Queensland Farmer Today January 2022

January 2022

Focus on cotton

Horse sale records

PAGES 21 - 23

PAGES 8 -9

Trust an issue Trustworthy data - and decent access to it - is what rural and regional residents deem essential if they are going to thrive in the 21st Century.

This was the message Professor John McVeigh, director of the Southern Queensland and Northern NSW Drought Resilience Innovation and Adoption Hub, heard last month from attendees at workshops in Lismore, Armidale, Narrabri, Stanthorpe, Roma and Longreach.

He said across all online and in-person sessions, producers and local government leaders in southern Queensland and northern NSW raised two recurring themes.

STORY PAGE 4

Cup an elixir The annual Roma Cup gives the town a “significant boost”, with all motels, campgrounds and caravan parks full.

“From a racing point of view, all of these country race meetings add to the fabric of our society. Each one of them is extremely important,” says Peter Flynn, who has been a country race caller just shy of 50 years.

“And, something we don’t emphasize enough is the mental health benefit... it’s crucial.”

STORY PAGES 26-27

Circle of life

The large crowd celebrates as Les “Bubba” Tilley steers favourite, Tears of Love, home to win the 2021 Roma Cup. Picture: KATARINA SILVESTER PHOTOGRAPHY ROMA

The name Henzell has long been synonymous with successful rural enterprise through south east Queensland, with sttong links to the famous Golden Circle brand..

Over some 120 years, Gurney, his son, Edwin and grandson, Leigh have run a dairy farm, as well as grown pineapple and banana plants at Mt Pleasant, an hour north west of Brisbane.

The Henzell story began on 8 February 1870 on the Gympie goldfields where Gurney was born in a tent while his father, Frederick sold merchandise, making “a lot” of money he later lost through gambling and alcoholism.

STORY PAGE 6

Rainfall recharge Record rainfall through southern Queensland has refreshed the entire northern Murray Darling system and restored delicate river flows.

So says Cotton Australia general manager Michael Murray who adds storages - both onfarm and government - are now “absolutely or virtually” full for the first time since 2010/ 2011.

After five tough years, Mr Murray started to sense a seasonal change in February 2020.

“It has been building,” he said.

“This (rainfall) is just providing all these natural flows and recharging the whole landscape.

“And, it will not only support the current croppers on the ground, but will underpin a

strong cotton planting for at least the next two years.“ Menindee Lakes, according to Mr Murray, is at 106 per cent capacity, which is about 1.7 million megalitres or equivalent to 3.5 Sydney Harbours.

The Bureau of Meteorology, meanwhile, says Boondooma Dam is at 100.31pc, Bjelke-

Petersen Dam 94.65pc, Gordonbrook Dam 102.79pc, Paradise Dam 107.46pc and Cania Dam 27.82pc.

“I’m pretty sure they’re taking water out of Menindee Lakes at the moment, but there will certainly be inward flows in the coming months,” Mr Murray said STORY PAGE 3

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INSIDE

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The editor’s desk

HENZELL LEGEND LIVES ON........... page 6 DALBY STOCK HORSE SALE ......pages 8-9 SALEYARDS FAREWELL ............... page 11 OLD PLANT’S NEW SHOOTS ........ page 16 FOOD FOR THOUGHT .................. page 18 FROM THE MLA .......................... page 18 FARMERS’ HEALTH ..................... page 19 FROM MINISTER’S DESK ............ page 19 A GOLDEN OUTLOOK .................. page 20 FOCUS ON COTTON ..............pages 21-23 ROMA CUP ...........................pages 26-27

DAM LEVELS Beardmore................................... 99.3 % Bjelke Petersen ........................... 99.05% Borumba ........................................ 100% Boondoomba .................................. 101% Somerset ........................................ 75% Wivenhoe.......................................... 46% Leslie ........................................ 100.36% Paradise ...................................... 102.4% Coolmunda .................................. 99.95% Cedar Pocket ............................... 100.6% Chinchilla ....................................... 107%

CONTACT US

Address: 154-156 Haly Street Kingaroy 4610 Telephone: 07 4182 0450 Website: QueenslandFarmerToday.com.au CONTACT US Editorial: Email: newsdesk@QueenslandFarmerToday.com.au Advertising: Email: advertising@QueenslandFarmerToday.com.au Classifieds: Phone: 07 4182 0450 or 1300 666 808 Email: sales@networkclassifieds.com.au ADVERTISING Annette Weatherstone Account Manager E: annette.weatherstone@QueenslandFarmerToday.com.au Queensland Farmer Today is published monthly and part of the Today News Group. Published by South Burnett Today Pty Ltd ACN 641 796 349.

Publisher: Damian Morgan Managing Director: Daniel Pelcl.

All material is copyright to South Burnett Today Pty Ltd. All significant errors will be corrected as soon as possible. For our terms and conditions please visit QueenslanFarmerToday.com.au/terms-and-conditions/ 2 TODAY January 2022

Shadow Water Minister Deb Frecklington in front of the billboard in Brisbane. Picture: CONTRIBUTED

Giant dam reminder

By Aaron Goodwin and Jessica McGrath Farmers have gone to new heights in an attempt to be heard by the State Government about the future of Paradise Dam. A giant billboard organised by Bundaberg Fruit and Vegetable Growers has gone up in Deputy Premier Steven Miles’ electorate, on the Bruce Highway North of Brisbane.

It comes as Shadow Water Minister Deb Frecklington reignites calls for the State Government to release their detailed business case into the future of Paradise Dam. Ms Frecklington said the best Christmas present the State Government can give Queenslanders is confidence the full wall height will be restored.

“Labor has played politics with Paradise Dam from the onset,” Ms Frecklington said.

“The region’s growers and water users continue to be caught in the middle of this debacle.

“Engineering experts have said the wall can be restored.

“The State Government needs to be upfront with the people of Bundaberg.

“Will the State Government take the engineering advice, or find another excuse to tear the wall down?

“I again call on Labor’s Water Minister and Labor’s Member for Bundaberg to stand up for the people they claim to represent.

“We’ve already seen precious water from

the recent rain washed out to sea, in a cruel blow for locals at a time when water has never been this vital.”

Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett is concerned the year is almost over and Wide Bay locals are still in the dark over the Future Options Paper for Paradise Dam. “We need the report released to the public today,” Mr Bennett said.

“That doesn’t mean handing it over to a government pen-pusher and putting it in the desk for another 12 months.

“That means giving it to our farmers, to the people who need to make decisions about putting crops in the ground.

“It’s high time the Palaszczuk Government shows regional producers how much they value the food on their plates.”

A Queensland Government spokesperson said they are on track to make a decision about the dam’s future by the end of 2021. ”Safety has always been the priority when it comes to Paradise Dam,” the spokesperson said. ”We know that what has happened at Paradise Dam has not been easy for the Bundaberg community. ”Whether that’s as someone living downstream, or an irrigator operating in the region. ”We’ve seen good rainfall recently which has resulted in a return to 100 percent of allocations for local farmers.” * See Food For Thought column on page 18

Cautious optimism for 2022 Farming can make a fool of a financial forecaster faster than any other industry.

Unpredictable weather and uncontrollable commodity prices have taught wise farmers to take a grain of salt with any predictions, especially when they’re as glowingly positive as they are for agriculture in Southern Queensland next year.

Farming is a very old industry, and those who’ve succeeded through time have tended to play a long game planning in decades, not financial quarters, but whichever way you look at it the fundamentals are strong for the year ahead.

Of course, managing expectations is always important.

We all know that a surprising two inches of soaking rain is much more satisfying when only light showers were predicted by the weather bureau and jagging a 12-bag crop in a tough dry winter can bring more joy than a 14-bag crop in a wet one.

So, at Queensland Farmer Today we’re not counting the crop until it’s in the shed, but we’re cautiously optimistic for agriculture in the year ahead, a n d we’d like to take this opportunity to wish you all a merry Christmas and good seasons in 2022.

- Damian Morgan

A focus on dam safety Questions over the Paradise Dam come as Queensland’s Auditor-General’s recent report exposed major flaws with the State Government’s management of dams and how it has failed to meet compliance and safety issues.

The report, which was tabled in State Parliament, exposes gaps in information gathering, systems, monitoring and enforcement practices that limit the government’s effectiveness as a regulator.

It recommends changes to the government’s regulatory framework and approach to dam safety.

Shadow Minister for Water and the Construction of Dams Deb Frecklington slammed the findings.

“These governance issues identified by the Auditor General show the government is gambling with Queenslanders’ safety and the future of water security,” Ms Frecklington said.

“At a time when Queensland is experiencing rapid population growth, the government should be focused on building new dams to meet future demand.

“Instead, this report shows very clearly the government is failing to maintain the few dams they currently have.”

Ag industry soars to historic heights Australia’s farmers are on track to smash production value and volume records in 2021-22 on the back of exceptional seasonal conditions and a surge in world commodity prices.

Despite recent flood and rain damage in the eastern states, the ABARES Agricultural Commodities: December Quarter is forecasting a history-making agricultural gross production value of $78 billion – $5.4 billion more than predicted just a few months ago.

The value of agricultural exports is forecast to hit a record $61 billion.

Production is expected to increase year-onyear for every major livestock commodity and almost every major crop commodity – with farmers forecast to produce the largest volume ever.

ABARES executive director Dr Jared Greenville said Australia was enjoying an extraordi-

nary combination of favourable conditions and 30-year price highs.

“It would be the first time in at least half a century that production will increase for so many products at the same time,” Dr Greenville said.

“And if these forecasts are realised, 2021–22 will see the largest total volume of agricultural commodities Australia has ever produced.

“Prices are also at multi-year highs for many agricultural commodities.

“Higher export volumes and higher prices are forecast for almost every major export commodity, with the total value of agricultural exports being revised up $6.5 billion to $61 billion, also an all-time high.

“This uplift in Australian agricultural production value and volume is unprecedented

and the result of exceptional growing conditions here and poor seasons being experienced by key overseas competitors.

“There is uncertainty how long prices will remain at these levels – and supply chain disruptions, higher fertiliser prices and heavy rainfall domestically will continue to be watch points.

“This forecast accounts for the unfortunately timed substantial rainfall and localised flooding in east coast growing regions during November.

“This will delay harvests and result in some crop losses, but this is unlikely to reduce national harvest tonnage significantly.

“The larger impact will be on grain quality, with a higher than usual proportion of the crop being lower-value feed-grade wheat.”

QueenslandFarmerToday.com.au

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Rainfall rivers recharge

By Fiona Gowers and Jessica McGrath Record rainfall through southern Queensland has refreshed the entire northern Murray Darling system and restored delicate river flows.

So says Cotton Australia general manager Michael Murray who adds storages - both onfarm and government - are now “absolutely or virtually” full for the first time since 2010/ 2011.

After five tough years, Mr Murray started to sense a seasonal change in February 2020.

“It has been building,” he said.

“This (rainfall) is just providing all these natural flows and recharging the whole landscape.

“And, it will not only support the current croppers on the ground, but will underpin a strong cotton planting for at least the next two years.”

Menindee Lakes, according to Mr Murray, is at 106 per cent capacity, which is about 1.7 million megalitres or equivalent to 3.5 Sydney Harbours.

The Bureau of Meteorology, meanwhile, says Boondooma Dam is at 100.31pc, BjelkePetersen Dam 94.65pc, Gordonbrook Dam 102.79pc, Paradise Dam 107.46pc and Cania Dam 27.82pc.

“I’m pretty sure they’re taking water out of Menindee Lakes at the moment, but there will certainly be inward flows in the coming months,” Mr Murray said.

“As of yesterday, some 20,000ML a day were passing through Bourke and big flows are expected to continue for months, which will raise it considerably higher.”

According to the BOM, five Burnett locations smashed rainfall records for November, with Mundubbera recording its wettest November in 110 years with 263.4mm falling.

The North Burnett town was just one of

The beautiful, now flourishing, billabong on Jackie Stenhouse’s Mundubbera property was previously bone dry. many to refresh its record books last month.

With 220mm in total, Monto recorded its wettest November in 80 years; Dunollie Station, near the Burnett River, scored 263mm; Boondooma Dam, towards the South Burnett 250mm and Kingaroy Airport 243.8mm of rain.

Queensland had its seventh-wettest November and Australia had its wettest November since records began in 1900, according to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. This year was the wettest November for Queensland since 2010.

It was also the country’s wettest spring since 2010 according to the Bureau’s spring climate summary.

The new Australian November average rainfall record stands at 72mm, coming in at more than double the month’s original national average of 32mm.

The previous November rainfall record, set nearly 50 years ago during the La Niña event of 1973, was broken by more than two millimetres.

The wettest day of the month was 10 November when Samuel Hill in Queensland received 340.8mm of rain.

Bureau of Meteorology Senior Climatologist Dr Grainger explained that there were a range of factors influencing the recent storms and heavy rains.

“Sea surface temperatures to the west and east of Australia have been the main influence on our wet spring. Typically, warmer waters off the north-west and north-east coast of Australia are associated with wetter than average conditions,” he said.

“At the start of spring, warmer waters to our west were associated with a negative Indian Ocean Dipole, changes of temperatures

in the Indian Ocean. Later in the season, a developing La Niña event in the Pacific Ocean to our east also moved warmer waters closer to the Australian region, becoming the dominant influence on Australia’s climate over the season.

“Other climate drivers contributing to an incredibly wet spring were a shift to more wet, tropical conditions over the entire continent.”

Dr Grainger said these were associated with the positive phase of what is known as the Southern Annular Mode and an active Madden Julian Oscillation -global circulation patterns that influence weather systems over Australia.

“All of this has contributed to saturated soil and catchments across large parts of eastern Australia, and with a wet summer still ahead, the risk of further flooding will remain for the coming months,” he said.

‘Seriously unbelievable’

By Fiona Gowers Tom Nixon will celebrate the 90th anniversary of Devon Court Hereford stud in 2022 with confidence.

At last check, the rain gauge on the familyowned mixed-farm operation at Drillham, west of Miles, had topped 340 millimetres since November.

“This is seriously unbelievable,” Mr Nixon said. “A record for sure. It is incredible. Unseen in my time and hopefully we will see it again.

“All rain is positive and we are definitely not going to whinge about getting too much.”

Indeed, monthly rainfall records have tumbled across Queensland, with some places recording the wettest November they have seen in more than 100 years.

And, the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) said the drenchings would continue over summer, right through until March.

“With La Niña persisting for the next few months, Queensland will likely have higherthan-average downfalls that will continue over the next few months,” the BOM’s Harry Clark said.

“In fact, the whole country will see the rain continuing, after Australia recorded its wettest November since records began in 1900.”

According to the BOM, the Samuel Hill Aerodrome, north of Yeppoon, ranked as the wettest place in Queensland for last month, recording 627mm in total.

Just 24 hours before the big wet began, Mr Nixon and his brother, Alex finished their harvest of 1885 hectares of wheat, barley and chickpeas.

The sorghum was already planted and is reveling in the rain.

With a record year for grain and beef production, the brothers are quietly confident in the year ahead.

Another storm rolls over Devon Court Hereford stud at Drillham, west of Miles. Tom Nixon has recorded 340 millimetres of rain there since November.

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January 2022 TODAY 3

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Trust, connectivity crucial

By Fiona Gowers Trustworthy data - and decent access to it - is what rural and regional residents deem essential if they are going to thrive in the 21st Century.

This was the message Professor John McVeigh, director of the Southern Queensland and Northern NSW Drought Resilience Innovation and Adoption Hub, heard last month from attendees at workshops in Lismore, Armidale, Narrabri, Stanthorpe, Roma and Longreach.

He said across all online and in-person sessions, producers and local government leaders in southern Queensland and northern NSW raised two recurring themes.

“We asked, ‘what does your region look like in the middle of the next drought if it’s doing ok?’

And, what’s constantly coming back is trust in data and connectivity.

“They say if we’re going to have practical solutions through the next drought, be selfsufficient and have access to new farming techniques, we need reliable internet access.

“It’s not optional, not if we want to be worldclass farmers.”

Professor McVeigh said whether it was on- or off-farm, producers wanted access to solid, reliable data relevant to their local area to facilitate smart decision-making.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s about insurance, weather forecasting, pasture condition, personal wellbeing, water quality, risk management or nutrition,” he said.

“We’ve heard pretty clearly that people want this data presented in a user-friendly way, that they can integrate into their on-property operations or within their regional businesses.

“And they want trust.

“They want to be able to a) trust the data is relevant to them, especially if they’re changing their management based on it and b) they want to be able to trust in data ownership and privacy.”

The Southern Queensland and Northern NSW Drought Resilience Innovation and Adop-

Professor John McVeigh, director of the Southern Queensland and Northern NSW Drought Resilience Innovation and Adoption Hub. tion Hub is one of eight operating nationally.

Established to help rural and regional areas build resilience and foster agricultural innovation, they form part of the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.

Professor McVeigh said other important areas identified by the 80-plus workshop participants were building the handson skills of land managers in restorative practices, the importance of investing in property infrastructure to build resilience, the potential of emerging environment markets and personal and family wellbeing to help maintain

community connections.

He said community and industry were now “calling the shots” on drought resilience planning.

“Just quoting (Minister for Agriculture) David Littleproud here, information and research has to be out of universities and on farms being implemented in a practical sense.

“So, having collected this data, we have our operational plan for the next two years. And, we have the basis from which we go and work with our commercial and community partners.

“It’s a tremendous initiative, especially as it is right across the country.”

The Hub nodes at Armidale, Narrabri, Lismore, Stanthorpe, Roma and Longreach are now prioritising and planning so they can help and support regional communities and businesses.

“One of the definite next steps for the Hub is to spread the word about existing innovative practices that we know some primary producers are already using and getting existing research in front of people so it can be adopted,” Professor McVeigh said.

Drought programs give producers solutions AgForce has welcomed the launch of Queensland’s new drought programs, which are set to help all producers make the right decisions for their businesses.

The biggest ever reform to the State’s drought assistance was announced this month by State Minister for Agriculture Mark Furner.

New drought assistance programs will focus on greater preparedness and business resilience for a broader range of eligible Queensland primary producers.

Under the new drought assistance guidelines, producers will no longer need a drought declaration to access drought preparedness assistance, which will be available anytime.

AgForce CEO Mike Guerin said he was de-

lighted to see for the first time that all producers and landholders would be eligible for drought assistance, enabling them to build resilience for the future.

“It’s wonderful to see that the programs have adopted many of the key principles found in AgForce’s foundation drought policy, the Agricultural Business Cycle,” he said.

“Key to this assistance is that preparation work will be available at all times, regardless of drought declaration status.

“We believe Queensland landholders will feel empowered to make the right decisions for their business, at the right time and, for the first time, everyone will be able to receive assistance – including grain and cane farmers.

“In addition, all producers will continue to be supported in times of drought, with the announcement of interest free emergency loans and other larger carry-on finance facilities.”

AgForce will continue to monitor the rollout and implementation of these programs to ensure that AgForce members, whether they produce cane, cattle, grain or sheep and wool, will be well supported to prepare for and endure drought.

“Welcome recent rains in many areas have provided some respite and hope of a good summer wet season,” Mr Guerin said.

“However, recovery from up to seven years of drought cannot happen overnight and 66 per cent of the State is still struggling.”

Mr Guerin said compared to other sectors of the economy, Australian agriculture operated in a “highly” variable business environment, with dry periods a recurring feature.

“This new suite of programs recognises the importance of preparation, with support for farm businesses across all four phases of the drought cycle: ‘Normal’, ‘Drying’, ‘Dry’, and ‘Recovery’.

“AgForce will, of course, be there every step of the way for our members, to not only guide them through the detail, but to ensure they understand how they can best access these programs and put themselves in the best position possible to combat not only this current drought, but to withstand future droughts when they arise.”

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4 TODAY January 2022

QueenslandFarmerToday.com.au

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Bees unleash killer stings

By Neesha Sinnya A horror attack has left a Kingaroy family heartbroken as their two working dogs were tragically killed by bees.

Becca Houghton and her son, Matthew, arrived home one Friday afternoon to find their dogs, Reggie and Boo, trying to escape from relentless stings.

“The dogs were barking so I told Matt to go and check on them,” Becca said.

“He came running back saying there were bees everywhere.”

The dogs were tied up at their kennels when the Houghton’s found them.

“We just saw a black swarm all over the dogs, they couldn’t get away. They were in their kennels snapping, rolling, and trying to get away,” Becca said.

After dodging multiple nasty stings, Matthew was able to let the dogs loose and move them away from the offending bees.

The stings covered the dogs, from where they were stung on their body to the places they ingested them trying to bite them away.

“You couldn’t see the welts on them, they didn’t swell but you could feel the bumps on them,” Becca said.

Becca’s husband, Jamie arrived home and did everything he could to save the families’ beloved pets.

After spraying them with insecticide, giving them Zyrtec, water, and shelter, the Houghton’s were confident their dogs would make a recovery.

When Jamie woke the next morning to find Reggie had passed away and Boo fitting on the ground, he was heartbroken.

“I thought they’d be right by morning, Reggie was dead and we had to put Boo down.

“That was a tough morning, we had to bury them by the fence along with another dog we lost to a brown snake earlier this year,” Jamie

The Houghton’s were devastated after a freak bee attack that killed their two dogs. 260618 said. Grappling with the aftermath of the incident, the Houghton’s can’t help but wonder if it could have been prevented.

“It’s not common or something we’ve ever heard of, we had never given it a thought and now it’s in the back of our mind,” Becca said.

Jamie agreed that the attack was completely unexpected.

“You need to tie your working dogs up, I felt

Picture: NEESHA SINNYA

guilty they couldn’t get away from the bees and it cost them their lives,” he said.

President of the Barambah Beekeepers Association Inc. Steve Bliss, said he has never heard of such an incident before.

“It’s highly unusual, I’ve never heard of that before,” he said.

He questioned whether the dogs were allergic to bees, triggering an anaphylactic reaction.

The nature of the bee attack is largely unknown as it was already happening when Jamie and Matthew arrived home.

The family will never know the circumstances of how the attack unfolded, but they are using their tragedy to educate others.

“We could’ve ignored the dogs’ barks and come inside but we are so glad we went and checked on them,” Becca said.

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The Henzell circle of life

By Fiona Gowers The name Henzell has long been synonymous with successful rural enterprise through south east Queensland.

Over some 120 years, Gurney, his son, Edwin and grandson, Leigh have run a dairy farm, as well as grown pineapple and banana plants at Mt Pleasant, an hour north west of Brisbane.

The Henzell story began on 8 February 1870 on the Gympie goldfields where Gurney was born in a tent while his father, Frederick sold merchandise, making “a lot” of money he later lost through gambling and alcoholism.

When the gold rush ended the family moved to Brisbane, slowly buying land through the outer suburbs and along the north-bound train line.

Gurney later sold real estate there and on 15 July 1897 married Anne Campbell, the first Australian woman admitted to a university. She studied teaching and later taught in Queensland high schools.

By 1901, however, Gurney and Anne decided to start farming, and bought 81 hectares at Mt Pleasant.

They had five children and, aside from land sold to afford sending each to boarding school, the original holding remains on the nownamed Henzell Road.

“We’re in a very good area and properties don’t change hands much in good country,” Leigh Henzell said.

“What’s happened here mostly, is that most people in my generation have given the farms to their children and they to their children.

“I have got five neighbours and they are all original family owners.”

Before Mr Henzell returned home aged 16 to work with his father, Edwin had bought more land to grow bananas.

The father and son then joined forces to buy another 81ha for pineapple production.

“In those days, I could save an acre per week on wages,” Mr Henzell said. “I saved 600 pound and bought 100 acres (40ha).

“I later purchased another 200 acres (81ha) next door, just slowly saving and buying as I could.

“I then bought my father out of pineapples and later the dairy in 1981. I had about 700 acres (285ha) by then. Pineapples, bananas, dairy. But pineapple was the main business.”

Due to its mechanisation and enthusiasm towards research and development, Mr Henzell preferred growing pineapples to bananas, an industry he described as “fragmented”.

“Although, I have a funny story for you. We were growing these bloody bananas and there was a cyclone up north and a cyclone at Coffs Harbour,” he said.

“I had just got married at 23 and I went to the bank and got a loan to build our house and the price of bananas went through the roof and I didn’t need the loan!

“That’s farming. Take the good with the bad.”

In 1996, Mr Henzell relocated his pineapple plantation to the warmer soils of a 161ha former tobacco farm in the Glass House Mountains - “Tobacco was always grown in top quality soil”.

At peak production, he was one of Queensland’s largest growers, producing 2000 tonnes per year for Golden Circle, a grower cooperative launched in the 1940s.

Edwin Henzell was one of its founding farmer directors.

“After World War II, you know, it was depression, everyone was bloody broke,” Leigh Henzell said.

“And they sold shares for five pounds, which the State government matched and got Golden Circle started.

“And they did that because the smaller canneries were making things difficult for growers.

“They weren’t happy with where they had to sell their pineapples and they thought they weren’t getting a fair go.”

Mr Henzell said growing up when his father, Edwin was on the board of Golden Circle gave him “good insight” as to what decisions were being made.

He said it also helped him through his nineyear stint on the Direction of Fruit Marketing committee from 1976 to 1985.

“The industry was unique in that if I found 6 TODAY January 2022

Leigh Henzell appreciated the pineapple industry due to its mechanisation and enthusiasm towards research and development.

At peak production, Leigh Henzell was one of Queensland’s largest pineapple growers, producing 2000 tonnes per year for Golden Circle. something that worked well, it was to my advantage to tell all growers in the cooperative to ensure Golden Circle received a better product,” Mr Henzell said.

“It made the cannery more efficient because they got good fruit, the size they wanted, the time of year they wanted and we got more money out of that. We all benefitted.

“It was just a marvelous cooperative, absolutely marvelous. It was very well managed.

We employed some very good research people and got some from overseas.”

Mr Henzell said Golden Circle represented about 350 pineapple producers from Yeppoon down to Brisbane, most of whom would attend an annual cooperative meeting.

He said the grower-run board often organised overseas study trips to Hawaii and South East Asia to learn from “the best in the world “Hawaii had a thing called a pineapple in-

stitute, attached to a university just for pineapples, and they did huge amounts of research,” Mr Henzell said.

“And we were able to visit the Hawaii industry and study some of their literature and benefited hugely from that.”

Mr Henzell said weed and disease control, plant density and placings to maximise sunlight and timing harvest to ensure only one to two passes were needed, were the main lessons learnt.

“We had an excellent Hawaiian we brought to Australia to teach us, called Rudy Wassman,” he said.

“He came here when I was about 21 and was one of my mentors. He took me under his wing.

“He encouraged me and helped me and changed my attitude from being a farmer to making money.

Edwin Henzell was one of the founding members of Golden Circle, a grower cooperative launched in the 1940s.

He said, ‘You’re growing pineapples. It doesn’t matter how big they are, just learn to grow the ones that make the most money’!”

In 2008, Mr Henzell ended his family’s 60year association with pineapple growing when US multinational, HJ Heinz absorbed Golden Circle.

He said the $288 million deal prompted most growers - large and small - to quit the industry, saying at the time, “Most farmers love what they do and I love what I do but I don’t like doing it for nothing.”

Mr Henzell now cares for a small droughtmaster herd at Mt Pleasant and, with his son, Brennan, develops and subdivides residential land.

Having given each of his three children 16ha of Gurney’s original holding, Mr Henzell is now surrounded by family, including six grandchildren who will ensure the Henzell legend lives on.

QueenslandFarmerToday.com.au

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Keeping the flock safe A four-legged friend is proving he can keep any flock safe - even the feathered kind - as he proudly looks over a brood of chooks near Chinchilla.

Mack lives on KC Ridge Farm, which has about 450 laying hens who roam freely on the 77 hectare property.

While the open space is great in ensuring the free-range pastured hens have a peaceful and natural life, it can be difficult to fend off potential predators like foxes.

That’s where Mack, the four-year-old Maremma sheepdog, comes in to make the paw-fect protector.

KC Ridge farm owner Kevin Jackson said Mack had become a beloved family member.

“Maremma is a breed from Italy known to guard poultry and fend off any attackers,” he said.

“We are passionate about giving our hens as much space as possible to roam across our pastures and Mack is like a protective big brother to every single one of them.”

KC Ridge Farm prides itself on producing eggs that are ethically farmed and pastureraised by regularly rotating through paddocks and ensuring the hens have constant natural grass forage.

Mr Jackson said the sustainable way of farming has a positive impact on animal welfare and also pays off on the plate.

“People notice the difference both in how our pastured eggs look and how they taste,” he said.

“Your body will appreciate the true nutritional value of an egg from a hen having lived in her natural environment.

“The ‘free-range’ standard stocking rules might not result in animals that are especially ‘free,’ and for some consumers who believe in the importance of animal welfare and regenerative farming practices, this standard may not be enough, and these customers are switching

Mack the Maremma sheepdog. to pasture-raised eggs.”

The eggs Kevin and Cara Jackson produce are so good they’re being poached by local businesses all eager to stock the item, including the Windsor Hotel in Miles and The Bun Hotel.

Owner of The Bun Hotel Jaimee NeilsenO’Donnell said you can’t beat the taste or freshness of local.

“We try to support other small businesses and that includes farms in our region,” Ms Neilsen-O’Donnell said. Small farms also tend to put more care into their product.

“There really is no comparison, KC Ridge pastured eggs are far superior in quality and flavour, and they poach and flip perfectly.”

KC Ridge has teamed up with Business Navigator Western Downs, which is a business growth advisory service supported by Shell’s QGC business and delivered by Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise.

KC Ridge farm owners Kevin and Cara Jackson said Mack had become a beloved family member.

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Corrine Anderson at the 47th Dalby Stock Horse Sale, which was held on 4-5 December.

Pictures: JO THIEME PHOTOGRAPHY

Sold! Malua Tilly Devine, who topped the Dalby Stock Horse Sale, sells for $114,000. Kimberley Sammon was astride.

Stock horse record sales

By Fiona Gowers With 77 millimetres of rain drenching Dalby Showgrounds hours before the 47th Australian Stock Horse Sale (ASHS), David Felsch faced intense pressure to postpone the famed event.

Alongside his Darling Downs ASHS counterpart, Jim Ryan, the Ray White Rural Dalby principal refused to budge, however, and their decision was vindicated by the end of the twoday sale.

As the first stage of selling started swiftly on Saturday 4 December, records were written and then re-written.

Topping the sale at $114,000 was 11-yearold brown/black mare Malua Tilly Devine, a daughter of Hazelwood Conman from Wildrift Ambition.

Debbie Gesler, Pittsworth, offered the 11-year-old, which Evan and Kim Acton, Millungerera, Julia Creek bought.

Ginni Woodall and Hugh Simpson of St George presented the second top-priced bay mare Royalle Cygnificant, who sold for $110,000 to Maree Duncombe and Jye Banks of Conondale.

Amanda McLennan-Dehnert and husband Paul Dehnert bred Royalle Cygnificant, selling her as a yearling.

The top-priced gelding was Hazelwood Counterfeit, topping $55,000 for Ashleigh Fairbrother, Fairbrother Training, Clermont.

He sold to Jim and Jackie Wedge, Ascot Charolais and Angus, Warwick.

Across the two days, 236 horses sold for an overall average of $19,352, representing a 95 per cent clearance.

In all, 118 geldings sold to average $14,457, while 114 mares sold at a $24,307 average. Five stallions averaged $21,200.

For Mr Felsch, his fourth Dalby Stock Horse sale - second as the local Ray White Rural principal - was his toughest yet after significant rainfall was received.

“Making the decision to go ahead when a lot of people were telling me to cancel was very difficult,” he said.

Brown/ black mare, Malua Tilly Devine topped the Dalby Stock Horse Sale at $114,000. Malua Tilly Devine is the daughter of Hazelwood Conman from Wildrift Ambition who Kimberley Sammon rode and Evan and Kim Acton, Millungerera, Julia Creek bought.

Picture: FLASH PONY “I knew the weather was going to fine up though and that most of our vendors would be dedicated to getting to Dalby despite flooding and road closures. That made a big difference to the end result.

“It took a lot of work to stick to our guns and, to get to the Sunday afternoon with the result we did, it was actually very overwhelming.”

Mr Felsch said the demand and prices achieved reflected the current cattle market.

“The performance horse industry - cutting, campdrafting - is becoming big business, which I think has to do with the higher prize money and becoming more professional,” he said.

“Many professional riders and trainers can have eight to 10 horses, which they present

beautifully and often generate a premium.

“It was fantastic to see confidence in the horse industry, with spirited bidding right to the end and horses selling to all states of Australia, excluding Tasmania.

“It is important when the horse standard is lifting, that we (the sale organisers) lift too and flow with the times.”

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Top-priced gelding was Hazelwood Counterfeit, which made $55,000 for Ashleigh Fairbrother, Fairbrother Training, Clermont (pictured). Hazelwood Counterfeit sold to Jim and Jackie Wedge, Ascot Charolais and Angus, Warwick.

Picture: FLASH PONY

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Pictures: JO THIEME PHOTOGRAPHY

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January 2022 TODAY 9

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Big future tipped for algae industry

By Julian Lehnert Agriculture organisation AgriFutures Australia has released a new report providing an inside look at the nation’s growing seaweed- and algae-harvesting industries.

The 28-page report ’The algae and seaweed opportunity: An Australian prospect’ by Adrian Spencer outlines the exciting new business ventures which may result in massive growth to the country’s vitamin and supplement market.

According to Spencer, health food and vitamin companies are increasingly attempting to access quality local produce in order to capitalise on Australia’s ‘clean and green’ reputation.

His research shows that Australia’s wealth of native algae and seaweed species could provide an opportunity for producers to supply local ingredients for the nutraceutical market, with Spencer estimating that the Australian seaweed industry has a gross value of $3 million as well as potential to grow.

“The global market for vitamins, minerals, supplements and functional foods is growing at a rapid rate,“ Spencer wrote.

“From 2013 through to 2021, it grew from $100 billion to $180 billion. Independent economic modelling shows that Australia’s nutraceutical industry generates annual revenue of $5.2 billion and has a total impact of $8.33 billion on the Australian economy.

“It directly employs 12,701 people and, including indirect jobs, supports more than 28,000 Australians,” he added.

Spencer explained that supplements like omega-3 oil have historically been sourced from fish and krill; however, with the increasing ecological impact of large-scale fishing and consumer demand for plant-based products, there is pressure to find alternative sources.

According to his research, global sales for fish oils and omega-3 fatty acids exceeded $3.2 billion in 2020, with a definite and growing demand for vegan alternatives from consumers.

Spencer’s report is available on the AgriFutures Australia website.

Adrian Spencer’s report ‘The algae and seaweed opportunity: An Australian prospect’ is now available online. 260325 Picture: CONTRIBUTED

Agricultural careers become a big research focus

By Julian Lehnert The Australian Government has committed $1.3 million towards new research that aims to bolster the agriculture sector’s capacity to attract and retain workers.

Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia David Littleproud said the farming sector offered diverse and rewarding careers, but that more research was needed to better understand its workforce.

“Human capital is an important theme of the government’s Delivering Ag2030 plan, which aims to achieve a $100 billion agricul-

tural industry by 2030,“ Mr Littleproud said.

“This new research, to be undertaken by AgriFutures Australia, will support agricultural employers and businesses to better target recruitment and retention of workers.

“Challenging outdated perceptions of modern agricultural work is critical to position agriculture as the modern, innovative and resilient industry it is today,” he added.

The final report by AgriFutures Australia will provide insight into community perceptions of - and experiences in - agriculture occupations, including community percep-

tions of agriculture careers and case studies of working in agriculture. The research program will work in tandem with existing work currently undertaken by the industry organisation and compliment farm surveys undertaken by an Australian government group.

John Harvey, the Managing Director of AgriFutures, said this latest round of research would complement existing projects, development and extension activities.

“We need to find out what the community perceptions of agriculture careers are; are there any attitudinal or structural barriers to

working in agriculture, and what are the ‘pull factors’ that would make the agriculture sector a more attractive employment option,” Mr Harvey said.

“The project will also investigate the experiences of agriculture workers, including understanding why they work in the sector, entry options and progression pathways.

“Ultimately, the aim is for jobseekers to have a better understanding of modern agriculture, the workplace opportunities it offers and how to enter into the agricultural workforce.”

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10 TODAY January 2022

QueenslandFarmerToday.com.au

Burnett Livestock and Realty outgoing owners Lance and Stephanie Whitaker says its the right time to sell.

NEWS

Picture: CONTRIBUTED

Saleyards in new hands Biggenden’s Burnett Livestock & Realty will be safely in new hands in the new year with owners Lance and Stephanie Whitaker handing over the reins.

The couple were excited to announce the sale of the Biggenden based agency and the saleyards Burnett Livestock Exchange.

After 15 years of operation and three years

since undertaking the redevelopment of the Biggenden selling complex the time is right for new owners.

“We are very proud of the business we have grown and are so grateful for the extraordinary team of people working with us,“ Director Lance Whitaker said. “Our appreciation for our wonderful clients and the support they have given over the years, entrusting us with their

livestock and marketing, must also be acknowledged.”

Mr Whitaker described the past eighteen months as an amazing time with record prices and the recent rain the perfect start to the season.

“It is a very good time for a new owner to take on the enterprise and enjoy a good start; and it is a very good time for us to step off the

cattle sale cycle and spend some time with our family and our cattle,“ he said.

The new owners of the businesses will be agent James Cochrane and partner Emily Rockemer with handover in early January.

For more information contact Lance Whitaker on 0407139901, Stephanie Whitaker on 0407744745 or email steph@burnettlr. com.au.

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January 2022 TODAY 11

AUSTRALIAN MUNGB

Industry Developm

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The farming community is looking anxiously at the rising price and availability of our Australian fertiliser supplies, particularly nitrogen.

Nitrogen products are very important in nutritional input for most of our northern region summer crop options.

Notice I said ‘most of our northern region crops’?

However, many of the questions coming my way this week have been in relation to planting our humble Mungbean crop and how much fertiliser is needed.

True, they are a grain legume plant, are mungbeans, and also true they don’t need nitrogen fertiliser, however they do need nitrogen to attain some good economic yields.

The research story on applying nitrogen fertiliser for growing mungbeans is long and, many times tragic, as far as positive results go.

So, the standard and the best practice for your mungbeans is to get your planting seed inoculation process correct and effective.

Even though our short and quick mungbeans are a legume they still need about 60 kilograms to 70kg per hectare of plant-available nitrogen to produce one tonne per hectare of clean green grain.

I am sure many farmers would like 2- 3t/ha yields, so multiplying those numbers is a huge cost, if you went down the expensive

track of pre-plant application of 140kg to 210kg/ha of nitrogen or 300kg to 400kg/ha of urea.

So, a very expensive and yet not very effective method of getting nitrogen into the paddock for your clean green mungbeans, I am sure you will agree.

No, the best way by far is getting live rhizobia bacteria in your inoculant product onto your planting seed in a cool, shaded area just prior to planting.

These millions of microscopic bacteria form a symbiotic relationship with the small and developing root system and they can access the atmospheric nitrogen and convert it into usable plant nitrogen.

Much cheaper and certainly more effective than applying big heaps of nitrogen.

So, look after your inoculant away from direct sunlight and heat levels of more than 30 degrees Celsius to ensure live bacteria

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Millmerran pool makes big splash Construction of a 50-metre pool in Millmerran hit a new milestone last month with Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) approving an increase to the budget.

While the process had taken longer than expected, TRC Environment and Community Services Committee chair Cr James O’Shea said Council was committed to delivering the best outcome for the Millmerran community.

“We’re looking forward to building a new modern 50-metre, six-lane pool in Millmerran,” Cr O’Shea said.

“In addition to the pool, there will be new change rooms and recreational waterplay options for Millmerran with the new facilities designed to better service the community, through improved functionality, accessibility and efficiency.

“This is an investment for the future and will provide a long-lasting benefit to all of the Millmerran community.”

In approving an additional budget of $430,000 for the project, Cr O’Shea said Council had undertaken a value management process to investigate potential cost savings for the project while maintaining the scope of delivery.

“Council has worked hard to meet the expectation of the community with this project, while remaining within budget,” Cr O’Shea said.

“During the tender process, Council identified issues with the rising cost and increased timeframes for material deliveries due to factors relating to Covid-19 impacts. This is the same problem we’re seeing throughout all of Australia at the moment.

The town of Millmerran is looking forward to a new 50-metre, six-lane pool.

“These changing factors have resulted in a revised timeframe for completion, which is now scheduled for mid-2023 rather than late-2022, weather permitting.”

Council expects construction activities to commence in March 2022 and in the intervening period various approvals and design activities will be completed.

“For safety reasons, the facility will remain closed during construction until the project is completed in mid-2023,” Cr O’Shea said.

“We know this extended closure will be a significant inconvenience for those currently using the facility.

“Unfortunately, due to the large volume of

water loss, 30,000 litres per day, it would be irresponsible for Council to continue to operate the pool under those conditions.

“We’ve listened to the concerns of impacted stakeholders with the pool now unavailable for the 2022/23 summer season, which is why Council will be offering a micro-grant program.

“The micro-grant program will assist those impacted by helping them hire buses to transport their groups from Millmerran to Pittsworth for swimming.”

The community can follow progress on this project through updates on Council’s website.

For more information about the microgrant program, contact Council on 131 872.

NEWS

Ag push on climate Farmers across Australia are looking to both the major parties for strong climate commitments in the lead up to the next Federal election, according to the group Farmers for Climate Action.

Federal Labor’s target of 43 per cent announced in early December was, the group said, an improvement on the current national target.

Farmers for Climate Action CEO Fiona Davis said: “We know strong climate action drives investment, jobs and new opportunities across the country, and we need a bipartisan approach to ensure these opportunities are realised.”

“Farmers can not afford to miss out on the opportunities strong climate policy would deliver to regional Australia.

“We can’t afford to waste this opportunity as the world moves toward a cleaner economy. Farmers can benefit from new sources of income such as carbon credits, even during drought. Australia has some of the best renewable resources in the world and regional Australia stands to benefit from jobs, industry and investment.

“This is not a partisan issue. We have seen both Coalition and Labor state governments adopt strong targets and drive investment into renewable energy technologies. It’s time for Federal politicians to catch up.

“All parties need to rally behind strong climate policy that will deliver opportunity, industry and prosperity, especially for regions. This is a good first step, but quite frankly the Federal Government is lagging behind the states and we need to start seeing a race to the top on climate.

“Let’s get on with it.”

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The Cathedral: A canopy of bamboo reaching more than 15 metres high.

261392

Pathways through time. Bamboo has been part of the landscape on Earth for millions of years. 261392

Lotus flowers at Big Heart Bamboo. 261392

There’s more to bamboo than as a garden plant or the choice of food for pandas, as ERLE LEVEY discovers.

New shoots for old plant It’s an amazing story, I was told. Edible bamboo.

Bamboo? Edible?

I knew there were bamboo shoots in some stir fries, but that was about it.

Which is why I’m at the entrance of Big Heart Bamboo - about halfway along the Eumundi-Kenilworth Road.

It’s at Belli Park, opposite the hall and with a deceptive presence from the road.

Bamboo for sale.

How many times have I driven past, not knowing what’s down the gravel track?

It’s just bamboo plants you think.

Yet when you drive down the lane, past the dam, it opens to a corridor of mystery - an intriguing avenue of about 200 metres in which the towering bamboo lining the drive comes together to form a canopy.

It’s an enchanting sight. Like something from Lord of the Rings ... or Harry Potter perhaps.

Once past the gate you are in a massive garden highlighted by lotus flowers and filled with bamboo plants reaching for the sky.

Bamboo - how innocent it looks and yet this remarkable 40ha plantation shows how integral it is to everything we do.

At the office I am met by Becky Nary-Dart, a city girl turned bamboo farmer.

Big Heart Bamboo is based within Bamboo Australia, which was founded by her father, Durnford Dart, in 1989.

Durnford’s vision transformed the property from deforested grazing land to the lush oasis it is today - shady areas, healthy soil and habitat.

There are about 1500 bamboo species in the world and more than 250 varieties of the giant grass are here at Belli Park.

It is one of, if not the largest, established bamboo plantations in Australia.

Becky started studying physics at the University of Queensland but her favourite subject was nutrition.

“I wanted to do that with bamboo as a food source.

“Dad wasn’t doing anything with it.

“He had originally set the plantation up to do furniture, flooring and plant sales.

He was doing edible shoots and sending them straight down to Sydney and Melbourne markets - but in the day it wasn’t profitable.

“So I started doing things differently and harvesting bamboo shoots, putting them in the back of my car and going all around Noosa.

“It was a hard drive and I was about to give up. But a friend said I should go into Noosa’s Wasabi restaurant, when it was going.

That was a big break. Respected executive chef Zeb Gilbert purchased 250 kilograms that year as canned bamboo was no comparison for the fresh produce.

“We got it in and Zeb’s eyes lit up,’’ Becky said. “A lot of restaurants were buying tinned stuffed.

“Zeb said he wanted it within 24 hours of 16 TODAY January 2022

Becky Nary-Dart, owner-operator of Big Heart Bamboo. 261392 Picture: WAVELL BUSH PHOTOGRAPHY

It’s like stepping into another ancient and forgotten world where nature is queen, and we walk gently at her heels. It’s a beautiful feeling of connection and strength.’’ cutting. We were getting it to them within six or eight hours.’’

Becky has been working on some market-

ing ideas with her mother Jan Nary to show off the fact that it’s grown, picked, manufactured and marketed in Noosa.

“It has expanded … the aim is to supply to the high end of the market.

“All the chefs we work with are so excited that it’s fresh, grown locally … especially with the guarantee it’s picked fresh.

“We can send it everywhere except Western Australia and Tasmania due to quarantine regulations.’’

Talk about bamboo, and the first images that spring to mind are for decorative use in the garden, or construction.

Then there are those adorable images of pandas chewing on the fibrous roots of the plant.

Bamboo is intricately associated with humans from times immemorial.

We can use it for anything - from housing to clothing and to food.

It is something we need as a sustainable material, especially if offered as an alternative to things that we are using plastics for.

A renewable source that is biodegradable.

The world is now looking at bamboo knives and forks, drinking straws, plates, and food containers.

Becky finds this very satisfying, especially in recent years.

“It’s the freedom you get from harvesting your own food, to live your lifestyle, and be connected to the land.

“Sometimes it’s very hard yakka.

“I’m glad to be in a position where I can work with nature, knowing my business is contributing to the planet, contributing to people, contributing to wildlife as well.

“Dad had this vision. He has always been in permaculture, right from the start.

“He used to go to permaculture meetings around here from the late 1970s.’’

When harvesting the plant, Becky waits for the young shoots of the bamboo to break through the soil then, armed with a special knife that also resembles a small hand-held gardening spade, she penetrates the soil up to 10cm below the surface.

“It’s pretty magical,’’ she said. “Just me, Trixie my knife, and the shoots.

“It’s like stepping into another ancient and forgotten world where nature is queen, and we walk gently at her heels.

“It’s a beautiful feeling of connection and strength.’’

The young shoots can be consumed fresh, fermented, or canned.

They are not only delicious but are rich in nutrient components, mainly proteins, carbohydrates, minerals and fibre, and are low in fat and sugars.

As well as fresh bamboo shoots, Becky grows, supplies and creates gourmet edible pickles, relishes and chutneys.

She also produces a range of bamboobased tea.

Apart from supplying restaurants, the products are available through select retailers as well as local markets.

Continued page 24

B EA N A S S O CIATION

ment Agronomist

e Australian Herbicide Resistance initiative

Baling Twine Silage Films Net Wrap Bulk Bags Polymesh Onion & Citrus Bags Geotextiles Film Plastic Bags survive on your mungbean seed.

Also, in the nutrition states is a reasonable amount of Phosphorus (P) of five to seven kilograms per hectare of P to produce one tonne per hectare of green grain.

Add in Zinc and Sulphur and you have a good basis for producing quality, as well as clean green Mungbeans.

For years, many have said it is too much trouble inoculating legume planting seed.

I would suggest that this year they really need to develop a successful process that can apply inoculant, be it peat or freeze-dried product, onto their mungbean planting seed.

No excuses here everybody.

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January 2022 TODAY 17

OPINION QueenslandFarmerToday.com.au

Rain dances no solution FOOD FOR THOUGHT TOM MARLAND Paradise Dam on the mighty Burnett River has now released more water than it can store at its reduced capacity of 170,000 ML. Bundaberg farmers who started the water year on just 22 per cent of their allocations have been provided with a stay of execution with widespread rainfall across the Bundaberg region and the Burnett River catchment. Many farmers were facing significant crop losses across the region prior to the much-needed rain.

Despite assurances from the Queensland Labor Government that a decision on the future of Paradise Dam would be made before Christmas, it looks like Santa Claus will have come and gone before we see any leadership on water security in this state.

But Paradise Dam isn’t the only headache for Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and her Government nor the only symptom of the lack of investment and priority placed on water security in Queensland over the last 30 years of Labor Governments.

A recent report by the Queensland Audit office has raised serious questions about dam safety and monitoring in Queensland.

The Auditor General’s report highlights that the Department of Water, who is responsible for regulating dam safety in Queensland, is neglecting its responsibilities for monitoring dam operators and ensuring compliance.

The report found that one dam was 14 years overdue for its safety and monitoring compliance report.

Queensland has 107 referable dams which are owned by state owned entities such as Sunwater and Seqwater, local governments, private owners and industry.

An estimated 790,000 people live downstream of dams and would be at risk if these dams were to fail.

The Auditor General’s report found that eight spillways needed to be upgraded by 2025, and 30 by 2035 costing a total of $3.1 billion but the Department was not effectively monitoring progress to ensure those upgrades would be completed by the deadlines.

The absolute debacle that has been Paradise Dam could very well play out in other regions across Queensland - simply because the Government won’t or is simply incapable of doing its job.

And its not just existing dams that are a headache for the Premier and her Government - Southeast Queensland and Brisbane is quickly running out of water.

Despite widespread rainfall across the state, the main storages that support Brisbane and the greater Southeast sit at just 63 per cent of capacity.

Somerset is at 75 per cent and Wivenhoe Dam is at 46 per cent.

The Minister for Water, Glenn Butcher, in

Paradise Dam. response to questions around lack of water security for Brisbane responded by saying “there is a 60 per cent chance of above median rainfall from November to January this year.”

The Minister might as well just do a rain dance for all “median rainfall” predictions are worth.

The problem is, over the last 30 years, there has been a complete lack of planning and foresight into our future water needs by successive Labor Governments.

The last dam built in Queensland was Paradise Dam in 2005 and we all know how that turned out.

The situation has become so dire that the Government is now investigating whether to restart the controversial $2.6 billion Western Corridor Recycled Water Scheme all the while in other areas fresh water is let run out to sea.

The much-vaunted Southeast Queensland Water Grid commenced in 2006 by Peter Beattie is a $9 billion white elephant with existing storages being unable to keep up with demand.

The Gold Coast Desalination Plant which cost $1.2 billion to build and sat mothballed for nearly 10 years can only process 125 ML per day at a cost of over $5000 per ML compared to $250 per ML out of dam storages.

During the Queensland State Governments

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk needs to act on water security. successful 2032 Olympic Games bid they committed that they could “guarantee the safety of water supply”.

Given that the SEQ’s population is expected to grow to 6.5 million in the next decade and reach 7.9 million by 2041 it is uncertain given

the current lack of investment in water security how all of these people will be kept watered.

Perhaps Annastacia Palaszczuk will just mandate rain dances at the start of every summer while our water infrastructure crumbles and runs dry.

Six-in-10 Australians confused by plant-based meat It’s great to be joining you for another year. I hope you all had an enjoyable and relaxing Christmas break.

The last two years have demonstrated the strength of Australia’s red meat industry and the progress made in recent decades. Local and global discerning consumers have an increasing appreciation for our quality products and are prepared to pay handsomely for it.

Despite this there are those that with use whatever means to compete with and criticise our products, often being misleading and even dishonest.

With the rise of ultra-processed plantbased meat generating plenty of interest in community and industry circles, the burning question we often see asked is whether con18 TODAY January 2022

FROM THE MLA JASON STRONG sumers are confused by plant-based meat labelling. According to the evidence, the answer is a resounding yes.

In mid-2021, MLA commissioned consumer research on behalf of the red meat industry to investigate community understanding and attitudes towards plant-based meats and their product packaging to help us answer this very question.

The nationally representative survey of 1000 Australians undertaken by ISO accredited market research agency, Pollinate, found that six in-ten respondents mistook at least one plant-based meat product (out of the five tested) as containing animal meat.

At the start of the survey, respondents underwent a packaging association task to directly test whether product packaging contributes to consumer confusion. Net misattribution for each plant-based meat ranged from 13 per cent to 33 per cent (average misattribution per product being 25 per cent).

Misattribution for all five plant-based meats tested was higher than the animal meat control - your stock standard beef mince.

When looking into the specifics, animal imagery and minimising ‘plant-based’ labelling in favour of meat descriptors were considered the top areas of confusion. Concerningly, those who were mistaken were more likely to be elderly, speak a language other than English and have a low household income.

The study also revealed widespread community support for clearer labelling, with 73 per cent agreeing that plant-based products should not be allowed to use the term ‘meat’.

The research vindicated long-held concerns of industry that consumers were being confused by plant-based meat packaging. The fact is our industry invests millions of dollars of levies into Australian red meat brands every year, and those brands should be respected.

QueenslandFarmerToday.com.au

Take time to smell roses Ah Christmas at last we all will say.

It’s a very special time for most of us every year.

Ironically some families and groups would argue differently . But let’s go with the idea it’s a great and wonderful celebration of life and living in Australia.

Over the years of looking after people of a working age, and ensuring that they are well and manage to asset manage their health, two topics come up around this time of year on the land.

What use are holidays and what do I promise to do differently for next year?

Holidays - we drew a population of 500 clients, people who run big business and organize others perhaps just like yourself and discovered those who take leave fare much better than those who don’t.

So if you can get off your land or your place of work, it’s like getting off the playing field and going and sitting in the grandstand.

The longer the break you take, the higher up the grandstand you can get and therefore the bigger picture of the playing field of life.

It’s reshaping perspectives that sometimes have become to narrow.

But think of the idea to tap yourself off the paddock is better than to be sent off, although I dare say many men will argue that why do they need to get off their land, when they are perfectly happy staying just where they are.

I would remind them if they have been in a relationship with someone else for a long time perhaps they should respect the need for the other persons need to get off the place. So this step is a step of being generous to your partners.

That is the spirit of Christmas.

In recent times a lot of farming families have suffered droughts and fires and even floods and pestilence (mice plagues).

It has exhausted them due to the constant nature of the daily pressures that can sap the best of us and try out the worst of us. However, nothing beats getting off the regular playing field of the farm and doing something different.

A few years ago I was doing some drought talks in NSW and I made a rather throw-away comment to an older couple who had been hand feeding for over two years.

They were absolutely had it. So I said you have to get off your property. No they said, no one to do the feeding.

I said do you have neighbors. Yes they said.

Good I said, so ring them up and offer to hand feed their stock for two days while they go away, and then assume reciprocal generosity.

It happened.

About two weeks later I got a photograph in the mail of the couple camped in a dry river

FARMERS’ HEALTH WITH DR TOBY FORD bed about 50 miles away from their property.

The message read: “Got off land, thanks Toby. PS this spot is where we met 40 years ago.

Haven’t been back until now, but guess what the earth moved again! Thank you!”

So use this idea to get off the land and get away and sit in the grandstand and the next part is try hard to claim what’s right in your life, not see what’s wrong.

It can help with a change of perspective.

The other promise we always hear is next year I’m going to be good and go straight and do wonderful things… eat vegetables , exercise, lose weight etc.

Well it pays to have hope is all I say, but it pays better to have action.

So over Christmas have a think about what you might call are the important things in life.

One of those is to think of your own health as an asset to doing life, not a corroding liability.

So pick things you reckon you could achieve, not set the impossible and fail.

A young couple from the bush on a small hard part of western Queensland were talking to me about promises for next year.

I said to him “date your wife”. He said how can I am about 150 miles from the closest restaurant?

This is not the message.

The message is what I would call the action.

See as I explained to him, I said what is the most favorite spot on your new place.

He described that it was the place they sat together when they decided to take the plunge and buy the property.

I said when did you last go there. He said about 12 months ago.

I said get a blanket , two drinks, your favorite food and drive their with your bride. Sit together and look out at what you have achieved in the time you’ve been on the property, smile and ask yourselves if you still prefer to be here and that is another chance for generosity. That is going on a date.

It stops time gets us off the playing field and allows us to be nice to each other. So that is the action of dating I think. Celebrating what we have not what we don’t have.

So if you have stayed this long with this story, you’ve got two jobs now, take a break and do something really nice with someone you are very fond of. This might just be Christmas without realizing what you have done!

OPINION

Merry Christmas Maranoa Here’s to a season filled with warmth, comfort and good cheer. I wish you and your loved ones every happiness this holiday season and throughout the coming year.

As we move to close out 2021, I acknowledge the hardships thrust upon many of our communities with recent flooding events.

Disaster assistance has been made available to South Burnett Council to support flood impacted residents and the South Burnett community.

Jobs for Kingaroy and the South Burnett The awarding of $9,078,321 to Plenty Foods Pty Ltd to bring an Australian nut protein flour to market from its Kingaroy Processing Facility is a major jobs boost for the region - it means 159 jobs during construction as well as 98 full-time jobs once completed.

The project, which aligns to the Food and Beverage National Manufacturing Priority under the Modern Manufacturing Strategy, will increase the value of South Burnett’s regional economy by over $83 million. This is a real milestone in securing the future of the South Burnett.

More doctors and nurses From January 2022, the Federal Government will wipe the university debt of doctors or nurse practitioners, under a few conditions, to target the acute shortage of GPs in the outer, regional and remote areas.

The more remote you go, the more significant the practice incentive payment or the workforce incentive payment is. We’re serious about supporting doctors who genuinely commit to practise in regional, rural and remote towns.

Community Groups South Burnett volunteers received $16,323 under the latest round of Volunteer Grants: Eva’s Place $3,083; Nanango Toy Library $3,540; Nanango RSL Sub Branch $2,200; South Burnett Karate Association $2,500; and South Burnett Western Performance

FROM THE MINISTER AGRICULTURE MINISTER DAVID LITTLEPROUD Club $5,000. Funds will purchase equipment, training, and background screening checks and support the groups’ crucial role in the community. The South Burnett Karate Association scored $9000 under the Powering Communities Program for the installation of solar panels. The Kingaroy State School P&C received $60,000 to install inclusive play and learning facilities.

Funding Programs to help your community Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF) - whether you’re involved with a local council, community group, sporting club or school P&C - and anything in between - I encourage you to apply for funding applications close February 10 next year.

Horticulture - $10.92 million on offer to purchase and install protective netting.

Grants will open in coming months and will operate until 30 June 2025 or until all the funds are committed.

Fish Friendly Water Extraction Project $6.6 million is available to install pump screens at river off-takes - more information at www.awe.gov.au.

Smart Farms Small Grants - $13.8 million for over 200 soil extension activities such as engaging soil extension officers; conducting soil management workshops, seminars, roadshows, or field days; and establishing trials and monitoring sites.

Looking to 2022, there’s a great deal to be excited about in the Maranoa region.

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January 2022 TODAY 19

NEWS QueenslandFarmerToday.com.au

‘A golden outlook’ for ag Australia is set for a second consecutive bumper winter harvest, with total production forecast to come in just five per cent shy of last year’s near-record crop, according to Rabobank.

In its just-released Australian Winter Crop 2021-22 Production, Price and Inputs Forecast, the specialist agribusiness bank estimates the nation will harvest 52.87 million tonnes of winter grains, oilseeds and pulses this season.

While down five per cent on last year’s crop, this is still a hefty 25 per cent above the fiveyear average.

Canola is the stand-out mover, with production estimated to reach a new record of 5.16 million tonnes (up 14 per cent on last year and a stellar 48 per cent above the five-year average), driven by increased planting and favourable growing conditions in many regions.

Australia’s wheat production is expected to come in at 31.9 million tonnes (down four per cent on last year, but still 35 per cent above the five-year average). Barley production is forecast to be down 10 per cent on last year to 11.7 million tonnes, though also still up on the fiveyear average (by seven per cent).

Report co-author, Rabobank agriculture analyst Dennis Voznesenski said Australia’s second consecutive very large winter crop “comes at an opportune time for local growers, with global shortages and high prices for grains and oilseeds”.

“Short global supplies of grains and oilseeds will continue to support Australian prices over the year ahead,” he said. “And although global prices can be expected to soften as new crops in different regions around the world come into play, the uncertainty that exists around seasonal conditions in grain-growing areas and the process of global grain stocks re-building will keep prices at least above the range of the last six to seven years.”

The report notes favourable growing conditions in Australia have seen expectations of increased amounts of high-protein wheat in Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia this harvest – “timed perfectly” with a current global shortage of high-protein wheat, due to drought in North America.

Other factors of note for this year’s winter crop include a lower supply of malt-quality barley – due to a reduction in barley planting, and particularly malt varieties – and less grain baled for hay because of export concerns due to a largely-closed Chinese hay market.

“There is also a proportion of last year’s record east coast harvest – 10 to 15 per cent – that remains on farm,” Mr Voznesenski said.

“And this will compete with the coming crop for storage space and mean more delivery and price pressure during harvest.”

Exports Rabobank forecasts Australia’s total grain exports to increase again this year – by five per cent year on year (YOY) and to include 24.5 million tonnes of wheat, 7.8 million tonnes of barley and 4.3 million tonnes of canola.

“A second very large harvest means that Australia’s stocks will now be replenished after the drought so we will be able to lift exports in 2021/22 despite production coming in lower than last year,” Mr Voznesenski said.

12529047-SG52-21

20 TODAY January 2022

“We expect Australia will again be able to deliver a strong export performance into South East Asia, with Australian wheat continuing to be the price setter across the region. This is due to lower prices in Australia as a result of the substantial surplus that will be available, but also favourable freight costs compared with grain from further afield – an advantage that increases in times of high-cost freight like we currently have and expect to continue in 2022.”

States Rabobank forecasts 2021-22 winter crop production to be up by 18 per cent in both Western Australia and Queensland – off the back of improved rainfall over the growing season in both states.

New South Wales production is expected to be down 14 per cent on last year’s record harvest in the state, but still nearly 70 per cent above the five-year average.

South Australia’s crop is forecast to decline 10 per cent YOY, due to less favourable planting conditions and patchy rainfall, while Victoria is set to record the largest decline in production – down 24 per cent on last year, primarily due to drier conditions in the western part of the state.

Wheat outlook For wheat, the Rabobank report says, low world stocks will keep global prices at high levels.

Report co-author, Rabobank senior commodities analyst Cheryl Kalisch Gordon says global wheat stocks have fallen, particularly in exporting nations, and are on track to decline materially over the next nine months, exerting upward pressure on Chicago Board of Trade

(CBOT) wheat prices in the year ahead.

“This has been driven by high usage of wheat in animal feed, substituting for corn, which is in low supply, and also due to downgraded wheat quality in the EU relegating it stock feed use,” she said, “while there has also been steady growth in food consumption.”

The bank expects CBOT wheat to trade in the USc725-740/bu range until the second quarter of 2022, when it is forecast to decline as northern hemisphere new crop supply becomes available, but continuing above USc700/bu for the balance of 2022, given the stock rebuilding that will be required.

For local wheat prices, the bank expects to see “price resilience” during the remaining months of 2021, despite “harvest pressure and the favourable harvest volume”, Dr Kalisch Gordon said.

“This is due to the strong demand we expect as the world searches for wheat after the northern hemisphere harvest finishes and with some assistance of further softening of the Australian dollar,” she said. This should especially be the case for higher-protein wheat.

The bank expects the Australian dollar will remain in the low USc70 range, supporting Australian wheat values over the year ahead.

Barley For Australian barley, while Rabobank does not expect China to return as a market “to a material degree even in the mid term”, the tight global corn market is set to support barley demand over the coming year.

“Prices will be supported as buyers, especially in South East Asia and the Middle East, continue to find good value in barley as a sub-

stitute for corn in livestock feeding,” Dr Kalisch Gordon said.

Local demand for feed barley is also expected to remain steady, with the number of cattle on feed in Australia remaining above one million head and demand for export beef staying buoyant, along with steadily growing demand from the poultry sector.

“Malt barley demand is also improving, with recovering beer demand globally as the world opens after COVID-19,” she said.

Local barley prices are forecast to appreciate marginally after harvest and in the first half of 2022, before softening at the back end of 2022, however remaining at above average.

Canola For canola, the report says, record high prices off the back of low global stock levels – due to poor seasons in Canada and the EU – should see expanded production in the northern hemisphere next season.

This will lead to a substantial re-supply in global canola stocks in 2022, however the impacts of the current low global stock situation will be felt over the coming year.

“With the deep hole in global canola stocks and still some re-supply uncertainty, global prices are expected to remain elevated into the second quarter of 2022, before softening, but remaining materially above five-year averages for the balance of next year,” Dr Kalisch Gordon said.

“Locally, we expect the same pattern with Australian canola prices, though with some harvest pressure in quarter four this year, with the forecast record canola harvest that is expected.”

12528403-NG52-21

Queensland cotton celebrated its 100th birthday in 2021.

Rain refresh, some losses

By Fiona Gowers Widespread spring rainfall through southern Queensland has refreshed the entire northern Murray Darling system and restored river flows.

So said Cotton Australia general manager Michael Murray who added storages - both onfarm and government - are now “absolutely or virtually” full for the first time since 2010-11.

After five tough years, Mr Murray started to sense a seasonal change in February 2020.

“It has been building,” he said.

“The northern basin is largely unregulated.

It is still highly rules-based, but there are minimal numbers of government storages compared to the south.

“So basically, if it rains the rivers run, if it’s dry, the rivers don’t run. So, this (rainfall) is just providing all these natural flows and recharging the whole landscape.

“However, while the widespread rains and

“I’m pretty sure they’re taking water out of Menindee Lakes at the moment, but there will certainly be inward flows in the coming months,” he said.

“As of yesterday, some 20,000ML a day were passing through Bourke and big flows are expected to continue for months, which will raise it considerably higher.”

Mr Murray said in southern Queensland, 105,500 irrigated hectares had been sown to cotton this year compared to 67,000ha in 2020/ 2021, with 19,000 green hectares of dryland in 2021-22, compared to 7200ha last year.

He attributed the increased area, which will produce Queensland’s second largest cotton crop, to favourable seasonal conditions and strong prices.

“We are expecting, nationally, around 4.8 million bales, of which Queensland’s contribution is normally a third, so about 1.4 million bales in Queensland,” Mr Murray said.

“What we really need now is clear skies and sunshine.”

Cotton Australia general manager Michael Murray.

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river flows have and will do great good over the coming months, we do know a relatively small number of growers who have suffered considerable losses when flood waters breached their properties and our hearts go out to them.”

Mr Murray said, as always, producers could continue to access water from the system as per their licence but due to the “massive” floods moving through the border rivers, few needed to.

“We certainly would be saying that rain through the spring and start of summer has been well above average,” he said.

“Without checking various areas, I think there would be many farms that, if they combined their spring and summer rainfall, they’re possibly getting close to whatever their annual average is.”

Menindee Lakes, according to Mr Murray, is at 106 per cent capacity, which is about 1.7 million megalitres or equivalent to 3.5 Sydney Harbours.

January 2022 TODAY 21

12528403-NG52-21

Cotton the facts Area sown to cotton southern Queensland - 2020-021 Irrigated hectares on the Darling Downs: 21,500 Irrigated hectares at Dirranbandi: 20,000 Irrigated hectares at St George: 17,000 Irrigated hectares at MacIntyre Valley: 8500 Area sown to cotton southern Queensland - 2021-22 Irrigated Hectares on the Darling Downs: 36,000 Irrigated Hectares at Dirranbandi: 9500 Irrigated Hectares at St George: 20,000 Irrigated Hectares at MacIntyre Valley: 40,000, with early estimates of between 2-4000ha lost to flood water damage.

2020-21 Green Hectares of Dryland on the Darling Downs: 6000 Green Hectares of Dryland on the McIntyre Valley: 1200 2021-22 Green Hectares of Dryland on the Darling Downs: 14,000 Green Hectares of Dryland on the McIntyre Valley: 5000

· · · · · · · · · · · ·

Blue skies for cotton.

100th birthday for Queensland cotton The peak body for Australian cotton growers, Cotton Australia (CA) has congratulated Queensland Cotton (QC) on its 100th birthday and recognised the role the company has played in the reputation of Australian cotton as among the best in the world.

Cotton Australia board chair Nigel Burnett said the early efforts of cotton pioneers paved the way for today’s cotton industry and began the journey of continual improvement.

“When Queensland Cotton, or the Australian Cotton Growers’ Association as it was then known, started out in 1921, there was much to be learnt about growing cotton in this country,” Mr Burnett said.

“Investing in cotton here was a bold thing to do at that stage yet the then-Queensland Premier Hon Ted Theodore had a strong belief that it would bring prosperity for not just

growers but the broader community.

“We must also pay tribute to the investors who backed the association, putting their money into building cotton gins in Brisbane and Rockhampton.”

Mr Burnett said Queensland Cotton, under the guidance of many visionary leaders including CA board member, Bob Dall’Alba became one of the first agricultural companies in Australia to think globally and to investigate trading cotton directly into foreign markets, rather than going through agents.

“Queensland Cotton tackled the big growing countries head on, setting up an office in California, acquiring a big US cotton company and expanding its office network to Brazil.”

Mr Burnett said Olam recognised the key role of QC and the culture of its people by making the company its first acquisition.

“Many of our growers have played an important role in the development of cotton for many decades and some of those have assisted Queensland Cotton to become what it is today.

“At the risk of singling out one among hundreds, Alan Brimblecombe played a huge part in pushing cotton, developing the quality of the crop and demanding good environmental outcomes through stewardship of the land and water resources.

“The Brimblecombes are still invested in the cotton industry and they continue to be innovators and forward thinkers.”

Mr Burnett said Cotton Australia’s myBMP program has also played a significant role in the continual performance and improvement of Australian cotton and its growing reputation worldwide as the highest quality cotton available.

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‘Can’t do much with dust’

By Fiona Gowers “Your can do a lot of things with mud but you can’t do much with dust!”

So says Dalby-based agronomist, John Fuelling, Dalby Rural Supplies, as he drives around the Darling Downs assessing damage to waterlogged cotton crops.

Mr Fuelling said record rainfall across southern Queensland had destroyed about 40 per cent of the area sown, with some croppers now trying to replant.

“The damage to cotton crops was pretty widespread through the Dalby district,” he said.

“There is some replanting happening but if we get any more rain, that will be it.”

Mr Fuelling, who in November recorded 360 millimetres on his property 16 kilometres north of Dalby, said while crops had been lost “there are so many positives”.

“It has been the wettest month in recorded history,” he said.

“The country is full of moisture, which will take us through the winter cropping season.

Some farmers will plant summer sorghum, mungbeans and corn on this moisture.

“I would say hopes and expectations are very high for these crops. It’s a really, really great start.”

The flooded Jack Parr Bridge in Mundubbera after all of the rain in November.

Picture: KYLIE DENNIS

Widespread rain has fallen on southern Queensland cotton fields in 2021.

New project will prepare for future farming challenges QFF CEO Dr Georgina Davis said the program, funded by the Australian and Queensland governments, would identify vulnerabilities for each member industry and participating farms to improve the resilience of the Queensland agriculture sector.

“Queensland farmers face frequent and significant risks, the Family Farm Enterprise Risk and Resilience Program will help prepare for, and manage business and climate risks, and improve economic, environmental

and social resilience,” Dr Davis said.

“Educational resources will be developed to inform farmers about their climate variability risk, weather and seasonal risk, biosecurity risk, family business risk, production risk, financial and market risks, workforce risk, personal risk, industry reputational risks.

“This knowledge will then be applied through the creation of individual, tailored Farm Business Resilience Plans for participating farmers and supported by regular

workshops, events and online sessions.

“With ongoing risks, having a plan in place for future challenges will help farmers get back to doing what they do best sooner, this project is a positive step in improving preparedness and resilience outcomes.”

The Family Farm Enterprise Risk and Resilience Program is jointly funded through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and the Queensland Government’s Drought and Climate Adaptation Program.

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The Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF) has welcomed funding to deliver an agricultural resilience project that will build the strategic management capacity of farmers.

QFF will work with industry members Cotton Australia, Nursery and Garden Industry Queensland, Turf Queensland, Australian Canefarmers, Pork Queensland, Queensland Chicken Meat Council and the Queensland United Egg Producers to deliver the Family Farm Enterprise Risk and Resilience Program.

January 2022 TODAY 23

NEWS QueenslandFarmerToday.com.au

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24 TODAY January 2022

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Big Heart Bamboo. 261392

From page 16 These include Kenilworth and Pomona monthly, Amamoor of a Wednesday, and Witta on the third Saturday each month.

Of the 250 bamboo varieties at Belli Park, Becky chooses the top 12 for edible bamboo shoots.

By talking to chefs she can work out what is best for stir fries, for chutneys, pickling and curries.

There’s a lot of knowledge there, particularly when you take in the nutritional and health benefits.

However, fresh bamboo shoots must be cooked thoroughly to remove any toxins.

“It actually has a natural toxin called taxiphyllin in it, which you want to get rid of when you’re boiling it,“ Becky said.

“It’s crucial that you boil it for at least eight to 10 minutes and make sure that bitter flavour’s gone.

“If people offer it to you, make sure it comes from a reputable site. Make sure it is pesticide free.’’

Becky’s extensive research alerted her to the fact that bamboo has many other aspects to commend it, being a readily-renewable crop that requires no pesticides, only minimal organic fertilisers and being able to sequester one-and-a-half times the amount of carbon dioxide as an equivalent acreage of broadleaf forest.

It helps bind the soil together to help mitigate erosion while the leaf cover protects and provides nutrients.

“We use no sprays or synthetic chemicals and bolster the nutritional quality of our shoots by using organic soil inputs that are high in mineral content and healthy for the plants and animals.

“This is done in a bid to maintain optimum soil health and quality which allows for a more nutrient dense, superior shoot.’’

Big Heart Bamboo was founded in 2014 after extensive research into the health benefits of edible bamboo shoot and concomitant environmental benefits such as carbon sequestration, high oxygen output and soil erosion mitigation.

While attaining a Bachelor of Applied Science at UQ, first and foremost Becky was passionate about wildlife, the environment, ecology and protecting it.

Initially she had a job as a fauna spotter/ catcher and ecologist working at mining sites in Queensland.

That involved looking for animals and trying to remove them before the mining companies started drilling.

The thing about bamboo is it grows that fast you can chop down a bamboo forest and it will regrow within three years maximum, Becky said.

In the process it provides a screening habitat for native animals, so cats and cane toads don’t decimate them.

“Even the native frogs can jump up and get away from them.

“And you have flying marsupials such as your squirrel tail gliders - they get up there and the bamboo, as it ages, will start to decay then they can nest in the little hollows.’’

Big Heart Bamboo has been recognised with a Snail of Approval from Slow Food Noosa and the Queensland Delicious Produce Awards each year since 2019.

The farm operates on the ethos of ’slow food’, that is good, clean, fair and local.

It was awarded a silver and two bronze medals in this year’s Sydney Royal Show Fine Foods competition in the specialty food class for its hot chilli chutney, sweet chilli chutney and bamboo BBQ relish respectively.

Becky has fond memories of the Royal Easter Show, having spent many hours as a toddler being taken around the livestock and bird pavilions.

“I didn’t ever imagine that I’d join the ranks of award-winners in such a prominent event “When you develop and pioneer a unique new product, you put your heart and soul into

Becky Nary-Dart, owner-operator of Big Heart Bamboo. 261392 Picture: WAVELL BUSH PHOTOGRAPHY it so it’s deeply gratifying to have your produce recognised by such a respected organisation, whose judges really know quality when they see it.”

Big Heart Bamboo has recently moved into the online space in order to reach a growing customer base due mainly to the uncertainties of trading in a COVID world.

On-line sales have proved a blessing in the no-contact marketplace, especially during lock-downs.

Fortunately, Becky has retained her faithful retailers throughout these unsettled times.

Yet she admits her favourite form of retail is farmers’ markets, and how important the connection to people is.

“The person-to-person connection, to understand what we do, why we do it … what the product’s about.

“One of biggest things for us is to contact people, refining the way we communicate … and preparing ourselves if the worst comes to the worst with further lockdowns.

“How people will be able to source our products. Readily and easily.

“We will be making it available through larger retail spaces, such as IGA. “At the moment we provide our product to some small retail spaces but will be looking at expanding on the Sunshine Coast and interstate.

“Our customer base seems to be those who are looking for alternatives. People who enjoy high quality and are foodies.

“I think the popularity of farmers’ markets are definitely on the rise. I think people care, now more than ever, about knowing where their food has come from - and this means shopping local.

“There’s also been a big surge in local producers and artisans which means larger variety and more local artisan stories to uncover.

“You never know what you’ll find, I love it.’’

Fresh bamboo shoots are harvested throughout the year and the market has responded enthusiastically to the new products.

“It’s an honour to carry forward the foresight and hard work my father has put into developing one of Australia’s major new crops,” Becky said.

“It’s a great encouragement to continue developing new products and new markets.

“It takes seven years to get a clump of bamboo established and get it into production but you’ll get an annual harvest off that plant for the next 250 years.

“It virtually goes forever.“ Initially the farm imported bamboo flooring and building products, but its main source of income was selling plants and fresh bamboo poles to festivals - even the exploration team in the Antarctic.

As we walk through the stands of bamboo that whisper with the wind, Becky tells me she understands why her father fell in love with the product.

“This has been his legacy. He’s spent most of his adult life building this place up.

“He’s put his heart and soul into it and I love this opportunity to take it into the future.’’

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January 2022 TODAY 25

NEWS QueenslandFarmerToday.com.au

Many race fans in Queensland have the annual Roma Cup on their wish list.

Pictures: KATARINA SILVESTER PHOTOGRAPHY ROMA

Cup Day lights up Roma

By Fiona Gowers Country race meetings epitomise the bush and the annual Roma Cup is one that most racing fans in Queensland have on their wish list.

The population of the small town in the Downs region swells on Cup weekend each year, with punters coming from all over the Sunshine State to be at Bassett Park.

Those from the bush - out further west than Roma - mix with city slickers from Brisbane and the Gold Coast, who also travel to the town.

Peter Flynn, who has been a country race caller just shy of 50 years, said the Roma Cup gave the town a “significant boost”, with all motels, campgrounds and caravan parks full.

“From a racing point of view, all of these country race meetings add to the fabric of our society. Each one of them is extremely important,” he said.

“And, something we don’t emphasize enough is the mental health benefit.

“Although cattle prices are good now and we’ve got some green grass around, in drought times it’s somewhere these guys can go and see their friends and forget about things for 24 hours.

“It’s crucial.”

Speaking after the Cup at the Roma Turf Club, Mr Flynn, who has seen the highs and lows of racing in the region, said it was currently as strong as ever.

He said the general public’s growing interest and increased prize money had underpinned the industry’s rise.

“Racing at the moment is booming in this area.

“For example, at St George earlier last month, they had a six-race program which had $73,000 in prize money on offer. Similar recent meetings at Mitchell, Surat and Morven have all raced for about that sort of money.

“They had excellent support at St George that day from, not just the racing industry, but also from locals turning up to race days – there have been big crowds.

“The locals are looking for somewhere to go, Covid has had them sitting at home and now they are out supporting the clubs.”

Veteran Roma trainer Wayne Baker said increased prize money and new stables being built at Bassett Park were positives for the industry.

A stable upgrade has recently been com26 TODAY January 2022

Kate McAuley, Trisha Parker and Glenys Hughes. pleted, with 42 new stalls being built on course at Roma with much more space and comfort for gallopers at the track.

“Racing is going well at the moment,” said Mr Baker, who learnt his trade from Brisbane

Monique Rashford, Roma. trainer Barry Baldwin.

“The prize money has gone up a little bit and the new stables and barns are great.

“The Roma Turf Club has done well; they have put in a new walker and other things we

need. They are great facilities.”

Former jockey Jessikah-Lee Brand, who is now a track work rider and trainer, said there was a close-knit racing community at Roma and throughout the surrounding towns.

QueenslandFarmerToday.com.au

NEWS

Laurice Kennedy, Anita Crawford and Wendy Tucker.

Kirra Glasby and Kirstin Cochrane.

Brittany Morgan, Tayler Lewis and Emilie Stops.

Calling all land owners!

Do you have a story to tell, new projects to talk about or just simply highlight an achievement....

Call Fiona Gowers | E: fiona.gowers@queenslandfarmertoday.com.au

For all your classified and advertising enquiries, contact our team.

Annette Weatherstone | P: 0428 844 937 E: annette.weatherstone@queenslandfarmertoday .com.au Samantha Wantling | P: 0439 420 289 E: samantha.wantling@warwickstanthorpetoday.com.au Daniel Pelcl | P: 0408 956 830 E: daniel.pelcl@burnetttoday.com.au

Next edition out on the 27 January 2022

Classified Advertising Sharon Jones | P: 07 4182 0451 E: sharon.jones@burnetttoday.com.au 15,000 copies distribution throughout Toowoomba to Roma and Goondiwindi.

Inserted into the South Burnett Today, Central & North Burnett Today, Warwick Today and Stanthorpe Today.

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January 2022 TODAY 27

NEWS QueenslandFarmerToday.com.au

Paul Pratt, Pratt Agencies, with vendor John Muller and the charity heifer’s buyers, Cory and Brent Evans, Jen-Daview Stud and Andrew Wieland, SBLX Site Manager, who bided on behalf of AAM. 259584 Picture: CONTRIBUTED

Cattleman gives back The South Burnett Livestock Exchange selling community has rallied behind a Murgon cattle producer, who after surviving life-threatening injuries during an on-farm accident, vowed to support the service he credits for saving his life.

On 13 September RACQ LifeFlight Rescue, a critical aeromedical retrieval service, provided treatment and an emergency flight to the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane following an incident on his home property, situated just outside of Murgon.

At Tuesday 23 November’s SBLX Fat and Store Sale, the experienced cattleman, John Muller, gave back and donated the proceeds of the sale of one heifer in a charity auction which raised $3576 for the much-needed service.

Working on his own during the day of the accident, Mr Muller, 75, had climbed up the side of the crush to ear tag stock from above when he lost his footing and fell to the bottom of the raceway and became trapped.

Using remarkable survival skills, and in an effort, Mr Muller describes as extremely “difficult”, he dug at the dirt under the gate to create enough room for him to crawl to safety, while repeatedly being kicked and stomped on by the six head of weaners which were on top of him. After freeing himself, he opened the gate on the cattle in the crush so they were safe, then drove himself to find help.

Ambulance officers treated Mr Muller during his trip to the Murgon Hospital, and it wasn’t until he was safely loaded on the Life-

Paul Pratt from Prat Agencies, John Muller, Alisha Clarkson from LifeFlight and SBLX Site Manager, Andrew Wieland.

Picture: JASMINE FIRMIN Flight helicopter and examined by a doctor he learnt the extent of his trauma, which included two collapsed lungs, broken ribs, and a gash to his head.

“I don’t think I would be here today if it wasn’t for LifeFlight,” Mr Muller said.

“When I was in the helicopter the doctor explained my injuries, that I had collapsed lungs and they needed to drain them. I was treated so well and the doctor made me feel safe and secure.

“Later, when I was recovering in hospital, I told my wife I wanted to give back to LifeFlight, and that I would donate a heifer for charity.”

On sale day, the Brahman cross heifer donated by the Mullers received immense support and was initially knocked down to AAM Investment Group for 666c/kg or $1998/head.

AAM, which owns and operates SBLX, swiftly opted to donate the heifer back into the sale for a second auction, where the Ev-

ans Family, Jen-Daview Limousin Stud, purchased the heifer for 526.2c/kg or $1578/ head.

Mr Muller was overwhelmed by the result, and said he was proud he could support the service he would always be immeasurably grateful for.

SBLX Site Manager, Andrew Wieland, said the selling facility was honoured to support Mr Muller, and LifeFlight.

“We hear the LifeFlight chopper fly overhead almost weekly here at the site, and John is a long-time vendor, so it was an easy decision to support the cause,” Mr Wieland said.

Pratt Agencies Owner and selling agent, Paul Pratt, mirrored this admiration for LifeFlight and said it meant a great deal to him to be able to aid the organisation and Mr Muller.

“John came into our office only about a fortnight after his accident and we were all surprised to be seeing him that soon. While he was fairly black and blue, he had recovered very quickly, and we wanted to do all we could to support this initiative,” Mr Pratt said.

Reflecting on the accident, Mr Muller credits his good health and fitness, maintained by his physical job and walking about 5km each day for exercise, to his fast recovery.

“This old fella healed up pretty quick in the end,” he joked.

However, he believes his story is a cautionary tale and will think carefully about his personal safety when working with stock in the future.

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