, the virus failed to spread. They decided to pack up and return to Canberra.

During the month of December one of the men working on Mr Taylor’s property reported sick rabbits along the belt of pine trees. He contacted the CSIRO and within hours they returned to the trial sight and confirmed it was myxomatosis.

In a matter of weeks, the disease spread like wildfire. It was reported at the Corowa Golf Club and in areas of Rutherglen. Soon after, reports came flooding from as far away as the Murrumbidgee, Lachlan and Darling Rivers.

Scientists were stunned by the speed in which the virus spread. The wetter than average summer of 1951 encouraged mosquitos to breed which helped spread the virus along the Murray-Darling system.

DECEMBER 2020

FARMtalk • 3

Susie Cay, daughter of Fred Taylor, points to an area on her property known as ‘The Pines’ where CSIRO scientists introduced the myxoma virus to rabbits.

“The disease tends to be confined to the river flats and frontage country. In the Corowa/Rutherglen area, where the most detailed observations have been carried out, there is an obvious and clear relation between the activity of the disease and proximity of weedy lagoons. These are the breeding places of the dusk-biting Culex annulirostris mosquito,” a CSIRO press release in January 1951 noted.

The virus was not kind to rabbits. Myxomatosis was a slow and agonising death leaving farmers with no option but to shoot the rabbits to put them out of their misery.

Prominent Corowa local, and sheep and grain farmer, Keith Barber lived down the road from Susie Cay for more than 40 years. He recalled the widespread devastation to the land caused by the rabbits and the swift recovery soon after the virus was introduced.

“You could go out at night-time and shine your car lights and the country would almost be moving they were that thick,” Mr Barber said.

“The financial and environmental cost of the rabbits was enormous. Thankfully the introduction of myxo was the miracle the farmers were looking for in that it brought the rabbit population down to

a manageable size and allowed for the introduction of higher quality pastures such as sub clover and lucerne.”

It is estimated that by 1952, Australia’s wool and meat production had jumped by $68 million as pastures recovered from the devastation of rabbits.

“The wool boom of the 1950s occurred and there was not so much degradation, more stock was able to be run, and greater income was earned. It was a cruel disease, but it was the saviour of a lot of land,” Mr Barber said.

As predicted by scientists Ratcliffe and Fenner, eventually rabbits became genetically resistant to the myxoma virus.

Seventy years on from the successful release of myxomatosis in Hopefield, Mrs Cay said she still marvels at the success of the virus on her family property and the important role her father played in assisting CSIRO scientists in the extermination of rabbits.

“It is extraordinary. I feel very proud. My father was an amazing man and a hard worker. I guess it’s our family’s brush with fame,” she said.

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BLIGHTY, NSW

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DECEMBER 2020

FARMtalk • 5

Improved water allocations in 2020 has boosted confidence for a pair of Blighty brothers.

O

n the back of slowly increasing allocations in the lead up to corn sowing, Lachlan and Adam Marshall planted an extra 30 hectares compared to the previous two years.

Their 130ha crop this season will be used as supplementary feed for their dairy herds.

While the crop is still smaller than what they would grow in a ‘normal year’, the brothers say any chance to reduce their feed costs was welcomed.

Adam and Lachlan have been farming in the Southern Riverina since 2006, and introduced corn to their rotation two years later.

It was a way to adjust to dwindling water availability, and ensure their cattle were fed well during tough years.

In terms of water usage, Adam predicts this year’s pivot irrigation crops will use between 7.8 megalitres per hectare to 8ML/ha, and between 9ML/ha and 9.5ML/ha for flood irrigation.

“On our pivot irrigation we expect to get about 24 tonnes per hectare, which is about what we averaged in 2018, but I am hoping we can get higher than that,” he said.

“On the flood irrigation we’re looking a bit closer to 20t/ha, but every bit of rainfall will help in the process to push us to those higher yields.”

Adam said corn is a necessary part of a cow’s diet, and must be balanced well with grain, lucerne and protein.

“This year we have had reasonable allocation, however at the time we were sowing we had no indication that was the direction it was going to go,” Adam said.

“We ensure that our cows are having corn consistently, so we feed them in accordance to how much we produce.

“So for the next 12 months we will feed 130ha worth of corn into their diet.

“We can’t overstretch our budget estimates, so we’re hoping that next year we can try and have some carryover water to secure for our next corn crop.”

Left: Adam Marshall, in partnership with brother Lachlan, has increased the area sown to corn at his Blighty farm.

The maize hybrid the Marshalls grow is popular for cattle feed, because of the starch it produces.

“Maize is very different to sweet corn,” Adam said.

“It has a tall biomass and more starch, which is used to make corn chips, but is also a crucial component for dairy cow feed as it has more nutrients.

“Starch helps them have a healthy rumen (a food storage vat in stomach), and that equals good production.”

In a ‘good year’, the Marshalls would grow up to 200ha of corn.

Only 100ha was grown in the past two seasons, restricted by two years of zero general security water allocations.

In those years, the brothers had to “reach into the tool box” and sowed sorghum to cover the corn shortfall.

But Adam said its nutritious value is much lower than corn.

“It doesn’t have as much food efficiency, because it doesn’t digest as well as corn in the cattle’s rumen.

“We have filtered in cereal silage to fill the lack of corn and have had quite a good year with sorghum.

“We’ve been able to put 1800 tonnes in silage which will be our drought bank.”

Another reason the brothers like corn, is because it is more environmentally friendly.

“Australia is moving towards minimising its carbon footprint and looking for carbon efficiencies,” Adam said.

“We ensure that our cows are having corn consistently, so we feed them in accordance to how much we produce.”

ADAM MARSHALL

“Our corn is a big part of our carbon offset; not only is it good for the animals, it is also good for the environment.”

Corn planting took place at the Marshalls Blighty farm between October 24 and November 12, and by late November is was in its third vegetative stage.

The crop is expected to be harvested in early March.

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DECEMBER 2020

FARMtalk • 7

High temperatures in an Australian summer are the norm. But how do these temperatures affect the performance of your sheep, what is it costing, and what can you do about it?

T

hese were some of the questions that were asked at a recent Sheep Connect webinar, conducted by Dr Gordon Refshague of NSW Department of Primary Industries.

For those interested, the link to the full webinar is www.sheepconnectnsw.com.au/events/797/.

Heat stress, through its various mechanisms, is estimated to cost the Australian sheep industry about $100 million to $170 million a year – which is expected to increase to more than $250 million per year as temperatures potentially rise.

There are several factors which contribute to the heat stress your livestock experience, including: • External factors – ambient temperature, humidity (particularly in combination), radiating heat from surfaces such as soils.

•

Internal factors – digestion, maintenance (functions which keep the animal alive) and ‘physical’ activity such as walking.

Heat stress can lead to a range of behavioural changes such as seeking shade and shelter, consuming more water, and diminished appetite (reduced feed intake).

Physiological changes in animals are also seen when subjected to heat stress, including increased respiration (respiration accounts for about 60 per cent of heat loss in sheep), increased heart rate, increased sweating, higher blood flow around the body and a decrease in metabolism.

Sheep begin to experience heat stress at temperatures around 35°C with around 20 per cent humidity (typical in a Riverina summer).

However, as humidity increases, the level of heat stress and ambient temperature increases, so high heat stress can be seen at temperatures even in the high 20s if humidity levels are high.

At temperatures above 38°C, extreme heat stress is likely.

What are the impacts of heat stress?

Apart from a decrease in appetite (and by extension a decrease in growth), there are a number of potential impacts heat stress has, particularly on a sheep’s reproductive performance.

These include: • A decrease in the production of anti-oxidants, which can impact sheep health;

•

An increase in lamb mortality; and

•

A decrease in milk production.

It is also known that as the number of days above 32°C during mating increases, the rate of fertility (of individual animals and within the flock generally) decreases.

So there are potentially significant consequences on the fertility and fecundity of your flock should you be trying to mate during the summer months, particularly as the data suggests we are experiencing a greater number of days above this threshold.

As a producer, whilst we can’t control the weather, there are things that can do to minimise potential impacts of heat stress on the reproductive performance of your flock.

These are divided into four categories:

Nutrition •

•

Potential value in providing anti-oxidants and Vitamin E supplements – but the jury is still out on these.

Providing higher quality feed under high heat stress conditions. Feed sources that are high in fibre generate more heat in the rumen, and increase the overall heat load on the animal.

Environmental •

Provide shade.

•

Provide cool, fresh water.

Breeding and breeds •

Some breeds are more tolerant of higher heat loads (such as Dorpers). Merinos are reasonably tolerant.

•

Increased animal performance is usually associated with higher rates metabolism. This higher metabolism often means increases in an animal’s latent heat production, which may make animals more susceptible to heat stress.

•

A decrease in the quality (and often quantity) of sperm production;

•

An increase in production of stress hormones;

•

A decrease in mating activity;

Management

•

Detrimental impacts on the ewe’s ovum and eggs, embryo survival, and the placenta;

•

•

Lower birth weights;

Time of shearing — some wool (staple length) is good, as it tends to protect (reflect) the animal from direct radiant heat. However,

longer wool can lead to an increase in thermal insulation, and therefore raise the animals’ body temperature.

•

Avoid summer mating – most of the impacts of heat stress on reproduction occur around ovulation, particularly three days either side.

Heat stress events during mating can often lead to lower conception rates, and/or the need to extend the length of mating.

•

Consider changing the location of your operation (extreme response).

•

Minimise stock movement during heat events, particularly during mating.

•

Ensure your rams and ewes are in ideal condition before and during mating – including liveweight, body condition score and overall health.

In summary, heat stress can have significant impacts on the performance of your sheep, and particularly their reproductive performance.

If the number of days we experience above threshold values increases (ie. the number of days above 32°C), the potential impacts on fertility may become more pronounced.

Be aware of the risks, understand the things you can control and implement the appropriate management strategies to minimise potential problems.

But remember, whilst heat stress may be an issue, don’t forget the fundamentals that drive flock fertility – nutrition, body condition, timing of joining, overall health and disease status.

While it might be convenient to blame poor conception rates on, for example, ‘on-off’ events such as a heat wave, these critical elements are much more likely to have a greater effect on the reproductive performance of your flock.

Acknowledgment: This article is based on a webinar provided by the Sheep Connect program, delivered by Dr Gordon Refshague of NSW DPI, Cowra. His contribution is gratefully and duly acknowledged.

A passion for wine

Bonics Estate has proudly been specialising in top quality wines for more than 50 years, and has contributed to many major advancements worldwide in the making of ultra premium wines.

The estate comprises 141 hectares of pristine virgin soil and is located in Jerilderie, on the banks of the Billabong Creek — the longest creek in Australia.

The vineyard spans 112ha of the property, and 9ha is designated as a wildlife sanctuary around two environmental lakes. It is a natural playground for birds, kangaroos, wallabies, hares, sheep, wild fish and many other wildlife including endangered species.

Co-owner and operator Frank Bonic said he fell in love with wine, which then became a passion and “became my whole life”.

The desire to always want to do better took him on a never-ending journey of discoveries — the kind where you keep working to do better — and lead him to making specialised high quality wines unlike any others in the world.

And he said keeping the virgin land chemical free is one of many important factors of Bonics’ processes.

“People have forgotten that wine is a sacred drink, and for wine to be sacred and have the maximum benefits, it must be made in a special chemical free way. Living things should be added to a living system, not dysfunction,” Frank said.

“Drinking our wine is a magical experience. It makes you feel great and wake up in the morning feeling great; you cannot get that anywhere else.

“We don’t meddle with the creation of our wine. Sometimes it’s what we don’t do which is very important and adds to the high integrity of the finished wine.”

FRANK BONIC

“Wine can be a sacred elixir with herb superfood effects, or it can be an alcohol with destructive effects.

“We don’t meddle with the creation of our wine.

Sometimes it’s what we don’t do which is very important and adds to the high integrity of the finished wine.

“We don’t add anything that could kill the life of our product; we monitor the whole process and keep our mind and body present while nurturing the wine throughout this dynamic process.

“We have also contributed many breakthroughs for the wine industry worldwide, one being getting screw caps for wine bottles off the ground. We found that using corks had several flaws, some of which current science is yet to discover.”

Bonics Estate has developed a special micro flora fermentation system for its wines, with up to 2000 different yeast strains.

This encourages more diverse yeast derived micronutrients, which in turn enhances the flavour profile and wellbeing in the finished wine.

“It is unique to Bonics Estate as it must be chemical free to achieve this properly,” Frank said.

“Microbes are super sensitive, and they will shut down in a commercial chemical ferment. Today most wines are fermented with just one super strain of yeast.

“Making pure fine wines in this special way, that is truly chemical free, gives further advantage of ageing with integrity and increasing in complexity.

“So many of our customers have expressed their gratitude for such a heavenly experience.”

Frank said Bonics Estate wines are not just enjoyable to drink, with that ageing with integrity quality making it a choice for investors too.

“One of our wines released just below $50 per bottle is now valued at more than $820 per bottle in China,” he said.

“I expect as the brand gets more well known it will go many times higher, when they realise what real quality they are getting.”

JERILDERIE, NSW

DECEMBER 2020

FARMtalk • 9

Frank Bonic in the Bonics Estate vineyard at Jerilderie.

It is by specialising in just a few wines that Bonics Estate can cater to a niche market and preserve its unique operation. But while not tampering with the grapes leads to better flavour, Frank said there is a cost when it comes to yield.

“Commercial wines can yield about seven times more than we do, as we don’t pump, artificial fertilisers, hormones or other such products in our process.

“We recently planted new vines and added further to our clonal selection.

“We only specialise in the noble varieties to produce our Shiraz, Chardonnay and sparkling wines.

“Our process helps us adjust to climate change, whether it’s global warming or what could be the start of global cooling, and the way we grow and nurture our vines makes them more resilient.”

Bonics Estates’ wine grapes will ripen over summer and will be prime for harvesting in February.

Frank said the grapevine is a very special plant.

“When people stand in our vineyard, and hold the vines for about 30 seconds, they feel happy. It is an enlightening experience, as they are exposed to this real truths of life.

“This can not be achieved with commercially grown vines that have been conically bombarded with chemicals and artificial fertilisers.

“The aim is to bring these uplifting energies into the wine evoking, the wellbeing feelings when drinking a Bonics Estate wine.

“Our customers tell us once they’ve tried our wine they can’t go back. And many that did not like wine have fallen in love with Bonics.

“Our process allows our wine to age for more than 100 years. You can even leave it in the fridge on ullage for months and it will still be delicious.

The natural high living energies protect it and it takes a long time with oxygen exposure to break it down.

“Our sparkling wine is a break through as well.

It is probably the only fine wine the world that you can drink warm or cold. You can leave it in the fridge for a week fully opened and the fine bubbles will continue in your glass.

“It’s the millions of little things that make the big difference. There is no silver bullet but we were created to do great things.”

Frank was introduced to the wine-making process at a young age at the Jerilderie vineyard owned by his father Jure.

It lead him to gain a wine science degree through Charles Sturt University. He then worked as a consulting winemaker in Australia.

Wanting to further exact his craft, Frank has also consulted as a fly-in winemaker in France, Italy, Spain, Argentina, Chile and California.

In Jerilderie he works closely with his brother John.

And while they specialise in different areas of the process, they have one important thing in common.

“We enjoy a wine, we love it. John and I have it lunch and dinner; we enjoy the fruits of our labour,” Frank said.

“John is the gifted engineer, and I’m gifted in living systems and bringing that essence into the wine.”

Murray Local Land Services PESTS & WEEDS

FALL ARMYWORM ON THE MARCH There have been a number of positive identifications of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) across northern and central NSW as far south as Hillston, and suspected detections in maize crops at Finley.

It is anticipated that migratory flights of the pest will occur across NSW annually and fall armyworm may establish in some of the warmer parts.

Unfortunately, with suspected detections already, it is likely we will see it in the Murray region this summer.

For more information about fall armyworm, how to identify it and how to report suspected cases, visit:

Early detection is vital to minimising the spread and impacts across the state. Please monitor your crops closely for early signs of damage.

lls.nsw.gov.au/faw

If you suspect you have fall armyworm on your property, you must report it immediately to NSW Department of Primary Industries via the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline - 1800 084 881.

and dpi.nsw.gov.au/biosecurity/plant/insect-pests-and-plantdiseases/fall-armyworm

Costly pest Fall armyworm larvae are known to feed on more than 350 plant species, particularly maize, cotton, rice, sorghum, sugarcane and wheat, as well as vegetable and fruit crops.

Images courtesy Queensland Dept Agriculture & Fisheries; Lyle Buss, University of Florida, Bugwood.org; and Clemson University, USDA Cooperative Extension Slide Series, Bugwood.org

Murray Local Land Services P: 03 5881 9900 (Deniliquin) 03 5886 2100 (Jerilderie 02 6051 2200 (Albury)

www.lls.nsw.gov.au/regions/murray

DECEMBER 2020

FARMtalk • 11

Fall Armyworm – Is it a threat to rice?

Fall armyworm (FAW) is a new insect pest that is likely to attack at least some summer crop in the Murray Valley this season.

W

hile we are familiar with the traditional armyworm that affects rice, this is a totally different species.

FAW is mainly a tropical pest and it will not survive winter in NSW. However, it has migrated south, and the most recent confirmed detection (at time of writing) is at Hillston, with anecdotal sightings being recorded in the Murray Valley.

We have commenced an active monitoring program to track its progress.

The good news for rice growers is that while FAW can attack rice, it is one of its least preferred summer crops.

Maize and sweet corn are its preferred food source (damage to some maize crops in north Queensland has been excessive). However, what we don’t yet know is how damaging it will be to rice if the small maize area locally means it must find an alternative food source.

In summary, we don’t know if FAW will be a significant insect pest of rice in NSW. The main message at this stage is to monitor your crop/(s) for the presence of caterpillars. If any are found, contact either the Rice Extension team, a SunRice field officer, Local Land Services agricultural team or your commercial agronomist and inform them of the situation.

A considerable amount of research and monitoring has occurred since FAW was detected earlier this year.

Further information is readily available from the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Grains Research and Development Corporation websites.

FAW can be a ferocious eater of foliage, but hopefully we will not experience it locally.

Russian wheat aphids While on the subject of insects in rice, Russian wheat aphids (RWA) have been present on all drillsown rice crops I have seen this season.

Thankfully, they don’t seem to be causing any great concern.

We had a similar experience in 2017, but back then there were some crops that required spraying to avoid excessive seedling loss.

The aphids tend to decline in number as the plant grows and as temperatures increase.

They tend to be quite small, and growers may not notice their presence unless they are specifically looking for them.

While it is possible for RWA to be one stress too many for seedling rice and therefore require spraying, it is more likely that the hot weather will be adequate to allow crops to outgrow any damage they may cause.

John Fowler (pictured) is senior lands services officer – extension agronomist with Murray Local Land Services.

DECEMBER 2020

12 • FARMtalk

Cherries for

Christmas

“We always get a Christmas rush from Melbourne people travelling through, and regulars from both sides of the river in regional Victoria and New South Wales.”

CAMPBELL MARTIN

MOAMA, NSW

The Martin family is putting more than just the cherry on the cake.

T

he family not only offers delicious fresh cherries grown on their farm at Moama, they also make their own cherry ice cream, jam and chutney.

Martin Family Cherries Moama has 2000 cherry trees planted over 3.2ha.

A small number of trees were in the ground when Bill Martin purchased the property more than 20 years ago, and he and son Campbell decided to plant more together.

“We leaned into it and thought we’d give it a crack, and sure enough we started to enjoy it,” Campbell said.

“We’ve had to learn how to grow, manage and harvest cherries so it was a big learning curve for us.

“Finally, after 20 years, I can finally say I think I know what I’m doing and I know what works for us.

“We’re very much a hands on business.”

The current harvest has had its challenges for the Martins, but a reasonable flowering season will allow for a steady flow of fresh fruit until Christmas and beyond.

The family has strategically grown multiple varieties of cherry in order to stagger their picking season.

“The varieties we have in are all staggered harvest times, and include early, mid and late harvest varieties like Empress, Van, Stella, Sunburst and a few others,” Campbell said.

One of the biggest challenges for the growth of the fruit was the November heatwave, coupled with strong winds.

But Campbell said the fruit is still looking quite good.

“That’s part of being in the agriculture industry; you can’t control the weather.

“Our varieties start to flower about midSeptember, which is when we get bees in to help with cross pollinating different varieties of cherry.

“The first fruit comes through at the start of October with harvest starting in the first week of November, and will go right up until Christmas.”

The Martins’ cherries use between 1.5 megalitres per hectare to 2ML/ha, but Campbell said as a small scale farm it’s not an “exact science”.

“I just keep watering as required and back off the water if they look like they’ve had too much,” he said.

“I can check the soil moisture levels with a shovel. I don’t need any more technology than my own knowledge.

“If you could call it anything, it’s an observational technique. Being a small grower, my water usage isn’t very high.”

Martin Family Cherries can be purchased at the farm gate — at 67 Mayfield Ct, Moama — or at farmers’ markets across the region.

As a result, Campbell said the Victorian and NSW borders remaining open will be the key to the family’s success this year.

“We always get a Christmas rush from Melbourne people travelling through, and regulars from both sides of the river in regional Victoria and New South Wales.”

The family’s decision to use their own cherries to produce other delicious products for their customers came simply out of their own love for the taste.

“My mother Nanette makes the cherry jam, ice cream and chutney just to provide some other options than fresh cherries,” Campbell said.

“She also does fig jam, apricot jam and we sell olives, all of which are grown on farm.

“Mum has made the cherry ice cream for about 15 years now, so she’s got it perfected now.

“It’s really become popular in the last few years, and especially in the hotter months.”

The family business started with Bill and Campbell, and sow a new crop of future cherry farmers are involved in the process.

Campbell’s wife Anna and their twin daughters Charlie and Willow help with harvest, and up to three pickers are also employed by the family in peak periods.

DECEMBER 2020

FARMtalk • 13

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DECEMBER 2020

FARMtalk • 15

Refresh and recalibrate If you are thinking about a New Year’s resolution, or even if not, after 2020 most of us need to resolve to sit down and “refresh and recalibrate” our thinking.

C

hanges in 2020 are so huge, particularly record low interest rates, that just about everybody will be affected by, and it’s worth making time to get up to speed.

Most of us are equipped with our unique twist on the standard model human brain.

Standard model brains evolved for day-to-day survival and contentment in a very different world (think a Planet of the Apes type world).

Their primary function is to capture what’s happened (your experiences) and them use them to become you, to automate how you feel, what you worry about or not, how you make sense of the world and what you decide to think about.

If you doubt that, maybe spend a few moments recalling some of your interactions with your parents.

Using the past to make sense of the future and decisions was pretty effective for your ancestors (by definition, or they would not be your ancestors).

It meant building a repertoire of feelings and thinking that helped them stay fed and not being a sabre tooth tiger’s feed.

That is why it’s so important to make the time to recalibrate feelings, mindsets and the important implications for you and your family.

We’ve also seen more game changers in 2020 than in any in other of the past 40 years.

In the past we’ve had lots of one offs — 20 per cent interest rates, death duties wiped, capital gains

tax introduced (and GST), tax changes galore, droughts, water regulation. But I don’t recall so many and such significant changes, as now.

So here’s just a few in question form to provide impetus to recalibrate and review: • Given the recent changes in land and stock prices, what does that mean for capacity to borrow and future land and stock prices?

•

How much higher will land prices go if every extra $100 per hectare only costs two dollars something in interest? Similarly, what about stock price?

•

What’s your land and water realistically worth now? And where does that put most farmers in terms of Australian household wealth ( e.g. top 20 per cent on average held $3.2 million, and $1 million for the top 40 per cent). How do farms compare with the return on a term deposit, a share portfolio or an investment property?

•

What is your taxable capital gain? What would be the tax position if you sold, handed on or died? Do your wills take into account capital gains tax?

•

What’s that mean for you and your plans to grow, sell, help your children?

•

What will happen to home and land prices if current interest rates mean $400/week can

buy a decent home? What if NSW eliminates stamp duty?

•

And what are the implications of the above if we keep living longer and longer?

These are just a sample bag on the 2020 changes.

We’ve not touched on a “best in my lifetime” season, government deficits and debt at record post war levels, the proliferation of government assistance (e.g. new super friendly farm household allowance rules, Regional Investment Corporation and Rural Assistance Authority loans) and 100 per cent instant tax write offs.

Fortunately, a lot of these are good problems.

Taking the time to recalibrate and refresh, for couples and next gen to get on the same page, has always been a too often neglected good idea, like most resolutions.

But in 2021, it’s a no brainer to make the time to fertilise your own and your family’s thinking and alignment.

It’s pretty well impossible to think clearly and discuss where you are heading if you are not on the same up-to-date page about where you are.

In the meantime, enjoy perhaps the biggest learning from COVID-19 — family!

Rob Brown is family strategy adviser and managing director of Peppin Consulting.

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In November, we had a huge win in NSW Parliament.

We stopped the National Party from allowing Northern irrigators to take more water before it flows downstream to our communities.

The Nationals tried to legalise floodplain harvesting – the practice of diverting rainwater into private dams before it reaches the river.

By blocking this vote, we have helped to ensure more water for Southern basin farmers, communities and the environment.

But it’s not over yet.

In late-January 2021, the Nationals will again try and legalise floodplain harvesting.

They are planning to sneak through a regulation while NSW Parliament isn’t sitting, so we can’t debate it or scrutinise it.

I’ll continue to fight them.

Please see this webpage for details on the NSW Government’s plans: https://www.industry.nsw.gov.au/water/plans-programs/healthy-floodplains -project/proposed-legislative-amendments Email the NSW Government at floodplain.harvesting@dpi.nsw.gov.au to express your objections.

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DECEMBER 2020

FARMtalk • 17

OJD approach options

Ovine Johne’s disease (OJD) is a chronic wasting disease of sheep caused by infection with a bacteria called Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis.

It has a long incubation period and there is no treatment or cure.

T

his means the focus is on preventing clinical cases within a flock or stopping infection from entering a flock in the first place.

Over the last couple of years there have been some major changes to the management of OJD in Australia.

Most of the Regional Biosecurity Plans have been discontinued, including the Riverina Sheep Biosecurity Area.

This has largely been due to the deregulation of OJD in South Australia and Queensland, and the ending of the National OJD Management Plan (2013-18).

The management of a range of endemic diseases, including OJD, now falls under the framework set out by the Sheep Health Project.

So, what are your options for preventing or managing OJD on your farm?

•

SheepMAP – the Johne’s disease Market Assurance Program (SheepMAP) is the gold standard for OJD assurance. It combines a strict biosecurity plan and regular testing overseen by a private veterinarian. Being part of a SheepMAP program is a great marketing tool for identifying and promoting your lowrisk OJD status. Buying from SheepMAP accredited flocks helps ensure that you are purchasing sheep which are low risk for OJD.

•

On-Farm Biosecurity Plans – All Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) accredited

farmers should have a farm biosecurity plan.

If you haven’t had a look at yours recently, it is worthwhile dusting it off and having a read.

It should contain a section around buying in stock. By requiring a Sheep Health Declaration (SHD) prior to purchase you can better assess the OJD risk of that purchase. Sheep from SheepMAP-accredited properties, properties with negative testing for OJD in the last two years, or sheep that are approved vaccinates may all be considered lower-risk. Your plan should also include good boundary fencing for the prevention of straying stock.

•

Gudair vaccination – The Gudair® vaccine is a highly effective tool in OJD management.

It helps prevent deaths from OJD and reduces the shedding of bacteria from infected animals.

There are two main reasons you might choose to vaccinate your sheep: To help protect against or control clinical OJD within a flock, and to increase the marketability when selling sheep. The vaccine only needs to be given once, ideally when lambs are younger than 16 weeks old. These lambs can be identified with a circled ‘V’ on their National Livestock Identification (NLIS) tag, making them readily identifiable as ‘approved vaccinates’. As the vaccine does not completely eliminate the shedding of the bacteria (no vaccine is 100%), buying vaccinated sheep from an infected farm could still lead to the introduction of the disease

into a previously free area. If you are focusing on a prevention strategy, it may be best to ensure that vaccinated sheep are from a flock that has tested negative for OJD. If you are thinking of using the vaccine for the first time, it is important to be aware that accidental selfinjection can cause serious tissue reactions.

For this reason, a safety vaccinator gun and careful handling are advised to reduce the risk.

•

Voluntary testing and monitoring – There are two strategies available to test for OJD on your property: abattoir surveillance, or pooled faecal culture. Abattoir surveillance, of either 150 or 500 mature sheep, can be conducted on request when sending sheep for slaughter at certain abattoirs. Alternatively, a pooled faecal culture (PFC) of 350 adult sheep can be performed by your private vet.

OJD remains a notifiable disease in NSW, but infected properties are not quarantined or restricted in how they move or sell sheep.

If you have sick sheep or just want to discuss your options for OJD prevention or control, please contact your district veterinarian by calling 1300 795 299, or dropping into a nearby Local Land Services office.

Linda Searle (pictured) is a district veterinarian with Murray Local Land Services.

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DECEMBER 2020

FARMtalk • 19

Stay hay wise

Keep rice water shallow

The NSW Rural Fire Service is calling on all Mid Murray Zone farmers and landholders to carefully manage their hay bales this fire season.

I

n recent years there have been a number of hay shed and hay stack fires, resulting in expensive losses for farmers.

RFS Mid Murray Inspector Doug Adamson said farmers should check their hay stacks on a regular basis and ensure any valuable stock and machinery is stored separately.

“Hay shed fires have the potential to cause considerable damage to farming infrastructure,” he said.

“There have been a number of hay stack fire across the Mid Murray Zone already this season.

“In some fires, the loss of hay bales and storage sheds has been extensive, but worse still these fires have also damaged or destroyed expensive farm machinery and supplies that were stored nearby.”

Farmers should regularly inspect hay bales by breaking them open or by inserting a crowbar or metal rod to assess temperature.

“If the bar or metal rod comes out hot then there is a problem and the hay stack needs to be pulled apart as soon as possible to cool,” Insp Adamson said.

“There is considerable risk of hay igniting when it has been stacked while wet or not cured, so we recommend hay is stored in a dry, well-ventilated area away from other machinery at all times.”

Cold weather damage is probably the main threat to production rice growers in the Murray Valley face.

A

ll rice varieties grown in the Murray Valley are prone to cold weather damage, especially Reiziq.

It can’t be prevented, but its severity can be substantially reduced if the crop is well managed.

Nitrogen and water management, along with sowing time, are the main tools for minimising the damage caused by cold nights at the young microspore growth stage.

The main nitrogen decision has already been made, so water management remains the key to minimising cold damage.

Most growers are aware of the importance of deep-water during microspore, but not all give equal importance to maintaining shallow water during the vegetative growth stages.

The aim of deep water at young microspore is to submerge the developing panicle below the water line.

This is only possible if the panicle is not too high above ground level.

Deep water during the vegetative growth stages (i.e. from sowing until panicle initiation) will cause the plant to grow taller and the panicle will be too high to fully cover with deep water.

Shallow water is required right up to panicle initiation.

Best practice is to have water depth pegs in each bay and keep water depth to less than 5cm on the

high side of the bay. Basically, run water as shallow as you can practically manage.

Prioritising shallow water means any excess water caused by rain needs to be quickly removed from the crop.

Growers are often reluctant to do this due to the high value of water. However, the cost of losing the water (if it can’t be recycled) is far less than the value of lost production if cold weather impacts can’t be moderated.

Keeping shallow water on the bay may mean that one or two high spots remain exposed.

Again, the lost production from several small high spots is far less than what can occur if the entire bay does not have effective cold protection at microspore.

Deep water is not needed at panicle initiation, but it is essential at young microspore, which occurs about two to three weeks later.

Delay applying deep water as long as practical.

However, it must be on by the time the crop approaches microspore.

Paying attention to water management for the entire growing period, and not just the early reproductive stage, will reduce the impact of cold weather damage on crops.

John Fowler is senior lands services officer – extension agronomist with Murray Local Land Services.

Beefed up market The Dohertys are experiencing one of the best years on record with commercial and stud beef markets skyrocketing in 2020.

A

fter two years of zero general security water allocations and low rainfall, the Deniliquin farming family said early year downpours in 2020 and further helpings of rain since has seen demand and consumer confidence increase.

And after restocking their herds, Greg and son Chris have been flooded with phone calls from interested buyers.

Greg said the key to this year’s stud market surge, and Tulagi Angus & Border Leicester Studs’ own success, is the quality of bulls being sold.

“Feed grows demand, so when it rains you can bet you’re going to get a phone call soon after; it gives people a lot of confidence,” he said.

“This year’s rain started off as a ripper and kept on going.

“We’ve sold 110 bulls this year, to farmers on the Queensland border, Broken Hill and in the southern Victoria region. For the first time we only have five or six bulls left, and that’s the lowest we’ve had for a long time. Females we’ve had no trouble selling.

“We also get fantastic local support for our bull and ram sales, that we are very appreciative of.

“Our stud cattle average prices and sales have been the best they have been for years.

“We don’t sell a lot of top priced bulls that average about $7000 to $9000, and we’re not asking for that.

“We have a few top bulls of $5000 to $6000, but you need to make sure you’ve always got something to meet the needs of buyers.

“We will also have more available coming through in autumn 2021.”

Chris said the market has seen some extreme highs in 2020, at record levels, which he said has been prompted by the changing conditions.

According to the Eastern Young Cattle Indicator, the market topped at 829.25c/kg carcase weight on November 17 this year. By early December it was still at 788.50c/kg carcase weight.

Chris said it’s significantly higher than the 500c/kg carcase weight average in 2018 and 2019.

“The international market has also had a boost with Asian countries looking to source our beef.”

CHRIS DOHERTY

“After such a shortage during a long drought, people need to restock so there’s such a high demand,” Chris said.

“The international market has also had a boost with Asian countries looking to source our beef.

“I’m an optimist so I’d like to say I feel prices will hold, but I think stock will still be hard to find because the numbers still aren’t there.

“It’s a very exciting time for livestock producers in general.

“And it is good to see our region will regain its reputation for top quality livestock.”

Greg said feeding methods at Tulagi is a contributor to why their cattle is so highly sought after.

“The key is that we don’t pamper our bulls,” he said.

“We don’t feed them grain, and we know they’ve got to go out in the tough country and survive so we won’t put our bulls in feedlots either.

“Our bulls have to learn how to eat grass to survive and that’s why people buy from us and come back to us; because they do survive.”

The Doherty family has been producing beef in the region for more than 60 years, with the stud started by Greg’s father Max in 1956.

DECEMBER 2020

DENILIQUIN, NSW

FARMtalk • 21

But there’s still always room for improvement, Greg said, and in 2020 they started to trade steers for the first time.

And in an effort to reduce costs, they have also chosen to implement contract feeding and place their livestock on a grazing management schedule.

“The majority of our cattle are on an exclusive grass fed program — our Wagyu F1, which is a Wagyu Angus cross, and our British breed steers are grass fed.

“We also have some Tasmanian steers that are on a barley program from our own on farm feed crops.

“It’s about trying to retain as much ground coverage as we can, to not run our country too hard.

“We just need a bit more rain to help keep our costs down.

“We had to sell breeding stock in the drought, which is one of the reasons we had to make a change to start trading.

“It allows us to get animals off the farm when we’re running out of feed.”

The Dohertys also run a successful Border Leicester sheep stud, selling more than 200 rams this year. And for the first time in 30 years, they’re also expanding their breeding operation by purchasing Merino ewes.

“We got them from Western Australia,” Chris said.

“They’re in drought over there and you can get some pretty handy Merino for good prices.

“And we’re buying some lambs for feeding over the summer time.”

Prepared for ag career Another 12 young people are now better prepared for a career in agriculture thanks to the 2020 Hay Inc Rural Education Program.

P

articipants returned to Hay for their third and final round of training in November, after joining the program in February this year.

Hay Inc program coordinator and committee secretary Sandra Ireson said fence construction and maintenance was the first day of the hands on training program, with a new fence erected for the Hay Golf Club.

“It was a great opportunity for Hay Inc to support the local community,” she said.

“Sandy Symons, vice chair of Hay Inc, his son Ben Symons and the AgFence Fencing Contractors team organised the fence and donated their time and tuition, and Elders Hay and Waratah Fencing also supported the project.

“The group then did some fence repair and maintenance at Shear Outback.”

In the following days, livestock became a primary focus.

“Day two was a very informative and practical day commencing with cattle handling at the Ives family property ‘Glencoe’,” Mrs Ireson said.

“The training included low stress stock handling, calf marking and management presented by Jim Ives, Richard Cannon and Matt Ireson. Cameron Clark Ultrasound also attended with a great demonstration on pregnancy testing cattle.

“The afternoon at ‘Rosevale’ involved all participants taking part in lamb post mortems with district vet Dr Sophie Hemley and Suzie Holbery from Local Land Services.

“The final day commenced with prime lamb assessment and sheep nutrition at the Hay Field Station with Shane McGufficke and Rob Inglis from Elders, along with Stuart Hodgson and George Lehmann from Australian Wool Innovation who also assisted in the afternoon with Merino Sheep Classing. This was held at the Rollinson family property ‘Goolgumbla’ with Chris Bowman.

“The Hay Inc participants also put their skills to the test with a group junior judging competition. The winner was announced at the graduation dinner held that evening.”

Madelyn Jones-Hinds won the junior judging competition and Kasey Mullighan was second. The Mathew Vick Scholarship was awarded to Molly Thompson.

For information about the 2021 program, go to www.www.hayinc.com.au.

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GREAT READS FOR THIS CHRISTMAS

FARMtalk • 23

THE NAKED FAMER

Aussie farmers with the guts to take their gear off - and to talk about mental health.

Written by Ben Brooksby

Ben Brooksby is a fifthgeneration farmer from St Helens Plains in western Victoria. When he was younger, he struggled with anxiety and other mental health issues, as do so many others in rural communities.

A simple social media post helped him to turn things around. After he shared a photo on Instagram showing himself naked in a truck full of lentils, he received a huge response, with other farmers wanting to share their own photos - and their

Peter Westblade Scholarship open Young people wishing to build on their practical skills in the sheep and wool industry are encouraged to apply for the Peter Westblade Scholarship.

Applications opened in November and close on January 1, 2021.

The scholarship honors the late Peter Westblade — a true visionary passionate about breeding profitable sheep and a strong supporter of young people interested in agriculture.

It aims to identify, train and develop the next generation of leaders amongst young men and women in the Australian sheep industry, and deliver hands on experience and mentoring.

Applicants must be between 18 and 30 and have a passion for the sheep and wool industry, and see their future in the industry.

Successful scholarship recipients will receive:

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Mentoring from industry innovators and leaders

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Practical training appropriate to the skill set required in the sheep and wool industry

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An opportunity to develop wider networks of key contact in the sheep and wool industry

Written by Eamon Evans

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Resource books

and 50 other fascinating Australian mysteries.

If you think Australia’s history is straightforward, you’re dead wrong. Full of unsolved murders and secret spies, this is a land where perplexing things are happening all the time.

From the eerie ball of light that stalked a terrified family across the Nullabor, to the unidentified body found propped up on an Adelaide beach, and, yes, to the whereabouts of Ned Kelly’s skull, you’ll find our history has plenty of twists and unanswered questions.

The application process is designed to give the interview panel an appreciation of who you are and what you aspire to do, so there are three ways to apply: •

In writing by answering the application form questions;

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Photo of the Month Deniliquin photographer Gus McKinnon captured this female Plains Wanderer on a night shoot at Booroorban in October.

The female bird is larger and more brightly coloured than the male.

“A cryptic bird, it is rarely spotted during the day as lies flat on ground when approached,” Gus said.

“Most birds are seen in spotlights at night. It is a rare species that is secretive and elusive.”

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Cnr Wakool Road & Kelly Street

DENILIQUIN

Ph: (03) 5881 5541 Mobile: 0427 203 334 Fax: (03) 5881 6146