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Farmers across the country are turning to new schemes to combat workforce shortages, and that includes the Waters family at Warragoon.
Stephen and Fiona run a 550 cow dairy farm on their farm, nestled between Deniliquin and Blighty.
Their team includes two full-time staff from the Deniliquin area, but the Waters have enlisted help from other parts of the country to fill staff shortages.
They also have two backpackers working on the farm and six people assigned to them under the new Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme.
“The workers’ jobs mainly entail milking cows, feeding calves and looking after the dairy infrastructure,” Fiona explained.
“We have on-farm accommodation, so they walk to work and are enjoying the Deniliquin community and lifestyle.”
The PALM scheme workers joined the Waters’ in March 2024, coordinated through Agri Labour Australia.
The scheme allows eligible Australian businesses to hire workers from any of the nine Pacific Islands and Timor-Leste when there are not enough local workers available.
It helps fill labour gaps in rural and regional Australia and nationally for agriculture and select agriculture-related food product manufacturing sectors.
It simultaneously allows Pacific and Timor-Leste workers to develop their skills and send income home.
Workers can be employed short term (nine months) or for between one and four years in unskilled, low-skilled and semi-skilled positions.
“Our staff are from Vanuatu and will be with us for nine months,” Fiona said.
“At the end of the nine months, another group of workers will be assigned to our farm.
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“It is hoped that these two teams keep swapping over so we employ the same people and build on their skill set over time.”
Fiona said she and Stephen opted into the scheme after failing to get enough local interest in open job positions.
“We were finding it hard to find local people interested in working on our dairy farm.
“We have employed backpackers for the last five or so years but found we would just have them trained up, and they would leave. They only need to stay for 88 days for their visa requirements.
“I got a name and number for Kristy Warr (from Agri Labour Australia) from another dairy farm in Gooligong, New South Wales, which employs more than 50 PALM Islanders and is having great success.
“This was at a dairy conference I attended around employing people in dairy.
“They also had PALM Islanders there speaking about their experience.”
The Waters did a bit of research about the scheme after returning home from the conference and realised it was the way to help fill staff shortages that would suit both the employees and the employers.
“The PALM Islanders who spoke said it was lifechanging for them as they could go home, build houses, get infrastructure that we take for granted (sewerage, water supply, etc) and educate their children.
“It was changing the future for their families.”
Fiona said the benefit for her family extends far beyond having help on the farm.
“We have really enjoyed getting to know the team from Vanuatu, their culture and their stories.
“This has probably been a big cultural shock for them. Before they came here, they had never seen a cow. Now, they milk 550 of them every day.
“They are beautiful, generous people.
“They even treated us to their traditional singing at our staff Christmas party.
“We feel very blessed to have them on our team.”
Australian businesses needing additional workers can check their eligibility for the PALM scheme at www. palmscheme.gov.au.
The website also provides details on how to become an approved employer or recruiting through an approved PALM scheme labour hire company.
All participating workers have the same rights and protections as Australian workers.
A range of measures is in place to protect workers, including stringent employer vetting, a rigorous monitoring and compliance framework, regular spot checks and a support service phone line.
Workers are also encouraged and supported to connect to their local communities across Australia.
That
The pair moved to the property with Lisa’s son Noah, now 13, four years ago.
Seeking a simple rural lifestyle, they were initially hobby farmers with just enough livestock and chooks to provide what they would need to be semi-self sufficient.
They had given some thought to turning their love for chickens into a business venture, but another egg farm was operating in the region at the time and held the local market.
When its owner retired and another egg farmer in Balranald retired at the same time, Lisa saw it as her opportunity to “give it a go”.
“When we moved here, it was just a hobby farm with a few chickens and a couple of calves,” she said.
“We then got two pigs because I love pigs, and the (market) prices were good.
“We now have 11 sows and a boar, and we’re up to 750 chooks and looking to build to 1000 very soon.
“We also have sheep, but only enough for a personal meat supply.”
Lisa does not just offer free range eggs from the farm, she also offers delivery to the wider district.
And she said that service and the quality of the eggs they produce have seen their ‘little venture’ escalate over the last seven months.
“We wanted to build to 200 chickens at first, and now, by April, we’ll be at 1000,” she said.
“Demand is still outstripping supply.
“Our daily egg count averages about 500, and we expect that to build to 700 fairly soon once some of our newer hens settle in a bit more.
“But then it will drop again when we rotate out some older hens.”
The chickens are free range, with about eight acres of the 30 acre farm carved out just for them.
They lay into nesting trailers, and collecting and packing the eggs is done by hand.
Lisa mostly does this herself as Haylee works off farm, but with some help from Noah and Haylee when they can.
“It’s not as labour intensive as you think it might be,” she explained.
“Collecting the eggs takes about 20 to 30 minutes, and then packing takes a few hours.
“I deliver the eggs, and they have become super popular.
“We’re finding that because of demand, most of the eggs are moving from paddock to plate, literally, within about two days. At the most, it would be three days.
“We may continue to increase our number of hens as demand dictates, but we don’t want to exceed our capacity.
“Bigger farms do not necessarily mean bigger profits, and in the end, this is our home.
“I would say 2000 chickens would be our absolute limit - but then it wasn’t that long ago I was saying the limit was 200.”
Lisa has taken a similar approach to their pigs.
They produce 30kg spit pigs only because anything larger would be too hard to handle, and they go over the scales at Leitchville.
“We don’t have a lot of pigs.
“They allow us a little bit of extra income and diversifications and, really, it’s just because I love pigs.”
The future goal for Lisa is for the farm to be the family’s primary source of income, preventing the need for her wife to be away from them while working off the farm.
“We’re finding that because of demand, most of the eggs are moving from paddock to plate, literally, within about two days. At the most, it would be three days...”
LISA ELLIOTT
With more than 46,000 registered users across Australia, FeralScan is the nation’s largest and most popular community platform for monitoring and recording pest animal activity and management.
Farmers, landholder groups, professional pest controllers and others use FeralScan to map sightings and evidence of pest animals, document attacks on livestock and other damage, and keep a secure record of on-farm pest control activities.
It is available as an interactive website and mobile phone app, both of which have been designed to be simple to use.
Alert notifications - by email or through the app - can be sent to user groups to inform them quickly about local pest animal threats.
FeralScan is free and receives funding from Australian Wool Innovation, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) through the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions (CISS).
AWI program manager vertebrate pests Ian Evans said FeralScan is a collaboration tool that can help woolgrowers and other local stakeholders monitor and stay informed about pest animals in their area, thereby assisting them in applying best practice control.
“Used effectively, FeralScan can provide woolgrowers and other community decision makers with accurate and timely information about the distribution and problems associated with pest animals,” Mr Evans said.
“This information is very valuable for guiding local management decisions on how and when to control pest animals.
“The more people in a local area that use FeralScan, the more useful it becomes.”
FeralScan was launched almost 13 years ago and has become a robust and secure platform.
FeralScan national coordinator and invasive species specialist with NSW DPI Peter West said it is now widely used to assist woolgrowers and others with pest animal monitoring and control.
“Continuous input from farmers and other users has delivered an important resource that informs pest animal management programs across the country,” he said.
“It is being used by farmers, land managers, communities, landholder groups, local government, pest control professionals and biosecurity groups, amongst others.”
The FeralScan platform comprises 14 species-based websites and a user-friendly phone app. It can be downloaded from either the Apple or GooglePlay stores.
A new campaign from specialist mental health support charity TIACS urges farmers to service their heads like they do the land and not be shy about seeking mental health support.
The program is supported by the philanthropic foundation the Macdoch Foundation.
It addresses the fact that farmers and rural communities have endured unprecedented tough times in recent years, facing fires, droughts, floods, volatile market conditions, and now staring down the barrel of an unpredictable El Nino forecast.
Such events can impact both business performance and mental wellbeing.
The TIACS ‘Don’t Keep It Under Your Hat’ campaign aims to start conversations and remind people that professional support is available and just a text message away.
TIACS is a not-for-profit organisation which offers free phone and text counselling services for Australia’s blue-collar and rural and regional communities.
Co-CEO Jason Banks said working the land has its ups and downs and that a farmer’s mental wellbeing can also experience similar cycles.
“Most farmers get up daily and put on a hat before beginning their workday,” he said.
“Our campaign takes this practical everyday item and uses it to remind people not to ignore or mask what’s going on underneath the hat, inside their head.
“Sometimes it’s hard to find the words to express what’s on our mind, especially for farmers who pride themselves on overcoming tough times.
It can be even harder to ask for support, which is why with TIACS support can start with a simple text.
“After initial contact with TIACS, one of our experienced and fully qualified counsellors will guide
conversations via text or phone to offer support and help lighten the load.
“Since launching in June 2020 our service has helped more than 18,000 people, but we know there’s more we can do.
“So if you or someone you know is facing a challenging time, don’t keep it under your hat, reach out to TIACS.”
Macdoch Foundation chair Alasdair MacLeod, who has been in the agricultural industry himself for almost 20 years, said it has been a challenging time for agriculture in Australia.
He said the foundation has teamed up with TIACS to make sure the farming community has the level of support needed.
“The reality of farming can be isolating, often requiring people to work in rural and remote areas and some days interact with animals, crops and equipment more than people.
“There has also been a reluctance to seek support and we are keen to find ways of removing those barriers.
“TIACS is an organisation that feels approachable and relatable for farmers, so I am pleased that we can boost their capacity to support them in a more targeted way through the ‘Don’t Keep It Under Your Hat’ campaign which is specifically designed to resonate with farmers.”
As Mr Banks said, as challenges faced by rural and regional Australia are exacerbated in the short to medium term, he firmly believes farmers will be the number one cohort of people reaching out in the next 12 to 18 months.
TIACS provides free counselling to tradies, truckies, farmers and rural communities, blue-collar workers and their loved ones right around Australia.
Its mission is to start conversations surrounding mental health among these industries, while removing the physical and financial barriers associated with seeking mental health support.
Anyone seeking mental health support can call or text TIACS on 0488 846988.
To find out more on TIACS, head to https://www. tiacs.org/.
I am humbled by the support I have received and the trust people in my electorate have placed in me by reelecting me for a second term to represent all of us in parliament.
I have made some significant progress with the new Labor government so far and am determined that everyone in regional, rural and remote NSW must get their fair share, especially in this electorate.
Stopping water buybacks is at the top of my priorities, and I will continue that fight until the government listens to us and acts in our best interests. Right now they are putting party politics ahead of the welfare of river communities. That’s unacceptable.
We have a desperate shortage of teachers, doctors and nurses in the electorate. We need greater incentives which will attract these essential professionals to our region, and I will continue to pursue solutions to
this significant community problem.
I will also continue working with local councils and government to provide a solution to our affordable housing crisis.
Better health outcomes for us in the bush, especially better mental health services and support systems is another of my priorities.
It is unacceptable that in regional, rural and remote communities we have to beg for services, or go without services, which are taken for granted in cities.
I’m looking forward to continuing to be a voice for everyone in the electorate and I will continue to fight to make sure the government listens to us and delivers what we deserve.
Being drought prepared is about having enough good quality water where you want it on your property.
Seasons of average and above average rainfall are the ideal time to prepare for future droughts.
That time is now, and as one participant at a recent Farm (stock and domestic) Water Management Planning workshop said, “When the drought comes, it’s too late”.
The workshop was part of a broader project across southern NSW aimed at reducing the impact of drought by farmers preparing and implementing on-farm water management plans – a plan that determines water needs (stock and domestic) and the capacity to meet these needs (dam, tank, bore).
Murray Local Land Services is leading the collaborative project with grower groups, including the Rice Growers Association of Australia, Holbrook Landcare Network, Riverine Plains, West Hume and Corowa Landcare Groups, and the Western Murray Land Improvement Group (WMLIG) across southern NSW.
The project is supported by the Southern Innovation Hub and funded by the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.
Farm water security has multiple benefits, including stock health and production, environmental and
biodiversity improvements, and, importantly, peace of mind by being prepared in a time of drought.
Can you answer any of these questions?
• How much water do your stock (and domestic use) need for a day, week, or year, in summer or winter?
• How much water storage capacity do you have on your property?
• How does water quality impact stock health and performance?
• Can you build a dam of any size anywhere on your property?
• How can you get water to where you need it on your property?
If you couldn’t answer all of those, then perhaps a Farm Water Management Plan is what you could undertake to help map out your options.
These and many other aspects of farm water management are covered in the workshops, including a farm water budget, storage options, reticulation and troughing, and how to improve water quality.
In addition, demonstration sites are being established to provide landholders with practical ideas on how to set up their own properties to be better prepared for drought.
Farm water management planning workshops will be held by the grower groups across the Murray LLS region over the coming 12 to 18 months.
The workshops (and associated field days) will cover all aspects of stock and domestic water planning, including how farmers can access financial assistance for on-farm water infrastructure.
If you are interested in getting expert help to develop a Farm Water Management Plan, get in contact with Janet Manzin at the RGA on 0438 719 628, Tahlia Stewart at WMLIG on (03) 5433 1577, or Sophie Hanna at RivPlains on (03) 5774 1713.
Paul Simpson is a Murray Local Land Service land services officer based in Albury.
St Leonard’s winemaker Nick Brown is expecting highquality wines from Rutherglen this year, following drier conditions, allowing for a slower ripening process.
After years marked by drought, fires, pandemics, and floods, the Rutherglen wine industry is approaching a turning point.
In the face of adversity, the vineyards of Rutherglen have weathered the storms, and the winemakers are now poised for a vintage that promises not only exceptional wines but promises redemption, exceptional flavour, and the sweet taste of triumph over recent challenges.
Just west of Rutherglen sits Stanton and Killeen Wines, owned and managed by mother-daughter team Wendy and Natasha Killeen, who have a proud 148-year family history in winemaking.
With harvest under way, senior winemaker Adriaan Foot, a seasoned hand in the industry, reflected on the rollercoaster of recent vintages.
“The growing season was much closer to a typical one than the last few years, bar an unfortunate frost event in October,” Mr Foot said.
“Rainfall was slightly below average and temperatures slightly above, but thankfully, it turned out to be a relatively weak El Nino. We were also fortunate to miss most of the heavy rainfall that occurred further south. The above-mentioned frost had a moderate impact on our crop levels, so we expect a small vintage.
“The quality of the unaffected fruit, however, looks very promising. The drier weather has meant that disease pressure has been much lower than in the past few years. Timely sprays have meant that we’ve had minimal occurrences of botrytis, which is always a risk when it comes to fortified wines especially.”
Mr Foot said he was “cautiously optimistic” about quality going into vintage.
“It’s not over until the grapes are in the shed!” he said.
“In terms of quality assessment, we are looking for balance in the vineyards, with each vine carrying only as much grapes as the canopy will allow it to easily ripen. Smaller berries in Shiraz this year- which typically means better colour, flavour and concentration- are also a good sign.
“I’m particularly excited about our Arinto block; we’ve had a tough go with disease pressure leading to lower crops the last few years. The vineyard crew has put a lot of hard work into it, and the results so far look very promising.”
Sixth-generation wine producer Micheal Chambers of Lake Moodemere Estate on the Murray River expressed relief at the absence of disease issues this season, in contrast to the challenges faced during the previous vintage marked by incessant rain.
“It’s probably looking like a fairly good one,” he said.
“This time last year was probably one of the most difficult vintages I had ever done because it kept raining during vintage. It dragged on for that reason. We were putting on sprays a lot more frequently for downy mildew.”
Mr Chambers said ideal weather from here on in would be dry, warm weather, around 30-35°C with very little rain. “Very similar to the weather we’ve had for the last few weeks,” he said.
“This year is getting back to what’s normal, but who knows what’s normal any more with the changing climate.
We came out of the drought; we went into the bushfires, and then we had all that beautiful fruit looking at us in 2020, and then it was affected by smoke taint. We were very happy to get 2021 under our belt. The 2022 reds were fantastic, and 2023 is still in the barrel.
“Being a small artisan winemaker, every year my wines are different, and it’s all weather dependent, unlike bigger wineries who can purchase their fruit from different parts of the country.”
Mr Chambers’ cautious optimism is echoed by Nick Brown, chief winemaker at St Leonards Estate in Wahgunyah.
Mr Brown and his sisters, Eliza and Angela, are fourth-generation vignerons. Their father, Peter Brown - part of the famous Brown Brothers winemaking family - bought two 1860s Rutherglen wine estates, All Saints and St Leonards in the late 1990s.
“The dry weather has been a blessing, allowing us to start harvesting under ideal conditions,” Mr Brown said.
“We’ve had frequent rains, as everyone knows, through spring into summer. It felt like an inch of rain a week, which kept us on our toes checking for disease pressure out in the vineyard.
“And now the rain has been switched off, which is great. Everyone was waiting for it. Hopefully, the dry
conditions continue that we’ve started harvesting, and then we’re happy for it to rain from May onwards!
“The fruit this year has been slower ripening, so, retaining acidity and flavours in the fruit over that time.”
The vineyard’s yield strikes a perfect balance, according to Brown, neither too much nor too little, allowing for even ripening across all fruit. This equilibrium is crucial for quality, ensuring each grape reaches its full potential.
His excitement is palpable when discussing the young Durif vines, a variety that seems to have found its perfect match in Rutherglen’s typically drier harvest conditions.
“It should be a high-quality wine this year,” he predicts.
Walking through the vineyard rows, Brown engages in a practice that blends science with intuition. Tasting the grapes, he assesses their readiness for harvest, a method that has replaced reliance on tools like the refractometer.
“Early in my career, I relied on the refractometer to gauge grape ripeness and flavour development, but now, after years of experience, I trust my palate and memory bank of past vintages to assess the grapes’ quality as we approach harvest,” he said.
“This year, the quality appears promising, especially given the current favourable dry weather conditions.”
Brown likened the question to picking a favourite child when asked what he thinks will be a standout variety this year.
“Being a slower ripening year, they’ve all got a good chance of producing delicious wine,” he said.
“But if I had to pick, the old vine Marsanne is looking particularly good. It has retained acidity well.
“Grenache is also looking good this year; it loves these conditions. Grenache can express various profiles depending on its terroir and winemaking style. It can be crafted into a big, rich, bold red wine; however, we find that our customers are seeking softer, crunchier, and lower tannin reds.
“Our Grenache Shiraz Mourvèdre (GSM) blend is known for its fresh, youthful style and will particularly showcase fruit characteristics this year.”
Get a permit. They’re free and easy to obtain.
Notify your neighbours at least 24 hours in advance of a planned burn.
Monitor the fire. If it gets out of control, call Triple Zero.
Check conditions, such as weather and fire danger rating. In bad conditions,permits may be suspended. SAFE
DON’T
If you're planning to burn off to get ready for the bush fire season, let us know first. You can now notify us of your planned burn online.
www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/notify
Grains Australia has led the development of the first national variety classification frameworks for lentils and oats to help meet the needs of Australian growers and domestic and international customers.
“The aim is to add value to Australia’s lentil and oat industries through enabling differentiation of varieties based on quality characteristics desired by customers,” Grains Australia classification general manager Megan Sheehy said.
“It’s about providing ‘goalposts’ for plant breeders to ensure that varieties produced will meet market demands and opportunities.”
Grains Australia, which is an initiative of the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), has developed the frameworks with support and guidance from its Pulse and Oat Councils and in collaboration with industry.
While Australian varietal classification systems are well established for wheat and barley varieties, varietal classification frameworks have not previously existed for pulse crops.
The new lentil framework will guide the establishment of varietal classification frameworks for additional pulse crops.
It is currently for red lentils only, which comprise the vast majority of lentils produced and traded by Australia, with the remainder being green lentils.
The new national oat variety classification framework builds on a Western Australian oat varietal classification
system administered by the Grain Industry Association of Western Australia.
“Milling oats for porridge is the initial focus of the new national oat variety classification framework,” Dr Sheehy said.
“The potential for including other end uses – such as oat milk, noodles or other novel uses – will be reviewed in the future.”
Dr Sheehy said the next steps were for Grains Australia to work with stakeholders to implement the frameworks and to develop procedures and processes, including requirements for breeders.
“The frameworks are a starting point, and Grains Australia, through its Pulse and Oat Councils, will review and update them on an ongoing basis,” she said.
Grains Australia’s development of the variety classification frameworks is part of its responsibility for establishing and maintaining grain variety classification systems in Australia.
Grains Australia is responsible for vital industry services and functions that improve the industry’s competitiveness and profitability.
In addition to classification, these services and functions include trade and market access, market insights and market education.
While the old saying is true, ‘if you have livestock, you have dead stock,’ it can be important to know why stock have died.
This is particularly true in the case of sudden deaths where apparently healthy animals suddenly turn up their toes.
There are many different causes of sudden death in livestock.
Some of which may cause an ongoing risk.
Depending on where you are, what stock you have, what condition the stock are in and what they have been eating, there can be many different potential causes of sudden death.
District vets are available to visit farms to investigate cases of sudden death in livestock by conducting a postmortem and lab testing if needed.
As the visit and most or all of the lab testing are not charged to the producer, this allows you to get answers or rule out issues without worrying about the cost.
Carcasses break down over time, making a diagnosis more difficult.
For the best chance of getting an answer, you should call as soon as possible.
Some of the potential causes of sudden death in the Murray region include:
Cases of anthrax have been diagnosed historically in sheep and cattle from some properties between Deniliquin and Albury.
Anthrax is unpredictable as its spores can lie dormant in the soil for decades and can kill stock of any age or class with no warning.
Farmers should suspect anthrax if animals die suddenly.
If you suspect anthrax, please immediately call the Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.
In many cases, there may be no signs, and the disease may begin with the sporadic deaths of single animals
over a few days before building to dramatic losses in a very short time.
An on-farm anthrax test, performed by a vet, takes only 15 minutes to run and is usually sufficient to tell if anthrax was the cause of death.
Vaccination prevents anthrax from occurring and helps break the cycle of spore production.
If vaccination is continued over time, spores in the environment will die, reducing the risk of anthrax occurring in the future.
This usually occurs due to sudden feed changes onto energy-rich feed, such as grain or lush green feed.
Pulpy kidney can cause disease in sheep, goats and cattle.
Death often occurs rapidly and typically affects large, well grown animals. Preventative vaccination is inexpensive and readily available. Boosters should be given every three months in extremely high-risk situations.
Toxic plants, blue green algae, mycotoxins, and heavy metals are all capable of causing sudden death.
This may be due to prolonged exposure or sudden exposure, depending on the type of toxin involved.
Some toxins are easier to test for than others due to specific damage found in some tissues.
A good history and a thorough search of where the animals had access can be helpful in getting a diagnosis.
Too much grain too quickly can be fatal to ruminants. Ensuring animals have time to adapt to grain in their diet is essential for gut health.
Some bacterial infections, such as salmonella, can either cause illness or just sudden death depending on the amount of infection and the host susceptibility.
Bacteria can come from the environment or can be shed from carrier animals. Feed and water contamination can be an issue, particularly in feedlot situations.
While scouring can be a feature of disease, some animals will die so quickly that they will not have the opportunity to show signs of disease first.
If you are concerned about sudden death in your livestock, please get in touch with your local district vet by contacting Local Land Services on 1300 795 299.
Linda Searle is a district veterinarian with Murray Local Land Services.
The John Deere Build-A-Buddy Green Dump Truck features two great ways to play! This 13-piece construction toy includes a screwdriver that lets kids take it apart and put it back together again which is great for encouraging problem solving skills. Made of chunky parts, it’s easy for little hands to assemble and maneuver into place. But the fun doesn’t stop there! Put together, this dump truck is a great push-along toy for lots of on-the-floor fun. It also features a working dump bed that lets kids haul around all of their favorite treasures.
$49.99
JOHN
This John Deere four pack of toy vehicles provides plenty of fun at home or on the go. Each features authentic John Deere colours and detailing and is made from sturdy diecast and plastic for play both indoors and out.
$24.99
This John Deere Push and Go Truck is a cute little truck that zooms along when you press down on the drivers head! Classic green and yellow theme and chunky perfect for the little hands. The truck box also tilts and dumps. Encourages play, to develop your baby’s early skills.
$18.95
John Deere Build a Buddy brings take-apart toy fun to the farm! Young kids will have a great time using the included screwdriver to take Bonnie and her wagon apart and then put them back together again. Once put together, Bonnie’s free rolling wheels are perfect for push along play.
$26.95
These great titles and more available instore. We post direct to you, contact us today to discuss getting your copies posted* *Postage and Handling fees apply.
Murray Local Land Services is hosting an irrigation discussion session and cropping pre-season meeting in Bunnaloo on March 21.
It will start on farm and conclude with a barbecue at the Bunnaloo Hall. Speakers are:
• Damian Jones from the Irrigation Farmers Network who will provide a pre-season update;
• Adrian Smith from AKS Advisory, who will demonstrate outlet impact on headloss in surface irrigation; and
• Sam North from NSW DPI who will look at design, implementation and return on investment from travelling irrigators.
There will also be a farmer panel discussing irrigation layouts – what’s worked well and their experience. The discussion will take place between 3pm and 6pm on March 21, with the location to be confirmed upon registration. RSVPs must be received by March 19 to Kimberley Beer at kimberley.beer@lls.nsw.gov.au or by calling 0439 531 306.
FARMtalk welcomes community contributions from farmers, experts and professionals who make their living and life on the land. If you would like to contribute, there are several ways to do so.
• Get in touch and give us a tip of a great story idea.
• Contribute an article: If you are an expert in your field then contributing once off, or regularly, is a great way to get started in our FARMtalk magazine. Contact Zoe McMaugh at farmtalk@denipt.com.au or 03 5881 2322.
• Become an author: FARMtalk is open to occasional contributors who are experts in their field or authorities on a subject or area. Once you have contributed an article, and the editorial team have approved you, we can set you up with a regular column to contribute. We would love to hear from you. Contact Zoe McMaugh at farmtalk@denipt.com.au or 03 5881 2322.
249 Cressy Street, Deniliquin. Phone 5881 2080. www.deni.com.au
• Have a fascinating farm in mind for us to showcase? Tell us! We would love to hear from you. Contact Zoe McMaugh at farmtalk@denipt.com.au or 03 5881 2322.
