A sister publication to North East Goulburn Murray Farmer which has been published for more than 30 years, The Farmer will cover the region’s dynamic rural scene and its producers. We welcome feedback and contributions and look forward to working with industry leaders, suppliers, agronomists, and primary industry associations in coming months.
Gail Eastaway (Group Editor)
The abundance of feed available to start summer across the Monaro is a graziers blessing, with many farmers speculating how they can utilise it effectively.
As the new year begins, many sheep producers are turning their attention to finishing lambs and getting their ewes in the best condition for joining over the next few months.
James Waugh, General Manager of Rural
Operations and his team at South East Rural Supplies Cooma, are working closely with producers on planning for the season ahead, with finishing lambs and joining ewes as top priority. “In terms of the amount of feed, we couldn’t be in a better position. There are also plenty of ewes out there that will make great use of it leading into joining, when we usually struggle to keep condition on.”
“Lambs can do well on it too. With a bit of barley in feeders to lift the energy and StockMins-Lamb Finisher to support feed digestibility and growth, we’ve seen some really good results” he said.
Dr Paul Meggison, owner and Chief Nutritionist at AusFarm Nutrition Products (ANP), leaders in ruminant nutrition innovation, is encouraged by what he has seen in the Monaro so
far and urges producers to make the most of it while it lasts.
“The feed is up over the fences. I haven’t seen this in the Monaro for twenty or thirty years. The trick is using it most effectively to help achieve production goals.”
“Despite the volume, the quality just isn’t there, especially when compared to the same pasture a few months ago. When pasture
goes to head its digestibility really drops off, limiting the amount of protein and energy available to the animal,” he said.
With the next few months involving the joining of ewes for the 2023 season and the sale of 2022 drop lambs, the pressure is on to maximise scanning rates while finishing lambs to meet market specifications.
Those in Agriculture circles across the region may have come across the new Agronomist for AgriWest Cooma, Pradeep Kumar, who has been part of the team for more than a year now and is passionate about expanding his knowledge through on the ground experience as well as his ongoing studies.
Coming from the agricultural background, Pradeep was raised in a farming community in India before moving to Australia in 2018 to pursue his ‘Master in Business Administration’ at Universal Business School, Sydney. After completing his masters, he was selected as a Technical Officer by the NSW Department of Primary Industry, Orange Agricultural Institute, specialising in Entomology, which is a particular interest of his.
“I was born in a farming family where we practice intensive agriculture and grow a majority of crops but not limited to cereals, sugarcane, vegetables as well as pasture. I was taught Agriculture in school and studied Ag Science at University,” Pradeep said.
“Agriculture is in my blood, and it is certainly something I’m passionate about. The scale of farms in India is smaller than they are here, but the method and principal are the same, so I was able to apply my knowledge here on the Monaro.”
Having now been applying his trade in the region for more than a year, Pradeep said the experience of working in the Monaro region has been interesting and challenging at the same time.
“It has been over a year since we are going through harsh conditions with the above average rain lately and there’s not been a lot of chance to lay seed and show my abilities, but I’m hoping conditions will improve come February once the La Nina
high is over,” he said As far as settling into the local community, Kumar said it has been made easier thanks to the sense of community spirit.
“Living in Orange and going to university here was a big change for me after coming from another country. But coming here, I’ve found things more similar to the farming community I came from in India,” Pradeep said.
“Most of the farmers know each other and there’s a strong sense of community and the people are more social than they
are in the bigger cities and even somewhere like Orange.”
Pradeep has also enjoyed taking part in the local cricket comp from time to time, playing for Berridale for a number of matches. He has however, been dedicating much of his time to his studies, planning to undertake a masters in Entomology and expand his already broad knowledge and experience.
So, be sure to say hello to Pradeep and the team next time you’re visiting AgriWest Cooma at 61 Commissioner Street, Cooma, or give them a call on (02) 6452 5566.
The Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council have released their national seasonal bushfire outlook, indicating that fire potential for the region will be normal.
The outlook notes that while the heavy La Nina rainfall has saturated the ground, it has also enhanced vegetation and increased fuel loads.
“This, coupled with expected warmer and drier conditions later in the season, is generating varied fire potential for summer 2022,” the outlook said. Fire potential varies across jurisdictional borders due to Australia’s diversity of vegetation types. Fire potential is determined in part by the amount and type of fuel available, and how dry these different fuel types are.
“Over the course of the summer, vegetation will naturally dry out with the normal seasonal cycle, and fire potential may rise quickly with any extended period of hot, dry and windy weather. This means that it is possible for regions of below normal bushfire potential at the start of summer to reach normal or above normal bushfire potential later in the season.”
Monaro RFS staff are warning residents not to be complacent with the risk of grass fire this fire season, especially with the highly flammable African Lovegrass infesting large swathes of the region.
“The Lovegrass is incredibly flammable and as summer draws on and the brass dries and cures, there’s a very real risk of grass fires later this fire season, despite the wet conditions we’re seeing at the moment,” a Monaro RFS Inspector said. Fire management is a year-round process.
For more than 20 years the Bega Valley’s tractors have been supplied and serviced by the JTP Machinery crew. Making sure you get quality service at the most reasonable prices is what we’re all about.
JTP Machinery was founded by James Timothy Peel in 1998 when he started servicing machinery out of the back of an old Datsun Ute and has slowly grown into a team of experienced mechanics and salesmen. In 2009 the Brogo showroom was opened and we’ve been lucky enough to become official dealers for Kioti, Deutz–Fahr, John Berends and Hustler.
The store is stocked with the best new and used tractors for anyone to come and check out. We also have a ton of lubricants, hitching parts, implements and general spares in-store to get you out of a bind.
If you need something ordered in we are well connected with every supplier to get you the right parts for your equipment. Additionally, if you aren’t lucky enough to live in around the Bega Valley, we have an eCommerce store so that you can get your hands on quality tractor parts online.
While we do sell machinery
here, most of our day-to-day is in repairs and servicing, making JTP your one-stop tractor shop.
Our knowledgeable team of mechanics has countless years of experience in keeping the machinery of Australia running so that local businesses can get the most out of their equipment.
Understandably, not every broken tractor can be hauled out to a workshop, which is why we have a mobile
mechanic who can come out to you to provide regular servicing and repairs.
Our workshop and sales facility is located in Brogo NSW and is a small but modern and dynamic business.
We keep up to date with the latest training and techniques and are capable of manufacturing and repairing most machinery related items in house.
We have at talented team with a wealth of knowledge and skills capable of tackling any task presented. We usually maintain around six staff members which includes a receptionist/coordinator, admin and accounts manager, spare parts manager, full time mobile service mechanic with an additional mechanic shared between the field and the workshop. A fitter-welder/ fabricator and a mechanic with hydraulic and electronics
and fabrication skills.
We can carry out a simple oil change, all the way up to a full engine rebuild, we can even rebuild tractor transmissions.
With our machine shop and welding facilities, we can also repair or fabricate parts that are no longer available or manufacture and modify all kinds of farm machinery.
Combined with our hydraulic hose and pump repair capabilities there is much we can’t do to keep your farm
machinery in tip-top shape. We also carry some unusual and specialised parts for Chinese tractors and loaders and can manufacture all kinds of fitting solutions if nothing else is available in our fully equipped machine shop. Our fully trained staff have access to the latest technical knowledge and diagnostics equipment for the brands we carry.
(02) 6492 7151
If you can’t make it out to the workshop we also offer an on-site mechanic service so you can get maintenance and repairs done at your farm in the following areas:
• Bega
• Batemans Bay Mogo Bodalla
• Moruya
• Narooma
• Cobargo Wandella Yowrie
• Bermagui
• Brogo
• Candelo Bemboka Mogilla
• Tathra
• Merimbula
• Pambula
• Eden Mallacoota
• Cann River
• Whynham
• Cathcart
• Cooma Kybean
• Countegany
• Numeralla
• Bombala
• Delegate Adaminaby
• Jindabyne
Straw Services Australia (SSA) began as an agricultural contracting business; primarily hay making for livestock and baling Wheaton straw for the mushroom industry.
More opportunities arose to chaff the straw as bedding for the rapidly growing poultry industry. Over a number of years of development, the poultry industry became Straw Services’ primary focus and the business began its evolution to provide premium bedding to all animal markets.
Now with more than 30 years’ experience, family run and owned Straw Services is truly a family business starting from its beginnings with Fran and Anthony Beck and more recently their son Tim has joined the team.
Based in Bombala, Straw
Services has stockists on the Monaro, in Bega Valley and Snowy Valley areas. These stockists cater to all types of animal industries including: small animal breeders, such as rabbits and cavies • stable bedding for the family pony or champion thoroughbred dairy calves all forms of barn-raised poultry.
The product is of the highest quality and meets all HACCP standards for use in the poultry and animal industry. The product is clean and free of contaminates such as CCA, glues and resins.
SSA specialise in the poultry industry and have a number of notable clients.
Straw Services understands the stringent requirements of the poultry industry for a safe, clean and reliable
source of bedding material and the need for a high level of tractability and quarantine standards. It provides an entire service from product supply, delivery and when required we offer a spreading service.
These are the premium shaving and are dust extracted with any particle fraction less than 4mm removed. The bags contain ¼ of a cubic metre of compressed shavings and weigh approximately 15 kgs.
This product is very soft and is highly suitable for use as animal bedding for animals with padded feet. These are ideal for small animals such as rodents, rabbits and guinea pigs, nest boxes, stables and other large animal bedding applications. The small bags are a
convenient, easy to handle choice for customers.
Ideal high-grade shavings compressed into a convenient weatherproof bale. They are easily handled with the same equipment used for hay or silage, such as hay spikes or silage grab, however, they can also be rolled around manually. This product is more suited to cover large areas.
These bales contain approximately 3.5 cubic metres compressed shaving and weigh between 330 and 350 kgs. Shavings baled in this format are enormously efficient to transport in large volumes and are easily loaded and transported on a flat top truck. This allows us to deliver a high quality product at a competitive price.
Straw Services has a proud relationship with Pellet Experts based in Cooma, who have developed a line of heating pellets, and a number of absorbent pellet products for the animal industry including a line of Radiata pine kitty litter pellets.
Bulk
SSA offers the supply of bulk shavings delivered in walking floor trucks or tip trucks starting from 80 cubic metre loads.
For more info email info@ strawservices.com.au or call Anthony: 0428 483 153, Fran: 0417 273 313 or Tim: 0401 720 418.
Local Land Services is strongly encouraging farmers in the Monaro to keep an eye out for the bright orange flower belonging to the highly invasive daisy, Orange Hawkweed.
It first appeared on the Monaro in late 2017 and land managers are being asked
to be on the lookout for this weed and report any possible sightings as it continues to flower during the warmer months, said Local Land Services Agricultural Advisor, Jo Powells.
“In recent years, we have had important sightings of Orange Hawkweed reported
by farmers, anglers and hikers which have allowed us to quickly respond and safely remove the plants before they spread any further,” Ms Powells said.
“With a handful of plants being found in the north-west region of the Monaro since 2017, we need landholders
to report any new suspected sightings to their local control authority for invasive weeds, the Snowy Monaro Regional Council or Local Land Services.”
Orange Hawkweed rosettes can closely resemble some paddock plants, however the cluster of bright, daisy-
like orange flowers grouped at the top of a hairy stem is unique to the weed.
The plant’s rosette leaves are also covered on both sides with long hairs.
Contact Snowy Monaro Regional Council biosecurity staff (1300 365 365) to report a finding.
There’s nothing quite like a Honda Generator with its unique Inverter technology. This guarantees smooth, uninterrupted electricity wherever you may be, so you’re safe to plug in your laptop, or any other sensitive electronic equipment. Due to their quiet nature you can use these generators anywhere. Ideal for caravanning and camping, or out on the job site, they are able to provide clean, reliable electricity in the most extreme locations. We’ve built them out of light materials such as magnesium, so they’re easy to transport meaning you don’t need to waste your own energy carrying them.
I would like to thank the AgriWest team for providing me the opportunity to serve the rural community here in Cooma, NSW.
The past 15 months spent working at AgriWest Cooma as an Agronomist, has been one of the most exciting and inspiring journeys in my life.
Working in a friendly environment with a great team and community, has inspired me to use my acquired knowledge and expertise in the field, to help others and expand my skills. Being from another continent and culture, it was quite challenging to start up my career as a Graduate Agronomist, but after spending time in the field with farmers and, by sharing each other’s ideas and knowledge, I find myself in a better position than I thought, with farming practice being one of the key drivers to influence me.
After having tremendous support from AgriWest and the community, I will be pleased to serve the Monaro Farming Region & assist them with agricultural needs and updates about new techniques and research studies being done within the agricultural system in Australia & around the world. Therefore, I’m committed to fill the gap between lab & farm and to implement the latest methods and tools for growing pasture/crop efficiently and sustainably.
Most importantly, I enjoy working with farmers in finding ways to enhance pasture productivity and conducting field experiments when necessary for sustainable land use. Especially, helping with how to improve soil fertility, suitable variety selection, efficient use of agrochemicals, carrying out planning for better livestock production and more.
If you are seeking any agronomic advice and would like to discuss more, please contact me on 0407 992 958 or call in to the store.
With perfect growing conditions, now is the time to book your spring and summer spraying needs.
Local yard dog handlers
Dean Incher and Jay Weston received awards at the NSW Yard Dog Association end of year celebration on Saturday December 17 in Cowra.
Dean Incher was awarded the Handler of the Year for 2020.
With COVID preventing a presentation from taking place that year, it was a late presentation for Dean.
President of the NSW Yard Dog Association Nathan Cayfe said the Handler of the Year award is based on points accrued from trials throughout the year.
“We have about 260 members, and so it really shows good consistency and is a pretty big accomplishment to come out
on top at the end of the year,” Nathan said.
Jay Weston received an inaugural Community Award. As the president of the Monaro Yard Dog Club, Jay received the award for his involvement.
“Our association really runs on the back of volunteers and we wanted to recognize those who are outstanding in what they do,” Nathan said.
“Jay really is the backbone of the Monaro Yard Dog Club, and they successfully hosted four trials in Nimmitabel, Bombala, Dalgety and Jindabyne as well as two schools for beginners this year, which is a great achievement.”
At the presentation, Jay said
he shared the award with his fellow club members.
“Although my name’s on this, it’s not about me. It’s the club,” Jay said at the presentation.
“It’s only a handful of us involved. We had four trials and two schools this year. It’s a team effort, and I just dedicate this to our club.”
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According to Dr Meggison, for optimum growth, a 35kg lamb requires 16% protein and 12MJ ME/kg DM of energy to grow at around 250g/day. Late flowering Ryegrass or Phalaris pastures generally contain around 13% protein and 8MJ ME/kg DM, both which significantly decline as the pasture dries.
“Producers may see their liveweight gain dropping off, especially when lambs get above 35kg. This is where grain supplementation at around 200g/hd/day paired with a mineral supplement containing rumen degradable protein can really add value.”
“In fact, low level protein supplementation with a
rumen degradable source of protein like that in StockMins-Lamb Finisher and StockMins-HiPro, can increase the utilisation of dry feed by up to 30%,” he said.
For ewes, Mr Waugh is looking to get them up to joining condition as soon as possible to ease the pressure of getting it done later. “We
like to put condition on them now while the feed’s available then keep them on a maintenance diet through summer until joining.”
Consistent with Dr Meggison’s comments above, Mr Waugh recommends supplementing ewes on standing dry feed with StockMins-HiPro, especially after a few summer showers.
“A few rain events are all it takes for the nutrients to be leached out of dry pasture, and for around six cents per head per day you can really get your ewes up and firing in a few weeks.”
StockMins-Lamb Finisher and StockMins-HiPro are weatherproof, granular, loose-lick supplements designed to support the
growth and development of sheep while grazing mature pasture and dry feed.
Call to the team at South East Rural Supplies on (02) 6452 3511 and make the most of your feed this summer.
AusFarm Nutrition Products is a certified FeedSafe manufacturer find out more at www.ausfarmnutrition.com
