North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer - June 2021

Published since 1986

JUNE, 2021

www.farmernews.com.au

Big deal for walnut farmers PAGE 4

Saving the brumbies in Victoria PAGE 10

THE MESSAGE IS CLEAR

REGULATIONS allowing camping on crown land provide a ‘one size fits all’ approach across the state, where river systems and topography are widely diverse, and ecosystems and use of crown land vary significantly. On Tuesday, May 25 regional Victoria converged on Parliament House to vocalise this multitude of concerns, in the hope that metropolitan Melbourne would listen to their rural neighbours.

Turn to page 2 for the story.

Better budget deal for farmers PAGE 20

The untapped goodness of persimmons

By EMMA OLIVER WITH demand exceeding supply, and a domestic market that is growing at a good rate, Chris Stillard, Barooga based persimmon grower and president of Persimmons Australia, sees the huge potential for this orange fruit, himself

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investing significantly in the crop to become one of the largest producers of sweet persimmons in Australia.

“Local recognition and appreciation of persimmons is steadily on the rise,” said Chris as the local season draws to a close, and consumers look to imported fruit to fill the void.

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In season from late February to mid-June, Australia imports a further 445 tonnes of fruit between June and November to meet local demand, and is not yet producing the quantities needed to develop significant export markets.

Producing annually just over 2500 tonnes - with

a gross value of $11.6 million - Australia’s harvest represents less than one per cent of world production, with Chris seeing not only the huge opportunity for regional expansion of new varieties to close this market gap domestically, but also the potential of developing a more robust export market .

The New South Wales Department of Primary Industries spruik persimmons as one of the ‘next up and coming emerging markets’.

“The market does need to get to a point of surplus, before we can tackle the holy grail of exporting,” Chris said.

“Persimmons should not

be refrigerated as this will hasten the decaying process of the fruit, so the potential at the moment is for Australian producers to trial different varietals to extend the season, and then look to developing the export market during the Northern Hemisphere off-season.

■ Continued pages 6-7

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Page 2 - North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer NORTH EAST AND GOULBURN MURRAY

Est. 1984

Covering North East Victoria, Southern New South Wales and Goulburn Murray Valleys 37 Rowan Street,Wangaratta Victoria, 3677

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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.

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June 2021

Stand up and be heard Mounting concern in regional Victoria over crown land legislation

By EMMA OLIVER NUMEROUS local community groups have added their voice to growing concern regarding impending legislation allowing camping on licensed river frontage.

As of September 1, camping on licensed riverfront will become a legal right, after amendments to the Lands Act 1958 were passed in the Upper House of State Parliament in November.

Currently the 32 pages of regulations governing the legislation are under development, with amendments to the legislation being considered by the Lower House.

With the lower and upper house meeting on Tuesday, May 25 concerned community members from across the North East organised a rally to take place on the steps of Parliament House opposing the legislation.

From Landcare to landholders, from fly fishermen to community action groups and retirees on their dream block, this city-centric legislation impacts more than the agricultural community with their grazing licences, and so at Parliament House on Tuesday, regional Victoria went to have their voice heard, and ultimately to be seen.

Belinda Pearce, a beef farmer from Kergunyah with a grazing licence for the Kiewa River, was one of the organisers of the demonstration, along with friend and fellow

beef farmer Judy Cardwell, who is based at Mitta Mitta.

“We’re just individual people who are concerned regarding the implications of these laws,” Ms Pearce said.

“We’re not a particular group with specific affiliations.

“We all have different concerns and our placards on the day represented this, however, to all of us - regardless of our motivation - this legislation is wrong on so many levels.”

The groundswell of support for the rally was heartening for both Belinda and Judy, who were overwhelmed with enquiries and quickly filled a 48 seater bus with people from the North East keen to vocalise their concern.

“The date of the rally was a strategic choice due to both houses of parliament sitting,” Ms Pearce said.

“We wanted to bring attention to the issue outside, while inside an empathetic member could pose a question to parliament regarding liability.”

With danger to the public one of Ms Pearce’s main concerns, she is also worried as to the legal ramifications should somebody be injured, potentially fatally, on land where she is the crown grazing licence holder.

“The government indemnifies themselves on the licence from all liability, so my question is what happens if one smouldering campfire turns into a grass fire which escalates to a bushfire? she asked.

“What is my responsibility, if one road gate is left open by campers and stock on the road cause an accident, or injury, or even worse a fatality?

“River red gums are known for dropping branches, am I liable for a member of the public injured by falling trees on my licensed river front?

“And what of animal welfare, when we have campers bringing untethered dogs, and guns and motorbikes, directly onto our boundaries?

“If the law comes in without these concerns addressed, I’ll be handing back my licence, and with that all the responsibility for pest and weed control on the site, along with keeping it in good order and removing any rubbish.

“Who’s going to do that then, with Parks and DELWP already stretched and stripped of funding?

“Believe me I’m all in favour of people enjoying the great outdoors, but let’s not do it at somebody else’s expense.

“Let’s improve the existing reserves we have.

“There are other options that create a win win situation: getting people outside and embracing their environment while farmers can get on with the business of providing food.”

When not taking it to the streets of parliament, more community members are stepping forward in their locality, unable to remain

quiet about an issue which at best is problematic, and at worst has major ramifications that affect livelihood, biosecurity, the natural environment, and perhaps most importantly public safety.

Representing the Mansfield and District Fly Fishing Club (MADFFC), secretary Graham Godber wants legislators to realise that though the legislation is driven by the Victorian Fisheries Authority, the sentiment is not shared by numerous fishing clubs and associations throughout the state.

Along the mountain-fed Jamieson River, and in spots along the Queens Creek (part of the watershed from the King River, just near Cheshunt), Mr Godber along with a group of dedicated trout enthusiasts has been quietly going about the rejuvenation of wild trout stocks in the state’s waterways.

Attrition rates among wildspawned fish are incredibly high, with predation and extremes in water flow, temperature and climatic conditions all contributing to their demise, so assistance using hatchery progeny from Snobs Creek has been essential to the recovery of wild trout in the streams and waterways of the region.

However, it is still a work in progress, with locations along the Upper Goulburn River and further tributaries of the King River, as well as the Dargo River in central Gippsland, also under trial.

■ Continued page 3

NUMEROUS ISSUES: Concerned community members feel that the state-wide approach allowing camping on crown land does not take into consideration issues with water catchment, fragile ecosystems or even biosecurity in regional Victoria.

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From page 2 These regions will all be impacted by the amendment to the Lands Act. Hatchery progeny are subject to loss of natural instinct and ability to breed in the wild, so though there have been positive results on fish numbers in streams by using predominantly hatchery-raised ova, there is also the concern that the program is breeding sterile fish.

“We need wild fish to survive in the wild,” said Mr Godber.

“And we haven’t got that - a vibrant, healthy wild trout fishery in Victoria.

“Unfortunately it doesn’t exist.

“It’s been jeopardised by over-fishing - the over utilisation of a finite resource.

“It’s a fishery in distress, and that’s seriously so.

“This legislation will further exacerbate a problem that already exists.”

MADFFC have also been incredibly pro-active on in-stream rehabilitation and repair, which has been ongoing with members volunteering time and labour to support natural ecosystems in order for fish to flourish.

“Camping along many of these river frontages will negate a whole lot of work we have done, with most people I speak to concerned about water pollution, along with degradation of the natural environment,” Mr Godber said.

Former Mansfield Shire councillor and acting president of the Jamieson Community Group, Russell Bate, reiterated concerns regarding waste and water quality.

“There is no differentiation between our Alpine rivers and the lower Murray, which is ridiculous that you have this universal rule that doesn’t take things like water catchment into consideration,” Mr Bate said.

“In the Shire of Mansfield there are numerous regulations which prevent developing on less than 100 acres in a water catchment area, with Lake Eildon designated a potable water

North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer - Page 3 dam for supply to Melbourne.

“Councillors and citizens alike have to jump through a huge amount of hoops to build in the region to ensure things like the domestic waste water plan meet all engineering criteria.

“Yet somebody can now camp within 20 metres of a waterway, and as long as they are supposedly 50 metres from the water, dig a hole and go to the toilet.

“They can also take half a cubic metre of wood per day to burn, so should they decide to stay the full 28 days they are entitled to, that’s 14 cubic metres in a riparian zone.

“This is an area where many licence holders and Landcare groups have been planting gums and wattles, and groundstorey to maintain the quality of the environment.

“Where a fallen tree is as important a part of the environment as standing timber is.

“It beggars belief.

“And this doesn’t even begin to address biosecurity and communicable diseases when camping near farmland.

“With billions spent on funding biosecurity measures in the federal budget, it seems ridiculous to be camping in a riparian zone,.

“There is a planned app which campers can download to direct them to crown land, however, apart from the concerns that it opens up the entire region with no consideration to access points, the government mapping site unfortunately is not current.

“The river flat has moved over the years, and the boundaries of many properties have changed significantly since when they were first surveyed, so the area that is crown land is not very clear.

“The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning understand this, and are relatively empathetic to the issue.

“This is a Fisheries driven initiative, and though the legislation may look great to an urban

Melbourne electorate, it really doesn’t work for anybody who lives outside of the city.

“And with the legislation passed unfortunately, the government is now scrambling to regulate it.

“But then the question is posed - who will enforce it?

“DELWP is responsible for crown land, but they’ll need extra staff and an increased budget to contend with potential issues.

“Fisheries have indicated they will have a 24 hour complaints line.

“And then the last resort is the local police force, which is already stretched, without attending unregistered camp sites across the shire.”

Bruce McCormack, president of the Mountain Cattlemen’s Association of Victoria, has the Delatite River running along the boundary of his family farm in Merrijig, and could very shortly have one of those campsites set up beside his river paddock.

“I’m flabbergasted that the draft regulations weren’t released when they were calling for public feedback, meaning the legislators wanted us to have an opinion on rules we weren’t aware of,” Mr McCormack said.

“There’s no due process there, and now we have only until September to sort out the details as the amendment has been passed.”

Mr McCormack said his concerns were many: from liability insurance to stock management, biosecurity and personal safety.

Over 30 years ago, Mr McCormack diversified his income to also include trail rides from his Delatite River paddocks, which is now a cause of concern.

“Imagine if campers were down on the river and we had horses come up, only to have someone kicked,” he said.

“Am I responsible for their safety on my own property?

“I understand people want places to camp and fish, but why does leisure come before the livelihood of a rural community?”

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June 2021

Local grower breaking into new nut markets

By LAURIE SULLIVAN A LOCAL family-owned company that pioneered walnut growing in the North East has embarked on an exciting new chapter in the history of the industry in Australia.

Gapsted Walnuts installed a cutting-edge processing plant opening earlier this year at Tatura East, just in time to process this year’s bumper harvest.

The plant is the result of a joint venture with two other growers to form the Victorian

Walnut Company, which imported machinery from the US to process locally grown nuts.

VWC’s services include walnut hulling and cleaning, drying, in-shell walnut grading and packing, walnut kernel production, sorting and packing.

The company is also value adding, selling finished goods under its own brand.

Gapsted Walnut’s Stephen James said delivery of the highly specialised equipment was hampered by delays due to COVID-19.

GROWTH INDUSTRY: Gapsted walnut grower Stephen James’s new venture is a new chapter in his family’s long history in the industry locally.

“A lot of people, including many local tradespeople, worked very hard to get this facility up and running in time for the 2021 season,” Mr James said.

“We felt there was a need for a processing facility accessible to all growers that was large enough to cater for the expected growth in walnut plantings over coming years.”

The company now employs nine workers - all from the local area.

With this year’s harvest now complete, Gapsted walnuts

are on their way to market including this weekend’s La Fiera farmers market.

With around 20 walnut growers, North East Victoria is a significant walnut growing region, producing 200 to 300 tonnes each year.

Stretching back three generations to the 1930s, Mr James’ family is inextricably linked with walnut growing in Australia.

Production is growing steadily here, with the industry set to crack the $95 million mark in the total value

of production by 2030.

While the local orchards are among the oldest orchards in the country, growers continue to expand their orchards to meet expected future demand.

President of the Australian Walnut Industry Association, Michele Valier, told the Myrtleford Times/Alpine Observer that their sweeter flavour is the reason for the Australian-grown nuts growing popularity.

“Australian walnut growers are producing some of the best

quality walnuts in the world utilising world-class processing systems that provide consumers with the confidence that Australian nuts are safe and reliable,” Mr Valier said.

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North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer - Page 5

Scientist leads research for higher yielding crops AFTER three years of research, a significant paper for the grains industry and growers has been published by a Victorian scientist, reporting on yield losses caused by barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) infection in wheat and barley.

Agriculture Victoria molecular epidemiologist Narelle Nancarrow said her research will help growers understand the importance of disease control and the devastating effects viruses can have if left untreated.

“We investigated the effects of BYDV on wheat and barley under typical southeastern Australian conditions; and we harvested the grain to measure yield and yield components,” Ms Nancarrow said.

“We found the virus infection severely reduced grain yield by up to 84 per cent in wheat and up to 64 per cent in barley, with the grain number being the most affected.”

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Ms Nancarrow said there is little that can be done once a plant is infected with the virus, therefore prevention and management are vital.

“Typical symptoms of BYDV infection include stunted growth and yellow or red leaf discolouration that starts at the tip of the leaf and spreads towards the base,” she said.

“Leaf discolouration is typically bright yellow in barley, and yellow and/or reddish in wheat.”

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“It is important to control the grasses and volunteer cereals around the crop that could potentially be reservoirs for viruses and aphids, and to monitor crops regularly for the presence of aphids, virus symptoms and beneficial insects,” Ms Nancarrow said.

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Page 6 - North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer

June 2021

The untapped goodness of persimmons ■

ORANGE GOODNESS: Persimmons should be kept at room temperature away from direct sunlight for best storage results, and as long as the calyx is still intact the fruit will not ripen off the tree.

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From page 1 “But that said the domestic market is still relatively untapped, with room to grow.

“With more fruit making it into local supermarkets it is getting bought and tried though, and we’re seeing return customers.

“So the feeling is incredibly optimistic.”

Currently with seven hectares under persimmons, Chris’s love affair with persimmons began 17 years ago, when he leased Marboc, his uncle’s property in the New South Wales border town of Barooga on the Murray River.

Producing lucerne and cereal hay, Chris’s uncle had also diversified into persimmons, believing the horticultural route was the best fit for maintaining and improving the good quality soil that the Barooga based property was blessed with.

“Instead of buying more land and getting bigger, my uncle decided the prudent path was to improve on the land he had,” Chris said.

It is a belief that Chris also shares, for though he himself has expanded on the property and continues to farm lucerne, pure clover and oaten hay, he is also in the process of planting out an additional 3000 persimmon trees on the original property, to

bring the total to 7000.

“Persimmons are an autumn crop, so the beauty of it all is that just as the lucerne finishes up midApril, we start picking persimmons in early May,” said Chris.

“The production cycles don’t clash, and as we also have two different varieties of the fruit on the farm - Jiro which is an early variety, and Fuyu which is late - when one is finishing up, we move to the next.

“If the tree is healthy, the fruit is also quite happy to stay on the tree for a reasonable amount of time.

“And as the fruit doesn’t ripen off the tree, if you want the full sweetness of the fruit you do need to leave it on the tree for longer.”

Large, heart shaped fruit that range in colour from pale orange to deep red-orange, original persimmons need to be harvested when fully mature and the flesh is soft and jelly-like, otherwise the fruit is incredibly astringent.

Sweet persimmon, which equate to over 90 per cent of Australian production, are a smaller, round fruit with a diameter of around 10 centimetres and a slightly flattened top with a green stem called a calyx.

Both varietals that Chris grows are sweet persimmon.

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Ranging in colour from pale orange to deep red-orange, the sweet persimmon is nonastringent and has an edible peel and can be eaten either when it is crisp and crunchy or soft depending on preference and purpose.

A temperate fruit with a sweet, honeyed flavour, persimmons grow all the way down the east coast of Australia, from the cooler climes of the Atherton Tablelands in north east Queensland to the High Country of Stanley and Myrtleford.

The fruit doesn’t get knocked around by the cold, with the only concern that the season can get too cool before the fruit has finished ripening.

Australia exports 183 tonnes of persimmons annually - primarily to Singapore and Malaysia with only 120 persimmon growers nationally.

The majority of these growers are small scale producers, with persimmons added as a subsidiary crop to their business model.

There is only a handful of growers who have between 5000 and 10,000 trees, and who like Chris concentrate their horticultural efforts on persimmons.

■ Continued page 7

June 2021

North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer - Page 7

■

BRED FOR AUSTRALIAN CONDITIONS HONEYED TASTE: Sweet persimmon, which equate to over 90 per cent of Australian production, are a smaller, round fruit with a diameter of around 10 centimetres and a slightly flattened top with a green stem called a calyx. so it’s wise to thin the tree in spring so that your fruiting numbers are a good number, and as the fruit tends to grow on fresh wood, it’s always good to remove the old wood.

“Also as persimmon trees bear fruit every alternate year, the following season this bi-annual tree will put on a light crop, so it does have to be managed.

“Although reasonably hardy, they do require looking after, and you do want to put them on your best soils on the farms.”

Like Chris’s uncle did many years ago when diversifying into horticulture.

This decision to plant persimmons has dictated the direction Chris’s life has taken since he took over the family farm.

On the executive body of Persimmons Australia for 12 years, Chris is going into his fourth year as president, and his passion for this orange fruit doesn’t appear

to be abating.

“I have the interest and the desire to see the industry going forward, and I enjoy communicating with growers, working through their problems and wins, and sharing information,” he said.

“There’s still not a lot known about the agronomy of persimmons, because we’re still quite a fledgling industry in Australia.

“However, all members of Persimmons Australia do contribute a small levy towards research and development so we can broaden our knowledge, both on a domestic level, but also looking to the growers overseas, and we do encourage sharing of information so that growers are talking to growers, for the benefit of the industry overall.

“Which is a sentiment we all seem to share.

“We just want to see the industry thrive, as we all see the massive potential.”

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From page 6 Queensland in the last 20 years has grown the majority of the fruit commanding between 50 and 60 per cent of the market, however, as the popularity of the fruit has increased so too have southern growers looking to break into the market.

“New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia are really hitting their straps,” said Chris.

“And it won’t be long before Victoria and New South Wales are the bigger producers, as there has been a proliferation of plantings in southern regions recently.”

In fact popularity for the orange fruiting tree in southern growing regions, has seen some nurseries record a two to three year wait on persimmons as more growers become interested in the fruit.

Less productive than stone fruit, growers are looking at an average of five years dependent on the variety, before they see a return on their investment.

“The industry average is 17 tonnes per hectare,” Chris said of production, “with commercial returns for producers on the fruit between $2 and $6.50 per kilo, for the top tier fruit.

“I have had yields of up to 30 tonnes in the orchard, generally though, if you let your tree grow too much fruit, you do end up with smaller sized persimmons.

“Size is worth money,

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Page 8 - North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer

June 2021

New support to tackle fruit fly and protect horticulture jobs

Other sizes available

HORTICULTURAL PEST: As part of the budget investment, $5.3 million will be available in grants for Victoria’s three key horticultural regions - the Yarra Valley, Sunraysia and the Goulburn Murray - to manage Queensland fruit fly. ley, Sunraysia and the Goulburn Murray.

These grants will fund regional fruit fly co-ordinators to deliver on-ground help to manage Queensland fruit fly such as monitoring, community awareness programs, hot spot management and trialling of new techniques for improved management.

“We are listening to our horticulture farmers who have overwhelmingly voiced their support for the continuation of fruit fly regional co-ordinators and the programs they deliver,” said Minister for Agriculture Mary-Anne Thomas.

The strategy will build on the successes of the Managing Fruit Fly in Victoria Ac-

tion Plan 2015-2020.

In addition, it will keep Victoria free from biosecurity risks such as exotic fruit fly species while investing in research, contributing to national systems and facilitating trade.

The Fruit Fly Strategy for Victoria 2021-25 will be released next month, with implementation to begin soon after.

The budget initiative supports the State Government’s Agriculture Strategy and will help to ensure Victorian growers are well placed to respond to biosecurity risks, while promoting and building confidence in the sector for international markets and the community.

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VICTORIA’S capacity to manage Queensland fruit fly and protect horticultural production and jobs will be reinforced with a $6.4 million investment in the Victorian budget 2021/22.

Queensland fruit fly is a serious pest that can affect production and markets in horticulture industries with more than $1 billion of Victoria’s horticultural exports susceptible to damage from fruit fly.

The State Government’s investment will back the implementation of the Fruit Fly Strategy for Victoria, which promotes a community and industry-led approach to the issue.

Managing Queensland fruit fly is essential to protecting the 14,000 jobs supported by horticulture production across the state.

Fruit fly can build up in home gardens and unmanaged lands which then leads to problems on productive farms.

The strategy, which has been developed in close consultation with industry, will deliver awareness programs that empower the community and growers to keep their crops free of damage from Queensland fruit fly.

As part of the budget investment, $5.3 million will be available in grants for Victoria’s three key horticultural regions - the Yarra Val-

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June 2021

North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer - Page 9

Victorian Government applauded for its fruit fly initiative THE Victorian Government has got it right in controlling the dreaded Queensland fruit fly (Qfly), according to Cobram and District Fruit Growers Association president Tony Siciliano.

“The multi award-winning Goulburn Murray Valley Fruit Fly Area Wide Management Program has been an outstanding success for industry, government and community across the five local government areas comprising the Goulburn Murray Valley (GMV),” Mr Siciliano said.

The program has reduced Qfly populations in the GMV region by 60 per cent and a whopping 83 per cent in the township of Cobram.

It has generated over 3000 community volunteers and removed more than 97,000 unmanaged fruit trees that would otherwise be a breeding ground for fruit fly.

From a research perspective, the program manages multiple trapping grids that provide weekly updates to the community, industry, government and research organisations in Australia and overseas.

“I cannot think of any other Victorian Govern-

RIPE FOR THE PICKING:The Queensland fruit fly is an established pest in Victoria, however, the Goulburn Murray Valley Fruit Fly Area Wide Management Program has been an outstanding success for industry, government and community across the five local government areas comprising the Goulburn Murray Valley. ment funded project that has generated a return on investment of $5 for every $1 invested and at the same time united the community, industry and government in the fight against fruit fly to protect the Victorian economy,” Mr Siciliano said.

“This is a Victorian success story that should be shared

with fruit fly stakeholders throughout Australia.

“I was both dismayed and disappointed, together with many in the industry, that the outstanding achievements of this program were overlooked at the recent 2021National Fruit Fly Symposium.

“Our growers believe that

the extraordinary results achieved in this Fruit Fly Area Wide Management (FFAWM) Program also need be acknowledged by Agriculture Victoria and formally incorporated into the core component of the Victorian Government’s Fruit Fly Strategy 2021-2025.”

Qfly was an exotic pest in

Victoria and still is in South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania, however, legislation has now determined that Qfly is an established pest in Victoria.

“We need to vigorously protect Victorian horticulture and prevent Qfly incursions into our interstate and overseas exports,” Mr Siciliano said.

“We have the solution in our grasp, we should use this FFAWM model and utilise the community, industry and government to create awareness, education and engagement to monitor and control Qfly as well as other exotic species of fruit fly, such as Mediterranean fruit fly, in Victoria.

“Imagine if everyone was aware, educated and engaged in detecting and managing exotic fruit fly incursions in our state.”

Federal and State Government funding currently targets fruit fly research as a method of controlling fruit fly, but research can sometimes take decades to achieve results.

Alternately, FFAWM based on the GMV model provides real results and immediate action through having ‘boots on the ground’ now.

“Congratulations and ‘thumbs up’ to the Victorian Government for continuing to fund this multi award winning FFAWM project during this financial year, let’s share the knowledge and success it has achieved in the GMV with Horticulture Australia and more broadly,” Mr Siciliano said.

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Page 10 - North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer

June 2021

Moratorium demanded on brumby cull

By EMMA OLIVER

POLITICAL SUPPORT: Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell MP joined Charlie Lovick at the rally to add her voice in support of stopping the cull.

ON Wednesday, May 5 Mansfield local Clara McCormack rode Rocky the brumby to the steps of Parliament House calling for a moratorium on culling brumbies in Victoria.

Leading a rally of several hundred from Treasury Gardens, the group presented the leader of the Liberal Party Michael O’Brien, with a petition of 177,000 signatures calling on the government for the slaughter of wild horses to stop.

Labor Minister for the Environment Lily D’Ambrosio was invited to receive the petition, as the cull falls under her jurisdiction, however, she failed to attend the rally, with the Liberal leader Michael O’Brien assuring the rally that he would pass the petition on to Ms D’Ambrosio.

As yet, organisers of the demonstration have not received a response to the petition.

“We’re just asking the government to refrain from shooting any brumbies, until we’ve had a good sit down talk with them about managing the problem,” said mountain cattleman Charlie Lovick.

“There are plenty of other options that we have put on the table to control numbers, but they seem intent on culling our heritage horses without giving us the opportunity to prove our worth and manage the brumbies as we know how.”

Taking Rocky the brumby to Melbourne was a case in point, for rally organisers.

Caught in Omeo a couple of years ago, Charlie Lovick has re-trained the wild horse, and though Rocky had never been to the city before - nor twelve year old Clara on horseback for that matter - this glorious little brumby acquitted himself so beautifully that everybody fell in love with him.

“It just demonstrated how

well brumbies respond to being caught and broken in, and ultimately become these great horses that kids can manage and ride,” Mr Lovick said.

“We only had Rocky at the rally - only one on horseback - as it was all about the brumby, and we wanted him to be centre stage.”

On the steps of Parliament, Mr Lovick spoke passionately about the cause along with numerous other speakers, with Liberal member for Northern Victoria, Wendy Lovell, and state member for Eildon, Cindy McLeish, throwing their support behind the rally.

The rally in early May was just part of a more extensive campaign that not only includes petitions and demonstration, but also physical actions with solutions, with the ultimate goal to force parliament to take notice and address community concern.

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North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer - Page 11 BARMAH BRUMBIES: The Barmah Brumby Preservation Group standing in defiance against government policy that insists on shooting these heritage horses rather than transfer them to an allocated sanctuary.

PARLIAMENT HOUSE: Clara McCormack on Rocky on the steps of Parliament, beside Charlie Lovick as he addresses the crowd.

■

From page 10 On Friday, May 21 a group of around 60 gathered at the Merrijig Motor Inn, in support of protecting the iconic alpine brumbies.

Rocky was in attendance again.

On the third weekend of June, a more clandestine operation has been scheduled in to stop the shooting of brumbies.

Barmah is on the Victorian border, east of Echuca, on the edge of the Murray Valley National Park.

The Barmah Brumby Preservation Group have been particularly proactive in fundraising, both on a national and international scale, to create a sanctuary for the Barmah brumbies effectively removing them from the national park.

However, having come to loggerheads with the Labor Government, Parks Victoria and the Yorta Yorta Corporation, the group have had to make a stand.

According to the group,

they have been told by Parks Victoria that they would rather shoot the Barmah brumbies than trap and rehome them to the sanctuary.

In response, the group along with Charlie Lovick and the horse men and women of the High Country, intend to muster the horses themselves and take them to safety, running the mob into the sanctuary.

“The government seem to be trying their hardest to eliminate all possibility that the people like ourselves who know the horses, can catch the horses and can re-train the horses - have anything to do with managing the problem,” said Mr Lovick.

“The only expertise the government seems to have in handling brumbies is to shoot them.”

Charlie Lovick also wants legislators to address the bigger issue of leaving brumby carcasses in Alpine regions, exacerbating a wild dog problem that is

already out of control.

“It seems counter-productive when talking about eradicating introduced species, to provide a readily available food source to these predators, effectively extending their breeding season and allowing subordinate bitches to raise litters,” Mr Lovick said.

“There are so many concerns with the current policy.

“And it has inspired a real cross section of the community to support the cause.

“There is no financial benefit, no ulterior motivation.

“We just are happy to go into the High Country, and bring the horses in.

“Some will be re-trained and others to go into allocated sanctuaries, but all done humanely without injury to the animals.

“And we’ll keep the billy boiling until the government allows this to happen.

“We won’t stand for the continued shooting of brumbies.”

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PETITION: Leader of the Liberal Party Michael O’Brien - with a petition of 177,000 signatures calling on the government to stop the slaughter of wild horses - said he would hand the documents over to the Labor government who are enforcing the controversial policy.

Page 12 - North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer

June 2021

How to get on-farm composting right

By DAVID SHAMBROOK, AGRICULTURE VICTORIA DAIRY EXTENSION OFFICER

HANDFUL OF MAGIC: The proof is in the paddock when farmers do take the time and effort to compost.

FARM effluent and manure along with left over materials such as wasted feed, wood chips, rice hulls, fouled bedding materials and tree prunings are all materials that could be used to produce a compost and be recycled back on the farm.

What are the benefits of producing compost?

Compost, if it is made correctly will allow you to: z handle, store, transport and spread organic by-products back to land; z recycle high carbon low nitrogen materials back to the land, without tying up as much soil nitrogen while they are going through biological processes; z produce a safe, stable soil amendment with slow release nutrients in organic forms; and z improve soil fertility, soil structure and general soil health.

If you choose on-farm composting, then you need to plan to do the process properly which requires the use of costly, specialised equipment, an area of land set aside for compost making and storage of materials, and the time to perform the tasks required.

Additionally, you need to consider that the end product will have a lower volume, lower carbon and nitrogen than the original materials with high C:N ratios.

If you believe the benefits of containing and recycling the organic by-products generated on-farm by producing compost outweigh the costs of managing the complex production process, then what do you need to know for it to be successful?

Composting is a biological process, carried out by microorganisms that are naturally present in the environment, therefore no special inoculants are required.

What you need to provide is organic materials in

the right proportions, with moisture, and the microbes will do the rest.

Understanding the conditions required by composting microbes is important for successful composting.

Microorganisms have three basic needs and when these are provided, the composting process will proceed, and the mix will heat up as required. These needs are: z oxygen (greater than 5 per cent); z adequate moisture (45 to 65 per cent moisture); z suitable food supply (material with carbon to nitrogen ratio of 30-40:1).

If you provide the above conditions the composting process will begin, and the pile of material will start heating up. This part of the process is called the thermophyllic stage where intensive decomposition of organic residues is occurring, reaching temperatures of between 45C and 65C. ■ Continued page 13

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North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer - Page 13

Temperature is key factor in composting. The use of a gauge to monitor the temperature and regularly checking moisture content by squeezing handfuls of the material will help maintain appropriate temperatures.

The temperature needs to hold for at least three days to ensure sterilization of pathogens, diseases and weed seeds occurs.

At the end of this stage, all the readily available organic substrate has been exhausted and the temperature cools down allowing the compost to cure or mature.

The whole process could take several months depending on how quickly the material heats up and when all the readily available substrate has decomposed.

The whole composting process needs to be monitored, making sure the conditions for the microbes is kept reasonably constant for them to breakdown the material.

Providing a balance of smaller and larger particle sized materials will al-

low effective aeration to be achieved for microbes to access oxygen.

Regular turning of the material for aeration and addition of water to maintain the moisture levels, particularly as moisture is lost in the heating process, will also aid the process.

On-farm production of compost is best suited to using what is called the windrow method.

This involves creating windrows of the organic material that are around 1.5 metres high and 2 to 3 metres wide at the base. Ideally the site should have a level compacted surface such as concrete, crushed rock or gravel or compacted soil.

This method allows easier turning of the material and watering, as required, to maintain the temperature within the windrow.

When selecting a site for compost making, also consider the potential for runoff, odour, groundwater reserves and movement of windborne particles.

Before embarking on large scale production of compost we recommend

you do a test stack or small windrow, using waste organic materials you have ready access to on the farm.

Keep a record of what you do and what the compost was like at the end of the process.

This will enable you to see if the materials you have will provide the right carbon to nitrogen ratios and enable the correct proportions to be used.

If you intend to bring in green waste materials for the compost process, you may need to seek Environmental Protection Authority approval.

For more information visit: https://www.epa.vic. gov.au/for-business/find-atopic/agricultural-guidance, plus designing, constructing and operating composting facilities at https://www. epa.vic.gov.au/about-epa/ publications/1588-1.

FARM EFFLUENT: Manure along with left over materials such as wasted feed, wood chips, rice hulls, fouled bedding materials and tree prunings are all materials that can be incorporated in the compost.

ORCHARD PRUNINGS: Farmers need to determine whether producing compost actually outweighs the costs of managing the complex and labour-intensive production process.

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Page 14 - North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer

June 2021

Funding boost to manage the impact of wild dogs THE Australian Government is investing a further $214,500 to continue its support for the implementation of the National Wild Dog Action Plan 2020-2030, through Australian Wool Innovation.

Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management, David Littleproud, said the government’s latest investment takes its support for the plan to $2.4 million since 2013-14.

“Wild dogs are a huge issue across rural Australia, costing our agricultural sector up to $89 million each year through livestock losses, disease transmission and control costs,” Mr Littleproud said.

“The impact of wild dogs is devastating, with farmers and rural communities suffering emotional and financial stress because of wild dog attacks on stock.

“Since 2014, the Federal Government has invested over $60 million to support wild dog management, assisting state and territory governments and land managers to control wild dogs and reduce their

impacts on agriculture and the environment.

“This extra funding will help support the ongoing delivery of the plan, an invaluable, evidence-based strategy that provides the blueprint for best practice, humane wild dog management Australia wide.

“This invaluable work is led by the national wild dog management co-ordinator, Greg Mifsud, with strong support from industry.

“This work guides future national action plans for feral pigs, deer and other pest species.

“It will ensure that we continue to have a clear, co-ordinated approach to guide farmers, land managers and other stakeholders on the best strategies and most effective control tools to protect our livestock and biodiversity from feral animal pests.”

HEARTBREAKING: Funding for wild dog management is essential. This image is of a calf recently killed on a property in Merrijig, which is experiencing an influx of wild dogs coming out of the state forest.

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June 2021

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THE reinvigorated family cattle farm sector is growing in strength as a vital part of Australia’s booming cattle industry.

That is one of the findings of a new report on Australia’s beef and cattle industry, released recently by ANZ at Beef Australia 2021 in Rockhampton.

“The family farm model is continuing to grow in strength and is increasingly well positioned not just to benefit from the cattle boom but to play a vital role in growing it,” ANZ director of agribusiness insights Michael Whitehead said.

“Not that long ago, it was felt by some that the future of farming would become mostly larger corporate operations, with the family farm diminishing in influence.

“There were fears that family farms could find it difficult to compete on scale, efficiency or consolidation opportunities.

“Fast forward to today and increasingly many family

farms have not only risen to the challenge but pursued a range of innovations to grow in strength.”

ANZ’s report analysed and discussed a number of major factors impacting the beef industry, both domestically and globally, right along the supply chain.

“On the global beef landscape, the report models whether the big four markers for Australian beef exports China, Japan, Korea and the US - provide a good level of market spread or whether this is too concentrated and requires increased focus on new markets.”

The report also discussed whether the current high cattle prices could possibly lead to consumer reaction, where the price difference between red and white meat may outpace the enjoyment difference between the two in shaping consumer behaviour.

Regarding family farms, the report outlined how the growth of successful two

generational cattle operations has allowed families to pursue new innovation in areas such as Agtech and new farm management systems to build their operations and increase efficiency levels and margins.

In the beef industry, one example is the way that this is allowing many to be in a position to restock strongly and rebuild faster in the post drought period than might otherwise have been the case.

Many farms are pursuing a range of innovations, including new offtake supply contacts.

Additionally, they are also exploring new sustainability opportunities, as well as looking at how to tap into global agri investment capital flows.

“The industry is in great shape, and one of the ways it will stay strong is to keep asking itself tough questions, then aggressively pursuing the best answers,” Mr Whitehead said.

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North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer - Page 17

Christmas could come early for wool industry DESPITE being only five months into the year, Australia’s wool industry is already looking forward to a good Christmas, according to the latest ANZ Agri Commodity Report.

The forecasts for wool demand based on the Northern Hemisphere winter at the end of this year will have a major bearing on many aspects of Australia’s wool industry over the course of 2021.

Madeleine Swan, associate director of agribusiness research at ANZ, said: “The next Northern Hemisphere winter won’t be rolling around until the end of this year, however, the world’s woollen mills and clothing man-

ufacturers will already be doing their sums on the volumes of wool required to provide for that time when it comes.

“As large European markets for woollen garments such as France and Italy continue to feel the impact of COVID lockdowns, suppliers are needing to look longer term.

“On current outlook, this could be to a time when national vaccination programs have reinvigorated economies and consumer behaviour, so garment manufacturers should start planning their supply chain processes accordingly.”

While short to medium term wool demand will be dependent

on global economic conditions, the overall supply of Australian wool onto the market is forecast to grow for at least the next five years.

The first quarter of 2021 has largely seen wool price indicators climb back to a level last seen a year ago, before prices fell around 50 per cent between the start of 2020 and September.

In a further sign of the positive impacts of the ongoing relatively good season, the Australian wool clip is forecast to climb by a marginal 1.7 per cent in 2020/21 to 288,000 tonnes, despite a five per cent fall in the number of sheep shorn, reflecting the positive impact on sheep

condition and wool yields of the good season.

As the overall levels of wool production grow, with a forecast rise in overall production of over 20 per cent by 2025/26, concerns may arise that this could lead to a build-up of supply in the system, increasing domestic stockpiles to the levels where they could cause a structural correction in the market, where falling prices cause many producers to move away from wool sheep.

Optimistically, however, the current forecasts also indicate that wool exports are likely to continue to grow at the same strong rate as production, limiting the levels of end stocks.

CLICK GO THE SHEARS: While short to medium term wool demand will be dependent on global economic conditions, the overall supply of Australian wool onto the market is forecast to grow for at least the next five years.

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Lake Nagambie to be lowered for winter shutdown LAKE Nagambie’s water level will be lowered over the winter period.

Goulburn-Murray Water (GMW) will lower Lake Nagambie and the Goulburn Weir pool by up to 50cm on May 15, with water levels returning to normal operating level by August 1 in readiness for the irrigation season.

The lowering will take place during the irrigation shutdown, and will assist with water harvesting.

Water quality will not be af-

fected by the lowering of the lake.

GMW manager storage operations south Scott Wikman said lake users should be aware that the lake level will be lower than usual during the winter period.

“We ask that you take the water levels into account if you are planning on visiting the lake,” Mr Wikman said.

“Lowering the lake will also provide the opportunity for landowners to undertake maintenance work on existing jetties and private boat ramps.”

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AUSTRALIAN farmers are being urged not to hold back if they believe they will need high-quality feed this winter.

The Feed Central National May Hay Market Report says the weather outlook for predicted rainfall across Australia has changed, prompting some farmers to begin considering the need for fodder.

“The Feed Central team is encouraging anyone that believes they will need feed this winter to not hold back on acting,” general manager Cieran Maxwell said.

“High-quality hay is still good value, however, quality supplies will slip in available tonnes as 2021 progress.”

Buyers were spoilt for choice in hay consumption and able to nominate their price at the start of

TIME TO ACT: Feed Central general manager Cieran Maxwell encourages farmers to purchase feed if they have been considering it.

April, but Mr Maxwell said weather forecasts of average winter rainfall led sellers of high-quality hay to become firmer in their pricing.

Mr Maxwell said that despite having an abundance of grass, some dairy farmers were chasing protein hay to feed now.

“Those that are needing protein hay are encouraged to act quickly as the current available supply is limited,” he said.

With increasing demand, Mr Maxwell said it was likely these hay supplies would be exhausted, leaving only lower grades.

He added that parts of Victoria are dry and require hay for immediate consumption.

The May report by Mr Maxwell and account manager Jock Jackson says there

has been a favourable start to forage oat production with some graziers looking to also feed straw to help with digestion.

Mice have now entered Victoria, and while many producers have been able to keep the plague under control with baiting strategies, some hay could not be sold.

Some cuts of lucerne have had difficulty drying and are on the market at a discounted price.

“Storage is always critical but particularly in a slower hay market,” Mr Maxwell added.

“Suppliers who are able to safely store their product away from mice and weather are now seeing some of the benefits with well-stored product starting to move.”

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June 2021

North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer - Page 19

Mansfield Power Ag goes the extra mile LIKE many across the ag sector, the pandemic that struck in 2020 brought challenges and opportunities alike for Mark and Ky Cronin, owner-dealers of Mansfield Power Ag in the foothills of Victoria’s High Country.

In between buying land and designing a new sales and service building - and then getting it constructed they were struggling to meet demand for tractors and machinery, dealing with bureaucracy and home schooling their two children.

“We were looking around for a block of land to build a purpose-built showroom and workshop,” said Mark.

“Then COVID-19 hit and the process of drawing up plans and getting the necessary approvals and finance got harder.

“Plus, it was tough trying to source enough product to sell in order to meet demand.”

Fast forward to 2021, however, and with an impressive and spacious showroom now open, a full complement of staff and the awarding of Gold Status from Deutz-Fahr’s Dealer Standards program, the business is firing on all cylinders.

“We hit the Deutz-Fahr Gold Dealer status pretty quickly,” said Mark.

“There are financial incentives but it’s more about doing things to the best of our ability and doing it well.

“We’re up to nine staff now, including ourselves, and we’re talking about adding more.

“We’re on 4600 square metres, with the building about 890 square metres.

TOP SERVICE: Mark Cronin of Mansfield Power Ag receiving his Gold Dealer award from Rowan Batchelor of PFG Australia.

“It can be minus 5 through to 45 degrees in Mansfield, so we wanted space to show a customer through a tractor out of the weather, if need be.”

Mark and Ky purchased the Stihl Shop in Mansfield in 2016 and quickly built a reputation for going the extra mile.

It struck them that many customers kept asking where to get farm supplies, implements and tractors, so it was a natural progression to move into agricultural equipment.

“We were appointed Victorian dealer of the year for Kioti in 2019, and with PFG as the importer, it made sense to align ourselves with as much of their product as possible,” Mark said.

“Farming is getting more intensive

and customers want more power, so with Deutz-Fahr we’ve got the ability to go up to 300hp and beyond.

“PFG want their dealers to be more professional, with specialist staff in sales, service and parts; whereas previously businesses were just a mechanical workshop without staff dedicated to those areas.

“We feel like we’ve got those aspects covered.”

Mansfield Power Ag certainly does have all aspects covered, looking after hobby farmers through to bigger operations which need scale and power.

Hats off to Mark and Ky; they have invested heavily in their local community and it’s paying dividends.

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Improve the quality and weight of your hay and silage with Goode Organics OVER the last 12 to 18 months Goode Organics have given readers an insight into their approach to soil nutrition through the use of trace elements, minerals and rare earths sourced from the sea and activated volcanic rock.

The first step is always a soil test.

Ideally these would have been completed in the last two years, or alternatively Goode Organics can have one completed for you through SWEP Analytical or Full Circle Nutrition.

From there Goode Organics present you with recommendations using appropriate products from their large range of liquid fertilisers, as well as their range of biological additives and stimulants.

There are 19 products in the range, that are all specific to varying agricultural needs.

The majority of these products contain trace elements which will help silage last longer, as the bacteria applied will also be fed with the Goode Organics products.

Step two is Goode Organics prepare the soil to address acidity, low calcium or trace element deficiencies.

Apply the liquid calcium product, Liquid Calcium Plus or Calcium Magnesium “Cal/Mag 5:1” at a rate of two litres per

hectare for foliar, or 60 litres per hectare as a remediator, for a low cost immediately-available calcium.

Step three is directly after cutting, grazing or mulching, spray onto the soil five to 10 litres of Kickstart per hectare then add Liquid NPK + Trace Element liquid fertiliser to the mix, and you have a low cost, concentrated trace element application.

Step four is maintaining improved yields with foliar spraying.

A few days before releasing livestock, foliar spray with liquid NPK LeafSpray.

Then add Liquid Calcium Plus or Cal/Mag 5:1 at one to two litres per hectare.

Goode Organics recommend the use of an organic oil based sticker such as Nutrispread as it helps with fungus, red mite and unwanted bacteria.

This application supercharges the pasture for livestock to receive an immediate hit of vitamins and minerals after leaving a depleted paddock.

To receive a copy of the Goode Organics pasture program, fact sheets on any of their 19 products, articles on soil nutrition as well as the price list, with a handy cost per hectare breakdown, give Goode Organics a call on 0420 946 156 or email Bayley@goodeorganics.com.au.

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June 2021

Budget securing Australia’s recovery with better deal for farmers THE Federal Government is backing Australian farmers to help secure Australia’s recovery, committing around $850 million in funding to drive competitiveness, growth and resilience in agriculture and back-in the industry’s goal of $100 billion by 2030.

Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management David Littleproud said the initiatives announced in the 2021-22 budget align with the themes identified through the government’s Delivering Ag2030 plan, including: Ƕ ʛƩƥƥǙƦ ($''$*) /* strengthen biosecurity; Ƕ ʛƨƧǙƦ ($''$*) /* 3/ ) opportunities to reward farmers for the stewardship of their land; Ƕ ʛƧƮǙƭ ($''$*) /* "-*2 the agricultural workforce; Ƕ ʛƦƪǙƥ ($''$*) /* $(prove trade and market access; and Ƕ ʛƦƧƮǙƭ ($''$*) /* '$1 - a National Soils Strategy.

“Agriculture continues to drive our nation’s economic comeback and secure our recovery by getting Australians back into jobs and strengthening the regions,” Mr Littleproud said.

Despite the challenges of -*0"#/ǚ ǰƦƮǚ ƞ- )

floods, the agricultural sec/*- $. 3+ / /* - # record $66 billion in production in 2020-21.

“Investment being made in priority areas, particularly biosecurity, will give our farmers, fishers and foresters the confidence to invest and take advantage of opportunities going forward. Ǩ # ʛƩƥƥǙƦ ($''$*) $osecurity investment will boost our frontline people and resources, strengthen our partnerships with industry and the community, and modernise our Information Communication Technologies (ICT) systems, technology and data analytics to better target risk and speed up clearance times.

“A strong biosecurity system protects our production base and preserves Australia’s clean and green reputation, delivering premium 3+*-/ +-$ . ) // - - turns for growers.

“The package includes $58.6 million to continue efforts to address the risk of an African swine fever outbreak, which Australian Pork Ltd estimates could cause economic losses over five years of over $2 billion.

“The budget delivers further opportunities for farmers to diversify and boost

animals and weeds; ʛƨƧǙƦ ($''$*) /* 3+ ) the Biodiversity Stewardship Package; ʛƦƧƮǙƭ ($''$*) /*2 - National Soils Strategy Package; $67 million to improve the handling of organic waste; ʛƪǙƩ ($''$*) /* !0) +-*jects that improve market transparency in the perishable agriculture goods industry, in response to the Perishable Agricultural Goods Inquiry by the ACCC; $1.5 million for Agricultural Innovation Australia to develop investment strategies for four new National Agricultural Innovation Priorities; STRONG BIOSECURITY: Close to $60 million has been allocated in the budget to address the ʛƦƦǙƮ ($''$*) /* .0++*-/ risk of swine fever. innovation in the forestry . /*-ǚ $) '0 $)" 3/ ) $)" farm income, and be re- tional Natural Disaster Ar- personnel and resources; ʛƭƥǙƮ ($''$*) !*- - )" /# 3$./$)" )$) "$*) ' warded for the management rangements and transform our federal emergency man- of measures to modernise Forestry Hubs and creating of their land. our biosecurity ICT systems, two new hubs, and under“A $32.1 million invest- agement architecture.

2021-22 budget initiatives employ new technologies at taking a feasibility study ment in biodiversity stewthe border and improve data to build on the work of the ardship will deliver on- include: $15 million to support analytics for intelligence National Institute for Forest ground trials, implement Products Innovation; the Biodiversity Certifica- technical market access and gathering; ʛƥǙƮ ($''$*) /* 3/ ) ) $235.1 million for a range tion Scheme and deliver a increase Australia’s influtrading platform to bring ence over global trade rules; of measures to strengthen broaden the Tuna ChampiʛƮ ($''$*) /* $(+-*1 - the government’s biosecu- ons program; buyers and sellers togeth$25.2 million to attract cess to safe and effective rity partnerships with imer.”

Mr Littleproud said that agricultural and veterinary porters, companies, pro- Australian workers to modducers and the community. ern agriculture, particularly this budget also provides chemicals; ʛƭƩǙƦ ($''$*) !*- - )" #$. $) '0 . ʛƧƮǙƦ ($''$*) school leavers and young funding to respond to recommendations from the of measures to invest in our to support communities to people; ■ Continued page 21 Royal Commission into Na- critical frontline biosecurity manage established pest

June 2021

North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer - Page 21

■

From page 20 $4.6 million to build workforce management and planning skills for agricultural employers; $0.8 million for the Regional Investment Corporation to administer $37.5 million in existing loan funding for Plantation Development Concessional Loans, delivering on the government’s election commitment; An additional $5 million in 2021-22 to deliver the Rural Financial Counselling Service to farmers in hardship; $3.5 million to extend the Drought Communities Small Business Pilot Program for 6 months to continue to provide free financial counselling to small businesses in rural and

regional Australia doing it tough; $14.7 million to waive repayment of Business Income Reconciliation debts accrued under the Farm Household Allowance (FHA), in line with recommendations of the 2018 independent review of the FHA; $170.5 million through the Future Drought Fund, which provides a sustained investment of $100 million each year to build drought preparedness.

This funding will deliver a range of programs and activities to support the longterm drought resilience and preparedness of primary producers, rural and regional communities; $61.1 million to establish

the National Recovery and Resilience Agency (NRRA); $615.5 million over the next six years for the mitigation focused Preparing Australia grants program; $92.1 million to enhance Emergency Management Australia’s (EMA) disaster preparedness and response capabilities, comprising of a Common Operating Picture for near real-time situational awareness, designing a National Messaging System, and a national emergency management exercise capability; $209.7 million to establish and operate the Australian Climate Service to support the climate and disaster risk information needs of our emergency management agencies EMA and the NRRA.

HARVEST THE CROP: $25 million has been promised to attract Australian workers to modern agriculture.

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June 2021

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Tetanus is a potentially fatal disease caused by toxins of the anaerobic bacteria Clostridium tetani.

The bacteria is widespread in the environment, found as spores in the soil, and in the intestinal tract of animals. It can enter a human or animal and produce toxins when a wound causes a break in the skin barrier.

Puncture wounds are particularly dangerous, as C. tetani is an anaerobic bacteria, which means it thrives in wounds where there is little oxygen.

Even wounds in the oral cavity caused by shedding juvenile teeth and getting adult teeth coming through can be susceptible to tetanus entry.

Horses are particularly susceptible to tetanus. The disease is characterised by painful muscle spasms, which can cause respiratory failure, and ultimately death in untreated cases.

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Tetanus vaccination should be considered an essential part of equine husbandry.

Page 24 - North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer

$

Silvan 3500LT. Air Blast

June 2021

Konigs EOFY Deals

49,900 inc gst

NEW

NEW

$

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

From

2,500 inc gst

S/H

88,000 inc gst

$

Rotary hoe, many models in stock

$

106,000

$

inc gst

Landini Landforce 125 Cab Tractor 125 HP 4WD Tractor with reverse power shuttle and FEL

51,000

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

$

inc gst

80,999

Landini Rex 90F Cab, 90HP, Power Shuttle, 4WD, Orchard Version

inc gst

$

20,600

23HP FEL 4 in 1 Bucket ROPS

inc gst

$

38,300 inc gst

413 40HP FEL Cabin

New seed drills New

New

40,700 21,900 4,500 inc gst

$$ Irtem CosmoDouble Orcharddisc 3m openers on 5” Mulchers priced FROM spacing’s with Harrows

incgst

$

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

73,270

inc gst

87,300 16,500 inc gst

John Shearer 24 Run, $ $ “Airmatic” 3.2M BECCHIO No Till W/W 5m SKIN MULCHER DOUBLE

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21 Series Connor Shea $ 3m 16 row spacings, Coulters

52,250 inc gst

Network Seeders 8 row -16 row

$

From

10,340 inc gst

Picture for illustration purposes only.

S/H Tractors S/H

S/H

$

Ford 3910 2WD rops 55HP 1677hrs FEL, bucket and forks

25,800 inc gst

Fiat 880D ROPS Tractor $ 88HP, 4WD, Rops with front fork lift and side shift

27,800 inc gst

Kubota M8540 4WD, 85HP, near new condition, 370hrs

$

63,000 inc gst

New Holland TD85 1700 Hours FEL

$

52,700 inc gst

58,850 26,000 inc gst

$$ McCormick NEW TYM 265CX105 25 HP 4WD CAB FEL Bucket FEL 4 IN 1 BUCKET and Forks $26,000 INC3800 GST hrs

incgst

Cultivators S/H

New

$

Minos 13 Tine cultivator $3,200 Also 11 Tine

2,790

inc gst

Connor Shea 8000 series, 19 row with coulters

S/H

$

36,300 inc gst

New

John Shearer 28 plate new discs Also: Gibbons Rawling 28 plate

13,750

$

inc gst

Grizzly 28 Disc Plow H/D $ Quick adjust gangs, 2.8m transport width

39,600 inc gst

Grizzly 36 Plate Field Master Hydraulic fold 2.5m transport width

$

89,400 inc gst

Seeders S/H

S/H

S/H

$

27 Row, 4 bin, John Shearer Seeder.

49,700 inc gst

John Shearer 21 Row with harrows

$

26,000 inc gst

Connor Shea 14 run Series 2 Disc Seeder

$

13,950 inc gst

Photo for illustration purposes only

14 Tine Linkage Connor Shea Excellent Condition

$

14,600 inc gst

Vertikator 3m small grass $ seeder includes harrows and press wheels

14,700

$

16,440

inc gst

Mulchures New

$

Becchio 4.5m Mulcher.

Duel drive, rear wheels.

35,000 inc gst

2.6m Hydraulic Rear Door and Rear Wheels

$

11,300

inc gst

Yeoman 5 Tine Ripper 1.8m with height control wheels

$

5,990

inc gst

Maschio Pinocchio 2.5mt 5 tine double roller

$

11,000

inc gst

Boomarang Mark 6 Boomerang Mark 5 Feeds out Feedsbales out and round round big bales square bales. inc gst andS/H big unit, square bales Also $9,700.

Farm Equipment

$ Abati BDS 8mt, S/H SILVAN SUPER FLO $ 40 row seeder endtoeNEAR NEW 2000LT

132,000 inc gst 21,480 $

incgst

$

129,200 inc gst 3,885

Abati 12mt, 36 row NEAR NEW SILVAN UNIVERSAL $ on 300mm spacings LINKAGE SPRAY 400LT, 6M BOOM HOSE REAL & GUN

incgst

New

From

23,000 inc gst

Uni bin from

Farm pro 4.4 c/m multi bin $ groupers from $23,000 Uni bin 3.2 c/m $17,000

17,000

inc gst

Grizzly Baby Banker With duel tool bar, produces bank width 1m-2.2m approx

$

8,900

inc gst

Arboss (Goldoni) Orchard Tractor 103 HP CAB

rther u F r a ll o D r u o Y g in Driv 355 Benalla Road Shepparton Phone: (03) 5821 4411. Fax: (03) 5831 2187. A/H Leo 0419 399 109

LMCT 11745

New

For more information visit:

www.konigs.com.au

$

68,970 inc gst