North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer

Published since 1986

APRIL, 2020

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PAGE 17

Tough times booster resolve at Tolpuddle

By EMMA OLIVER

WINNER WINNER: Danni Schneider and Tim Szczerkowski are Rushnot Garlic, a boutique operation in the highlands of Tolmie. After over a decade of nurturing their crop - a purple hardneck varietal of garlic - their hard work and perseverance through extreme weather events and challenging situations has paid off. With a recent gold at the 2019 Australian Food Awards, the latest in a long list of accolades, Danni and Tim are excited about the direction their business is taking with plans to expand and diversify. Their story is on pages 2 and 3.

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ON the last day of the school term in 2013, Melissa and Donovan Jacka got in their car with their two young sons and left their life in South Melbourne behind for a new life of goat-raising and cheese-making, on their newly purchased 120 acres in Tarrawingee.

Melissa and Donovan were following a dream born from the desire of a better quality of life and more time spent with family.

Both holding senior management roles in public hospitals, the roles were allencompassing, stressful and challenging, and though they had a lovely home in Melbourne and a beautiful nanny who was helping raise the children, this couple of foodies wanted so much more.

“It was always cheese,” Melissa said with a laugh.

“And it was always goats.

“The plan when moving to the country was always about agritourism, and that’s what we built our whole business model around.

“We bought this land in Tarrawingee, and it was all about the beautiful old stone building on the property which has become our cheese-making room and farm gate door.

“It was the perfect bones to create an experience - the look, touch and feel appreciation of where the produce has come from, encouraging that stronger connection to agriculture.”

It was the farm gate part of the equation that was really important to the Jackas when they first embarked on their mission.

Twenty Saanen goats were their first purchase, bought from Sunhill Dairy Goats in Uralla - up near Armidale in New South Wales which was down-sizing due to the effects of drought in the region.

As they learnt the ropes of their new enterprise, familiarising themselves with these new family members, the Jackas also began to turn their vision into a reality.

“At first it was working out the logistics of the dairy and making the cheese,” Melissa said.

“Then it was tweaking and fine-tuning our product, and doing lots of farmers markets, festivals and events before we finally managed to achieve our original plan.

“It was three and a half years in total, before Tolpuddle Goat Cheese and Farm Foods actually opened to the public.”

■ Continued pages 8-9

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Page 2 - North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer

April 2020

Rush not the quality of the garlic

By EMMA OLIVER AS president of the Mansfield Producers Group, Danni Schneider is all about championing the amazing produce of the shire.

However, it took her fellow committee members to convince Danni to enter her garlic in the Australian Food Awards.

Alongside her partner Tim, Danni grows a purple Australian hardneck varietal of garlic, dubbed Rushnot Garlic after the name of her property, and it was the seasonally-late December harvest of this garlic that so suitably impressed her committee members that pressured her to enter the awards.

Promoting the region through agriculture is the primary objective of the group, with produce chosen to showcase the diversity and best practice of the area.

And taking out a gold at the 2019 Australian Food Awards with their herbicide, pesticide and chemical-free Rushnot Garlic, Danni and Tim have achieved just that, simultaneously shining the spotlight on other boutique and quality primary producers in the area.

With saffron, capers, berries and organic wine just some of the premium produce in the region, Rushnot

AND THE WINNER IS: Rushnot Garlic took out gold at the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria’s Australian Food Awards for 2019.

ONLY THE BEST: Choosing the biggest bulbs as premium seed stock, Danni and Tim predict it will take another two years to get back to normal production after a weather event decimated their crop two years ago.

Garlic is in good company, and representative of small landholders in the shire who are thinking outside the box and getting the utmost potential from their properties producing first-class commodities.

The 2019 Gold is the most recent in a long list of accolades for Rushnot Garlic which has included winning

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Re-building a life after a marriage breakdown would also become part of Rushnot Garlic’s story, as Danni and the partner she initially moved to Tolmie with parted ways.

Bolstered, however, by the support and friendship of her relatively new Tolmie community, Danni invested all her energy into Rushnot Garlic and the project thrived.

More recent weather events and setbacks have seen the garlic flooded out, and then in the summer just passed the threat of fire was constant throughout January, so much so, that Danni decided to move her beloved Clydesdale down the hill to safer ground while Tim was out fighting fires with the CFA. ■ Continued page 3

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deep and find the resolve to start all over again.

It’s a slow process rebuilding, but Danni is no stranger to this challenge, having moved to Tolmie initially to semi-retire and possibly harvest lavender on her 10 acre property.

This plan was not to eventuate, as semi-retirement at the ripe old age of 37 did not suit Danni, and the lavender that covered the farm was not really an economical proposition, and on investigation was discovered to have root rot.

Re-building this time entailed ripping up all the lavender, investigating other potential crops and on deciding upon garlic, trialling a variety of cultivars over a three year period.

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a short amount of time.

“We had built up the crop to 6000 head of garlic which was manageable for a hobby farmer that works full-time as a real estate agent, and farms after work and on the weekends,” Danni said.

“It was where we wanted to be business-wise and our product was beginning to get a fair degree of recognition.”

The deluge washed the crop out and unable to harvest or re-plant the majority of the garlic, Danni and Tim were forced to burn the remainder of the spoiled and rotting stock.

After eight months of soil preparation and then handweeding, the whole experience was particularly soul destroying and meant that Danni and Tim had to dig

Any condition, top prices paid.

Published by Hartley Higgins for North East Media Pty Ltd, 37 Rowan Street, Wangaratta 3677. Responsibility for election comment is accepted by Editor Jeff Zeuschner. Copyright: All advertising and editorial content of this issue is the copyright of North East Media Pty Ltd and cannot be used without the company’s permission.

YOUR

bronze, silver and gold medals at the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria Fine Food Awards over previous years.

This gold medal, however, is more a panacea for Danni and Tim, as only two years previously she lost the majority of her 6000 head crop to torrential rains that flooded their Tolmie property with 100 millimetres in

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North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer - Page 3

BREATHING LIFE INTO THE OLD HALL: When the dance is on, the hall is full of light and laughter, food and music.

GARLIC PEARLS: As an added extra when purchasing Rushnot Garlic, Danni and Tim include these garlic pearls that when planted produce a single bulb and grow like a spring onion, which can then be dried and planted the following year to grow into a garlic bulb.

■

From page 2 Potential wind changes could have blown fire burning in the valleys and the High Country north of Tolmie directly towards the mountain township.

Luckily Tolmie was not impacted and Rushnot Garlic survived relatively unscathed.

As Danni and Tim sell their garlic at farmers markets and the local Mansfield IGA, their hip pocket did take a bit of a hit due to the uncertainty of January.

However, winning gold at the Australian Food Awards makes all the trials and tribulations worth it.

“It has taken two years for Tim and I to build up the crop so that we are now producing about 2000 bulbs a year,” Danni said.

“I keep all the largest bulbs to re-sow, so it’s a gradual process.

“With each bulb producing about 10 cloves, and each clove representing one garlic head, we really need

about 100 bulbs to produce 1000 plants.

“In reality it’s closer to 120 bulbs so I can guarantee consistency in size and quality, but that is Rushnot Garlic’s main goal.

“Winning gold means that this attention to detail is all worth it and recognised by industry experts.

“With garlic scored on a combination of criteria ranging from uniformity to condition, quality to aroma, and flavour both raw and cooked, it’s great to know that this is the seed stock all future crops will be grown from.”

With this an integral part of Rushnot Garlic’s success, Danni also puts down the win to the climate and soil of Tolmie - those external conditions in this elevated farmland that make the difference.

As climate plays a crucial part in Rushnot’s award winning garlic, it also dictates the direction that Danni and Tim will take Rushnot Garlic in the future.

“I would love to diversify with our product and try my hand at some other boutique crop,” Danni said.

“Tim and I have bought some land in Mansfield and are hoping to expand our product range.

“At the moment we are trialling our Rushnot purple garlic in raised beds at the lower elevation to monitor how it will adapt to the difference in climate, elevation, longitude and latitude.

“Our hope is that our most desirable variety will endure the change.

“However, there are also plans to grow other crops.

“It will mean going back to purchasing a variety of seed stock and trialling all the different cultivars, but it’s a project we’re ready for and excited about.”

A project that will be met

by Danni and Tim’s loyal clientele with a huge degree of enthusiasm, as they look forward to the next chapter in the story of this goldwinning producer and their Rushnot Garlic.

Popular Sunday dance an excursion worth making

By EMMA OLIVER ON the second Sunday of the month, the Lima South Hall plays host to dancers who travel from as far afield as Benalla, Wangaratta and even Shepparton to enjoy the country hospitality of Colin and Christine Gordon who have been hosting this dance for the last 18 years.

It’s a labour of love for Colin and Christine who have used the dance as a fundraiser for significant works done on the hall, like weatherproofing the structure built in 1957 by modernising the louvre windows to sliding aluminiums to prevent drafts and heat loss.

Lima South locals, Colin and Christine have also in recent times used funds raised from the event to support other small communities in the North East.

After recent fires near Corryong caused such devestation, $900 raised by the February dance was donated to the Corryong Primary

School for new equipment.

This is all part of the charm of this monthly event that has managed to survive even as surrounding dances failed.

With Warrenbayne, Molyullah, Moorngag and Tatong all once hosting dances, it was part of the social fabric of country towns and regional areas, and an important event for locals to catch-up and enjoy themselves away from work and farm life.

Unfortunately the Lima South Hall dance may be the only surviving monthly event of its type in the entire region - an event sadly of a bygone era.

This, however, has not affected the popularity of the event, with a day change re-invigorating attendance.

Previously on a Saturday evening, Colin and Christine changed the dance to a Sunday afternoon in keeping with traditional tea dances that were more an occasion consisting of afternoon tea and dancing.

“Everyone is getting a little older,” Colin said, “and there were concerns about travelling at night time due to the kangaroos and the like, so we changed the day.”

With lucky door prizes and raffles, along with a table groaning with provided refreshments and plates brought by those attending, the Sunday event is a full afternoon of great entertainment.

Musician John Zutt played a bit of everything at the recent March dance, and unless cancelled due to current health concerns, the Rattlers, a two piece band from Wangaratta, will take up residency in the hall from April onwards.

At $8 cover charge, and a Sunday afternoon timeslot that goes from 1pm to 5pm, there are an awful lot of reasons to mark the Lima South Hall dance in your social calendar.

And at this moment in time, we all need a little something to dance about.

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Page 4 - North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer

April 2020

Tidy town awards nominations ARE you doing your bit to strengthen and improve your community?

Has your initiative helped to inspire or empower your community?

Are you contributing to managing litter or reducing waste in Mansfield?

Have you embarked on a project that is preventing damage to or restoring the natural environment?

Is what you are doing engaging young people in your community or playing a vital role in combating loneliness or isolation?

If your answer is yes to any of these questions, Keep Victoria Beautiful would love to hear from you because the Sustainable Communities Tidy Town Awards for 2020 are now open.

They are seeking entries from community groups, educational institutions, businesses and councils across rural and regional Victoria and want to reward those who have made a major contribution to building the wellbeing and resilience of their communities.

The awards have been going since 1983 and they recognise individuals, groups and organisations that have gone above and beyond in making a difference to their communities.

Winning entries from previous years have ranged from

NOMINATE: Tidy Town Award nominations for 2020 are now open. the creation of a pre-school children’s garden (complete with vegie patch, fire pit, chicken coop, fruit trees and bird feeders), the repair and alteration of donated school uniforms which have helped hundreds of families clothe

their children, to the successful treatment of waste-water from milk tanks and storage silos.

They have included creating a venue for the homeless to shower and wash their clothes and bedding;

an historic storyboard trail which follows the journey of the Bangarang people; and a community-led campaign designed to achieve zero net emissions by 2030.

Over the years, the awards have gradually moved beyond

simply rewarding towns for their tidiness.

Instead they are now focused on recognising and celebrating grassroots initiatives and positive actions taken by communities and individuals.

According to Keep Victoria

Beautiful Tidy Towns spokesperson, Dick Gross, it is these initiatives and actions that foster a strong sense of community and help safeguard the environment.

“Ultimately strong communities are the lifeblood of our rural and regional towns and critical to their long-term sustainability,” he said.

The categories for this year’s Sustainable Communities - Tidy Town Awards include: Education, Energy, Litter, Waste, Environment, Indigenous Culture, Heritage and Culture, Community, Social Wellbeing and Young Legends.

There is also the opportunity for towns to win the overall Sustainable Community of the Year award and for individuals to win the Dame Phyllis Frost award which goes to those who have made a particularly outstanding contribution to their communities.

In addition, a $1000 grant will go to a promising new project which is regarded worthy of supporting and getting off the ground.

To enter this year’s Sustainable Communities - Tidy Town Awards, find the online site.

Entries close on May 1.

The winners of the awards will be announced at a gala event which takes place in Beechworth on September 6.

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April 2020

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April 2020

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North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer - Page 7

April 2020

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April 2020

Tough times booster ■

WITH THE GOATS: With Covid-19 now challenging the Jackas’ agritourism dream, the Sponsor a Goat brainwave has ensured there is enough feed for Donovan and Melissa’s herd, as they re-group and plan their next strategy.

From page 1 When looking to begin their business in the first place, the Jackas hadn’t initially considered the North East, believing there wasn’t the room to do what they wanted to do competing with such big names as Brown Brothers and Milawa Cheese.

However, it was a place that they had always holidayed in, and as they discussed their plans with the local restaurateurs, chefs and sommeliers they began to realise there was heaps of space and opportunity in this established gourmet region.

“Our experience has been that there is a really strong collaboration between producers in the region,” Melissa said.

“When we have customers visit the farm, we always refer them on….Where are you staying?

“Which way are you travelling?

“You should really pop into Hurdle Creek Gin Distillery, or have you gone to the Ox and Hound in Beechworth?

“These are all the conversations we have, and we stock produce from the entire region at our on-farm shop.

“It is the strength of our business from a tourism point of view, but with the

bushfires of January it was also our weakness.

“All this co-dependency among businesses, everybody supporting each other in their endeavours, all falls apart when the tourists disappear.”

It was a harsh realisation for a family who were also battling the possibility of bushfires engulfing their livelihood.

“We had made a tree change six years earlier and when the fires came through at the start of the year it was the first time we had been in a fire scenario, so it was a huge learning curve,” Melissa said.

“We had dealt with a flood twelve months earlier, when we had received 280 millimetres in less than five hours.

“I’d never seen water like that - flooding the entire valley - and destroying all our cellar and maturation rooms.

“There was lots of damage to the house, erosion to the driveway, fences down, shambolic shelters half washed away - but the potential of fire was a new natural disaster for us to contend with.

“It was quite an emotional time and incredibly stressful for lots of people.

“Just making sure we were

on top of everything at the farm and having a plan to make the goats as safe as possible.

“We had our own evacuation plan, but we didn’t have the facilities to remove the goats from the farm.

“So it was all about ensuring that there was heaps of water and bales of hay in different parts of the farm, and all the internal gates were open so that the girls with their kids could move to any part of the farm if they needed to.

“The young goats are a bit silly, so we just ensured that the animals were all kept together so that the younger ones would follow the older ones and hopefully stay out of danger.

“It was hard.

“Then with the emergency warnings going off all the time, and the extreme language around the urgency to evacuate, it was all necessary but it was incredibly difficult.

“Donovan and I sat down and we had that pragmatic conversation, the one where you discuss what we’re going to do if we are affected by the fire.

“After the protracted drought, and the increased cost of feed, and the

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flood that decimated our landscape and washed away all our top soil, the potential of our infrastructure and livelihood being impacted by the fires became too big for us to deal with.

“And we decided that if it came to that we would cut our losses, and as awful as it was, we would walk away and do something else.”

Luckily this didn’t eventuate.

What did happen was another obstacle that Melissa and Donovan Jacka had to overcome.

January is usually Tolpuddle’s busiest time of the year.

There are the open days and local markets and a steady stream of tourists and visitors.

It is also the time that the farm makes the most money supplying local restaurants with cheese.

“Bright Brewery alone would buy 20 kilograms of cheese a week over the summer holidays,” Melissa said.

“Then the fires hit, and there’s no one here.

“No wholesale orders, no farmgate visitors, and it’s not safe to have farmers markets as the air quality is hazardous.

■ Continued page 9

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North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer - Page 9

resolve at Tolpuddle

■

from page 8 “We were looking down the barrel of no income when this was the time we should have been able to set us up for the year ahead.

‘It’s a seasonal product, and milk starts to drop off now from here until winter.

“So we had the milk and the cheese and no market, and we were heading into our most expensive period as the girls start to take a break, and then they’re pregnant.

“We’re incredibly conscientious about nutrition so that the goats stay healthy and they grow healthy babies, and we soon realised that the aftermath from the fires was the real challenge - the question of how were we going to get through without our summer income,” Melissa said.

There were a lot of ideas thrown around, and there was a market in Melbourne - in Eltham - that accommodated Tolpuddle at the last moment, intent on helping the primary producers who were affected by recent events.

“They did a huge promotion to let people know we were coming, and it was phenomenal, the biggest market we’d ever

“When you sponsor a Tolpuddle goat, people need to know that we will fill our silo from our local supplier.

“We will buy hay from the farmer across the way.

“We will use local trades and contractors to put the money given to us back into the community.

“We do this anyway, but it is also part of the pledge, that when you support a fire-affected business you are supporting the whole community.”

IN THE YARDS: Tolpuddle is a micro-dairy producing speciality goats cheese from a small herd of Saanen goats that are farmed sustainably on their 120 acre property. had,” Melissa said.

“There were also restaurants in Wangaratta who were doing reasonable trade and they stepped up and bought our cheese.

“And then we began to concentrate on making hard cheese as opposed to soft cheese, so we could age it and we weren’t relying on customers to purchase the soft cheese before it perished.”

But the issue was still cash flow.

“All the imagery that was coming out of fire affected regions was apocalyptic, and then there were the safety reasons where tourism couldn’t be encouraged for a period of time,” Melissa said.

BBF

“Talking with other producers, we realised the biggest challenge was to get people to feel confident to come back and visit.

“And at the same time all these beautiful programs were kicking off on social media like the Empty Esky campaign, the Road Trip for Good, and Buy from the Bush.

“It was all fantastic, and selling online was great for some, but it didn’t necessarily help those with fresh produce - the berries, the fruit, the cheese.

“We needed a reason for the tourists to come back, and that was the impetus for our Sponsor a Goat program.

“With it not being safe for the customers to return and even when they could come back there was the likelihood there would be no milk or products to support things, we needed something up front so we could look after the girls and have enough feed and keep things ticking over.”

Melissa as the cheesemaker in the Tolpuddle partnership spends a lot of time on her own in the factory with a vat full of milk and a head full of ideas.

The sponsorship proposal was her brainwave.

The offer to adopt a goat and get the naming rights, along with a voucher

for a cheese platter and two glasses of prosecco, coupled with two tickets to a Tolpuddle Open Day and farm tour, all for the cost of $86 was Melissa’s idea to pay the bills, keep the goats in feed and most importantly entice people back to the region at a later date.

Donovan was less comfortable with the idea, reluctant to ask for help, but the show of support was so overwhelming and heartfelt, that not only did it ensure Tolpuddle was viable for the upcoming year it also renewed their passion and bolstered their spirits after a tough couple of years.

“We shared our post on

Buy from the Bush, and we were completely taken aback by how many times it was shared and the fact that it reached about 200,000 people,” Melissa said.

“We were contacted by people in Chile, the United States, all over the place, and they were all reaching out and saying they had read our post and how genuine it was and how they wanted to help.

“It was incredibly emotional, because at times you feel incredibly lonely and isolated in times of crisis, and you can become quite insular.

“Experiencing this response we realised we had this massive community around us, and other people, more than just us, who are invested in the farm.

“And should we have that conversation now about leaving - if the fires were to happen right now - having this feeling about the business and the support we have, there would be no cutting losses.

“It is with complete commitment, and it reaffirms our original passion and excitement.

“We absolutely can do this.

“We can and we must,” Melissa said.

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Page 10 - North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer

April 2020

Cattle market price rise comes with risk BUOYED by strong rainfall, re-stocker demand has seen the Eastern Young Cattle Indicator (EYCI) surge to 755c/kg, breaking its August 2016 record of 726-755c/kg.

While the pace of the EYCI’s 58 per cent jump in less than two months is unprecedented in the modern Australian cattle market, NAB’s Beef in Focus Report reveals the cattle market faces two substantial risks.

Firstly, the strength in the re-stocker market comes after only two months of rain in limited production areas, following severe and protracted drought.

Secondly, three of Australia’s largest beef export markets (China, Japan and South Korea) are facing serious coronavirus outbreaks, which have the potential to negatively impact on demand fundamentals.

NAB agribusiness economist, Phin Ziebell, said the three-month rainfall (relative to average) experienced during the current price rally is very different to 2016. “Since January, many - but not all - areas have seen excellent rainfall and soil moisture levels across northern New South Wales, the Darling Downs and central Queensland have led to spirited activity in the cattle re-stocker market,� Mr Ziebell said. “Conversely, the 2016 ral-

BE CAREFUL: Although the current cattle price has smashed records after rainfall, the latest report from NAB suggests a cautious approach. ly occurred during some of the best seasonal conditions in living memory. “While some areas now have enough moisture to see them through, many still need a full season of above average rainfall to recover

and this is a risk for prices.�

Export fundamentals were strong in 2019, and NAB agribusiness customer executive, Khan Horne, said the impact of coronavirus on premium protein demand across east and south-

east Asia could pose challenges for the market. “So far, Chinese domestic wholesale prices have held up despite coronavirus,� Mr Horne said. “With African swine fever decimating the Chinese pork

industry, protein demand remains very strong with Meat and Livestock Australia reporting Chinese beef import volumes up 60 per cent in 2019. “Beyond China, South Korea and Japan are deal-

ing with major coronavirus outbreaks, and US preparedness to manage the virus remains unclear. “The extent to which Australian beef exports will be impacted remains to be seen, particularly given the uncertain effect on supply chains if the pandemic stage is reached. “Overall, it’s a risk that requires careful monitoring.�

While 2019 marked a liquidation phase for the Australian cattle herd, with an all-time high female slaughter share of 56 per cent and overall slaughter up eight per cent, 2020 is showing a marked improvement. “Although strong international demand for Australian beef and drought meant finished cattle prices never saw the same unwinding as young cattle in the 2017-19 period, national over the hook indicators are essentially back to their Q3 2016 peak,� Mr Horne said. “Our price outlook for 2020 depends heavily on rainfall, and with many areas still needing an excellent season to recover from drought, if anything there is more downside than upside for the EYCI at present.�

Coronavirus has driven the Australian dollar lower to the mid-60 US cents range, but this alone is unlikely to offset impacts on the cattle market.

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Page 12 - North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer

April 2020

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The Curiosity® bait for feral cats is a small sausage with a hard plastic pellet containing a humane toxin (paraaminopropiophenone, or PAPP).

The bait has been designed to minimise the risk to native animals and a hard shell limits access to the pellet by animals other than cats.

Registration of this product follows a rigorous assessment process by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) to ensure the new bait is safe to use in accordance with the label instructions.

The APVMA has assessed the safety and efficacy of the product, and ensured the risks to native animals, the environment, and the public are minimised.

Strict conditions set out by the label include training requirements for end users, which ensure that there is extremely low risk to the public and their pets.

Feral cats are a significant threat to our native wildlife and the new bait is

a game changer for feral cat control in Australia.

Since European arrival, feral cats have been implicated in the extinction of more than 20 mammal species and threaten a further 124 nationally listed species.

The Australian Government recognised the need for a new humane and effective feral cat control tool and has invested more than $5 million in the development of Curiosity®.

The registration recognises that Curiosity® is a toxin and baits will only be sold to, and used by, appropriately trained and authorised persons in accordance with state regulations.

The baits will also offer another lifeline to our native wildlife in bushfire impacted areas.

Cats are very effective predators following fires so this humane and effective control tool will boost our ability to actively tackle the threat across our environment.

More information about the Curiosity® bait for feral cats can be found at http://environment.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive-species/feral-animalsaustralia/feral-cats.

FERAL CATS: Bait is a game changer in feral cat control, where other measures have proven ineffective or obsolete.

What’s our beef?

People telling porkies THE world’s first auto-detection algorithm for meat products is screening thousands of biosecurity risk material at Melbourne’s International Airport and Mail Centre.

Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said compared with conventional x-ray technology detections of biosecurity risk items have doubled at the airport and tripled at the mail centre since the rollout of 3D x-ray technology last year.

“Australia is a world leader in biosecurity and we’re getting better,” Minister Littleproud said.

“New technology like this plays an important role in keeping pests out.

“The 3D x-rays are streamlining passenger and mail screening into Australia and allowing our biosecurity officers to do their work more effectively.

“At the airport, the x-ray has screened 95,059 bags and detected 6039 biosecurity risk items, including pork products, which can carry African swine fever.

“African swine fever is right on our doorstep in Timor-Leste and poses a huge biosecurity threat to our pork industry.

“The world’s first 3D x-ray trial in the Melbourne Gateway Facility was due to finish on November 30, 2019, but following the project’s success, the technology will be set up permanently in Melbourne and Sydney mail facilities.

“The meat algorithm is able to detect 60 per cent of meat products and it will only continue to improve as it is refined.

“This world first achievement is just one way the Australian government is modernising our ongoing biosecurity efforts at the border, keeping Australia

free from exotic pests and diseases.”

Fast Facts: Since its deployment the most common detections have been: *Mail: z Chicken/Duck; z Pork; z Beef; z Plant; z Pet Food. * Airport: z Fruit; z Meat; z Herb/spices; z Seeds; z Seafood.

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North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer - Page 13

April 2020

Pawsome detector dog achievements AUSTRALIA’S biosecurity detector dogs continued their outstanding work last year, screening incoming passengers and goods for biosecurity risk items at airports, mail centres and sea ports.

Head of biosecurity at the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Lyn O’Connell, said detector dogs are a vital part of Australia’s front line defence against pests and diseases.

“Our detector dogs were a howling success again last year, intercepting more than 56,000 biosecurity risk items across our airports and mail centres,” Ms O’Connell said.

“Any of these items could have carried a pest or disease that could impact on our industries, environment, plant, animal and human health.

“One of the more interesting dog finds included chicken eggs containing formed embryos that were concealed in a bag of peanuts and fish stuffed with pork meat.

“Over 4000 undeclared meat products were also detected by our detector dog fleet last year, including 1800 undeclared pork products.

“These products are a significant risk, because they can carry African swine fever (ASF), which has the potential to ruin our pork industry.

“In 2019-20 we have also seen three visa cancellations for serious breaches of Australian biosecurity laws, all thanks to referrals from our biosecurity detector dogs.

“To help manage seasonal or emerging pest and disease risks, we are looking at ways to modernise the detector dog fleet.

“For instance, in Brisbane we have trialled the use of detector dogs for the screening of imported cars to detect brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), which is a significant horticultural pest.

“In 2019 we deployed dogs to Cairns and Darwin in response to the rising risk of ASF and we also increased screening at other airports and mail centres.

“With risks like ASF and BMSB on the move globally, the dogs will continue to play a vital role in managing the significant biosecurity threats Australia faces.”

Key facts and stats: z detector dogs find up

to 9000 biosecurity risk items during their working life; z the three most common items the detector dogs find are meat, fruit and seeds; z there are currently 43 biosecurity detector dogs working for the department, including 39 operational detector dogs and 4 novice dogs; z last year, one of the most significant detector dog finds for one passenger included: 855 grams of sausage; 1.5kgs of duck; 430 grams of dumpling; 375 grams of eggplant; 4.9kgs of fresh lotus; 440 grams of beans; 250 grams of tofu and two boiled eggs; z Detector Dog Parker in Adelaide made the most airport seizures in 2019, which also resulted in the most number of infringements issued at 132.

For more information and to view the department’s detector dog video, visit agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity/ australia/detector-dogs.

THE NOSE KNOWS: Protecting our agricultural industry, dogs are on the front line of defence.

Page 14 - North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer

April 2020

A champion of all things sheep and shearing

By JUDITH ARTRIDGE

H

E never set out to create a dynasty - a farming dynasty,

that is.

An only child, Stan Artridge was born in Euroa in 1931 and grew up on a versatile and productive farm on the banks of the Creightons Creek.

He describes his early life as “poor”, not realising until recently that his father was a particularly good farmer.

The litters from one sow in one year brought in enough for the young family to buy a brand new Chevrolet sedan.

From the age of five, Stan played with an imaginary farm; using fruit to represent different animals.

His favourite was the sheep (quinces).

He manufactured a shearing handpiece from a dowel and some tin cut with points like a shearing comb, then he could shear the fluff off those round yellow quinces.

His friends and cousins

VALE

Stan Artridge 25/9/1931 - 23/12/2020 still recall playing with the fruit and the sheep yards.

Many years later, his mother said she always knew Stan would be a sheep farmer.

Having milked cows, bred pigs and cattle for market, grown tobacco, vegies and peanuts during drought and depression, she believed that sheep farming was not real work - that sheep farmers were taking the easy way out.

While immensely proud of her son, she could not understand his passion for sheep and wool.

“What’s difficult about sheep farming?” she’d ask.

In 1957 Stan and wife, Dawn (dec) bought Dawnstan Park (previously known as Art’s Hill), Ruffy.

Together they worked long hours with the goal of making the property into a more productive farm.

They cleared wattles and worked on the bracken fern,

eliminated the rabbits, tried to outsmart the foxes and revived newborn lambs in Ruffy’s freezing winds.

As Stan went around the countryside shearing, he also observed how the graziers and managers of the better properties improved the grass growing ability of the soils, and took on the better strategies for his own land.

Stan and Dawn were also incredibly proactive, thinking through problems together and attempting to find solutions.

They trialled shearing just the heads of the pregnant ewes, in the hope it might encourage them to find better sheltering spots for newborn lambs on those cold windy Ruffy days.

Though it didn’t prove successful, it allowed Stan to recognise the value of ferns and rocks as alternative shelter.

Their aim was never to let any lamb succumb.

With this as their primary objective, Stan and Dawn would regularly check the

lambing mobs throughout the day.

Any cold lambs were placed (head exposed) into a plastic shopping bag.

Surprisingly the ewes were not scared off by their now rustling newborn.

If necessary they would place the frozen lamb (still in its shopping bag) into a modified clothes dryer cabinet until the heat had revived it enough to call out for its mother.

The ewe they would catch and move to a carpeted

floor in the catching pen of the shearing shed.

That shed was used for sheep work as often in winter as summer.

C

ommitted farmers, Stan and Dawn worked more than an eight hour day every day of the year.

When it came to marking, the lambing percentage was always more than 100 per cent.

He fenced the farm into smaller paddocks - now

numbering 67 - to move the fertility of sheep camp sites further down from the higher spots in a paddock.

He loved to see the depth of his top soil, the numbers of worms, dung beetles and even the variety of grasses including some “weeds”.

As well he generously spread super or lime each year.

He joined several soil improvement groups, travelling to see what other farmers were trying and in turn hosted many farm tours on Dawnstan Park.

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North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer - Page 15 student of shearing, an early adopter of many improvements and his ability was recognised around the district.

In 1954, he and a friend travelled around Queensland on a six month shearing adventure.

He saved enough money to buy a new ute, after handling 70,000 sheep.

He recalled shearing back then was paid at five pounds per 100.

DAUGHTERS CRUTCHING FOR DAD. ... FOR FREE : Crutching at Dawnstan Park features (from left) Heather Drysdale (Yarck), Stan, Cathy Artridge (Creightons Creek) and Ruth Hannigan (Barrakee). Picture taken at Dawnstan Park, Ruffy by Shellie Drysdale 2012.

He looked at farm income described in the Weekly Times, and found that per acre his was far more productive.

Stan proudly accepted the common compliment that he had the best little farm in the district.

He called it a ‘pocket hanky size’ compared to farms around him.

Stan’s parents (Norman and Pearl) were dedicated golfers so it was no surprise that Stan took up golf too.

And it was golf that was

the link to Stan learning to shear. At the age of 15, he met fellow golfer, Bill Hartley, and asked for shearing lessons.

Bill thought it would be better to learn how to crutch sheep first.

When it came to shearing later that year, there were no stands available so Bill said, “Come as a rouseabout�.

At the end of the first run that day there were six fleeces on the floor waiting to be skirted and classed.

By the time the two

TECHNICAL PROWESS: Pictured at the 1950 Euroa Show, an 18 year old Stan Artridge was already noted for his shearing ability throughout the region.

rousies had those fleeces in the bale, smoko was finished and the shearers had pulled back into gear.

Stan had time to grab a mouthful of water and a scone and he was back at the board.

He thought being a rousie was lousy.

From then on, he concentrated on shearing.

He wasn’t immediately a gun shearer, but that set him up to be a compassionate and patient instructor.

He became an observant

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five, his only son Peter, was runner up in the national shearing competition and the next year competed in the World Championships in New Zealand.

Peter turned to blade shearing and won the Australian Championships and competed in the Golden Shears World Shearing Championships.

Peter has been chairperson of Sports Shear Australia.

He is a shearing records referee.

He co-hosted the reenactment of Tom Roberts painting “Shearing the Rams� at North Tuppal station in 2010, and just as his father before him coaches and mentors Australian and overseas shearers.

He also kept Stan in the loop of shearing politics.

While still entranced by shearing posts and videos on Facebook, Stan gradually distanced himself from shearing competitions, tiring of the politics.

His final and successful mission of 2019 was to participate in the induction of one mentee Brian Morrison, into the Shearers Hall of Fame in Hay, New South Wales.

Still championing the industry that he loved up unto the end, in late December 2019, at 88 years of age, Stan suffered a stroke (a complication of lung cancer), passing away at the Northern Hospital five days later.

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n October of that same year, Euroa hosted a shearing competition that attracted competitors from around the state, including state title holders from the recent Royal Melbourne Agricultural Show.

Stan proudly walked away wearing the sash for first place.

Wool and shearing had got into his system in a big way.

Becoming a professional wool classer in 1971, he was frequently placed in shearing competitions (often scoring highest quality points) and developed a passion for judging.

With friend John Hanrahan, Stan was awarded the coveted and prestigious status of judge in New Zealand and he became a shearing instructor.

He was always a willing mentor to any shearer interested in learning tips to make the job better or easier as well as how to better prepare their gear.

His first paid instructing job was for a group of local farmers who were concerned about a shortage of shearers.

A few years later he was head hunted by the Australian Wool Corporation to join their team of peripatetic wool industry trainers.

Around 1977, Wangaratta TAFE College contacted Stan asking if he could teach shearing in their farming course.

That led to more than ten years of teaching local teenagers how to shear.

He was a foundation member of the Euroa Shearing Association (Golden Shears in Australia) and instrumental in setting up and judging shearing competitions between initially Australian and later shearers from all over the world.

He mentored and hosted many international shearing competitors and judges along with their families.

Stan was awarded life membership of the Sports Shear Australia Association.

And in 1989, the Sunbeam Corporation recruited him to travel to Iran to teach non-shearers how to train shearers - using Sunbeam gear of course.

Stan was surprised how much he enjoyed local diet there; so different from his preferred home-cooked mutton, potato and tomato sauce.

Continuing the legacy, in 1995 Stan’s fourth child of

Page 16 - North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer

April 2020

Helicopters the solution for seeding and fertilising AFTER tough drought conditions in many areas and then the devastating fires that have torn through whole communities, it is great to now see so many farmers getting back on track and moving forward.

With recent rains and milder temperatures, the growth has been amazing over a short time, but sadly often the first thing to grow is weeds.

Rotor Solutions have been busy aerial weed spraying everything from blackberry, to briars, burrs and thistles and have even seen early season Paterson’s curse emerging.

The best solution is to get on top of these problems early, and a great option aside from spraying is offering competition to the weeds and boosting the pasture that is present.

Aerial seeding and aerial fertiliser allows hard to reach areas, particularly the hill country, to be covered by the air and made accessible with the use of the helicopter.

New technology and equipment has allowed for lower costs of application from the helicopter, as well as the most uniform, precise and accurate coverage available.

Rotor Solutions have seen many customers who previously

used the aeroplane for large area application, make the switch to helicopter application, due to the better coverage and less product waste.

Rotor Solutions are always trying to ensure helicopters have a better name in agriculture and are not just “drift causing cowboys”.

With their spot sprayer as an option to all customers this summer, the response has been amazing.

Monique Acton-Adams, general manager of Rotor Solutions said: “So many customers have been very keen to have their application of blackberry control done using the spot sprayer this summer and it is great to see the commitment from the customer to help minimise the risk of drift also.

‘The spot spraying effects have been excellent with areas customers had previously thought impossible to reach by ground or air, hit with amazing results.”

There is still time for late season blackberry spraying with some of the best kills Rotor Solutions owner, Hugh Acton-Adams, has seen in his career, sprayed into late April.

Rotor Solutions is locally owned and operated in North East Victoria and has been proudly setting the standard in precision agriculture for over a decade.

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North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer - Page 17

Leading the way for Mitta Valley farmers I plan to be in this community for a long time so I’m sure I’ll be volunteering and I want to do what I can to support farmers with healthy lifestyles and increase opportunities to develop their businesses.

- LAURA SUTHERLAND Laura has always enjoyed country living and hasn’t ventured too far from the region, studying at Charles Sturt University and working at Align Work Health in Albury.

She moved back to the farm six years ago to be closer to family and friends and enjoy “a lovely place to live”.

Now she’s learning a lot more about the region she loves while developing her personal skills in the leadership program.

“I’ve done local community work through the netball club and Mitta Mitta Muster; I like to participate and volunteer but I need the skills to do it properly,” Laura said.

“This program is helping with that.”

When the Gardiner Dairy Foundation scholarship opportunity appeared on her Facebook feed, she knew it was an opportunity too good to ignore.

“I plan to be in this community for a long time so I’m sure I’ll be volunteering and I want to do what I can to support farmers with healthy lifestyles and increase opportunities to develop their businesses,” she said.

Laura said the first half of the program had taught her to understand what type of leader she is, how to communicate with people and different types of leadership skills.

“There are little bits and pieces that make you a bet-

ter and more effective leader, such as governance and chairing meetings and better understanding other people’s skills,” she said.

“This course is about empowering people and making them better at the processes so we can go back to help our communities.”

Laura is also appreciating a bigger picture of the Alpine Valley, its industries and its people.

“One of the good things about the program is the people you meet,” she said.

“There are 28 people from different industries and at different stages of life that I would not normally connect with.

“They all bring different skills and you can see different leadership styles at play.”

She also finds the program very accommodating.

“Rosie was 12-weeks-old when the course started so I took her along with me for the first six months,” Laura said.

“The course facilitators and participants were really helpful and supportive.”

Laura had previously received a Gardiner Dairy Foundation scholarship during her first year at university.

“I follow the dairy industry because I have a great interest in its future and I couldn’t have done this program without the Gardiner Foundation support,” Laura said.

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LAURA Sutherland loved the freedom of growing up on a dairy farm and wants to give her children the same experience.

Laura was raised on a family dairy farm and now lives on the runoff property, five minutes from the home farm run by her father Chris and brother Jordan at Tallandoon in the Mitta Valley in North East Victoria.

“Growing up on the farm gave me freedom to explore and work things out on my own,” she said.

“Kids can go outside and play and develop skills you don’t get in town.”

She wants her children and future generations to have the same experiences and hopes a leadership program will give her expertise to help strengthen the local dairy industry and the broader community.

Laura is being sponsored

by Gardiner Dairy Foundation to undertake the Alpine Valleys Community Leadership program and says it will have lasting benefits for herself and the community.

“The dairy industry is something I feel strongly about,” Laura said.

“The Mitta Valley was once all dairy but there are hardly any dairy farmers left now.

“I hope through this course we can find different ways of doing things and try to improve the industry to make sure it has a positive future in this region.”

Although now working as a physiotherapist as well as raising two young girls, Eleanor and Rosie, Laura helps the family farm with administration and occupational health and safety.

“I am passionate about the dairy industry and would like to get further involved in some form,” she said.

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Page 18 - North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer

April 2020

Long-term view key to $100 billion agriculture target REACHING the target of $100 billion in agricultural output will require industry to take a long term view, and continue to take hard choices that lift farm productivity and keep Australian exports competitive against rivals, Australian Bureau of Agriculture Resources Economics and Sciences (ABARES) executive director Dr Steve Hatfield-Dodds told the 2020 ABARES Outlook Conference in Canberra recently.

“We have enjoyed a run of favourable output prices, particularly for livestock products.

“These higher prices have accounted for about 90 per cent of the increase in output value over two decades,” Dr Hatfield-Dodds said.

“While we all hope prices stay favourable, which ABARES considers likely for livestock over the next few years, getting to $100 billion will require hard work and tough choices.”

Dr Hatfield-Dodds listed several steps that would be vital to meeting the National Farmers Federation’s goal of lifting the value of Australian agricultural production

to $100 billion over the next decade, including maintaining the trend towards larger farms, as well as improvements in harnessing data and managing precious natural resources.

“Increased farm scale has accounted for more than two thirds of the growth in average broadacre farm income since 1990.

“Indeed, without this increase in scale it is not clear that farming would be financially attractive to the next generation,” he said.

“Farm consolidation helps diffuse better management practices, and many technologies and capital equipment have economies of scale.”

While farmers were already adapting to drier conditions over the past two decades that were impacting on farm profits, Dr HatfieldDodds said more challenges lay ahead.

Australia has one of the world’s most sophisticated water trading markets, designed to ensure water on the driest inhabited continent was put to best economic use.

EXPORT MARKET: Previous growth promised 2020 would be a great year for agricultural exports from Australia. With COVID-19, however, wreaking havoc on all international markets there is uncertainty as to how this will effect agricultural sales overseas.

“ABARES finds water trade delivers an average of $150 million in increased output value in the Murray Darling Basin each year - and four times that amount in a very dry year,” he said.

“Some communities are concerned about water trade moving water out of their region, and water recovery feels very here and now, while the benefits of a healthy working river feel distant - particularly in times of drought.

“We know that water markets are complex, and can be difficult to understand.

“ABARES analysis finds a combination of factors are putting upward pressure on price of water allocations.

“The fundamental driver is that water markets have unlocked new opportunities.

“People see these opportunities and are willing to bid for water to take advantage of them.

“Moving from old pat-

terns of water use to new ones can be disruptive.

“But it is also what puts food on the table, and keeps industry profitable.

“Recent perennial plantings, particularly of almonds, will help boost the value of Australian agriculture.

“That is important.

“These same almonds will also require more water as they come to maturity.

“This and other factors will see an ongoing trend

towards higher average prices - benefiting entitlement holders, but adding to the pressures on some farms and sectors.”

In an increasingly connected and competitive world, Dr Hatfield-Dodds said the producers and exporters of tomorrow must continue to focus on understanding consumers’ wants and needs, including being ready to substantiate claims around clean, healthy and sustainable food.

Farmers in the future could also benefit from being paid to deliver conservation and ecosystem services alongside existing agricultural production, potentially boosting landholder incomes substantially.

“I think the stars might be aligning to make this practical at scale, delivering a new source of income for farmers and a range of public good benefits to the wider community,” Dr HatfieldDodds said.

“The future will not be like the past. We will need to anticipate, innovate and collaborate to stay ahead of the curve.”

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WATER MANAGEMENT & IRRIGATION

$5 million to seed habitat recovery

LOCKED OUT: Deter farm theft by securely locking gates and buildings when not in attendance on rural properties.

Speak up on farm crimes

VICTORIA Police has joined forces with Crime Stoppers Victoria and Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) putting a focus on crimes affecting farmers as part of the ‘Locals Get Vocal’ campaign.

The campaign aims to draw attention to the issues the farming community face when their livelihoods are threatened by thieves.

Criminals commonly target farms to steal livestock, equipment, fuel, hay and firearms.

Farm crime coordinator, Inspector Karl Curran, said stealing from farm and properties had a huge impact.

“In the past 12 months, livestock worth more than $1.9 million was stolen across Victoria,” he said.

“There were 3588 crimes reported in the previous 12 months where tools, equip-

$1.9m stock stolen in Victoria over last 12 months ment, pumps, trailers and fuel were stolen equating to approximately $1.4 million.

“These crimes are facilitated by an abundance of property, isolation and remoteness.”

Insp Curran said rural properties were often targeted by offenders searching for firearms.

“There were 134 firearms, as well as ammunition, stolen during burglaries across the state over the past year,” he said.

“Most rural property owners use firearms as part of their jobs and offenders are well aware of this.

“While most firearms are safely stored, they are often kept on remote properties and the theft is sometimes not discovered for

days or even weeks.”

Insp Curran said it was important that farmers always reported thefts to police for investigation.

“Despite the significant impact these thefts have on Victorian farmers, we still have the issue of incidents not being reported,” he said.

“Having a comprehensive log of equipment and tools including make, model and serial numbers assists us trace stolen items and helps us solve crimes.

“All theft is worth reporting even if you don’t know the date it occurred.”

Insp Curran said the creation of the Farm Crime Coordination Unit in September last year

would oversee Victoria Police’s farm crime liaison officers.

“The new unit allows for the monitoring and coordination of all aspects of farm crime in the state providing clarity on crime trends - leading to an increase in the number of cases solved and ultimately reducing crime,” he said.

“It has also provided more consistent training to our farm crime liaison officers to enable the most up-to-date strategies and advice are provided to the farming and agricultural community.”

In Mansfield the farm crime officer is Sergeant Matt Bennett who can be contacted on 5775 2555.

For more information about Victoria Police’s farm crime liaison officers, please visit https://www.police.vic.gov.au/ farm-crime-liaison-officers or https://www.police.vic.gov.au/ farm-and-rural-safety.

THE Federal Government is funding a series of projects through Greening Australia that will enhance the protection of native habitats, build capacity in our native seed and nursery industry, and deliver a tenyear native seed and landscape restoration strategy.

Environment Minister Sussan Ley and Senator for Western Sydney Marise Payne, launched the project at Greening Australia’s seed production area in Richmond in mid February, just a few kilometres from the horrific Kurrajong fires, as part of the Commonwealth’s initial $50 million Wildlife and Habitat Bushfire Recovery package.

“Seeds are where so much of our recovery starts and the process of identifying, planning and gathering seed stores is incredibly complex,” Minister Ley said.

“With this funding, Greening Australia will be able to work closely with our expert panel to identify high priority plants and ecological communities.

“These are not seeds that can simply be purchased at a local nursery and an important part of the package is increasing the capacity of the native seed and nursery industry.”

Senator Payne said the funding was a critical part of the Morrison Government’s locally led approach to managing the risk of bushfires.

“Important ecological rejuvenation will be undertaken on the doorstep of where the Gospers Mountain mega blaze struck,” Senator Payne said.

“It will provide a critical boost to wildlife and habitat recovery.”

Greening Australia’s chief executive officer Brendan Foran outlined the extensive field work required to determine native seed supply needs, identify seed harvesting opportunities and produce the seeds and plants needed for landscape restoration.

“We will work with a broad range of stakeholders, including local communities, Indigenous groups, environmental and natural resource management organisations, government, fire agencies, fire ecologists, regulators and land managers,” Mr Foran said.

“To restore native vegetation we need to access seeds from those areas and that is an incredibly detailed process in itself.

“We need to know we are putting the right species in the right place to support both the natural plant life and the wildlife they support in our future climate.”

The delivery of the funding to Greening Australia is an important step in the wildlife and habitat recovery process.

Greening Australia has been conserving and restoring landscapes at scale through collaborative, science-based and innovative conservation programs for over 38 years.

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April 2020

Making the most of winter with liquid foliar fertiliser WITH hopefully some - at the very least - rain on the way, soil and foliar applications are the only tools available to stimulate pasture and crops in winter where adequate soil moisture is available but the low

temperature slows the energy supply.

In general terms for every 10 degrees Celsius drop of temperature, the rate of biological/enzymatic reaction is halved.

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Two of which are mentioned below, including: 1. Foliar uptake Foliar versus soil uptake helps plant growth in winter for two reasons.

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Firstly, uptake efficiency of soil applied nutrients is much lower than foliar.

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This is because when a nutrient is taken from the soil, energy is used on its uptake at

two distinct points.

Foliar uptake in contrast only uses energy once when ions are taken up from leaf free space into leaf cells.

2. Phosphate and nitrogen in foliar spray is essential to benefit from Integrated Fertiliser Management (IFM) It has been shown that when foliar phosphate is applied especially in sunlight, the root system develops pockets of activity

that are otherwise absent, these pockets exude hydrogen ion (by proton pumping) and organic acids to mobilise tied up soil nutrients.

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Segregating for grain quality on-farm using new technologies AGRICULTURE Victoria researchers are developing new sensor technologies that will enable growers to segregate pulse grains onfarm.

This research, which is being carried out through Agriculture Victoria and the Grains Research and Development Corporation’s (GRDC) Victorian Grains Innovation Partnership, could help farmers to capture higher prices by segregating grain based on quality before it leaves the farm.

Agriculture Victoria research scientist Dr Cassandra Walker, who is leading the project, said new imaging technologies are currently under development which can rapidly measure grain quality and will ultimately deliver significant benefits to growers.

“We are aiming to transfer these developments from within the lab to grain processing systems that can be used during harvest, allowing growers the option to segregate grain prior to delivery,” Dr Walker said.

In recent years there have been significant advances in technology which can measure the quality of cereals at harvest, such as grain moisture and protein.

Dr Walker said the project aimed to expand this concept by developing new systems that could measure quality traits of lentil, chick-

QUALITY CONTROL: Maximising grower returns, this sensor-based technology has the potential to revolutionise the industry. pea and field pea to enable growers to capture the maximum value for their pulse crops.

“We are particularly keen to take new laboratorybased segregation tools and demonstrate their value onfarm,” she said.

“To achieve this our grain quality and field scientists are working closely with the precision ag industry and growers to demonstrate the potential value at farm scale.”

The research is being undertaken in Horsham, at Agriculture Victoria’s Grains Innovation Park where new high through-put spectral imaging systems are being used to develop grain quality algorithms.

“This is world-class research and is highly specialised,” Dr Walker said.

“The program will test the ability of this technology to segregate grain for quality defects due to frost, heat, disease, and contaminants such as snails or foreign

seed - but the real value will be tested on-farm.”

Ashley Wallace, a research agronomist working on the program, said the research was also investigating quality degradation of grain during storage.

“This will provide industry with the knowledge to limit loss of quality associated with the storage of pulses, maximising the value of the product at the time of sale,” he said.

GRDC manager pulses and oilcrops, Dr Francis Ogbonnaya, said the findings of this research presents huge opportunities for growers.

“Growers will be able to add additional value to crops through objective segregation of high value grains to maximise their returns,” Dr Ogbonnaya said.

“Ultimately, if sensorbased technologies can be successfully employed onfarm, this will optimise the quality segregation process of grains and maximise grower returns.”

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North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer - Page 21

PASTURE AND FERTILISER COFFEE TIME: No one was telling this gentleman, snapped last week out the front of the Mansfield Coffee Merchant, that he wouldn’t be having his morning coffee and paper.

OATY DELIGHT: Making the humble oat that little bit more versatile, oat rice and oat noodles are now on the menu.

AEGIC oat rice and oat noodles getting rave reviews

GROWERS and grains industry players from around the country had the chance to taste an innovative oat “rice� dish at one of Australia’s biggest grains industry events, the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) Research Updates, in Perth on February 24.

The delicious and nutritious product was developed by oat research scientists at the Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre (AEGIC).

AEGIC’s oat program is aimed at increasing the value of premium Australian oats.

AEGIC barley and oat quality program manager Mark Tucek said AEGIC was striving to elevate oats from the breakfast table to becoming a go-to option for lunch and dinner. “Australian oats are highlyregarded in Asia and Australia for their excellent grain quality and health benefits,� he said. “Giving people more options to incorporate oats into their diet is great for healthconscious consumers.

“It’s fantastic for Australian growers because of the potential for increased demand in what is a premium market sector.�

Attendees at the Perth GRDC Research Updates had the chance to try a special oat rice dish prepared in the Crown Towers Perth kitchens as part of the official event menu.

AEGIC developed a processing method for oat “rice�, a product which can be cooked and eaten like regular rice but has the health benefits of oats.

The oats were processed and supplied by AEGIC. Mr Tucek said AEGIC has also developed oat noodles, which are receiving rave reviews from international customers. “For the first time, we can reveal that we’ve developed a processing method to make high-quality noodles from 100 per cent whole grain oat flour,� he said. “This is a significant achievement because making

high quality oat noodles with the texture and mouthfeel of wheat noodles is a real challenge. “Our noodles have exceptional eating quality, they look great, they have good shelf life, and they have all the health benefits of whole grain oats. “Recent international delegations have told us that our oat noodles have all the eating quality of wheat noodles.�

Mr Tucek said the project was originally focused on China, which has been increasing its oat consumption dramatically in recent years.

Between 2007 and 2017, Chinese imports of oats rose from 20,000mt to more than 200,000mt, a 900 per cent increase. China’s oat imports are expected to double again to 400,000mt over the next few years. “Up to $25 million in extra value could be captured if Australia secures a large share of the expected growth in Chinese oat demand over the next few years,� he said.

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Page 22 - North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer

April 2020

SHED, BARNS & GARAGES

WHATEVER THE NEED: Simply Better Sheds is the PJN guarantee.

BIG ON QUALITY: Customer satisfaction is a paramount which is why the team from PJN oversee the entire production and construction process of their sheds.

PJN building sheds into the future FOR over 35 years, PJN Steel Fabrication has been manufacturing superior quality, structural steel framed rural and industrial sheds.

They have built their brand on their unwavering commitment to being the best in their field.

From their expert advice on their engineered designs, to the in-house roll forming of the purlins and cladding, through to delivery and erection, each stage is overseen by the owner operators to en-

sure that every aspect meets the high standards of a PJN shed.

Last year this owner operated steel fabrication business rolled over into a second-generation, with Daniel Nadebaum and David Graham stepping up as the new directors of the company.

Daniel is the son of Phillip and Katrina Nadebaum, founders of the company.

Daniel has been in and around the company all his life and has worked for PJN

for the last 14 years.

David Graham joined PJN as an apprentice back in 1999 and has been with the company ever since, for the last 20 years.

Both Daniel and Dave share the commitment to quality that the company was built on, with both having a ‘Do it once, do it properly’ attitude.

“When we build sheds we are designing, engineering and building the shed to the absolute highest standard,

so that the shed will be there well into the future, for generations,” said Daniel.

The comprehensive inhouse processing and roll forming operation at PJN enables them to produce superior quality sheds while maintaining competitive pricing.

Clients also deal direct with the manufacturer from beginning to end, ensuring a high level of customer service and expert advice which provides customers with the knowledge that the building

is exactly suited to customers’ requirements.

“Daniel handles the sales, quoting and project management, and I handle the stock ordering, drawing and production side of things,” Dave said.

“So, every shed that we produce both Daniel and I have worked on.

“This gives us the highest quality control and ensures efficient erection once on site.”

PJN sheds are available in a

large range of configurations and colours with the standard range of sheds designed to offer maximum efficiency.

Alternatively, give Daniel a call to discuss custom shed designs to suit your specific requirements.

PJN sheds provide free, no obligation quotes and look forward to talking to you soon.

When you purchase a PJN shed, you really do get what the sign says : PJN- Simply Better Sheds.

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North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer - Page 23

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Ph (03) 5721 4419 mobile 0428 574 195 1 WENHAMS LANE, WANGARATTA

www.vicagshows.com.au or www.countryshows.com.au

DID YOU KNOW the North East Farmer newspaper reaches over 35,000 READERS every month?

NO KIDDING? Well, let’s call Michael and get our business in there!

NORTH EAST AND GOULBURN MURRAY

Part of the Farmer Group Rural Newspapers Covering Victoria

Call MICHAEL TODAY on 03 5731 3306 or email: mkidman@nemedia.com.au

TUESDAY "KING VALLEY RUN"

THURSDAY "BEECHWORTH, MYRTLEFORD RUN" PRE-BOOKED VETERINARY WORK

*FOR REDUCED TRAVEL PRICES*

32 WARBY STREET, WANGARATTA

5721 7177

Warby Street Vets COVID-19 Protocol Update At Warby Street Veterinary Hospital we are trying our best to keep everyone safe while continuing to care for your pets and livestock. We have made a few changes to how we operate in order to decrease the number of people congregating in the reception area.

Please phone ahead (5721 7177) BEFORE coming to the clinic for any reason (this includes before you come in to pick up medication).

When you arrive at the clinic please STAY IN YOUR CAR and phone us. We will let you know when the reception area is clear to enter.

Only one family member to enter the clinic at a time.

When paying we would prefer that you use card or direct transfer rather than cash or cheque.

We are still doing farm visits as usual, but will be asking you a few risk

assessment questions before each visit.

Please try to keep six feet away from staff members when in the clinic, or during farm visits.

Thank you for your understanding.

We really appreciate your help in our attempts to protect the vulnerable members of our community, and to “flatten the curve” and reduce the demand on our local healthcare system in the coming months.

Page 24 - North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer

April 2020

r e h t r u f r a l l o d r u o y Driving S/H John Shearer 27 Run 4 Bin Double Cups & Boots Direct Drill

$

Minos 3.5mt 28 disc, 11XD, Roller

$

S/H Crump 1 Tonne Trailing

S/H John Deere 1140 55hp

59,700 inc gst

19,500 inc gst

$

4,480

inc gst

$

15,000 inc gst

Abati BDS 8mt, 40 row seeder

$

132,700

Abati Titanium, BDS 3000 20 Row, 3m w/w Direct Drill

$

S/H Connor Shea 18 run Series 2 Disc Seeder Photo for illustration purposes only

$

S/H John Deere 3036E 36hp 4WD HST

$

inc gst

Vertikator 3m small grass seeder includes harrows and press wheels

71,800

New John Shearer 24 Run, “Airmatic”

$

14,750

Silvan Agrex 6t dual belt spreader

$

S/H John Shearer 28 plate new discs Also: Gibbons Rawling 18 plate $12,000

$

inc gst

inc gst

12,500 inc gst

$

17,600 inc gst

89,900 inc gst

NEW Farm Tech Seeder 2.4m 130lt 12 volt seeder and harrows

$

S/H Connor Shea 8000 22 Tine with Coulters

$

14,100 inc gst

29,700 inc gst

31,500

Lehner 170lt bait spreader

$

14,750

S/H Yeoman 5 tine Ripper with Coulters

$

inc gst

inc gst

Abati 12mt, 36 row on 300mm spacing’s

Grizzly Wheel Track Renovator, 4mt

$

4,360

S/H Celli Linkage Rotera with Seed Box & Cage Roller

$

35,000

Celli 4.5mt folding linkage mulcher

$

79,000

S/H McCormick 165hp 4WD CAB

inc gst

Nobili 4mt heavy duty mulcher

$

New Landini Power Farm 110 4WD CAB FEL 4in1 Bucket

$

inc gst

inc gst

13,200 inc gst

29,900

NEW Yeoman 3.43m frame 9x26” shank deep ripper, also 3m with Hyd Roller $16,400

47,916

S/H Landini 6cyl 110hp 4WD CAB with new FEL 4in1 Bucket and Forks

inc gst

$

inc gst

$

NEW Kanga 6m Hydraulic Folding Harrow

3,975

inc gst

$

17,800 inc gst

$

58,300 inc gst

$

S/H McCormick CX105 4WD CAB FEL Bucket and Forks

$

21,850 inc gst

7,240

S/H John Shearer 7.2m 41 tine folding scarifier

$

19,980

Commander Ag 46’x9” Grain Auger

$

$

inc gst

$

inc gst

Iris 1160lt multi manure/fert. spreader

inc gst

Grizzly 28 Plate Disc Plow

129,200

4,345

DEM

New Farm Pro 1.3 Cubic Trailing Grain feeder electric remote control

$

inc gst

17,350 inc gst

51,000 inc gst

6,500

inc gst

6,600

inc gst

O

2.5mt Maschio 5 tine ripper

$

Boomarang Mark 6 Feeds out round bales and big square bales

$

S/H Hardi 2000lt Trailing Sprayer with 20m boom

$

12,750 inc gst

15,440 inc gst

13,750 inc gst

er h t r u F r a ll o D r u o Y g Drivin 355 Benalla Road Shepparton

(03) 5821 4411 Leo 0419 399 109

www.konigs.com.au

LMCT 11745