North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer

Published since 1986

JULY, 2020

Chestnut sales soar

www.farmernews.com.au

Winter crop planting to climb

Wild dog shot at Piries

PAGE 4

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PAGE 18

VALUE ADDING THE HUMBLE EGG ON the shelf of your local IGA, or displayed at the town butcher or small goods store, you may have noticed a new product - smoked eggs from The Smoked Egg Company.

More than just a flavour, the patented technique eliminates bacteria from the shell of the egg and extends the shelf life of the egg up to 35 weeks with no change to the quality or composition. A game-changer, Julie and Paul Kos have backed themselves when others dismissed their discovery, in the inherent belief that their smoking technique will revolutionise the agri-food industry. Turn to pages 14 and 15 for their story.

The magic of mushrooms GLEN Mitchell of Woodland Gourmet Mushrooms noticed something unusual with his crop during recent bushfires that plagued summer in the North East.

“It wasn’t so much that the smoke damaged the mushrooms, it was that it changed the way they grew,” Glen said.

“From when they first appear out of the bag, pinning to fruiting takes five days.

“We change the air in the fruiting room between eight and 10 times every hour, so that the

mushrooms grow in fresh air.

“This is important as mushrooms breathe in oxygen and expel carbon dioxide, and if C02 levels get too high in the shed it affects the way the mushrooms grow.

“So during the bushfires, it was inevitable that some smoke was going to get into the room with all the air changes.

“As opposed to five days, the mushrooms were now fruiting within two to two and a half days - the entire process had been sped up by an evolutionary push to get

YOUR HOME OF 6

the spores out.”

Though they were in a relatively constant environment, with Glen vigilant about maintaining the temperature and cycle within the shed, the mushrooms’ biorhythm reacted to conditions on the outside and matured faster.

And the knowledge gained became another part of the mushroom journey for Glen and Anthea Mitchell, who in 2017 had an overwhelming feeling that they needed to grow mushrooms, regardless of their lack of knowledge or experience.

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“So many things that we had done along the way all culminated in mushrooms,” Glen said.

Early in their marriage Glen and Anthea grew cut flowers from their Carboor Valley farm, and though enjoying working together and propagating carnations for the local market, it became economically unviable as the business environment changed and small producers were replaced by larger scale operations.

Anthea returned to nursing, and Glen would embrace his skill

in blacksmithing and decorative iron work, and both would read, research and ponder about options for their small scale acreage.

Small business had always appealed to them both, and driven by an ethos that prioritised sustainable farming practices coupled with the importance of localising food networks and in doing so strengthening the local community, mushrooms became an attractive option for achieving their goals.

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Page 2 - North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer

July 2020

The magic of mushrooms

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

Phone (03) 5723 0100

■

Email: nefarmer@nemedia.com.au Website: farmernews.com.au Advertising Manager

Michael Kidman Phone (03) 5731 3306 Mobile 0409 841 954 mkidman@nemedia.com.au

Journalist:

Emma Oliver Mobile 0433 267 203 eoliver@nemedia.com.au

Senior Journalist

Jarrah Loh Phone (03) 5733 1108 jloh@nemedia.com.au

Pre-Press Coordinator

Noelene Allan Phone (03) 5723 0110 nallan@nemedia.com.au

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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c MEET THE MAKERS: Happy to get back to the markets, Glen and Anthea missed the interaction with customers.

From page 1 Their intention was to set up a small scale mushroom farm which would produce all year round, with types and varieties chosen to best suit the conditions of each season on their High Country farm.

So with a can-do attitude and willingness to learn, Glen and Anthea embarked on their project.

Enrolling in online courses in both Tasmania and England, the couple added a hands-on day course in Melbourne that transitioned their learning from theory to reality.

It gave them enough of a boost, Glen said, to realise that they could do this, and so began the experimentation at home.

With buckets and containers in the lounge room they set about exploring their craft, even delving into tissue culture, propagating mushrooms from ones they had bought at the supermarket.

With their confidence bolstered, the real work began of converting the sheds and infrastructure

on their small farm into a climate-controlled mushroom growing environment.

“We probably decided at this stage that we would grow oyster mushrooms,” Glen said.

“We had a list that included among other things shiitakes, but as these were a little bit more involved we decided to go with the simpler option of oyster mushrooms and learn our trade.

“There are slightly different conditions for all mushrooms, but oysters are probably a little more forgiving, and a good place to start.”

With the mushrooms decided on and the conditions they needed to grow understood, the Mitchells found the challenge now lay in creating the requisite infrastructure.

With a preference for shopping locally, but being forced to look further afield for equipment was difficult for Glen.

“It was hard to source domestically, and we were

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North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer - Page 3 e FRESH AND LOCAL: Glen and Anthea Mitchell have found their mushroom journey to be completely fascinating, and thoroughly enjoy their new vocation with plans to expand from oyster mushrooms to shiitakes in the near future.

struggling with our lack of experience,” Glen said.

“But the online UK course we did became invaluable throughout this process.

“There were about 30 or 40 participants from all over the world doing mushrooms at the same time, and it became this amazing global network for us that we could share ideas with and be inspired.

“With this fantastic melting pot of mushroom enthusiasts discussing what was going on around the world with mushroom growing, we garnered lots of confidence and understanding.”

However, as with all agricultural pursuits, Glen and Anthea have had to forge their own path and take the knowledge they’d gained and adapt it to their specific location and circumstances.

A particularly hot November in 2018 could have derailed their infant business, as a block of

unseasonably hot days in the low to mid 40s cooked everything in the sheds, regardless of the expensive insulation they had installed.

“Our entire crop was wrecked, and we pulled the pin for a while,” Glen said.

“We used the time to regroup, to rethink and do more research.

“We were adamant that we were going to grow mushrooms and this was just a hiccup.”

And so Glen with a commitment to create as low a carbon footprint as possible, had deep trenches 70 metres in length excavated in the growing shed, and installed earth tubes to introduce air to the controlled environment.

“Bringing air in through the ground moderates the ambient outside temperature, keeping it fairly constant despite outside conditions,” Glen said.

And with temperature

extremes effectively addressed Glen again got down to growing mushrooms.

With a couple of restaurants on board keen to support local growers in the Milawa Gourmet Region, Woodland Gourmet Mushrooms had just begun to sell their crop at local markets.

September 2019 was their first farmers’ market in Wangaratta, and the excitement was palpable as all their hard work was coming to fruition.

Thoroughly enjoying the interaction with customers at markets, the relationships nurtured and the feedback received was just as important to the Mitchells as the financial reward from their endeavours, and they had begun to expand into markets in Beechworth, Myrtleford and Bright.

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working extremely hard to keep their enterprise growing.

“I’ve always loved a challenge,” Glen said.

“And this is the best thing we’ve ever done.

“Not necessarily financially, but I wanted to do stuff together with Anthea, and I feel like we’ve come full circle from growing carnations to now working together with mushrooms.

“It’s excellent for us as a couple, it’s good for our health and I do eat mushrooms every day.

“Positive mental health is always about having something to do, having goals for the next day, and the week, and being able to make a difference.

“I would also like to believe it’s good for our greater, local community.

“It was an overwhelming feeling that we needed to grow mushrooms, and as soon as we began the journey it felt like I had slipped on an old pair of slippers that I felt really comfortable in,” Glen said.

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monitoring to ensure conditions remain favourable within the growing sheds.

It’s a process of tweaking and on a boutique scale must be a passion, but those first few months at the local markets provided all the conviction that Glen and Anthea needed.

Then the bushfires came.

With the tourists gone and markets cancelled, the demand for mushrooms effectively disappeared and the Mitchells began to rethink their strategy and move forward.

Glen began to build a fairly big solar dryer, and they bided their time until things began to return to normal.

“It was then that COVID-19 popped up,” Glen said.

“And that initially affected us much worse than the fires.”

But as with everything, Glen and Anthea rolled with the punches and became proactive.

Reaching out over social media, within a short time, the Mitchells had a different customer base, home delivering mushrooms up the Ovens Valley.

“Sales of my ‘grow-yourown mushroom kits’ took on a life of their own as well,” Glen said, proud to think of all those budding mushroom growers that he helped to inspire in isolation.

And the Wangaratta Farmers’ Market Online hub provided weekly consistency for a farming enterprise that harvests every two to three days, producing a crop that needs to be sold fresh.

It became another lesson for Glen and Anthea who managed to maintain sales throughout the restrictions,

Page 4 - North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer

July 2020

Chestnut sales soar for local producers

By CORAL COOKSLEY A BUMPER year for chestnut quality has meant a spike in sales for local producers.

Representative body Myrtleford-based Chestnuts Australia Inc, which supports Australia’s chestnut industry, has indicated an exceptional year for growers who have followed best practice management even in the face of challenging times.

During isolation from coronavirus (COVID-19) impacts, Chestnuts Australia had encouraged consumers to try them.

Certified organic chestnut grower Stanley’s David McIntyre who has been in the business for 35 years with 25 of those as a Chestnuts Australia board member said his crops had been a little down this year but the season with good quality chestnuts has seen sales “go through the roof”.

Mr McIntyre said Stanley Plateau would have to be the biggest productive area in Australia.

“It’s the backbone of the Stanley rural economy as chestnut growing is ecologi-

cally suited to Stanley,” he said.

Mr McIntyre said around 80 per cent of chestnuts are grown in Indigo and Alpine Shires,” With the bulk of his sales to Asian and European customers within Australia, he said local markets around the nation were increasing as well as local ones and around the region.

Among distribution networks are Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane with local outlets such as the organic grocery store Goldfields in Beechworth too.

Mr McIntyre said increased sales could be attributed to people needing to stay at home through the coronavirus (COVID-19) impacts where more home cooking had taken place.

“With the uptake it will be interesting to see what happens from now on,” he said.

Stanley chestnut grower Andrew Hall also agreed that the coronavirus pandemic impact could have played a factor in increased demand.

“People may have not having tried them before could be from staying home and experimenting with chestnuts in cooking.

HAPPY: Stanley chestnut grower David McIntyre enjoyed reaping good quality produce this year.

“A peak in demand has helped the industry a great deal,” he said.

“Overall, we’ve had a good harvest where quality chestnuts have been absorbed into the market,” he said.

Mr Hall said sales for chestnuts mainly harvested between March and the end of May depending on location, continued into August with some that could stretch into September.

A great health food, he said chestnuts had zero fat and good fibre.

“They make magnificent

desserts, great accompaniments for meat dishes as well as mixing with vegetables and are good for so many dishes.”

With a lifestyle move from Melbourne to Beechworth his wife Joy to buy the chestnut orchard, Mr Hall said it was their 11th season.

“Successfully growing chestnuts is very rewarding,” he said.

The Halls also sell through domestic wholesale markets and retailers which include Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

REWARDING: Stanley chestnut growers Andrew and Joy Hall find successful chestnut growing rewarding.

PHOTOS: courtesy Chestnuts Australia Inc.

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July 2020

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Page 6 - North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer

July 2020

New insights into cattle behaviour and BRD

KEEPING TRACK: Monitoring behaviour of cattle early on in feedlot situations gives an indication of future health issues. “We found there were some important behavioural distinctions between healthy and sick cattle that carried through to their lung scores at slaughter and then through to carcase performance,� Professor White said. “The more severe the lung scores were, the lower the carcase performed. “This is not surprising, but it becomes important when we talk about associations between animal behaviour and lung consolidation or pleurisy scores at slaughter. “We found that cattle that ended up being sick spent more time at the feed bunk in the first six days after arrival at a feedlot than healthy cattle.

“Importantly, the cattle spent more time at the bunk in the late evening and early morning hours and less time at the bunk during daylight hours, compared to the healthy cattle.�

Another key finding was the behavioural difference between the sick and healthy cattle at water. “Again, in the first six days at the feedlot, the sick cattle spent more time at the water,� Professor White said. “Healthy cattle would spend between 1.5 per cent to 2 per cent of their time at the water, but sick cattle might spend 2 per cent of their time or more at the water in those first six days. “This differed by time of day as well.

“During the daytime, the water in a feedlot pen is much like the office water cooler - it’s a place where cattle socialise. “During the day, we often see cattle going up to the water in groups of four, five or six, hang out for a while, then move away. “However, at night, if they go to the water, they tend to be as singles because they’re thirsty, it’s not a social activity. “So we observed sick cattle going up to the water overnight more frequently, likely because they’re dehydrated.�

At a pen level, the findings were also interesting. “Sick cattle earlier in the feeding phase had more cattle within three metres

of them than healthy cattle, meaning they’re hiding in the group,� Professor White said.

Professor White said the findings challenge some existing assumptions about the behaviour of animals with BRD such as cattle going off by themselves if they’re sick. “We train pen riders to look for the cattle that are isolated, which is true, but not early in the disease process,� he said. “For most of the BRD we deal with, the main therapy is antimicrobials. “Antimicrobials are more effective if given early in the disease process because there are less bacteria for them to battle, and less damage has occurred to the

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pulmonary tissue and lung tissue. “We’re starting to develop a picture that illustrates that sick cattle spend more time at water, more time at feed, and more time in a group in the first six days at a feedlot. “If you ignore the water aspect, this is almost the opposite of what we tell pen riders to look out for. “However, after that early phase in the feedlot, sick cattle then get to a certain point where they can no longer compensate for their illness and their behaviour flips to doing things like staying away from the group.�

Professor White said the findings highlighted the importance of understanding the disease progression of BRD, and the time when pen riders are doing observations. “We think a good time to observe cattle is around feeding time, or just before feeding, which is accurate if you want to observe their feeding behaviour but it’s also a high social pressure time making subtle behavioural changes more difficult to observe,� Professor White said. “We know BRD is concentrated at the front end of the feeding phase, so if you can observe or monitor them closely during high risk time for BRD, that can make a big difference to health outcomes.�

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A STUDY of cattle behaviour in Australian feedlots has identified new behavioural distinctions between healthy and sick cattle that could help in earlier diagnosis and treatment of Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD).

The project saw researchers analyse data collected by remote early disease identification (REDI) technology at a number of Australian feedlots to illustrate specific relationships between individual and group behaviour in cattle and health outcomes.

REDI technology provides objective, 24 hour a day continuous behavioural monitoring and applies classification engines to determine changes in wellness status.

Researchers analysed animal behavioural data, disease occurrences and the magnitude of lung lesions associated with BRD at slaughter.

US veterinarian Professor Brad White, Kansas State University and Precision Animal Solutions, led the project, which was funded

by MLA in consultation with the Australian Lot Feeders’ Association (ALFA).

Professor White said the research provides new insights through remote monitoring that could improve BRD detection and treatment rates, and animal welfare and productivity outcomes.

North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer - Page 7

July 2020

Workplace manslaughter is now a jailable offence.

Tougher laws As an employer, if a workplace death is caused by criminal negligence, you could face up to 25 years in jail, and fines up to $16.5 million. If you don’t take care of your employees at work, and make sure they can return home safe every day, we’ll make sure that you face the consequences.

Everyone. Every workplace.

Safer workplaces

Page 8 - North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer

July 2020

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David Jochinke, president of the Victorian Farmers Federation, outlines their stance THE VFF is disappointed by the announced withdrawal of a number of quad bike manufacturers from the Australian market.

We cannot, and will not, back away from our stance that there is nothing more important than the safety of our farmers, our families and our farm workers.

The decision to withdraw products from the Australian market, rather than adhere to Australia’s new safety regulations, has caused significant angst in the farming community.

Victorian farmers have enjoyed mutually beneficial relationships with manufacturers and their dealers for decades.

The new safety regula-

tions, including the mandatory fitting of Operator Protection Devices (OPDs) from October 2021, are designed to address the 15 deaths and 650 hospitalisations per year caused by quad bike accidents, according to Safe Work Australia.

More than 5000 Victorian farmers have participated in Victoria’s quad bike rebate scheme, demonstrating their commitment to farm safety.

We may be a small portion of the international quad bike market, but we also understand that we are not the first country to mandate roll over protection, and that we will not be the last.

Rollover protection has

been mandatory in Israel since the early 1990s, yet Israel still enjoys a competitive market for safe, compliant quad bikes.

Despite the original withdrawal of some manufacturers from the Israeli marketplace their quad bikes are still available for sale there.

We commend the manufacturers that have committed to remain in the Australian market for demonstrating the workability of Australia’s laws and for putting safety first.

We hope that other manufacturers also choose to stay, retaining the mutually rewarding relationships our members have with them and their dealers.

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North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer - Page 9

July 2020

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18 19

136

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For 60,000 generations there was no improvement in the design of stone handaxes. Palaeoanthropologists call this the ‘1.4 million years of boredom’. Perhaps there were some changes during this period, but as wood and bone decay over time, no evidence has been found to the contrary.

146

Letters A to Z have a number value. Some are shown in the right-hand cells. Create remaining values using clues in centre cells.

C H N O S T W

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D Y D W P M

Find the following words in the grid. They may be read in any direction, even diagonally.

Some letters are used more than once.

QUICK THINK ACROSS: 1 Whit, 5 Each, 6 Thou, 7 Sand.

a restless person (8) 2 Which alloy consists essentially of copper and tin (6) 3 Name an alternative term for an aubergine (8)

5 DOWN 1 What, colloquially, is

E A N E Y E

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N W E N L H

G A A D U A B R O U T H E S C T D O R

I P A W S T

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22 23

M I L M E R I N C

21

C U R A T O R

19

A G E A O A

S DOWN: 1 Wets, 2 Ha-ha, A P Š 3 Icon, 4 Thud.

D R E M A R

18

R S O C K R

E-QUATIONS C:9, H:10, N:18, O:3, S:19, T:13, W:21

14

D Y D W P M

11

E A N E Y E

10

N W E N L H

9

I P A W S T

8

136

A G E A O A

7

to do what (6) Name an Australian pianist and composer, Percy ... (8) Name an aquatic mammal found in tropical coastal areas of the Indian Ocean (6) Which document grants a person entry into a foreign country (8) What is a hard East Indian wood, yielding a red colour (6) Name a permanent cardiac dilation (8) Which device controls the amount of fuel being fed to an engine (8) What is a brief expression of thought, or opinion (6) Name another term for a scamp, or rascal (8) To be of little width, is to be what (6) To reduce, is to do what (8) Name a fortiďŹ ed and blended wine of southern Spain (6)

MINI WORD FIND

R S O C K R

ACROSS 1 To have a wager, is

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Page 10 - North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer

July 2020

Australia’s winter crop planting

POSITIVE FOR PRODUCTION: Dr Cheryl Kalisch Gordon breaks down the grain market for the current growing season.

AUSTRALIA’S winter crop planting is set to climb by over 25 per cent this year on the back of widespread and well-timed rainfall across most of the country.

After prolonged drought conditions, which have delivered three years of decline in Australia’s grain production and exports, global agribusiness specialist Rabobank is forecasting the nation’s crop planting to be up by 26 per cent on last season to 22.5 million hectares.

This is 12 per cent

nationwide above the fiveyear average.

With crop planting up across all states, Victoria’s planted crop for 2020/21 is forecast to be up 14 per cent to 3.5 million hectares.

And combined with forecast above-average rainfall for the critical growing season ahead, this should deliver Victoria and Australia overall an average to above-average winter grain crop, the bank says.

For wheat, the forecast of a total harvest volume of 26 million tonnes is

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and area planted to pulses increased by 36 per cent.

Barley has seen a modest (one per cent) decline in planting, Dr Kalisch Gordon said, off the back of a pessimistic price outlook.

“Further declines were limited by the fact China’s tariff decision following the anti-dumping investigation came after the majority of barley area had been planted,” she said.

For barley, increased supply and a competitive global feed grain market (due mainly to cheaper corn prices because of a coronavirus-driven slump in ethanol demand for fuel) means global prices will also be down this year.

The bank forecasts Australian grain prices to move lower in 2020/21.

Although, the “return to earth will be softened by the Australian dollar”, the bank said.

“Firming global wheat production expectations and a softening in demand post the COVID-19 stockpiling means have a neutral DR KALISCH GORDON we outlook for global wheat prices over the coming 12 months,” Dr barley tariffs - would likely Kalisch Gordon said. increase by as much as 70 “Renewed local wheat per cent on last year. supply prospects will, This could see Australia however, increasingly set to export up to 17.5 million tonnes of wheat (up weigh on local prices as harvest approaches, with 110 per cent on last year), 4.5 million tonnes of barley local prices down year-onyear.” (up 13 per cent) and two With Australian canola, million tonnes of canola particularly the non-GM (up 17 per cent). variety, enjoying stronger Across the country pricing in recent times overall, wheat, canola and - off the back of droughtpulses will see the largest driven low supply, increases in planting from increased usage in homelast year, the report says, mainly driven by improved cooking during COVID-19 lockdowns and increased conditions in the eastern export demand - prices states. are expected to return Wheat planting is lower over the course of expected to be up by 33 the year. per cent on last season, ■ Continued page 11 with canola up 35 per cent number who hadn’t planted by then,” Dr Kalisch Gordon said.

While the renewed supply of Australian grain would see prices move down from the droughtdriven highs of recent years, the Rabobank report says average prices are expected to “remain in sight”, supported by an ongoing softer Australian dollar.

Export volumes - though remaining challenged by competitive global supplies along with the Chinese

With the Bureau of Meteorology’s forecast for above-average rainfall for all Australian cropping regions during the critical growing months of June to August, these increased hectares planted are expected to combine with at least average yields to deliver an average to aboveaverage grain crop.

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“not unrealistic, given our expectations for hectares planted this year”.

Rabobank senior grains and oilseeds analyst Cheryl Kalisch Gordon said the promising crop outlook is welcome news for Australia’s agricultural sector after years of drought and the severe disruptions of summer bushfires and COVID-19 in the first half of 2020.

“While it’s still around six months until the grain is in the bin, all the hallmarks of an aboveaverage season are now falling into place,” she said.

“2020 finally saw a strong opening to the east coast winter crop planting season, with good rains and fast planting progress.

“With the Bureau of Meteorology’s forecast for aboveaverage rainfall for all Australian cropping regions during the critical growing months of June to August, these increased hectares planted are expected to combine with at least average yields to deliver an average to aboveaverage grain crop.”

Dr Kalisch Gordon said eagerness to ‘make hay’ while there is moisture around after drought - along with the high cost of the alternative of restocking livestock had featured in farmers’ decisions to expand their planted area in 2020/21.

A more buoyant outlook for wheat than barley had prompted greater increases in wheat planted compared with last year and longer term averages.

“And the recent announcement of China’s tariffs of 80.5 per cent on Australian barley would also have influenced this choice for the small

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North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer - Page 11

set to soar more than 25 per cent ■

From page 10 For pulses, lower global supply should keep chickpea and lentil prices supported in 2020 -with increased demand from India and Turkey critical although higher Australian production will hold domestic prices in check, the report says.

Increased Australian production, lower domestic premiums and a favourable Australian dollar all support an increase in Australian grain exports in 2020/21.

“However stagnant global

demand, low shipping costs and depreciation of Black Sea region currencies will continue to challenge Australia’s competitiveness in traditional markets,” Dr Kalisch Gordon said.

So while the outlook is positive for production, the challenge will lie in finding a market for the product.

BUMPER CROPS: Widespread and well-timed rainfall across the country, bodes well for grain and pulse production as winter planting exceeds recent years.

Reframing forestry in the eyes of the public FOREST and Wood Products Australia (FWPA) has announced its brand The Ultimate Renewableâ„¢ has been named twice on the winners’ list for the 2020 International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Gold Quill Awards.

For more than 40 years, the IABC’s Gold Quill Awards has recognised excellence in strategic communication worldwide, and is acknowledged as one of the most prestigious awards programs in the communications and marketing industries.

The organisers recognised FWPA’s entry ‘The Ultimate Renewableâ„¢ - Reframing Forestry in the Eyes of the Public’ in the Marketing, Advertising, and Brand Communication Category, with quills awarded by both IABC Victoria and IABC Asia-Pacific.

Ric Sinclair, FWPA managing director, said the industry around the world has long struggled with the conundrum of broad community acceptance of wood products alongside a persistent underlying concern about sustainable forest management.

“By providing education and challenging misconceptions, the goal is to encourage the wider community to embrace forest and wood products across the supply chain, increasing acceptance of and demand for timber in Australia,” he said.

Following rigorous industry and consumer consultation, The Ultimate Renewableâ„¢ brand was developed to reinforce the association between wood and the word ‘renewable’, while simultaneously promoting benefits of timber as a material.

Benefits include timber’s ability to store carbon for the lifetime of the timber, beyond harvest and processing, flexibility and ease of use, affordability, and the improved wellbeing researchers suggest results from incorporating natural materials like wood into the built environment.

The Ultimate Renewableâ„¢ promotional campaign comprised several communication tactics designed to engage industry and consumers, including face-toface events, and advertising across social media, TV, outdoor displays, EDMs, and trade and consumer magazines.

As well as providing an allencompassing consumer campaign the brand also offers a universal, positive communications message for members of the forestry sector to share and incorporate into their own marketing collateral, further spreading the campaign details and amplifying the messages.

The consumer campaign led to 24 per cent of Australians claiming they recalled seeing the campaign, with 67 per cent of those asserting it had made them more supportive of forestry.

Mr Sinclair said the industry was highly supportive of a collaborative marketing initiative which was the key to its tremendous success.

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Page 12 - North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer

July 2020

Financial support remains in place for drought-affected families THE Australian Government is continuing its support for drought-affected farming households by extending Round 2 of the $148.5 million Drought Community Support Initiative (DCSI) program until the end of this year.

Minister for Drought David Littleproud said the Federal Government is standing shoulder-to-shoulder with regional Australia as it deals with the impacts of drought and the COVID-19 pandemic.

“DCSI payments of up to $3000 are already assisting farming families to meet urgent expenses, including for food, petrol and utilities, and they have let us know how much this extra support has meant to them,” Mr Littleproud said.

“The injection of money into rural and regional communities is supporting local businesses which were already struggling financially before the COVID-19 crisis.

“The Federal Government is doing what it takes to support farming households through these extremely difficult financial and stressful times.

“Since November 2019, almost $75 million has been

SUPPORTING FARMERS: Impacts of the drought are still being felt by farmers throughout Australia, and as a result funding has been extended through until the end of the year to assist those in hardship. paid to support more than 25,000 farming households.”

The Salvation Army and St Vincent de Paul Society are delivering Round 2 of DCSI to eligible farming households who live or work in one of the 180 local government areas eligible for the Drought Communities Program Extension.

“The charities advise that they are still receiving applications from farming households seeking assistance be-

cause of ongoing financial hardship,” Mr Littleproud said.

“Both are responding to requests from drought-affected families in high need, and I commend both organisations for their professionalism and hard work during these times.”

Since December 2018, the Federal Government has committed $181.5 million in financial assistance to support farming households in

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drought-affected communities through the DCSI. St Vincent de Paul Society chief executive officer, Toby O’Connor, welcomed the ongoing help for farming households through the extension of DCSI. “We have already assisted over 9000 households, yet we know from our local contacts there are still many farmers, farm workers, and farm suppliers and contractors that we haven’t reached

under this current round, and we want to ensure they have a chance to access the support,” Mr O’Connor said.

“A farmer from NSW told me, ‘I have never felt the need for such support before as I always believed I should be able to look after myself and business. That was before the last nine months of the drought when circumstances were just terrible. It was a great help and I have my dignity intact’.

“The Saint Vincent de Paul Society is committed to ensuring as many eligible households as possible receive this important DCSI 2 payment.”

Head of community engagement at The Salvation Army, Stuart Glover, said this news brings some certainty to family budgets during this period.

“The extension of this funding allows us to continue to support farming households who are in need because of this ongoing drought,” Mr Glover said.

“Over the course of this initiative we have assisted over 16,000 farming households across 89 local government areas.

“One of the farmers who we supported in Queensland said ‘Thank you so much.

Last year was a shocker for us with the drought conditions. I didn’t know how we were going to be able to make ends meet. These funds will help us immensely with the ongoing feed and water costs and the bills that just keep coming’.”

More information can be found at https://www. regional.gov.au/regional/ programs/drought-communities.aspx.

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Page 14 - North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer

July 2020

Julie and Paul’s change of lifestyle The Smoked Egg Company revolutionises the food industry

By EMMA OLIVER THIS is a story about Julie and Paul Kos, born and bred Geelong locals, who started a free range egg business fifteen years ago and did incredibly well with their enterprise, and thought quite contentedly that this was it, this was the change from their day jobs that they had been seeking.

Kossies Free Range Eggs are premium quality, pasture raised produce, renowned for their creamy texture, and highly sought

after throughout Geelong and Melbourne, appearing repeatedly on Master Chef as egg of choice.

Situated on 36 acres on the Barwon River in Stonehaven, 10 kilometres west of Geelong, the Kos’s were told they wouldn’t be able to make a living from their small acreage farm, but Julie and Paul aren’t the type to listen to naysayers.

Accommodating 750 chickens comfortably to each hectare, Julie and Paul

embarked on their business, setting up mobile shedding for their flock that numbered 5000 in total and they began egg production.

Labour intensive, it was a shock to the system at first, but they worked together and worked hard, and would have been quite happy to just continue with the farm, if it hadn’t been for an experiment in smoking food that would have massive implications for the future of the food industry.

Now Julie is a caterer by trade, she likes to cook and she’s very good at it.

The smoker was ostensibly a gift to her husband, and as all good chefs have a penchant for experimenting with flavours and techniques, a chef who is also a chicken farmer has an inclination to experiment with eggs.

It was a bit of fun at first for Julie and Paul trying to smoke eggs without effectively cooking them in their shells.

There was a fair bit of trial and error, and numerous eggs that came out of the smoker without the smoke permeating the shell, but then there was success - a batch of eggs that held the smoky flavour.

“It was a marriage made in heaven,” Julie said.

“It was this absolutely incredible flavour, and the first thing I did with those eggs was make a quiche.

“Now my husband hates quiche, but as soon as

he tasted it, he was gobsmacked. “’Look what I’ve created,’ he said.

“But I made the quiche was my reply.”

Aiming primarily for flavour, it wasn’t until a year after the first successful smoked egg that the couple realised the potential of what they had created.

Julie was trialling how the flavour might develop over time - over a week, over two weeks, over three.

■ Continued page 15

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The Victorian Nationals want our communities to be sustainable and propserous It’s time to shelve any plans to take a further 450GL out of our irrigation districts.

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WINNING THING: Until recently the chickens of Kossie’s Free Range Eggs have been subsidising The Smoked Egg Company. However following a hugely successful media campaign Paul and Julie Kos are beginning to see the fruits of their labour with demand for smoked eggs rapidly growing.

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North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer - Page 15

■

From page 14 It was then that she realised the structure and composition of the egg was not breaking down, the egg was remaining as fresh as the day it was laid.

Along with the extended shelf life, came the astounding discovery that the surface of the shell harboured absolutely no bacteria.

“In trials, we’ve managed to get the eggs to 35 weeks with absolutely no breakdown in composition or quality and completely free of bacterial growth, and they’ve been stored at ambient temperature,” Julie said.

It was Food Innovation Australia, an industry-led, not-for-profit organisation that realised what a major discovery Julie and Paul had made. “’Do you realise what you’ve done?’ they said to me, holding up an egg,” Julie said.

It was their belief and phenomenal support, along with a grant, that encouraged Julie and Paul to press forward with their smoked eggs and invest extensively in research and development as well as generating an export market.

“It’s been incredibly stressful with our business Kossies Free Range Eggs effectively supporting this start-up, but it all will be worth it,” Julie said.

“We’ve proven that salmonella cannot exist

CURED NOT COOKED: The patented technology uses a chill system, introducing smoke to the eggs at a temperature below five degrees resulting in eggs that have a warm, resinous appearance, each egg unique in its patination. on the shell, and with the ability to effectively preserve an egg we have suddenly become incredibly competitive in the export market.

“With a long shelf life, eggs can now be sent by ship rather than air freight making them an even more viable option.”

The potential of their discovery is not limited solely to eggs, however, and the magical combination of humidity, volume of smoke, volume of product, along with an incredibly low processing temperature have all been

People are buying it for taste at the moment, and as yet are not entirely aware of the extended shelf life and health benefits that a bacteriafree egg offer. - JULIE KOS patented by the Kos’s.

With the technology patented, Julie and Paul have sold licences into both the Netherlands and the United States, with strong

international interest in the technology and its potential.

The domestic market in Australia, however, initially struggled to grasp the

concept of smoked eggs.

But after launching their national advertising campaign to effectively educate the public, Julie and Paul are beginning to see sales and a shift in perception.

“People are buying it for taste at the moment, and as yet are not entirely aware of the extended shelf life and health benefits that a bacteria-free egg offer,” Julie said.

“For the immunocompromised, for pregnant women and young children, to be able to eat eggs which are so nutrient dense and

have their freshness sealed into them and are devoid of bacteria, is an absolute game-changer.”

The significance of their discovery was also largely unrecognised by local industry groups and retailers, whose response when approached with the technology was predominantly dismissive.

“It’s been a hard road,” Julie said.

“I’ve struggled immensely with the financial pressure I’ve put Paul and me under, and if I didn’t believe so inherently that what we were doing was making a difference we could have easily crumbled.

“But Paul has backed me 110 per cent despite all the hurdles, all the setbacks and dismissals.

“When I was just hoping that somebody would realise what we were doing - that this was more than farming, more than a flavour, more even than just eggs.

“This was about food preservation and a major shift in the agri-food industry.

“I used to hope that in life if I could touch one or two lives and make a difference I would be satisfied.

“That’s not enough anymore.

“I have aspirations now to combat malnutrition and rectify global food shortages.

“This technology will revolutionise and change the world.”

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Page 16 - North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer

July 2020

Get to know a grazier Y

WINNER THEN, WINNER STILL: Leigh Woodgate is the woman from Snowy River, beating the men at their own game. She is pictured here with one of the horses she rode on the Bush Mountain Racing circuit, Monkey.

OU could make a hundred movies about Leigh Woodgate and still not have begun her story.

She is everything you would expect to find in a John Wayne cowboy - tough, gritty, pig-headed and determined to defy the odds.

Agile in the saddle, quick on foot and renowned for her patience with animals.

Like an old bushy, she can survive for days roaming the mountains with nothing but her horse and her dog for company.

Or at least, the old Leigh could.

A horrific horse accident, broadcast on national television, has changed the course of Leigh’s life.

In a coma for 17 days, barely a bone was left intact.

Even now, 26 years later, she still battles daily with the challenges that have become her routine.

But despite this, Leigh is as determined as ever.

The cowboy in her has simply gritted her teeth and continued on, one slow step at a time.

Leigh Woodgate is the woman from Snowy River

BY RHYLL McCORMACK rmccormack@ nemedia.com.au

Leigh was born and bred in the mountains around Buchan, a bush girl chasing the approval of her you-shouldhave-been-a-boy father.

Her Dad, John Robert - affectionately known as Grub - ran cattle on the Bald Hill Plains - heading out with legendary bushmen such as Buff Rogers and Froggy McMahon.

From the moment she could walk, Leigh was always one step behind her father.

In the cattle yards pulling at the hem of his oilskin, in the back of the ute helping slice open bales of hay and in the High Country, calling the cattle home each winter.

“We were always Mountain Cattlemen, and it was just a part of Dad and who

he was,” Leigh said.

“Back then we would head out for weeks at a time when we were taking them up or bringing them home from grazing - and all I wanted was to be a part of that life with Dad.” From an early age riding was Leigh’s life, and as proud Mountain Cattlemen the family always travelled to the annual Get Together.

“One-year Ken Connley made a bet with Dad that a woman would never win the Great Mountain Race, which was the race that started the Cattlemen’s Cup,” Leigh said.

“I must have been in my early 20s or maybe younger, and it was all men on the mountain racing circuit at that time - but I was riding local trackwork so I knew I had it in me.

“Dad told Ken if there was anyone who was going to do it, it would be me - so I knew I had to win for him.”

July 2020

North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer - Page 17

STILL DETERMINED: Leigh Woodgate has come back from a horrific horse accident, a coma and 26 years of rehab to find herself back in the saddle - the one place she has always belonged. To this day Leigh remains the only woman to have ever won the Great Mountain Race, and is regarded as a bush-racing legend.

DAYS GONE BY: Leigh Woodgate with one of her many mountain racing trophies.

Leigh began training for the Cup, and even now can rattle off the names of the horses she rode in preparation.

There was MitchMac, a horse of Rita McMahon’s, and a thoroughbred called Monkey owned by Ian Webb.

“I started travelling to a few mountain races,” Leigh recalled.

“My first race my horse slipped coming down a hill and we (hosre and rider) both fell - but I jumped back on and still managed to finish third.

“That’s when I think Ken Connley knew Dad was in with a chance to win the bet.”

L

ike all country kids, Leigh never shied away from hard work.

After finishing her racing each weekend she would jump into her car and head off, ready to be back in the saddle at 4am the following day.

“I just loved riding, it was my whole life,” Leigh said.

“I was riding track six mornings a week, and competing at mountain races when they were nearby.

“Then, when I was ready, I decided to have a go at the Great Mountain Race - that was the one we all wanted to win.”

Mountain racing is not like a picnic meet.

There are no manicured

home-straights and crowds tittering behind white bollards.

Instead, there are banners holding back delighted children and dogs straining at leashes, crowds in their thousands screaming enthusiastically and a course that would wind itself up mountains, between trees and across rivers.

“The Great Mountain Race was the pinnacle,” Leigh said.

“It’s the one you wanted to win, especially if you were from a Mountain Cattlemen family like we were.”

Leigh remains to this day the only woman to ever win the Great Mountain Race, which she did in 1990.

By that stage, the bet between her father and Ken Connley no longer mattered - because the prestige of coming first meant far more than any trophy or bet.

“I just couldn’t believe it when I won,” Leigh said.

“I was racing against all the men, and these men were the best riders out there.

“It was the most incredible moment of my life.”

Leigh and the Woodgate family continued to be a part of the Mountain Cattlemen’s Association of Victoria - travelling to events, supporting the cause and grazing their cattle in the High Country.

Leigh moved to Melbourne and continued riding, moving into jumps racing.

B

ut in 1994 Leigh was riding at Hamilton when her horse knuckled on landing at the second last jump.

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“It took me 15 years to repair my shattered body and mind - 15 years of perseverance and dedication - to get back on the horse,” Leigh said.

“I would set an alarm and get up five times a night to stretch, to work out, to do whatever the physios told me I needed to do.

“But there was never an option to give up.”

Although Leigh no longer lives on the family property at Buchan, the Bald Hill grazing run still has Angus cows on it each summer.

“I’m still a Mountain Cattlemen, and I’m still proud to be that,” she said.

“It’s something that my family have done for more than 100 years, and it’s been built into us to be proud of our heritage.”

Unbelievably, Leigh also still rides trackwork.

She is a little slower than she was 20 years ago, but that same delighted grin never leaves her face.

When her body aches and it does ache - she thinks about the times gone by and pushes down the pain.

Focusing on all she has achieved, the triumphs, setbacks and eventual return to the saddle has helped Leigh begin a second career as a public speaker.

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woman ever to win the Great Mountain Race at Mansfield, as well as countless other awards and accolades as a professional rider, is one of determination - the accident changed the course of my life forever,” Leigh said.

“I had to learn how to eat, think, breathe, talk and walk again. Step by step, I strengthened my body and my resolve.

“My will and determination to get back on the horse have got me through daunting adversity, and I believe I can inspire others to overcome the obstacles they come up against in their own lives.”

Leigh was nominated as a National Jockeys’ Celebration Day Ambassador and has an Australian Story episode dedicated to her experiences.

Today, at home in Melbourne, Leigh still battles the odds.

She rides two mornings a week and has countless rehab sessions afterwards to ease her jaded muscles.

There are speaking engagements, phone calls with family and hours spent at the local racing stable and gym.

Her inner cowboy has aged a lot in two decades, but is still as pig headed as ever.

“A bad fall isn’t going to change my life,” Leigh said.

“It might make some things a little harder, but it doesn’t change who I am.”

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Page 18 - North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer

July 2020

Marauding wild dog shot at Piries

By PAM ZIERK-MAHONEY THE wild dog problem has raised its ugly head again - and right on lambing time.

Piries farmer Paul Diamond had been frustrated with attacks on his mob of Merino ewes having lost between 30 and 40 to what he believed was one wild dog.

“It’s been mentally hard to bear for me as I really care for my animals and to see them torn and bleeding, not dead, just injured, from a dog attack is heatbreak-

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ing,” Mr Diamond said.

Mr Diamond battled the wild dog problem for more than six weeks before calling in an ‘expert’ in wild dogs Jesse Polkinghorn.

“Every night I would go out and check on the sheep and look for this wild dog,” Mr Diamond said.

“I knew it was a lone dog and I also knew it was watching me, you could sense it was there, somewhere near.

“I would come across a freshly mauled ewe, fleece falling off it and bleeding, but still alive - it was just the thrill of the chase and the kill for the dog.

“I would push the ewe back into the flock which I kept near the homestead, but by morning there would be another mauled sheep.

“It was hard decisions to make as to euthanising the mauled ewes or trying to save them.

“This particular wild dog had been seen by other people - once chasing young deer across a road - so I knew it was big and on its own.

“I also knew this dog was coming from the south east, from out of Martin’s Gap and across the ridge to our place.”

Mr Diamond described the carnage of the ewes as distressing.

“The dog would just take bites out of the sheep and leave them - it would attack several each night and just leaving them to die - it was obviously not hungry,” he said.

“I have run this property for the past 10 years and have lived through some tough times but this was just another level of stress this year, what with drought and all - this problem was very different.”

Mr Diamond estimated this dog problem has cost him upwards of $15,000.

When he had had enough he called in Mr Polkinghorn to help him out.

“I cannot speak highly enough of Jesse Polkinghorn - he is a very experienced bushman and hunter, trustworthy, and knows his job,” Mr Diamond said.

“He came out about 15 times before we got the dog.

“Jesse shot this dog from 500 metres away.”

Once killed, Mr Diamond took the wild dog to a vet just to make sure it was not a neighbouring

pet that was out at night.

“The vet confirmed it was a wild dog - probably part kelpie, part shepherd and part dingo,” Mr Diamond said.

“It was big, black and a full male dog.”

Mr Diamond said the problem of wild dogs is growing and he feels the government and farm agencies are not doing enough to get on top of it.

“There has always been a wild dog problem further down the road near Mountain Bay and Goughs Bay, but they are on the bush line and we are more on the open flat land and have never had this problem before,” he said.

“I didn’t care so much about the money it has cost me but I do care for the animals - especially the ewes that were only three weeks off lambing.”

Since this rogue wild dog was shot, some four weeks ago, he has not had a problem and lambing is now in full swing.

“It’s been a terrific year for lambs with lots of twins and even triplets,” a happier Mr Diamond said.

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North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer - Page 19

Henty Machinery Field Days won’t go ahead THE Henty Machinery Field Days (HMFD) board regrets to announce the 2020 event will not proceed this year due to COVID-19.

HMFD chief executive officer Belinda Anderson said the unknowns for large mass gatherings beyond the Federal Government’s stage three rollout of restrictions, made organising and planning the event difficult.

“It has become apparent the field days will not be able to go ahead in 2020,” Mrs Anderson said.

“Without a clear path to the end of this pandemic and the full easing of social restrictions, the obstacles to running a successful, and more

PUSHING ON: Connie Northey is hopeful demand for goat meat will pick up in the coming months.

Goat demand slows down

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meant demand had reduced significantly.

“It really has (slowed down),” she said.

“Restuarants have been closed and even though they have started to open again, they aren’t really prepared to put goat back on the menu just yet.

“Then the butchers in Melbourne aren’t buying as much.

“We were affected by the bushfires and now COVID-19 so it’s been a bit slow.

“People see goat meat as a luxury meal, not a staple so they will just buy or eat beef, chicken, pork or lamb unless they are avid goat meat eaters.”

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Mrs Northey said prices at the Myrrhee business weren’t affected by the wider market but she did expect more business when normality returns to society.

“I think the more that people get out and eat out then demand will pick up,” she said.

“Fortunately for us we both work other jobs so we’ve never been dependent on the goats.

“We’re still providing meat to a lot of different places.”

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A North East boer goat meat producer admits the COVID-19 pandemic has slowed up sales in the past few months but is hopeful the second half of the year will see business pick-up if restrictions begin to ease.

Connie Northey from Myrrhee Premium Boer Goats said business wasn’t nearly as strong in recent months with restaurants closing down but the wheel was beginning to turn now that places were starting to re-open.

The Myrrhee business runs 200 head of goats and provides high quality boer goat meat to restaurants throughout the North East but also does deliveries throughout Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.

Mrs Northey said the fact goat meat was a delicacy

importantly safe field days, were insurmountable.

“This has been a difficult decision for organisers knowing it would disappoint all of our stakeholders, including members, staff, sponsors, exhibitors, community groups and visitors.”

Mrs Anderson said the HMFD team was now busy investigating options for a virtual format of the event in September with more information to be released at a later date.

HMFD is the nation’s largest field days and outdoor agricultural event, with an economic value of more than $92 million and were due to be held on September 22 to 24.

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Page 20 - North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer

July 2020

Things to do in July?

WITH Covid 19 restrictions now back in force, there has never been a better time to learn a new farming skill.

Following is a list of events being hosted by the GRDC in July, many of which are free to attend online.

For information on how to be a part of any, or all, head to the GRDC website. z July 6: GRDC Farm Business Update, online Economic outlook - Agriculture and global supply chains - John Crosbie, Deloitte Access Economics 1:00pm-2:00pm z July 7: GRDC Farm Business Update, online Managing volatility and risk inside and outside the farm gate 1:00pm-2:00pm

z July 8: GRDC Farm Business Update, online Utilising profits effectively to optimise returns and business outcomes 1:00pm-2:00pm z July 9: GRDC Farm Business Update, online Farm health and safety - Practicality over paperwork 1:00pm-2:00pm z July 10: GRDC Farm Business Update, online - Developing management and decisionmaking skills 1:00pm-2:00pm Australian Fungicide Resistance Extension Network (AFREN) Fungicide Resistance in Canola webinar 2:00pm-3:00pm

SAVING FORESTS: Re-seeding works are under way to help give Alpine Ash species a chance to survive after the 2019-20 bushfire season.

Vital project under way to restore Alpine Ash forest

By NICK SINIS A $3.3 million project by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning will re-seed vulnerable Alpine Ash species in fire affected areas of the North East.

The project forms part of the State Government’s $250 million Reducing Bushfire Risk Program, and aims to help restore Alpine Ash forest that was devastated during the 2019-20 bushfires.

Hume deputy chief fire officer Aaron Kennedy said almost 70,000 hectares of the speices had been affected, and the project will aim to regenerate 13,000 hectares with 7300 kilograms of seed. “The summer fires severely impacted Alpine Ash creating concern that without action it will become locally

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Mr Kennedy said the project will be crucial to ensure fire damaged forests regenerate and is expected to continue until July, when snow fall will make re-seeding difficult. “Alpine Ash species generally don’t regenerate until they’re 15 years of age, before they can produce their own viable seed,� he said. “The re-seeding is done through aerial sowing, at

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North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer - Page 21

Essential fertilisers ride the coronavirus storm

By JULIA MEEHAN, Managing Editor, Fertilizers, ICIS THE domino effect of the coronavirus, as it has spread across the globe, has so far had a limited impact on the fertiliser industry.

However, the full effects of the global pandemic are starting to show in some sectors owing to cashflow problems caused by decomposing crops, such as fruit and vegetables.

China, having been the epicentre of the pandemic, is starting to get back to normal and production rates have increased for all fertilisers.

The nation is the largest fertiliser consumer in the world, on average consuming close to 50 million tonnes per year.

It is also a key exporter of urea.

When lockdown began in China, the impact was huge in terms of cuts in production owing to a shortage of labour.

Problems with transportation, by rail, road and sea, also had a big impact up and down the fertiliser chain resulting in stock piling up.

The biggest impact for

China was on phosphoric acid which is used to produce phosphate.

Fertiliser facilities in Hubei province account for up to a third of the country’s total capacity.

Because of this, China turned from the largest exporter of diammonium phosphate (DAP) to a net importer.

But as China started to ease its way out of lockdown, the flow of all fertilisers has recovered very quickly and life is getting back to normal again.

Urea was less impacted in China with Hubei province only accounting for around three per cent over China’s total capacity.

As the pandemic spread across nations, many countries started to feel the full impact of the deadly virus at a time when fertiliser application was at a seasonal high, particularly for the northern hemisphere.

Indeed, during March, demand for all fertilisers was healthy and the value of feedstocks and nutrients held steady and in some instances firmed.

There was pressure on pricing in April-May but the

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In June, sentiment has turned and most fertiliser prices have increased.

As the virus took hold as it moved across the globe, agricultural and industrial sectors learned lessons from China and many were given government support.

The transportation of fertilisers across European boarders continued but with strict measures in place to protect truck drivers and the workforce.

France, which is the larg-

est fertiliser user in Europe, moved through the months of spring with largely no impact on supply or demand, although some cracks are starting to appear now.

Cash flow problems are emerging for some farmers and the wet start to 2020, followed by a dry April and May, has damaged crops.

Germany too has seen crops rotting, largely because of the coronavirus.

The closure of cafes, bars and restaurants which consume large quantities of French fries has led to a 60 per cent drop in demand for potatoes, for example.

Similar to Europe, the pandemic is now raging across

Latin America just as the fertiliser season gets into full swing.

Demand in the past weeks has been healthy for Latin America, with large volumes of fertiliser moving to Brazil and Argentina.

The fertiliser sector has fared better during the global pandemic, compared to the petrochemical and energy sectors, in terms of production.

Fertiliser makers have benefited from cheap feed and energy costs meaning that even marginal producers have continued to operate, and the markets have not felt any shortness of availability.

There has been some concern about new capacities due to come on stream in 2020 creating oversupply.

Some of these projects are likely to be delayed or pushed back to 2021 because of the fact that the health and safety of workers is paramount.

Discussions about the impact of IMO 2020 and Brexit on the fertiliser market have been virtually wiped out by the coronavirus and its impact, or rather lack of, so far into the pandemic.

The potential for a sharp

rise in bunker fuel prices because of IMO 2020 regulations has not been realised because of the dramatic fall in fuel oil costs.

There appears to have been no serious demand destruction across the fertiliser sector since the first case of the virus outside China was confirmed on January 13, 2020.

For many producers, cooperatives, wholesalers and farmers it has been business as usual.

But the outlook remains uncertain, with much talk and concern about a second wave and what this might mean to already broken economies.

Currency fluctuations, political unrest and huge levels of unemployment in both developed and developing nations will inevitably have an impact in the months and years ahead.

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Page 22 - North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer

July 2020

Discover a new soil moisture monitoring walk-through webinar IN THE PLANNING: Agriculture Victoria is urging farmers to re-evaluate on-farm dams to ensure water security for future needs.

Small dams not cutting it for stock water MANY Victorian farmers rely on small farm dams to provide water for stock and domestic use but according to Agriculture Victoria farm water supply specialist Clem Sturmfels, these dams are increasingly unable to meet stock and domestic water demands.

“Over recent years dams have become less reliable due to a hotter and drier climate, more severe droughts and increasing areas of the state being sown to crops or improved pastures,” Mr Sturmfels said.

“A small reduction in rainfall or change in land use can significantly reduce the amount of runoff available

for farm dams.

“However, farmers need to consider all available options before spending money sinking a bore, building a larger dam or installing a reticulated water supply system.

“They should start with a thorough stocktake of their existing system and calculate the water needs of their grazing enterprise, while also taking into account the strategies they will implement during the next dry season or drought.”

Mr Sturmfels, whose background is in soil conservation, whole farm planning and on-farm water reticulation systems, said

small dams often go dry over summer due to their limited storage capacity and very high evaporation losses.

“Large dams, on the other hand, are becoming less popular due to the lack of suitable sites, planning permit requirements and the impact these dams have on downstream flows.”

Agriculture Victoria is encouraging farmers to thoroughly plan, design, map and determine the implementation of water supply systems going forward to combat challenging weather conditions.

FARMERS, advisors and researchers are invited to explore the new Agriculture Victoria Soil Moisture Monitoring website with a recorded ‘walk-through webinar’.

The new Soil Moisture Monitoring website - launched by Agriculture Minister Jaclyn Symes at the start of June - showcases Agriculture Victoria’s highly regarded soil moisture probe network.

The new website replaces the previous soil moisture data dashboard with a detailed page dedicated to each of the 36 soil moisture monitoring sites across the state.

New tools featured on the website can translate soil moisture data into meaningful, real time, local information.

“My favourite tool is the ‘speedo’ graph showing change in overall soil moisture at a particular site,” Agriculture Victoria seasonal risk agronomist, and project co-ordinator, Dale Boyd said.

“It’s a simple way to represent how the soil moisture profile has changed over the last year, in other words how full the ‘tank’ is.”

The overall soil moisture

MONITORING MOISTURE: Explore Agriculture Victoria’s new Soil Moisture Monitoring website. ‘speedo’ tool is just one of the innovative features of the new website that will be explored during the walkthrough webinar.

“Previously, we could only show soil moisture data, without any real interpretation.

“The new website takes this data and adds value to it, with tools that are easy to use such as a temperature gauge, current soil moisture profile and a one to threemonth rainfall outlook for the state,” Mr Boyd said.

The webinar which was scheduled for Wednesday, June 17 at 12pm was recorded and is now available on the Agriculture Victoria website.

For more information about Agriculture Victoria’s soil probe network and the new Soil Moisture Monitoring website, email soil.moisture@agriculture.vic.gov. au or contact Dale Boyd on dale.boyd@agriculture.vic. gov.au.

For more information about joining future webinars email climate.webinars@agriculture.vic.gov.au or contact Alice Ritchie on alice.ritchie@agriculture. vic.gov.au.

The webinar was delivered by Agriculture Victoria and funded by the Victorian Government’s 2019-20 Drought Support Package.

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Service & repairs all makes of tractors, agricultural, industrial, earthmoving machinery Over 30 years experience, factory trained. Specialising in Ford New Holland

PAUL WILLIAMS - CHESHIRE & WILLIAMS REPAIRS P/L Ph (03) 5721 4419 mobile 0428 574 195 1 WENHAMS LANE, WANGARATTA

Make North East & Goulburn Murray Farmer your ‘go-to’ place to reach your customers and that’s ‘No Bull’

Michael today on 03 5731 3306 or email: mkidman@nemedia.com.au

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Pink eye in cattle TUESDAY "KING VALLEY RUN"

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

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32 WARBY STREET, WANGARATTA

5721 7177

We have been seeing quite a lot of “Pink eye� cases in cattle lately. Pink eye, or infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis, is a contagious bacterial infection of the eye. It mainly affects young cattle in the warmer months of the year. Older cattle tend to have developed natural immunity. Pinkeye is caused

by Moraxella bovis, of which there are several strains.

The bacteria produce a toxin which attacks the cornea and conjunctiva, causing inflammation and ulceration of the eye. It is spread by flies and long grass. Sunlight and dust make it worse.

The prevalence of pink eye varies from year to year, and depends on seasons, weather, fly population and grass length. Some farms may only have occasional cases, while others may have 60-80% of cattle affected in severe outbreaks. The average infection rate is 5-10%.

The initial signs of pink eye are watery discharge from the eyes, aversion to sunlight, excessive blinking/ squinting, and reddening and swelling of the eyelids and third eyelid. Later signs are cloudiness of the eye and ulceration of the surface of the eye. Most animals will recover completely, but a small number

of cases may progress to abscessation which may lead to rupture of the eye and permanent blindness.

Severely affected animals, especially those with both eyes affected, will have reduced growth rates.

Many cattle will recover from pink eye in 3-5 weeks even without treatment. Mustering cattle to treat pink eye can sometimes actually be counterproductive as the dust and flies and close contact increase the spread of infection. The percentage of cattle affected should be considered before making the decision to muster and treat. However, if mustering is required for other reasons such as weaning or drenching, any cattle with pinkeye should be treated while in the yards.

Severely affected cattle (eg those with abscesses in both eyes) should be isolated and treated daily.

The most effective treatment is Cloxicillin eye ointment (eg opticlox). A single dose is usually sufficient, but it can be repeated every 48 hours if necessary. Sprays and powders for pink eye are not very helpful as they are very short acting, must be repeated several times a day, and are irritating to the eye. In late stage or severe cases, an injection of antibiotic/anti-inflammatory under the eyelid by a veterinarian can sometimes be

helpful.

Eye patches are very helpful to prevent further irritation from sunlight, dust and flies. They also reduce the spread. Heavy denim cloth or a dust mask can be glued over the eye (taking care not to get any glue in the eye).

It is important to check for grass seeds in the eye, including behind the third eyelid, as cattle with grass seeds in the eye will not get better unless the seed is removed.

The vaccine PiliguardÂŽ helps to prevent some strains of pink eye. A single dose is given to calves and weaners 3-6 weeks before the onset of pinkeye season.

Other measures that can help prevent pink eye include: controlling fly numbers with the pour-on insecticide deltamethrin, prompt segregation and treatment of affected stock, avoiding unnecessary yarding of cattle during problem months, and selective breeding for cattle with complete eyelid pigmentation.

Please give us a call (5721 7177) for further advice if you are having problems with pink eye on your property.

Page 24 - North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer

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