Published since 1986
APRIL, 2020
Veggies worth $299m PAGE 8
www.farmernews.com.au
Golden garlic growers
Te Mania bull sale PAGES 12, 13
PAGE 15
Brussels sprouts span the generations By EMMA OLIVER
LOCAL Leongatha girl Elley Corney has been barrel racing for the last 14 years and is hoping to take out the title of all round cowgirl in this year’s standings with the Australian Professional Rodeo Association. Competing on Lindsay, the two work as a well synchronised team, after a decade of working together and honing technique. Barrel racing and break-away roping is not Elley’s only passion, however, with Elley milking 80 cows a day on her own dairy farm, a task she loves and a job she would never give up to follow her rodeo journey further afield or overseas. For Elley’s story turn to page 4.
FOR a vegetable with a reputation that conjures such strong reactions both good and bad, it is astounding that throughout Australia there are only 700 to 800 acres under commercially grown Brussels sprouts. Of this total, there are only three major players in Australia who regularly cultivate over 100 acres of sprouts as their annual crop, and one of these players is Adams Farms, located on 750 acres in Coldstream, surrounded by the vineyards of the picturesque Yarra Valley. Adams Farms are third generation sprout growers, a mean feat for what is a notoriously difficult vegetable to grow. However, it was the challenge that Brussels sprouts represented that attracted founder and patriarch Arthur Adams to the crop in the first place. “We originally had a farm in Bayswater,” said Bruce Adams, son of Arthur Adams and general manager of Adams Farms. “We were growing cabbag-
es predominantly in Bayswater and moved to Coldstream in the early 1960s specifically for more land and to continue growing cabbages. “However, my Dad, Arthur, needed some other crops to keep the labourers busy, as the cabbages only required about four hours work a day, so he looked to diversify. “He introduced pumpkins and Brussels sprouts to supplement the cabbages, and then as he realised how much more lucrative Brussels sprouts were per acre and then in packing and transport, he concentrated the farm’s efforts on growing sprouts. “In all reality though, my dad’s main driving force was the challenge, and in 1979 we committed solely to Brussels sprouts. “Since then we’ve had a few set-backs but nothing really that disastrous. “It is a significant commitment though, which is the reason only a few farmers grow Brussels sprouts in Australia, and why many grow it as a secondary crop or as an aside.” ■ Continued page 2
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Page 2 - Southern Farmer
April 2020
Leaf, Twig & Stick Rake
e BEFORE HARVEST: The crowns are taken off the tops of the Brussels sprout plants to enable easier harvesting for the handpickers.
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f SPROUTS OF THE LABOUR: High in fibre and a great source of vitamin A, C and K as well as Calcium, Potassium, Thiamine and Folacin the humble Brussels sprout has a lot more to offer than many customers realise. Though not considered a crowd pleaser, Adams Farms find it hard to keep up with demand for this versatile sprout, and keeps workers like Jo Macey flat-out during the harvest season.
Michael Kidman Phone (03) 5731 3306 mkidman@nemedia.com.au
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Published by Hartley Higgins for North East Media Pty Ltd, 37 Rowan Street, Wangaratta 3677. Responsibility for election comment is accepted by Editor Jeff Zeuschner. Copyright: All advertising and editorial content of this issue is the copyright of North East Media Pty Ltd and cannot be used without the company’s permission.
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c QUALITY PRODUCE: Jeremy Adams oversees the sorting and packing of the sprouts in the large purpose-built shed on-farm.
Brussels sprouts span the generations ■
Advertising:
e TOILING IN THE FIELD: With each plant producing up to 80 sprouts, the labourers all hand-pick the sprouts at Adams Farms, returning to each plant three to four times over the season.
From page 1 Concentrating singularly on Brussels sprouts demands a lot of space and a dedication to rotating the paddocks through an eight year cycle. Of the farms’ 750 acres only 120 acres at any one time are under sprouts, with the majority of the land lying fallow or hosting a neighbour’s cattle on agistment. An annual crop, the sprouts are planted out in December, and harvested gradually from March through to August with autumnal frosts playing an important part in the development and taste of the sprouts. The crop is planted in a paddock for one year and then that paddock is allowed to lie fallow for the following year. In the third year the paddock is once again planted out with sprouts, and come harvest the paddock is rested for five years before Bruce and his team consider planting sprouts there again. In those five years, the paddock is seeded with pasture grass and grazing cattle take advantage of the land. Rotating the crops also minimises the impact pests and dis-
eases have on the crop, and as the plants themselves are heavy feeders over their long growing season, allowing the land to rest and be replenished by rotational grazing is of huge benefit to the outcome. The Adams also manage their crop and ensure consistency and quality harvesting by hand. “We start from the bottom of the plant and pick those sprouts dependent on size,” Bruce said. “Then over the season we work our way up the bush, as that is how they grow and mature. “There is no major difference in flavour, it is more a size consideration to guarantee uniformity. “We return to that same bush three or four times over the season, and harvest in total about 80 sprouts per plant, with overall production at between 1100 to 1200 tonnes per year. “To think that there are about 25 sprouts per kilogram, that tonnage represents close to 30 million individual sprouts that we hand-pick. “It makes you realise somebody out there must like them,” Bruce said with a laugh. “Our competitors harvest with machinery and do it all at
once resulting in a variation in size and consistency, which is something we are not willing to compromise on at Adams Farms and something that makes us quite unique in the industry. “We’re also ensuring that the Brussels sprouts we sell throughout the season are fresh.” The only time machinery becomes involved in the actual tending of the plant is when the team at Adams Farms cut the crown off the top of the plant to allow it to remain bushy and easy to harvest. Locally grown and handpicked positions the Brussels sprouts from Adams Farms as a sought after commodity, with the difficulty of growing the product and the time frame required delegating it a niche market status. As a result the family operation cannot keep up with demand supplying local supermarkets, major chains like Coles and even for that straight-fromthe-grower experience, a farmgate store. With 50 per cent of their stock going to Melbourne, and the remaining 50 per cent to markets in the other state capital cities, the Adams have not even con-
sidered export as the domestic market is so strong. It is a good business and two of Bruce’s sons, Daniel and Jeremy, have followed their father onto the farm. Daughter Narelle is also heavily involved with promoting the produce and hosting functions and events on the farm with its breathtaking views and beautiful atmosphere that encompasses seasonal crops, grazing livestock, open pasture and an abandoned railway line that winds through the property. “Four of my five children live on the farm,” Bruce said. “All of my grandchildren, bar two, are all growing up on the farm. “I left the family farm for a few years in my twenties following a different path, but I came back, and this is where I’ve ended up and I’ve loved it ever since. “We are incredibly fortunate and when people ask when I’m going to retire or if I’m going to sell up, I look around at what we have achieved at Adams Farms and I have absolutely no desire to move away. “This sprout farm is a lifestyle and we all love it.”
April 2020
Southern Farmer - Page 3
Over $14 million to help Australian dairy exports THE Australian Government will invest $14.78 million to 2024-25 to help our dairy industry by raising export awareness, reducing red tape and streamlining audit arrangements. Minister for Agriculture, David Littleproud, said that the Australian dairy sector has the potential to expand exports of our world-class dairy products. “We’re cutting red-tape and making it easier for the Australian dairy industry to make more money from export markets we have secured for them,” Minister Littleproud said. “In 2019 dairy exports were worth $3.2 billion and we are doing all we can to support the industry to see it grow even more. “My department works closely with Dairy Australia and state government regulators to achieve efficiency gains and simply make it easier for industry to export. “This new funding will underpin three projects,
one will identify the regulatory hurdles for domestic dairy manufacturers to become exporters, another will focus on working with industry to align food safety in regulatory and commercial assurance programs, and the third will work towards reduced regulatory intervention through improved data collection. ‘Currently there are around 490 Australian dairy establishments registered for export, these businesses will benefit from these changes, along with domestic manufactures who are looking to become exporters. “We know that it hasn’t been easy for the Australian dairy industry for some time now. “Drought, fire and flood in some regions certainly have not made it easier. “That’s why we have implemented the Dairy Code of Conduct and that’s why we continue with funding like this to best support our dairy farmers and the industry as a whole.”
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Page 4 - Southern Farmer
April 2020
Rodeo cowgirl champions dairy By EMMA OLIVER ELLEY Corney is a Leongatha dairy farmer and also a returning champion competing in the all-around cowgirl standings in the Australian Professional Rodeo Association. Having taken out the title in 2018, she is hungry to win an APRA title again. Currently vying for first place overall in this year’s rankings she is a very strong contender to take out the award, having tied for first place with Erin Beatie in the breakaway competition at the recent February Whittlesea Rodeo. This was after a career best performance of 2.1 seconds to win the breakaway roping at the Myrtleford Golden Spurs Rodeo. Victoria’s second longest running rodeo, and the first rodeo of the Summer Circuit held on Boxing Day, the win puts Elley in a good place at the start of the season and is an indication that she is going
into competition in top form. Elley’s top form is the result of complete dedication and focus, for not only is Elley an accomplished cowgirl she is also a full-time farmer and has been since 2011, when she was only 22. “I took over the family farm in 2011 when my dad passed away,� Elley said. “It’s the farm that I grew up on, and my dad was a dairy farmer as were his parents before him. “I didn’t really know what I wanted to be at that stage, I just kind of got thrown into it. “And it was a little bit hectic at first, but I’ve got my cousins who are also dairy farmers and they have been incredibly helpful over the years. “And now I just love dairy farming, and I don’t really know what else I would do.� That is apart from barrel racing and breakaway roping, which is Elley’s other passion and something she is inordinately good at.
Relatively self-taught, Elley began barrel racing in 2006 when she was 17 years old. “The Lang Lang Rodeo is held annually on the Easter Monday at the Lang Lang showgrounds, and as a kid I would always go there with my mum and dad,� Elley said. “When I was growing up, my dad also trained racehorses and so that’s how I got into them. “He would train them on our property, and though he didn’t like going to Melbourne, he was pretty successful winning a couple of the Gippsland Series in his time. “Mick Hulls was his name, and though he didn’t have many thoroughbreds he just had a way with the horses. “He and my mum would also compete in all the novelty events at the ag shows, and they would give barrel racing a go. “I suppose for me it just went from there - that desire to barrel race - and I eventually got a quarter horse and a bit of help along the way.�
Elley now has two horses that she works with, Max and Lindsay. Max is the horse she uses for breakaway roping, where a calf coming out from the barrier is roped by a mounted rider. Lindsay, the other horse, she has had for 10 years, and it is Lindsay that she does the barrel racing with. At 17 Lindsay is getting older, and Elley believes she is in the last few years of competing, which inspires Elley to make the most of this time with her champion horse before starting the training process all over again. It is a commitment, as barrel racing is not only a trial of Elley’s horsemanship skills, but it is a test of agility and athletic ability of the horse itself, and as such depending on the horse can take many years to fine tune technique and ensure consistency. To safely and successfully manoeuvre their way around the preset barrels in a clo-
verleaf pattern in the fastest amount of time, it took Elley five or six years of training with Lindsay to achieve the consistency needed to win titles. But it is not a task Elley at 31 has shied away from, with her eyes firmly on the prize and almost 14 years of competing under her belt. “The plan is to go for my second all-around title this year,� Elley said. “I’ve always been pretty competitive with whatever I do. “I want to do it and be the best at it.� With two wins in barrel racing and two wins in breakaway roping this season already, she seems to be well on her way. Elley’s ability and desire to compete is only limited by the restraint dairy farming puts on her. “Interstate and overseas travel are not really an option because I have the milking to consider,� she said. “In between milking and when my husband gets home
from work, I will train in barrel racing. “When my husband’s home, we will then rope together. “My husband Elrik competes professionally in steer wrestling, and as well as working full-time also helps with the dairy, so we’re both pretty busy but also completely committed.� It is this total commitment that allows Elley and Elrik to negotiate their busy schedules and still come out on top, loving life and the choices they’ve made. For though Elley in the past might have considered travelling with her sport, she has no desire to give up the family farm. “If it had been when I was younger and didn’t have the farm, I would have gone overseas, but it’s not a consideration now,� she said. “I concentrate on where I can compete, and I milk my 80 cows on my 200 acres, and I love it.�
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April 2020
Southern Farmer - Page 5
OFFICIAL MEDICAL ADVICE
Coronavirus: what is social distancing? Keeping a distance of two arms lengths (1.5 metres) from others where you can to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Including in your home, work and public spaces. Where it’s not practical to distance (such as on a train or bus) practise good hygiene as always.
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Page 6 - Southern Farmer
April 2020
THE NOSE KNOWS: Protecting our agricultural industry, dogs are on the front line of defence.
Pawsome detector dog achievements in 2019
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AUSTRALIA’S biosecurity detector dogs continued their outstanding work last year, screening incoming passengers and goods for biosecurity risk items at airports, mail centres and sea ports. Head of biosecurity at the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Lyn O’Connell, said detector dogs are a vital part of Australia’s front line defence against pests and diseases. “Our detector dogs were a howling success again last year, intercepting more than 56,000 biosecurity risk items across our airports and mail centres,” Ms O’Connell said. “Any of these items could have carried a pest or disease that could impact on our industries, environment, plant, animal and human health. “One of the more interesting dog finds included chicken eggs containing formed embryos that were concealed in a bag of peanuts and fish stuffed with pork meat. “Over 4000 undeclared meat products were also detected by our detector dog fleet last year, including 1800
undeclared pork products. “These products are a significant risk, because they can carry African swine fever (ASF), which has the potential to ruin our pork industry. “In 2019-20 we have also seen three visa cancellations for serious breaches of Australian biosecurity laws, all thanks to referrals from our biosecurity detector dogs. “To help manage seasonal or emerging pest and disease risks, we are looking at ways to modernise the detector dog fleet. “For instance, in Brisbane we have trialled the use of detector dogs for the screening of imported cars to detect brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), which is a significant horticultural pest. “In 2019 we deployed dogs to Cairns and Darwin in response to the rising risk of ASF and we also increased screening at other airports and mail centres. “With risks like ASF and BMSB on the move globally, the dogs will continue to play a vital role in managing the significant biosecurity threats Australia faces.”
Key facts and stats: z detector dogs find up to 9000 biosecurity risk items during their working life; z the three most common items the detector dogs find are meat, fruit and seeds; z there are currently 43 biosecurity detector dogs working for the department, including 39 operational detector dogs and 4 novice dogs; z last year, one of the most significant detector dog finds for one passenger included: 855 grams of sausage; 1.5kgs of duck; 430 grams of dumpling; 375 grams of eggplant; 4.9kgs of fresh lotus; 440 grams of beans; 250 grams of tofu and two boiled eggs; z Detector Dog Parker in Adelaide made the most airport seizures in 2019, which also resulted in the most number of infringements issued at 132. For more information and to view the department’s detector dog video, visit agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity/ australia/detector-dogs.
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April 2020
Southern Farmer - Page 7
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Page 8 - Southern Farmer
April 2020
Value of Aussie fresh vegetable exports increases to AUD$299m AUSTRALIAN vegetable growers are benefiting from strong demand for locallygrown vegetables in key export markets and investment in increasing their exporting capabilities, with newly released trade data indicating that total fresh vegetable exports have increased 6.6 per cent in value to AUD$299 million in 2019. Carrots remained the largest export product in 2019 at 34 per cent of the total exported volume. Some other key vegetable exports include potato, onion, celery, broccoli and cauliflower, which all remained significant export products in 2019. Onions led much of the export growth in 2019, with the value of exported onions increasing by 67 per cent to AUD$40 million. Tasmanian growers contributed most of the national growth in onion exports, increasing exports from the state by 91 per cent, particularly to European markets. Western Australian and South Australian growers also increased onion exports 67 per cent and 47 per cent respectively. The volume of Australian
EXPORT QUALITY: Australian produce is increasingly popular on overseas markets which is a testament to the tenacity of local growers. fresh vegetable exports has also seen continued growth in the face of challenging trading and production conditions. The total volume of Australian fresh vegetable exports increased 5.4 per cent to 230,000 tonnes in 2019. The top five markets for Australian fresh vegetables remained largely stable. These are Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Japan,
Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, which has replaced Hong Kong for fifth position. These five markets received around 53 per cent of Australian fresh vegetable export volumes. AUSVEG national manager - export development Michael Coote said the progress the Australian vegetable industry has made in growing its exports is
testament to the hard work of vegetable growers to persevere with the export process, and the work done by AUSVEG, Hort Innovation and the wider industry in providing opportunities for growers to increase their capability and opportunities to enter export markets. “The Australian vegetable industry is continuing to see growth in its exports, partic-
LAND
ularly on the back of strong performing products such as onions to European markets,” said Mr Coote. “The continued rise in the value of vegetable exports is particularly impressive when you consider that Australian vegetables, including onions, are lower-priced products that are being grown in a high-cost environment, due to the rising
costs of labour, electricity and water. “So even as they experience vulnerability to fluctuating exchange rates that make it harder for vegetable growers to compete in a global market, fresh vegetable exports continue to grow. “The Vegetable Industry Export Program, delivered by AUSVEG in partnership with Hort Innovation, continues to support growth in fresh vegetable exports. “In 2019, the program facilitated the development of export capabilities for the industry by bringing over 40 buyers into Australia to see local production, taking over 40 growers on outbound trade missions, and up-skilling another 80 growers through export readiness training. “The industry is well on its way to reach the ambitious target of AUD$315 million in fresh vegetable exports by 2020 as outlined by the industry’s export strategy. “We are working with growers to ensure they have the skills and know-how to improve their ability to export their produce and capitalise on increasing demand for fresh, Australian-grown vegetable produce.”
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Page 10 - Southern Farmer
April 2020
WATER MANAGEMENT / IRRIGATION
Biggest ever Coastcare Victoria grants, of up to $30k, now open
IN celebration of Coastcare Victoria’s 25th year, the State Government is providing more funds and larger grants to Victorian community groups through the Coastcare Community Grants Program. Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio recently announced that applications for the 2020 program are now open.
Grants up to $30,000 are available for eligible projects to conserve, restore and rehabilitate Victoria’s coastal and marine environments. The $495,000 program has two streams of funding this year to support community adaptation and improve ecosystem resilience to climate change. “This year, our grants program has been doubled to $495,000, allowing us to support even more community
groups - projects can receive up to $30,000 in funding, which is double last year’s grants,” Ms D’Ambrosio said. Projects under the stewardship and education stream focus on activities that conserve, rehabilitate, and restore coastal and marine ecosystems. This stream encourages activities that support community participation, engagement and education to
enhance knowledge and understanding of coastal and marine management. “We’re very excited to offer this new stream that focuses on strengthening groups and supports volunteers to capitalise on the expertise, passion and diversity in their communities,” said Ms D’Ambrosio. A new volunteer resilience stream encourages community groups to consider ways
to expand, diversify volunteer bases, and create opportunities to engage youth and volunteers from different backgrounds, cultures, nationalities and abilities. This stream is seeking projects that use the different ways people want to volunteer and improve volunteer recruitment and retention. For over 25 years, Coastcare Victoria has supported
local community groups to look after Victoria’s precious marine and coastal environments and engage the broader public in coastal stewardship. Applications for the grants close 5pm on Thursday, May 7. For more information on the 2020 Coastcare Community Grants Program, including funding guidelines, visit delwp.vic.gov.au/Coastcare.
Gen Z call for change at Sustainable Seafood Week MORE than 90 per cent of Gen Z Australians (16-24) are concerned about the impact of climate change on our oceans, found a study released by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) for Sustainable Seafood Week (March 9-15). Often accused of being more occupied with their immediate priorities, surprisingly Gen Z showed an overwhelming concern (88 per cent) for the availability of seafood for their children and grandchildren, which echoed the sentiments of Greta Thunberg’s campaign for the environment. New generation chefs Josh Niland and Analiese Gregory, alongside 2019 Australian Geographic Society’s Young Conservationist of the Year Angelina Arora, all joined the Sustainable Seafood Week campaign to encourage Aussies to look for sustainable seafood. MSC’s Oceania program director Anne Gabriel said that the level of cognisance and passion
SEA OF PLENTY: With sustainable fishing techniques, wildcaught fish can be caught and enjoyed by generations to come. demonstrated by young Aussies is reassuring, and given their role into the future, much of this year’s Sustainable Seafood Week focused on the new ‘Seafood Generation’. “One-third of the world’s seafood population is in decline, which is an alarming statistic,” Ms Gabriel said. “Seafood is one of the last truly wild food sources we have left on the planet and the next generation will be the people most impacted by its decline, so it’s crucial that we act now and buy sustainable to change the trajectory. “Forty two per cent of
wild caught fish by volume in Australian waters is MSC certified, on par with some of the leading fishing nations around the world. “But we don’t do so well when it comes to the seafood we eat. “For every 10 times we enjoy a seafood dish, only one of them is labelled as MSC certified.” This lack of awareness was echoed by young Aussies with 86 per cent admitting to finding it hard to know whether their seafood is sustainable or did not know what sustainable seafood is. In fact, 65 per cent believe
ALL THE ACCOLADES: Josh Niland is the head chef of Saint Peter, an Australian Fish eatery in Sydney which serves only sustainable seafood expertly prepared and served simply. that schools and universities could do more to educate around climate change and its impact on the ocean. One Gen Z’er leading the plight is 17-year-old inventor and 2019 Australian Geographic Society’s Young Conservationist of the Year Angelina Arora, who has invented a groundbreaking biodegradable plastic that decomposes 1.5 million times faster than conventional plastics and is completely composed of waste materials including prawn shells. “My generation is finding its voice when it comes to
making a difference for the environment,” Ms Arora said. “We have been brought up with a greater awareness of our finite natural resources and the impacts of climate change as well as new science. “It’s then no surprise that young Aussies are taking charge to drive the nation to make smarter purchasing decisions regarding what we put in our bodies and use in our everyday activities to protect our oceans for future generations. “For example, when you go to your local supermarket, look for the MSC’s blue fish tick label.
“This means that the seafood is traced from a wildcatch fishery which has been independently certified to a science-based standard for environmentally sustainable fishing.” The research was conducted with 1000 participants aged 16-24 led by YouGov as part of Sustainable Seafood Week (March 9-15), a cause run by Marine Stewardship Council, a non-profit organisation that is on a mission to end over-fishing and ensure we have seafood forever with the blue fish tick sustainable certification program.
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April 2020
Southern Farmer - Page 11
PASTURE AND FERTILISER
Cost-effective fertilisers for the coming season PHOSPHORUS, calcium and sulphur are highly important nutrients for producing quality pasture and crops. They are all ‘exported’ from the soil and sent offfarm within food, fibre, livestock or produce. This means they need to be replenished, generally through the application of fertiliser. Why these nutrients matter Phosphorus is essential for plant growth. It plays an important role in all of the plant’s major metabolic processes, including photosynthesis, respiration, energy storage and transfer, cell division and cell enlargement. Phosphorus is critical for early root development and for this reason, it should be applied before or at sowing. Calcium is important in root and shoot stimulation. It helps with the mechanical strength of the plant by contributing to the integrity and selectivity of cell membranes. Calcium also activates
several enzyme systems, helps neutralise organic acids within the plant and is essential for good seed set in subterranean clovers. Calcium can also help stimulate microbial activity and molybdenum availability. Sulphur is used by plants to help with nitrogen metabolism, enzyme activity and protein, and oil synthesis. It also helps stimulate soil biology, rumen biology and helps maximise wool tensile strength. A cost effective alternative for your farm If you are conscious of cost then a cost competitive alternative to chemical fertilisers is a BioAgPhos blend, with lime or gypsum. BioAgPhos is made from highly reactive, highgrade reactive phosphate rock (RPR) combined with BioAg’s microbial digesting agent. It provides long-lasting, sustained release of nutrient - making both annual and biennial (every second year) applications possible.
Allan Reid, BioAg’s Victorian area manager, recommends BioAgPhos and blends to growers across Victoria. “The beauty of using BioAgPhos is that it offers a combination of immediately plant-available phosphorus with a slow release portion of P,” Mr Reid said. “Applied at the right rate, the process will not need to be undertaken again for two years. “BioAgPhos can also be applied earlier than other fertilisers as the phosphate will not leach or lock up, remaining available to pastures and crops when it is needed.” BioAg can supply blends ready to spread, or you can blend on-farm with your traditional lime or gypsum application to reduce your total spreading costs. Successful independent trials of BioAgPhos and blends Two recent independent trials confirm that BioAgPhos is an effective and cost-effective option, compared to chemical fertilisers. At Crookwell, in the
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$5 million to seed habitat recovery THE Federal Government is funding a series of projects through Greening Australia that will enhance the protection of native habitats, build capacity in our native seed and nursery industry, and deliver a ten-year native seed and landscape restoration strategy. Environment Minister Sussan Ley and Senator for Western Sydney Marise Payne, launched the project at Greening Australia’s seed production area in Richmond in mid February, just a few kilometres from the horrific Kurrajong fires, as part of the Commonwealth’s initial $50 million Wildlife and Habitat Bushfire Recovery package. “Seeds are where so much of our recovery starts and the process of identifying, planning and gathering seed stores is incredibly complex,” Minister Ley said. “With this funding, Greening Australia will be able to work closely with our expert panel to identify high priority plants and ecological communities. “These are not seeds that can simply be purchased at a local nursery and an important part of the package is increasing the capacity of the native seed and nursery industry.” Senator Payne said the funding was a critical part of the Morrison Government’s locally led approach to managing the risk of bushfires. “Important ecological rejuvenation will be undertaken
Southern Tablelands of NSW, a replicated pasture trial between 2014 and 2018 assessed and measured pasture dry matter response over time, comparing BioAg treatments (annual and biennial) with annual treatments of single superphosphate. Based on the dry matter production and comparing per-hectare price over four years the trial showed that the most effective and cheapest option is to spread BioAgPhos Superb every second year. At Dadswell Bridge in Western Victoria an independent trial mirrored the standard practice in this area of fertilising pasture every second year. BioAg blends S10 BioAgPhos and BioAg Superb delivered more dry matter in the second year than other fertilisers, as well as in total across the two years. If you’re searching for a better fertiliser experience, contact BioAg’s Victorian representatives Allan Reid on 0448 453 412 (Central, Western and Southern Victoria) or Peter Emerson (NE Victoria) on 0438 269 939.
on the doorstep of where the Gospers Mountain mega blaze struck,” Senator Payne said. “It will provide a critical boost to wildlife and habitat recovery.” Greening Australia’s chief executive officer Brendan Foran outlined the extensive field work required to determine native seed supply needs, identify seed harvesting opportunities and produce the seeds and plants needed for landscape restoration. “We will work with a broad range of stakeholders, including local communities, Indigenous groups, environmental and natural resource management organisations, government, fire agencies, fire ecologists, regulators and land managers,” Mr Foran said. “To restore native vegetation we need to access seeds from those areas and that is an incredibly detailed process in itself. “We need to know we are putting the right species in the right place to support both the natural plant life and the wildlife they support in our future climate.” The delivery of the funding to Greening Australia is an important step in the wildlife and habitat recovery process. Greening Australia has been conserving and restoring landscapes at scale through collaborative, science-based and innovative conservation programs for over 38 years.
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Page 12 - Southern Farmer
April 2020
Rush not the quality of the garlic By EMMA OLIVER
TAKING OUT THE GOLD: Danni Schneider and Tim Szczerkowski are Rushnot Garlic.
AS president of the Mansfield Producers Group, Danni Schneider is all about championing the amazing produce of the shire. However, it took her fellow committee members to convince Danni to enter her garlic in the Australian Food Awards. Alongside her partner Tim, Danni grows a purple Australian hardneck varietal of garlic, dubbed Rushnot Garlic after the name of her property, and it was the seasonally-late December harvest of this garlic that so suitably impressed her committee members that pressured her to enter the awards. Promoting the region through agriculture is the primary objective of the group, with produce chosen to showcase the diversity and best practice of the area.
And taking out a gold at the 2019 Australian Food Awards with their herbicide, pesticide and chemical-free Rushnot Garlic, Danni and Tim have achieved just that, simultaneously shining the spotlight on other boutique and quality primary producers in the area. With saffron, capers, berries and organic wine just some of the premium produce in the region, Rushnot Garlic is in good company, and representative of small landholders in the shire who are thinking outside the box and getting the utmost potential from their properties producing first-class commodities. The 2019 Gold is the most recent in a long list of accolades for Rushnot Garlic which has included winning bronze, silver and gold medals at the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria Fine Food Awards over previous years.
This gold medal, however, is more a panacea for Danni and Tim, as only two years previously she lost the majority of her 6000 head crop to torrential rains that flooded their Tolmie property with 100 millimetres in a short amount of time. “We had built up the crop to 6000 head of garlic which was manageable for a hobby farmer that works full-time as a real estate agent, and farms after work and on the weekends,” Danni said. “It was where we wanted to be business-wise and our product was beginning to get a fair degree of recognition.” The deluge washed the crop out and being unable to harvest
April 2020
Southern Farmer - Page 13
or re-plant the majority of the garlic, Danni and Tim were forced to burn the remainder of the spoiled and rotting stock. After eight months of soil preparation and then handweeding, the whole experience was particularly soul destroying and meant that Danni and Tim had to dig deep and find the resolve to start all over again. It’s a slow process rebuilding, but Danni is no stranger to this challenge, having moved to Tolmie initially to semi-retire and possibly harvest lavender on her 10 acre property. This plan was not to eventuate, as semi-retirement at the ripe old age of 37 did not suit Danni, and the lavender that covered
the farm was not really an economical proposition, and on investigation was discovered to have root rot. Re-building this time entailed ripping up all the lavender, investigating other potential crops and on deciding upon garlic, trialling a variety of cultivars over a three year period. Re-building a life after a marriage breakdown would also become part of Rushnot Garlic’s story, as Danni and the partner she initially moved to Tolmie with parted ways. Bolstered, however, by the support and friendship of her relatively new Tolmie community, Danni invested all
combination of criteria ranging from uniformity to condition, quality to aroma, and flavour both raw and cooked, it’s great to know that this is the seed stock all future crops will be grown from.� With this an integral part of Rushnot Garlic’s success, Danni also puts down the win to the climate and soil of Tolmie - those external conditions in this elevated farmland that make the difference. As climate plays a crucial part in Rushnot’s award winning garlic, it also dictates the direction that Danni and Tim will take Rushnot Garlic in the future. “I would love to diversify with our product and try my hand at some other boutique crop,� she said. “Tim and I have bought some land in Mansfield and are hoping to expand our product range. “At the moment we are trialling our Rushnot purple garlic in raised beds at the lower elevation to monitor how it will adapt to the difference in climate, elevation, longitude and latitude. “Our hope is that our most desirable variety will endure the change. “However, there are also plans to grow other crops. “It will mean going back to purchasing a variety of seed stock and trialling all the different cultivars, but it’s a project we’re ready for and excited about.� A project that will be met by Danni and Tim’s loyal clientele with a huge degree of enthusiasm, as they look forward to the next chapter in the story of this gold-winning producer and their Rushnot Garlic.
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her energy into Rushnot Garlic and the project thrived. More recent weather events and setbacks have seen the garlic flooded out, and then in the summer just past the threat of fire was constant throughout January, so much so, that Danni decided to move her beloved Clydesdale down the hill to safer ground while Tim was out fighting fires with the CFA. Potential wind changes could have blown fire burning in the valleys and High Country north of Tolmie directly towards the mountain township. Luckily Tolmie was not impacted and Rushnot Garlic survived relatively unscathed. As Danni and Tim sell their garlic at farmers markets and the local Mansfield IGA, their hip pocket did take a bit of a hit due to the uncertainty of January. However, winning gold at the Australian Food Awards makes all the trials and tribulations worth it. “It has taken two years for Tim and I to build up the crop so that we are now producing about 2000 bulbs a year,� Danni said. “I keep all the largest bulbs to re-sow, so it’s a gradual process. “With each bulb producing about 10 cloves, and each clove representing one garlic head, we really need about 100 bulbs to produce 1000 plants. “In reality it’s closer to 120 bulbs so I can guarantee consistency in size and quality, but that is Rushnot Garlic’s main goal. “Winning gold means that this attention to detail is all worth it and recognised by industry experts. “With garlic scored on a
Page 14 - Southern Farmer
April 2020
New tool tackles the threat of feral cats NATIONAL registration of the Curiosity® bait for feral cats will support efforts to protect and recover Australia’s remarkable native wildlife. The Curiosity® bait for feral cats is a small sausage with a hard plastic pellet containing a humane toxin (para-aminopropiophenone, or PAPP). The bait has been designed to minimise the risk to native animals and a hard shell limits access to the pellet by animals other than cats. Registration of this product follows a rigorous assessment process by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) to ensure the new bait is safe to use in accordance with the label instructions. The APVMA has assessed the safety and efficacy of the product, and ensured the risks to native animals, the environment, and the public are minimised. Strict conditions set out by the label include training requirements for end users, which ensure that there is extremely low risk to the public and their pets. Feral cats are a significant threat
to our native wildlife and the new bait is a game changer for feral cat control in Australia. Since European arrival, feral cats have been implicated in the extinction of more than 20 mammal species and threaten a further 124 nationally listed species. The Australian Government recognised the need for a new humane and effective feral cat control tool and has invested more than $5 million in the development of Curiosity®. The registration recognises that Curiosity® is a toxin and baits will only be sold to, and used by, appropriately trained and authorised persons in accordance with state regulations. The baits will also offer another lifeline to our native wildlife in bushfire impacted areas. Cats are very effective predators following fires so this humane and effective control tool will boost our ability to actively tackle the threat across our environment. More information about the Curiosity® bait for feral cats can be found at http://environment.gov.au/ biodiversity/invasive-species/feralanimals-australia/feral-cats.
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AEGIC oat rice and oat noodles getting rave reviews GROWERS and grains industry players from around the country had the chance to taste an innovative oat “rice” dish at one of Australia’s biggest grains industry events, the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) Research Updates, in Perth on February 24. The delicious and nutritious product was developed by oat research scientists at the Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre (AEGIC). AEGIC’s oat program is aimed at increasing the value of premium Australian oats. AEGIC barley and oat quality program manager Mark Tucek said AEGIC was striving to elevate oats from the breakfast table to becoming a go-to option for lunch and dinner. “Australian oats are highlyregarded in Asia and Australia for their excellent grain quality and health benefits,” he said. “Giving people more options to incorporate oats into their diet is great for healthconscious consumers.
“It’s fantastic for Australian growers because of the potential for increased demand in what is a premium market sector.” Attendees at the Perth GRDC Research Updates had the chance to try a special oat rice dish prepared in the Crown Towers Perth kitchens as part of the official event menu. AEGIC developed a processing method for oat “rice”, a product which can be cooked and eaten like regular rice but has the health benefits of oats. The oats were processed and supplied by AEGIC. Mr Tucek said AEGIC has also developed oat noodles, which are receiving rave reviews from international customers. “For the first time, we can reveal that we’ve developed a processing method to make high-quality noodles from 100 per cent whole grain oat flour,” he said. “This is a significant achievement because making
• • • • •
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April 2020
Southern Farmer - Page 15
Te Mania Angus bull sale and commercial on-line sale TE MANIA Angus rewrote the playbook when it pulled a front runner bull out of the line-up for its Autumn Bull Sale. Lot 5 was Te Mania Peerage - a standout at the stud’s Beef Week field day in January and a young sire with plenty of ticks next to it in plenty of catalogues. His figures stood out across the board - in the top one per cent of the breed for all $indexes and scrotal size, with outstanding fertility, growth and maternal figures. But Te Mania Angus director Tom Gubbins said the stud does not sell any animal that does not meet a stringent set of standards across structure and genetic potential. “At the final vet check for the sale team, Te Mania Peerage failed to pass all the tests and was withdrawn without hesitation,” Tom said. That last-minute hiccup was almost immediately swept away when the auction began. Lot 2, a powerful son of Te Mania Emperor was knocked down to Shane and Jodie Foster’s Boonaroo Angus, SA, for $22,000. Everything shifted to an
even higher gear when 157 appeared on the big screen. It sparked a rapid-fire duel as some of the nation’s blueribbon Angus seedstock producers and commercial operators went head to head to secure this exciting homebred young sire. At $52,000 a 5-way syndicate of Landfall Angus from Tasmania, Murdeduke Angus from Winchelsea, the Caldwell family of the Milwillah stud in Young, New South Wales, Sterita Park Angus from Lucindale, South Australia and Thomas Foods International Rural from Mount Schank, South Australia had outlasted the group led by Rennylea Angus. A son of Te Mania Kirkby, Pheasantry’s exceptional calving ease figures through to a marbling EBV of +5.1 per cent, excellent docility and structure completed a stand out package. Bulls went across Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, and even to King Island and Tasmania, as clients (some who have been buying Te Mania Angus genetics for almost 50 years) stood alongside buyers making their first visit to a
SALE TOPPER: Te Mania Pheasantry P1479 sold for $52,000, and is pictured with Hamish McFarlane and Tom Gubbins, and syndicate representative Gerald Archer from Landfall, Tasmania. Te Mania Angus sale. Of the 148 bulls Te Mania Angus Mortlake offered at their recent autumn sale, all 148 bulls sold giving the stud 100 per cent clearance and an average $9439 per bull. This outstanding success was indicative of surging confidence in the market, and the strong belief in the Te Mania Angus product. Buyers were there for the
Te Mania Angus genetics and with only five of the 54 bulls which made five figures from outcross sires and the rest homebred they were not disappointed. “For us the demand for our genetics is the greatest compliment from our clients, the people we see as our partners, because for each of us our success can only be measured by the
success of those partners,” Tom said. Long-time buyers Bernie and Claire Evans, from Tatong, Victoria, have been buying Te Mania Angus genetics since the 1970s. They brought three generations to the 2020 sale and also purchased four bulls. “We are a spring calving herd and while we have a strong history of selling
steers to backgrounders, and heifers to people wanting to join them to trade on, we are very aware of market trends,” Bernie said. And that guided their shopping on the day. The family purchased Lot 47 for $10,000, 110 for $8000, 113 for $12,000 and 123 for $11,000 - with these bulls selected to complement their herd’s easy management, easy calving and high performance steers. “We were looking for good, balanced bulls with great potential in easy calving and we always want genetics to add marbling and eye muscle area and we think that’s what we got,” Bernie said. Buyers were also driven by genetics when purchasing at the Team Te Mania online commercial sale, where 743 females were offered up for sale and all sold at an average of $2308 per head. Like the bull sale it was a massive success, and the online commercial female sale ran red-hot on the back of good rains across large tracts of the southern agricultural zone selling all 743 females for a spectacular total of $1.715 million.
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