Australian Farmers Dealers Journal

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 2012

HENTY AND ELMORE FIELD DAYS REVIEW Plus Marketing, Finance & Cost Control Features

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Australasian Farmers’ & Dealers’ Journal Established 1984 Publisher & Manager Editor Hartley Higgins General Manager Elizabeth Bouzoudis Editorial Mandy Parry-Jones Features Editor Keith Smiley Advertising Manager Sheryl Braden Ph: (07) 5523 9771 Mb: 0438 877 072 Email: s.braden@ryanmediapl.com.au Production Sandra Noke Email: prod.afdj@ryanmediapl.com.au Circulation Email: admin.adfj@ryanmediapl.com.au Subscription One year subscription within Australia: $33 (inc GST) for four issues, Overseas: $66 (inc GST) for four issues.

Phone Cathy Johnson: (03) 9888 4822 or email to subscribe: admin.adfj@ryanmediapl.com.au Printing Lane Print & Post Adelaide, South Australia Ryan Media Pty Ltd ABN 85 085 551 980 Suite 103, 486 Whitehorse Road, Surrey Hills, Victoria 3127 PO Box 1523, Surrey Hills North, Victoria 3127 Phone: (03) 9888 4822

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ AND DEALERS’ JOURNAL

From the Publisher...

Our second edition of Australasian Farmers & Dealers Journal (AFDJ) has been a learning experience and also a welcome experience.

We have been welcomed very warmly by the industry, especially those involved with Australia’s well-organised field days and by the machinery suppliers and distributors who attend them.

Attending and monitoring the field days has been one of the highlights as the variety of products, services and machinery bodes well for Australia’s future in the global economy. In this issue we have an expanded section focussing strongly on Australian field days, those past and those to come.

However, it’s not just machinery and products that are positioned well for Australia, our agricultural communities are strong, very resilient and optimistic.

All of us can look forward to a solid and prosperous future if we can provide a forceful case to the politicians who ultimately hold much of our future in their hands. We have both the Government and Coalition in this issue putting forward their opinion on wheat deregulation in My View.

What has been a learning experience for us in these past few months is that unlike other industries such as manufacturing, the agricultural machinery industry

Email: admin.afdj@ryanmediapl.com.au

In this issue...

ISSN 1442-4983

Regulars

Fax: (03) 9888 4840

Conditions Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the editor/ publishers; information is published in good faith and we do not accept responsibility for damage which may arise from any possible inaccuracies.

All rights reserved. None of the contents may be used in any other media without prior consent of the publishers.

Published by Ryan Media Pty Ltd.

offers a less cohesive front. Obtaining information about the industry is more difficult and identifying the leaders is harder. This is especially so in New Zealand, which AFDJ now covers, as well as in Australia.

We have had support from the Tractor and Machinery Association of Australia with Richard Lewis providing comment and assistance. In this issue his thoughts on educating our next generation are insightful and provide a much needed direction for the future of the agricultural community.

One uplifting discovery we made was the number of Australian owned and operated companies that look after this industry with new products and services.

Many continue to research, develop, produce and market new products that will improve rural business and life on the farm. Some of these products have been featured in our special section titled ‘Aussie made’.

We always welcome feedback from the agricultural industry in Australia and New Zealand. Ultimately your feedback will assist us to provide the information you are looking for to innovate and develop your business.

Hartley Higgins, Publisher Mandy Parry- Jones, Editor

November 2012 Issue 86

News...................................................................................................4 Farmers have their say......................................................................88 Field Days.........................................................................................53

Features

What’s New in Tyres.........................................................................48 What’s New in Water........................................................................64 What’s New that’s Aussie Made.......................................................68 What’s New in Fire Fighting.............................................................73 What’s New in Bikes........................................................................86 This issue cover: Grizzly Engineering (see also pages 72 and 79)

What’s making News Global agricultural machinery report The world agricultural machinery industry generated more than US$56 billion in 2010, according to market report company MarketLine.

The market is expected to expand at near 8% yearly through 2015 to reach almost US$81 billion.

This market is tractors of less than 50 metric horsepower (classed as compact tractors), those above 50 metric horsepower and combine harvesters.

Agricultural machinery market growth in developing nations will make up for slowing growth in developed countries in the years to come, the report says.

Drivers of demand Market drivers include growing population that increases food demand and technological advances.

Market growth depends on factors such as demand, economic climate and weather conditions.

As disposable incomes increase and living standards improve, demand for protein-rich foods fuel the need for agricultural products. Other industries that use agricultural products, including the pharmaceutical and petroleum sectors, also drive agricultural machinery demand.

Advances in technology Farm tractors represent the leading market segment in the agricultural machinery and implements market.

Advances in technology and integration of GPS are two major factors that have made tractors more versatile and suitable for a wider range of tasks.

Machinery for plowing and cultivation is expected to show a yearly growth rate of more than 6.5% until 2017.

Tractor segments High range horsepower tractors of 100 horsepower and over are most commonly produced in the US and Canada. However, the EU and some Latin American regions dominate the global market in medium-range tractor production – between 40 and 100hp.

In the lower range, below 40hp, Japan is 4

an important market player.

The EU agricultural machinery market generated almost US$18 billion in 2010, according to MarketLine. The yearly growth rate is expected to increase to almost 5.5% through 2015, bringing the market to over US$23 billion.

Asia-Pacific dominates the global agricultural machinery market in growth. The region is expected to record close to 8% yearly growth until 2017, far outpacing growth in the established markets of the US and the EU. Drivers for growth A major growth driver is farm mechanization in countries such as China and India.

Economic growth and rising disposable income, along with the widespread mechanization of the farming industry in developing nations, will fuel the agricultural implements and machinery market in the years to come.

Mechanization of the agricultural industries in Russia, Brazil and Thailand will also fuel growth.

Government spending to boost food production will also facilitate market expansion.

Worldwide leaders Leading companies operating in the global agricultural implement and

machinery market include: AGCO, with headquarters in the US, which manufactures a range of equipment including combine, tractors and tillage equipment sold in over 140 countries; Norway-based Kverneland, which employs close to 2000 people with retail firms in almost 20 countries; and India’s Escorts Group.

Other leading players include German Claas KGaA mbH, which generated over US$3.4 billion in sales in 2011, Deere & Company, Kubota and Kuhn Group.

Indian company Mahindra is among the world’s top-three tractor manufacturers, holding 40% of India’s market share and with yearly tractor sales of over 150,000 units, ranging from 15 to 75 horsepower.

CNH Global, Tractors and Farm Equipment, Same Deutz-Fahr Group, and Iseki are also major players.

Rising populations An increasing amount of government spending will also go to ensuring enough food for the world’s rising population.

Financial backing is likely to be used to boost output mainly by focusing on technological innovation to improve implements and machinery.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

Case IH painting the town red with offers It’s not just the power from a tractor that farmers demand, they also want driver-friendly features and there is always the issue of price. That’s why Case IH is painting the town red with its new offers.

Case IH is painting the town red with competitive finance offers on its 60-100 horsepower tractor range, and loading more value into the purchase of selected MaxxFarm and Maxxum models between now and December 2012.

Case IH Product Manager for Tractors, Scott Berry, said the 60-100 PTO horsepower range offers the best features on the market, backed by competitive finance rates.

“Now is the perfect time for farmers to take advantage of these deals, with finance from 3.95% for business applicants on 60-100 PTO horsepower tractors – an offer too good to miss,” he said.

The special finance rate is available on Case IH Maxxum 100, 110, 115 and 120; JX 80, 90 and 95; JX Straddle 80 and 90; and the JXU and Quantum C ranges.

In compact tractors, selected models in the MaxxFarm series are also offering loads more value.

MaxxFarm tractors combine all the features of a large tractor with power and performance in a great value package.

Farmers who purchase a Case IH MaxxFarm 35, 40, 50 or 60 model before December 31 can receive a MaxxLift self-levelling loader with standard bucket as part of the package.

For those customers in the market for more power, the larger Maxxum models (125, 130 or 140) feature industryleading cabins for enhanced visibility, easy service access and long engine service intervals.

Farmers should also look at the Case IH Turn Assist system, which can be equipped to Maxxum tractors to reduce operator effort and increase productivity.

Farmers who purchase a Maxxum 125, 130 or 140 tractors before December 31 will receive the two-passenger petrol-powered Case IH Scout utility vehicle as part of the purchase.

The Case IH Scout offers great features in a compact size, including class leading suspension, CVT transmission for fuel efficiency and smooth shifting, ROPS protection, retractable safety belts and Halogen headlamps.

With the number of different tractor models included in the Paint the Town Red offers, there are driver-friendly features to suit any farmer.

“It doesn’t matter what job you’re doing, Case IH tractors are easy to operate and service,” Berry said.

DRIVELINE SYSTEMS eid h c s ter Wal bour ne Mel Moved e Hav

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Walterscheid Australia, the undisputed leaders in agricultural driveline systems, where you will find the right components to fit any requirement. From a standard PTO drive shaft to the high-end power drive.

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In SA, WA and NT contact: Jayben Australia Pty Ltd.

11 Frederick Road, Royal Park, SA 5108 Phone: (08) 8341 1377 Fax: (08) 8341 1677

6

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

“We understand the need for power, reliability, versatility, efficiency and comfort – our tractor range offers unrivalled power and performance.”

“And every model in the Case IH range is backed by our professional dealer network, whose backup and support services are second to none.

“If you are looking to upgrade, now is the time to take advantage of some great deals on Case IH tractors.”

“I’d encourage you to visit your local dealer and have a look at our range.”

The Case IH Paint the Town Red offers are available at Case IH dealers for tractors delivered before December 31, 2012.

Finance is to approved business applicants only, and terms and conditions apply.

For more information see your local Case IH dealer or visit www.caseih.com.

Scott Berry, Case IH Product Manager – Tractors, says that now is the time to strike a deal on a Case IH tractor as the company has special offers.

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15/10/12 3:12 PM

Farm facts for 2012 Farm Facts is published annually by the National Farmers Federation (NFF) as a source of authoritative facts and figures about Australian agriculture, based on attributed data from independent sources.

It is designed as a fast reference to national and state-by-state facts about Australia’s farm sector, including specific data on Australia’s agricultural commodities, covering: beef, cotton, dairy, dried fruits, grains, rice, sheep meat, sugar and wool.

Agriculture plays a vital role in Australia, contributing to our social, economic and environmental sustainability.

There are approximately 134,000 farm businesses in Australia, 99% of which are family owned and operated.

Each Australian farmer produces enough food to feed 600 people, 150 at home and 450 overseas. Australian farmers produce almost 93% of Australia’s daily domestic food supply.

As of 2010-11, there were 307,000 people employed in Australian agriculture. The complete agricultural supply chain, including the affiliated food and fibre industries, provide more than 1.6 million jobs to the Australian economy.

At the farm gate, agriculture contributes 3% to Australia’s total gross domestic product (GDP). The gross value of farm production in 2010-11 was $48.7 billion. Once vital valueadding processes are included, along with the value of all the

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economic activities supporting farm production through farm inputs, agriculture’s contribution to the GDP averages out at around 12% ($155 billion).

Australian farmers export around 60% of what they produce.

This earned the country $32.5 billion in 2010-11, up from $32.1 billion in 2008-09, while the wider agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors earn the country $36.2 billion in exports.

The value of farm exports, and the future of Australian agriculture, depends on conditions in overseas markets.

Australian farmers face declining terms of trade in agriculture, yet remain internationally competitive through efficiencies and productivity growth. The growth in the farm sector has increased steadily over the 30-year period from 1974-75 to 2003-04 at an average rate of 2.8%, consistently outperforming other sectors.

Agricultural productivity growth has slowed to 1% per annum, illustrating the need for increased expenditure on research and development to ensure the industry can meet the food and fibre needs of the growing world population.

Australian farmers own, manage and care for 61% of Australia’s land mass.Farmers are at the frontline of delivering environmental outcomes on behalf of the Australian community, with 94% of Australian farmers actively undertaking natural resource management.

For more information visit www.nff.org.au/farm-facts.html.

WARM farewell and hello to FMIA The Farm Machinery & Industry Association (FMIA) of WA replaces the Farm Machinery Dealers Association (FMDA) and the WA Regional Manufacturers Association (WARM), amalgamated to form the new body.

According to FMIA executive officer John Henchy, the move was a natural evolution to provide a stronger and more united voice in the agribusiness sector.

“The FMDA was formed 35 years ago and during the 1990s WARM was included under the one umbrella but as an independent association,” Henchy said.

“Since then the line between the two bodies has become less defined and in reality the executive served with two hats serving one industry.

“The FMIA reflects this and emphasises that our members are not just machinery dealers.

“The association also covers importers, local manufacturers and distributors.

“The new constitution and the deliberate naming of the association now gives us an opportunity to represent a wider spectrum of businesses in the farm mechanisation industry.

“Our technology continues to lead the way for more efficient and productive agricultural and horticultural pursuits, and our new association will continue to embrace and foster the tremendous opportunities we have in the future.”

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

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NEWS BRIEFS 20-year-old milking robot In 1992 Lely introduced a groundbreaking novelty in farming: the Lely Astronaut milking robot. Dairy farmers around the world acknowledged this as a very important invention of the 20th century for their business.

More than 15,000 Lely Astronaut milking robots have now been sold.

Like all Lely dairy solutions the Lely Astronaut milking robot was developed from a clear-cut starting point: the cow.

The robot guarantees the highest achievable milk quality, while its unique management tools ensure that the farmer has full control over his herd, 24/7.

More information at www.lely.com.

Toro to the trenches Excavating trenches to lay hundreds of kilometres of fibre optic cable throughout NSW is the task being undertaken by Toro and Network Infrastructure Services (NIS) as part of the new National Broadband Network (NBN) installation.

Port Macquarie based, NIS specialises in the installation and construction of underground and overhead fibre optic cabling and is a sub contractor for Silcar, who has the main contract for the NBN installation.

With 93% of Australian homes, schools and businesses gaining access to a high-speed broadband network through fibre cabling over the next 10 years, installers are requiring machinery that is efficient and effective.

“As we are digging into public footpaths and private property, the choice of machinery was essential,” said NIS business manager David Relf.

“We needed something that was fast, reliable and had a light footprint to minimise potential damage to the land along which we were travelling,” he said.

“In late 2011 we purchased five Toro trenchers with back-fill blades and we are really pleased with the purchase.

“We chose two TX–525 wide-track mini-loaders, one TRX–26 and two TRX-19 trenchers, as they offered the right mix of performance and capability.”

Parklands welcomes Don Lehane to the team

Grass is greener in this study Australia and New Zealand could more than double agricultural exports, increasing revenue by $710 billion and NZ$550 billion respectively by 2050, if targeted actions are taken, according to a major ANZ insight report.

Greener Pastures: The Global Soft Commodity Opportunity for Australia and New Zealand, a study by Port Jackson Partners, quantifies the size of the opportunity open to Australia and New Zealand agriculture as a result of the shift in global economic growth to Asia.

Greener Pasture’ key findings are: • Rising incomes and changing diets in developing countries means the world will demand at least 60% more agricultural output by 2050 compared with 2005–07 • Australia and New Zealand could stand to gain an additional AU$710 billion and NZ$550 billion respectively in agricultural exports between now and 2050. This could increase further to AU$1.7 trillion and NZ$1.3 trillion respectively with favourable conditions and targeted actions • AU$1 trillion and NZ$340 billion in additional capital is needed to drive production growth and support farm turnover in Australia and New Zealand respectively • Intense competition for the opportunity, including from new agricultural players such as Brazil, Malaysia and Indonesia • Agricultural industries in Australia have lost momentum, while New Zealand is heavily reliant on its dominant dairy industry • Targeted action by policy makers, industry participants and investors is needed to focus on the growth of volume and value based on building competitive strengths in both Australia and New Zealand.

The potential for agriculture is clear. One of the report’s conclusions is that becoming a food bowl for Asia will not happen of its own accord. It indicates that in recent years Australian agriculture has increasingly moved into a cycle of low productivity growth and lower profitability, while in New Zealand major success stories are limited outside dairy.

According to the report, future success will require a systematic focus by policy makers, industry participants and (con’t page 12)

Parklands Power Products has appointed a new New South Wales north area manager to their sales team.

Don Lehane is replacing Bruce Windle, who has left the business to pursue other interests.

Lehane has had a long and distinguished career in the consumer electronics industry, and brings with him a wealth of knowledge, selling, negotiating and account management experience.

Parklands said that his professionalism and positive attitude will continue to maintain the high standard of customer service that the company strives to achieve.

Lehane can be contacted on 0425 307 346 and on email don.lehane@parklands.net.

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AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

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Unit 2, 204 Stickland Road East Bendigo Victoria 3550

NEWS BRIEFS Two Tassie farmers national winners Two Tasmanian farmers were named national winners at the Australian Farmer of the Year Awards.

Grant Archer is the Dairy Farmer of the Year and Bernard Brain Diversification Farmer of the Year.

Archer owns a farm near Smithton but also share farms at Cressy and Symmons Plains.

The farms run a total of 2800 cows.

The award recognises his good stock-management techniques and efficient use of a new milking system across the three dairies.

Brain farms at Rotherwood and his production ranges from lambs, beef cattle, fennel, poppies, cabbage seed, malting barley, dry peas and grapes.

Irrigation has been one of the keys to his success.

His property has a 3800 megalitre water licence, allowing his irrigation area to be expanded by 100ha to 350ha over the past seven years with a capital investment of $1.1 million.

Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association (TFGA) chief executive Jan Davis said the two awards were recognition of the incredible, research-based professionalism of modern Tasmanian farming.

“Grant and Bernard are role models for our industry. We are very proud of them,” she said.

New grain varieties expected after collaboration Syngenta announced that it would be collaborating with InterGrain to develop innovative integrated solutions for barley growers and entering into a barley breeding collaboration with InterGrain, an Australia-based crop breeding company.

The collaboration will enable Syngenta and InterGrain to exchange germplasm to develop innovative integrated solutions for barley growers across the world.

Syngenta will gain exclusive global commercialization rights for all new barley varieties developed, and exclusive rights to commercialize existing varieties in the InterGrain portfolio outside Australia.

InterGrain board chairman Dale Baker, said: “This initiative is good news for Australian barley growers, as it integrates the breeding and commercialization expertise of the two companies and combines two complementary germplasm pools.

“This will increase productivity and enable InterGrain to retain its position as the leading barley breeding company in Australia”.

The primary focus of InterGrain is to provide the Australian grains industry with access to elite varieties and to enable growers to compete effectively in domestic and international markets.

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investors on the growth of volume and value, based on building competitive strengths in Australia and New Zealand.

Recommendations set out in the report include steps to rejuvenate agriculture by: • Selectively reinvigorating industries with high potential that have lost momentum, for example Australian grains and oilseeds • Sustaining and strengthening high growth industries, for example dairy in New Zealand • Fostering new agricultural industries around high growth opportunities, for example new varieties of soy, safflower and bio-fuels in Australia • Strengthening the quality and impact of extension services to increase yields and attract further investment into the sector.

Port Jackson Partners also highlighted a number of growthlimiting hurdles that need to be addressed in Australia and New Zealand.

These include increased focus on R&D, closing farm performance gaps, access to key markets, capital needs including the role of foreign investment, attracting skilled labour, accessing land and water, and improving supply chains.

Recent developments including the Australian Government’s National Food Plan Green Paper are welcome contributions to the public discussion on the future of agriculture and it is hoped that the Australia in the Asian Century White Paper will also actively explore this opportunity.

“ANZ’s aim with the Greener Pastures report is to make a significant contribution to the discussion which Australia and New Zealand need to have in order to reinvigorate one of our most important sectors and to maximise what is a very real long-term opportunity,” said ANZ deputy chief executive officer Graham Hodges.

“With relatively few large corporations in the agricultural sector and a fragmented structure dominated by either smaller companies or family run businesses, that discussion is naturally more challenging than in sectors led by larger international corporations such as mining and energy.

“Industry bodies are playing an active role in advancing this discussion and, as Australia and New Zealand have demonstrated in the past, success in agriculture is not impossible.

“For example, the dairy sector in New Zealand highlights the advantages of having all stakeholders in an industry working together to innovate, adapt to changing markets and drive growth across the industry.

“The danger we face is that we are not alone in seeking to exploit the global soft commodity opportunity. Other countries like Brazil are also actively competing for the opportunity and if we are serious about wanting to develop vibrant, globally competitive agricultural industries, we will need all stakeholders to work together to deliver on the opportunity,” Hodges said.

Greener Pastures: The Global Soft Commodity Opportunity for Australia and New Zealand is available at www.anz.com/insight.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

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MS1378

My John Deere online tool An online toolbox will offer farmers a central site to manage farm equipment and operations.

John Deere has developed an online website to help agricultural producers manage their equipment information, production data and farm operations.

It’s called MyJohnDeere.com and it has been developed as part of the John Deere FarmSight program.

The MyJohnDeere toolbox gives farmers a central online portal to access, view, archive and manage a wide variety of business information.

Nathan Greuel, product manager for the John Deere Intelligent Solutions Group, says that users can log into the

site and access key application such as JDLink, which allows them to view real time information about their farm operations, field locations and important performance data from their equipment.

Other applications include JDParts, John Deere Financial and Stellar Support.

“This will be a new suite of technology

to help producers plan, run and analyse their operations through the entire farming cycle,” said Greuel.

“The user can access his MyJohnDeere site to view the information that is most important to him, as well as allow access to his dealer, farm manager or others third party individuals.”

All the information on the MyJohnDeere portal is accessible via computer, smartphone or other handheld mobile device, giving farmers the flexibility to view the information when and where they need it.

For more information go to MyJohnDeere.com.

New Zealand economic outlook The economic outlook for New Zealand agriculture and forestry’s trading partners, while still uneven, is significantly better than 12 months ago, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’s Situation and Outlook for New Zealand Agriculture and Forestry report.

Many of the financial risks have faded as private sector balance sheets have been repaired.

New Zealand exporters are receiving high prices for logs, wool, lamb, timber, beef and dairy products as the rebounding global economy drives demand for commodities.

With the exception of horticulture, these rises are more broadly based than the 2008 rise, which mainly affected dairy prices.

Short-term supply disruptions such as droughts and floods in various parts of the world are a significant factor supporting recent agricultural price increases.

At the same time, the strength of demand coming through from emerging markets, the recovery in many developed economies, and continuing demand for agricultural resources for biofuel production, have led the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to revise upwards its view of medium-term international agricultural prices.

“The relative strength in the New Zealand dollar has seen only a portion of these foreign currency price gains passed through to New Zealand farmers and foresters.

“The strong New Zealand dollar has, however, also reduced the impact of price rises in imports, especially fuel and fertiliser.

Beyond 2012, steady production growth in dairy, forestry, wine and kiwifruit, together with an assumed depreciation in the New Zealand dollar, leads to strong forecast growth in export revenues.

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AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

PAINT THE TOWN RED % FINANCE ON

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Winter is over and it’s time to paint the town red with finance from 3.95%* on 60-100 PTO horsepower tractors in Case IH’s Maxxum®, JX, JXU, JX Straddle and Quantum C ranges. Offer only applies to tractors delivered before December 31st 2012. Don’t miss out; talk to your Case IH dealer today! www.caseih.com

*Terms and conditions apply. 3.95% p.a. for 36 months with 40% deposit and equal monthly repayments on selected models, 60-100 PTO HP, while stocks last. Finance provided by CNH Capital Australia Pty Ltd, only to approved business applicants. See participating dealers for more information.

National dairyfarmers unite under new constitution The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) has welcomed the decision by the majority of state farmer groups to approve a new constitution for the national dairy body, Australian Dairy Farmers.

NFF CEO Matt Linnegar said the new constitution would allow greater representation of dairy farmers at a national level.

“Australian Dairy Farmers already has a seat at the national policy decisionmaking table of the NFF – the decision to streamline the constitution simply allows this seat to be even stronger,” Linnegar said.

“The ability for Australian agriculture to speak with one voice is crucial for us to be heard: be it on a commodity level, a state level, or the national level.

“In making this change, Australian Dairy Farmers will become a stronger voice for the dairy sector, at a time when dairy farmers are facing major challenges.

“Unsustainable pricing practices and the impact on farm gate milk prices continues to be one of the most prominent and sustained issues that the dairy sector has had to face in recent years: and it shows no sign of abating.

“Ensuring the collective voice of the dairy sector is heard in this debate – and the many policy decisions that impact the dairy sector – is critical.

“The dairy sector in Australia has shrunk by two-thirds over the past 30 years, yet at the same time, dairy production has doubled. To ensure a strong and sustainable future for this important part

of Australian agriculture, it is essential that farmers’ concerns are heard.

“Australian Dairy Farmers has been working towards this restructure for two years. The new constitution will allow the national representative to focus on policy and advocacy issues so that dairy farmers are well represented in national debates.

“Perhaps most importantly, all dairy farmers in Australia can now join Australian Dairy Farmers via their state organisation – meaning a more powerful voice, and a national body that is directly accountable to grassroots farmers.

“We urge all dairy farmers to get behind the new Australian Dairy Farmers,” Linnegar said.

Silvan with Powershed in Queensland Large Queensland based NQAS Powershed, which is based in Cairns, will conduct the regional sales and support activity for the range of agricultural machinery and spraying equipment either manufactured or distributed by Silvan Australia.

Silvan Australia’s northern region manager Ian Davison said that, with nine branches on the Queensland coast and over 8000 customers from Cooktown in the north to Lismore in northern New South Wales, the distribution agreement is an important one.

“NQAS Powershed has been an appointed dealer and reseller of the Silvan Selecta range of small equipment and merchandise that has been successfully sourced and supplied by Silvan Australia for many years. ”We have developed a strong understanding and trading relationship that understands each other’s needs, Silvan Australia’s Ian Davison (left) with NQAS’ Steve Anderson.

16

together with those who use these products.

“We have now extended our joint trading relationship to include all the relevant Silvan branded products in farm machinery and spraying to the seven coastal branches from Mackay to Cairns, together with the extensive proven ranges of implements that Silvan distributes.

“This latter range includes Brevi cultivation equipment, Nobili mulchers, Agrex fertilizer spreaders, all spraying equipment and many others, ranging from complete machines to consumable products and component parts.

“NQAS is a long established specialist in regional marketing to rural producers and we consider our two businesses are an ideal fit.”

Davison added that NQAS, founded more than 35 years ago, now employs more than 60 people through its own nine-branch network.

Silvan has commenced an intensive period of product training and information exchange.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

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Unsafe machinery imports There has been a spate of new machinery imports into the Australian market through non-aligned importers and auction companies, which is a cause for concern according to the Tractor and Machinery Association (TMA).

There is little that can be done to prevent these imports, as farmers are apparently prepared to take the risk in buying new and late model used equipment from independent non-franchised sources.

Local representatives for the manufacturers do not support this equipment and there are issues surrounding specifications and safety concerns regarding the construction of some of this equipment. However, there is no trigger to stop this equipment at the port or at the point of sale.

As an industry, the TMA is looking at ways of differentiating the rogue imports

from the manufacturer-backed imported equipment sold through a dealer network. The association is working on a dealer/supplier accreditation program that will help differentiate the good from the bad.

This follows a call for a stop to the importation of unsafe and non-compliant equipment at the TMA conference in Melbourne, that called on workplace authorities to do more a to prevent the import of this equipment as it does not meet Australian Standards.

TMA executive director Richard Lewis was concerned because these machines do not meet Australia’s occupational health and safety standards.

Members of the TMA put a lot of effort and finances towards ensuring their equipment meets all legislation and requirements. Lewis acknowledged that it

The TMA’s Richard Lewis.

could be difficult to distinguish between safe and unsafe products.

WorkCover has been approached to help sort out some of the occupational health and safety issues and some prosecutions have resulted.

Annual harvest is a snap Agfarm, an Australian owned and independent, grain marketing organisation, has opened its annual photo competition for the 2012-13 harvest.

The theme of this year’s competition is “partnerships”.

Agfarm is hoping to receive entries that capture the camaraderie and sense of community that occurs at harvest.

“The annual harvest brings people together with a sense of industry and co-operation: the family, colleagues and often the whole community are all focused on the same goal and we are looking for images that capture this,” said Bob McKay, Agfarm’s managing director.

“Harvest is traditionally a time of coming

together. Dealing with unfavourable weather or other challenges, it creates a bond between those involved,” he said.

Agfarm received 204 entries into their competition last year.

This year an overall winner, second place and five highly commended winners will be selected.

Melissa Powell, an award winning professional photographer from Horsham in Victoria, who specialises in agricultural work, will assist Agfarm in the judging.

In running this competition Agfarm hopes to enable those who live on the land to appreciate and celebrate the communities in which they live and work.

The prizes are: • Overall winner - $500 and an Agfarm kit • Second place - $250 and an Agfarm kit • Highly commended – 5 prizes of $50 and an Agfarm kit.

For more information and an entry form visit www.agfarm.com.au or contact info@ agfarm.com.au or 1300 243 276.

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AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

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Growcom says Australia could be major Asian food supplier Horticulture body Growcom welcomed comments by Prime Minister Julia Gillard that Australia could become a major contributor to Asian food requirements and boost Australia’s economy and export trade.

The Prime Minister has said Australia could become a potential “food superpower,” helping to feed increased populations in Asia through building Australia’s foodprocessing industry to supply Asia’s growing consumer markets.

Growcom chief executive officer Alex Livingstone said the prospects for industries such as horticulture were bright but only if government’s fundamental policy settings were tweaked to ensure the growth of food production and exports.

He said that the opportunities for horticulture lay in providing expertise and exporting fresh, high quality produce rather than processed goods.

“Exports of processed fruit and vegetables have been stagnant since the 1980s – 95% of the value of food exports occurs in the bulk sector,” he said.

“Processed fruit and vegetables have revealed no comparative advantage and processed vegetable exports have even declined since the end of the 1990s due to Australia’s high wage structure and, more recently, the high Australian dollar.”

Livingstone said that the major opportunity for Australian horticulture in Asia was the growing population and urbanised middle class that is seeking high quality produce. This opportunity is further enhanced by Australia being counter – seasonal to most of Asia.

“However, Australian farmers can currently supply enough food for Australia but less than 1% of the Asian population at current population levels,” he said.

“Australia needs a strategic approach to identifying and developing new high-value and high-growth export markets.

“To maximise our opportunities in the Asian market, Australian fruit and vegetable producers need to understand its intricacies and must selectively target high quality and high value products to deliver to specific Asian countries.”

Mr Livingstone said that the profitability of the horticultural sector relied on increases in productivity. As a result, an increase in Research, Development and Extension investment is required by government in order for supply to grow in line with increasing demand.

“In Australia public funding of agricultural Research Development and Extension (RD&E) has been in decline for several decades and this reduction in funding has been linked to declining growth in agricultural productivity.

In order to increase on-farm productivity and sustainability, increased funding and support for agricultural RD&E is vital for the survival and expansion of the industry,” he said.

“There is an urgent need to improve the profitability of the 20

horticulture industry to ensure that it is in a position to capitalise on emerging opportunities.

“Currently the Australian market suffers from massive distortions and an imbalance of market power.

“Domestic producers are subject to a range of market behaviours designed to maximise profits at the retail end to the detriment of the production end of the value chain.

“If producers are to be able to respond to the output from the RD&E effort, they must have sufficient capital to adopt new practices and incentives to do so.

“This requires the ability to invest over a relatively long timeframe with a reasonable expectation that current profitability will be sufficient to cover the investment in new equipment, varieties and practices.

“To exploit the potential growth in export markets for fresh fruit and vegetables, the government must also push for consistent market access regulations across Asian countries, as they have a significant impact on production processes and agrochemical practices.

“Harmonisation of phytosanitary standards and regulations for fresh produce are crucial for an optimal trading environment between Asia and Australia.”

Growcom’s comments on the federal government’s White Paper, Australia in the Asian Century are available at www.growcom.com.au.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

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Grim impact of carbon price on horticultural farms Growcom commented that a statement on the carbon price and farmers by Greg Combet, the federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, demonstrated his misunderstanding of the agricultural value chain.

Mr Combet was quoted as saying that “farmers are entitled to pass on cost increases caused by carbon pricing, because that’s the way the economy is supposed to work.”

Growcom Policy Manager David Putland said that claims that farmers could simply pass the costs on is not the economic reality faced by most farm businesses that have to accept prices set by the market, and that are often manipulated by the major players.

Growcom released a report outlining the impact of the carbon price on fruit and vegetable growers.

The report presents the first detailed economic modelling of the carbon price in the horticulture sector, which has been ignored in other analyses. It draws together the results of a project, which included economic modelling of six case study farms to examine how the carbon price will flow through the supply chain and affect the farms’ bottom lines.

Putland said the results were a wake-up call for both growers and policy makers.

“While agricultural businesses aren’t directly involved in the carbon price mechanism, they will be affected by increases to the costs of important inputs – such as electricity, fertiliser, chemicals and packaging,” Putland said.

“For the six farms studied, the carbon price will increase farm input costs by between $5000 and $42,000 per year in 2012, which equates to between 0.3 and 0.8% of gross farm income. By 2020, input costs may have increased by between about $7000 and $56,000, or

up to 0.94% of gross income,” he said.

“Given the typically low profit margins of most fruit and vegetable farms, these cost increases represent a significant reduction in farm profits. Of the six farms used as case studies in this report, three were already operating at a loss during the period of analysis.”

Putland said that, as expected, the largest impact on fruit and vegetable farms would result from the increased cost of electricity (estimated at about 10%), which powers cold storage facilities onfarm and irrigation.

“Some larger fruit and vegetable producers are facing increases of several thousand dollars per month, solely as a result of the carbon price. Of course, electricity prices will actually increase by considerably more than that because of other factors in addition to the carbon price,” Putland said.

“Most growers will be unable to pass these increased costs on because they have little control over the prices they receive.

While the Government has provided assistance measures to households and polluting industries, there is relatively little assistance available to growers.”

The report also includes information on how growers can minimise the effects of the carbon price on their businesses. To assist growers to assess the impacts on their businesses, the project also created a farm carbon price calculator that can estimate the cost increases based on simple farm budget data.

The report and calculator are available on the Growcom website at www.growcom. com.au.

The project was funded by growers’ levies matched by the federal government through Horticulture Australia Ltd.

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El Niño to make an unwelcome return With the threat of a return to dry El Niño conditions currently predicted for the eastern half of Australia, the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) and its members have continued to push for drought policy reform.

A meeting between the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the Hon Joe Ludwig, his Department, the NFF and NFF members including NSW Farmers, AgForce and the Victorian Farmers Federation was held in Canberra, followed by a meeting with the National Rural Advisory Council, to work through the proposed drought reform measures.

“Australia is currently drought-free for the first time in a decade, yet as all farmers know, the next drought is a case of when, not if,” NFF president Jock Laurie said.

“Ensuring a suitable drought policy is in place needs to be a key priority for farmers, for the NFF and for the Government.

“We believe an effective drought policy must focus on both preparing farmers for the next drought during the good seasons, while also acknowledging that there may be periods of drought in the future that will require more than an ad-hoc policy response.

“The Government’s drought policy must find the balance between allowing farmers to build self-reliance through their own risk management and preparedness, and ensuring that appropriate assistance is available to farmers in the case of a severe or prolonged drought.

“Changing weather conditions and seasonal variability are certainly part and parcel of farming, yet in the grip of severe drought, even the most efficient farmers cannot be expected to simply cope,” Laurie said.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

All in a day’s work Extreme brushcutting is one way to look at the work that Trent Chapman took on when he decided to brushcut the side of the highway all the way from Brisbane to Sydney, a total of 1000kms.

He and the trusty Tanaka brushcutter were doing it for charity, hoping to raise $50,000 for Shake it Up (Parkinsons’ Disease) and Beyond Blue.

Chapman started walking on September 1 and finished 28 days later in Sydney, having worn out three pairs of runners but still with the same Tanaka brushcutter.

As a personal trainer Chapman did have an advantage over most roadside workers, though he did have to do some training using the brushcutter.

The walk started as a bet among mates but turned into a reality as the charities are two that are very important to him.

Ron Zacka, chief executive officer of Parklands Power Products, distributors of Tanaka, said he was proud to assist as both the charities were very close to home in his family, with his father Neville having been diagnosed with Parkinsons.

Trent and his Tanaka cutting Highway 1 down to size.

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23

Vet wins 2012 biosecurity awards An equine veterinarian’s ability to ‘practice what he preaches’ has seen him take out the 2012 Biosecurity Farmer of the Year (livestock) award at the Australian Farmer of the Year Awards.

Dr Rod Hoare runs 330-acre ‘Cadfor’ at Binda in the NSW Southern Tablelands with partner Helena Warren, where they breed Murray Grey cattle and run a horse riding school.

Decades of experience working for the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) taught Dr Hoare to carefully plan for potential risks such as strangles, herpes viral abortion and resistant parasites at his equestrian centre.

“Any biosecurity plan has to start with a very clear property plan – it’s difficult trying to modify it later,” Dr Hoare said.

“One of the main things about our biosecurity strategy is that we have double fencing.”

He lists three important advantages to putting in double fences and tree lines, in addition to their aesthetic value: 1. A disease control advantage, preventing nose-to-nose contact, which can spread diseases like strangles or pestivirus 2. A weed control advantage (trees and bushes can stop the spread of serrated tussock) 3. A managerial advantage in keeping various groups of animals separate and creating usable laneways for moving stock and vehicles.

With some 20 horses on the property, and the horses of riding students moving on and off regularly, biosecurity is of fundamental importance to Cadfor’s everyday operations.

“All of our isolation stables and paddocks have been designed so that when people come and park, their animals are a double-fence away from any other horse around and are separated from our cattle yards,” Dr Hoare said.

“Double boundary fencing also saves neighbourly disputes.”

He also planned for cattle disease risks such as bovine Johne’s disease, which could be potentially contracted from neighbouring properties or if cattle were taken to shows.

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Dr Hoare and partner Helena Warren.

Cadfor’s stud breeding herd is protected by minimising the number of introduced animals and by careful selection of purchased stock.

“We prefer to buy from a single farm or auction rather than a multi-vendor situation,” Dr Hoare said.

“I’ve never had anything untoward turn up from one of those, but you understand that it could, so where you have a single vendor sale you’re less likely to buy an animal that has been exposed to a whole lot of other animals in the near past.”

Dr Hoare boasts an impressive CV from his days before ‘retiring’ to full-time farming a decade ago.

As the NSW State Equine Veterinary Officer, he was responsible for managing quarantine for the equestrian events at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and worked as the Industry Liaison Officer during the 2007 equine influenza outbreak.

“The Olympic quarantine was 110% about biosecurity, primarily against equine influenza (EI) – the preparations started four years beforehand,” Dr Hoare recalls.

“We made things easier by having a single veterinary inspection to satisfy all the legal and venue requirements. The horses were also under quarantine for the entire time of competition – they never left the equestrian centre.

“But the people involved – vets, riders, managers and grooms – all had to follow stringent biosecurity procedures,

including changes of clothing and boots, and washing their hands.”

During the 2007 EI outbreak, Dr Hoare spent six months in the control room at Orange, where he played a pivotal role in the eventual eradication of the disease.

“Over those six months we sent over a million emails to the owners on the horse industry database,” he said.

“People did their best to follow our biosecurity recommendations. The number one thing was ‘don’t move your horse’. Also – wash your hands and anything the horse has touched. We made the advice simple, so that people would actually implement it.

“We found that the recommended biosecurity practices could stop the spread from horse to horse and from horse to person to horse, but they couldn’t always stop the disease spreading in the air.

“Containing EI was the joint success of all the dedicated people from the DPI, the horse owners, the private practitioners, the horse industry and everyone associated with it.”

Hosted by Kondinin Group and ABC Rural, and sponsored by Plant Health Australia and Animal Health Australia, the Biosecurity Farmer of the Year award is part of the Australian Farmer of the Year Awards. It recognises the efforts of producers dedicated to keeping their operations free of diseases, pests and weeds.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

Diesel price update Diesel fuel prices in most states started to edge upwards again after hitting two-year lows during July.

Prices in country and regional areas have generally trended lower since April, driven by a slow-down in world economies and the resultant softer demand for fuel.

Nationally, diesel prices in country areas have been around 147.8c/litre, which was up 1.5c but still down about 6% from the April high-point.

Information released by the Australian Institute of Petroleum for the week ending August 19, 2012 shows a slight increase in prices from recent lows in all states and territories, compared with this time the month before.

The biggest movements were in Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia.

Regional non-metro diesel prices in the latest AIP report included: • Victoria 145.1c/l (up 1.2c on July) • New South Wales 147.7c (up 1.7c) • Queensland 146.7c (up 1.6c) • Western Australia 152.1c (up 1.7c)

• South Australia 147.4c (up 1.1c) • Tasmania 150.3c (up 0.2c), and • Northern Territory 163.6c (up 0.7c).

The prices are calculated as a weighted average of retail diesel fuel prices for country regions in each state or territory. All values include GST. Sluggish economic growth forecasts in regions like the former Soviet States, China and the Middle East could restrict annual oil demand and prices heading into in 2013.

Variation in fuel oil prices can have a considerable impact on the cost of production across Australian industries including agriculture. As an example, with the Australian beef industry it impacts on livestock transport, the cost of shipping live cattle and boxed beef exports, costs of pumping stock water and providing station electricity in remote locations.

Crude oil, diesel and petrol prices are closely linked, as the price of crude oil accounts for the majority of the cost of producing a litre of petrol or diesel.

Crude oil is purchased in US dollars, meaning that changes in the value of the Australian dollar against the US currency have a direct impact on the relative price of crude oil in Australian dollar terms.

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12/12/11 11:43 AM

Fair Work not fair on farmers The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) has responded to the release of the Fair Work Act review, acknowledging the incremental improvements recommended by the review panel, but noting that the review does not go far enough in addressing the concerns raised by farmers.

“In making our submission to the Fair Work Act review, we outlined 10 recommendations based on the need to increase employment flexibility and productivity on Australian farms,” chair of the NFF Workplace Relations Committee, Charlie Armstrong, said.

“While the review acknowledges some need for greater flexibility, it does not go as far as farmers and NFF were hoping on the need for individual flexibility agreements between employees and employers.

“Quite simply, in its current form, the Fair Work Act does not live up to what was promised by the Government: it is not simpler or fairer. Flexibility is billed as a key feature of the Fair Work Act, yet we do not believe that the law allows for genuine flexibility for farm workers, and nor has the review recognised this need.

“It is well known that Australian agriculture experiences significant problems in attracting skilled, semi-skilled and

unskilled labour, and finding solutions to this is vital for agriculture to meet the challenges ahead. We often talk about agriculture needing to produce more food and fibre with fewer resources, and increasingly, one of our scarcest resources is our people.

“Without further changes to our national employment laws to encourage greater flexibility, future productivity gains in our sector are compromised.

“As it is, farmers have told us that the onerous paperwork and red tape that they currently have to wade through under the Fair Work Act often impacts on employment. The legislation is increasing the cost to business of labour hire, and in some cases, farmers are being forced to invest in machinery rather than employ people as a way of decreasing costs and increasing productivity.

“That not only impacts our farmers and the wider agriculture sector, but also has a negative flow-on effect to towns and communities in rural areas.

“We strongly believe that the government must simplify and reduce the level of regulation and prescription in the Fair Work Act, and we will continue to work with the government to ensure the concerns of agriculture are heard,” Armstrong said.

Petrol changes colour in October The Australian Institute of Petroleum (AIP) has advised that petrol manufacturing and importing member companies are currently in the process of changing the industry controlled standard colour (dye) of unleaded petrol from purple/bronze to red/orange.

This colour change will not have any impact on the fuel’s performance or on compliance with federal and state quality standards or other legislation.

All petrol sold in Australia is dyed so that it is possible to distinguish between lower octane regular grades and higher octane premium grades.

The current colour of unleaded petrol and E10 (regular unleaded petrol with 10% ethanol) is purple or bronze and the colour of premium unleaded petrol is yellow.

The colour of unleaded petrol and E10 will change to red or orange starting in October 2012 but there will be a period

26

where both red/orange and purple/bronze coloured petrol will be supplied.

It is anticipated that by late 2013 all regular unleaded petrol will be red/orange in colour.

The colour of premium unleaded will remain unchanged as yellow.

The primary reason for the change is to achieve alignment on the dyed colour of unleaded petrol with the majority of suppliers in the Asia Pacific region. This will assist AIP member companies, and other suppliers who import fuels, with organising the purchase of unleaded petrol cargoes from international refineries.

Currently around 20% of Australia’s petrol supplies are imported and this proportion is expected to increase in the future.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

Talented graduates to specialize in regional banking ANZ has an ‘ANZ Regional Graduate Program’ that offers graduates from universities across Australia an 18 month position within the Regional Business Banking division.

The Regional Graduate program is designed to develop the specialist skills required for a career in agribusiness and regional business banking.

The new Regional Graduate Program forms part of the broader ANZ Australian Graduate Program, which provides accelerated development opportunities for the graduates through a structured rotational program.

“The ANZ Regional Graduate Program offers commerce and agribusiness graduates the opportunity to take up a dedicated graduate position in ANZ’s Regional Business Banking team,” said Tania Motton, ANZ Head of Regional Business Banking.

“Due to the success of our former Agribusiness Traineeship Program we wanted to create a dedicated Regional Graduate Program so that graduates can gain experience in not just agribusiness but also in broader regional business banking.

“The Regional Graduate Program is about developing a pipeline of young talented employees to support our commercial and agribusiness customers across regional Australia.

“These graduates will be based in the regional communities they serve, so they will develop a deep understanding of our customers’ needs and the unique challenges they face, and the financial solutions that will assist them.

“ANZ is committed to supporting regional Australia and what better way to demonstrate that than by offering a structured program which develops future young leaders in agribusiness and regional business banking,” Ms Motton said.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

27

Torque testing rig for overload clutches The fitment of an overload clutch on a PTO drive is imperative to the safety and protection of you and machinery.

No matter what the application – round baler, rotary hoe or power harrow – an incorrectly set or adjusted overload clutch can impair the performance of a clutch and cause it to trip too soon or too late, resulting in lost time and production or even failure of equipment.

Walterscheid has the facilities to accurately test and set a clutch to its optimum setting before putting it into service, thereby providing reliable performance and peace of mind.

The company’s newly developed torque test rig is a solution to measuring torque values, prior to leaving the factory or after servicing, eliminating any uncertainty regarding torque settings.

All Walterscheid clutches are tested after assembly and the company also offers customers preventative torque checks on their overload clutches as part of its growing service to the industry.

Call one of three branches in Australia for more details or visit www.waltersheid.com.au.

French milking maids, no problem Finding it difficult to get help on the land, the answer may be in France.

Odyssee-Agri is a French organization that organises overseas agriculture students with work placements in other countries like Australia.

Their mission is to organise placements in agricultural situations so that their students receive training periods abroad and get a different perspective and a unique experience in life.

Working with different partners throughout the world, the organisation’s aim is to work in with the trainee’s wish according to the type of placement (country, production, production methods…) they want.

The best way to describe what happens is by example: Glen - Australia - 2012

“We are pleased to report that Thibaut was a remarkable agriculture student.

As a person, he was polite, thoughtful, considerate. He quickly became part of our family and we were very sad when he had to return after such a short stay.

As a worker he was intelligent and 28

showed initiative. He quickly learned how things were done on our farm and he was very soon able to make good decisions for himself.

While some people stand and watch me do things, Thibaut would step in quickly and help. And he also improved his English a great deal while he was here. He soon became able to carry on a good conservation.

So you must give him an A+++ for his practical in Australia. We really grew to love him and we miss him very much. If you ever have another student as good as Thibaut, we would be happy to have him on our farm!”

Damien - Australia - 2012

“Thomas is still doing really well. He is a fast learner with great common sense and all his work is done at a high quality. He has had a lot of responsibility on the farm as I was overseas when we started calving.

I think we had about 20 calves born by the time I returned on May 1st.

Thomas will be looking after grazing management, cow health, calving management as well as urea applications.

He will basically be filling a senior management position while I am away for one month.

It has not all been work. We have taken him to some farmer information nights held in the area, we have visited a friend’s farm where he houses his cows over winter (very rare in Australia). He has been away on a overnight hunting trip with our neighbours and is heading off on another one tonight.

Last Saturday night we took Thomas down to Melbourne to watch a game of Australian Rules Football.

Myself and all of my family are very happy to have Thomas here. He is a great young man with a very bright future.”

More information is available on the website: www.odyssee-agri.com.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

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Tasmanian update from ABARES ABARES, the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, has released its latest assessment of the state of agriculture in Tasmania.

Largely it confirms what was suspected, however it does put numbers to the theories.

The most significant statistic is that Tasmanian farms have become more profitable than the national average.

Tasmanian farmers account for 3% of the nation’s agricultural production, $1152 million in 2010/11, and they have 3% cent of the farms, in fact 3348 of them.

Of those farms, 64% produce less than $150,000 of commodities a year, but 15% produce more than $500,000 a year.

Vegetables constitute 16%, cattle and calves also 16%, wool 8%, fruit nearly 8% and sheep and lambs 3.7%.

Milk is king. It is worth $312 million a year, which is more than a quarter of all agricultural production in the state.

Tasmania accounts for 8% of national milk production.

About 93% of that is used to manufacture cheese, butter and milk powders. However, the outlook for dairy everywhere is not great.

ABARES predicts lower average dairy prices in 2012/13 in the light of the economic downturn in Europe and weaker demand growth in Asia.

All dairy-exporting nations will feel the pinch.

European production is expected to be limited to 1%, US production is expected to fall by 1.4% while New Zealand’s should remain unchanged.

ABARES predicts the Australian farm gate price for milk will fall by 7% to an average of 39 cents a litre.

The take-home message is that over the last three years things have got a lot better for the average Tasmanian farm, but they needed to: • in 2009/10, the average farm cash income was only $53,240.

• in 2010/11 it was up to $100,600.

• this year it is predicted to be $105,000. With that improvement 30

in cash income, the average profit has grown from just $11,250 to $54,000 last year, and an estimated $71,000 this year.

Nationally, the current average is $48,000.

At the same time, average farm debt in Tasmania has grown in those three years from $244,170 to $291,200 to $326,000.

It is anticipated that debt levels are to increase in the next few years, particularly with so many farmers outlaying considerable sums to take advantage of the irrigation infrastructure.

The ABARES report, which is called Commodity outlook and financial performance of key agricultural industries in Tasmania, records the demise of one of our most valuable long-term crops, trees.

In 2006, it reports that 6510 people were directly employed in forestry in Tasmania.

In the next five years it fell 47% to 3460 people.

In Burnie the fall was dramatic, from 455 to 124.

The problem for plantations on private land is clear. In the five years to 2010/11 woodchip exports fell by 34%, to 1.5 million tonnes, but in the last 12 months they fell 75% to just 360,000 tonnes.

Small business trends up for first quarter ANZ released its Small Business Sales Trends report in June, which showed that, for the first half of 2012 small business sales rose by 2.8% year-onyear (y/y) in June and by 3.0% over the year to the June quarter.

Sales growth across the regional and rural areas of Australia continued to outstrip sales in the metro areas, with sales up 4.1% y/y compared with 2.1% y/y for metro.

The mining states of Western Australia and the Northern Territory, and to a lesser extent Queensland, continued to report robust small business sales, while sales in South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory remained much weaker.

“For a while now we’ve been seeing small business sales in the regional and rural areas outstrip their metro counterparts, and it’s again evident this month, with sales up 4.1% y/y and similarly 4.1% on a year-to-date basis, compared with 2.1% y/y and 3.1% year-to-date for metro,” said Nick Reade ANZ general manager of small business.

“Reports from our staff serving regional small business customers also confirm that sales in those rural areas are faring well, with strong sales in regional areas likely to be linked to the growth in the mining states.

“More broadly, we’re seeing our small business customers enquiring about new finance to fund growth plans, but there remains a high level of consciousness about cost management, with many small businesses still struggling to move existing stock.

“Although it’s pleasing to see almost 3% y/y sales growth across the board this month, it’s not quite where we want it to be.

“We need to keep a careful eye on the sectors which remain under pressure, such as the retail-related industries of clothing and fashion and appliances and electrical, to ensure we’re providing them with the right support to navigate through these uncertain trading conditions,” Mr Reade said.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

Vale Rod Thirkell-Johnston AM The Australian wool and racing industries and Tasmanian agriculture have lost one of a great leaders and thinker, with the death of fifth generation wool producer Rod ThirkellJohnston AM, of Saundridge, Cressy in Tasmania.

The family has operated mixed farming enterprises in the Cressy area, firstly at Macquarie Hills and then from 1979 at Saundridge.

Mr Thirkell-Johnston was awarded life membership of the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association (TFGA) after serving as president of the association and also chairman of the TFGA Wool Council for many years up until his death.

In the 1990s, in his roles as president of the Australian Superfine Wool Growers Association and a member and chairman of the Australian Wool Council, he was pivotal in the industry’s efforts to

overcome the wool stockpile crisis and the collapse of the wool market.

Mr Thirkell-Johnston was also active in many other industry roles, including the Tasmanian Fine Merino Breeders’ Association, the Tasmanian Racing Board, the Tasmanian Turf Club and the Tasmanian Thoroughbred Racing Council. He was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2001 in recognition of his outstanding contributions.

ASWGA president Helen Cathles said at the time he was awarded life membership: “Rod Thirkell-Johnston has had an enormous impact on the superfine merino wool industry. There is not a single woolgrower whose enterprise has not benefitted by Rod’s tireless efforts to make representation to governments and industry bodies, highlighting the deficiencies and supporting the solutions.”

Rod Thirkell-Johnston AM.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

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Weed-free mobile app Use of an innovative mobile-based weed identification application continues to grow.

The Grains Research and Development Corporation’s Weeds: The Ute Guide application provides growers and farm advisers in the southern cropping region with a free-of-charge weeds identification service that can be accessed anywhere at any time via Android, iPhone or iPad devices.

The application is designed to be used in the paddock to assist in identifying the most common annual, biennial and perennial weeds in southern Australia.

GRDC Regional Grower Services’

Manager of Delivery Platforms, Tom McCue, said it was a major advancement in communicating industry knowledge to growers, and is the first of GRDC’s popular hardcopy Ute Guides to be converted into a mobile phone application.

McCue said the application, available only in Australia and New Zealand, has been created in a farmer-friendly format to streamline the weeds identification process.

Where possible, photographs of the weed at various growth stages have been provided to ensure correct identification.

A calendar for each weed shows which

time of the year the weed is likely to be present in the paddock.

The application allows users to search, identify, compare and email photographs of weeds to their networks via their phone’s inbuilt contacts list.

For more information or to download a free copy of the app visit www.grdc.com. au/Resources/App-Store.

Women in horticulture are winners Four dynamic women in horticulture have been announced as the winners of professional development bursaries at a function hosted by Growcom and sponsored by NAB Agribusiness.

The winners were:

•

Judy Shepherd, Shepherd Citrus, Gayndah • Fiona George, Broken Nose Vanilla, Babinda • Belinda Adams, Coastal Hydroponics, Gilston • Melinda Brimblecombe, Moira Farming Pty Ltd, Forest Hill.

The NAB Agribusiness – Growcom Women in Horticulture Professional Development bursaries aim to encourage women in the fruit and vegetable industry to develop their business capabilities and leadership skills through on-going involvement in training, industry conferences or other professional development opportunities.

“Judy Shepherd has been involved in the horticulture industry for 25 years and manages the administrative and long term strategic planning side of the family business, Shepherd Citrus at Gayndah,” said Growcom chief executive officer Alex Livingstone.

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“She has a Bachelor of IT (Computer Software Engineering) but is keen to upgrade her skills in marketing to include social networking platforms ... to find out how they might enhance the profile of small agricultural businesses.”

Fiona George has worked in the horticulture industry for 25 years, including the last seven running her own niche market business producing vanilla in Babinda.

She has a Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Management, a Diploma in Applied Science and qualifications as a Food Safety Supervisor.

“Fiona also wants to improve her understanding of marketing to help build the new regional food brand, Taste Paradise, in tropical north Queensland,” said Livingstone.

“Belinda Adams works for the family business, Coastal Hydroponics, on the Gold Coast, in a range of senior management roles. The business supplies all varieties of herbs, whole lettuce, pak and bok choy.

“Belinda has a degree in education and was recently appointed to the board of EnviroVeg, a program dedicated to creating a profitable vegetable industry that is based on environmentally

sustainable production. She wants to continue researching and developing value-added products.

“Melinda Brimblecombe is the office manager at the family business, Moira Farms at Forest Hill in the Lockyer Valley, which grows sweet corn, green beans, onions, broccoli, beetroot, seed and grain. She has worked in horticulture for 20 years.

“She is currently working on a project to raise awareness about how people who work in farm offices can gain a Certificate IV or Diploma in Agribusiness Management by having their years of experience credited through a process called Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). She is keen to take the concept to other agricultural industries, not just horticulture.”

The horticulture industry is being strengthened by the growing influence of dynamic, innovative women who are bringing new approaches to business and markets.

NAB Agribusiness offered the four winners professional development bursaries, each valued at $1000.

It is hoped that these bursaries will encourage horticultural businesswomen who have been involved in the initiative to continue to grow their professional and leadership skills.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

NSW workers compensation scheme reforms The New South Wales Minister for Finance and Services Greg Pearce said that more is being done to help injured workers get back to work sooner with a new workers compensation scheme.

Mr Pearce said new measures would improve outcomes for workers and employers following reforms to the NSW Workers Compensation Scheme.

“From today injured workers will be offered more opportunities to get back on the job sooner, with WorkCover helping employers identify suitable work,” Pearce said.

“Employers will have obligations to assist injured workers get back into the workplace and will be required to ensure a suitable return to work program is in place.

“Encouraging workers to return sooner will help improve their recovery and also benefits the worker’s family.

“After a three-month grace period, WorkCover inspectors will be able

to issue improvement notices for any failure by employers to meet these obligations,” he said.

According to evidence gathered by NSW Workcover, getting injured workers back to work early is an important part of recovery.

As well as reducing the impact of an injury on the worker and their family, early, safe and durable return to work: • gets your skilled and experienced workers back in the workplace – benefiting your business • can lower your particular premium costs, if you are a medium or large business • reduces the likelihood of large, scheme-wide increases to premiums to address the financial deficit.

Minister Pearce said as part of the reforms, workers who make a claim from today would receive up to 95% of their average weekly earnings for the first 13 weeks of their claim based on their

pre-injury earnings.

“As well, from today a WorkCover independent review officer will be available to provide an independent review of decisions made about benefits and work capacity.

“These reforms are focused on encouraging and assisting injured workers to return to work as soon as they have capacity to do so.

“The positive flow-on effect of getting skilled workers back into the workplace sooner is a reduction in the costs of claims and premiums, which in turn means less strain on business, jobs and the workers compensation system.”

The reforms have been implemented in stages from June 2012.

All claims made on or after 1 October 2012 are subject to the new legislation and benefits.

For more information visit www. workcover.nsw.gov.au.

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33

What’s new in Marketing Planning for a market share

By Michael Halligan, Engage Marketing A marketing plan isn’t about the document. It’s about what you learn.

Many start-up founders and owners of existing businesses hesitate in writing a marketing plan, fearing that it will ask the tough questions. If you’re reading this and feeling uneasy at the thought of analysing the ins and outs of marketing your business, then odds are you desperately need a marketing plan.

A good plan is all about teaching you new skills in marketing and learning more about your business in the process.

Marketing plans by nature push you into the unfamiliar.

A good marketing plan will leave you with a strong idea of your customers, your competitors, the essential ingredients to your brand being recognised and the tools that you’re going to use to get the exposure that you’ve been dreaming of.

Find a marketing plan resource It’s the process of creating a marketing plan that really counts.

Find a good marketing plan resource and run through the process of creating a marketing plan. Learn what you need to include, what considerations you need to make and most importantly read about how to answer each area of your marketing plan.

This learning not only helps to create a powerful plan but it helps to fill you with the confidence and knowledge to quickly and easily execute your essential marketing activities without relying on hiring new marketing staff.

Sit down and co-create your marketing plan with a marketing agency. Sitting down with a marketing consultant is a more expensive option but if your business has significant sales potential it will pay for itself many times over.

A one-on-one marketing session gives you an expert to bounce ideas off, answer questions and provide greater direction to your marketing plan.

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The key is making sure you know what your goals are: if you know where you want to be in 12 months you can start to plan how to get there.

When setting goals follow your heart and listen to your head. Following your heart will lead to selling goals that inspire you. Listening to your head will ensure that the goals remain realistic.

Then to add legs to your goals, match your goals with your tactics.

Not all marketing tactics will result in sales. Some tactics are designed to get the phone ringing, others to build credibility, while one might be to get potential customers to find you on a search engine.

Figure out what’s been working and what hasn’t Once you have your resource in place, you need to look back at what has and hasn’t worked for you in the past – if you keep going with marketing activity that hasn’t worked in the past you’re essentially throwing money down the drain.

A few tips for determining the effectiveness of your marketing: • subscribe to Google Analytics.

This allows you to accurately track the real-world success of your marketing activity by looking at your website traffic • ask your customers. Regularly call some of your customers to ask their opinion of your business and its marketing. If possible, ask them how you compare with your competitors • train your team. Ask your sales team or other front line staff to find out how customers heard about you and why they decided to do business with you.

Once you know which types of marketing have been working for you, you’ll have a better idea of what your current marketing plan should look like.

About the author: Michael Halligan is co-founder of Engage Marketing, a marketing firm for small businesses. He is the founder of Plan Lab, an online app designed to help small business owners learn about marketing while they create a marketing plan. Users can log in at work or at home and start creating a marketing strategy guided by advice from Engage Marketing. http://getplanlab.com/ Change it up There are very few successful companies that have remained successful by using the same marketing strategies. If you’ve fallen short of your marketing goals, don’t just do what you’ve always done.

When writing a marketing plan, most of us experience an element of what marketing legend Seth Godin refers to as the ‘the Lizard Brain’. We revert back to what everyone else is doing or what we’ve always done. It’s safe, so why not?

For example, some years ago when we were analysing our agency’s marketing performance, we found that we were failing to influence the small business market industry beyond our own network. As a result, we focused on developing content that businesses around Australia could learn from.

Today we have many eBooks, a popular blog and regular articles. Being prepared to question what we were doing in our marketing lead to new opportunities and greater reach.

Ready Plan Go At the end of this journey you’ll know more about the ins and outs of your business, have a stronger idea of your brand values and, best of all, have a strong marketing plan that you can begin to execute. While it can be intimidating to face the reality of creating a marketing plan, the end result is definitely worth it.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

TMA News

Ag machinery sector offers high tech career opportunities While the lucrative mining sector might be attracting attention works for South Australia’s Koch Ag, a sub-dealer of one of as the industry of choice for young people, Australia’s ag Trimble Ag Division’s largest channel partners in Australia. industry is crying out for skilled young people, bringing with it He was first exposed to precision ag after working on a attractive salaries, opportunities and lifelong careers.

2000-hectare mixed cropping operation near Maitland, The agricultural machinery sector, for example, is a strong and on South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula. The operation used growing segment ripe with career opportunities. a combination of yield mapping, satellite imagery and soil “Australia’s farm machinery sector is a $7 billion business – mapping to ensure cropping was focussed on areas of the and growing,” said Richard Lewis, executive director of the property more likely to deliver higher yields and reduce input Tractor and Machinery Association (TMA), the industry costs. body representing machinery manufacturers and agricultural “When I started working on the farm, autosteer technology was enterprises nationwide. just being introduced,” Aaron said.

The association reports a 15% increase in “I saw precision ag as the way of the future, demand for new tractors this year. Lewis said so I approached Koch Ag for a job 18 that increased demand for equipment means months ago. It’s such an exciting and fast increased need for skilled machinery industry developing field. workers.

“Farmers 20 years ago would never have “The skills shortage facing Australia’s imagined the sowing technology available agricultural sector has been gaining today. For example, cultivators can be fitted increasing attention, with a push to with on-board computers and digital video encourage young people to study sciencecameras that can take footage of the crop based degrees at ag colleges and universities and then tell the difference between weeds nationwide. and crop plants in real time.

“The agricultural machinery sector also offers “The technology that is available right now is Richard Lewis, executive an exciting career path for young people, so sophisticated that weed cultivation can be director of the Tractor and particularly given the vast technological done automatically around each plant, both Machinery Association, said advancements in machinery and farming between and within the row. In 15 to 20 never before has technology practices in recent years, with autosteer years, I reckon we’ll have driverless vehicles adoption played such an equipment, GPS mapping and variable rate in the field working 24 hours a day, seven integral role in enhancing farm farming becoming increasingly common. days a week, and robotic weeding machines.” productivity rates.

“Never before has technology adoption Like Jak, James Challis learned about played such an integral role in enhancing precision agriculture through on-the-job farm productivity rates. In fact, the role of mechanisation is even training. After completing a Bachelor of Science (Honours) more critical than chemical inputs in ensuring peak productivity at the University of Melbourne, Challis moved to Esperance and profitability on Australian farms,” he said. in Western Australia two years ago to take up a position with While mining has been competing with ag as a career option for Precision Agronomics Australia, a consultancy specialising in young people, Lewis said the forecast end to the mining boom precision farming systems. in the next few years means there has never been a better time to “A lot of people outside of the sector don’t see agriculture as consider a career in agriculture. tech savvy,” said Challis, 26.

However, while the career opportunities in the machinery “I joined the company as a graduate agronomist but I’ve since sector are vast, the education options are currently limited. come to love the technology side of the business.

Machinery and cutting edge technology such as precision ag “We conduct and analyse site-specific soil surveys across do not feature in the curriculum at most universities and ag southern Australia. The first step is to conduct a soil survey colleges. using a combination of technology called dual electromagnetic Lewis is hopeful this is beginning to change. In January and gamma radiometric, which relies on GPS guidance. this year Australia’s first Graduate Certificate in Precision “The data we capture allows us to measure changes in soil Agriculture was introduced at the University of New England. texture, structure, conductance and topography across entire Aaron Jak, 26, is hoping to enrol in the course next year. Jak farms. From this point, we collect soil cores across the range of 36

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

Laura Donohue took up a graduate position with global equipment manufacturer John Deere in January this year after completing a Bachelor of Science specialising in agriculture.

James Challis is one of the many young people across Australia’s ag sector who see the technology behind farming as the key to success.

soil types identified, which are then analysed to verify our original survey.

“We can then sit down with the grower and discuss the chemical constraints restricting their crop’s production potential. We address these through variable rate applications of inputs such as lime, gypsum or potash. Having a picture of what’s happening under the soil really enables growers to maximise yields, and the only way to capture this data is to rely on technology.”

Major machinery manufacturers are also offering on-the-job training to ag science graduates to fill the current curriculum gap in machinery and technology. Laura Donohue, 21, took up a graduate position with global machinery giant John Deere in January after completing a Bachelor of Science specialising in Agriculture at Wagga Wagga’s Charles Sturt University.

The 12-month graduate program exposes young people to different areas of the company, from spare parts to training and marketing.

“I originally wanted to be an agronomist but the opportunity to work with a global company was quite appealing,” Donohue said.

“I had limited knowledge of agricultural mechanics, with experience operating machines but not diagnosing them.

Since starting at John Deere this has started to change, with on-the-job training teaching me how to calibrate a new model combine harvester and using remote diagnostics for equipment repairs. Technology is everywhere in this industry and moving at a fast pace.”

Donohue’s colleague Hannah Pickles completed John Deere’s graduate program two years ago and currently works as the company’s aftermarket manager, acting as an interface between dealers and spare parts staff to market the company’s range of genuine aftersales parts.

“I studied a Bachelor of Rural Business and, while I didn’t expect to end up working for an equipment manufacturer, it’s turned out to be an exciting career,” the 25-year-old said.

“No two days are the same.”

TMA plans to work with universities and ag colleges across

Aaron Jak believes precision agriculture is the way of the future, with driverless vehicles and robotic weeding machines a reality in the next 15 years.

Hannah Pickles completed the graduate program with equipment manufacturer John Deere two years ago and currently works as the company’s aftermarket manager.

Australia to ensure mechanisation and technology have their place in the curriculum. Lewis predicts a bright future for the sector.

“Australia’s ag industry is only going to increase in importance as we strive to feed the world’s growing population. There’s only so much land and to make the most of it, technology is the key,” he said.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

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My view Wheat Exports Australia Bill is not about deregulation

By John Cobb, Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Food Security The big lie in the current debate is the red herring of the single desk.

Everyone, including the Nationals, knows that it will not be revisited, but some see it as a convenient scapegoat to intimidate their representatives.

The connection between retaining Wheat Exports Australia’s (WEA), that has licensed over 30 exporters, in the short term, and a single desk is just rubbish.

Minister Ludwig embracing this issue as a government push for deregulation is simply a diversion from the Minister’s ineptitude in his own portfolio.

The Minister has no clue on how to engage his stakeholders and because of this failed to identify and understand industry concerns.

The majority of the wheat industry wants the WEA retained until the issues identified by industry are addressed.

The Coalition knows that the issues the wheat industry wants addressed are: access for all exporters to port facilities; information as to the quantity, quality and whereabouts of unsold grain, and quality assurance for export wheat.

These are not simple issues and there are different views but we are determined to provide the best environment for competition to flourish in the industry.

In the same way the stock exchange is a free market but still needs rules under which the stock exchange operates, the wheat industry also just wants the market to operate efficiently and the industry needs decide how to address growers’ concerns.

The recent takeover bid of Grain Corp by Archer Daniels Midland, if successful, will mean that outside Western Australia all port facilities for exporting wheat will be owned and 38

controlled by foreign companies, so it is very important to have rules that allow proper competition in the grain marketing sector.

The Minister is using this issue to divert attention from his botched attempt for deregulation of the chemical regulator.

The Minister’s new legislation for the chemical regulator will massively increase regulation, despite being listed on the Minister for Deregulation’s website as the government’s second key

“The Minister has no clue on how to engage his stakeholders and because of this has failed to identify and understand industry concerns. The majority of the wheat industry wants the WEA.” example that will reduce regulatory compliance costs for businesses and improve their competitiveness.

The second draft of the legislation for the chemical regulator, which has been recently released, has ignored stakeholder concerns and will enormously increase regulation, increase the cost of chemical registration by one third or around $9 million dollars, and add another layer of red tape.

Then of course there is the massive cost and red tape impost of the Carbon Tax. The public is clearly of the view the Minister is incompetent through the handling of the Indonesian live export ban and the super trawler debacle, and he can’t afford to get it so badly wrong again.

The irony is that the government support for deregulation is to save the industry $3.5 million a year, when

the ban to shut down Indonesian live exports introduced sovereign risk that put at risk our largest wheat export market of 3.5 million tonnes to Indonesia worth over $1 billion dollars.

Labor, when they introduced the WEA bill back in 2007, made it clear that it was important that we didn’t go from a single monopoly to three regional monopolies, yet the headlong rush to no rules will, I believe, lead us exactly to this end.

The Coalition, unlike the government, has a plan to work with industry to address their concerns.

If elected at the next election, the Coalition will implement measures agreed by the industry to ensure a wellmanaged deregulation to free and open competition, while maintaining our international reputation for quality and reliability.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

My view The Liberal Party is wrong to stop the deregulation of our wheat export market

By Joe Ludwig, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry The Liberal Party claims they want wheat exports deregulated.

They claim to want the Wheat Export Authority (WEA) abolished.

Why then are they doing everything in their power to stop this from happening?

The Liberal Party is wrong to stop the deregulation of our wheat export market.

Their justifications for adding another two years of unnecessary costs and red tape for wheat exporters are wrong.

Claims that their backflip on this issue is anything but a last ditch attempt to avoid another public split within the Coalition are wrong.

And the fact east coast Liberals are doing all they can to force their western counterparts to vote against the interests of the wheat industry and go against something they as a party voted for in 2008, is wrong.

Recently Liberal deputy leader of the Coalition Julie Bishop claimed on ABC’s 7:30 Report that: “there needs to be a smooth transition ... so we can deal with the issues of oversight, of port access, of quality, of the supply chain”.

Let’s look at these excuses for holding onto the WEA one at a time.

Oversight: it has never been the WEA’s role to oversee the wheat export trade.

The WEA provides a proper-person test, nothing more.

Port access: the Liberals clearly haven’t read the bill they want to vote against.

It already outlines a transition period of two years to remove port access undertakings while the industry develops a code. The WEA has never assessed port access undertakings by exporters. That is and always has been the role of the ACCC. Quality: the WEA has never assured

“... east coast Liberals are doing all they can to force their western counterparts to vote against the interests of the wheat industry ...” the quality of wheat exports. The WEA’s role is to ensure that exporters, not the product, meet a fit and proper test. The quality of export product is the responsibility of industry and exporters.

There are a number of established industry initiatives in place to help ensure wheat exports meet customer

requirements. For example, Wheat Quality Australia manages wheat varietal classification and Grain Trade Australia regularly consults with industry as part of its role in administering receival standards.

The supply chain: again, the WEA hasn’t ever looked at the supply chain.

Up-country storage is a matter for industry and service providers. Grain Trade Australia already adjudicates disputes along the supply chain between growers, transporters, exporters and marketers.

These arguments are baseless and cannot mask the Liberal Party’s real motivation to block deregulation – avoiding a public split with the protectionist Nationals.

Facts aside, Australia’s wheat export industry has been transitioning to deregulation for five years now.

The Liberals voted to support deregulation in 2008 and have had the years since to address these so-called issues. If they haven’t acted yet, what will another two years achieve?

Their deputy leader, Julie Bishop, is a policy weathervane who won’t stand up to Barnaby Joyce and the Nationals.

The Liberal Party lacks a legitimate reason to stop the deregulation of Australia’s wheat exports.

Right now the Liberal Party is making clear it stands for nothing and they are hanging wheat growers and exporters out to dry as a result.

If the Liberal Party supports deregulation, why aren’t its federal members voting in support?

The Liberals and Nationals are again opposing for opposition’s sake. Under Mr Abbott the only thing they’ll do is engage in aggressive negativity.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

39

What’s new in Finance Borrowing for the long-term or short-term?

By Mark Bennett, Head of Agribusiness, Regional Business Banking, ANZ For farmers and the agricultural industry, the decision between long-term and short-term funding encompasses a range of issues.

It is useful for farm machinery businesses, and other agribusiness industries, to be aware of what motivates and drives the funding decisions made by the farm sector.

Ultimately, the decision centres on the nature of the business need, the risk profile of the borrower, and the assets or security that are available to support any advance of funds.

For example, longer term funding would normally be sought when seeking a loan to buy land. The repayment terms often considered are either 10 or 15 years, and possibly would include a period of interest-only payments to allow for flexibility.

Often this kind of purchase may not return optimum income for a number of years, as fertility may need rebuilding, rotations established, or in the case of livestock, turn-off of additional numbers may not flow through until year two or three.

In addition, poor seasons or commodity price fluctuations can make it difficult to commit to a consistent principal repayment pattern and therefore interest-only would be sought after in the initial period.

There is a danger of carrying the full debt long-term.

If the property does not provide return over and above the cost of interest, or create business synergies that provide a clear benefit, the interest cost can become a drain and accumulate over time.

However, land has proven to be a strong base to borrow against because over a long period its value (although cyclical) has typically appreciated.

Medium-term funding is often used when investing in assets that have a 40

limited working life and by nature depreciate. Medium-term finance is required, especially if the item purchased is forming the sole security to support the loan.

For example, the purchase of farm machinery will typically be financed over five years where the loan is repaid in full over this time.

It may be shorter if the business has clear capacity to meet the debt reduction schedule.

An example of short-term finance might be to purchase livestock to trade.

In this case careful consideration will be around matching the repayment to the point of sale where the loan will be cleared in full.

This might be a 90-day or six-month period. In these cases it’s especially important that the economics of the transaction are fully understood, including the finance cost in carrying stock.

Security in these cases might be the goods purchased but they might also be supported by land.

In the latter case, land will give the lender potentially more scope to vary conditions if something goes wrong.

Managing volatility in farming is a challenge and from time-to-time farmers need to borrow for the purpose of working capital. On that basis, such advances would also be considered short-term.

Short-term repayment will reduce total interest costs.

Perhaps more importantly, it’s dangerous for a business to carry a level of debt that prohibits its capacity to borrow if the need arises, especially in the absence of assets that can be quickly converted to cash.

Some customers are comfortable carrying debt and others will seek to repay debt as a priority, and this will not necessarily be a reflection of their

financial ability or position.

Any borrower needs to understand the transaction they are entering into and ask questions of their financial adviser or consultant, and indeed their lender in regard to suitability of the loan product they are considering.

The ANZ Bank has more than 150 years of experience working with agribusiness needs.

The bank’s dedicated team of agribusiness specialists is found on the ANZ website where you can find specialists local to your area.

For more information visit www.anz.com/ small-business/agribusiness/.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

Cost control

By Peter Cox, Bachelor Fin Admin, CPA, MNIA, AICM Every year owners and managers review profit and loss statements and say with conviction “Profit would have been better if it wasn’t for the costs.” The cost of what?

Obviously total costs are made up of smaller individual items and these items contribute to reducing the net profit.

Where does cost control start?

It starts with you as the owner/manager.

It is up to you to keep your finger on the pulse of business costs, and provide insight and example to staff on cost saving methods.

Cost control comes in many different sizes and shapes, from a few cents saved on turning off unnecessary lights to thousands of dollars saved by smart buying. Each contributes to the reduction.

Costs are classified as direct variable costs dependent on sales, such as cost of stock, freight and handling; and fixed or semi-fixed costs not dependent on sales but still a cost, such as rental, rates, wages and salaries.

Cost control has the most dramatic effect on profit in the cost of stock. Too much stock causes increased costs in the capital outlay for stock, increased bank interest to cover the debt, extra insurance to cover the added value, extra staff to handle the added volume of merchandise and ultimately the added costs to cover the loss of product from damage and deterioration.

How does one get too much stock?

Generally it is due to an unclear plan of what’s needed and a little bit of good salesmanship by the reps.

You may not be aware but there is an opportunity cost in investing in stock.

If you are aiming for a 25% return on funds invested in the operation, this equates to 25% divided by 12 months, which equals 2% per month.

The money invested in the stock could be used elsewhere. A crucial first step to cost control for stock is to know how

much stock you will need during the year and to plan your purchases. Then you can then start looking for ways to reduce your costs.

Costs of goods can be reduced in a number of ways such as utilising discounts on bulk orders, discounts for early cash settlement, consolidation of orders for freight and handling.

A routine as simple as weighing freight to insure you are being charged the correct amounts, or a system to ensure staff are correctly checking in stock, can save thousands of dollars a year.

Very little can be done to reduce costs on the individual expense items such as rent, utilities, and rates. Sound judgements and common sense need to be mixed in equal portions to arrive at the correct strategies for reducing costs in most expense areas.

Obviously you can’t switch off all the lights to save the dollars in electricity costs without your customers thinking you’re closed or out of business. The same holds true for telephone costs.

Are there ways to decrease costs through planning or training?

Staff can be encouraged or trained to turn off the extra lights, or to restrict outbound calls to business, or have a check list to cover during a call: this will decrease the time spent on the phone.

Staff costs generally seem to be the item that comes up most often as a way to cut expenses. If staff wages and salaries are of concern you should be looking at what these costs reflect, total staff numbers and the productivity of the staff.

Do you have too many people? Could the full-time position be replaced with a part-time, casual or junior position?

How productive is the staff? Do you see groups of people chatting? Is there a tendency for the half hour lunch to stretch to 45 minutes?

Perhaps no more staff is needed maybe the ones you have need to be more productive. The old adage that time is money comes into play.

Other line item expenses can sometimes be reduced by putting to tender the fact that you are shopping for rates on such items as insurance, equipment leases, rents, even cleaning services. Costs need to be assessed on an individual basis and a decision made on whether there is a way to reduce the expense by either staff or purchase decisions.

If staff is to be involved, they need to know the reasons behind the actions so they can make this effort part of their motivation rather than having a directive from the boss.

Strategies to reduce costs should be an integral part of each yearly plan and be reviewed on a monthly basis to see how well the plan is proceeding. If the strategies are not working, the question needs to be asked as to why, and a decision made on how to improve it.

Given this process you have forced yourself to think about solutions.

This is an excellent time to call in the assistance of staff to help with the problem. You might be surprised, they could have a solution to the problem that has eluded you for months.

Peter Cox’s expertise is bottom-line profitability management in business, backed by industry performance statistics and benchmarks.

For the past 15 years he has assisted companies in Australia and New Zealand to establish and maintain financial control of their businesses He has special interest in and knowledge of the rural sector.

Visit www.petercox.com.au.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

41

Cow-a-bunga, not with a SaferGate A new type of cattle gate aimed at preventing death and injury has completed rigorous testing and development by the CSIRO. SaferGate, designed by Inverell farmer and inventor Edward Evans, has been put to the test by a CSIRO ‘crash test cow’.

Hundreds of farmers and cattle handlers are injured in Australia operating cattle gates. According to latest statistics, 211 farmers were caught, crushed, jammed, or pinched in or between objects from 2000 to 2005.

Gate incidents also account for 0.5% of deaths among agricultural workers in Australia.

“To me this is like the TAC ad wipe off five, if you get hit full-on by the gate, the biggest problem is that when the bars hit you all the forces are very pinpoint and so the statistics show there is a lot of head and brain injury (due to the height of the gate),” said CSIRO research project leader Peter Westgate.

CSIRO concluded its research with a series of simulated crash tests designed to evaluate how SaferGate would perform when charged or kicked by an animal. The tests were conducted by hoisting the cow to a height of five meters before launching it at the gate.

“People have said we’ve only used a 60kg bull not a 1000kg bull but we’ve found that the energy difference doesn’t matter. The 42

energy introduced into the gate with this system will have the gate recoiling as fast as a 1000kg bull would,” said Westgate.

“In fact the harder we hit the gate the better it works because it reduces the inertia through the gate so that it folds faster.”

Unlike a traditional cattle gate, SaferGate swings away from the operator when a cow charges it, preventing injury or death.

This is achieved by a pivot mechanism which splits the gate into two pieces when hit, allowing the part of the gate in front of the operator to fold back on itself and away from them.

In 2011 Mr Evans won the ABC’s New Inventors grand final and was awarded testing and evaluation of the SaferGate by CSIRO. CSIRO scientists have improved the original design by adding a magnet on the SaferGate hinge (the magnetic latch), which allows the gate to remain in a steady position – like a traditional gate – until hit.

“We have a gate that’s in two parts: the rail section is a normal type of fence and that’s the section that if a cow is going to turn and charge the gate, they’ll go for this section because they can see through it,” said Westgate.

“When the gate was first released it didn’t have these magnetic latches and that’s what CSIRO have added. So that you can move the gate and it feels like one gate but if it gets hit, or you

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

need to break the gate, it comes apart quite easily. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In conjunction with that, there was also a thought that when theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re herding the cattle and when they are on horseback, the latch was too low, so we installed a latch up the topâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;CSIRO also changed the way the gate was manufactured, as everything was welded and you can imagine how dirty and dusty a cattle yard gets, and its also high maintenance. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve now made it so that with all the mechanisms, you can unscrew them unbolt them so that you can clean them, regrease them, and put them back together, and it has made the whole system simpler,â&#x20AC;? said Westgate. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We also have to keep in mind that we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have any protrusions with these gates, just in case the cattle bumps it and it bruises the meat.â&#x20AC;?

According to Westgate, they will be able to retro-fit the SaferGate to an existing gate. The idea is you will be able to buy the bulk section of the gate and the farmer will cut out a section of the railing to allow for the gate then re-weld the rail section back together again. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are very pleased with the work that CSIRO has done and we are now focused on taking their designs forward and getting SaferGate manufactured and on the market. We hope to be selling SaferGate in Australia within the next six months,â&#x20AC;? said Mike Agnew, general manager for SaferGate.

The company is planning to launch the SaferGate initially in Australia and then the United States.

henty may

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The CSIROâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 60kg bull hits the SaferGate, avoiding any injury to the crash test dummy in the white coat.

More information on SaferGate can be found at: www.safergate.com.au

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Hydrostatic Drive V-belt drive from engine crankshaft Ground Speed (Infinitely variable) Forward: 0-8 mph (0-12.9 kph) Reverse: 0-5 mph (0-8 kph) Steering SmoothTrakâ&#x201E;˘ twin-lever steering provides independent control of each drive wheel. Speed, forward, reverse, brake, and turns are all controlled with hand-operated controls Turning Radius True zero turning radius. Turns within its own length. Counter-rotating, independent drive wheels Brakes Service: Hydrostatic dynamic braking Parking: Internal transmission mechanical brake. When steering levers are placed in park position, integral park brakes are automatically engaged Tires Front: 13 x 5 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 6, rib tread Drive: 48 in: 20 x 10 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 10, turf tread YEAR HOUR 54 in: 20 x 12 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 10, turf tread 60 in: 20 x 12 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 10, turf tread LIMITED RESIDENTIAL WARRANTY* Capacities Fuel System: 4.2 US gal (15.9 l) GENERAL INFORMATION Safety Features Operator presence system connected to deck and drive clutches. Stabilizer rollers at rear of tractor Seat Molded, cool-grey vinyl seat with adjustable armrests. Fore and aft sliding adjustment. Seat-pan suspension springs standard.

Mainframe is 1.5 in x 1.5 in x .188 in (3.8 cm x 3.8 YEAR Construction HOUR cm x .48 cm) square steel tubing. Front caster wheels mounted LIMITED COMMERCIAL WARRANTY* with roller bearings on each wheel Front caster forks are .375 in (.95 cm) steel Controls Hand-operated choke, throttle, ignition switch, electric mower clutch. Integrated parking brakes Indicators Engine warning light (low oil pressure, Kohler only) Cup Holder One cup holder molded into the left side fuel tank.

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YEAR HOUR Tire-to-tire width: 46.6 in (118 cm) Flotation Suspended mower floats on two spring-assisted chains.

Weight: 760 lbs (345 kg) LIMITEDTwo COMMERCIAL WARRANTY* anti-scalp wheels are standard W/54 in Deck Width of Cut Length: 73.1 in (186 cm) *see for details 48 in:dealer 47.1 in (120 cm) Overall width: 56.9 in (145 cm) w/discharge chute up 54 in: 53.1 in (135 cm) Tire-to-tire width: 51.5 in (131 cm) 60 in: 59.1 in (150 cm) YEAR HOUR YEAR HOUR Weight:785 lbs (356 kg) YEAR Trim Capacity (left side) HOUR LIMITED RESIDENTIAL WARRANTY* LIMITED RESIDENTIAL WARRANTY* W/60 in Deck 48 in:LIMITED 0.5 in RESIDENTIAL (1.25 cm) WARRANTY* Length: 77.2 in (196 cm) 54 in: 0.5 in (1.25 cm) Overall width: 62.5 in (159 cm) w/discharge chute up 60 in: 5.25 in (13.3 cm) Tire-to-tire width: 51.5 in (131 cm) YEAR HOUR ACCESSORIES YEAR HOUR Weight: 909 lbs (412 kg) LIMITED COMMERCIAL WARRANTY* YEAR HOUR Flex Forksâ&#x201E;˘ Shock-absorbing caster forks for a smooth ride and LIMITED COMMERCIAL front WARRANTY* DECKS LIMITED WARRANTY* smoother cut COMMERCIAL *see dealer for details 48â&#x20AC;? 54â&#x20AC;? or 60â&#x20AC;? Side-Discharge Decks *see dealer for details Mulch Kit Recycles clippings under deck allowing clippings to be cut Type Free-floating deck using three blades with center blade *see dealer and recut, then discharged down for intodetails the grass. Reduces handling of to the front. Deck is suspended at the corners. Includes 2 deckclippings, improves appearance, and recycles nutrients back to the soil mounted rollers to improve flotation in rolling and uneven terrain Catcher Non-powered 6 bushel, rear-mounted, two-bag catcher Construction 11 ga, .120 in (.30 cm) welded steel with 11 ga ROPS Standard doubler welded onto spindle mount areas. Solid 1.0 in x .25 in Gatorâ&#x201E;˘ Blades Patented mulching blade design (2.54 cm x .64 cm) steel bars reinforce impact areas on trim Wavy Blades Improved performance for mulching edges. Steel deck housing is 4 in (10.16 cm) deep to provide room for high capacity mowing.

Other Accessories Light Kit, Steering Lever Extension Kit, Containment kit for blowout control Cutting Heights Foot-operated deck height adjustment. Pin for setting height, detent for transport position. Height adjustment in Specifications subject to change without notice. .25 in increments from 1.5 in to 4.5 in (3.81 cm to 11.43 cm) DISTRIBUTED BY Mowing Blades Heavy-duty, heat-treated, low-lift blades 48 in: 16.5 in x 2.5 in x .2 in FRAME WARRANTY 54 in: 18.5 in x 2.5 in x .2 in 60 in: 20.5 in x 2.5 in x .2 in (SEE DEALER FOR DETAILS) Blade Tip Speed (at 3500 RPM engine speed) FRAME WARRANTY FRAME WARRANTY 48 in: 18,600 fpm (SEE DEALER FOR DETAILS) (SEE DEALER FOR DETAILS) 54 in: 18,900 fpm 60 in: 18, 400 fpm

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In a classic case of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;killing two birds with one stoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, Nuffield scholar and cattle feedlotter Don Madden is looking to reduce energy costs by making better use of unwanted animal waste.

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Don, who is operations manager at his familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 20-thousand head feedlot at Proston in south-east Queensland, says while steam flaking grain to feed cattle is good for feed conversion and average daily weight gains

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Impressed by the difficulty facing land managers who wish to understand and respond to the ecology of hot arid landscapes, Ray Tauss was determined to identify a way pastoralists and other land managers can â&#x20AC;&#x153;find out at lunchtime what effect the grazing stock has had that morningâ&#x20AC;?.

RAM is the result, and represents a decade of conceptualising, trialling and refining.

Ray Tauss has previously authored a manual for establishing photographic monitoring sites in arid rangeland, and edited or contributed to other environmental management publications.

Your feedback is considered essential for further development of the Rapid Appraisal Method and future publications. Please email your comments and questions to info@rapidappraisalmethod.com. Order copies of the instruction manual there too.

The rising price of fuel, coupled with the dropping price of manure, traditionally sold for fertiliser, spurred Don on to make the system more efficient.

When he realised that manure actually represented a valuable energy source, he decided to apply for a Nuffield Scholarship to investigate how he might use the heating value of the manure to generate the steam required in their grain processing system. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Over the last ten years or so, feedlotting in Australia has really come up to speed compared with the systems in the United States, so probably all the low-hanging fruit has been picked, so any efficiency gains we do

FRAME WARRANTY (SEE DEALER FOR DETAILS) P:28/137-145 (03) 9874 0442 Rooks Rd

2-4983 ISSN 144 113/0009 2 PP 329 MAY 201

RAM: New environmental management manual

Immediate Past President â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Phil Longmire

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For more information head to www.nuffield.com.au or follow them on twitter @nuffieldaust NUFFIELD WA BOARD: President - Dave Fulwood Vice President - Leon Ryan Secretary - David Cox Treasurer - Brendon Tierney

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Nuffield Australia is an organisation which provides opportunities to Australian farmers between the ages of 28 and 40 to travel the globe investigating a research topic important to them and Australian agriculture. Applications for 2013 open on April 1st 2012.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I thank the outgoing chairman, Phil Longmire for his excellent work over the last two years and look forward to working with the WA board into the future,â&#x20AC;? Mr Fulwood concluded.

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In addition, Don believes converting manure to energy, rather than stockpiling it for fertiliser, presents an opportunity to produce carbon credits under the federal governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s carbon farming initiative by reducing methane and nitrous oxide emissions.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are confident when applications for the 2013 round of scholarships opens on the 1st April, we will again have a good WA representation in this world-leading farmer scholarship program,â&#x20AC;? Mr Fulwood says.

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So this technology is one that potentially in a feedlot of 20-thousand head could save anywhere between 300 and 400-thousand dollars in fuel costs.â&#x20AC;?

Nuffield WA is currently in a strong position with three scholars, Kelly Manton- Pearce, Rhys Arangio and Jemma Sadler receiving scholarships for 2012.

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now are going to be hard-fought, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to be small and going to take a lot of management to achieve.

and now the opportunity to give back to the organisation in a leadership capacity is something I am very much looking forward to,â&#x20AC;?

Mr Fulwood says.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; & DEALERSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; JOURNAL - MAY 2012

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AUSTRALASIAN FARMERSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; & DEALERSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; JOURNAL - MAY 2012

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The same industry-leading news, views and adâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re reading in this issue are now available online as well.

While we know print is the most convenient form for reading in the cab, lunchroom or highlighting an important point for the next reader, we also know that many of our readers want to go straight to websites or send emails from the articles and linked adâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re reading.

Australasian Farmersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; & Dealersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Journal

Now available on-line FOR MORE READERS AND INCREASED BUSINESS

Visit www.afdj.com.au today to view your copy online INDEPENDENT & AUSTRALIAN OWNED

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; & DEALERSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

43

Casting the first stone for local steel Keech Australia is a family owned steel casting company that is putting its hard earned cash behind a real ‘Aussie made’ campaign.

Started by the current owners’ grandfather, Gordon Keech Snr, it was passed on to his sons, who then passed it on to their sons.

So the current owners are actually two cousins – David and Garth Keech.

From the day it started to now the company has 78 years of casting manufacturing expertise and from the get-go the company has been making agricultural equipment.

Keech Australia has been designing and manufacturing agricultural wear components with a range that includes direct drilling points and adapters, deep tillage and sowing systems.

The company first started in Mascot, Sydney, when the suburb was heavily industrial with a number of foundries located there, but eventually Keech was the only foundry left.

Around 17 years ago it too moved, to Bendigo in country Victoria.

Initially the company had started production of hand tools, many for the farming community as well as the industrial segment. It then proceeded to developing specialized tools for the farming market.

Later the company moved into the production of ground engaging tools, which now account for around 60% of its sales.

Agricultural products are made mainly in the company’s #2 foundry and also in the #1 foundry but they will all be transferred to #2.

“We’re close to finishing foundry two. It’s operational and will be fully operational by the end of this year.”

As a percentage, agricultural products account for around 10% of the company’s output.

“I hope with the #2 foundry it will become substantially more. We’ve lost a lot of market share to external suppliers.

We believe we can make a much better product and we believe once the facilities are up and running we can make it more price competitive,” said Keech Australia chief executive officer Herbert Hermens.

“People know Keech and Keech product; it is irritating to us that Keech products are sold that come out of China. We don’t make any in China. I wish people would understand that: when it says Keech it is not necessarily always Keech. “ Twelve years ago the company decided to bring in a chief executive officer to run the place, although both David and Garth Keech are directors and actively work in the business.

Hermens is the second CEO and while he isn’t from the casting industry, he is leading the company onto bigger and better developments such as remodeling and refurbishing both foundries.

44

Remodelling of Keech’s #2 foundry started with a notional budget of $1m-$1.5m and the company is now up to $3.5m.

“That is not bad management. As we invested we saw there were other opportunities – so initially it started off as a new core shooter and then lets get these cooling lines organised, then how about we get this sand reclaiming into place and improve our recycling so we did that,” said Hermens.

“We’ve got a baseline target of $10m next year to invest in # 1 foundry. We’ve had some government assistance for # 2 – state government, about a quarter of a million dollars, we’re talking to the federal government under the carbon energy efficiency program for $2.5m for our #1 foundry.”

Casting is a hard business, hard work and hard to sell

#1 foundry is to receive $10 million upgrade.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

Around 10% of Keech’s output is agricultural products but the company intends to improve that now.

overseas, but Hermens has trimmed down costs and increased productivity. He is spearheading the drive to high productivity and high quality, and internationally competitive products.

“Over the past number of years a number of foundries have just collapsed. There is only one defence and that is to drive efficiency. We have a vision here and that is that we will produce in Australia at world competitive prices for us to survive long term,” said Hermens.

“That’s an imperative. I resent the fact that people refer to this industry as old technology and a dirty industry and all the rest because it contradicts what it’s all about. Most of the stuff you touch has got a foundry influence.

“For manufacturing to remain viable in Australia it must have a sound casting focus. That’s complicated to understand but when you stop and think about it, cast products exist everywhere – they exist in your phone. Most people don’t realise that the module of that is cast.

“That casting technology must remain in Australia for manufacturing to survive in the long term.”

In India, and China to some extent, they can make good products but they can also make bad ones. According to Hermens, they make good product and then an influx of orders leads them to rush and the quality drops. Then they’ll make good products again. They take on too many jobs and the quality suffers.

“When I first came here one of the first products I looked at we were selling for $1200 each. Now that same product is selling for $700 because the market has forced all those prices down, but we actually lost that business to India but they came back,” said Hermens.

“They were happy to pay a 50% premium because it is a key product and they can’t afford a mistake.

“They weren’t prepared to pay twice the price but they were prepared to pay a premium – for certainty. Not that India can’t make that quality product because they can: they are paying for certainty. India can’t get that continuous quality.”

Hermens says that in Australia we are caught in a ‘Catch 22’

#2 foundry has had an investment of $3.5 million.

situation, as most businesses in Australia, by the very nature of being in Australia, are small businesses. We don’t have the economies of scales in terms of market size.

“The answer is in making sure we have the world’s best practices. The biggest cost that we have as a company is labour. Do I want to cut people’s salaries? No. In fact I want to improve wages that we pay in the foundry but we have to improve the productivity,” he said.

“So that doesn’t mean I want them to work harder – and I know it’s been said a million times – but I want people to work smarter.”

“So we’re trying to find equipment that allows our people to produce more.”

Nowadays there’s roughly around 100 foundries left in Australia, where there were thousands. Over the past year or two there were a lot lost and while there’s a few very large ones, those are generally multi-nationals. There’s really only one large Australian casting company – Bradken – then there’s Keech.

“We are committed to manufacturing agricultural equipment, we have invested a lot in our innovation centre,” said Hermens.

“We have got some new products that we are about to launch.

One is a new cast lip for the front of the buckets - lots of money going into that. I think it is a product that will stand toe-to-toe with the world’s best.

“The market leader launched their product last week in America and we made some quick comparisons with our product and we ticked all the boxes. I’m ecstatic because we did that here in Bendigo.

My benchmark was that we had to be as good as the world best and we achieved that.”

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

45

“We have seen a lot of tyres during our time in the industry and only put our name to a product we trust. BKT ag tyres have proven time and time again that they’re hard wearing, resist punctures and are great value for money.

BKT ag tyres are the tyres we recommend to our customers.”

Peter Hall and Doug Brown – Brown’s Tyre Service, Gunnedah NSW

www.tradefaire.com.au Free Call: 1800 982 466

Agrimax - the smart alternative for your farming needs.

Australian Agent Tradefaire International

What’s new in Tyres Queensland approves flotation tyres for cane A special permit will allow sugarcane growers to get cane to the mill faster with the use of high-tech flotation tyres on trucks.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson and Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett announced the Queensland government had agreed to extra loading for any cane trucks using flotation tyres.

“Unlike standard tyres, these flotation tyres are specially designed to reduce flattening of a cane field’s soil,” Mr Emerson said.

“Local members and the cane growing industry have been lobbying for more efficient and effective ways to deliver crops to local mills.

“As a central pillar of our economy, we are committed to helping the agriculture sector with positive solutions to problems.”

CANEGROWERS, a body representing Australian sugar cane growers, had been lobbying the Queensland government to allow the use of the special ‘flotation’ tyres.

“We asked and the minister delivered,” said CANEGROWERS chief executive officer Steve Greenwood.

Greenwood congratulated Minister Emerson on facilitating the special concession, saying it will bring greater efficiencies to the expensive business of transporting cane to the mill.

“This is a smart decision which is good for the sugarcane industry, which by extension is good for the state,” Greenwood said.

“Proactive calls like these are at the core of helping the state deliver on growing a four pillar economy based on agriculture, tourism, resources and construction.”

48

The sugarcane industry is the second largest agricultural commodity in Queensland, bringing in up to $2.5 billion annually to the Australian economy.

CANEGROWERS said that the decision would take the current load limit of 14 tonnes to up to 16.5 tonnes on trucks with two rear axles.

Greenwood said the industry has been focussing on safe loading of cane billets to prevent cane falling from trucks and creating a safety hazard. He says dropped billets can cause problems for other road users, especially motorcycle riders.

The association has been working closely with Emerson’s department to ensure safety was front and centre of the decision and, coupled with this new tyre technology, it strikes a balance between driving in the field and on private and public roads.

“I’m pleased we’ve been able to work closely with CANEGROWERS Australia to introduce this new tyre technology and to make sure we find the balance between driving on private and public roads,” said Bennett.

“While allowing trucks to carry more will boost productivity, the sugar industry must continue to focus on safe loading and secure transport of their cane billets.

“While to most people these tyres don’t look any different, they make the world of difference for cane truckers getting cane from the field to the mill a lot more efficiently. Minister Emerson is to be congratulated for working with industry to come up with a smart solution,” said Greenwood.

The Queensland Government is also reminding motorists to be aware of cane trains and cane trucks operating during the harvest season.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

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Continental studies driving While this is not strictly about tyres, the information gained during a study conducted by tyre company Continental does explain the driving habits of Australians.

Recent studies commissioned by Continental Tyres into the habits of Australian motorists have found busy schedules and the constant need to multi-task is driving us to distraction and we break the road rules – a lot.

Of those surveyed, almost 60% identified driving on an unfamiliar route as the prime reason their focus lapsed, as they paid more attention to finding their destination than the traffic conditions.

“There is no doubt that our roads are busier than ever. The Australian car park has grown to over 16.7 million motor vehicles registered (nationally) this year and with more and more people spending their days on the road as part of their jobs, it is practically peak hour all day long,’ said Steve Brown, general manager for Continental Tyres Australia.

“Everyday tasks we are all faced with, such as taking the kids to appointments and constant running around, has many people travelling on unfamiliar roads on a daily basis, which in some instances can be quite nerve-racking.”

Fewer than 50% of people blamed the unpredictable actions of other drivers as a major reason they became distracted.

Other reasons included weather conditions, children and passengers,

pedestrians, the radio, mobile phones, cyclists, driver fatigue and changing speed zones.

To reduce the pressure Australian drivers turn to navigation assistance, with 41.8% using GPS devices. The trusty street directory is still preferred by 31.2% of drivers and websites such as whereis and Google rounding out the top runners at 22% usage.

GPS was more popular with males, with 56.9% using it as against 43.1% of females. Females tended to spend more time preparing and researching in advance when they are about to travel an unfamiliar route, with 60% likely to consult the internet for advice compared with only 38% of males.

With respect to not having respect for the road rules, 50% of drivers admitted to breaking the law regularly, 70.7% of males admit to speeding on a daily basis and only 29.3% of females owned up.

Of the males who admitted to breaking the speed limit, more than half had been caught within three years. Males aged between 30-49 had recorded the most demerit points for the offence.

Speeding was an issue with females in the 18-24 year age bracket, with 30% admitting to being caught.

Using a mobile phone was more common among females, while more than 25% of males admitted to disobeying traffic lights, signs or signals on a regular basis.

BKT kicks a goal for RFDS at Agquip BKT, a premium tyre brand, kicked a major goal with the generosity of the general public at the Agquip Show held in Gunnedah.

For a gold coin donation to the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), the crowd could have one of BKT’s 2000 soccer balls.

BKT was overwhelmed by the response, with more than $3000 raised for the local RFDS. Three thousand BKT straw cowboy hats were also given away, making this year’s show a truly colorful event.

50

Steve Ryan of Tradefaire International, agent for BKT tyres, said that although it was great fun passing out soccer balls and hats to the public, the industry feedback that came from the show explained why Agquip is one of the premier events on the Australian Agricultural calendar.

BKT is counted among the global leaders in the off-highway tyre segment catering for the agricultural, industrial, construction and mining industries in Australia.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

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Remote tyre pressure monitors A recent Swedish study on tyre pressure has shown that people who check tyre pressures as often as advised by the manual are a small minority.

A majority tolerate increased fuel consumption, CO2 emission and tyre wear, plus degraded vehicle handling, instead of spending getting their fingers a little dirty now and then.

How can you persuade drivers to maintain tyre pressure levels?

Authorities are convinced that the only way is to make tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) mandatory.

This was implemented first in the US, and recently in Europe for new vehicles. Countries like Korea and Russia have joined in, with China determined to follow soon. But adding features to vehicles adds cost, which has to be covered. With the vehicle industry facing another crisis, car manufacturers are reluctant to make their products any more expensive.

The European Parliament made a decision in 2009 that all passenger cars must be equipped with tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS). This applies to new vehicle models from as early as November 2012, and all vehicles which will be newly registered for road traffic from November 2014.

This comes as a result of the goals that the European Union has made to protect the climate and for road safety. There are too many cars running with very low tyre pressures – they consume fuel unnecessarily and in extreme cases, present a safety risk.

Most drivers are not familiar with tyre monitoring systems.

There are two different types, direct and indirect. Both technologies have different strengths and weaknesses.

Direct systems or dTPMS are equipped with pressure sensors in the wheels.

They measure the pressure and often the temperature and send it by radio to a receiver in the car.

One benefit is a pressure display for the driver but there are also disadvantages: the sensors require batteries and these are worn out after a few years and must be replaced. Most sensors are designed so that batteries are sealed and cannot be changed at all so a set of new sensors is required.

Indirect systems or iTPMS measure the pressure but not with sensors; they use existing signals such as the wheel speeds of the ABS/ESP system. The iTPMS technology links them with other signals such as steering angle or the engine torque so that the tyre pressure can be monitored indirectly. iTPMS are reliable and easy to handle. After each check of the tyre pressure or a change of wheels a reset is required, which is often a simple push of a button. The system then knows what the nominal pressure is. This allows detecting both pressure losses on individual wheels caused by punctures, as well as the gradual loss of air over long periods of time on all four wheels.

New Hankook truck tyre fuel tests A new heavy vehicle tyre to be launched in Australia in November has proven fuel economy benefits in independent testing.

Hankook’s consumption-optimised e-cube has shown it can reduce heavy vehicle fuel consumption by 5%, matching the performance of a premium competitor in the Low Rolling Resistance (LRR) truck tyre segment.

In a comparison test conducted by independent testing agency DEKRA to determine the influence of different tyre sets on truck fuel consumption, e-cube was matched against a conventional Hankook truck tyre and LRR tyre from another leading tyre manufacturer.

The three sets of tyres were each driven for 6000 kilometres over nine days.

The average fuel consumption of the test vehicle, a Scania G420 4x2 prime mover towing a fully loaded semitrailer, was 29.4 litres/100km when fitted with the 52

Hankook e-cube set.

“Thus, under the conditions tested, the e-cube model is to be equated with the premium competitor in average fuel consumption for the testing period.”

The Hankook e-cube tyres used were AL10 (All Position Long Haul) on the steering axle and DL10 (Drive Axle Long Haul) on the drive axle, all in size 385/80R22, and TL10 were used (Trailer Long Haul) on the trailer in size 385/65R22.5.

The standard Hankook truck tyres used for the comparison tyres were the AL02, DL02 and TH02.

Hankook e-cube tyres achieve their efficiency through the use of low dampening compounds in the tread, which significantly reduce visco-elastic power loss.

Hankook’s IMS (Innovative Mixing System) allows a consistent distribution of soot particles and rubber molecules in the tyre compound.

In combination with extended mixing periods at reduced temperatures, IMS results in a significant increase in the connection rate between the soot and rubber molecules. The result is that e-cube tyres generate less heat, further improving tyre efficiency and lowering fuel consumption.

The e-cube series’ tread designs are customised to fit their respective axle positions.

The result is that, compared with its predecessor, e-cube enjoys considerably increased carcass durability and excellent re-treadability.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

Field Days Dowerin attracts 20,000 from across WA Around 20,000 visitors and industry representatives from across Western Australia showed their support for the agricultural industry by attending the 2012 Dowerin GWN7 Machinery Field Days in celebration of the Year of the Farmer.

Farming for the Future was evident in both the theme of the event and the attitude of farmers, with buoyant grain prices and a favorable outlook for the end of the season boosting confidence throughout the state.

Dowerin Field Days chairman Ashley Jones said it looked as though rain was on the way and the price of grain was easing the pressure.

“Many of the exhibitors have commented on the overall positive attitude of the farmers who visited the Dowerin Field Days, saying they had faith the season was going to have a happy ending,” Jones said.

“Gate numbers were up by around 2% according to our financials, and many of those visitors were showing their confidence by placing orders and purchasing equipment.

“Despite a rocky start to the season in many areas, the overall outlook is very positive, and now we can all just sit back and hope for the rain.”

Highlights of the event included an array of demonstrations, from machinery, to allied equipment, cooking and fishing.

“One of the biggest highlights of this year’s event would have been the performance by Australian country singer and songwriter Lee Kernaghan, who took part in the official opening,” Jones said.

“He sang a number of crowd pleasers, and even performed Boys from the Bush with the local primary school choir, which is no doubt something they will remember for the rest of their lives.”

The quality of the displays also set a very high standard, making it challenging for the judges.

Jones said it was also important to acknowledge the support of the sponsors and volunteers of the Dowerin GWN7 Machinery Field Days.

“Sponsors not only supply highly valued products, services and monetary support, but also assistance and advice to staff, which is absolutely invaluable to our organisation.

Awards

Best New Release – Self Propelled Machinery For new tractors and implements.

Won by - Hardi Australia Best New Release – Machinery Attachments Won by - Wellard Rural Exports Best New Release – Allied Equipment

World’s largest combine harvester at Dowerine CLAAS released its new LEXION 780 at Dowerin Machinery Field Days.

“LEXION is purpose-designed to harvest more grain per hectare, cover more hectares per hour and operate for more hours per day,” said Landpower product specialist Ned Jeffery.

“Last September, a factory-standard LEXION fitted with tracks and a 12 metre variable cutterbar set a Guinness World Record by harvesting 676 tonnes in eight hours.

“It went on to harvest a total of 1362 tonnes in 19 hours using 11% less fuel than the previous world record set in 2008.”

The new LEXION 780 incorporates a host of improvements, including the optional CEMOS AUTOMATIC system, a dynamic cooling system, enhanced threshing technology and four-point linkage axle.

Won by - McIntosh Distribution Rural Service Industry Award Won by - Co-operative Bulk Handling Best Sustainable Farm Practices Award Won by - Western Mineral Fertilisers Best Lifestyle Pavilion Exhibit Won by - Make a Christmas Wish Best Motoring Exhibit Won by - Northam Toyota Best Good Food & Getaways Pavilion Exhibit Won by - Pivot Stove and Heating Lifters and Diggers Demo Award BWon by - ASV Sales & Service Most Outstanding Exhibitor Won by - WA Iveco Avant Garde Winner: Natalie Tonkin Landcare Awareness Winner: Let the Birds Sing - Natalie Tonkin Avon Legal Designer – Traditional Winner: Farm Yard Flapper - Patsy Metcalf Under 21 Winner : Wedding Dress - Azkaanum Malik People’s Choice Winner : Wedding Dress - Azkaanum Malik Waratah Agricultural College Fencing Challenge Won By: Western Australian College of Agriculture - Morawa Tractor Pull Challenge Won By: Koorda Football Club

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

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Farm World turns 51 Next year marks the 51st anniversary of Farm World, which is one of Australia’s key pasture and fodder based field days.

With attendances of 50,000 visitors annually, Farm World continues to provide an opportunity to launch new products and generate sales and leads.

The four-day event is an ideal forum to highlight industry and technology changes, as well as maintaining and developing new contacts.

Agriculture and related industries are enjoying renewed confidence, so Farm World 2013 is perfectly placed to capitalise on recent above-average seasons and strengthening commodity prices in many agricultural sectors.

The 2013 Farm World theme “Agricultural Sustainability” focuses on how farmers can use resources more efficiently and responsibly – with the aim of improving farm profitability and achieving positive environmental outcomes.

The Farm World website www.lardnerpark.com.au highlights the most up to date Farm World information, including the event presentation and demonstration program. March 21-24, Farm World is supported by long-term partners Mobil Delvac (Evans Petroleum and Southern Cross Lubes), the Commonwealth Bank (Regional and Agribusiness Division) and the Baw Baw Shire Council.

Australia’s Premier Mixed Farming Field Days

Australia’s largest pasture & fodder based field days with 700 exhibitors

51st annual Wimmera Machinery Field Days It’s been held every year since 1963 during the first week of March and so it will be next year when the 51st annual Wimmera Machinery Field Days opens in Longerenong near Horsham, Victoria.

Wimmera Machinery Field Days is one of Australia’s largest agricultural and agribusiness trade and industry shows, which was originally launched by the Wimmera-based agricultural society.

The initial concept was for farmers to have an opportunity to see a variety of machinery and agricultural equipment at one central location, including comparative demonstrations.

It is the first of the major Field Days on the rural Australian calendar and it is Australia’s largest broad acre agricultural machinery focussed Field Day. A volunteer committee consisting of farmers and regional agribusiness representatives combine to manage the not-forprofit event each year.

The Wimmera Field Days is a modern showcase of the latest developments in machinery equipment technology and services, and the committee has maintained a long-term charter to foster innovation and development in primary production and agribusiness.

With over 1000 sites occupied by over 700 exhibitors each year, and an annual attendance of up to 25,000 people over three days, it is renowned as one of Australia’s biggest and best annual rural events.

The Wimmera Machinery Field Days provides organisations and the public the chance to make strong and viable business connections and is a proven successful method of direct marketing.

Being part of the event will ensure products and services are seen by a large number of potential buyers in the shortest time. It’s direct and personal and it connects industry with customers and clients.

The Wimmera Machinery Field Days celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2012 and has expanded to offer an event that is not only relevant and important to agriculture but that also provides attractions and special features for families, nonfarmers and the general regional population.

The 2013 Wimmera Machinery Field Days will be held over three days from March 5-7.

For all enquires contact 03 5384 7210 or email info@ wimmerafielddays.com.au.

Date : March 21- 24, 2013 Venue : Lardner Park, Warragul

Strategic Partners

www.lardnerpark.com.au 54

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

Machinery 5,6,7 MARCH 2013

You are invited to the

51st Annual Wimmera Machinery Field Days Australia’s premier broad acre and farming machinery showcase

Longerenong via Horsham Victoria Australia Phone: 03 5384 7210 Fax: 03 5384 7276 Email: info@wimmerafielddays.com.au

www.wimmerafielddays.com.au

2 7 t h E A S T G I P P S L A N D F I E L D D AY S

COMMUNITY GROWTH THROUGH

AGRIBUSINESS

East Gippsland prepares for bigger field days in 2013 The Exhibitor Prospectus for new exhibitors was launched for the East Gippsland Field Days held April 19-20, 2013.

Major changes are planned for the event, with a new-look livestock area incorporating double the amount of sites for sheep, cattle and other livestock.

An investment of around $20,000 has been made to create a facility that can be used by the East Gippsland Field Days, the community and others specifically for livestock events.

Farmers market groups are also invited to register their interest to promote their market group and participate in the massive market stall row being created at the site.

This new laneway will have more than 30 market stalls, with the capacity targeted to more than 60 in coming years.

“The new market row is being created to give local small business owners a chance to participate in the fabulous atmosphere the field days create. It will be cheap for a small business to attend, and their local market gets to promote where they will be operating throughout the year. It’s a win win for everyone,” said event manager Peter Treasure.

The event regularly attracts over 8000 people and in 2013 plans are to grow it further, with buses organised to transport patrons from Bairnsdale to the field days.

After consultation with exhibitors and patrons, the committee has also decided to trial a two-day pass for adults to allow those wishing to come back a discounted rate.

“This will make it easier for our visitors to think over their purchases and allow extra time to view over 250 expected exhibitors on 390 sites. The event is now becoming too big to see in one day according to a lot of our feedback, so this twoday pass will make the event so much more enjoyable for all,” Treasure said.

A new car parking layout is being planned to move traffic onto the site more quickly.

The East Gippsland community event is planning an exhibitor rise of 10-20% , will generate over $1.5 million through the local economy and back into the community.

More than 100 volunteers operate the field days. The Lindenow Lions Club started the annual event in 1987 and will run the event again in 2013.

Businesses or organisations interested in exhibiting or sponsoring should email info@egfielddays.com or contact Peter Treasure on 03 5153 1398.

Online exhibitor registration is available at www.egfielddays.com.

FRIDAY APRIL 19 & SATURDAY APRIL 20, 2013 BAIRNSDALE VICTORIA For a prospectus please visit www.egfielddays.com or telephone (03) 5153 1398 56

Bairnsdale

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

32nd annual Sungold Field Days

Wednesday 13th, Thursday 14th & Friday 15th February 2013 SITE BOOKINGS NOW BEING TAKEN Contact: Louise Thomas Ph: (03) 5565 3142 Fax: (03) 5565 3158 Mob: 0407 724 552 Email: sungoldfielddays@wcbf.com.au Website: www.sungoldfielddays.com.au

FEATURES INCLUDE: > the latest technology in milk harvesting equipment > motor vehicles and farm bikes > machinery display & demonstrations > soil and fertiliser advice > farming information > financial advice > tools & hardware supplies

SOUTH WEST VICTORIAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ONLY DAIRY FIELD DAY Major Sponsors:

South Australia’s South East Field Days

The South East Field Days is a project of the Lucindale Lions Club, which is a group of around 40 Lions members that has been going for 38 years. It is the club members and their families, together with assistance from the local community, that stage the annual field

Lucindale

days, which is a huge effort by a small band of workers.

The Lions club has donated well over a million dollars to various groups and charities during the lifetime of the event, as all profits are either donated or ploughed back into Yakka Park.

Club members have purchased parcels of land to develop and improve the site, progressively building up Yakka Park to where it is today. Underground services, power, water and other amenities have been added over the years to ensure that the 45 hectare site is continually improved and maintained.

Many hours of volunteer labour by the Lions members and others ensure that the grassed site is in pristine condition each March for the staging of the annual event.

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

South East Field Days

Lucindale 2013

O W !

The South East Field Days are an annual two-day event held at Yakka Park, Lucindale, South Australia, in the third week of March and have been running for 34 years.

Generally more than 600 exhibitors have come together to either display their products, demonstrate their services, or showcase a new item or invention.

South East Field Days cater for all sorts of exhibitors, from multi-national companies right down to the cottage industry, where ordinary people display their products and enjoy the company of like-minded exhibitors.

Regularly around 22,000 and 25,000 people come to the event, which is held over a Friday and Saturday.

The Prospectus for the 2013 Field Days is available on the website. Sites are generally allocated on a first come, first served basis and it’s advisable to get in early if you have a particular site in mind.

E T I S U R O Y OK

15th & 16th March

N

BO The Family Friendly Field Days y Applications open now! y

SSSEF0161012

Please note: A late fee of $30 per site will be charged to all applications received after the 7th December 2012

58

Contact Field Days Office 08 8766 7001

www.southeastfielddays.com.au AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

Yorke Peninsula prepares for oldest field day event The Yorke Peninsula Field Days event one of the oldest in Australia and the principal focus has always been to promote and develop the interests of agriculture and agriculturists.

Members of nine local branches of the Agricultural Bureaux of SA form the governing body of Yorke Peninsula Field Days and are totally responsible for the management and organisation of the event. The nine member Bureaux are from surrounding rural and farming communities of Arthurton, Boors Plains, Bute, Cunliffe, Moonta, Paskeville, Petersville, Snowtown and South Hummocks.

These organisers continually strive to provide an exceptional environment in which to present the three-day event, where agricultural innovation and excellence in its displays, demonstrations and products is foremost and evident.

Features of the event include demonstrations and extensive displays of the latest agricultural machinery and equipment, technology, services and innovations, as well as current techniques.

The 30 hectare static display site at Paskeville in South Australia holds the vast displays and provides an excellent opportunity to view and compare a comprehensive range of products designed for effective, efficient farming and rural practices.

Continuing interest from new and existing agricultural exhibitors is high and the event provides exhibitors with excellent opportunities to generate business as well as providing face-to-face communication with their target audience.

More than 750 exhibitors will be onsite and the event should attract an attendance of up 35,000 visitors over the three days.

The field days include an extensive general interest program with displays and merchandise.

With interest from new exhibitors already high the organizing committee expect there will be a strong demand for site space for the 2013 event. Applications for site space will only be accepted on the exhibitor site application form contained within the 2013 Prospectus, which is due for release in February.

Prospective exhibitors who wish to receive the Prospectus are invited to contact the YP Field Days administrator Elaine Bussenschutt as soon as possible.

The Yorke Peninsula Field Days permanent site is located on the Copper Coast Highway at Paskeville, South Australia, and is 123 kms north west of Adelaide.

Yorke Peninsula Field Days’ three-day biennial event will be held from September 24-26 2013.

YORKE PENINSULA FIELD DAYS INC

Next Biennial Event 24, 25 & 26 September 2013 Paskeville, South Australia

“Australia’s Oldest Field Days” Established 1895

DON’T MISS THIS EVENT!

With a major focus on agriculture and the future, the Yorke Peninsula Field Days three-day event features extensive displays and demonstrations of the latest agricultural machinery and equipment, technology, information and services.

Over 750 exhibitors are located on an extensive site with in excess of $200 million worth of merchandise on display.

The event provides an excellent opportunity to view and compare a comprehensive range of products designed for effective farming practices.

Displays and demonstrations include: • Farm Machinery & • Rural Buildings Equipment • Automotive • Cropping Trials • Working Sheep Dogs • Tools & Accessories • Wool & Sheep The event includes an extensive program of displays and merchandise designed to be of interest to both rural and urban families.

• Fashion Parades • Education • Lifestyle products & services • Home & Garden • Guest Speaker presentations Enquiries to the Administrator Elaine Bussenschutt OAM Phone: (08) 8827 2040 Fax: (08) 8827 1011 PO Box 162 Kadina 5554 Email: ypfd@netyp.com.au Web: www.ypfielddays.com.au

Prospectus available February 2013 AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

59

$100 million worth of machinery at Henty Henty Machinery Field Days chairman Ross Edwards said site numbers were 25% up on last year and more than $100 million worth of machinery was on display.

A cautious spring outlook failed to dampen the spirit of the 49th Henty Machinery Field Days, with a record crowd and exhibitors reporting strong agricultural machinery sales.

A crowd of more than 60,000 people inspected over 1200 sites staged by 800 exhibitors across the 89ha site on September 18-20.

Henty sported a “new look’’ field days event this year, with exhibitors grouped into categories to make it easier for visitors to find their site of interest.

Tired legs and heavy shopping bags were a thing of the past too, with a free shuttle bus operating around the 89ha field day site, stopping at five designated points.

Machine of the Year

NSW Minister for Primary Industries Katrina Hodgkinson officially opened the field days and presented the award for the most outstanding new piece of agricultural machinery exhibited at the field days.

A Riverina designed and manufactured hay rake took out the Machine of the Year Award (MOTY) at Henty. The Berrima BR 1200 Rollerbar Hay Rake was named above 17 other entries in the award, following eight hours of judging on Monday.

The hay rake is made at Deniliquin, in southern NSW, by Berrima Engineering and was released on the market in January 2012.

An automatic sheep handler entered by Olssen Ag-Clipex was highly commended.

Eighteen machines at the cutting edge of spray, tillage, livestock handling and forage technology were showcased in the award.

This year’s judges were Lockhart grain growers Andrew Alexander and Mark Bowyer, Warwick Holding of Yerong Creek, and Warren Scheetz of Culcairn.

Alexander, who has judged the award for the past 20 years, said entries ranged from a solar powered batter box to a 55-tonne tracked chaser bin and $250,000 air seeder.

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“As judges we use our own knowledge as farmers to see how a machine would apply to farming practices,’’ Alexander said.

“We like to see value for money, how well it’s built, warranty and serviceability, spare parts availability and safety for the operator.

“The award is part of the field days core business and is always a highlight of Tuesday’s official proceedings.’’

Goldacres took out the Tractor and Machinery Association Award for best Australian built machine with the Windrower 2000.

The Land NSW Farmers’ Association Farm Inventor of the Year winners were: • over $1000 – Bevan Oster: hamilton, personal protective frame for a four wheel motor bike • sponsors discretion award – Barry Bennett, Barooga: Rock and Roll sheep shearing cradle • under $1000 – Michael Warnock, Granya: square bale feeder • runner-up: Allan Hilder, Burcher: multi gas bottle restraint.

• encouragement award – Warwick and Jenny Vinge, Mt Alfred, Vic: Double Up stock panel.

Something for everyone

Another crowd-puller this year was the display of 18 vintage Bulldog tractors staged by the Henty and District Antique Farm Machinery Club to mark the 100th anniversary of the popular single cylinder machine.

Meat and Livestock Lambassador Sam Kekovich and MasterChef celebrities Courtney Roulston and Jimmy Seervai proved a hit with field day visitors at the Farm Gate Produce Market.

The area was also the venue for one of two regional NSW heats of the Telstra Road to Discovery. Hosted by Melbourne singersong writer Ella Hooper, the competition was won by Greta Ziller, who was raised in the Upper Murray.

Among the huge crowd keen on securing a bargain at Henty was Sandy Robinson, who travelled all the way from Cooma to enjoy a day out shopping.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

Stoll Sprayers director Jarrod Stoll, of Wagga Wagga, said feedback was positive despite farmers waiting for spring rain to make their buying decisions. Stoll said most interest had centred on larger self-propelled sprayers.

“Everyone seems to be taking a step-up in the size of their gear,’’ he said.

“I’m convinced a lot of people will come back in the next month or two to buy.’’

Hutcheon and Pearce branch manager Andrew Lewis said the company sold four compact tractors, with many inquiries to follow up.

Group sales manager for Hutcheon and Pearce Andrew Sands said there was a great vibe on the first day.

“There has been quite a lot of interest in all products – the outlook is positive for a prosperous harvest in the region,’’ he said.

Mixed farmer Ian Thompson travelled from Young to inspect small tractors, while his son Peter drove from Canberra.

“We save up for the whole year to come to Henty – we can compare prices and get some good bargains,’’ Ian Thompson said.

Henty Machinery Field Days chief executive officer Graeme Hicks said crowd numbers had exceeded expectations.

“We estimate more than 60,000 people visited the field day site,’’ Mr Hicks said.

He said positive feedback had been received on the improved signage and increased parking and on-site vehicle movement restrictions.

“The amount of interest in bookings for next year far exceeds this time last year,’’ Mr Hicks said.

“We are now looking forward to the 50th anniversary and this will give us a great opportunity to focus on the heritage of the field days.’’

Henty may be the mecca for big boys toys but the roar of mower engines had teenagers in a trance.

The mowers, fitted with roll cages, big exhaust stacks and slick paint jobs, were part of the schools mower pull, watched by hundreds of school students and their families.

In its sixth year, the event attracted a team of Year 11 and 12 automotive students from South Australia’s St Patrick’s Technical College. They were joined by Riverina teams from Billabong, Finley, Kooringal, Mount Austin and Kandeer schools.

The mowers – generally limited to 17 hp – pulled a modified sled fitted with a 200kg weight box along a 50m track. Often the mowers are old trade-ins donated to schools by local dealerships.

The event was run under the auspices of the Australian Tractor Pull Association, with all entrants receiving medallions and certificates from the Henty Machinery Field Days.

Co-ordinator Joe Cottam said the program was developed to encourage students to consider a career in metal engineering and automotive mechanical industries.

Kooringal High School head technical teacher Andrew Upton accompanied a team of six Year 9 boys to Henty.

“We spent many hours over the last eight weeks getting the mower ready,’’ Upton said.

“They love it and were excited about coming to Henty – some of these students would never have a win in a normal classroom but this gives them the chance to have some success.’’

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

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Elmore’s days of sunshine and success Australasian Farmers & Dealers Journal spent a day at the 49th annual Elmore Field Days at the Elmore Events Centre site on Wednesday, October 3.

The event ran from October 2-4 and overall had around 40,000 people in attendence. Certainly the day the AFDJ attended, the crowds relished walking through the extensive site basking in the beautiful warm spring weather.

In-paddock demonstrations attracted large crowds and according to organizers, this is growing every year both in terms of spectators and exhibitors. This is the only field day that has active demonstrations throughout the event. This is an aspect certainly worth seeing and apparently quite a few visitors flew in from across Australia thinking the same thing.

At 10.45am each day the paddock demonstrations catered to those interested in tillage sowing, spreaders and boom sprayers, while at 1pm it was hay making, feeding, storage and other similar machinery.

The Agribusiness Pavilion was crowded when we were there and that was the case throughout the event. This year the organizers said that the new layout worked more efficiently and visitors and exhibitors were happier with this revised plan.

The pavilion covered an area of 5808 square metres and was officially opened at last year’s Elmore Field Days. The organizers were encouraged to see this building and its prominent position being received so well.

The onsite shearing shed, in addition to its normal sheep and wool activities, held a presentation from Landmark on the new electronic marketing innovations for livestock and fodder.

Elmore also held a heat of the Telstra Road to Discovery Competition, which was on October 4, as was the AG Art Wear Final, which was fully subscribed with standing room only.

Ag Art Wear is a competition for wearable works of art created from materials and items of agricultural use and found on a farm. Previous competitors have used frost cloth, electric fence tape, beer bottle tops and grain. The choice of materials is wide, to say the least.

It is important though that the creation is durable enough to be worn at least six times during the length of the field days and, while commercial dress fabrics, hats and shoes are allowed, judges deduct points for the use of non-agricultural materials.

Every day there was a full program of events starting at 9.30am and finishing around 2.30pm, with something to capture everyone’s attention listed. Together with the vast number of exhibitors onsite, it was difficult to take in everything that was offer in just one day.

The organizers presented awards in various categories: 2012 EFD SITE AWARDS Telstra CountryWide Award (Technology & Innovation) Winner: Rubicon Water - Farm Connect BETTY CHILDS AWARD (Best Display in General Interest Area) Sponsored by Peat’s Office Equipment of Echuca 62

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

Sungold Field Days – a great day out

Honorable Mention: Scrumptious Fake Cakes Winner: All Buttoned Up Equestrian Jewellery The TMA’s ‘Elmore Machine of the Year’ Award Winner: BR1200 Rollerbar Hay Rake Demonstrated by Berrima Hay Rakes The Bendigo Advertiser Best Paddock Demonstration Award Winner: Haeusler’s Echuca The Weekly Times Machines of the Year Imported Machine of the Year Winner: Claas Quadrant 3300 Baler Exhibited by Claas Harvest Centre Echuca Site 399 Australian Machine of the Year Winner: AS 3000 Series Agrowplow Site 359 Exhibited by Agrowplow The Weekly Times Best Static Award Honorable Mentions (in no specific order) Seed Distributors, Pacific Seeds, Stihl Australia Winner: Freedom Tanks Best Agribusiness Pavilion Exhibit Award (NEW) Sponsored by Coates Hire Honorable Mentions (in no particular order) Charlie Carp, Hydrosteer, Ecosmart Solar Central Vic, Yamaha Sky Division Australia Winner: Echuca Locksmiths Pty Ltd LIFE GOVERNOR’S AWARD (Best Overall Exhibit) Sponsored by Elmore/Lockington/Rochester Community Bank® Branches, Bendigo Bank Honorable Mentions (in no particular order) Lely Australia, Grogans Machinery, Agrowplow, Case IH, New Holland Australia Winner: Tenpack Pty Ltd Ag Art Wear winners Elmore Avant Garde 1st - “Dough” Designed by: Nola Wallis of Serviceton Elmore Designer First - “Clear Thinking” Designed by: Bob & Jean Duff, Euroa, Victoria. Prize: $500 cash from Quest Echuca Elmore Under 21 1st - “Making Tracks” Designed by: Gabriella Baxter, Castlemaine, Victoria. Prize Elmore Hat 1st - “Derby Day Gamble” Designer: Jan Dew, Mangoplah, New South Wales.

Now in its 32nd year, Sungold Field Days is gearing up for a great event focused on providing the latest information, services, products and technology to the dairy and cattle breeding markets, and providing an entertaining day out for visitors.

Sungold Field Days is held over three days opposite the Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory at Allansford, near Warrnambool in Victoria, at the start of the Great Ocean Road.

The event is a very successful occasion for exhibitors and farmers, highlighting the crucial role of the dairy industry in the regional economy.

New machinery and product releases create a lot of interest at the field days and a diverse range of farm services are also featured.

Next year’s event, which will be held from February 13–15 2013, will feature some great entertainment, a range of general interest, and art and craft sites – something for everyone.

Applications are open until 16 November 2012.

More information at www.sungoldfielddays.com.au or call 03 5565 3142.

32 Sung

32nd annual Sungold Field Days

Wednesday 13th, & Friday 15th F

SITE BOOKINGS NO 63

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

Wednesday 13th, Thursday 14th

Contact: Lou Ph: (03) 5565 3142 Fax: (03) 55

What’s new in Water Sakuragawa pumps now in Australia Sakuragawa pumps are again available in Australia through Pioneer Pump Australia, a division of Brown Brothers Engineers Australia Pty Ltd. This heavy duty, submersible dewatering pump range has been distributed in Australia since the early 1970s and features a compact, portable and rugged design making them functional, economical and easy to handle.

Renowned for quality, the Sakuragawa pump range includes mining and dewatering pumps and heavy-duty contractor pumps that are widely used through the rental and hire pump industry.

The Sakuragawa range is suited to a variety of requirements from large volume pumps through to high heads, and also includes a larger range of agitator (dredger) style submersibles.

All pumps come with hard faced double mechanical seals in oil baths.

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For more information visit www.pioneerpump.com.au or call 03 8398 0851.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

Econopak sprayer offers boom and spot spraying Silvan Australia has a new addition to its range of linkage sprayers, the Econopak, that comes with a 300 or 400 litre tank and complete with a six metre folded boom and hose reel.

The Econopak also has a rear mounted Eco hose reel fitted with a 30-metre length of 10mm diameter hose and Spotjet spray gun with an adjustable spray pattern.

This product is particularly suited to broad area boom spraying plus spot spraying and has been designed to suit small acreage owners, council and land management agencies.

Econopack retails at a competitive price of less than $4000 as a fully assembled package.

The 300 or 400 litre Polytuff impact resistant polyethylene tank has moulded litre calibrations to show the tank level and is fitted with a non-spill screw down lid. It is carried in a galvanized steel frame with Category I and II linkage attachment points.

The six metre foldable steel boom has stainless steel spray lines, non-drip nozzle holders and has a spring loaded break back and forward design in case obstructions are inadvertently met. Flat fan nozzles with a strainer in bayonet-fit non-drip nozzle bodies are set at 50cm spacings.

The Silvan self priming oil-backed diaphragm type pump has nitrile diaphragms, a corrosion resistant cast aluminium body and a capacity of 58 litres a minute at 20 bar pressure.

A Bondioli & Pavesi driveshaft with quick release pins and a safety cover provide the PTO drive.

The chemical is agitated through bypass action and the Econopak unit also has a lid strainer, suction line strainer and nozzle strainers.

A three-outlet manual control valve controls the sprayer with a pressure regulator that is placed in a forward mounted position for easy access.

For more information call 1300 SILVAN (1300 745 826), email info@silvan.com.au or see the website www.silvanaust.com.

KY General Engineering Manufacturers of

Serving the rural area for over 30 years!

David Blake Graeme Elliott

Directors 13 Crichton Rd Kyabram 3620 Ph: 03 5852 1589 Fax: 03 5852 3873 Mob: David 0407 745 329 Graeme 0417 327 103

Email: kypumps@iinet.net.au

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; & DEALERSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

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Micro sprinkler from John Deere John Deere Water has introduced the S2000 Flow-Regulated Micro Sprinkler.

After sprinklers have sat idle for months many sprinkler mechanisms can malfunction. This requires the grower to manually fix every broken sprinkler head.

John Deere addressed these issues by designing the S2000 with an integrated anti-ant device. This closes the spinner when the system is shut off, preventing ants and other bugs from penetrating the sprinkler and causing it to stop working.

Depending on the grower’s needs, the S2000 comes in flow-regulated and nonflow-regulated versions.

The flow-regulated sprinkler has a builtin diaphragm that regulates pressure so the sprinkler delivers a constant flow.

This makes it ideal for use on hills or in long-run lengths.

The S2000 also comes with an easy snap-off range-limiter option that can reduce the wetting pattern from one to two metres (depending on the model).

The S2000 is adaptable across a wide range of crops: for bananas it’s mounted on a fibreglass rod, for macadamias it’s suspended between trees on a poly tube and for apples, citrus, nuts and mangoes, a small stake is used to mount the sprinkler.

Pressure compensating tape When irrigating in hilly terrain, windy conditions and with varying water pressure, farmers can still achieve consistent performance and generate water savings of up to 40% with Aqua-Traxx Pressure Compensating tape.

Aqua-Traxx PC is the only pressure compensating tape manufactured in Australia.

Toro national marketing manager for irrigation Jennie Hartwell said the Aqua-Traxx Pressure Compensating Drip Tape comes with a list of benefits from increased emission uniformity through to energy and water savings.

For more information visit johndeerewater.com.au.

“This product is particularly beneficial when cropping in areas of high wind where spray losses and poor uniformity would be unavoidable with sprinklers,” Hartwell said.

“It also is a standout performer in areas with low or varying water pressure and in installations requiring long laterals.

“The seamless construction means no more split seams or unglued strips, while multiple laser slit outlets make it less susceptible to back siphoning and root intrusion.’

For more information call Toro Customer Service on 1300 130 898 or visit www.toro.com.au.

New Jetblaster range of high-pressure water blasters Yanmar is the driving force behind a new custom-built high-pressure water blaster destined for Rio Tinto. The Yanmar 3TNV88 is a rugged, durable diesel engine that is ideally suited to an unforgiving environment.

Sydney based company Jetblaster was commissioned by Rio Tinto to design and manufacture the pump. As a result Jetmaster has added this model to the range of high-pressure water blasters.

The new unit delivers 5000 psi of pressure to the single gun at a rate of 25 litres of water per minute. The Italian sourced pump requires 17 kW of power to drive it at full capacity.

Hamish Lorenz of Jetblaster selected 66

the Yanmar 3TNV88 in consulation with John Mason of Power Equipment, authorised distributor of Yanmar diesel engines in Australia.

The Yanmar 3TNV88 developes 21 kW of power at 2300 rpm, meaning that the engine does not have to operate at its full capacity to deliver the required power demanded by the water pump.

Due to its 50 litre fuel tank the pump can operate continuously for 25 hours at full speed, with the engine consuming just 2.5 litres per hour.

The Yanmar 3TNV is a compact three cylinder in-line diesel engine renowned for its low noise and low vibration, easy starts and fuel efficiency.

With the Yanmar engine operating at 2300 rpm, the pump is driven via a Yanmar-supplied side load PTO kit and pulleys to run at 1500 rpm, no clutch required.

The assembled Power Pack as delivered to Jetblaster comprises the Yanmar 3TNV88 engine, side load kit, radiator, air cleaner, silencer, variable speed controller and Power Equipment ECM 90 engine protection system, all fully wired and tested. This effectively reduces the manufacturing time taken

by Jetblaster to build the complete unit.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

What’s new that’s Aussie Made Weathering the storm Australian environmental monitoring company MEA has launched a range of new purpose-built weather stations to better suit the needs of growers and irrigators. The weather stations have been developed for managing feedlots, spray drift and ETO. MEA has also launched a portable, battery powered weather station to make it easier for growers and irrigators to relocate the station to other parts of their property.

Each weather station incorporates a fixed set of sensors to monitor air temperature, humidity, rainfall, solar radiation and wind speed and direction.

They allow the user to monitor heat stress in livestock (Feedlot Model), and help growers make decisions about agricultural spraying (Spray Drift Model) and irrigation scheduling (ETO Model).

“We’ve been customising automatic weather stations for

for the most extensive range of

Australian Made Rural Pipe Fittings

Australian Made

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Australian Owned

Australian Designed

individual users for many years and found that certain growers and irrigator groups have similar requirements,” said MEA managing director Dr Andrew Skinner.

“The new purpose-built automatic weather stations were developed around the most common uses and applications – this will save our customers time and money when purchasing this technology.

“Data from the stations can be transferred automatically to the internet and displayed in a format that’s easy to understand.

“Growers and irrigators are increasingly relying on technology in order to make vital decisions about irrigation scheduling and disease control and no longer just rely on the instincts of old.

“The risks and costs have become too big and they’re turning to technology to help them make informed decisions.”

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

Guyco for Aussie made rural pipe fittings Guyco is an Australian owned company, keeping business local by utilising its industry knowledge to become a leading distributor and manufacturer of competitively priced, quality Australian made fittings and valves.

Proven in the field for 10 years, Guyco has one of Australia’s most versatile range of fittings for rural poly pipe.

The Guyco Rural Range makes pipe connection easy for Australian farmers with attributes including a pressure rating of up to 850kPa, a slim profile to allow the fitting to feed through pipe plough, a nut and split ring that can be installed after the insert has been positioned in the pipe, and a repair range that removes the need for excessive digging to flex the pipe.

The Guyco Threaded Fitting Range is manufactured from tough glass reinforced nylon for a reliable fitting that won’t creep over time and leak like some other fittings on the market.

Guyco is renowned for bringing innovation to the Australian market. The company invented the multiple award winning Telescopic and SlipFit range, showcased at numerous Australian field days and respected for providing a solution to fixing a broken pipe that is fast, easy and cheaper than using two joiners.

Contact Guyco for your nearest supplier www.guyco.com.au.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

JOHN BERENDS IMPLEMENTS A us t ral i an M ad e Far m M ach ine r y SERVICE AND PRODUCT BACKUP YOU WON’T FIND IN CHEAP IMPORTS

STRENGTH, RELIABILITY AND VALUE FOR MONEY

Australia’s largest mulcher manufacturer

New dual mount slashers - now available

SUPPORTING AUSTRALIAN FARMERS SINCE 1966

Large range of cultivation gear to suit most requirements

AUSTRALIAN OWNED AND MANUFACTURED NO BERENDS MACHINERY IS IMPORTED

KEEPING MANUFACTURING JOBS IN AUSTRALIA

Patented turntable - eliminates the need for a pivot pin

For more information on these or any other products please contact us.

John Berends Implements (03) 9791 2494 Fax (03) 9794 5568 sales@johnberends.com.au www.johnberendsimplements.com.au

Milking the Chinese Let’s let this one slip into the Aussie made section because it’s our neighbours in New Zealand who have won a major international contract.

In one of the largest-ever purchases in the history of China’s agricultural industry, New Zealand’s afimilk was the winner of a bid that gives the company the rights and priority to supply up to 13 rotary platforms to the giant Mengniu dairy.

Mengniu is rated by Dutch bank

Rabobank among the world’s top 20 global enterprises.

The Mengniu dairy, listed on the Hong Kong stockmarket, has cornered roughly one third of China’s dairy market, supplying liquid milk, yogurt, milk powder, cheese and ice cream.

Waikato, afimilk’s dealer in New Zealand, will supply the rotary platforms through afimilk to Mengniu.This purchase is part of Mengniu’s decision to gain greater control of milk quality by operating its own farms. The company had been buying raw milk from other dairies.

“While we definitely won several big deals in China lately, we now need to deliver,” said Bjarne Rune, afimilk’s vice

president of sales.

“This is about signing good contracts, carefully planning projects, successfully installing equipment with our partners from Waikato, and then supporting our customers.” afimilk develops, manufactures and markets computerized dairy management systems.

Aussie made Bare-Co clutches Bare-Co is producing a new range of Blue Torque high capacity PTO clutches in their Australian factory.

Increased torque capacity allows the more compact 150mm diameter clutches to out-perform the equivalent 200mm diameter clutch. These compact 80HP (60KW) units are ideal for applications such as balers with space limitations.

Lighter weight 200mm diameter twoplate 110HP (82KW) models can replace equivalent heavier four-plate clutches.

All sizes up to 150hp (112 KW) are available with a built-in freewheel option.

This option is essential for large multihead cutters where inertia on over-run can destroy internal tractor PTO brakes and transmission.

To address requirements for close coupled integral shaft clutch assemblies, the company has introduced a range of heavy duty units to 150HP (112 KW) featuring fast access grease-able star profile drive tubes and the Bare-Co patent lever release safety guard. These shafts are intended for close-coupled applications which preclude the use of a separate clutch assembly.

Extensive Australian research and development has enabled the local company to dominate the high capacity end of the Australian OEM market and replace more expensive imported units in after market applications.

More information at http://www.bareco.co.au.

iPad interface for blockage monitoring With a history that spans over 35 years, Farmscan AG has helped Australian farmers to become the worlds most efficient grain producers by providing a complete range of electronics to steer, map, monitor and control spraying, spreading, planting and harvesting machinery.

Farmscan AG products are developed under the harshest Australian conditions, with input from farmers and contractors to ensure practical features and userfriendly operation.

The company is a wholly owned Australian company dedicated to the manufacture and supply of electronics for 70

the Australian agricultural industry.

This season trials of Farmscan AG’s new Wireless Blockage Monitor (WBM) that connects directly to an iPad were conducted by customers in Victoria with great results.

The WBM is an acoustic based blockage monitoring solution that provides quick and accurate notification of blockages anywhere in the drill.

Sensors are fitted to each hose and a master ECU is attached to each main distribution head.

Using a iPad interface, every tube is shown clearly on screen and in the event of a blockage, even partial, the line is

highlighted in red and an audible alarm sounds.

The system has self set-up with a configure option and the iPad interface provides more utility than other in-cab monitoring solutions, allowing customers to use the display for personal or other computing needs.

For those wanting to monitor seed and fertiliser, the WBM runs separate profiles.

Farmscan AG has also added a host of new features to its existing AgGuide GPS Gudiance software.

For more information call 1300 327 672.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

Berends all Aussie and all good With manufacturing under increasing pressure, it is important that companies such as Berends continue to thrive. This in turn keeps Australians employed instead of outsourcing the manufacturing overseas.

Hence employees of John Berends Implements would like to take this opportunity to thank the farmers who have supported them by investing in a quality Australian made product.

“Berends pride themselves on being one of the leaders in the agricultural engineering industry. We are 100% Australian owned and operated with all production occurring at the manufacturing facility in Dandenong, Victoria,” said Berends general manager Derrick Berends.

“Many competitors may be Australian owned, however they are usually importing cheap machines or components manufactured overseas,

usually from China. Many of these are not suited for Australia’s harsh conditions.

“We know it is important to the farmer that consumers buy Australian produce and we are grateful when they do likewise when purchasing farm machinery. The high Australian dollar is hitting us hard but the quality and diversity of our range is a key to our success.”

All Berends machines are manufactured in Australia and source many of their gearboxes and PTO driveshafts from Italy as there are no local producers.

Because of the superior quality of the European components, Berends provides a 5-year manufacturers’ warranty. Even more importantly, Berends is able to supply spare parts on all their products, even those over 30 years old.

“Berends has also the experience of over 45 years in the industry and we know that value for money is what every farmer expects when purchasing machinery.

“Unfortunately many importers have no long term goal of supplying that product in the future. Farmers want to have confidence knowing that the machine they purchase is going to do the job but they also want to know that it can be easily serviced years down the track.

“We often get customers come in looking for slasher gearboxes to replace another brand Chinese one they bought ... no longer covered by warranty and there are usually no parts available to repair it.”

Berends’ implements are designed for the tough Australian conditions.

All Berends products meet appropriate Australian Standards, and in most cases, also the strict European Standards.

Visit www.johnberendsimplements.com.au.

EW

N

www.farmscanag.com Wireless Blockage Monitor (Individual hose monitoring) Use your own iPad®

AFFORDABLE PRECISION AG EQUIPMENT FOR TODAYS FARMER For over 35 years, Farmscan AG has helped Australian farmers to become the worlds most efficient grain producers, by providing a complete range of electronics to steer, map, monitor and control spraying, spreading, planting and harvesting machinery.

We provide a wide range of locally made & imported products that meet the needs of every farmer. From entry level devices that measure ground speed & calculate area, to precision RTK 2cm GPS guidance systems for absolute accuracy.

With a national network of over 350 authorised Farmscan AG agents you can be confident that parts and service are only a phone call away.

OUR PRODUCT RANGE INCLUDES*

Speed & Area Meter

Windrow Moisture Meter

Tacho Meter

Camera Monitoring

Flow & Batch Meter

Digital Scales

Airseeder Monitor

Digital Multi- Meter

Head Blockage Monitor

Spray Controllers

Wireless Blockage Monitor

Variable Rate Controllers

Grain Moisture Meter

Visual GPS Guidance

Hay Moisture Probe

RTK & AutoSteer

Baler Moisture Meter

Laser Level (Cut & Fill) iPad is a registered trademark of Apple Inc.

1300 327 672

Call us today or visit us online Proudly Australian Owned

M O N I TO R S > CO N TRO LLER S > P R ECIS I O N AG > S PA R E PARTS Head Office | 11/493 South Street, Toowoomba, QLD 4350

* Some Farmscan AG products are also offered as Original Equipment Manufacturer.

If you would like to discuss your OEM requirements please give us a call.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

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Parklands a family company Parklands Power Products chief executive officer Ron Zacka says he is living a boy’s dream by heading the team at Parkland, the company his father Neville Zacka started in 1968.

After completing his apprenticeship at Qantas as an instrument maker in 1970, he started working at Parklands in the family owned and operated company.

Every Parklands product has been tested

by Ron on the Zacka family farm at Mudgee, which has 500 acres of testing ground. Products from brushcutters, chainsaws and push-mowers right through to ride-on mowers, ATVs and UTV off-road vehicles have been put through their paces.

“We were the first company in Australia

to introduce brushcutters in 1968,” said Zacka.

“Initially they were a blade only option purchased by farmers, but towards the middle of the 1980s the nylon head was introduced and they really took off.

“We also were the first to introduce the petrol engine drill in 1968, the petrol engine hedge trimmer in 1969 and the telescopic brushcutter in 1979.

“The brushcutter market flourished in Australia, and in particular the north coast of NSW in banana country.

“The brushcutter was the only tool you could use on a slope. It’s very gratifying to look back and realise we started the brushcutter evolution in this country with Tanaka brushcutters, then called

Jackjaw is star at picket removal An Australian designed and patented Jackjaw lifting device manufactured by Lightwave Technology is now available in eight model variations.

The Jackjaw works using the law of leverage as it gains a 16-fold increase in strength, and aids occupational health and safety by avoiding the risk of back sprains or injuries.

Inventor and manufacturer Graeme Davis said it began as a solution to removing hard to recover concrete formwork support pegs but the patented design extends to eight different options.

“Our latest innovation, in response to a request from the local government sector, is available with two different sets of jaws.

“They wanted a model with the ability to safely remove a 40mm or 65mm steel pipe or pole used for a parking or traffic sign.

“Other models in the Jackjaw range address the needs of farmers

Grizzly – works smarter … not harder With some sort of normality back in to the rainfall patterns in Australia, the call for handling trash and organic matter is at the forefront of everyone’s mind.

Now that there are high stubble loads and summer weeds, as well as issues with water lying on paddocks, and in some cases cutting up paddocks the need to work the land is a necessity. That’s where Grizzly becomes an important choice.

Grizzly tandem offset discs have been 72

TAS. This relationship continues today, making it the longest continuous franchise in our industry.”

Recently, the Parklands team went to China to visit the Parklander pushmower factory as well as the Tanaka factory.

The trip was used to reward high achieving dealers. More than 20 dealers and 33 people in joined Zacka in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong.

All the dealers that were taken to China were impressed with the factories, from the quality control departments, to the new streamlined assembly plants as well as the robotic assembly lines.

and fencing contractors to remove the traditional steel star picket posts.

“Traditional products like the popular steel star pickets have become quite expensive and they can be readily removed and re-used,” said Davis.

The Jackjaw patented design uses heavy duty Bisalloy steel jaws to securely grip the peg, picket, spike or pole.

All Jackjaw models are manufactured from laser cut steel components, with quality welding, while most have either a powder coated or galvanized steel finish.

For more information call 03 9720 6222.

built by Australians for Australian use for more than a quarter of a century.

This means jobs are staying in Australia, service and delivery is close at hand and spare parts are easily accessible.

Most importantly, as Australian farmers’ needs change Grizzly is there to go through change too. This is demonstrated by a range that now exceeds 17 disc models, five ripper models, Rowcrop and bed-forming machines, as well as fully hydraulic 3-point linkage grader blades and the specialised wheel track renovator.

So whether you’re a no-till farmer that needs to fill your sprayer or header marks

from a wet growing season and harvest; you need to deep rip to break-up hard pans to boost water infiltration and decrease run off; or you need the “sought after offset” to control weeds and work in stubble, then Grizzly is for you.

But the one that will win you the most brownie points at home is by grading that rough track that connects your home with the outside world using the fully hydraulic heavy-duty grader blade.

For more information call 1800 637 250 or visit www.grizzlyag.com.au.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

What’s new in Fire Fighting Whirlybird Water Curtain

FDVT

Engineer and inventor Richard Barrington, who has worked in the bushfire defence industry for many years, has developed a great idea that allows homeowners to install their own water curtain/sprinkler system at an affordable price.

Barrington lives in the notoriously bushfire prone Hawkesbury/Blue Mountains area and has seen first hand the damage caused by bushfire says his water curtain works on the same principle as that used by firefighters.

A firefighter adjusts his hose nozzle to create a “fan or curtain” of water, which he holds between himself and the fire as he approaches in order to protect himself from the radiant heat.

Barrington’s product, which also delivers a curtain of water, is called the Whirlybird DIY Water Curtain Kit. The kit can be installed wherever there are gutters and it covers up to 60 linear meters of house exterior, as well as a large part of the adjacent roof area.

The outlets of gutters blocked10:27 with special plugs1 prior to Villiers:Layout 1 are 30/8/12 AM Page activation of the system. This allows the flexible waterlines protection from heat. Any item not protected by the flooded gutter is manufactured from metal.

a name you can trust

Petrol Fire Pumps Twin & single impeller

4 Stroke Pump Lightweight, One inch

7KVA Diesel silent pack generator

Diesel Fire Pumps

Barrington says that the product is not compatible with every house as those with complicated roof construction and short gutter runs may not be suitable. However, for many people who have found the cost of a professionally installed sprinkler system prohibitive the Whirlybird DIY Water Curtain Kit may be a suitable option.

WHIRLYBIRD

DIY WATER CURTAINS “It’s Curtains for Bushfires” ü EASY TO INSTALL ü FREE TECHNICAL ADVICE ü COVER MORE THAN 100M2 OF WALL AND ROOF AREA FOR LESS THAN $1500

Diesel Pumps 10KVA Petrol twin cylinder in Low pressure high volume full roll frame (4 wheels incl.)

Recoil and electric start heavy duty generators avail in 4KVA & 7KVA petrol

Petrol engine pressure cleaners

Diesel Pumps High pressure high volume

For your nearest dealer contact

NSW: Stan 0403 115 352 www.villiersaustralia.com.au

NOT JUST A SPRINKLER SYSTEM “IT’S A CLOUDBURST ON DEMAND !”

PH 0457 802 202 diybushfiresprinklers.com.au

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

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Brigade Boss provides high pressure and flow Australian Pump Industries has developed a line of bigger flow and higher pressure transfer pumps using less horsepower and so less fuel.

“We began work on this project five years ago” said Aussie Pump product manager, Brad Farrugia.

“The results are 3” pumps that are cost effective but deliver unparalleled results in both low pressure and high pressure water transfer applications.”

Based on an original design conceived for high pressure fire fighting and crop protection applications, the new Aussie Brigade Boss pumps deliver heads as high as 70m and flows of up to 1500 litres per minute. All of this is achieved with either Honda petrol, or Yanmar or Kubota diesel, engine drives.

The big pumps are not only designed to move more water per litre of fuel but also to prime better.

“We call them Aussie “Quick Prime” pumps because they prime faster and from greater depths,” said Farrugia.

“The Brigade Boss series will draw water through a vertical lift of 8.4 litres.”

The petrol versions use genuine Honda GX series 13 horsepower engines, and diesel versions use Yanmar or Kubota engines.

The new Brigade Boss series, with their high heads and bigger flows, will move water fast between dams, fill tanks quicker and with less fuel consumption and significantly less engine or pump wear.

Aussie Pump engineers developed interchangeable impeller kit guide vanes for the big 3” pumps. The combinations

Kirsty Clayton checks out the new Aussie QP3310SX high pressure transfer pump.

provide a range of variations that enable the farmer to select and convert his pump during the life of the unit to different performance characteristics to suit individual jobs.

Further information is available from Australian Pump Industries’ Gold Distributors throughout Australia.

Rapid Response from Rapid Spray When you are thinking of protecting your family and your property from fire there is no better place to start then a first response firefighting unit to beat the fire before it gets away.

Rapid Spray manufactures firefighting units, both skid mounted units ready to slip into the back of your ute, and purpose built trailers you can tow to where you need it.

These fire fighters are guaranteed performers, using high quality components including the tough poly tanks moulded

by Rapid Spray, Honda engines, high performance Aussie Pumps, and Rapid’s designed and manufactured heavy-duty fire hose reel.

Rapid Response fire fighters by Rapid Spray come in sizes ranging from 400 litres through to 3000 litres, including units specially designed to fit into dual cab ute bodies.

You can choose from the large range of standard units or the company can customize them to suit you with extras like Yanmar diesel motors, E-stop Safety Kits, firefighting knapsacks, extra fire hose reels, fork lift points, rollover protection with crane lift points, storz fittings and hydrant fill kits.

74

Contact Rapid Spray now on 1800 011 000 or visit www.rapidspray.net.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

Fire Chief and Fire Captain discounted The full range of top quality Kubota diesel engine powered fire fighting pumps will be available this spring and summer at heavily discounted prices.

End users can take advantage of price reductions of up to 25% on top quality Aussie pumps, close coupled to Kubota’s diesel engine range.

Australian Pump Industries has increased production numbers of Kubota diesel powered fire pumps in the Aussie Fire Chief and Aussie Fire Captain high-pressure range.

The machines are all built at Aussie Pump’s 2.5 acre Castle Hill, New South Wales facility.

“When we put the original prototypes on test we were astonished at the power and torque of these great Japanese diesel engines,” said Aussie Pumps chief engineer John Hales.

The award winning Aussie Fire Chief offers features not commonly found on competitor products.

It delivers more water at high pressure because of its huge “big belly” body and 7½” diameter one piece heavy-duty impeller. The Aussie Fire Chief impeller weighs almost three times competitor equivalents, providing the pump with real longevity and enhanced reliability.

The Aussie Fire Chief also comes with a big 2” bolt on flanged suction port that lets more water into the pump, assisting in efficiency and providing performance by reducing friction loss.

A heavy-duty 3-way outlet, with one 1½” discharge port and two 1” ports, is standard.

Metal caps and chains on the outlet ports are standard too.

“The Fire Chief and Fire Captain, now with Kubota diesel engines in the 6 hp through to 9.5 hp range, offer a combination of performance and value for money that is unbeatable,” said Hales.

The product range starts with the 6 hp Aussie Fire Chief and runs right through to the big Aussie Fire Captain Plus, powered by a 9.5 hp oil-air cooled Kubota electric start diesel.

The range comes with heavy-duty galvanised steel frames and galvanised

steel sub-bases with anti-vibration mounts.

Australian Pumps price reductions on these pumps, which are up to 25% on some models, were achieved by bulk buying diesel engines and substantially increasing the production volumes.

Information is available from Aussie Pump Gold Distributors or at www.aussiepumps.com.au.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

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Mr T to stop the fire Australian Pump has a range of high-pressure pumps that offer the performance required to douse a potentially disastrous fire.

“Farmers are finding that traditional 5hp fire fighters simply aren’t effective when it comes to serious crop protection,” said Australian Pumps’ Brad Farrugia. “We have specialised in producing bigger, more serious pumps that provide real fire fighting performance. These pumps are a fraction of the cost of imported, more sophisticated fire fighting equipment.”

Australian Pump Industries has introduced a range of 2” and 3” pumps in super high pressure configuration under the Mr T banner. Mr T is a twin impeller pump range that offers significantly improved flow at high pressure.

Mr T comes with either 9hp, 10hp or 13 hp engines with sufficient torque for the pump to be able to reach a maximum 95m head and deliver a maximum flow of 480 litres a minute.

The best news for farmers is the pump’s enormous volume at high pressure. For example, the Mr T in either 2” or 3” configuration can deliver an excess of 200 litres per minute flow at 65 metre heads.

A roll frame and anti-vibration mounts are supplied as standard equipment.

Josh Kingston with Mr T.

“An added bonus is the pump’s ability to draught from creeks, dams or wells,” said Farrugia. The pump has a vertical suction lift of 7.6m.

Further information on the complete range of Aussie Quick Prime pumps is at www.aussiepumps.com.au and from Aussie Pump Distributors throughout Australia.

Fire pod is portable and versatile The ONGA Fire Pod is a fully portable and completely equipped four stroke petrol engine and pump combination with both suction and discharge hoses fitted, that will provide a first line of attack to control ember attacks or spot fire outbreaks, as well as affording a general purpose portable water supply, transfer or irrigation source.

The 5 kW or 6.5 hp pump and engine combination is supplied already mounted on the 400 litre moulded PVC water supply tank.

With dimensions of a height of 670mm by a width of 930cm and a depth of 1060 mm, the ONGA Fire Pod is easily carried on the tray of a utility vehicle or attached to a trailer for use as a mobile water transfer unit.

Its large screw cap allows fast filling while moulded channels in the tank profile enable mounting or tie down straps to be used to secure the complete unit.

Pentair’s business development manager Darryn Tucker said that his company identified the demand for a fully equipped engine, pump and water source combination that would aid property owners as a first line defence unit in a fire situation, as well as providing a unit that has equal value as a wash down, water transfer or plant watering source.

“So the Fire Pod is fully built up with a close coupled four stroke petrol engine matched to a high quality powder coated marine grade alloy pump casing and yoke, making it a highly durable combination,” he said.

“The pump also has a quick fill port for rapid priming of the pump casing. In addition there is a 20 metre length of 20 mm diameter PVC discharge hose that is AS 1221 rated, complete 76

with all threaded fittings and an adjustable barrel fire nozzle,” Tucker says.

There are also two hose hooks fitted that enable the delivery hose to be coiled up out of the way for transport or convenience if the Fire Pod needs to be stored.

The Fire Pod is ideal for transport on a farm trailer, utility or one tonne type vehicle.

For more information call 1300 137 344 or email au.sales@pentairwater.com.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

P

Technical Service

Equipment Processing Centre

Our dedicated Australian facilities provide superior quality and on time delivery across the following services: • Product preparation • Accessorising services • Storage and Inventory management • Build planning

• Post production quality inspection • Repairs (paint and mechanical) • Distribution services • Production visibility • Container un-pack services

As a global company we understand the unique logistics need of the industry. Our expertise can be assured as we operate 11 inland terminals handling more than 3.5 million units per annum.

Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics (WWL) spcialise in rolling and static equipment including Agricultural product such as combine harvesters, tractors and farming equipment.

For more information visit www.2wglobal.com or call you nearest WWL Equipment Processing Centre: Port Kembla: +61 2 4252 0600

Brendale: +61 7 3881 0377

Laverton: +61 3 8345 8300

Kewdale: +61 8 9353 6000

What’s new in Products Database to help spread the word Landpower product specialist, Justin Fisher said that, despite the advent of high capacity spreaders with advanced GPS-guided application systems, calibrating equipment to ensure accurate and uniform spreading could be frustrating.

AMAZONE operates a state-of-theart facility that can test two spreaders concurrently and is capable of performing up to 100 separate tests each day.

Data is collected and a computer analysis is used to determine the lateral and spatial distribution of each fertiliser when spread using different settings.

The results are uploaded to an online database that provides the recommended machine settings for thousands of

different fertilisers.

The database can be accessed online 24 hours a day from anywhere in the world or via a new iPhone app.

“This service takes the guesswork and trial-and-error out of calibrating fertiliser spreaders,” said Fisher.

“What used to take hours and involve complex tables now takes, quite literally, seconds.

“You simply have to nominate which spreader you’re using, your desired application rate, your intended operating speed and which fertiliser you’re spreading, and the database will provide the optimum settings.”

The database also contains the bulk density, crushing resistance,

Forges De Niaux discs

the strictest quality supervision.

The raw materials used are true boron steel, the bevelling process is hot rolled, the quenching water is a constant temperature and these discs are quenched in flowing water from the Ruisseau de Vicdessos River.

What does a river flowing through the factory have anything to do with it?

All the discs are quenched in the same temperature water so there is consistency from the start to the end of the batch.

Grizzly is the sole Australian importer and distributor of French made Forges De Niaux discs.

All discs aren’t equal, so many factors must be considered to make the best quality discs and coulters consistently and this is the case with these discs.

Everything from the raw materials to the bevelling process and the quenching process must be done under

flowability, spreading patterns and other characteristics of thousands of different fertilisers from throughout the world.

“If you happen to be using a fertiliser that is not on the database, we can arrange for a sample to be sent Germany for analysis,” said Fisher.

“This service is free and all it takes is a 3 kg sample.”

Landpower is the Australian distributor for AMAZONE. Visit www.claasharvestcentre.com.au or www.claasharvestcentre.co.nz or directly from www.amazone.de

Compare this with discs quenched in tanks where the first disc goes in to water at one temperature, which slowly increases with additional discs. This changes the properties in the discs and it results in substandard discs.

Grizzly can get specific coulters, discs and points made by Forges De Niaux.

Call 1800 637 250 or visit www. grizzlyag.com.au.

Aussie Muck-off A high-pressure wash-down rig that combines high pressure and high flow has been developed by Aussie Pumps in collaboration with a shed cleaning contractor Pro Wash Poultry Service.

The Aussie Muck-off is designed for cleaning feedlots, piggeries, sale yards and chicken sheds. The heart of the system is a Kappa 150, Udor four diaphragm pump. It produces a 150 litres per minute flow combined with a maximum pressure of 50 bar (725psi). The power is delivered to the pump through an integrated 6:1 78

reduction box driven by a Honda 20hp industrial petrol engine.

The big positive displacement pump selfprimes and can draw water from a vehicle mounted tank or stationary reservoir.

Aussie Pumps estimates that a 50,000 bird shed can be cleaned and sanitised within three to four hours.

Further information visit www. aussiepumps.com.au or phone on (02) 8865 3500.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

PRODUCTS

Blowamist Many horticultural or intensive growing situations need a backpack fan-forced atomized sprayer.

Silvan Australia has held a dominant position in supplying this sector since it acquired the former ‘Marino Mister’ business almost 40 years ago.

Now Silvan has released an updated mister sprayer known as the Selecta Blowamist as a knapsack spray unit that is purpose designed for nursery, greenhouse or small orchard applications.

Its role is to create a fan-forced spray

mist that obtains a high coverage with penetration deep into the foliage cover.

The new Selecta Blowamist has a 43cc two stroke petrol engine with a recoil start and an integrated blower, a 1.8 litre fuel tank and an engine throttle control on the arm of the unit.

The chemical tank has a 14 litre capacity and the blower has a fan speed of 7000rpm maximum.

The outlet tube with a flow adjuster allows the fan-forced atomized spray mist to penetrate deep into foliage with a maximum throw of up to 15 metres.

A flow control valve allows an adjustable dispensing rate from 0 to 2.3 litres per minute.

Win a Honda VersaTool Honda is introducing the VersaTool that combines eight different attachments to tackle pretty much every garden job.

Honda is offering one – with all eight attachments – as a prize.

The Honda VersaTool is easy to use and has a unique locking mechanism that needs only a turn of the wrist to secure the attachment.

The power comes from a Honda 4-stroke 25cc or 35cc engine.

The UMC425 and UMC435 Power Heads deliver ‘starts-firsttime-every-time’ reliability and are backed by Honda’s fouryear warranty.

Honda’s VersaTool attachments on the ground are the brushcutter and edger attachments that have deep guards to protect against clippings, stones and other hazards.

The pruner attachment is designed for trimming, pruning and cutting high branches like a regular chainsaw, and the VersaTool’s two hedge trimmer attachments are designed for trimming foliage and hedges of all sizes.

There’s also a lightweight blower and a cultivator, designed to make the regular tilling, aerating and cultivating of soil easy.

An extension pole is available.

“Whether for the domestic user or the commercial contractors, the major benefit is its ease of use. One simple click and the VersaTool attachment locks into place and is ready to use. It is also the safest connection on the market,” said Honda national sales manager, Ray Briffa.

“The attachments are unbelievably sturdy but they’re also compact and light, meaning that users also save space when storing them between uses.”

For more information see Selecta resellers Australia wide or contact Silvan Australia on free call 1300 745 826 or visit www. silvan.com.au.

Honda’s VersaTool will be released in January 2013, but the company is offering a Honda UMC425 Power Head and a full set of attachments to one lucky winner. Visit www.versatool. com.au by 31 December 2012, enter your details and you’ll go in the draw to win.

For more information visit www.honda.com.au or your local Honda dealer.

Rippers

Wheel Track Renovator

Tandem Offset Discs

Grader Blade

Call us today to find out more information on Grizzly’s quality range

1800 637 250 www.grizzlyag.com.au

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

79

Sharp on tractor repairs John Sharp has been a farmer all of his life. Born and bred in the central west district town of Orange, New South Wales, he has continued in the footsteps of his family who were horticulturalists in apples, pears, stone fruit and cherries.

Sharp briefly interrupted his time on the land to spend 12 months with an International Harvester tractor dealership to learn basic mechanical skills. Because of this he has been able to maintain his family farm machinery and at other more extensive properties where he has worked through the years.

This included five years managing a farm with responsibilities including the maintenance of eight Case tractors.

Sharp maintains his own machinery, and uses LuK tractor clutches.

“When it comes to replacing a worn tractor clutch the LuK brand was first brought to my attention by a supplier here in town who sells them exclusively.

“I have been fitting LuK clutches to my tractors since the 1980s and I have never had any complaint about the durability and total quality of these clutches.”

“I actually had a premature clutch

failure on one of my tractors in 1984 and we fitted a LuK replacement clutch and pressure plate assembly.

“That particular tractor, believe it or not, is still working in Orange and has the same clutch in it.

If you would like to share your experiences with LuK tractor clutches, or receive technical information about the LuK tractor clutch range contact Schaeffler Automotive Aftermarket Australia product manager Brett Sage (02) 8977 1043.

Cover twice as much with Burder Imagine if you could cut twice as much pasture with every pass of the tractor, or halve the time it takes to reap your pasture crop plus use less fuel. You can with Burder AgAttachments, Zuidberg Front Linkages and PTO systems.

With front linkage and PTO systems you can operate a mower from the front and back of the tractor.

Burder AgAttachments was appointed Australian distributor for Zuidberg front linkage and PTO systems this year.

“When a farmer decides that they can save money and time by installing a linkage and PTO system, they really want to have it now,” said Burder general manager Adam Fendyk.

“What Burder has done is to bring a

large range of linkage and PTO kits into inventory in Australia to make sure the customer gets the product they want as fast as possible.

“We see in Europe a front linkage takeup of 50%, in Australia it is less than 5%.

Historically, this has been due to lack of availability and also because farmers had not realised that by fitting front linkage and PTO they could realise these savings.

“We recently exhibited the Zuidberg system for the first time at the Henty and Elmore field days and the interest level was quite high. Furthermore, prospective customers were really excited to hear that we could supply their product in a short amount of time from stock in Wangaratta.”

Burder AgAttachments is one of Australia’s largest front-end loader manufacturers with 450 dealers. Burder has a huge range of kits, spare parts and technical back up.

Call Burder AgAttachments on (03) 57222343.

Honda accessories for summer The days are getting longer, which means that Australians are preparing their gardens. Honda Australia is making these preparations easier with the launch of two brand new brushcutter accessories.

Available now from specialist Honda dealers, the easy-to-use pruner and hedgetrimmer accessories are designed to make garden maintenance simpler.

The pruner will transform the Honda UMK425 or UMK435 brushcutter into a commercial grade pruner.

Coupled with Honda’s 4-stroke 80

brushcutters, it is designed for trimming and cutting high branches in commercial and domestic surroundings.

Equipped with a 12-inch guide bar and 3/8” chain, the pruner is lightweight and has an adjustable and automatic chain lubrication system.

The hedgetrimmer accessory is designed to attach to the UMK425 and UMK435 and has a 55cm-long, double-sided blade and 180° fully adjustable system.

It is lightweight, and features autosharpening blades that are protected by an anti-snapping guard.

For more information visit www.honda. com.au or visit your local Honda dealer.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

Stump and grind Toro Australia has a new line of handle bar stump grinders. The SGR-6 and SGR-13 Handle Bar Stump Grinders work for smoother cutting and reliable performance when grinding small stumps in tight-access areas.

Toro Australia’s national sales manager for equipment Robert Rein said the SGR-6 and SGR-13 Handle Bar Stump Grinders could be counted on to stand up to heavy everyday use.

“Both units are engineered to be well balanced, easy to operate and simple to maintain,” Rein said.

“The portable and compact machines

feature exclusive Quadrablade cutting technology, which means they cut like a router without pulling the operator into the stump. This provides the smoothest cutting experience of any handle bar stump grinder on the market.

“Rubber gaskets that are positioned between the handle and frame reduce vibration, resulting in less operator fatigue while cutting.

“Both models are also portable, and are designed with lift handles for easy loading and unloading.

“The Toro SGR-6 Handle Bar Stump Grinder (6.5hp – 4.8kW) comes equipped with a Honda GX200 engine and is perfect for removal of small stumps.

“It has a 12-tooth cutting wheel which offers a cutter depth of 15.2 cm (6 inches) below grade and a cutter height of 26.4 cm (10.4 inches) above grade.

“The Toro SGR-13 Handle Bar Stump Grinder (13hp – 9.7kW) is manufactured with a Honda GX390 engine and features a 12-tooth cutting wheel with an 27.9 cm (11 inch) below grade cutter depth and a 35.6cm (14 inch) above grade cutter height.”

The SGR-6 and SGR-13 Handle Bar Stump Grinders can be purchased through the Toro Australia Dealer Network visit www.toro.com.au to locate your nearest dealer.

New CLAAS of 2013 Landpower has announced it will release 11 new CLAAS tractor models in early 2013.

Spearheading the program will be the much-anticipated AXION 900 series, which will propel CLAAS into the broadacre market with four models delivering 320 to 410 hp.

The new series will bridge the gap between the company’s proven AXION 800 series (180–270 hp) and the multifunction XERION series (330–525 hp).

Although best known for its advanced technology grain and fodder harvesters, CLAAS has made significant inroads into the tractor market over the past decade. It now offers more than 25 models spanning 75 hp to 525 hp across four series.

For more information contact Paul Holdaway, Landpower product specialist on (03) 9369 1188.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

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Ghel 340 for Jimboomba The Jimboomba Turf Group is one of the most recognisable turf suppliers in South East Queensland. It takes its name from the location of its original turf farm, but now has two turf farms and a combined head office and Brisbane sales outlet at Acacia Ridge.

When the company decided to offer soil and bark from this outlet as an additional service to customers, it chose a Gehl 340 compact articulated loader.

The model 340 was the right size for the job and had good hydraulic flow for operating a sweeper attachment to keep the yard clean. The hydraulic flow can be

set separately to the speed, for applications such as sweeping and slashing.

The lift height is adequate for any tipper coming into the yard, and the operator has an excellent all round view from the seat: important when half the bucket work is done in reverse.

The model 340 is the mid-size machine in a range of three compact articulated loaders offered by Gehl.

Features of the 340 include a 26 kW Yanmar diesel engine, a two-speed hydrostatic transmission with a top speed of 18.5 km/h, an inching pedal for fine speed control, a tiltable steering column

Head for the WILE

WILE moisture meters are used in many countries and for applications including grain, hay, silage, wood and cotton.

FDA has now released the new WILE78 grain moisture meter also known as ‘The Crusher’ to its range. It is the next generation of grain moisture meters measuring more than 21 grains and seeds in as little as 20 seconds.

FDA’s range of WILE products includes: • WILE26 hay and silage moisture

Flexible Drive Agencies (FDA) has been supplying farmers with WILE meters for hay, grain and silage.

WILE moisture meters are made by Farmcomp in Finland, whose experience with moisture meters dates back to 1938. During the 1960s Farmcorp invented the portable whole grain, hay and silage moisture meters.

Making hay with KUHN KUHN has expanded its hay making range with the new RW and SW bale wrapper series.

The new large square bale wrapper SW 4004 is a self loading, large square bale wrapper capable of wrapping square bales up to (W x H x L) 120cm x 140cm x 200cm including double bales.

Round bales can be wrapped up to a maximum diameter of 150cm.

Thanks to its solid design with hydraulic sliding a wide track is possible. This provides a wide entrance, extreme stability and the possibility to wrap up to 150cm diameter round bales.

An hydraulic sliding system makes a transport width of 250cm achievable.

Mudguards and road lights are standard.

With two pairs of steel rollers, the SW 4004 lifts the bale horizontally without damaging it and because of its clever 82

design, the SW 4004 is capable of loading bales that are accidently dropped in a corner of a field.

Due to the wide entrance between the two pairs of steel rollers, bales are loaded and unloaded easily without the risk of damaging the bale.

The KUHN SW 4004 is ISOBUS compatible and do not require a separate terminal for the wrapper. Alternatively, KUHN offers two different terminals.

By introducing IntelliWrap on the SW 4004, greater management and control is achieved. IntelliWrap uses

for operator comfort and a multi-function joystick control. The rated capacity of the four-post model 340 is 834 kilograms.

For more information contact Stuart Walker, managing director of Manitou Australia (02) 9517 3174 or email s.walker@manitou.com.

meter for dry hay and silage.

The WILE65 grain moisture and temperature meter measure 16 different grains and seeds.

• The WILE COTTON measures moisture in cotton in the field.

FDA also stocks WILE accessories.

•

More information FDA on 1300 36 37 35 or email sales@fdrive.com or visit www.fdrive.com.au

sophisticated electronics and hydraulics to monitor the wrapping process and continuously controls the film overlap, allowing flexibility.

Depending on local conditions, crop conditions and storage periods the operator can adjust the number of film layers (4,5,6,7,8,9…) into the terminal.

IntelliWrap automatically matches the request to the bale dimensions.

The optimised processes achieved by IntelliWrap and ISOBUS have increased overall loading, unloading and wrapping capacity to keep up with baler capacity.

Pre-defined bale dimensions and the number of film layers are easily selected.

The SW 4004 has 750mm aluminium prestretchers with cone-shaped outer ends, scissors-type film cutters, and a standard half speed kit to finish the bale with only one film roll.

More information visit www.kuhn.com.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

Disco with CLASS With unique suspension and state-ofthe-art cutter bars, CLAAS DISCO Contour series mowers can reduce fuel consumption by up to 20% with a cleaner cut and less wear-and-tear.

Landpower product specialist Hugh Moll said that the CLAAS ‘active float’ technology suspends the mowing unit from its mid-point, achieving balance.

“In effect, the system allows the mower to ‘hover’ above the pasture in rough or wet conditions without damaging the mower or contaminating cut fodder with foreign material,” he said.

“If the ground conditions become

smoother and higher forward speeds are possible, then the mower may be set with higher ground pressure to allow cleaner and more accurate ground contour following.

The hydraulically adjustable flotation system can be simply adjusted from the cab via a hydraulic lever as ground conditions change.

The selected pressure setting can be monitored from the cab via an easyto-read pressure gauge located on the mower.

CLAAS DISCO Contour mowers also incorporate a shaft-driven driveline that eliminates the need for v-belts, further enhancing ease of servicing.

The mowers incorporate a ‘break back’

safety system that allows the mower to pivot backwards and upwards if an obstacle is encountered.

CLAAS is distributed in Australia by Landpower.

Farm to base Leica Geosystems has released the RTK base station for the farming industry, Leica GeoAce. An accelerating rate of technology adoption within the agricultural sector and the need for high precision positioning means the Leica GeoAce is here to offer farmers a robust hardware solution coupled with highly advanced features.

Feature and function capabilities for the Leica GeoAce include multiple positioning modes, open standard formats for cross compatibility and the ability to import and export data for reference positions and configurations.

The built-in radio and modem allows the base station to transfer reference data by the internet or radio.

Additionally internet connectivity provides peace of mind with the ability for remote servicing and over the air software upgrades via Leica Virtual WrenchTM. The intuitive design ensures portability in the field and can achieve short fix times through superior algorithms from a combination of GPS and GLONASS constellations.

The built-in display and keypad supports easy-to-use functions, quick set up times and configuration processes.

The Leica GeoAce RTK base station is available at Leica Geosystems dealers.

THE ONLY ONE WITH TRACTOR ADDED DOWNFORCE (TAD)

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

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Norden connects you Norden Hydraulic Connections has a range of hydraulic couplings and hoses designed and manufactured to suit a variety of agricultural applications.

As a supplier of well known brands such as Snap-tite quick disconnect couplings, Aflex PTFE hose and Eaton-Aeroquip hoses and fittings, the company has products to cater for the diverse needs of the Australian farming industry.

Snap-tite couplings that are particularly suited to agricultural applications include the 60 Series, 61 Series and 68 Series.

Snap-tite’s 60 series has a proven balllock mechanism for positive connection and working pressure to 3000 psi.

The 61 Series conforms to iSO 7241-1

Series A and ISO 5675 and connects with other ISO 7241-1 Series A coupling. It is rated to 4600 psi.

Mobile equipment that requires a bracket-mounted connect/disconnect under pressure capability is serviced by Snap-tite’s 68 Series.

Aflex offers a wide range of hoses to cope with the most difficult operating conditions and supplies to major chemical, pharmaceutical and food companies worldwide. Aflex Hose offers a high quality PTFE lined flexible hose range.

For years Eaton-Aeroquip has been an industry leader in developing hydraulic solutions for a wide variety of applications, pressure levels and types of fluid including biodiesel hose,

industrial and refrigeration hoses, adaptors and swivel joints.

Norden Hydraulic Connections stocks an extensive range of hoses, adaptors, brass and stainless steel fittings to suit applications such as trailers, tractors, sprayers, balers and most other hydraulic applications found in farming and related industries.

The company has many years of experience in providing customer service to the agriculture industry and so can assist with any support issues.

Items ordered are easily shipped anywhere in Australia and New Zealand.

For more information www.norden.com.au.

Labrador discs Great Western Tillage have been marketing Labrador discs since 2004 and during this time, in excess of 20,000 discs have been supplied throughout Australia.

These discs are now working successfully on many different types of offsets: examples include 22” and 26” discs for the ever popular IHC 3-4 and IHC35 offsets, 28” discs for the Grizzly “S” offsets and 32” discs for the robust Alfarm 080 units.

All these machines and many others are working successfully in a wide and varied range of soil conditions with virtually no

adverse effects in the field reported.

End user satisfaction is indicated by an increasing number of repeat customers who have decided to continue using the Labrador discs on their machinery.

The better wearing capabilities of the Labrador discs, coupled with the fact that the price is the same as traditional scalloped discs,ensures that the end user gets value for money.

To view a short video of the Labrador discs working in the field visit www.gwtillage.com.au and go to the discs and coulters section.

For more information call Great Western Tillage on (07) 4636 9150 or the Bendigo branch on 1800 087871.

Chipstar stars with diesel JCB When it comes to feeding trees into a chipper, there is no substitute for raw power. JCB diesel power has been selected to power the latest Australian built workhorse chipper.

The new Chipstar 355 MX features a giant 355 mm (14”) cutting disc.

A complex system of hydraulically driven feed rollers and crush rollers are built into the Chipstar 355 MX. The task for JCB diesel engine is to not only drive the chipping disc but also 84

drive the hydraulics needed for other operational functions.

The JCB DieselMax 444 engine is housed in an enclosed engine compartment with excellent access on both sides for servicing.

The engine is a 4-cylinder 4.4 litre capacity engine with 4-valves per cylinder and high torque at low speeds.

It is rated at 89kW at 2200 rpm.

Chipstar is an Australian owned family company.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

Heavy duty PTO shafts from Bondioli & Pavesi Australian distributor BYPY Transmissions has introduced two new PTO shafts from Italian manufacturer Bondioli & Pavesi.

The new shafts are the SFT SK series and the SFT SH CV. The SFT SK is a low angulation PTO shaft rated at 272 kW (370hp) while the SFT SH CV is a high angulation shaft rated at 147 kW (200hp).

“As Australian farms, implements and tractors have grown bigger, Australian farmers need a big PTO shaft that will cope with power outputs up of 300hp+ tractors,” said BYPY manager Richard Baker.

The SFT SK Series has a large, durable shaft with a unique ball collar connection. Four balls seat into the ring-shaped groove on the gearbox input shaft and the tractor output shaft. This provides security and makes the SFT SK easy to fit.

The quality and size of steel used to manufacture the yokes ensures the universal joint delivers the ultimate performance.

The universal is 50 x 140 mm and has two end cap grease nipples. The special sealing on the caps ensures that lubricant remains within the needle rollers during operation and at the same time purges contaminants during lubrication of the universal. This universal has been manufactured to handle power up to 370 kW (500hp).

“The outer drive tube has dimension of 74.10 x 6.00mm, which is an increase of 2.00mm in wall thickness on the popular S0 and SH series. The inner tube is manufactured from solid bar. Both these parts have been heat treated and transmittable power has increased to 11,000 Nm,” Baker said.

“Safety covers on SFT SK shafts are compact - the outer cone is just 210mm in diameter – providing easy access to all

greasing points.

The second new shaft, the SFT SH CV, is designed for high angulation operation. It has a ‘constant velocity’ that can operate for short periods at up to 80 degrees.

It is similar to the SFT SK series but with smaller dimensions.

The central body assembly of the CV shaft has bridged yokes and a 34mm ball on each ensures correct alignment once the large universals are fitted.

These universals are 34.9 x 110mm and have a grease nipple fitted for easy lubrication. You can fit the yokes to the implement end of the shaft with a 42 x 107.5mm universal.

This end may also be fitted with Bondioli & Pavesi clutches.

As the tubing on a CV shaft is always telescoping, the inner tube is coated with Rilsan (Teflon), which prolongs the life of the member to help prevent seizure.

The covers provide for easy access to all grease nipples and is again fitted with safety chains that identify the safety of the shaft. The CV end the cover is convoluted to enable the movement of the CV assembly.

BYPY Transmissions specialises in driveline systems and is a subsidiary of Norwood Agriculture Pty Ltd. For more information call BYPY Transmissions on (03) 9794 5889 or 1800 003 793, or email bypy@bypy.com.au.

Professional Recruiters of Agribusiness Professionals

Quiet please it’s a Yanmar Yanmar has launched their smallest silenced portable power generator, the Yanmar eG55.

Powered by Yanmar’s single cylinder L series air cooled diesel engine, the new Yanmar eG55 is compact and super silent.

Maximum output is 5.1 kVA (standby at 50Hz) with engine operating at 3000rpm. At continuous 100% load, the noise level at 7.0m is 73dB. The cabinet features soundproof isolation material to improve its noise levels.

The generator is a 2-pole, single-phase unit with the capacity to generate up to up to 240 volts.

Power Equipment is the exclusive and authorised Australian, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and South Pacific Distributor of Yanmar Marine and Industrial diesel engines, JCB DieselMax, MASE diesel marine generators, Gori high quality folding sailboat propellers, PSS Shaft Seals and Electromaax products.

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• Product support • Management • Administration • Sales

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www.agri.com.au

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

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What’s new in bikes Parklands ATV, UTVs tested in Australia If you’re working the land or out bush you need reliable tools and machinery. You rely on hard-working equipment that starts first time and can get the job done without fuss.

If you’re going to work hard, then why not have fun when you can? Ron Zacka, chief executive officer at Parklands Power Products, is a hands-on man. He personally tests the equipment that the family-owned business offers for the farm.

“We did a full-day test a few weeks ago: it was intense” he said.

“We have very satisfied customers who absolutely love their quad-bikes and UTVs. These machines really are big boy’s toys.”

The Parklander range of quad-bikes are made by HISUN, one of China’s largest manufacturers of off-road vehicles and distributed in Australia exclusively by Parklands.

There is a model to suit most applications, from small 350cc lightweight run-abouts to an 800cc model.

The Parklander PQV-800ATV has almost the output of a small car. The twin-cylinder 800cc powerhouse gives this quad-bike the power to tackle steep inclines and do it quickly. And the double seat allows you to take a mate along with you.

The machines feature alloy wheels, high quality ergonomic controls and an electric start.

The simple automatic transmission on all models except the 350cc sports means just about anyone can ride them.

“The whole range rides very well,” Zacka said “The suspension system was designed with safety in mind. The suspension has undergone comprehensive safety testing on a specially designed track to put each and every assembled quadbike through its paces.

“Safety is very, very important to Parklands. We are extremely confident that each and every Parklander off-road vehicle provides a safe and durable ride, when used correctly and within the proper parameters set out in the owner’s manual.

“We have worked closely with our suppliers to ensure that these models are all extremely safe. All UTVs come standard with seat-belts, windshields and roll-cages and our quad-bike range all have deadman switches, just in case.”

The quad-bike range consists of a 350cc sports model, and a 400cc, 500cc and 800cc unit. From the 400cc up you have the ability to take equipment or feed on the front and rear luggage racks. These same models have a front-mounted winch.

The UTV range consists of a 400cc, 500cc and an 800cc model. There’s also a 700cc 4-seater available in case you need to give a couple of extra people a lift.

Parklands Power Products has been in the farm machinery industry for more than 44 years. The dealer network carries more than 50,000 spare parts in stock so if your machine needs spares, they’ve got it.

For more information visit www.parklands.net.

Quad bike safety under review Last year 23 people died as a result of a quad bike incident. Four of these were children aged 16 years or younger.

Already 10 lives have been lost this year due to quad bike related injuries and the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Bill Shorten called for public comment on design and engineering controls to improve quad bike safety.

The Minister released a public discussion paper that called for public submissions on engineering design. Though public 86

discussion has closed, the government is reviewing the results and it hopes to be able to take steps to: • improve the current design of quad bikes and stability • reduce the capacity of children to start and/or operate quad bikes • reduce the capacity for passengers to be carried on quad bikes, and • improve protection in the event of a roll over.

“Quad bikes are the leading cause of fatalities on Australian farms, with more

150 Australian dying since 2001 from a quad bike incident,” Minister Shorten said.

“In July this year I hosted a roundtable discussion with senior representatives from farming organisations, industry, unions and community groups to propose a way forward to improve quad bike safety.

“At this roundtable I gave my commitment to work with stakeholders to improve quad bike safety in our nation.”

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

Manning the property with Polaris Charlie Mann has been managing his family’s properties within the Glenthompson Pastoral Company for the last 12 months.

The holdings are Larra which covers 4400 acres, Brie Brie at Glenthompson - the hub of the sheep enterprise with 7500 breeding ewes, Bakers Bridge Farm near Geelong, and Doonaree a 500 cow dairy near Camperdown.

Larra has around 1000 cattle on agistment and they take excess sheep from Brie Brie, usually first cross Merino wethers of which there are 4000 at the moment. It also serves as the ‘run-off block’ for Doonaree, so this year it has 470 heifer calves on the place.

The Manns grow all their feed through pasture, hay and grain, with 120 hectares of silage on the dairy property, 1500 bales of pasture hay at Brie Brie and 160 hectares of grain at Larra.

They have 20 employees between the properties and so there is a lot of equipment sharing between the farms, including 11 ATVs. So when the decision was made to purchase a utilitarian vehicle Mann chose the six-

seater Polaris Ranger Diesel Crew.

“The main reasons for choosing the Polaris Ranger were because of the diesel motor, the six-seater arrangement and the four-wheel-drive.

“We know how good these engines are.

We use Yanmar on the portable dips and you just can’t kill them,” said Mann.

The Ranger Diesel Crew uses the 904cc Yanmar 3-cylinder engine coupled with Polaris’ variable automatic shaft drive transmission. The hitch towing capacity is 907kg.

The main task for the Polaris is transporting the jackeroos for jobs like fencing with all the gear in the back.

“We get six-up with the jackeroos and all the fencing gear in it. We use a big compressor for fencing and it fits in the back well – we need the tractor to lift it in and out. And we pull a good size 8’ x 5’ trailer full of wire and posts – or firewood,” said Mann.

“The interesting thing is that fences go in a straight line, over old fence lines, flooded areas, banks and rocky country. The Ranger Diesel follows the fence; if you had a ute it would need to

follow the track. It means the jackaroos don’t waste time or get hurt lugging the compressor from the ute to the fenceline.”

“We have had a brilliant season here – it’s very wet and four-wheel-drive is critical. It’s already working hard. The poly tip tray tub is strong and easy to clean,” Mann said.

Mann selected a number of factory accessories including a front-mounted winch, toolbox, chainsaw holder, shovel holder and CV guards.

Stability and safety is a major factor “We use the Ranger for fox shooting and it is seriously easy and a very good ride.

I took one of our neighbours shooting and he remarked on how very stable it was.

When you’re loaded up with six people it is still comfortable, if a bit slow. It’s great for running the jackeroos out with all their gear and leaving them to it,” he said.

Mann plans to road register the Ranger using VicRoads’ ‘machinery kit’ to enable it to be used on roads that intersect the properties. It has become an integral part of the business at Glenthompson Pastoral Company and has simplified Mann’s task of efficiently dividing up the jobs between ATVs, the Polaris Ranger Diesel Crew and the utilities.

More information on (free call) 1300 654 142 or visit www.polarisindustries.com.au.

CFMoto ATVS CFMoto ATVs arrived in the Australian marketplace in 2010 and since then the brand has become one of the fastest growing ATV brands in Australia.

“CFMoto ATVs have become a popular fixture in the Australian marketplace, known for their well thought-out designs, quality build and the fact that on this occasion quality does not dictate the price,” said CFMoto National Sales Manager, Alan Collins.

“Quality, reliability and value defines CFMoto. At CFMoto we are aware that in the current economic climate consumers are increasingly more price conscious, however quality is still part of the deciding factor and that is why CFMoto is seeing such success.”

CFMoto manufacturing is based in Hangzhou, China, and the company has been manufacturing power driven products for more than 20 years.

The company manufactures 600,000 vehicles annually and has over 25% of its 1300 workforce dedicated to research and development.

All products of the CFMoto ATV range come equipped with automatic CVT (continuous variable transmission) and selectable 2WD/4WD modes, with a low and high range plus independent rear suspension.

With engine capacities of 500cc‐800cc the CFMoto range is made for hard work, and when there is time to play CFMoto has recreational models such as the CFMoto Z6 Spec R with features to whet your racing appetite.

Year-to-date CFMoto ATVs hold 6.7% of the Australian ATV market for 2012.

“CFMoto ATVs have been designed with Australians in mind and it is because of this we are certain that they will stand the test of time ‐ no matter what you throw at them,” Collins said.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

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Farmers have their say

By Keith Smiley

Turning effluent into enterprise John Hunt, Kongorong, South Australia A New Zealander of farming repute provides a solution to an age old problem.

Kongorong has both beauty and function, blessed with a reasonable rainfall but still in need of constant irrigation in parts.

Farmers in the district believe it is God’s little acre but New Zealander John Hunt, who manages a dairy farm growing its own pasture, believes you must go one step more. John is a thick set man, replete with a beard and a voracious appetite for farming. He lives, eats and breathes farming and almost knows all his cows by name.

John and his crew provide a low-cost option in paddock enrichment.

“The cows need to be good converters of grass and we’re trying to do that here as well as maintaining our pasture with a low-cost option,” said the affable Hunt.

The Hunts cleverly optimised their paddocks to produce more pasture and higher yielding nutrients too through a planned 88

introduction of effluent to their irrigation endeavours. By distributing through their irrigation systems they have been able to grow pasture with a whisker under 20 tonnes per hectare on the 27 hectares irrigated by hard hose.

The system feeds effluent from ponds into the irrigator and mixes it with water to produce a shandy of effluent of about 5% to the rest of the water. The amount of effluent is adjustable with the variance determined by soil testing, periodically checked to ensure a quality feed for the cows.

The sprinklers must maintain a constant flow across the pasture and John Hunt says that with his use of the A3 irrigator, it can keep up the flow rate of a pivot. The irrigator is hard-hosed and fitted with manufactured PE pipe in a length of 400 metres, with a pipe width of 55mm.

It is a slow reverse sprinkler covering a wetted strip of up to 70 metres wide and a maximum length of 400 metres, ample spread for most small area operations.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

Farm workers Rick, Mary, Belinda, with John Hunt.

“This machine is well suited to our block, especially as it allows us to input effluent into the system. One person can operate the rain star easily and safely due to the 180 degree swivel of the pipe reel, creating a second strip to be irrigated opposite the initial run and thus actionable without altering the position of the unit, a saving in efficiency and labour costs.

“The farm’s effluent adjunct consists of a series of steps designed to separate the liquid from solids deposited by the cows at the milking shed. Ponds created by this gravity-fed system from the cows to the pump can be emptied in six days, which is done monthly during the irrigation season.

“We don’t have to put on fertiliser, saving us a whopping $17,000 per year for what we’d normally do,” explained Hunt.

“We do soil tests to confirm we’re right — and sometimes there are adjustments required to reduce potassium levels, commonly found in the cow’s by-product.”

Hunt gained his experience in Ashburton, on New Zealand’s north island, where he worked on dairy farms, became a stock agent and then sold farm chemicals, which when combined, he says, “gives me a better appreciation of low cost pasturing and obtaining better results with cows than people!”

Australia offers more opportunity for John and his family but you can’t persuade him away from his beloved New Zealand rugby team.

New Zealand is a lot stricter than Australia in farming and particularly in the use of effluent and its separation of solids and liquids.

“Effluent is a resource — you want to use it, not get rid of it,” he says.

Adjustment of this effluent process is simple, as is the technology, but the results are phenomenal.

The irrigator is pulled out ready, and when the valve is turned on, the combined liquid does its job by spraying vast areas of pasture, now proven to be not only cost-effective, but a boon to quality pasture and good for the cows.

“We are low input using between 400 and 700kg per grain per cow, depending on the year. The cows have to work with a stocking rate of 4.5 cows/Ha,” he said.

Oamamaru Dairies, managed by Hunt, has put in a second irrigator for another property also designed with the effluent process in mind. The track width of the sprinkler cart is adjustable from 1000–1500mm for added stability. Once the pipe has been fully retracted the system shuts off automatically.

Speed control and layer compensation operate automatically too as soon as the irrigation run is completed: with the sprinkler cart mechanically lifted on to the pipe reel, the machine is thus ready for transport. It is a handy addition and does away with manual loading.

John Hunt and wife Karen have become grandparents to Zavier from their daughter Melissa. They have one son Daniel, married to Sam, and a younger daughter Renae. They are happy with their adopted abode in Kongorong, and have plans for continual improvement of the properties they look after.

John Hunt is a no-fuss character, a big man with a big heart, brought to Australia to apply his skills in an area few are acquainted with – turning effluent into enterprise.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

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MENTIONED IN THIS ISSUE

Mirco Bros Pty Ltd..............................................................27

Ag Appointments Employment ..........................................85

www.mircobros.com.au

www.agri.com.au

Munro Engineers Pty Ltd....................................................83

Australian Pump Industries.................................................75

www.munroeng.com.au

www.aussiepumps.com.au

Neil’s Parts...........................................................................9

Bare-Co...............................................................................91

www.neils.com.au

www.bareco.com.au

Parklands Power Products Pty Ltd.......................................33

BPW Transpec Pty Ltd........................................................81

www.parklands.net

www.bpwtranspec.com.au

Polymaster Pty Ltd..............................................................67

Brown Brothers Engineers Aust. Pty Ltd.............................29

www.polymaster.com.au

www.brownbros.com.au

Power Equipment Pty Ltd...................................................21

Burder Industries.................................................................35

www.powerequipment.com.au

www.burder.com.au

Powerlite Generators...........................................................25

BYPY Transmissions............................................................13

www.powerlite.com.au

www.bypy.com.au

Prime Engineering & Pumping Solutions............................37

Case IH...............................................................................15

www.primeeng.net.au

www.caseih.com

Richard Barrington.............................................................73

East Gippsland Field Days...................................................56

www.bushfiresprinklersdiy

www.egfielddays.com

South East Field Days.........................................................58

Energy Power Systems Aust Pty Ltd....................................19

www.southeastfielddays.com.au

www.olympiangenerators.com.au

Southcott Hydraulics...........................................................5

Farmscan Ag Pty Ltd...........................................................71

www.southcott.com.au

www.farmscanag.com

Sparex Australia Pty Ltd......................................................2

Farmworld-Lardner Park.....................................................54

www.sparex.com

www.lardnerpark.com.au

Starmaxx.............................................................................51

Flexible Drive Agencies.......................................................8

Sungold Field Days.............................................................57

www.fdrive.com.au

www.sungoldfielddays.com.au

Great Western Tillage..........................................................11

Tradefaire International............................................. 46 & 47

www.gwtillage.com.au

www.tradefaire.com.au

Grizzly Engineering .................................................... 1 & 79

Trailco Irrigation.................................................................64

www.grizzlyag.com.au

www.trailco.com.au

Guyco Pty Ltd.....................................................................68

Tyres 4U.............................................................................49

www.guyco.com.au

www.tyres4u.com.au

Honda Australia..................................................................7

Villiers.................................................................................73

www.honda.com.au

www.villiersaustralia.com.au

IB International...................................................................31

Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics..........................................77

www.ibinternational.com.au

www.2wglobal.com

John Berends Implements Pty Ltd.......................................69

Walterscheid........................................................................6

www.johnberendsimplements.com.au

www.walterscheid.com.au

Kuhn Farm Machinery Pty Ltd...........................................17

Welding Industries of Australia............................................92

www.kuhn.com.au

www.welding.com.au

KY General Engineering......................................................65

Wimmera Machinery Field Days.........................................55

Minlaton Engineering.........................................................23

www.wimmerafielddays.com.au

www.rockmaster-posthole-digger.com

Yorke Peninsula Field Days..................................................59 www.ypfielddays.com.au

90

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2012

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