Southern Farmer

Published since 1986

AUGUST, 2020

www.farmernews.com.au

THE SHOW WON’T BE GOING ON THIS YEAR

High wine quality expected

THE class of 2019 (from left to right): Holly Webb, Annette Cavanagh, Zoe Weir, Jordan Hoban, Genevieve Saunders, Grace Calder, Alexander Bain, Catherine Bates, Annabel Grinter, Emma Henne, Lucy Powell, Stephanie Anthony and Meaghan Venables.

An important part of the show calendar is awarding the Victorian Agricultural Show Ltd Rural Ambassador state finalists. Championing rural youth the ambassador program entails three levels of progression which are local, group and state. Each show society nominates an ambassador to represent their show society at group level, with some show societies running a local show competition as they have multiple ambassadors wanting to represent the showsociety.

Judging is based on the entrant’s desire to be involved in the future and improvement of their local show society, as well as their local community.

Turn to pages 4 and 5 for an update of Victoria’s agricultural shows.

PAGE 8

SAMMs a resilient breed PAGE 17

Dorpers can do it PAGE 18

Beekeeping it in the family

By EMMA OLIVER CLEAR eyesight, very steady hands and great concentration are the attributes of beekeepers who diversify into the niche market of queen bee breeding.

“It is an exact science,” Jay Hu, founder and owner of Organicsway bee farm at Mount Evelyn, said.

“You need to be able to identify how old the larva is.

“For the first three days, there is an egg and on the fourth day it hatches into the larva.

“It is then that that you carefully pick it up - grafting it’s called - and transfer it to a queen cup, where the workers feed the larva an excessive amount of royal jelly to enable the transition.

“As queens and workers both come from the same egg, anything older than the one-day-old larva is already on its way to becoming

a worker bee, and so timing is absolutely crucial.

“An older larva grafted into a queen cup will turn into a queen bee, but will be of poorer quality with a shorter life span, reduced fertility and a likelihood of being defensive.

“And should you not pick the larva up gently - it gets damaged - resulting either in a low quality queen, or not even turning into one in the first place. “

Weather and environment also contribute to the success of the process, and Jay - as an experienced apiarist - adapts his craft year-to-year according to the conditions, with maintenance of the hives constant to ensure the specifications are ideal to create progeny.

As a fourth generation beekeeper, Jay’s passion for these amazing insects was nurtured by a childhood watching and learning from his beekeeper grandparents.

When Jay emigrated to Australia with his wife, his intention was never to be a beekeeper.

After obtaining a masters degree in Business Information Systems, Jay entered the professional world joining Accenture Australia and his working days were spent in an office as a senior business analyst, first at Accenture and then at Telstra.

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Page 2 - Southern Farmer

AUGUST 2020

Beekeeping it in the family ■

From page 1 However, bees remained a constant part of his life.

Maintaining a couple of hives, Jay began selling honey at local markets, and what started as a hobby evolved into Jay carrying on the family tradition and embracing beekeeping as his profession, leaving the corporate world behind .

Recognising a gap in the market for queen bee breeders, Organicsway diversified from their product offering of raw single-origin honey and bee pollen, into rear-

ing queens and nucleus bee colonies - concentrating on Italian and Carniolan honey bees renowned for their productive characteristics, gentleness and easiness to manage.

“Breeding queens in particular is a passion and specialty of mine,” Jay said.

“And at Organicsway, we make it a priority to identify and maintain desirable traits with the queen bees, concentrating specifically on bees that demonstrate tolerance to environmental changes to ensure the sus-

tainability of the agricultural industry that is pollination dependent.

“We are also committed to breeding healthy and hygienic queens and nucleus colonies, and provide them to not only commercial enterprises but also hobby beekeepers, considering no task too big or too small for us to complete.”

The surge in popularity of beekeeping has also seen business boom for Organicsway, with the number of registered beekeepers more than doubling in the last five years.

“Commercial beekeepers prefer to replace their queen every year or two, depending on their main beekeeping activities,” Jay said.

“And hobbyists ideally should substitute their queen every two years.

“This ensures that the hive remains strong and healthy, and there is less likelihood of having a swarm that will result in an aggressive hive.

“Queen bees can live up to six years, but after the first two years they don’t lay so many eggs, and so the

hive suffers without a sufficient brood and productivity drops dramatically.”

This means that demand for the services that Organicsway offer only continues to grow, with new customers joining the loyal, repeat clientele every year, impressed by the professionalism and premium quality product that Jay and his team offer.

The task is all encompassing, and with Organicsway also offering pollination services, beekeeping training from beginners to the advanced, and on-farm live bee

tours, this family tradition has been guided to the next level under Jay’s stewardship.

“With the demand for pollination services much higher than the availability of beekeepers and their hives, there is a definite need in Australia for the beekeeping industry to grow,” Jay said.

“The almond industry for instance continues to grow significantly, and at the current moment there is a deficit of 20,000 hives needed to accomplish the necessary pollination.

■ Continued page 3

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Southern Farmer - Page 3

From page 2 “And though providing pollination services requires high maintenance of the hives, and considerable travel expenses and time, it is a decent source of income, and a necessity for our agricultural industry.”

Jay Hu is also the pioneer of producing pure royal jelly in Australia, bringing his hereditary knowledge to the practice and prioritising ethical harvesting.

With its complex composition of proteins, amino acids and vitamins royal jelly is not only revered for its nourishing and therapeutic properties, but is essential to the fast development of strong, healthy and productive hives, and with this in mind Organicsway established and now sponsors the Royal Jelly Association Australia for research and development.

“Production of royal jelly is incredibly labour intensive,” Jay said.

“And so at the moment we are more concentrating solely on breeding queens as opposed to producing royal jelly.

“Royal jelly requires extensive grafting similar to the process of breeding of queens, but on a much grander scale with a huge amount of repeats.

“The worker bees produce the royal jelly for the potential queen bees and it is this that you harvest.

“This requires dedicated, strong hives with copious young workers, which are between eight and 14 days old as they secrete more and better quality royal jelly.

“However, to harvest a mere 40 grams of the jelly, you need to graft approximately 300 times into the ideal colony, aiming for a

90 per cent acceptance rate, making the product incredibly valuable but almost unviable due to the nature of its production.”

As a result, the priority now at Organicsway is to nurture their bees and build up strong and resilient hives, and with a huge workload that champions every other aspects of beekeeping, the team concentrate on leaving royal jelly production within the hive ecosystem.

It is a decision that reflects the ethos of this family-owned apiary business, where sustainability is the guiding principle, and careful handling and ecofriendly practices are the method, and the results show.

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AUGUST 2020

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By EMMA OLIVER BACK bigger and better in 2021 is the caption most agricultural shows are running with, as they tackle the onerous task of cancelling events for the upcoming show season.

With the majority of Victoria’s spring season shows postponed, a few of the smaller events have held off making their final decision in the hope that restrictions would ease and the state would have the pandemic under control.

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Rather than continue to invest in events that may unfortunately be cancelled organis-

ers are pulling the pin now to ensure future events can and will go ahead. “Some of these shows are over 150 years old and it would be a huge shame to lose these historical events from the agricultural calendar,� Rod Bowles, executive officer of Victorian Agricultural Shows, said. “They are often an icon of their town, and looked forward to with anticipation as a get-together for the extended agricultural community, and a celebration and affirmation of their achievements. “And as such, the benefit of shows to mental health

and wellbeing in rural communities cannot be underestimated.�

This consideration is at the forefront of committee members’ minds when making the devastating decision to cancel events for 2020. “There is also the fear for those not running their shows, that after annual expenses, they may not have sufficient cash resources to put on a show next year,� Mr Bowles said, “and whether the enthusiasm will still exist within a committee to put on a show in this era of uncertainty. “There is not a huge profit

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Southern Farmer - Page 5

EXCELLENCE IN AGRICULTURE: State final competitors who won their way through from competing at country shows at the 2019 Royal Melbourne Show.

ALL THE FUN OF THE FAIR: Side Show Alley always draws a crowd, and is fun for young and all.

margin in shows, and often it is harder to get something back in business than maintaining the momentum of an already running event.

“Insurance for shows is a massive outlay, and if anybody was to contract COVID-19 at an event that insurance would be rendered null and void.

“Having drafted a risk management document with required operating procedures, the logistical nightmare of putting on a show during a pandemic has frightened a lot of committees.

“With the extra costs of

employing additional staff, and the massive requirements in relation to cleaning and sanitising, expenses have become prohibitive for most shows.

“And the very real possibility of a huge reduction in crowd numbers, concerned about community transmission, has made many events unviable even if restrictions were lifted and they could go ahead.”

A lifeline offered by the Federal Government in the form of the Supporting Agricultural Shows program, with a one-off payment to alleviate cash flow pressure,

has been met with appreciation and relief by agricultural committees nationwide.

“The Supporting Agricultural Shows program was drafted in consultation with overseeing bodies like Victorian Agricultural Shows who provided research and case analyses as to running costs for events based on crowd numbers,” Mr Bowles said.

“It’s a much needed cash injection to assist committees to recoup some of the annual costs and fees that they have and will incur - like rates, water and power.

“Our hope is that it will keep these events solvable and viable going into next year.”

Acknowledging the role shows, both big and small, play in unifying not only the agricultural community, but connecting regional to metropolitan Australia, is heartening and a positive step towards ensuring these events can continue after the pandemic.

Following on from the Federal Government’s recognition, Mr Bowles and Victorian Agricultural Shows are currently in the process of securing a commitment from the State Government to guarantee bodies like Victorian Agricultural Shows can continue in the same capacity.

“Effectively our income is

derived from affiliation fees from all the societies who put on events, and with the majority of our spring season cancelled, our revenue has effectively dried up.

“We’re all still working hard supporting our community, fielding questions and providing practical advice and essentially becoming a helpline to committees in relation to compliance, and we need the State Government to help us to help others.”

With Victorian Agricultural Shows heavily involved in championing youth in rural communities, encouraging youth leadership and rural ambassadors, as well as recognising and awarding country kids involved in agricultural pursuits, the organisation plays a huge role in supporting the future of the industry.

“We are still running com-

petitions, but they are online now, just to keep the momentum going,” Mr Bowles said.

“Lots of shows are moving to an online presence with historical presentations and flashbacks talking about the origins of these events just to maintain public visibility and celebrate the communities involved.

“The national bull sales had online shows this year, judged on a two minute presentation video filmed by crews sent out to the farms.

“The Hereford National Sale was one online event that was really successful with a top of over $50,000, and though numbers were down, clearance and average was up on the previous year.

“It will be interesting to see going into the future whether some of these selling techniques will continue or even take-off, as animals won’t have to leave their properties, and owners won’t have to cover the big expenses of taking the animals to show.

“That said, all these events bring the community together, and taking your showworthy animals to show is hugely enjoyable.

“It’s some people’s sport and driving passion, and show time is a time to look forward to.

“It’s going to be a bit flat this year.

“But then the hunger and desire for the shows to go on might freshen people up a bit, and we’ll all be chomping at the bit to get back to it in 2021.”

Riddellvue Angus leads the way with new US genetics BRINGING a long-held dream to reality, Ian Bates, principal of Riddellvue Angus, is opening the gates for the stud’s very first & inaugural Spring Bull Sale.

Located in the rolling valleys of Alexandra, Victoria, Mr Bates is offering 30 HBR/ABR 18 mth bulls at the stud’s on-property sale, Wednesday 9th September.

Following a rewarding eight years as stud manager for Anvil Angus, and a family history steeped in breeding Angus cattle at the original Riddellvue family farm in Buxton, Mr Bates sees the next incarnation of the Riddellvue Angus stud culminate with this year’s spring sale.

Featuring bulls sired by renowned USA sire, AAR Frontman, the first progeny in Australia to go under the hammer is a sale highlight.

Mr Bates discovered this leading USA sire when visiting the Arntzen Angus Ranch, Hilger, Montana back in 2017.

“He was in the pasture walking cows so it didn’t take long to realise we needed this bull in Australia,” said Mr Bates.

“AAR Frontman is one those bulls that you like everything about.

“Great feet, unbelievable temperament, and a great top line.

“I feel this sire will produce amazing daughters and am really looking forward to seeing them maturing”.

Producing phenotypically correct Angus cattle with bred-in predictability and animals who stand up well in the harshest conditions is the mainstay of Riddellvue Angus’ breeding goals and philosophies.

A foundation herd of Anvil Angus blood and influences of Strathewen, Coolana and Witherswood genetic pools, along with leading US and Australian sires ensures genetic depth and substance in the Riddellvue sale bull breeding programs.

Fulfilling those goals sees other USA based sires’ prog-

eny feature highly in the sale catalogue.

Sires include JD Paydirt, HA Cowboy Up and Quaker Hill Mile High.

“As a seedstock producer it’s also a real buzz when your own progeny is putting bulls into the top line up of your sale”, added Mr Bates.

Five sons of the Riddellvue bred stud sire, Riddellvue Justice (VRB J297) will be on offer along with nine sons of the renowned Anvil M035 (HBU M035).

Both bulls dam are flush sisters by the Great VTM Y147.

“We look forward to welcoming visitors and prospective buyers to our stud, both at our Open for Inspection Day and on Sale Day”, said Mr Bates.

Inspections welcome by prior appointment, or the Riddellvue Angus Open Day on Friday 28th August.

For Sale details and latest news, visit the Riddellvue Angus Facebook Page.

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AUGUST 2020

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Ensuring biosecurity risks don’t sail into Australia WHILE Australia’s biosecurity system helps to manage risks associated with the movement of vessels, yacht and boat owners and vessel operators also have a key role to play.

The head of biosecurity at the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Lyn O’Connell, said Australia has had a number of recent instances where yachts and vessels have arrived carrying materials that presented a biosecurity risk.

Around 500 non-commercial boats/yachts and 19,000 commercial vessels arrive in Australia each year and many of these have the potential to carry exotic pests and diseases,” Ms O’Connell said.

“Just recently biosecurity officers found a live gecko, an exotic ant, a spider and termites

during an inspection of a yacht arriving into Darwin.

“Live geckos are a risk because they may carry pests or disease that could affect our unique native reptiles.

“Exotic ants, spiders and termites are a risk because they could damage infrastructure, affect our homes and way of life and damage our natural environment.

“An Asian gypsy moth’s egg mass was also recently discovered during a routine vessel inspection on a bulk carrier vessel arriving into Australia.

“The moth’s caterpillars feed on the leaves of more than 600 species of trees, such as oak, birch, aspen, eucalyptus, holly, rose, fruit trees and ornamental plants.

“The spread of exotic pests

and diseases, like this moth and its larvae, could have devastating impacts on our agribusiness and horticultural industries.

“These stowaway pests are small and hide well.

“Sailors should keep an eye out for them and report before or on arrival anything they see.

“The Australian Government is always exploring opportunities for yachts to help manage the associated biosecurity risks.

“Coral Sea Marina (Airlie Beach) is now a first point of entry for non-commercial vessels.

“First points of entry are ports that have facilities and procedures that are critical to prevent pests and diseases entering and establishing in Australia.

“This means international yachts and super yachts are now

able to have their first Australian port of call in Airlie Beach.

“Following recent investment by the Northern Territory Government, the Port of Darwin is again a first point of entry for yachts.

“There are strict biosecurity conditions for all boats that arrive into Australia, including entering through a designated first point of entry, mandatory reporting and inspection by biosecurity officers.

“All vessel operators, both recreational and professional, should familiarise themselves with Australia’s biosecurity and reporting requirements.

“Biosecurity is everyone’s responsibility and together we can ensure Australia remains free from some of the world’s most damaging pests and diseases.”

VFF backs calls to support poultry growers THE Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) is backing calls to support contract poultry farmers who are under extreme price pressures from processors and the supermarkets.

VFF president David Jochinke said that although chicken was the most popular protein choice for Australian consumers, the popularity on dinner tables was not benefiting contract growers.

“We know Australians love a cooked chook but the growers simply aren’t seeing any benefit at all from the increase in demand,” Mr Jochinke said.

“In the last decade the price of lamb, beef and pork has steadily risen but the retail price of chicken has been flat.”

According to ABARES, between 2008 and 2017 the retail price of chicken decreased from 551c/kg to 534c/kg, while beef, lamb and pork all rose.

LOW RETURNS: Poultry farmers have seen the retail price of chicken decrease over the last decade, creating a huge amount of pressure on poultry farmers to remain viable.

“The problem is twofold,” Mr Jochinke said.

“On the retail front supermarkets are keeping chicken prices low, while the closure of a number of Victorian processors has limited competition and choice for growers.

“The situation really is dire for a large number of growers.”

The ACCC recently indicated they would look into complaints of an unfair trading environment in the chicken meat industry but the VFF believes this does not go far enough.

The VFF is backing the call for

an ACCC inquiry into the poultry meat industry.

“Let’s not beat around the bush on this,” Mr Jochinke said.

“We know there are serious competition issues in the chicken meat industry and it’s time for the Treasurer to bring in the ACCC to investigate.”

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Southern Farmer - Page 7

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Page 8 - Southern Farmer

AUGUST 2020

Australia’s winegrape crush sees constrained quantity and quality THE Australian winegrape crush in 2020 was 1.52 million tonnes - the equivalent of over 1 billion litres of wine, according to the National Vintage Report 2020 released early July by Wine Australia.

The 2020 crush was 12 per cent lower than the 2019 crush, and 13 per cent below the ten-year average of 1.75 million tonnes.

It was the smallest crop since 2007 but was most similar in terms of yield to 2010 - a year of exceptional wines - when the crush was 1.61 million tonnes, but the vineyard area then was about four per cent higher than the current area.

Wine Australia chief executive officer Andreas Clark said while the crop was down, wine quality was expected to be high.

Autumn temperatures were generally around average or slightly cooler, leading

to ideal ripening and harvesting conditions, and the reduced yields have resulted in more concentrated colours and flavours in the berries.

“This vintage will enable us to continue to meet our targets of value growth in premium wine market segments, although the constrained supply will restrict overall volume growth in the next 12 to 24 months,” Mr Clark said.

Continuing strong demand for Australian wine is reflected in the five per cent increase in the average value of grapes, which has increased by a compound average of five per cent per year for the past six years.

The total value of the winegrape crush is estimated to be $1.07 billion, with an average value of $694 per tonne compared with $663 in 2019.

A smaller crop was widely anticipated given a number of seasonal factors.

VARIETALS AFFECTED: Yield is down, however, hopes are high for a vintage of exceptional wines.

However, the diversity of winegrowing regions and the ability of Australian grapegrowers to manage seasonal variations and weather events moderated the impact on the vintage.

The three large inland regions: Riverland (South Australia), Murray Darling-Swan Hill (Victoria/New South Wales) and Riverina (New South Wales), which make up around three-quarters of the crush, were less affected than

other regions due primarily to the availability of supplementary water.

Together these regions were down by four per cent compared with 2019, while the remaining regions were down collectively by 34 per cent, with a wide range of individual variation.

Mr Clark said that the wine sector had made significant investments in research and development, leading to improved vineyard manage-

ment techniques and water use efficiency since the last drought.

He said crop losses due to fire and/or smoke damage were reported in around onequarter of Australia’s winegrowing regions, however, the overall reduction due to direct damage or smoke effects was estimated to be less than 40,000 tonnes, or three per cent of the total crush.

Red varieties fared slightly better than white varieties in 2020, being down by 11 per cent compared with 2019, while white varieties were down by 13 per cent.

Australia’s largest variety, Shiraz, decreased by 10 per cent to 376,000 tonnes and increased its share of the total crush to 25 per cent.

Other red varieties to do relatively well were Durif and Ruby Cabernet (up by nine per cent and eight per cent

respectively) while the biggest declines were for Pinot Noir (down 24 per cent) and Merlot (down 20 per cent).

The main contributor to the reduction in the white crush was Chardonnay, which was down 19 per cent to 285,000 tonnes, while Riesling had the biggest decrease in percentage terms, down 28 per cent to a 20-year low of just under 17,000 tonnes.

Prosecco increased slightly, against the general trend, and moved up to ninth place in the top 10 white varieties.

“The increase in average value for Shiraz is far outpacing that for Chardonnay, leading to strong demand signals favouring Shiraz,” Mr Clark said.

“This is reflected in our exports.

“The average value of bottled Shiraz exports was $9.21 per litre FOB in 2019 compared with $4.29 for Chardonnay.”

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BALMATTUM Australian White Sheep is a stud located in the foothills of Balmattum, on the outskirts of Euroa.

Managed by Richard Boadle who established Boadles Chaff in 1975, the property is owned by his daughter and son-in-law, Kristen and Grant Davey, all of whom are incredibly passionate about this relatively new breed.

Established over seven years ago with top quality ewes bought from Tattykeel and Campden Park Studs, Balmattum also have two stud sires, both sons of Leader, the recordbreaking $38,000 ram.

With a recent purchase of 36 ewes from Tattykeel due to lamb in August, Balmattum are looking to further improve their quality stock and position themselves as one of the premium Australian White studs in Australia.

The Australian White Sheep breed originated at Tattykeel

BALMATTUM’S BEST: This lamb is 11 weeks old with an estimated weight of over 35 kilograms. in Oberon, New South Wales about 20 years ago by taking the best genetics from the Poll Dorset, Texel, and incorporating these with Van Rooy and Dorper breeds by using AI resulting in about 20,000 embryo transplants to get to the breed today.

They are hardy, shedding sheep that require no shearing or crutching and have exceptional growth rates and

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AUGUST 2020

Southern Farmer - Page 9

Growing forestry jobs through innovation THE Victorian Government is supporting our timber industry and securing future jobs by establishing a centre for timber and forestry innovation in Gippsland.

Minister for Agriculture Jaclyn Symes announced that the Victorian Government, in collaboration with the Commonwealth, will provide $4 million to Forest and Wood Products Australia over the next four years to establish the Gippsland Centre of the National Institute for Forest Products Innovation (NIFPI).

“Establishing the Gippsland Centre of the National

Institute for Forest Products Innovation sends a clear message that the Victorian Government is supporting the future of our local timber industry by driving innovation,” said Ms Symes.

Opening later this year, the centre will be created as part of the Victorian Forestry Plan to promote research and development opportunities that will help to diversify the sector.

The initiative will complement future grants to individual businesses under the Victorian Timber Innovation Fund, assisting the industry to transition from

SUPPORTING TIMBER: Grants have been announced to encourage forest products innovation to bolster the local timber industry. native timber harvesting to plantation timber.

In addition to becoming a hub of expertise and fostering collaboration, the NIFPI will provide grants to forest-

ry initiatives.

Projects funded under the NIFPI are expected to cover areas such as plantation management, timber processing, wood fibre recov-

ery, advanced manufacturing and the bioeconomy.

These projects have the potential to strengthen the sector as it transforms.

The NIFPI will receive ongoing administrative support from Forest and Wood Products Australia and is expected to promote cuttingedge research that leads to targeted investment to boost the sector, enabling potential future job growth in Gippsland.

It will be the third NIFPI established, joining other centres in Launceston and Mount Gambier.

Previous research by NIF-

PI centres has helped plantations to reduce stock loss by better understanding the influence of time taken to dry the timber.

Research has also resulted in new sawing and glueing techniques that produce more attractive and structurally stronger products at cheaper prices.

The Victorian Forestry Plan sets out the Victorian Government’s approach for managing the native timber industry over the next decade, providing $120 million to support the transition to 100 per cent plantation timber harvesting by 2030.

Focus on education programs to help make farms safer TWO new educational programs supported by the Victorian Government will be rolled out for rural and regional school students to start changing attitudes towards safety on farms from an early age.

Minister for Agriculture Jaclyn Symes today announced the programs at the beginning of National Farm Safety Week to reinforce the government’s commitment towards reducing deaths and injuries on farms.

“Increasing education and awareness is crucial in order to change the culture of safety on farms – by partnering with Kidsafe Victoria and the National Centre for Farmer Health, we can do this from an early age,” Ms Symes said.

Kidsafe Victoria will receive a $97,000 grant to support their work preventing unintentional death and injury of children by delivering a farm safety campaign and creative competition in primary schools over three years.

The National Centre for Farmer Health will receive a $108,500 grant to deliver 20 ‘Gear up for Agriculture Health and Safety’ workshops to Victorian secondary school students who have an interest in agriculture.

Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC) found that children aged younger than 15 in Victoria’s outer regional areas are four times more likely to die due to injury than children in our major cities.

MUARC recommended addressing this problem through increased education and awareness of known injury hazards such as dams, farm equipment and off-road motorbike use.

Drowning is the leading cause of death of children on farms – providing a fenced play area away from water hazards such as dams is one example recommendation of what can be done to help make farms safer for children.

Teaching children about farms as workplaces as well as homes is a vital part of changing attitudes, with information showing children influence the decisions their parents make, in turn improving farm safety for the whole family.

These grants are part of the Victorian Government’s $20 million Victoria’s Smarter, Safer Farms program which is addressing skills and safety issues in the agriculture sector.

To find out more about the educational programs visit the Agriculture Victoria website.

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Page 10 - Southern Farmer

AUGUST 2020

Rotational grazing lessons learned I

N 2012, a real estate agent told Deb and Fergus O’Connor their new purchase, a 60ha farm in Victoria’s South Gippsland region, had a stocking capacity of 60 head.

Fast‑forward eight years and they’re now running 150 steers year‑round despite setting aside five per cent of the farm to plant 16,000 trees.

They credit more than doubling carrying capacity to their streamlined rotational grazing system which underpins their whole‑farm management approach.

Here, Deb and Fergus open the gate to their little beef powerhouse.

“We work on an 8-10 day rotation and move all the cattle as one mob,” Fergus said.

“When we buy new steers, they go into quarantine for a few days and then we drench them before they go out into the mob.”

The O’Connors take care to select drenches which target parasites but don’t harm their dung beetles.

And while some might classify Fergus and Deb as regenerative farmers, it’s a label they both shy away from.

“I don’t consider myself to be a regenerative farmer, I’m a rotational farmer,”

Fergus said.

“Some view regenerative farming as what you do on land which has been degraded, but our land is as good as any; we’re increasing soil carbon by the way we rotationally graze.”

They also focus on using minimal inputs.

“The cattle are virtually the only thing we bring onto the property and they’re the only thing that leaves,” Deb said.

Soil testing is an important part of this strategy and guides any input decisions.

“Our accountant comments on how low our inputs are,” Fergus said.

“We look after the place and it seems to flourish.

“We spot spray for weed control when we need to.”

D

eb and Fergus are also members of industry groups such as Landcare, the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority’s sustainable farming program and Farmers for Climate Action.

They get support from these groups and participate in their education programs, but their approach also draws on Fergus’ earlier career as a racehorse trainer and his formal training at the

PERFECT PASTURE: Deborah and Fergus O’Connor through rotational grazing and considered land management have made their small-acre property into a viable beef farm.

PHOTO: Marg Thomas Warwickshire College of Agriculture (UK).

“I always say if you don’t know what you should be doing, put yourself in the animals’ shoes and do what you would want,” Fergus said.

“It’s part of being a stockman.

“You recognise your

stock, you recognise their needs.

“Keep things as simple and close to nature as possible - especially with cattle.”

And Deb and Fergus are just as committed to caring for their natural resources as they are their cattle.

“I’m absolutely

passionate about water and underground water,” Fergus said.

“If we ruin the aquifers, the farm becomes useless.”

They’ve fenced off and revegetated a creek which runs through the farm, along with two large dams.

“All the native crayfish, frogs, and lots of native

plants - ferns and things that hadn’t grown here for years - have come back,” Fergus said.

“We’ve probably lost five per cent of our land to trees, but the benefit of having shelter to keep your cattle warm in the cold and cool in the heat is so worthwhile.”

■ Continued page 11

AUGUST 2020

Southern Farmer - Page 11

GREEN, GREEN GRASS OF HOME: The proof is in the O’Connors’ paddocks that rotational grazing on their small acreage property is a huge success.

From page 10 attle also drink pristine spring water which flows to the farm.

Stock water is pumped to a header tank and gravity ‘fed to troughs, to ensure the riparian zones on the farm are protected.

Fergus and Deb calculated their water consumption using waterfootprint assessmenttool.org and worked out they use less than 200L/kg of beef

C

produced on their property. “There’s a lot of misinformation around about the sustainability of eating meat,� Deb said. “I’m interested in doing things to counter that misinformation. “Our beef production doesn’t use a lot of water, the animals are well treated, the environment is looked after.�

It was for these reasons Deb and Fergus participated in MLA’s Australian Good Meat program to tell their story, in their own words.

“I thought it was a good idea to help promote sustainablyĂ˘â‚Źâ€˜raised beef so people actually know what they’re eating,â€? Deb said.

The O’Connors sell their beef through Greenham’s Bass Strait brand, as part of the ‘Never Ever’ program.

This program guarantees beef is: 100 per cent grassfed; free of added hormones and antibiotics; free-‘range (never confined to a feedlot); free from genetically modified organisms; and Meat

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Big boost for small-scale and craft agribusiness SMALL-SCALE and craft producers across the state have received a funding boost to help grow their businesses and generate jobs thanks to grants from the Victorian Government.

Minister for Agriculture Jaclyn Symes today visited Dreaming Goat Dairy in Monegeetta to announce the more than 130 businesses that will share in $2 million from the Small-Scale and Craft Program Business Development Grants to help them scale up, expand operations and diversify their product ranges.

Dreaming Goat Dairy produces a range of handcrafted cheeses and yoghurts, with a focus on sustainability.

Their grant will provide support for new infrastructure and equipment upgrades, allowing the dairy to expand their product line and grow their business. “Businesses in regional Victoria have had a tough year, so these grants are a fantastic boost to small-scale and craft food and beverage producers like Dreaming Goat Dairy, which are such a huge part of our region’s appeal,�

Mary-Anne Thomas (MLA, Macedon) said.

Other businesses to receive support include several craft beer breweries, a range

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The farm’s close proximity (about 30 minutes’ drive) to the processor plays a part in reducing stress when cattle are transported. “The cattle go away completely calm with all their mates - they don’t get pushed through the saleyards,� Fergus said. “We book them in, send them on the Sunday afternoon and they’re all processed the next morning. “We produce beef with colour, taste and texture. “We think it’s so much nicer because it has the flavour. “It’s also nicer for the animals. “More and more people are interested in how their food is looked after and where it comes from. “I’d actually like to be a steer here.�

The O’Connors said they do face challenges running a smal-scale enterprise, such as buying young cattle at the right price. “You can farm successfully and profitably on a small scale, but the only way the small scale can happen is by nurturing the land, the cattle and the plants,� Deb said.

However, the O’Connors have developed business principles which apply to any scale of enterprise, such as land management, planting shelter and fencing creek lines.

Page 12 - Southern Farmer

AUGUST 2020

Support needed for young farmers

NUFFIELD SCHOLARSHIP: Damian Murphy advocates change in farm financing to support young farmers in obtaining their own land.

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DAMIAN Murphy wanted to know which countries are leading the way in young farmer financing and what we need to change to do it better in Australia.

As the 2012 Gardiner Dairy Foundation Nuffield Scholar, the Dumbalk North dairy farmer discovered the words ‘Nuffield Scholar’ could open the doors to leading financial institutions and government departments around the world.

He looks back on the enduring changes the Nuffield Scholarship program made to his life and the confidence it gave him to step up and contribute to the dairy industry.

The study took him to Europe, USA, Canada, Brazil and New Zealand to meet with banks, financial institutions, government departments and organisations involved in policy and advocacy for young farmers, and it opened the door to a productive period in dairy industry advocacy.

Although farm finance and providing an affordable pathway for new farmers is still an issue the industry grapples with, Damian was able to use his study experience to highlight the need for new financial models to assist young and beginning farmers.

In Canada he discovered a loan program from Farm Credit Canada called Transition Loans. “When a young farmer buys land, Farm Credit Canada guarantees the vendor of the property will get the proceeds from the sale of the land directly from FCC over five years. “The buyer financed by FCC does not need a down payment and only pays principal and interest or interest only on the amount that has been paid to the seller. “The advantage to a start-

up farmer is he or she only pays principal and interest on the amount paid to the owner in that year. “So, if the purchase price is $500,000 in the first year the owner gets $100,000 of his $500,000 and the young farmer is only paying principal and interest on that $100,000. “That helps a huge amount with cash flow and that’s what is really key to a young farmer; just protecting that cash flow situation,� he said.

Damian believes a bank should take on this transition program in Australia, but also sees merit in setting up a cofinancing program where money from agriculture that is in farm management deposits or superannuation is invested back into agriculture to assist young farmers with equity requirements. “To get into agriculture and progress through you need stock, lease agreements, machinery - anything that’s fairly manoeuvrable - right through to land purchases,� he said. “Wherever the young farmer wants to go, I’d like to see them supported and encouraged with finance, not excluded. “I can see that it’s getting harder and harder for the next generation to have the combination of skills and finances to progress in agriculture. “Some of the best farmers I know and have seen around the world don’t have that family farming background and they should be encouraged. “In all agricultural commodities we must encourage young and beginning farmers into the industry and provide a path to progress through because older farmers have a huge amount of assets in agriculture and they’re going to have to get passed on in some way at some stage.

“If the young farmers aren’t coming through in a position to buy that asset or manage that farm then we as an industry have failed.�

Despite these concerns, Damian is upbeat about the future of the dairy industry and is encouraging farmers to consider applying for a Nuffield Scholarship. “It has an enduring benefit; especially with the connections made and the understanding you get of the whole package that agriculture provides in Australia,� he said. “Young farmers need to learn as much as they can; ask questions, get good professional advice and find a good mentor, and definitely consider a Nuffield. “If they have questions about an interest of theirs in agriculture, the answer might not be in Australia. “Being a Nuffield scholar played a huge role in changing my thinking. “You learn so much about different industries and countries’ views on agriculture which broadens your mindset. “You start to realise there’s a bigger picture outside your farm and if you can assist in solving problems for the broader industry, you should. “I’m totally indebted to Gardiner for supporting my Nuffield Scholarship and on a personal level for the assistance the team at Gardiner gave me.�

See Damian’s full Nuffield report at https://www. gardinerfoundation.com. au/nuffield-scholar-damianmurphy.

Applications for the 2021 Nuffield Scholarships are now open and will close on September 11, 2020.

For more information, visit: https://www.gardinerfoundation.com.au/nuffield/.

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Page 14 - Southern Farmer

AUGUST 2020

Dairy communities receive over $120,000 in grants 26 projects funded in Victoria’s dairy farming regions

SUPPORTING THE DAIRY COMMUNITY: A partnership between the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal and the Gardiner Dairy Foundation is providing small grants for townships that rely on dairy. projects that will encourage community engagement and social connectedness. “The diversity of the projects reflects the differing needs of dairy communities too. “For example, in Murrabit, a street beautification project will boost morale and add cultural vibrancy, while the funding of chil-

dren’s activities at the Tarwin District Auto Festival should help to bring families into town for the November event.�

Natalie Egleton, chief executive officer of FRRR, said the longstanding partnership with Gardiner Dairy Foundation has been so successful because both foundations share the belief that

local groups are best placed to know what their community needs; they just need some support to turn their ideas into reality. “Working with Gardiner Dairy Foundation over the past 18 years we’ve seen just how passionate and dedicated local not-for-profit groups are in meeting challenges and creating their

own opportunities,� Ms Egleton said. “This year the program is supporting some fantastic initiatives to rejuvenate and extend the capacity of community spaces so that locals have access to high quality facilities - including the addition of an all abilities access ramp at Scotts Creek Hall, gas heaters to warm

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the many elderly citizens who use the Girgarre Hall, and audio visual equipment to improve local film nights at Yanakie Recreation Reserve and Public Hall.�

Since the launch of the annual Working in Dairy Communities (WIDC) Small Grants program in 2002, Gardiner Dairy Foundation has invested more than $1.8 million in this program and has supported a total of 471 community projects.

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THE Working in Dairy Communities (WIDC) Small Grants program, which is run in a partnership between the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) and Gardiner Dairy Foundation, has awarded $121,584 in grants to support 26 projects in Victoria’s three dairy regions.

Now in its 18th year, the WIDC Small Grants program offers up to $5000 to support community-driven projects that strengthen Victorian dairy communities through enhancing community infrastructure and local capacity.

Dr Clive Noble, Gardiner Dairy Foundation chief executive, said this year the Working in Dairy Communities grant program is supporting projects that support early childhood and adult education, and to stimulate economic recovery.

These projects will have long-lasting benefits for these communities. “Things have been tough for small towns reliant on dairy,� Dr Noble said. “These grants will help communities on their renewal journey by supporting

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Southern Farmer - Page 15

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Page 16 - Southern Farmer

AUGUST 2020

Elmore Field Days announce cancellation THE Elmore and District Machinery Field Days Committee has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Elmore Field Days which was due to take place in October.

Due to the continuing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the restrictions and conditions around running events the committee feel this decision is in the best interest

of public health and safety for all exhibitors, volunteers and attendees.

The committee left the decision to cancel as late as possible with the hope that the COVID-19 situation might have eased, but due to the government restrictions, uncertainty around running events and the current outbreaks the decision was clear.

The Elmore Field Days

attracts exhibitors and public from all over Australia and overseas and due to the current interstate and international border restrictions the committee could not guarantee that they could include their usual patrons.

“While it is disappointing we can’t run this year, there are two major risks we can’t take as a community,” field days president

Derek Shotton said.

“One is the ramifications it would have on the community if the field days goes broke if we committed to run - costing a massive amount of money - then were forced to cancel at the last minute.

“The second is that if we ran and it caused an outbreak in our community.”

The Elmore Field Days has been running yearly since 1964.

2020 ALPINE ANGUS SPRING BULL SALE Wednesday 23rd September 2020 at 1pm

This year was meant to be the 57th Elmore Field Days, having only ever missed one day of the field days due to a flood in 1975 causing the last day to be cancelled.

“We hope that everyone continues to stay safe and well,” Mr Shotton said.

“We plan to be back bigger and better on October 5, 6 and 7, 2021.”

The Elmore Field Days would like to thank everyone

involved in the event for being so supportive and understanding during this difficult time for all.

Thank you to our, committee, members, sponsors, community, volunteers, exhibitors and the public.

Please contact the office for any enquiries or questions at info@elmorefielddays.com.au or phone (03) 5432 6176.

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Southern Farmer - Page 17

PREMIUM QUALITY: This year’s sale team of Border Leicester/SAMM rams with a weight range from 92kg to 108.5kg as of June 1, 2020. Eye muscle is from 44.00 to 48.00, and all with lambs teeth.

REPEAT WINNERS : Sunnybrae SAMMs’ Kirsten and Peter Fielding have won the Royal Adelaide Show Champion Prime SAMM Fleece for 2017, 2018 and 2019.

OFFERINGS FOR 2020: This year’s sale team of Prime South African Meat Merino (SAMM) rams with a weight range from 87kg to 120kg. Eye muscle is from 42.9 to 51, with a micron range from 20.00 to 24.00. Comfort Factor (CF) average of 98.24, and CV average of 15.37, all with lambs teeth.

Sunnybrae SAMMs the best 60 per cent meat, 40 per cent wool split around

By EMMA OLIVER PETER Fielding initially ran sheep to supplement the cropping that was his mainstay on his 3800 acre farm on the outskirts of Yongala.

A tiny town in South Australia, Yongala is very dry and the land marginal, and Peter needed stock that could adapt and flourish to the extremes of life in the north east of the state.

Merinos were his original choice, but when Peter looked to put more meat on the carcass without sacrificing the quality of the wool, his research led him to Prime South African Meat Merinos (SAMMs).

Developed as a dual purpose sheep, this high performing breed was originally bred for its adaptability to the South African environment, and being a non-

selective grazer able to utilise low quality roughage, SAMMs seemed the ideal sheep for Peter’s property and he rebuilt his flock and renamed his enterprise Sunnybrae SAMMs. “I’ve been breeding them since the late nineties,� Peter said. “And I just love the way they perform. “The meat carcass and yield is consistently superior to other breeds, and I’ve spent the decades breeding not only for conformation but for better quality wool, so that the wool is as good as a merino. “It’s the same quality, and the only difference is a slight loss in weight of the fleece.�

And Peter’s hard work has paid off with Sunnybrae SAMMs winning - among other recognition - the Prime SAMM fleece at the Royal Adelaide Show for the

last three years in a row. “I’ve really concentrated on improving the genetics of the SAMMs to ensure quality white wool, and as such have only ever bought the best of the best when it came to genetics,� Peter said.

With this as his driving force, when the opportunity presented itself in 2009 to purchase the entire Prime SAMM breeding program from Thornton Park in Western Australia, Peter bought the stud outright.

It was the quality of the rams that he was producing that inspired Peter to transition from what was primarily a meat and wool enterprise, into what has become one of the principal Prime SAMM studs in Australia. “Initially it was my shearers who said to me ‘You shouldn’t be hooking these wethers, you need to be

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selling those rams’, and the stud followed,� Peter said.

With the lambs being born tiny at birth, Peter is currently enjoying a 130 per cent lambing average, which is an amazing result for the location of the property. “The SAMMs are great mothers, and produce more milk than any other breed of sheep, and the lambs as soon as they pop out go like a rocket,� Peter said.

Developed to produce a heavy slaughter lamb at an early age, SAMMs also require no mulesing and have a strong resistance to flystrike with a constitution that appears to repel lice. “In challenging environments you can often find that with dual purpose sheep you sacrifice one for the other, however, SAMMs are consistently high performing in both meat and

wool, and are a strong and resilient breed,� Peter said.

Keeping this in mind, Peter has diversified into the breeding of first cross ewes, using Border Leicester sires to further expand his genetic pool.

Also known as dual purpose, large sheep with calm dispositions, the Border Leicesters have long lustrous wool and are hardy foragers, with a very strong maternal instinct.

Peter initially bred the cross for the Naracoorte Blue-ribbon First Cross Ewe Sales - one of South Australia’s premier events - and impressed with the results has continued on, with the cross gathering momentum in the marketplace. “The original goal was to put a bit of meat down the back leg of the Border Leicester by introducing the SAMM genetics.

“And with Border Leicesters renowned for their fertility, improving on the conformation seemed the ideal cross. “I have a client who has a lambing percentage of 168 per cent with these first cross ewes, and in this current climate where farmers are looking to rebuild their stock numbers Border Leicester/SAMM crosses represent a very attractive alternative to the sheep industry,� Peter said.

This year on August 14, Sunnybrae SAMMs will be holding their 9th Annual Ram Sale and for the first time will be going live with Auctions Plus, and after a season of drought-breaking rains now would be the perfect time to consider these hardy, dual purchase sheep to add to and improve your flock.

Page 18 - Southern Farmer

AUGUST 2020

Quarterly business sentiment riding a high

By EMMA OLIVER RECENT survey results released by the Tractor and Machinery Association of Australia (TMA) regarding business sentiment have revealed cautious optimism among dealers.

With improved seasonal conditions across most of Australia, dealers have experienced a significant turnaround in sales of farm machinery in the last quarter, with more than half of all businesses surveyed considering turnover now to be ‘Good to Very Good’.

Demand for tractors has been and continues to be very strong, with high inventories reduced to manageable levels - a welcome improvement on the stagnation that the last few years have represented for the industry.

The only concern currently being that demand may overstretch supply, with inventory levels across the board now greatly reduced.

This concern is reflected by dealers in relation to combine harvesters, balers and hay tools, which are also experiencing strong sales, with belief in the industry that sales will only continue to improve.

The market for used equipment remains competitive, with dealers struggling to build up stock to meet demand.

With demand continuing to grow across the board for farm machinery, the majority of surveyed dealers reported retaining their workforce throughout the challenges of recent months, with a significant number even looking to employ more staff going forward.

With confidence in the agricultural community experiencing a high driven by improved climatical conditions and drought-breaking rains, the turnaround in sales is a direct reflection of a more optimistic approach across the entire industry.

Read the full report on the TMA website: www.tma.asn. au.

FROM THE SUN-BLEACHED PLAINS: Hardy foragers, Dorpers put on weight and keep it even in the most trying of circumstances.

TO THE SNOWY MOUNTAINS: Trials of Dorpers world-wide are proving them to be the breed capable of enduring the most varied and extreme climates.

DORPERS CAN DO IT: Dorper meat as a brand is gaining traction in the marketplace.

By EMMA OLIVER

society has launched an online producers group to connect with its members and strengthen its community.

With online forums and Dorper related articles and trials, producers also have the opportunity to talk with each other within a supportive and monitored environment, and the society hopes that this great new tool will prove to be beneficial to all its members and provide a sound knowledge forming basis.

Embracing the online world, the society has also facilitated an online show which will be displayed on the AuctionsPlus website this year, with winners announced on August 3.

The national sale and show will still go ahead on September 3 and 4, and though the online show isn’t meant to replace the annual show, the platform has allowed producers from all over Australia the opportunity to participate. “It’s a great insight into the Dorper industry, and will give our members a fair bit of exposure to not only those who are famil-

iar with the breed but those who might not have considered them in the past,� Kim said. “The online platform is a reflection of the nationwide appeal of the breed and its increasing popularity, and with interest both domestically and internationally for this hardy sheep an online show allows the world to see where Australia is at the moment with genetics and breeding.�

With minute-long videos submitted in a series of classes, sheep are exhibited in their natural environment for judging. “It also provides a candid snapshot into the vast range of environments these low maintenance, meat sheep can inhabit,� Kim said. “And this in itself is incredibly positive for breeders looking to export, as they showcase the extremes that Dorpers can endure and flourish within. “From freezing temperatures in Russia, to the humidity of Malaysia, and marginal lands on the African continent, if any sheep can do it Dorpers can.�

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WITH many producers on the other side of what has been a devastating drought, Dorper producers have fared relatively well with the breed proving itself to be the number one choice to contend with trying times, and the future challenges of climate change and a progressively drying nation.

Dorpers, since their introduction to Australia in the mid-nineties, have been embraced for their rapid weight gain and resulting high quality carcass even under extenuating circumstances in extensive and varied conditions. “Dorpers now run in all parts of Australia,� Kim Batten, chairman of the Dorper Sheep Society of Australia, said. “And they’ve shown what they are capable of doing with limited feed. “They are hardy foragers and source whatever is available with an excellent feed conversion rate that sees them gain weight well and hold it.�

The resulting carcass has excel-

lent conformation with a small amount of fat, which has proven popular in the market place with Dorper meat gaining a reputation as a premium lamb product with producers selling their lamb at high value. “Within the last five years, consumers have definitely begun to recognise Dorper meat,� Kim said. “And in the last year, there has been noticeable progression in demand for Dorpers based on flavour. “We are looking to capitalise on this branding of the breed. “Whereas in the past lamb was considered lamb, we always believed at the Dorper Sheep Society of Australia that we had a quality product that consumers enjoyed, and we worked hard to change the marketplace. “Sourcing directly from members and building our own supply chain, was part of the initial process of promoting the product and ensuring the brand was defined.�

One of numerous initiatives by the Dorper Sheep Society to support farmers, more recently the

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AUGUST 2020

Southern Farmer - Page 19

Victorian lamb crowned Australia’s best at the RQFWS WOODWARD Foods Australia has claimed the title of Australia’s best lamb for the second year in a row, at the Royal Queensland Food and Wine Show (RQFWS) Branded Beef and Lamb Competition Awards at the Brisbane Showgrounds.

They won the title with their Australian Lamb product produced at Swan Hill in Victoria.

It was the first time in three years Tasmanian produced lamb had been outshone, with Woodward Foods Australia’s HRW Tasmanian Lamb winning in 2019 and 2017, and Melrose Wholesale Meats’ Tasmanian Royal taking top honours in 2018.

Chief Judge Elaine Millar said the Australian Lamb product had a long-lasting juiciness, due to its fine silk-like threads of marbling. “It showcased beautifully balanced flavours of emulsified cashew, sweet biscuit and delicate earthy oyster mushrooms,� she said.

For the fourth year in a row Stockyard’s Wagyu Kiwami lived up to its name, taking out the title of

Australia’s best steak.

Kiwami, meaning ‘outstanding excellence’, is produced at Jondaryan on the Darling Downs and Ms Millar said it deserved to be named Grand Champion Branded Beef of Show. “The scores were high and very close, many with less than onepoint difference, therefore proving that grain, grass and Wagyu entries are all worthy of the highest accolades,� Ms Millar said.

A total of 36 entries were received in the competition this year, judged over two days last week by a team of 13 food experts including some of Queensland’s top chefs.

RQFWS award-winning beef and lamb products will be served from August 7-16 at a pop-up store in King Street at the Brisbane Showgrounds, as part of Ekka 2020 Online presented by RACQ to keep the spirit of the Royal Queensland Show alive - just another initiative of agricultural shows nationwide to contend with current restrictions and cancellations.

SUNNY BRISBANE: Dean Loudoun from Woodward Foods Australia celebrates his win at the Royal Queensland Food and Wine Show for Champion Branded Lamb.

Wandin-Silvan Field Days not going ahead in 2020 REGRETTABLY the committee of the Wandin-Silvan Field Days announce that their 2020 event will not proceed this year due to the impact of COVID-19.

The Wandin-Silvan Field Days were due to be held on October 16 and 17 but, as with so many other festivals and events, the committee has had to take careful consideration of the current situation, the health and wellbeing of all a major priority. “This has been a very difficult decision for our committee, and especially on the back of one of our most successful events last year during which we celebrated our 50th anniversary,� president William Anker said. “The Wandin-Silvan Field Days are considered as the premier event of the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges region of Victoria, with a significant value to the local economy. “We fully realise the impact and disappointment for all of our stakeholders, including members, exhibitors, the numerous local community groups involved, and of course our visitors. “We thank everyone for their support and endorsement of our event over the course of time and we now look forward to working together to ensure a bigger and better experience at the 2021 event on October 15 and 16.�

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Page 20 - Southern Farmer

AUGUST 2020

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