Southern Farmer

Published since 1986

APRIL, 2021

Angus Verified launches

www.farmernews.com.au

Vineyard winners

Goat meat on the menu

PAGE 3

PAGES 6-7

PAGE 12

MISS CHILLY PEPPER IS RUNNING HOT THREE TITLES: (Left to right) Trevor Bellchambers, Rick Brown of Sarowan Park Arabians and owner of Miss Chilly Pepper with Sally Harvey of Sa’Vey Arabians celebrate the filly’s success at the recent 2021 Australian Arabian National Championships held at Boneo Park over the March long weekend.

Turn to page 4 for the whole story.

Shearer shortage hits home FARMERS across Australia have been struggling this year to find enough shearers and it’s no different for Nagambie farmer Charles Heal.

Like many labour intensive industries there are fewer younger people learning the trade with most farms relying on contract shearing teams from interstate and overseas to get their wool clip off.

The Heal family’s 1400 hectare property west of Nagambie stretches

BY CLEMENCE CARAYOL ccarayol@ nemedia.com.au

as far as the eye can see, some sheds are modern and others are over 50 years old and in dilapidated states with basic workplace safety standards non-existent.

“This job is gruelling, it’s one of the toughest job you could ever imagine, we as wool growers must make the workplace conditions

as best we can, otherwise we will be left without a labour force, this will result in our industry ceasing to exist “ Mr Heal said.

“To put into perspective, a shearer will burn the same amount of calories as an AFL player does on game day, every single day.

Little things, like providing meals, cooler working conditions with adequate ventilation makes a big difference, Mr Heal also said that modern sheep have gotten

much bigger over the last few decades.

“Growers have pushed for larger framed animals that cut loads of wool and are often suited to a wetter southern climate, this has made the wetter than average 2020 to 2021 season even more challenging, with shearers flat out refusing to shear some types of animals.

“You get paid per sheep, and if you can shear 150 a day at one shed and only 120 at another,

which would you choose?”

The daily life of a shearer is still quite the same as the one Tom Roberts painted on his “Shearing the rams” canvas more than a century ago.

“The industry has tried to mechanise the profession but it is one of these profession where human know-how is indispensable, a robot cannot entirely replace a human,” Mr Heal said.

■ Continued page 2

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Page 2 - Southern Farmer

April 2021

THE SOUTHERN

Est. 1986

Covering Central South Victoria and West Gippsland 37 Rowan Street, Wangaratta Victoria, 3677

(03) 5723 0100 sfarmer@nemedia.com.au farmernews.com.au Advertising:

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SENIOR Emma Oliver JOURNALIST Phone 0433 267 203 eoliver@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.

MAN’S BEST FRIEND: Charles Heal and one of his four shepherd dogs in front of the family wool.

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Shearer shortage hits home ■

Michael Kidman ADVERTISING MANAGER

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Emma Oliver SENIOR JOURNALIST

PHOTO: Clemence Carayol

From page 1 “You cannot fathom how difficult it is until you try it, that’s why people are less attracted to shearing nowadays, you can earn the same money doing other trades for far less physical effort,” he said.

Mr Heal’s mother, Sandy, said that usually in shearing season, five other shearers per week will come to help shear the 5000 merinos on the farm.

“And this year, we’ve only been able to find two to three shearers to help us,

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instead of the five we can usually rely on, so our workforce has been divided by two” Ms Heal said.

Mr Heal said this was due to an ageing workforce and also due to COVID 19.

“Our workforce shortage is due to a combination of reasons, younger people aren’t attracted to the profession anymore and overseas contracting teams, mostly from New Zealand weren’t granted access to the country during the busy spring and summer period,” Mr Heal said.

“This has resulted in a large backlog, upwards of five million sheep across the country.

“Now the local labour force has to fill this gap and it’s taking its toll I think, this, combined with a wetter than average year can make an already difficult job much more challenging.

“They haven’t been able to come because of the pandemic.”

Mrs Heal said that was why industry body groups such as Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) are trying to encourage more people to undertake shearing and wool handling training courses by offering and promoting specialised programs of study over two years.

The Victorian government also is backing this up with their program going through TAFE. “In one respect the chances learner shearers are getting this year to get their numbers up on a variety of different types of sheep will be one positive out of this all, it also sends a pretty clear message to

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growers out there to update their facilities, shearers can pick and choose when and where they shear now, you have to make your workplace and animals the most attractive,” Mr Heal said.

The $1.2 million program was funded by the Victorian Government to help address a skills shortage in the state’s growing wool industry by fostering a local pool of highly skilled workers and by providing opportunities to upskill.

It was developed in partnership with SW TAFE, the Shearing Contractors Association Australia, Rural Industries Skills Training and the Victorian Farmers Federation.

The enrolment target for shearing courses was exceeded in 2020, with nearly 130 students signing-up to the new entry level qualification, Certificate II and Certificate III. “Being a shearer is hard, you can’t become one overnight, you need to learn the profession, you need to have the skills,” Ms Heal said.

Mr Heal said you need to shear 1000s sheep before you can get your numbers up to a point where the good money starts coming in.

He said it was still very rewarding to work and people should still consider turning to the profession.

“When you finish a tough day of work, you feel great, just like when you’ve worked out all day,” he said.

“There is a satisfaction about completing this job even if it’s physically exhausting, plus if you’re good at it you can earn up to $600 a day.”

April 2021

Southern Farmer - Page 3

Angus Australia launches Angus Verified ANGUS Australia is excited to announce the launch of Angus Verified, a program developed to provide assurance and integrity to the marketplace by verifying a producers claim of ‘Angus’ is the genuine purebred article.

Angus Verified records the use of registered Angus sires, declares breeders and animals verified are purebred Angus and validates that sires, identified by their RFID, is on the right PIC at the time of joining to authenticate their purebred Angus breeding program.

Angus Verified can be accessed through an App and Web Portal, developed in conjunction with Aglive Pty Ltd, allowing easy access to this program at the tips of your fingers.

Angus Verified ensures that black hided Angus imposters are not sold as Angus, leading to greater integrity, confidence, and trust throughout the supply chain.

Targeted to the commercial Angus producer, Angus Verified is now available to Angus Australia members.

Angus Australia’s commercial supply hain manager Liz Pearson looks forward to working with commercial Angus producers through the Angus Verified program and assisting them in improving their profitability and reputation in the marketplace.

“More and more we are seeing black hided imposters benefiting from the good Angus name, built from years of hard work by Angus producers,” Ms Pearson said.

“Angus Verified helps the Angus producer build better relationships based on trust and loyalty and adds integrity and credibility to their business and their reputation.

“As a buyer, you can have confidence when purchasing Angus Verified cattle as you can validate their status through the Angus Australia database with their RFIDs. “Angus Verified producers will also have access to exclusive yellow Angus Verified tags as a visual identifier in the market.

“Angus Australia is thrilled and proud to be collaborating with Aglive Pty Ltd on this exciting program that we believe without a doubt will benefit Angus producers, purchasers and the entire beef supply chain.”

Aglive Pty Ltd is an industry first paddockto-plate blockchain-based logistics platform which tracks cattle from birth through life, then tracking products from processing to the consumers’ plate ensuring products are shipped under the right conditions throughout the journey.

Paul Ryan, Aglive Pty Ltd chief executive officer, is pleased to be part of the collaborative effort in bringing Angus Verified to the marketplace.

“Aglive Pty Ltd is excited to be part of this innovative project and to support the iconic Angus brand,” Mr Ryan said.

“The Aglive App records Angus Verified animals, and it can also record weight gains,

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Angus Verified helps the Angus producer build better relationships based on trust and loyalty and adds integrity and credibility to their business and their reputation.

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Page 4 - Southern Farmer

April 2021

Sa’Vey Arabians secures back to back win at national championships

By EMMA OLIVER MANSFIELD-bred ‘Miss Chilly Pepper’ has taken out three titles at the 2021 Australian Arabian National Championships, including Gold National Champion Arabian Pony Junior Filly for the second year in a row, which is no mean feat considering the high calibre of competition on the day.

For owner Rick Brown of Sarowan Park in Jindivick, West Gippsland - who has been breeding Arabians and Arabian derivatives since 1989 - it is further confirmation that Miss Chilly Pepper was an outstanding investment to add to his already top quality stable.

Along with being crowned Gold National Champion, ‘Miss Chilly Pepper’ was also awarded Australian National Champion Open Led Pony as well as Australian National Champion Arabian Derivative Led Junior Exhibit NPTH, at the championships which were held at Boneo Park on the Mornington Peninsula, over the March long weekend.

And in further affirmation for breeder Sally Harvey of Sa’Vey Arabians, upcoming colt ‘Kharacter MI’ also se-

cured a win, taking out Gold National Champion Arabian Junior Colt, confirming that the bloodlines at this boutique Arabian stud in the High Country are some of the best in the nation.

With competition particularly close on the day, ‘Kharacter MI’ was in contendership with three other colts on equal points, with the colt from Sa’Vey Arabians awarded champion based on type.

“National interest in the competition was very strong this year, with breeders from interstate ensuring that their horses were in Victoria well before the championships, to guarantee they could compete if borders closed again,” Sally said.

State-wide, equestrians were busy for a good six weeks leading into the championships preparing the horses for competition, managing the animals’ diet and ensuring they were all beautifully presented on the day.

“It’s really quite a science,” Sally said.

“Gone are the days where you could give them a bit of a brush, feed them well, rug them and that would do.

“Kristin Galea prepared ‘Kharacter MI’ for competition, and her husband Silvio

presented him on the night, and they did an absolutely fabulous job of showcasing our colt.”

Exhilarated after another successful competition season, Sally is excited about the upcoming bloodlines at Sa’Vey Arabians and with a waiting list for select progeny the stud breeds, this boutique stud is exceeding expectations.

“Initially when I began this venture - under the mentorship of now retired Arabian breeder Steven Rath - I would have been more than happy with breeding a top quality useful family horse, and anything else would have been a bonus,” Sally said.

“As a breeder, you just want to breed horses that people want.

“But to be where we are now, taking out four titles with only two horses, is testament to the incredible investment we made at the beginning of Sa’Vey Arabians on four outstanding mares.

“And we’ve been fortunate enough to choose some truly amazing sires to get to this position now where we are achieving outstanding results and have strong bloodlines that breed on.

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April 2021

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Page 6 - Southern Farmer

April 2021

Two Victorian vineyards

IN THE NOSE: Vineyard manager, Remi Jacquemain, tasting one of the vintages. Place of Changing Winds focuses on pinot noirs and chardonnays.

PLACE of Changing Winds in Macedon has been named as the New Vineyard of the Year, and Bests’ Concongella Vineyard has been named as the Old Vineyard of the Year, taking out two of the four top titles in the national Vineyard of the Year Awards.

After a six-month search that included multiple rounds of judging and site inspections of vineyards around Australia, Young Gun of Wine announced the trophy winners for the inaugural Vineyard of the Year Awards, narrowing down the field from a total of 50 finalists.

The judging panel consisted of Max Allen, Dr Mary Cole, Dr Peter Dry, Dr Mardi Longbottom, Dr Irina Santiago-Brown and Mark Walpole.

They were supported by vineyard inspectors Chris Penfold (SA), Colin Bell (WA), John Whiting (VIC), Kellie Graham (TAS) and Liz Riley (NSW/ACT).

Max Allen sees the awards as a great opportunity to shift the focus of our national wine conversation from how wines are made to how they’re grown.

He described judging the awards as “both the most exciting and most frustrating experience”.

“It was exciting because it

made me realise - or, rather, reminded me - how much great work is being done out there in vineyards across Australia; so many people are going to such extraordinary lengths to look after their land, to make their vines more resilient, to produce better, more distinctive wine,” Max said.

“But I did find it frustrating as it was almost impossible to narrow such a strong field down to just four winners.”

“The joyous part of the vineyard visits was the chance to kick the dirt and to get inside the minds of the custodians of these great vineyards,” said Liz Riley.

“To see and hear the connection between the people who quite literally live and breathe the vineyards in their care.

“There is a quiet but true and burning love between the vineyard custodians and the sites that they care for.”

“This competition has revealed that we have many outstanding vineyards and vignerons in Australia,” said Dr Peter Dry. “We have chosen four winners on this occasion, but there are many other ‘winners’ out there who are equally deserving.”

■ Continued page 7

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April 2021

Southern Farmer - Page 7

win top titles in Australia HANDS ON: Established

by Robert Walters, Place of Changing Winds in the Macedon Ranges, has taken out New Vineyard of the Year.

The vineyard is certified organic and all work is conducted manually demanding one worker for every hectare of vineyard.

NEW Vineyard of the Year - Place of Changing Winds, Macedon Ranges (VIC), established by Robert Walters with vineyard manager Remi Jacquemain.

Place of Changing Winds is an incredible labour of love, a vineyard so ambitiously conceived and realised that it is somewhat hard to get your head around until you actually see it for yourself.

With a focus on pinot noir and chardonnay, some blocks are planted at 33,000 vines per hectare, and with multiple clones and combinations of rootstocks.

The farming is certified organic and exhaustively manual to the degree where one worker is required per hectare.

It’s an excruciatingly laborious commitment to the pursuit of perfection - a tour de force - and it’s a project that will yield profoundly interesting, likely game-changing, results in the years and decades to come.

ANCIENT VINES: Under the stewardship of viticulturist Ben Thomson, Bests’ Concongella Vineyard in Great Western was awarded Old Vineyard of the Year.

OLD Vineyard of the Year - Bests’ Concongella Vineyard, Great Western (VIC), under the stewardship of viticulturist Ben Thomson.

The Thomson family have owned Bests’ for 100 years, with an unmatched resource of ancient vines that are a true national treasure.

It is a unique collection of own-rooted prephylloxera grapevines predating the grafted vineyards of Europe and most of the world.

With the oldest pinot noir, pinot meunier and dolcetto vines in the world, Bests’ also has a collection of about 40 rare varieties, including ones that have defied identification.

The Concongella Vineyard is very much a living museum, with the family intent on preserving the heritage for future generations through propagation of vines and opening their doors for researchers from around the world, as well as a progressive approach to farming to preserve the soil structure and to build soil carbon and biological activity, with a desire to focus on longer term sustainability.

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Page 8 - Southern Farmer BENEFICIARY: Whittlesea Community Garden (Whittlesea Community House Inc) was awarded a GR&W grant of $10,550 for their Recycled Gardening project. The initiative involved a workshop series increasing local participation and interest in the community garden program.

April 2021

Support available as recovery continues, 12 years on Black Saturday funding available for communityled initiatives TWELVE years on from the devastating 2009 Victorian bushfires, the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) is offering another round of funding to support impacted communities as they continue to rebuild, reconnect and recover.

Supported by the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund (VBAF), the funding is available through FRRR’s Grants for Resilience and Wellness (GR&W) program.

The grants of up to $20,000 will support notfor-profit and community-based organisations to lead projects that aid recovery and build community resilience.

The GR&W program funds initiatives that: z Improve mental health and wellbeing of communities and individuals; z Enhance wellbeing and resilience of preschool, primary and secondary school-aged children and young people; z Strengthen community connections, sense of place and community identity; and z Increase the community’s ability to prepare for future disasters.

To date, FRRR has awarded more than $4.5 million in grants to local groups, thanks to VBAF funding, which comes from the generous contributions by the general public following the Black Saturday bushfires in 2009.

Through this round of funding there is a total of $360,000 available for GR&W grants.

Nina O’Brien, FRRR’s disaster resilience and recovery lead, said that the impact of COVID-19 has increased the need to support recovering communities to reconnect socially and continue to enhance their wellbeing.

“Despite the restrictions that the pandemic has put on people coming together, local groups report services and activities that enhance wellness and resilience are still well attended,” Ms O’Brien said.

“One program funded twice previously by FRRR, the Be Well in the Ranges program, has been fully booked out, and the Yinnar Memorial Hall exercise group continues to attract 3040 participants each week.

“The GR&W program provides flexible support to respond to issues as they emerge.

“More than a decade since the fires, communities are focusing on building resilience for the future.”

Applications close at 5pm AEDT, Wednesday, April 21.

Potential applicants should visit the FRRR program webpage at https://frrr.org.au/funding/disaster-resilience-and-climate-solutions/ - and review the guidelines before applying.

THE Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal - FRRR - (phonetically: F-triple-R) is the only national foundation specifically focused on ensuring the social and economic strength of remote, rural and regional communities.

FRRR’s unique model connects common purposes and investment with locally prioritised needs, to create communities that are vital and resilient.

Since FRRR’s start in 2000, it has delivered nearly $115 million to more than 11,000 projects.

April 2021

Southern Farmer - Page 9

Quad bikes and side-bysides under the spotlight Using data collated by AgHealth Australia’s National Farm Injury Coronial Database based at the University of Sydney, the report aims to provide comprehensive evidence to build preventative approaches for the safety and wellbeing of people in Australian agriculture.

AgriFutures Australia senior manager rural futures Jennifer Medway says that while the statistics show progress is being made in some areas, it’s alarming to see the increase in deaths from quad bikes and side by sides.

“Side by sides have long been considered a safer option to quads, but the numbers don’t back that up,” Ms Medway said.

“They are only now increasing in popularity and are already making a sizable contribution to the death toll.

“In fact, well over a third of on-farm deaths in 2020 are directly attributable to quad bikes and side by sides alone.

“If you add tractors into the mix, these three vehicles

SOBERING STATISTICS: Andrew Barrett, RSHA executive officer, believes any deaths incurred in the production of food and fibre is too high. shockingly account for over half of all on-farm deaths.”

This is a challenge not lost on the rural Research Development Corporations (RDC) which fund research through the Rural Safety and Health Alliance (RSHA) to review the data and use an evidence-based approach to improve safety across our agricultural, fisheries and

forestry industries.

RSHA executive officer Andrew Barrett said the figures are another sobering reminder that the cost of human life incurred in the production of our food and fibre is still too high.

“As a sector so proud of innovation and progress, we must be equally concerned and focused on why so little

has changed in our health and safety record over time,” said Mr Barrett.

“The commitment to change has already begun with leadership from the minister, government, National Farmers’ Federation, RDCs, and some of our peak bodies.”

“Other non-agricultural industries have accepted

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that ‘inherently dangerous’ is not a condition of work but a call to action.

“Actions that target known and persistent risks, using risk controls proven to reduce the potential for death and serious injury need to be enforced if we are going to see any noticeable change in these statistics.”

Fast facts: z research has shown a year-on-year increase in quad bike deaths from 11 to 14; z as the popularity of side-by-side vehicles increase, so has the deaths, rising from 5 to 7, making it one of the top three agents of death within the agricultural sector; z 70 per cent of all reported injuries were via quads, tractors, horses or cattle, with 60 per cent of injuries occurring in Queensland; z 60-74 year old males were the most prevalent age group of fatality (20). *Fatal cases for the reporting period could increase due to a lag in data collection method.

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A FAMILIAR tale sees quad bikes and tractors continue as the leading cause of death and injury on Australian farms, according to annual statistics released by AgriFutures Australia.

Despite the increased safety attention on quad bikes last year, the number of deaths continues to rise.

Figures collated by AgHealth Australia’s National Farm Injury Coronial Database revealed 58 on-farm deaths were reported in 2020*, the same number of cases reported in 2019.

Quad bikes and tractors again reported as the leading causes of injury.

AgriFutures Australia funds research to enhance farm health and safety as part of its National Rural Issues Program, working alongside the Rural Safety and Health Alliance (RSHA).

The 2020 report Non-intentional Farm Related Incidents in Australia highlights the total on-farm deaths, causes of injury, fatalities by age and gender, as well as the estimated economic impact of fatal injuries.

Page 10 - Southern Farmer

April 2021

Alexandra Pro Rodeo, a bucking good event

By EMMA OLIVER “WE decided in early December of 2020, that we were going to make the full Alexandra Pro Rodeo experience happen, and since then we’ve worked incredibly hard to keep that dream alive, and on the Labour Day long weekend we delivered,” said Andrew Embling, president of the Alexandra Rodeo Committee.

With a sell-out crowd, and a total of 4000 in attendance - once volunteers, competitors and support crew were all taken into consideration - the Saturday evening event was a huge success with 267 cowboys and cowgirls, from juniors all the way through, competing on the night.

“Stock came from the

McPhee Rodeo Company, and were really fresh and there was some spectacular riding, with the bulls actually winning out on the day,” Andrew said.

“Which is what the stock contracting companies want to see - is stock that will put on a show.

“The response from the crowd said it all, and the Queensland riders who came down for the event have sworn they’ll be back again next year.

“They hadn’t really attended our rodeo before, but due to COVID-19 restrictions forcing the re-scheduling of our event to the long weekend, with Chiltern on the next day, many made the effort to compete at the Alex Rodeo as well.

“The riders were so impressed and loved the arena at the Dame Patty Menzies Centre, where you come straight out of the shoots, look up to the natural amphitheatre of the hill, and the entire crowd is going mad.

“They said they’d never seen a crowd like it and absolutely loved the experience, and can’t wait to come back when we return to our usual spot on the calendar, which is normally the second week in January.”

With a huge local turn-out of spectators and competitors alike, the atmosphere was electric as everybody was just keen to rodeo after a year without a full event on the Victorian calendar.

Understandably there were a couple of upsets as

RAW POWER: McPhee Rodeo Company based in Lurg just outside of Benalla are renowned as one of the best stock contracters in the southern states, with their bulls always putting on a show.

local favourites who hadn’t competed properly during this timeframe failed to perform to their usual standard.

Mansfield resident and former Australia Rodeo Queen Latoya Wards was thrilled to be in the arena again, however, is remaining optimistic after failing to place in the barrel race.

“My horse ran to the wrong side of his last barrel which was a bit disappointing, but understandable as we haven’t rodeoed in over one and a half years,” Latoya said.

And with over 50 contenders in the open barrel race, and 55 in the juniors, competition was fierce.

“I also saw some of the best riding I’ve seen in years, in the saddle bronc

and bareback bronc riding,” Andrew said.

“And not only was the event great for riders to get back out there, but the rodeo has benefited the local community.”

With organisers handing over $2500 to the local footy club for staffing the bar, $1000 to the Alexandra CFA for manning the carpark, $3000 to lease the land from the Dame Patty Menzies Centre, as well as contributions of $1000 to the local pony club and Rotary club, the Alexandra Rodeo Club committee not only covered all costs but is putting proceeds from the event towards purchasing their own rodeo arena panels.

“The plan now is to run jackpot events in team roping, barrel racing and the

like during the year, and further cement Alexandra’s position on the rodeo calendar,” Andrew said.

And fresh off the success of their March event, Andrew is happy that COVID compliance officers were sent to monitor the event, and use the rodeo as a potential test example for events going forward.

“After the work the rodeo committee put in to ensure the event could happen and how well it functioned in practice, I’d like to think that it’s helped other groups with their projects,” Andrew said.

“I believe the Man from Snowy River Festival has now gone from 4000 to 10,000 through the gate, which is great for everybody involved.”

Southern Farmer - Page 11

April 2021

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE CROSSWORD

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

Some letters are used more than once.

Dye Elf Few Hot Oath

3 To have ordained, is to

the Canberra NRL club (7)

E-QUATIONS

14 Reykjavik is the capital of

have done what (7) Name the ancient ruined city in Upper Egypt, on the Nile (6) What is a circular bandstand, especially one with a dome (7) Having two opposite qualities, is to be what (7) Name a game of a chance (7) Which sea lies between PNG and the northern coast of Australia (7)

level of command (7) 17 What is a particular system

of government called (7) 18 What relates to a large

allotment of land, especially in a rural area (7) 20 Name the pathological accumulation of diluted lymph in body tissues and cavities (6)

K+H Q+N K+Q D-H V÷K G-N K×N

SUDOKU

BIYWORD

174

Build it yourself using the clues and each of the twenty-four letters once only to form ten words: five across and five down. A key word (bold clue) builds on the letter set in the grid.

14

CLUES: Biology: fluid-filled bag (3) Brazilian dance (5) Digit (3) Enumerate (5) Hard dark timber (5) Insect (3) Pig pen (3) Pleasant accord (7) Use public transport (7) Yams (5)

O

6 10

174

174

In 1962, a district of Tanzania, Africa, had a spontaneous laughter epidemic that caused an outbreak of mass hysteria.

When three pupils at a girls’ boarding school got the giggles, the laughter that spread throughout the school and to outlying villages was soon no joke – 14 high schools had to be temporarily shut down!

184

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

D G H K N Q V

CURIO

which Arctic island republic (7) 15 Which term describes a

QUICK THINK Solve the crossword.

Each answer has four letters.

ACROSS 1 Attention getter 5 Thumbs-up 6 Dip 7 Herb 1

2

DOWN 1 Groups of whales 2 Sea bird 3 Warbled 4 Youngster 3

A A A B C C

N O O R S S

E E H M M N

T T T U Y Y

SOLUTIONS

174

4

5 6 7 SUDOKU

7 13

Tow Unique Who Why

CROSSWORD

6

Sat Saw She Soon The

R B L I R O H I T O T P T E A U F O R T N L E T U D A R A R R A Y A D E C R E G A R D T O I E P A M P A S N S E G Y A N K E E

5

Off Owl Phoned Rat Raw

C R E D I T A E H C I R C L E D R B R E N E G E R E S A S I D E R C C H A E H F A L S E T U A L R U N D O W A D N

4

U N I Q U E

BIYWORD

DOWN 2 What is the nickname of

E I O W H Y

QUICK THINK ACROSS: 1 Psst,

25

P H O N E D

MINI WORD FIND

24

W T T O F F

GS

23

E B A O N Y N T Y

22

459 -174

21

C O M M U T E

19

A A A O W L

5 Okay, 6 Dunk, 7 Sage.

T DOWN: 1 Pods, 2 Skua, S A © 3 Sang, 4 Tyke.

H A R C O S

16

S O R S H E

E-QUATIONS D:18, G:16, H:14, K:4, N:6, Q:10, V:24

13

U N I Q U E

12

E I O W H Y

11

P H O N E D

10

W T T O F F

9

A A A O W L

8

reputation or trustworthiness (6) Who became Emperor of Japan in 1926 (8) Name the upper section of seats in a theatre (6) Which scale indicates the velocity of the wind (8) To go back on one’s word, is to do what (6) Name an establishment in which horses are kept for breeding (4) What is a remark that is incidental to the main subject (5) What is a regular order or arrangement (5) Name a republic in northern central Africa (4) To think highly of, is to do what (6) What is an unnaturally high-pitched voice, especially in a man (8) Name the vast grassy plains lying in the rain shadow of the Andes (6) What are cursory reviews of points of information (8) What might we call an inhabitant of the US (6)

174

S O R S H E

ACROSS 1 Which term describes

MINI WORD FIND

873

© Puzzles supplied by AUSPAC MEDIA

Page 12 - Southern Farmer

April 2021

Giving goat meat a chance

EATEN Australian goat recently?

Probably not, as 90 per cent of Australian goat meat production is exported.

Jarrod Lees would like to change that.

Dr Lees, a meat scientist at the University of New England (UNE), is the winner of the Meat and Livestock Australia Award in the 2021 Science and Innovation Awards for Young People in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

He will use his $22,000 award to investigate whether something that is currently treated as single product, “goat meat”, can be differentiated in the market as effectively as beef and lamb.

“Goat meat is healthy, delicious and relatively abundant,” Dr Lees says.

“There is scope to grow a domestic market for a premium goat product, but first we need to establish whether untrained consumers can identify correctly cooked premium cuts, versus the undistinguished chunks of meat that goat is often cooked as.”

He will test various cuts of goat, using different cooking methods, employing the Meat Standards Australia (MSA) consumer taste-testing meth-

ods that Australia has perfected over decades to elevate the eating experience of beef and lamb.

“MLA found that ‘cultural familiarity’ is a major barrier to the domestic consumption of goat meat,” Dr Lees says.

“I plan to cook goat meat in ways that are familiar to most Australians - grilling, roasting and slow cooking - and then measure what everyday consumers think of the eating experience.

“The cuts we use will also be more familiar, like leg roast or loin steak.

“This will give us an idea of how consumers respond to goat meat presented in a similar fashion to lamb, which is culturally very familiar.

“It will be a base measurement of eating quality that can only be improved with herbs and spices.”

Dr Lees’s taste-testing will be conducted using Boer goats from a goat breeder and branded meat company.

Most of Australia’s goat meat production comes from wild feral goats, Dr Lees acknowledges, but if there is potential for premium prices for a premium product, goat producers can justify the investment in a breeding program

to lift meat quality.

Considerable work will remain to be done to get that product on the shelves, but there will at least be a foundation on which to build.

For ultimate success, the goat sector will need to do as the beef and lamb industries have done over decades, and establish principles to ensure a consistently reliable eating experience for consumers.

Depending on demand for premium goat meat, that might also drive greater participation in KidPlan, the platform for genetic prediction of goat breeding performance.

First though, Dr Lees has to establish that goat meat isn’t just goat meat.

His own experience as an eater gives him confidence that it isn’t the case, and that there is some truly outstanding goat-based culinary experiences to be had - but that’s now a question for 180 random consumers to determine.

PROMOTING GOAT: Dr Jarrod Lees, a meat scientist at the University of New England (UNE) is investigating whether something that is currently treated as single product, “goat meat”, can be differentiated in the market.

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April 2021

Southern Farmer - Page 13

Seeking a revolution in chicken gut health WHAT if antibiotic use in poultry production could be significantly lowered by using waste products from milling?

That’s the possibility that Dr Natalie Morgan is investigating after winning the Australian Eggs Award in the 2021 Science and Innovation Awards for Young People in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

Dr Morgan, a poultry nutritionist from the University of New England (UNE), is using her $22,000 award to fund an eightweek project to examine the effects of adding prebiotics called xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS for short) to the diets of egg-laying hens.

XOS have been studied in meat chickens, where they significantly improved gut health and production, but have yet to be investigated in egg-laying chickens.

Dr Morgan observes that egglaying hens live longer than

meat chickens, so establish more mature gut microbiomes, suggesting the positive effects of XOS might be amplified.

The grains fed to commercial poultry contain long-chain sugars that reduce nutrient absorption in the bird’s gut, meaning these expensive and important nutrients are wasted, or act as a food source for pathogenic gut bacteria.

To deal with the problem, all commercial chicken feeds contain an enzyme that breaks up the long-chain sugars into more desirable forms - including XOS. As a prebiotic, XOS fuel beneficial gut bacteria.

Dr Morgan’s question is, “So what happens if we add prebiotic XOS directly into the feed, as opposed to relying on the chickens to make them themselves in their gut?”

Because XOS can be extracted from waste products derived when grains are milled for starch, it is a potentially cheap

way to obtain gains in poultry production - an industry where most other avenues for production gains are pushed to their limits.

Dr Morgan’s hope is that her pilot project will show the potential for supplementing feeds with XOS to boost hen feed conversion and productivity, and lower faeces contamination of eggs - and possibly even improve gut health to the point where it affects the chickens’ immunity to disease, lessening dependence on antibiotics.

If even one of these results emerges from the pilot, Dr Morgan’s work with XOS may extend a lot longer.

IN THE FEED: Dr Natalie Morgan, a poultry nutritionist from the University of New England (UNE), is conducting an eight week study on the benefits of specific prebiotics in egg-laying hens.

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Page 14 - Southern Farmer

April 2021

Global seed sector commits to United Nations’ goals

SEED companies and associations representing all regions of the world have come together in Nyon, Switzerland to sign a declaration committing to actively support achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and proactively demonstrate their extensive and diverse contributions towards sustainable food systems, while calling for more urgent public private cooperation.

The “Seed Sector Declaration”, signed by Australianowned Valley Seeds along with seed companies of all sizes and geographic representation and by seed associations representing hundreds of companies per country, was launched as a part of the sector’s engagement with the UN Food Systems Summit, scheduled for September 2021.

The document acknowledges the enormous challenge for agriculture to produce sufficient, safe and nutritious food for a global population expected to reach 10 billion by 2050, amid rising pressure from climate change, effective biodiversity preservation and natural resource scarcity.

On current trends, the number of hungry people is expected to reach 840 million by 2030, from 690 million at present.

Through the declaration, the seed sector players outline a common set of principles for global action supporting sustainable agriculture.

“We, the actors of the private seed sector, representing its diversity, acting as individuals or as representatives of cooperatives, family, small, medium sized or multination-

SUNFLOWER SEEDS: International seed sector players have outlined a common set of principles for global action supporting sustainable agriculture. al companies, based around the world, are committed to a future where enough affordable, safe and nutritious food is produced for all without compromising the economies, societies or environments of future generations,” states the declaration.

Michael Keller, Secretary General of the International Seed Federation said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the world’s food and nutrition crisis, but it has also shown us what can

be achieved when the public and private sectors work together to produce solutions.

“The declaration is an opportunity for us to demonstrate the private seed sector’s diversity and unique contributions.

“We believe that transforming the world’s food systems requires the efforts of all actors in the value chain.

“Cooperation should be as inclusive as possible, and with this declaration we are highlighting our readiness and

commitment to join in the dialogues and take action.”

Santosh Attavar, who chairs the ISF Task Force for the UN Food Systems Summit said: “We recognise the enormous challenge before us.

“With this declaration, we want to showcase what we already contribute to sustainable food systems and what we commit to do in the future.

“We call on our peers and partners to join the effort.”

The declaration highlights the sectors’ foundational contribution to food production, supporting development and use of the latest plant breeding methods to accelerate the improvement of crop varieties, ensuring the efficient movement of healthy, quality seed around the globe, and supporting access to and benefit sharing of genetic resources.

Seed companies and associations voiced their support to the SDGs, with specific contributions to SDG 1 - End poverty, SDG 2 - Zero Hunger, SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production, SDG 13 - Climate Action, SDG 15 - Life on Land, and SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals.

The seed sector will continue investing in science and innovation, supporting the conservation of genetic resources and biodiversity, and connecting with the value chain to lay the foundation for a multitude of consumer benefits.

This requires an open and inclusive dialogue on food systems and a workable policy environment where farmers have access to quality seed of their choice.

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Southern Farmer - Page 15

Livestock nutrition the way to go

GRASS IS GREEN: The Nutrimin Pasture Spray product range is designed to correct trace element deficiencies at the source, and address ruminant health issues caused by lack of essential minerals.

MINERAL deficiencies can cause more than 20 animal health problems, such as decreased milk production, loss of appetite and many others.

For more than 35 years, Agmin has manufactured and marketed the Nutrimin range of micro and macro nutrient drenches for ruminants, plus the Nutrimin Pasture Spray product range which is designed to correct trace element deficiencies at the source.

It is important to understand the purpose and benefits of both tools.

Drenches certainly have a place, but they shouldn’t replace the foundation of building healthy pastures that support optimum livestock performance.

Nutrimin drench treats nutrient deficiency issues as they arise by supplementing minerals that are essential for animal health and production.

However, using drenches seems to have become the default position and the only treatment option considered.

This is a mistake.

Growers must look at the

source of any deficiencies and correct nutrient imbalances in their soil and pasture, which in turn corrects deficiencies in the animals themselves.

One of the most common nutrient deficiencies is cobalt, which is the central component of vitamin B12.

Although cobalt does not directly affect plant growth, its indirect effect on soil nutrition, plant and animal health is enormous, and without it life would not exist in its present form.

B12 is essential for the aerobic decomposition of soil organic matter, which in the process releases locked-up nutrients in the soil and results in the production of humus.

The humus in turn holds onto nutrients in a plant-available form and also absorbs water, restricting evaporation during hot summers.

It’s important to note that if cobalt deficiency prevents the microbial synthesis of vitamin B12, then the nitrogen fixation of legume rhizobium is reduced and as much as 150 kilograms per

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hectare of slow release organic nitrogen production may be lost to the farmer.

Introducing cobalt to the soil in protected (chelated) form not only results in nitrogen production in the nodules of legume plants, but also sees naturally produced B12 absorbed in the pasture plant so this important vitamin becomes available to the animals.

In ruminants, vitamin B12 deficiency blocks the free fatty acid (folic acid) in feed that metabolises into glucose, which is a major source of energy.

Vitamin B12 restores the animal’s energy metabolism by converting pasture feed into glucose and energy.

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Page 16 - Southern Farmer

April 2021

Improve the quality and weight of your hay and silage

By BAYLEY GOODE

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

Step two is we prepare the soil for acidity, low calcium, trace element deficiencies.

Apply our liquid calcium product “N:Cal” or calcium magnesium “Cal/Mag 5:1” at two litres for foliar applications or up to 60 litres per hectare when using as a remediator, which will provide a low cost immediately available calcium.

Step three is directly after haying, grazing or mulching, spray (onto the soil) five to ten litres of “Kickstart” per hectare, add our Liquid NPK and trace element liquid fertiliser to the mix and there

OVER the last 12 to 18 months we have given readers an insight into our approach to soil nutrition through the use of trace elements, minerals and rare earths sourced from the sea and activated volcanic rock.

The first step is always a soil test.

Ideally these would have been completed in the last two years or of course, we can have one completed for you through SWEP Analytical.

From there we present you with recommendations using appropriate products from our “HealthyEarth” range of 16.

Yes, that’s right we have 16 products that are specific to agricultural needs.

you have a low cost, concentrated trace element application.

Step four is maintaining improved yields with foliar spraying.

A few days before grazing foliar spray with our liquid NPK LeafSpray.

Also add “N:Cal” and “Cal/ Mag 5:1” at one to two litres per hectare.

This application supercharges the pasture for livestock to receive an immediate hit of vitamins and minerals.

To receive a copy of our pasture program, fact sheets on any of our 16 products, articles on soil nutrition and of course a price list with a cost per hectare breakdown give Goode Organics a call on 0420 946 156 or email Bayley@goodeorganics.com.au.

Cover crops a game changer

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COVER crops are one of the most useful tools for managing intensive vegetable growing soils.

New research (Optimising cover cropping for the Australian vegetable industry project) by Hort Innovation found that integrating cover crops into the growing of vegetables improves soil health and on-farm productivity.

“The integration of cover crops into vegetable production can improve soil health by building soil structure and condition, reducing erosion, adding nitrogen, improving nutrient recycling, and contributing to weed and soil-borne disease control,” Hort Innovation head of research and development Byron de Kock said.

The research project completed by delivery partner Applied Horticultural Research, ran from July 2017 to January 2020, involved both research and delivery activities.

The field research generated new information on the use and agronomy of cover crops to manage soil structure, soil microbial communities, specific beneficial microbes, and soil-borne diseases in Australia.

“The new information was combined with practical industry

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knowledge and international research to deliver information on cover crops to the vegetable industry,” Dr Kelvin Montagu from Applied Horticulture Research said.

“As well as delivering farm walks and cover crop coaching clinics during the project, growers can continue to access the information through the factsheets, guides, research reports, webinars, podcasts, and videos available on the Soil Wealth website.”

Grower Darren Long from MG Farms said “the advancements in cover cropping have been the most advanced single change to farming that I’ve seen for 30 years”.

“It’s an absolute game-changer,” he said.

Mr de Kock said cover cropping is revolutionary because it can replace the use of conventional fertiliser, herbicide and even plastic weed mat films and at the same time improve soil health.

“Growers can log tractor diesel fuel savings as reduced tillage is a hallmark of a cover cropping system,” he said.

“Growers need a full suite

of approaches, and although there will always be a need for traditional methods, this new research gives growers the ability to improve on-farm productivity and sustainability.”

Tasmanian grower Deon Gibson, Premium Fresh farm manager, said it has been a revelation for them.

“We’ve never had such healthy-looking carrots,” he said.

“There are no nematodes, the crops have beautiful, green, healthy tops and they’re in freedraining soil.

“And in terms of cultivation, the soil breaks down very easily and has plenty of organic material and worms.”

Cover cropping importance is increasing as vegetable production systems move to “softer” more biological approaches to tillage, integrated crop protection, weed control and nutrition.

This project has filled an important gap, bringing cover crop information together and modifying it specifically for the Australian vegetable industry.

This has also occurred across other horticultural and agricultural sectors such as vineyards and broad-acre cropping.

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Southern Farmer - Page 17

New tank mix partner a ‘priority’ for broadleaf weeds GRAIN growers will have the option to strengthen and broaden their cereal crop management plans in relation to controlling broadleaf weeds, volunteer pulses and canola in the coming season following the development of a new, more flexible and cost-effective herbicide tank mix partner.

Priority, a Group B post-emergent herbicide launched by ADAMA Australia, importantly offers excellent crop safety and allays residue concerns particularly in oaten hay and also following crops.

ADAMA Australia portfolio manager - herbicides, Rob Walker, said Priority was an ideal first choice for tank mixtures to broaden the weed spectrum and enhance the performance of tank-mix partners, targeting up to 54 broadleaf weeds, and to control volunteer, non-imidazoline tolerant varieties of canola and pulses.

Priority contains florasulam, an acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitor, in a suspension concentrate formulation and once absorbed via weed foliage or roots, it

TRIAL RESULTS: Pictured in a trial at Elmore last season, showing the excellent control of volunteer vetch 49 days after treatment is an application of Triathlon post-emergent herbicide at 750 mL/ha in a tank mix with the new Priority herbicide at 25 mL/ha and wetter (centre right), compared with a stand-alone application of Triathlon at 750 mL/ha (centre left). is translocated to the growing points via the xylem and phloem.

“An important benefit of florasulam is that it does not bind to stubble or plant material and has a relatively short half-life in the soil,” Rob said.

“Reduced soil residual enables greater flexibility for rotation crop options compared with other Group B

herbicides such as metsulfuron or clopyralid (Group I).”

Priority is effective against susceptible weeds from the two to eight-leaf stage, depending on the weed species and/or weed size.

It can be applied with registered tank mix partners including LVE MCPA 570, Triathlon®, Picoflex®, MCPA 750, Zulu® XT, 2,4-D Amine,

COMPARISON: Pictured is the uncontrolled volunteer vetch at the Elmore trial site.

2,4-D Ester, Flagship® 400 and Bronco® MA-X between the three and flag leaf crop stages (GS13-37).

“Additional tank-mix options are an ongoing proposition, with extensive research continuing to aim for expanded mixing options into the future,’’ Rob said.

ADAMA Australia market development manager - Vic-

toria, Alistair Crawford, said the cost-effectiveness of Priority meant it could be used with several other herbicide modes of action, including Group C, H, I, F and potentially G herbicides.

“Growers will be able to use it early, from three-leaf to early tillering, with other modes of action, and later (Z32-37) with 2,4-D Amine or

2,4-D Ester,’’ Alistair said.

“Priority is really broad spectrum, so there will be a mix that can control most broadleaf weeds.

“It will be a cost-effective tank-mix or spike compared with alternatives, which, when you add other modes of action and oil, can be quite expensive.’’

He said the crop safety and favourable pre-harvest interval and plant-back profile would make it ideal for use in oats in Victoria, as well as cereal crops in the Mallee to control volunteer pulses and wild radish.

Alistair said tank mixes with Priority also would be effective for controlling summer weeds including marshmallow, as well as broadleaf weeds in ryegrass pastures.

Priority herbicide is pending APVMA registration for post-emergent application in wheat, barley, oats, triticale, established ryegrass pastures and fallow. For further information on the new tank mix partner, growers can contact their local ADAMA Australia representative, sales agent or visit ADAMA.com.

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Page 18 - Southern Farmer

April 2021

Choosing an irrigation system for your needs CHOOSING an irrigation system requires a bit of forethought and consideration, with exact purpose considered.

Deciding which irrigation system is best for your operation requires a knowledge of equipment, system design, plant species, growth stage, root structure, soil composition and land formation.

Irrigation systems should encourage plant growth while minimising salt imbalances, leaf burns, soil erosion and water loss.

Types of irrigation Furrow systems: This system comprises a series of small, shallow channels used to guide water down a slope across a paddock.

Furrows are generally straight, but may also be curved to follow the contour of the land, especially on steeply sloping land.

Row crops are typically grown on the ridge or bed between the furrows, spaced from one metre apart.

Flood or border check systems: These systems divide the paddock into bays, separated by parallel ridges or border checks.

Water flows down the paddock’s slope as a sheet guided by ridges.

On steeply sloping lands, ridges are more closely spaced and may be curved to follow the contour of the land.

Border systems are suited to orchards and vineyards, and for pastures and grain crops.

Level basin systems: These systems differ from traditional border check or flood systems in that slope of the land is level and area’s ends are closed.

Water is applied at high volumes to achieve an even, rapid ponding of the desired application depth within basins.

Centre-pivot sprinkler systems: A centre-pivot sprinkler is a selfpropelled system in which a single pipeline supported by a row of mobile towers is suspended two to four metres above ground.

Water is pumped into the central pipe.

As the towers rotate slowly around the pivot point, a large circular area is irrigated.

Sprinkler nozzles mounted on or suspended from - the pipeline

CROPS: Irrigating crops requires forethought and consideration to ensure the best option is chosen to meet the need and the location.

distribute water under pressure as the pipeline rotates.

The nozzles are graduated small to large so that the faster moving outer circle receives the same amount of water as the slower moving inside.

Hand move sprinkler systems: Hand move sprinkler systems are a series of lightweight pipeline sections that are moved manually for successive irrigations.

Lateral pipelines are connected to a mainline, which may be portable or buried.

Hand move systems are often used for small, irregular areas.

Hand move systems are not suited to tall-growing field crops due to difficulty in repositioning laterals.

Labor requirements are higher than for all other sprinklers.

Solid set and fixed sprinkler systems: Solid set or fixed refer to a stationary sprinkler system.

Water-supply pipelines are generally fixed (usually below the soil surface) and sprinkler nozzles are elevated above the surface.

Solid-set systems are commonly used in orchards and vineyards for frost protection and crop cooling.

Solid-set systems are also widely used on turf and in landscaping.

Travelling gun sprinkler systems: Travelling gun systems use a large sprinkler mounted on a wheel or trailer, fed by a flexible rubber hose.

The sprinkler is self-propelled while applying water - travelling in a lane guided by a cable.

The system requires high operat-

ing pressures, 100psi is not uncommon.

Side-roll wheel-move systems: Side-roll wheel-move systems have large-diameter wheels mounted on a pipeline.

This enables the line to be rolled as a unit to successive positions across the field.

Crop type is an important consideration for this system since the pipeline is roughly one metre above the ground.

Linear or lateral-move systems: Linear or lateral-move systems are similar to centre-pivot systems, except that the lateral line and towers move in a continuous straight path across a rectangular field.

Water may be supplied by a flexible hose or pressurised from a concrete-lined ditch along the field’s edge.

Low-flow irrigation systems (including drip and trickle): Low-flow irrigation systems (including drip and trickle) use smalldiameter tubes placed above or below the soil’s surface.

Frequent, slow applications of water are applied to the soil through small holes or emitters.

The emitters are supplied by a network of main, sub-main and lateral lines.

Water is dispensed directly to the root zone, avoiding runoff or deep percolation and minimising evaporation.

These systems are generally used in orchards, vineyards or high-valued vegetable crops.

Source of irrigation water The vast majority of irrigation

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water use is pumped directly from a water source - river, creek, channel, drag-line, hole, dam or bore.

Irrigation scheduling Irrigation scheduling is the process by which an irrigator determines the timing and quantity of water to be applied to the crop or pasture.

The challenge is to estimate crop water requirements for different growth stages and climatic conditions.

To avoid over or under watering, it is important to know how much water is available to the plant, and how efficiently the plant can use it.

The methods available to measure this include plant observation, feel and appearance of the soil, soil moisture monitoring devices and available water from weather data.

Over or under watering problems While irrigation has provided a number of important benefits there can be potential drawbacks of over or under watering.

Under-watering can cause loss in market value through yield reduction, and reduction in fruit size and quality.

Over-watering can cause unwanted vegetative growth, losses of valuable water to the water-table, erosion, pesticides, pathogens and weeds to spread during irrigation, runoff, increased operational costs (labour, pumping, cost of water), leaching of nutrients, downgraded product quality and reduced yield, higher operational costs for the producer, and pressure on water resources.

Stopping giant snail risks at the border BIOSECURITY has helped ensure Australia remains free of one of the world’s worst invasive pests, with a number of Giant African Snail interceptions made at the border last year.

Australian chief plant protection officer, Dr Gabrielle Vivian-Smith, said the Giant African Snail is one of Australia’s priority plant pests, given the damaging impact it could have.

“If this huge snail was to establish here it could be a risk to more than 500 plant species ranging from fruit and vegetables, to ornamental and native plants,” Dr Vivian-Smith said.

“It is a significant threat to many of our valuable industries, our environment and even human health, as they can carry pathogenic bacteria and parasites.

“Last year, there were 28 Giant African Snail interceptions at our borders, and we have seen ongoing interceptions this year, so it does pose a real risk for us.

“The interceptions were made in a variety of imported cargo and at different locations across the country at the border.

“This pest is damaging to plants and impacting on farmers and natural ecosystems in many countries overseas and they are difficult to eradicate, so it is important we keep it out.

“Unlike smaller hitchhiker pests, the Giant African Snail is a bit easier to detect, given they are six times larger than the common garden snail and their shells can be up to 20cm long.

“This does not mean the task of keeping it out is any easier. It is a big job, and it will only get harder as the volume of cargo arriving in Australia continues to increase.

“Our biosecurity system includes import conditions and measures at the border to manage the risks, but importers, farmers and even members of the public have a role to play.

“Make sure you follow our conditions when importing cargo to Australia and keep an eye out and report any potential biosecurity pests, like Giant African Snails.”

THE SOUTHERN

Part of the Farmer Group Rural Newspapers Covering Victoria

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April 2021

Southern Farmer - Page 19

Cutting energy costs for Victorian farmers

SEAFOOD: The forecast of seafood’s aquaculture-led recovery is a tribute to the work and resilience of all industry participants.

Seafood to rise steadily out of tough year ASSISTANT Minister for Forestry and Fisheries Jonno Duniam has welcomed the release of figures in the Australian Fisheries and Aquaculture Outlook 2021 confirming the value of exports and production would rise steadily in the five year outlook.

Mr Duniam gave the opening address at ABARES Outlook 2021 conference Fisheries and Aquaculture session and said the forecast of seafood’s aquaculture-led recovery is a tribute to the work and resilience of all industry participants.

“The seafood industry was the first and worst hit when export markets shut down virtually overnight at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Mr Duniam said.

“While the latest data forecasts a decline in production value in 2020-21 because of COVID-19 and trade disruptions, the five year outlook is positive, which is welcome good news for all.

“The data shows seafood production will increase at an average annual rate of 1.6 per cent to 2025-26.

“Export values will grow, with a forecast 1.8 per cent rise in real export value from 2021-22 to 2025-26 to reach $1.4 billion.

“Salmonid production is expected to grow at a yearly average of 4.4 per cent, reaching $1.1 billion in production value by 2025-26 and accounting for 35 per cent of fisheries and aquaculture value of production that year.

“Other aquaculture spe-

cies expected to see growth include prawns, oysters, abalone, and other finfish varieties including barramundi and kingfish.

“The seafood industry demonstrated incredible resilience in responding to the challenge with innovative solutions, such as home delivery and digital seafood marketplaces.

“Our government put in a range of measures to help the seafood industry, including waiving levies for Commonwealth managed fisheries, supporting seafood exporters through the $670 million International Freight Assistance Mechanism, and providing $72.7 million for an Agri-Business Expansion Initiative to help businesses expand and grow their exports.”

Î Î Î Î

significant costs for farmers and producers - putting more money back in their pocket to use elsewhere in the business,” Ms Thomas said.

Free on-farm energy assessments will again be delivered as part of the AEIP, helping producers identify how they can make their operations more energy efficient and productive, including by use of on-farm energy generation.

Farmers can then apply for up to $20,000 through the Fast Track Rebate to purchase items that have been recommended through an on-farm energy assessment; or larger Tier 1 and Tier 2 grants (worth between $20,000 - $50,000 and $50,000 - $250,000) for larger projects.

To date, almost 800 onfarm energy assessments have been completed under the AEIP, valued at almost $7 million and over 450 grants totalling $22 million have been awarded.

Through the Agriculture Strategy released in 2020, the government is working to protect and strengthen the future of agriculture by building a more resilient, energy efficient and internationally competitive sector that is well-placed to respond to climate change.

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MORE Victorian farmers will be helped to be more energy efficient and to put money back in their pocket thanks to the extension of the State Government’s popular Agriculture Energy Investment Plan (AEIP).

Delivered as part of the government’s $115 million investment in the new ten-year strategy for agriculture in Victoria, the AEIP helps businesses to reduce energy costs, be more energy efficient and more productive.

Minister for Agriculture Mary-Anne Thomas recently visited John and Millicent Dunn’s mixed crop and livestock farm at North Blackwood to encourage farmers to apply for the grants of up to $250,000 to install infrastructure and technology that will make their farms more competitive and sustainable.

Through the last round of the AEIP, the Dunns received a Tier 1 grant to upgrade their irrigation system.

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Page 20 - Southern Farmer

April 2021

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