Your Farm Magazine Autumn 2019

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WEDNESDAY 10 APRIL 2019

Welcome to the 2019 autumn Your Farm magazine. After a scorching hot summer with little rain, our autumn has had a bit of a turn-around, with good rainfall, albeit through storms, recorded across a wide part of our region. In this magazine, we offer information on the Budget, rural finances, lavender, working dogs, alternative farm income and much more. Our cover photo is from the first of our annual weaner sales, conducted by Monaro Livestock and Property recently. See more details on page 3. Please enjoy our magazine‌.

CONTENTS... Cover photo and this page IS of THE Monaro Livestock and Property weaner sale, courtesy of David Benson, Ray White Rural and LIvestock - Albury

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The Market, Jindabyne tackling rural crime Talk to a finaNcial counsellor Hazeldean sale preview Greatest threat to grasslands Weaner management Paddock perfect Mitre 10 Jindabyne The war against deer Med students in the bush Budget Boost More farm income long road to shearing Lavender links Boyce outlook Worm research Local land Services Invaluable working dogs

WE WROTE IT

WE SELL IT

WE DESIGNED IT ACCOUNTS

Publisher

Gail Eastaway Elle Thompson Richard Wilkins Sam Tonks Trista Parker

Tracy Frazer Cori Isele Naomi Bruce

Jess Plumridge James Hanna Pippa Lewis

Monaro Media Group Pty. Ltd. Ph: 02 6452 0312 | Fax: 02 6452 0314 The Monaro Post | A.C.N. 121 288 060 | A.B.N. 34 121 288 060 Address: 59 Vale Street, Cooma NSW 2630 Postal Address: Po Box 1227, Cooma NSW 2630 Email: editior@monaropost.com.au

Louise Platts

TRAINEE Breanna Arnold

@themonaropost

www.monaropost.com.au

Published by Monaro Media Group Pty Ltd ACN 121 288 060 of 220-227 Sharp St, Cooma NSW 2630. Postal Address : PO Box 1227, Cooma NSW 2630. Printed by Capital Fine Print. 9 Pirie St, Canberra, Fyshwick ACT 2609. The publisher accepts no responsibility for any advertisement, notice or letter published. Any advertisement, notice or letter is published at the risk of the contributor who accepts liability for any intended publication. All such contributors, by forwarding advertisements, notices or letters, agree to indemnify the publisher and warrant that the material is accurate and neither deceptive, misleading, in breach of copyright, defamatory or in breach of any laws and regulations. Please be aware that all material published in Your Farm is subject to copyright.

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Autumn 2019

FARM The Market, supporting our local farmers in Jindabyne

Highland Ground Spreading

PETER WARD 6453 5576

PO BOX 1402, COOMA NSW 2630 p.m.ward@hotmail.com

As consumers increasingly gravitate towards fresh, local produce to help their community farmers, the benefits of shopping locally vastly outweigh buying from bigger chain supermarkets. The Market Jindabyne is a wholefoods store and coffee bar located in the picturesque Snowy Mountains in NSW. The only grocer to be offering organic and locally grown fruit and vegetables in the area. Owners, Scott Kraus and Sheri Gill, began their business venture as Jindabyne was lacking the opportunity for locals to buy fresh produce from local farmers within the region. The only other supermarket in Jindabyne does not stock local fruit and vegetables and there are no farmer’s markets in the area for the farmers to sell their fresh produce. It is important to know the difference between “organic” foods and “local, spray free” foods. Organic foods are certified by a regulating body and required to undergo soil testing before certification will be given. These foods are produced without the

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use of synthetic chemical sprays, fertilisers or artificial growth hormones. Local spray-free foods are grown by local farmers, who choose not to use any chemical sprays (such as insecticides) on their produce but are not subject to the same level of scrutiny as certified organic produce. Locally grown food is however, almost always both fresher and lower in food miles thus rendering it an equally great option. Supplying quality bulk foods, organics, fruit and veg, specialty groceries, natural living supplies and as many local and Australian made goodies as they can find, The Market also offer direct trade espresso, organic loose leaf teas, fresh juices, smoothies and a selection of simple food and vegan treats. Sheri is a big believer in enhancing health and wellbeing along with supporting local products. She believes local and organic fruits and vegetables are the healthiest and best option when buying produce. Buying local foods has numerous health benefits to your family and when buying from local farmers you have access to fruit and vegetables you know are chemical free. Not only are you improving your families’ health by buying locally, you’re improving the local economy. Buying local foods supports the environment. The more land that is cultivated organically decreases the overall usage of chemical pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and fertilisers which increases biodiversity in the local eco-

system. It is no secret that within recent years a movement has begun that takes consumers away from large, impersonal big retailers and introduces them to the people doing business in their own towns including local farmers, craftsmen, home product suppliers and many more items made locally. The Market stock some delicious and unique products including free range eggs from Avonside Alpine Estate, raw honey from Bee Jay’s Honey, homemade jam and chutneys from Margaret’s Kitchen all of which are locally owned and produced, and many more. Local farmer Rodney Trower brings in his fresh vegetables haul of whatever is in season and his tommy toms tomatoes and garlic are always a crowd favourite. 5 Willows Farm also supply potatoes, pumpkins, zucchinis and more on a regular basis. Local florist, Nicole Saunders, owner of Thorn and Snow in Jindabyne supplies her unique and creative bouquet designs to The Market fresh every week. Bouquets unlike any other with lots of locally foraged plants from around the region. The importance of buying locally and supporting our local farmers means less transportation is needed cutting back on pollution and reducing carbon footprints. When buying local foods, you support local farmers and in turn give the farmers a reason to keep producing their fresh and delicious produce. Instead of throwing produce away The Market

gives any waste to locals to feed their chickens or other animals. Recently partnered with the Jindy Inn, The Market also now provides ready frozen meals made with local and organic produce for easy convenience. Meals include lots of vegetarian and vegan options. Along with their beautiful fresh farmer’s products a vast variety of certified organic bulk foods including nuts, seeds, grains, flours, dried fruits, muesli and more are offered as self-serve from the bulk bins at the entrance of the store giving customers the opportunity to choose as much or as little as they need. The offer of self-serve is to cut down on single use plastic, reduce waste and lessen the impact on the earth. The Market is a plastic free retailer and encourages customers to bring their own bags and use complimentary glass jars when purchasing bulk goods. Also, offering a loose-leaf tea station and apothecary station where you can create your own bath salts along with other dried herb and seed medical alternatives. Drop into The Market today for a coffee and treat before gathering your weekly ingredients. All fresh produce is delivered weekly on Fridays while local produce can be delivered throughout the week. Keep up to date on their products: pagesnfacebook.com/themarketjindabyne and ins t a g r a m . c o m / themarketjindabyne or check out their website www.themarketjindabyne.com.

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Tackling rural crime Firearms are to be stored at the principle place of residence. NSW rural police say although this regulation was brought in about 18 months ago, many farmers and other firearm holders are not aware of the change. “The regulation was brought in specifically to prevent the theft of firearms,” says Detective Inspector Cameron Whiteside. As the rural crime coordinator of the Rural Crime Prevention Team, Detective Inspector Whiteside says when it comes to rural crime, prevention is the best way of tackling it. “We have seen many cases of people storing firearms at their weekender property, and because they are unattended, they have been stolen. “The penalty for not keeping a firearm safely secured, that is, preventing it from being stolen is up to two years imprisonment.” If it is not possible to store the firearms at the principle place of residence of the licensee, they may also be stored at a place where someone is residing or in a separate building that can be easily observed from the residential premises. “It is recommended that licensees familiarise themselves with these requirements and ensure they are compliant, as we are finding that many aren’t.” The Rural Crime Prevention Team is also trying to prevent trespassing. “If you enter a working farm without permission, you could be introducing disease and pests, which may have a significant impact on the livestock, crops and

the industry,” says Detective Inspector Whiteside. “To assist farmers to ensure all visitors seek approval from the landowner prior to entering their property, the NSW Police Force website has a link which will allow you to print a new RCPT sign. “What we have been trying to encourage is what we call ‘target hardening’ properties,” says Detective Inspector Whiteside. “While it is impossible to make a property 100 per cent crime free, we are trying to prevent as many as we can. Most rural crimes are opportunistic. If we can make it too difficult for someone to break into one property, we can hopefully push them onto the next property, and so on until they are out of the area.” According to Monaro-based Rural Crime Detective Archie French, stock theft is one of the bigger issues in the local region. “One of the biggest problems with stock theft around here is usually only small mobs of about 30-40 sheep are taken, and there is usually a time delay between when

they are taken and the owner realises they are missing. Unfortunately, this makes finding the perpetrators very difficult,” says Detective French. “In terms of trying to prevent this from happening, we recommend farmers change up their routine. Someone may be observing their movements and learning when certain mobs are being checked. Another method is to arrange house sitters or neighbours to help check on the property and stock if they will be away from the property. If those neighbours notice anything out of the ordinary, they should notify the police. “It is also important to make sure fences are secure, and any gates which lead onto main roads are locked. While some locks are often cut, it is useful to put it there as a deterrent.” Detective Inspector Whiteside says 18 more rural crime detectives will be added to the NSW team over the next three years, increasing the team by 100 per cent since 2017.

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The Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS) was first conceived in Ganmain in our Southern Region. It has since become a national service where people who have worked in agriculture, finance and business basically give farmers a hand to analyse financials, build banking relationships, apply for government assistance, debt mediation and plan for the future. We have 16 counsellors throughout our region who will travel to your farm or you can call into their office for a chat. We have had three new counsellors start in 2019, located in Wagga (Prue Hulm), Coleambally (Airlie Hoskins) and Tony Flett (Deniliquin). This expansion has meant we are now able to assist more people on the land and on the water, become financially stable and help them get back on their feet. We have offices in Albury, Bega, Buronga, Coleambally, Cooma, Crookwell, Deniliquin, Ganmain, Griffith, Hay, Hillston, Huskisson, Wagga Wagga, Yass and Young. Meet a Counsellor

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Prue Hulm | Riverina South 0428 617 887 Prue was born in Wagga and brought up on a mixed farming operation located 15 minutes out of Wagga and after completing her education in Sydney decided her love and interest was in the land so returned home to help with the day to day running of the family property. Prue joins us after 10 years’ experience working in Financial Management and Corporate Agribusiness with the Commonwealth Bank. Pru saw an opportunity to utilise not only her specialised financial skills but also help in an industry that she is passionate about. Prue has an active role in the local community and a keen interest in renovating properties in her spare time with husband Mitch and son George. Some assistance available right now: NSW RAA Loans

1. Farm Innovation Fund • Up to $250k per project and $500k in total • 2.5 per cent interest rate. • Up to 20 tear term. • Eligible projects include, improve farm infrastructure, address risk, ensure long-term productivity, sustainable land use. 2. Drought Assistance Fund • Max $50K • Interest free • Repayment free for two years. • Seven year term Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate Scheme • Rebate of 25 per cent for eligible works • Max rebate of $25k • Eligible activities include, water infrastructure works, pumps, de-silting, bore drilling, tanks and troughs for stock water. Transport Subsidy Emergency Drought Relief. • Transport subsidy up to 50 per cent of total freight cost. • Max $5 per km to max distance of 1500 km. • $40,000 per farm business over 18 months from January 1, 2018. Centrelink Farm Household Allowance • Couples up to $12k in lump sum payments. • Single households up to $7.2k lump sum payments • Fortnightly payments to farm households experiencing financial hardship. • Activity supplement worth $3k. Regional Investment Corporation Concessional Loans. Regional Investment Corporation are federally funded, broadly either drought funding or investment loans. Up to $2 million, 3.58 per cent variable interest. For further information contact the Rural Financial Counselling Service - Southern Region.

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For enquiries contact the Selling Agents • Boller & Co (02) 6452 4155 • Elders (02) 6455 5500 • Landmark (02) 6452 6565 • Monaro Livestock & Property PL (02) 6452 7747

Snowy Monaro Regional Council 1300 345 345

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Hazeldean bull sale

With good autumn rain throughout the Monaro, Hazeldean’s Annual Autumn Bull sale should attract keen buyers. Fifty bulls will be on oer at the May 2 on-property sale, with a vast number of the bulls being Hazeldean -sired. Hazeldean’s operation is based solely on commercial relevance which translates through the supply chain. The stud herd is run side by side with the large commercial herd with the genetics used in the stud directly flowing into the commercial enterprise. “As you can appreciate, the best outcome for a commercial herd on an annual basis is to have high conceptions, no calving trouble, high rebreed rate and an even line of well grown weaners to sell, grow out, or retain as future

breeders,� says co-stud principal Bea Litchfield. Further down the chain, in the feeding and processing segments, a product that consistently performs well is pursued and receives a premium. “With consistency comes brand recognition. We have been particularly pleased in this tough season to see our bloodline being sought after by renowned processors. Steers from our commercial herd and those of our clients receive significant premiums with our entire drop of steers bought by Rangers Valley each year,� she says “The Hazeldean brand is consistent, reliable and relevant to commercial breeders through to processors. This year’s sale team is a

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great reflection of our brand.� A high portion of the sale bulls are sired by Hazeldean bred bulls. Hazeldean J140 has been used heavily in the program for his structural correctness to ensure the Hazeldean cattle maintain functionality, longevity and docility. “Hazeldean Katzen K416 is a standout for his short gestation, high growth and impressive phenotype. Hazeldean F1023 has been used significantly after his outstanding performance in the Angus Sire Benchmarking pushing him into the number one seat for IMF EBV at +6.2. Although these sires have their strengths they all maintain the base requirement for the Hazeldean brand of calving ease, growth, carcase, temperament and constitution.�

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Autumn 2019

Your

FARM

The greatest threat to By Agronomist Stuart Burge Natural grasslands and native pastures form the backbone of the grazing industries on the Monaro. Indeed, they constitute in the order of 70 percent of the total area of 630,000ha of grazing land on the Monaro with the balance being sown to introduced improved pastures and some limited cropping. This situation has been largely the case since the first arrival of pastoralists to the “Manaro” in the 1820s. For the past 190 plus years the native grasslands have been subjected to a combination of grazing with sheep and cattle, fertilizer application and pasture improvement together with the environmental ravages of fire, rabbits and drought. The periodic impact of drought is especially noteworthy and has been reported regularly throughout the history of settlement of this region. For example, almost from the outset, one of the earliest landholders Richard Brooks brought cattle onto the Monaro in 1827, “the year of severe drought”. It is evident therefore that the native grasslands which exist today are substantially different to those which existed prior to European settlement especially in terms of plant composition. Some native species of grasses and forbs such as Kangaroo Grass which are more susceptible to grazing and raised fertility have declined in abundance and been replaced by other socalled “invader” or “coloniser” native species including Poa tussock, Spear Grass, Corkscrew Grass and Wallaby Grasses. This explains their widespread dominance across the landscape. At the same time, native grassland species have also been replaced by a diverse range of exotic or introduced species including some which may be described as being

desirable (at least for agricultural production) as well as some which alarmingly are exotic weeds. Most significant amongst these are the noxious perennial grass weeds including Serrated Tussock and African Lovegrass as well as an extensive range of broadleaf weeds including St John’s Wort, thistles, Great Mullein, horehound etc. The bottom line is that there is now considerable difference in the inherent quality of the native grasslands. These range at one end of the scale from those which have been substantially modified over the past 190 years which are of low conservation value with little biodiversity and which are best described therefore as native “pastures”. These constitute by far the greatest extent of the existing native grasslands. It is noteworthy that Office of the Environment and Heritage describes these grasslands as being comprised of disturbance tolerant native species that “do not warrant the same level of protection as high-conservation-value grasslands”. At the other end of the spectrum are those few remaining areas of remnant native grasslands which are of high conservation value which reflect the ecological status of the grasslands pre-settlement. It is estimated that these represent in the order of 3 per cent of the original extent. These are well documented and botanically described on public lands such Travelling Stock Reserves, cemeteries, road-sides and crown land. The great challenge and focus of our endeavours is to find those few remnant high conservation native grasslands as well as those of of medium conservation value which are retained on private land today. Critical to this is proactively engaging with landholders to help in the location and management of these

sites to both protect them and enhance their conservation status while at the same allowing for sustainable increases in agricultural productivity. This approach is comprehensively described in a Report I have written entitled “The Monaro Kangaroo Grass Strategy”. However, by far the greatest challenge to the long term future of the native grasslands of the Monaro comes from a different far more problematic source. Last year I undertook a review of the federal EPBC Act as it applies to the natural temperate grasslands of the southeast. In that review I opined that: “The single greatest threat to the conservation of the native grassland ecological community on the Monaro is the threat of the highly invasive perennial grass weeds Serrated Tussock and African Lovegrass”. That belief echoes the sobering assessment of the Southern Rivers CMA in 2012: “Unless a large-scale, early investment is successfully implemented, the long term prognosis for the Monaro is one where through inappropriate grazing management and the effects of recurring droughts African Lovegrass will have dominated the native grasslands resulting in the irreversible degradation of their ecological value” and an estimated decline in production (through the loss of grazing productivity alone) of 40 per cent for African Lovegrass and an almost total loss with serrated tussock.”

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Autumn 2019

the Monaro Native Grasslands: Weeds

Photo: African Lovegrass invading a high conservation value Kangaroo Grass based native grassland. The significance and reality of this threat is evident from a survey of the extent of these weeds. Serrated Tussock has long been recognised as being a major weed problem on the Monaro which is especially threatening because of its capacity to spread large distance (up to 30 kms) by wind. A survey conducted in 1997 by the CRC for Weed Management found that on the Monaro the total area of infestation of serrated tussock was estimated to be 163 936 ha. This was comprised of: 34 881 ha supported a ‘heavy’ infestation of Ser-

rated Tussock; 56 270 ha carried a ‘medium’ infestation; and 72 785 ha light. Current data is unavailable but it is suggested by the Snowy Monaro Regional Council that “the extent of this problem is expected to be worse today”. In terms of the threat to the Monaro native grasslands, the widespread resistance of serrated tussock to the herbicide flupropanate reported by Jo Powells, Senior Local Land Services Officer, Pastures further compounds this grave outlook. The other truly alarming problem in regards to weeds is that of African Lovegrass. In 1986, I coordinated a survey of

weeds officers of the three shires on the Monaro in relation to African Lovegrass. At that time, there was no African Lovegrass in the Bombala Shire and only eight properties within the Snowy River Shire totalling 150 hectares of scattered plants. Not unsurprisingly and for historic reasons, the Cooma Monaro Shire had the highest level of infestation with 200 properties totalling 10 000 ha of which 1000 ha was described as heavy, 2000 ha medium and the remaining 7000 ha was described as being “light with only scattered plants requiring spot spraying”. Last September – and prior to this past summer which has favoured

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its spread - it was estimated by the Snowy Monaro Regional Council that the area of heavy infestation of African Lovegrass throughout the Monaro is in the order of 100 000 ha. In other words, during the past 32 years the extent of the heavy infestation of African Lovegrass throughout the Monaro has escalated from approximately 3000 ha (heavy plus medium in 1986) to 100 000 ha. This represents a 30-fold increase in 30-odd years. It must be emphasised that this enormous increase is despite what I believe to be the best of efforts on behalf of shire weed control authorities. In a section within the Monaro Kangaroo Grass Strategy entitled “The Impact of Weeds on the Monaro Native Grasslands” I outline what I believe to be a number of reasons why this has occurred. Included in that report I provide the following comment: “It needs also to be acknowledged that the problem of African Lovegrass has to be seen in the context of the arguably larger problem of Serrated Tussock which has been almost endemic throughout much of the Monaro over a much longer period of time. Serrated Tussock has historically been recognised as the major weed problem in the region and has understandably been the main focus of control efforts for over 50 years both by landholders on farm as well as community groups such as Landcare, state government agencies (including NSW DPI and CMA’s) and shire council weed authorities. For this reason it is suggested that the one of the main reasons for the spread of African Lovegrass is related to the fact that the focus of weed control programs during the 1980s and 1990s was so much centred upon Serrated Tussock, together with the reasons outlined

previously, that African Lovegrass effectively “snuck up behind our back” and then literally ‘erupted overnight’.” These ‘reasons outlined previously’ relate to the fact that the African Lovegrass plant possesses a number of physiological characteristics which favour its capacity to grow and compete with most other plant species in our environment. For example, African Lovegrass is very efficient and well adapted to being able to grow under conditions of low moisture (rainfall) and low fertility and therefore has a competitive advantage over other introduced and native species. The sad and sobering reality is that the clock is ticking in relation to the conservation of the native grasslands especially those few high quality remnants. At the same time the long term future of agricultural production on the Monaro is seriously threatened. The time has come when all tiers of government and the farming community must come together as one to address this dire situation. Fundamental to this is an urgent need for the state and federal governments to reassess whether legislation such as the federal EPBC Act or the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act are posing an impediment to solving this dilemma. Certainly, the suggestion by the previous Minister for Primary Industries Niall Blair that there is a need for a special Code for the Monaro Native Grasslands is one such positive step forward in this direction. It is to be hoped that this initiative and commitment is taken up by Adam Marshall the new Minister for Agriculture. Stuart Burge is an independent consultant Agronomist with many years working on the Monaro. Contact Details: phone 0438 533322 Email: stuartburge@bigpond.com

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Weaner management discussed Zoetis hosted a ReproActive Monaro weaner management workshop at Bibbenluke Station on Thursday March 21. In collaboration with Coolac Veterinary Services and Charles Sturt University, guest speakers presented information about weaning calves to about 30 local participants. Dr Tom Graham of Coolac Veterinary Services says it is important to host workshops such as these as it helps farmers broaden their knowledge. “By attending workshops such as this weaner management one, farmers can become learn about a lot of science and body function information they may not have been aware of previously,” he says. “They can improve their approach and create opportunities to increase production.” Dr Graham says planning is the key to weaner management. “With some planning, farmers can start weaning earlier than most farmers do at the moment. The sorts of planning I mean include infrastructure planning, having a basic and appropriate facility in place. Also nutritional and water planning. Giving the appropriate feed that weaners of a certain age and

Zoetis’ Peter Reardon, Bibbenluke Station’s John Murdoch, Coolac Veterinary Services’ Dr Tom Graham, Charles Sturt University’s Dr Michael Campbell, and Zoetis’ Feedlot Specialist Ben Kidd. weight need. And having proper animal health programs in place is also important.” According to the ReproActive Tech Note each of the participants received, weaning is potentially one of the most stressful and therefore one of the most important procedures in the production cycle of beef cattle. According to Australian Livestock

Production Services, if poorly executed, weight loss, morbidity and mortality can occur. Done effectively, weight gain can be achieved during the weaning process itself. Considering that it is logical to wean calves earlier (or more accurately, at lower bodyweight) under drought/ conditions of feed shortage, the tech note says it is therefore logical

to wean calves earlier regardless of seasonal conditions to reduce total feed requirements and to allocate more feed resources to growing stock than to cows. It is more efficient to feed a calf directly, than to feed a cow to feed a heavy calf with milk, and the whole point of weaning early is to either, run more cows and achieve opti-

FARM mal reproductive performance from them, or to allow opportunistic trading. This approach to weaner management involves improving results from routinely weaning calves down to 130kg, and down to 100kg during drought conditions. This will have flow on benefits to the cow herd in terms of management of body condition score and achieving critical mating weight in heifers. A short joining period, especially in heifers, facilitates early weaning of calves. The workshop discussed the economics of earlier weaning, determining that it is more efficient to feed quality forage to a young ruminant than to a cow to feed the young ruminant, and this effect is established by the time the calf is two to three months. Weaning earlier has the potential to increase capacity to run more breeding cows, allows for better allocation of feed resources. It could lead to better management of cow condition and increase production system efficiency. For more information on this approach to weaner management, visit www.zoetis.com.au.

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Autumn 2019

Paddock Perfect creating the goods

Five years ago Larissa and Brett Woonton moved to their 21-acre property in Crackenback and have since become well known members of the community. Never having farmed in the Snowy Mountains climate before, the couple purchased a property previously known as ‘Troopers Paddock’ and inherited a garden full of established fruit trees, berries and garlic along with a large family residence and an under utilised bush block with a feral deer problem. The couple simplified the name of the property to ‘The Paddock’. Larissa describes the place as initially having “great garden bones” and along with a green thumb, some deer proof fencing and a few years of hard work, the place has been reinvented as a commercial farming business called “Paddock Perfect”. Located in the rolling hills and picturesque valley of the Snowy Mountains, Paddock Perfect is now a commercial farm running Boer and Saanan Goats for the control of weeds and grasses and a growing apiary for pollination of fruit and the production of honey. The farm has a commercial greenhouse to grow seasonal vegetables and herbs and also contains four large deer proof orchards of raspberries, blackberries and blueberries. An original orchard planted by the first owners of the property contains heirloom roses, apple trees, raspberries and Russian garlic that have all shown a resilience to the harsh Snowy Mountains climate by growing virtually wild for over 40 years. No herbicides or pesticides are used in the process of growing and harvesting all produce from the farm. To ensure the farm plants do not require these sprays, the goats do their job to control the weeds and keep the grass down. Inside the deer and goat proof fencing it’s a balancing act of letting the weeds “feed the bees” and manually keeping the weeds from taking over the orchard areas. Growing from an initial desire to assist pollination in their garden, the couple purchased four beehives in 2015 and have since grown that number to 30. Two years ago a decision was made to change from a traditional timber Langstroth beehive design to “Beebox” polystyrene beehives that were developed

in Finland and are built to withstand extremes of temperature experienced on the farm. The insulating properties of the hives help the bees survive and thrive during the cold winter months, as often the bees will be under snow in winter. The insulation also allows the bees a head start in spring. Discovered quite by accident was a stand of Australian tea tree growing along the Wollondibby Creek boundary of the property and together with an abundance of native flowering eucalyptus trees, the bees are producing a flavoursome dark golden honey. The raw, unfiltered and unheated honey is available at the farm gate. Larissa explains through natural splitting of the hives they strive to eventually have around 100 hives. Like the beehives, the raspberries and blackberries naturally double themselves each season. The couple are always looking for ways to improve and expand and are planning a “pick your own berries” experience for locals and visitors in the coming years. This could provide an opportunity to take home freshly picked, ethically produced local fruits instead of buying berries from mass producers. Having received much deserved attention last month from Channel 7’s Sydney Weekender, the farm is flourishing now more than ever. The products available at the farm gate include raw honey, honeycomb, beeswax candles, beeswax lip balm, fresh garlic in season, seasonal fruit and vegetables, jams, relishes, fresh seasonal herbs and sometimes fresh farm eggs. The roadside stall is located along the Alpine Way, 10 minutes outside of Jindabyne heading towards Thredbo in Crackenback and is open to the public every day of the year with an honesty box system at the stall. Paddock Perfect products are also available commercially in various local cafés and restaurants within the area as well as the Wild Brumby Distillery. If you can’t make it to the roadside stall, or you would like information about keeping bees in the Snowy Mountains, please contact Larissa and Brett on 0417 308 709 or message them through their Facebook page www.facebook.com/thepaddockcrackenback.

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Mitre 10 Jindabyne is your local Town and Country Rural Products supplier Mitre 10 Jindabyne is the go-to store for your hardware, houseware, garden and farming needs. As their by-line says, it is Much More than a Hardware Store. The store is open seven days a week and offers friendly customer service by passionate staff with a high knowledge of all things farming and rural. The Town & Country section of the store supplies everything from seeds, chemicals, fertilisers, animal care products as well as general machinery, fencing, grain, animal feed and much more. As the leading retailer for rural supplies in Jindabyne the staff have a good understanding of the area and can offer the right products for the job. If something is not in stock simply ask if it can be ordered in. Special orders are quick and efficient from their Rural Co. Warehouse, usually only taking a week or so to arrive. Mitre 10 stocks only the best brands to ensure healthy agricultural productivity for our region, having the proper stock supplies is important for the environment and the community.

Selling big brand feeds such as Bonnie, Pedigree and Dog Pro dog food, Barastoc, Equilibrium Mineral Mix and Dara Pastoral Co Chaff horse feed and much more, they have something to feed all your farm animals available in the one location. An aisle dedicated to animal care towards the back of the store stocking collars, leads, bowls, chicken feeders, supplements, wormers, horse shoes and much more, whether it is for household pets or farm animals. Now the cooler months are here, come in to the store on Snowy River Avenue today to grab a horse rug or dog coat from the animal care section to keep your beloved animal friends’ cosy and warm. The substantial supply of gardening equipment instore is sure to provide the local farmers with their crop and garden needs including seeds, weed sprays, pesticides, soils and fertilizers to grow healthy, flourishing plants. To keep up to date with upcoming promotions visit their Facebook page on www.facebook.com/ JindabyneMitre10 or have a look at their website mitre10jindabyne.com.au

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The war against deer

An announcement of $9.21 million from the NSW government was made in February to kick off a nine-year pilot deer control program in Kosciuszko National Park. Snowy Monaro Regional Council has also recently made a decision to support the commercial deer harvesting industry and future growth opportunities in the region. This decision was made following a presentation from Wild Game Resources Australia (WGRA) made to Snowy Monaro Regional Council (SMRC) about the opportunities available to landowners for harvesting wild venison in the area. Business Development Manager for WGRA Brett Conibear said there is opportunity not only for professional shooters to be paid by the kilogram, but landowners too. Mr Conibear told SMRC the taste for wild venison is growing. “Australia is seen as a very clean and green option and wild shot venison here is a premium product.” Currently harvesting wild deer in the Cooma area, WGRA are looking to expand that into the Jindabyne area. According to Mr Conibear, WGRA currently export about 30,000 kangaroos and 5,000 pigs per week. “So everything we do, we harvest at a human consumption level and then it’s down-graded to pet

food after that. So a lot of the stuff from Cooma is now transported up to Walgett, they take the prime cuts out for human consumption and the rest of it goes to premium pet food and is exported overseas.” Mr Conibear explained the process as killing the deer and removing the intestines on site, before placing the carcase in a harvest vehicle for transportation to Walgett. “There is huge advantage for farmers,” says Mr Conibear. “We’ve been operating in this area for about six months and have harvested nearly 2800 animals. In terms of disease in the animals, Mr Conibear says the animal is thoroughly examined and tested, as per the official food standard levels, and venison harvested from the Cooma area has been disease free with nothing untoward found so far. “It opens up a lot of important opportunities for the Jindabyne and Snowy area. There’s a chance, as a harvester to make good dollars per week harvesting deer. You get paid per kilogram and we’re always looking for good shooters to add to the ranks.” Mr Conibear says each shooter is required to undertake a strict training course with regard to food handling and firearms accuracy testing. They must have their own commercial deer hunting license and have their own public

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liability insurance. There is no cost to the landowner to have these shooters come on to their property. The landowner has to be notified of when the shooters are coming, and the shooters are not allowed to enter the property unless the landowner has responded to grant permission for entry onto the property. Signage is also placed on property fences should professional shooters be on the property. Mr Conibear says in Victoria, this signage has helped decrease the occurrence of poachers illegally entering properties. WGRA also do work for National Parks and Wildlife Services and councils to create shooting plans and collect population data. Jindabyne real estate agent Gordon Jenkinson also addressed SMRC about the issue, saying the service WRGA offer is a nobrainer. “Most tourism destinations offer unique food experiences,” said Mr Jenkinson. “The Kosciuszko National Park is a huge park and the number of deer will just continue to increase and the cost to private land holders is going to be huge. It’s just a wasted opportunity to cull animals and get no benefit out of it. “There is also the issue of leaving the carcasses on the ground attracting wild dogs, feral cats and European wasps.”

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ANU medical students experience

A group of first year postgraduate Australian National University medical students visited the Monaro recently to get a taste of life as a rural

doctor. Part of the week-long trip was a tour of a local farm. Ross and Liz Sherlock took the students through their prop-

erty ‘Kiaora’ just south of Cooma. Ross is a fourth generation farmer and has much knowledge to share with the students, many of whom have

never experienced rural life. Ross and Liz welcomed the students for lunch on Wednesday March 27, catered by the Cooma

Lions Club. “What I hope the students get out of coming to our property is a taste of what farmers do,” says Ross. “It is difficult to explain everything in a just a few hours, but I hope they go away with a small concept of what is involved.” Ross and Liz start the tour by showing the students various pieces of machinery used on a property from quad bikes

to utes and tractors. Ross explained the various uses of the machinery and how the advancement in technologies has resulted in many jobs on the farm becoming easier. For example the tractor allows the Sherlocks to transport larger bales of hay to all corners of the property, feeding stock more efficiently in times of drought. Ross also explained the

danger associated with each piece of equipment, many of which are used every day. Quad bikes are one commonly used machine in farming. With helmets not compulsory and the tendency of the bikes to roll, they are a particularly dangerous piece of equipment. “With one of these quad bikes weighing about 350kg, often

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what happens is the vehicle rolls on top of the driver and even if they have not suffered any injuries, the weight of the bike on top of them means they cannot breathe,� Ross told the students. Ross also told the students that farmers would often have their chainsaw and rifle in a farm ute with them at all times. These two items can often result in accidental injuries, often potentially fatal. Ross then conducted a shearing demonstration. The majority of the students had never seen someone

shear a sheep before and were interested in the process. They were able to examine the fleece and understand the dierent aspects to assessing its quality. It was pointed out shearing also contains risks, with shearers often injuring their arms with the clippers or more long term, damage to their backs. While physical injuries are common on the farm, Ross and Liz also told the students that mental health is a big concern. “The drought and flooding conditions lately have brought mental health in

farmers to the fore,â€? says Ross. “Suicide rates are higher in the country than they are in the city.â€? “Farmers tend to spend most of their day alone,â€? says Liz. “They are constantly problem solving alone, so when they are facing a problem they can’t solve on their own, they find that diďŹƒcult to handle and asking for help does not come easily.â€? Ross says another issue farmers are now facing is a lack of young people interested in the agricultural industry. “The average age of a farmer is 57,â€? says Ross. “So just as your are think-

ing about retirement, you are only reaching the average age. “There are a few young people who are starting to think about agriculture as a career, but many seem uninterested. “If you are going to be a farmer, you really need the passion for it. You need to be in it for the lifestyle, not the money. “Farming is important because everyone needs food to be able to do what they want to do.� Ross and Liz have been involved in the ANU medical student rural program for more than a decade and the students consider the farm visit as a highlight of the trip.

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Back in black budget boost for farmers NSW Farmers has welcomed a ‘back in black’ federal budget that features support for local food and fibre production and rural communities through drought assistance, export market access and investment in regional roads, rail and airports. NSW Farmers President James

Jackson says there were positive commitments for agriculture from the Treasurer, including $6.3 billion dollars in drought support. “Like the Treasurer said in his budget speech, the drought has taken a heavy toll and the federal government has adopted such measures

as extending the Farm Household allowance and investment in mental health services in response,� Mr Jackson said. “The significant commitments to improve regional infrastructure and connectivity will go a long way towards ensuring our fresh food

and fibre gets to domestic and export markets more eďŹƒciently and aid the drought recovery process.â€? Mr Jackson said aspects of the federal budget enhance state government commitments championed by NSW Farmers in the recent state election. “Announcements such as $100 million for regional airports compliments NSW Farmers’ calls for regional food hubs and the future foods CRC as key drivers for reaching a the goal of a $30 billion agriculture industry by 2030.â€? The 2019–20 budget has also committed $29.4 million, over four years, to enhance Australia’s agricultural exports. The package includes funding to increase market access, improved access to plant genetics for the horticulture sector and more than $11 million to minimise the impact of non-tari trade barriers. Mr Jackson said reducing the tax rate for small and medium-sized companies with an annual turnover of less than $50 million and expand-

ed access to an instant asset writeo is also good news. “Competition remains a key concern for farmers, particularly dealing with the oligopoly power of processors and supermarkets. The budget does include steps to fund a mandatory dairy code, however that initial funding for the code is only $1.9 million and the ACCC Agricultural Unit has been only funded for a further year.â€? “While the budget does include some measures to help recruit seasonal labour, no news regarding an agricultural visa is disappointing. It’s a practical solution to improving access to labour, particularly in the horticulture sector.â€? “Overall, this infrastructure heavy budget recognises the significant value of regional communities and agriculture to the future prosperity of Australia and the projection for future surpluses bodes well for further investment for our agriculture sector.â€?

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Creating more income opportunities In times of drought, many working properties need supplementary forms of income in order to survive. Although the Fitzpatricks only run a small farming enterprise, their Old Minton Farmstay business helps pay the bills. Paul and Bronwyn Fitzpatrick also run the Nimmitabel Post Office. Despite their busy lives, they make time to ensure their farmstay guests have an enjoyable experience at their property. “We allow the guests to become as involved as they like,” says Bronwyn. “If they want complete privacy, then they won’t see us at all. But if they would like a tour of the property, we can do that.” “Many guests really like to get involved with the animals,” says Paul. “So we often take them with us when we are feeding the sheep and cattle.” Old Minton also has some goats, ducks, a dog and a horse. “With many of our guests coming from cities, they really love the animals,” says Bronwyn. “When you read through our guestbook, the most common comments we get are about the animals.” “We often have return visitors, and for many of them, the main thing they want to see again is the animals. They love to see how they have grown and changed.” Old Minton Farmstay has been the location of many family reunions. Situated about halfway between Sydney and Melbourne makes it a great meeting place for families and friends. “We find most of our guests are from cities, looking to escape,” says Paul. “They often comment on the silence out here and the stars really freak them out.” Paul and Bronwyn also say the guests really enjoy seeing wildlife such as wombats, echidnas, kangaroos and wallabies. They even get keen birdwatchers come and stay. One group told them they spotted more than 40 species during their short stay. The bushwalks through the property are picturesque, and there is a dam adjacent to the house, which many use for swimming and canoeing in summer. The 800-acre property is unique and diverse. The Winifred Creek runs through the property and there is bushland and open paddocks to enjoy. Reaching 1200m above sea level, guests are always thrilled when there is some snowfall in winter.

Bronwyn and Paul also believe their farmstay has a flow on effect in town. “Being only 4km from Nimmitabel, our guests often go into town to stock up on supplies or eat out for lunch and dinner,” says Paul. “They’ll also have a browse of the other shops in town, so it is really good that way.” Having moved to Nimmitabel 22 years ago from Sydney, Paul and Bronwyn are very invested in the community of the town and believe if everyone pitches in to help, it will only benefit everyone in the area. The Fitzpatricks also have plans to build another farmstay building on the property, purpose-built for disabled access. On the side of a hill, they will call it The Glasshouse and it will have a beautiful view overlooking the valley. For more information about the Old Minton Farmstay, visit www.oldmintonfarmstay.com.au.

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Ali’s convoluted road to Bombala’s shearing sheds From civil engineering apprentice to possum trapper, 24-year-old Ali Brodie has walked an unusual path to become a learner shearer here on the Monaro. It’s been a long path too, with Ali growing up in Edinburgh, Scotland, where he held several dierent jobs in construction before taking up a technician apprenticeship in civil engineering. “I had a head start with some other qualifications I had, and there was less than a year to go when I quit,â€? Ali says. “I just knew it wasn’t for me.â€? Seeking a change, Ali decided to travel to New Zealand in October 2016, planning to look around for

12 months, but ending up staying for two years. “I only knew one guy there, and I’d met him about 10 years ago,� Ali says. “I stayed with him and his family, and did a lot of fishing there. They didn’t want any money for rent, just fish on the table, so that’s what I did.� Later he moved on to stay with a Maori family, and having no car, sought to make his living in the local valley trapping possums. “I had seven rusty traps to start with, and it took me a whole week to catch one possum,� he laughs. “But I ended up with around 80 traps and was starting to tan the hides myself.�

It was towards the end of his stay that Ali got some work in the shearing sheds, and with his Visa running out, he decided the next step was over the ditch to Australia to become a shearer. He picked up work in the sheds in WA pressing wool. “I took a shot at telling them I was already a shearer, but that didn’t work,� he laughs. Soon enough Ali saw an advertisement for a learner shearer with Warren Kimber’s Monaro Shearing in Bombala, and he quickly applied, consulting a map to see where NSW was. “I just went for it, and when they told me I’d got the job, I drove over from WA on Boxing Day, and started

work the day after New Years with not much sleep,� Ali says. Anyone who has been in a shearing shed can tell you that it’s hard work, and at first Ali started to wonder why he had been so keen to shear. “Its tough and it’s hot, and you’re just uncomfortable all the time at first. I’d be getting home from work, showering, eating and just going straight to sleep,� he said. “But now, I love it. I still have hard days, all the shearers do, but can’t imagine doing anything else right now.� Learning from more experienced shearers, Ali can now shear around 100 crossbred ewes, but ultimately aims to work his way up to shearing

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around 130 Merinos a day. “If I can just get good enough at it, then I can get work anywhere that there’s sheep,� he said. But that doesn’t mean that he’s in a hurry to leave Bombala, where he has been grateful for the start the Kimbers have given him. Ali has taken to the district, and has tried his hand at shearing both in the Australia Day competition and the Bombala Show quick shear. “I really love it in Bombala, the people are awesome,� he says. “It’s a bit like stepping back in time, coming from a city like Edinburgh, but I really feel like I’ve fallen on my feet here.�

Ali Brodie grew up in Edinburgh, Scotland, and spent time in the sheds in New Zealand before coming to Bombala to learn to shear.

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From inner Melbourne to outer Bombala – lavender is the link Running a busy florist, nursery and plant hire business in inner city Melbourne was the unexpected impetus for Rob and Karen Cash to establish a lavender farm on the Monaro. The Cashes, now well known in the Bombala district, ran their business next to the Prahran Market for 15 years, servicing big name clients including the MCG, Olympic Park, and the National Gallery, as well as Mushroom and leading music promoters. “I used a lot of lavender and herbs in my arrangements,” Karen explains. “When Paul and Linda McCartney toured, for instance, we had to include fresh basil and herbs in all arrangements, which was very difficult due to the timing of the visit, but we managed.” The Cashes recall another time, walking suburban railway lines in search of the fennel leaf that one of the chefs at the MCG required. “It was lots of fun, but very hard work,” Karen says, recalling the hectic days of providing flowers and plants during key times such as Mother’s Day or football finals at clients’ venues. Having often holidayed in the Bombala district on a bush block purchased in the 70s, Rob and Karen began to develop the idea of growing lavender themselves. “Initial thoughts were that we would grow lavender and supply florists in Melbourne, as we were aware that good quality dried and fresh lavender were both hard to source,” Karen

explains. They bought a property in Creewah near Bombala in 1994, and selling their florist business more quickly than anticipated, were faced with moving in a very short time span in early 1995. “Monaro Country Lavender was forming or had just formed around this time so I went to the first conference held in Bombala and joined the group,” Karen said. “It was a very exciting time.” The Cashes planted out a variety of L.xintermedia on their Glen Allen property, mainly ‘Grosso’, ‘Miss Donnington’ and ‘Impress Purple’, and a couple of L. Angustifolia. “Rabbits ate the plants down very quickly, but fortunately this resulted in bushy little plants, so it was all good,” Karen says. The Cashes continued their involvement with MCL, and Karen became President, working hard to establish Lavender House on the Railway Land at Bombala to showcase the area’s lavender industry to its visitors. Karen also began work with the Council to promote tourism, and lavender became the floral emblem for the Bombala Council, with whom Karen worked for many years. During this time the Railway Land became a centre for tourism development in Bombala, and this included establishing a Visitor Information Centre, which was initially run by members of the MCL group.

Importantly, Karen and MCL helped to organise the first Australian lavender conference to focus on essential oil. “Rob met Jeff Allen, an essential oil distiller from Beechworth, and got right into distilling, becoming the head distiller for MCL,” Karen said, “He still distils for the group and other growers from across the region, and just loves it. “ Rob has also tried spearmint - “beautiful but low yield” - thyme, rosemary and various gums, but now concentrates on the lavenders, rosemary and e. Viminuls. “Our e Viminuls oil was featured at an exhibition at the Powerhouse in Melbourne because of its high cinole count, which gives the oil a lemony perfume,” Karen explains. In conjunction with their lavender farming and oil distillation, the Cashes established Herbs With Altitude in 1996, producing a range of herbal teas, beauty products and essential oils. Now, over 20 years later, Herbs With Altitude still operates - sometimes despite the odds! “We are resigned to the fact that we will have to put up deer proof fencing,” Karen says. “We lost all of my rare herbs, flowers and bulbs to deer, but I will replant when the fence is completed. The good news is they don’t like lavender or rosemary!” Rob is now President of MCL, and continues the distilling, with the still located in the goods shed on the Railway Land where it certainly

creates interest. “Bus tours love to see the process and hear Rob’s talk,” Karen says. “He is very passionate about the process and will talk for hours if allowed to!” Karen is also still involved in the MCL group, and has just opened the Old Delegate Post Office as a homewares and gifts retail outlet, selling MCL products and Herb With Altitude essential oils and beauty products. The newly refurbished space is also home to the Creative Hub which hosts a range of workshops including mosaics, weaving from nature, felting and tie dying, as well as the Healing Hub, which sees friend, Su King offer healing massages, workshops and body balancing. “I am happy that I can now indulge my passions for creating, natural products, sharing ideas, views, skills and community development all from the Old Delegate Post Office,” Karen says. “I am looking forward to re-establishing the garden at Glen Allen, and also re-vitalising our new garden at Delegate, which has no deer and no rabbits! “Rob is happy doing demonstrations for the bus tours, distilling for growers, and if truth be known, happy that I am out of his hair for three days a week so that my grand plans for gardens, MCL and Herbs With Altitude can be kept somewhat in check!”

Rob and Karen Cash came from inner city Melbourne over 20 years ago to farm lavender on the Monaro, with Rob being the head distiller of essential oil for the Monaro Country Lavender group.

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Early Federal Budget promises The Federal Government has now handed down its 2020 budget in readiness for a May election. Boyce Chartered Accountants helps us unpack the impacts for rural communities. The Liberal/Coalition party released the budget on April 2. There were no surprises and few proposed changes for tax and super: • The budget is forecasting a $7.1 billion dollar surplus in 2019-20 with continuing budget surpluses projected over the forward estimates. • Beyond further reductions to personal tax rates and an increase in the instant asset write off from $25,000 to $30,000 and its expansion to medium sized business with a turnover under $50m there really weren’t many other tax related measures provided. The extension to $30,000 is to apply for assets installed and ready for use after April 2, 2019 through until

June 30, 2020. (This measure passed both Houses of Parliament on April 4, 2019.) • The luxury car tax refunds for eligible primary producers and tourism operators will be increased to a maximum of $10,000. This will apply for vehicles acquired on or after July 1, 2019. Currently primary producers and tourism operators may be eligible for a partial refund of the luxury car tax paid on eligible four wheel or all-wheel drive cars, up to a maximum refund of $3,000. The eligibility criteria and types of vehicles eligible for the current partial refund will remain unchanged under the new refund arrangements. • There is a marked increase in infrastructure spending in regional areas. Much of this is centred in Queensland and Victoria. • The announcement to establish the Emergency

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Response Fund to fund natural disaster recovery is welcomed along with specific concessions for the recent North Queensland floods. • There are measures extending the temporary graduate visa period for regional graduates, the Agriculture Stewardship Package, Seasonal Worker Program and extension of the Family Tax Benefit to ABSTUDY recipients aged 16 and over who study away from home and regional areas. • Super – some limited extensions to the work test requirements for those over 65 • Energy assistance payment – the government has announced it will provide assistance payments to those households in receipt of most benefits from Centrelink. The amounts are $75 for singles and $62.50 for each member of a couple eligible for qualifying payments on April 2 and who are residents in Australia.

Monaro Merino ewe competition The annual Merino Ewe Competition will be held on Friday May 3 and Saturday May 4. Held over two days and hosted by the Berridale Ag Bureau, the competition will travel across the Snowy Monaro region and inspect the ewe flocks of 11 different farms. This year’s judges will be Gary Cox of Langdene Merino Stud and Patrick Davis of Demondrille Merino Stud. The competition is sponsored by Will Dixon of Monaro Livestock and Property as well as all the major local banks. The Monaro Merino Ewe Competition is the oldest of its kind in the country, having been running consistently for the last 90 years. “We’ve looked back over the records and there’s only one year we’ve missed,â€? says competition president Ross Walters. “That was in World War Two.â€? Over two days, the judges will inspect the 11 dierent flocks and assess them based on their constitution, trueness of wool and consistency throughout the

flock among other things. The winner will claim the Monaro Livestock and Property trophy, a symbol of the top breeder in the region and a highly coveted accolade. Australian Wool Innovation Ltd will also be getting involved by supplying a variety of woollen garments and hosting a fashion parade, showcasing local wool. Unfortunately, not all regular competitors will be present at this year’s competition due to a particularly diďŹƒcult season, but all are encouraged to attend

and see what local farmers can produce even under adverse conditions. There will be a shuttle bus available to transport spectators between locations. The shuttle will be leaving at 7:30am on both Friday and Saturday morning. Cost of entry for the competition will be $10 and this will include lunch. Anyone interested in finding out more about The Merino Ewe Competition can contact Ross Walters on 0427 200 025.

FOR FINANCIAL ADVICE YOU CAN TRUST There’s only one choice... Boyce has been a trusted advisor to families and businesses in the Monaro region for over 40 years Whilst the heritage, culture and philosophy of Boyce are firmly rooted in our regional presence, we offer clients a "big city" level of expertise and range of specialist services to help your business succeed. You’ll find that working with your Boyce accountant is a true partnership. Our common purpose is to assist you increase your business profitability to maximise your wealth.

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FARM Get a wriggle on and submit worm samples for research trial Sheep producers are being urged to get a wriggle on and submit worm samples for a research trial to validate a more sensitive worm test, resulting in improved sheep welfare and productivity. Australian sheep producers spend an estimated $93 million per year on sheep drenches and knowing that they are working can provide peace of mind for many wool producers. Australian Wool Innovation General Manager for Research Dr Jane Littlejohn highlighted that most of the time, producers may not definitively know if the drench is working because drench testing is often not feasible. “One of the reasons why woolgrowers do not drench test is because the traditional test is based on lowsensitivity counts that require a mob average faecal egg count (FEC) of 300 before it can begin,” Dr Littlejohn explained. “This may be hard to achieve, especially if the sheep are being managed for low worm burdens. The second problem is leaving sheep until they have higher worm burdens a this exposes them to the risk of sickness and low production.” AWI’s research project has been designed to validate a new test method based on improved technologies for counting and analysis of FECs. Dr Littlejohn shared, “the result should be a test that is simple and cheap to conduct but provides di-

agnostic answers that are more robust and reliable.” “This includes only minor changes to the way the test is set-up on farm. Possibly the most important change is the dropping of the untreated control group for future testing. “This will also reduce the risk of seriously ill animals due to high parasite burdens, particularly in areas where barbers pole worms have become the major problem.” To achieve this, sheep producers across Australia are being encouraged to collect dung samples from a mob of wormy sheep on the day of drenching, then again 14 days after the drench. The samples are sent to the lab and subjected to a four-way analysis that includes: Traditional worm egg count, with an un-drenched control group for comparison Traditional worm egg count, but the ‘before’ samples are used instead of an un-drenched control group. Mini-FLOTAC worm egg count (higher sensitivity), with an un-drenched control comparison group. Mini-FLOTAC, using the ‘before’ samples as control group. Comparing the performance of the four different methods is the key part of this study. Dawbuts veterinary parasitologist Dr. Janina McKay-Demeler, who has international experience in worm research, outlined she has set up the

trial to clearly show the strengths and weaknesses of the various approaches to drench testing. “We have trialled the Mini-FLOTAC for drench testing in European sheep and the results are impressive. It’s a bit like using the latest mobile phone technology compared to the old landline dial phones,” Dr McKay-Demeler said. “In the world of electronics everyone wants to keep up with the newest technology available, while it is surprisingly still difficult to convince people to use newer and much more sophisticated methods in drench testing. “This trial aims to cover all of Australia and if we receive enough participating farms, we will be able to analyse how each of the methods performs under real- world conditions. “The objective is better worm control for Australian sheep producers and that can only improve both welfare and productivity. And since this project is funded by AWI, Dawbuts performs all FECs for FREE! This alone is a benefit, as the producers who submit worm samples will receive the results from the traditional FEC test, saving them hundreds of dollars.” Sheep producers wanting to participate in this trial can contact Dawbuts on admin@dawbuts.com or call 02 4655 6464.

Applications for the 2020 AWI Graduate Training program are now open with potential applicants encouraged to join the AWI flock and submit their application. After its successful launch and inaugural year in 2018, the Graduate Training Program has five graduates currently participating in the program with the 2020 program representing the program’s third cohort. AWI CEO Mr Stuart McCullough outlined AWI’s Graduate Training Program provides successful applicants with a thorough understanding of the wool supply chain from fibre to fashion. “The 18-month program commenc-

es in March 2020 and is based primarily at the AWI office in Sydney, where the successful graduate applicants will gain exposure to many areas of the AWI business from on-farm and off-farm R&D through to marketing,” Mr McCullough explained. “The graduates will also be given the opportunity to gain a global exposure to the wool supply chain through two three-month international rotations. The program is aimed at graduates from a broad cross section of disciplines who have a background in or connection with the Australian wool industry. “For the 2019 program we saw a

50 per cent increase in applications from the previous year and we anticipated the competition for the 2020 program to also be extremely high.” “We are focussed on attracting and retaining the best talent to the wool industry and we see the graduation program as one of the mechanisms to future proof human resources in our industry,” Mr McCullough said. Applications for the 2020 AWI Graduate Training program are now open and close on Tuesday 30 April 2019. To apply, please select the AWI Graduate Training Program at www.wool.com/careers or apply through Seek or LinkedIn.

AWI’s 2020 Training Program

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FARM Digital agriculture – Supporting the next generation of agriculture An exciting new collaborative project is underway to help provide producers with ‘real time’ decision making tools on their mobile phones and tablets. The project, funded by the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program Smart Farming partnerships, will build on the existing South East Soil

Moisture Probe Network which has been helping producers on the Monaro and Southern Tablelands make better production decisions since 2017. CSIRO are a key partner in the project, Patrick Mitchell, Senior Research Scientist, is part of a team that is building a pasture forecast system to provide the ‘real time’ predictions of pasture and livestock conditions. “The new system combines our latest advancements in climate forecasting, soils and livestock systems modelling to give farmers better predictions of future conditions at critical times during the year.” Patrick said. “The project forms part of CSIRO’s digital agriculture initiative that is helping producers harness the current growth in digital innovations within Australian agriculture.” The increasingly volatile farming environment, climate and markets, means that twiceyearly forecasts are no longer sufficient for effective decision making. Instant and reliable forecasting is required to ensure the long term profitability of farming enterprises and the management of our landscape for next generation agriculture. Making decisions in the face of uncertainty is something that producers are all too familiar with, so a tool that can help alleviate some of that uncertainty is of great interest. “As livestock producers, our biggest uncertainty is how much pasture we will have in the months ahead. This project will be a game changer in terms of helping us better answer this question,” said Nimmitabel producer, Richard Taylor. “While we don’t know what rain we will get, using moisture probes and current pasture

levels to give us an accurate starting point, and combining with historical rainfall probabilities going forward, gives us the best achievable insight into the months ahead. “Having this information continually updated and delivered to our phone, tablet or lap top will be of enormous value to our business, and help us do a better job looking after our land and animals.” The Monaro and Tablelands Farming Systems Groups have worked closely with South East Local Land Services over the past two years to install a network of 20 soil moisture probes across South Eastern NSW. The network will be expanded to 25 probes as suitable sites are identified over the next couple of years. The new tool will enable producers to select a probe location that best matches their own property’s characteristics and use that data in their decision making. “The additional probes will mean that we will now have a network of 10 probes on the Monaro,” said Nancy Spoljaric, Executive Officer – Monaro Farming Systems. “This should give a good representation of soil types and rainfall patterns so producers can feel confident that they are making informed decisions at critical times.” The next step in the successful delivery of this exciting technology will enable producers to remain competitive domestically and internationally and at the forefront of best practice for production, environmental and community benefits. The project is a collaboration between the Australian government, South East Local Land Services, Tablelands Farming Systems, Monaro Farming Systems, CSIRO and Bookham Agricultural Bureau. You can learn more at www.soilmoistureprobes. com.au.

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A good dog is invaluable

AN AGRIBUSINESS DEDICATED TO YOU. BRANCH MANAGER Sam Green: 0428 973 520 REAL ESTATE Sam Green: 0428973520 Tim Schofield: 0428526733

WOOL Sam Green: 0428973520

ACCOUNTS Leanne Bujalski

LIVESTOCK Sam Green: 0428973520 Tim Schofield: 0428526733

FINANCE John Scarlett: 0419692007

MERCHANDISE Pauline Bolton

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STUD

In recent years, people have been becoming more and more aware of the value of a good yard dog. Kelpies are probably one of the most prolific breeds across the Monaro, yet they are regularly sold for anywhere between $5,000 - $8,000. Last year one was sold in Victoria for $22,000, making him the most expensive Kelpie in the world. Their price is a direct result of their working qualities. Kelpies were originally Scottish Collies that were bred over generations to be more at home in harsh Australian conditions. Whilst their speed, strength and other physical attributes are undoubtedly important, Kelpies are prized above all for their intelligence. Dean Incher has been working with yard-dogs all his life and has raised many prize-winning dogs. Recently, his dogs took home first place in the open, novice and maiden classes at the Bombala Show Yard Dog Trials. However, even with Dean’s wealth of experience, raising such an intelligent breed into a great working dog is no easy feat. “It’s not an exact science.” He says. “You can do everything right and still end up with an imperfect dog.” “The number one thing you’re looking for in a great dog is its effect on sheep.” The ideal Kelpies are able to use their initiative and work without constant commanding. They are bold, confident and spatially aware, knowing how close they

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COOMA can get to sheep without scattering them. The best dogs also have a calmness that keeps them from stressing or panicking the sheep. Obviously raising a dog with these qualities is more complicated than teaching it to sit and roll over. Indeed, it requires exhaustive training on top of a genetic and instinctive foundation that is not

always there. This is why good yard-dogs can be so expensive, because these intelligent qualities make them an invaluable asset on any sheep farm. Not only a worthwhile investment, but an essential one. Those interested in learning more about yard dogs can reach out to the Monaro Utility Dog Club on Facebook.

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