Queensland Farmer Today - May 2023

Drink to a future

By Fiona Gowers

The liquid ‘drinking’ milk market remains crucial to Australia’s dairy sector, with improved domestic retail pricing and opportunities for further export growth.In an industry report, Australia’s Drinking Milk Markets: From Loss Leader to Improving Performer, Rabobank says the liquid milk category has struggled with many challenges.

These have included retailer discounting, which is a major “pillar” for Australia’s dairy sector, accounting for 30 per cent of milk pro-

Gavel champ

Emerald agent Justin Rohde has placed second in the 2023 ALPA National Young Auctioneers Competition at the Sydney Royal Easter Show. In an exhilarating display of talent, the nation’s best young auctioneers showed great flair, personality and determination in selling three diligently prepared show steers. The competitors were judged on their diction, values, voice and manner, as well as their presence and unique style.

“I feel really honoured to place runner up, especially in such a strong field of agents from across the country,” he said.

STORY PAGE 4

duction and generating more than $4 billion in revenue annually. This is important, not only for revenue generation, but also strategically for supply chain efficiency, helping to support the Australian “dairy value chain and leading to stable farmgate milk prices“, the specialist agribusiness bank says.

“Drinking milk, being a staple product in the consumer basket, will remain a large and important category for Australian milk utilisation,” the Rabobank report says.

STORY PAGE 3

Couch worry

In the 1930s an exotic tropical grass known as Indian Couch was brought to Australia and has spread all throughout Central Queensland impacting the land and its farmers. Indian Couch, also known as Bothriochloa pertusa and Indian Bluegrass, was brought to Australia for the use of lawns and aerodromes across the state. The main factors which contribute to the spread of the Indian Couch include overgrazing and drought, which has affected Queensland for years.

Over the years 2017 to 2021, the Central Highlands area endured severe drought for five years, causing Indian Couch and other notorious weeds to spread rapidly.

STORY PAGE 5

That’s gold!

For the second time in three years, a Sunshine Coast couple have produced the best beer in Australia. Husband and wife brewers Shaz and Matt Wilson of Moffat Beach Brewing Co created the Moff’s Summer Ale, which was named the Rallings Grand Champion Beer of Show at the RNA’s Royal Queensland Beer Awards.

STORY PAGE 3

Winners of Australia’s best beer award Matt and Shaz Wilson of Moffat Beach Brewing Co, Sunshine Coast, taken at the Royal Queensland Beer Awards at the Brisbane Showgrounds.

WOMEN IN AG .......................pages 10-11

HEREFORD YOUTH CAMP .......pages 12-13

TRURO STUD ..............................page 14

FARM FEST ...........................pages 15-22

FARMERS’

Davenport bows out

Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE) is farewelling CEO of five years Ali Davenport and welcoming incoming CEO Greg Bowden.

Reflecting on her time leading TSBE, Ali said she found great fulfillment in having seen the region’s key industries continue to flourish and evolve.

“The five years I have been in the role have been incredible and I would like to sincerely thank the members and key stakeholders of TSBE for their support of the organisation,” Ali said.

“Many people ask what my highlights have been and I can honestly say it is the daily work of connecting businesses with opportunities and hearing the subsequent success stories that are the most satisfying.”

DAM LEVELS

Beardmore:.......................................22%

Bjelke-Petersen: ................................91%

Borumba: ......................................97.1%

Boondoomba: ..............................88.29%

Cedar Pocket: ................................86.5%

Chinchilla Weir: ..........................101.05%

Coolmunda: ...............................100.56%

Cunnamulla (Alan Tannock Weir): 101.14%

Leslie: .........................................92.37%

Paradise: .........................................97%

Somerset: .....................................79.5%

Wivenhoe: .....................................74.7%

Incoming CEO Greg Bowden is a seasoned executive with a distinguished career in economic development, particularly in the mining, renewable energy, agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, major events and public sector environments.

Joining TSBE from Advance Rockhampton, Greg is excited to hit the ground running and is ready to implement initiatives to deliver longterm economic benefits and growth opportunities for the region.

“Having played a key role in major events such as Brisbane City’s early stages of the 2032 Olympic Games bid and Australia’s largest car festival, Rockynats, I am eager to capture further opportunities for our region,” Greg said.

“I strongly believe economic growth, produced by regional Australian communities, is critical to our nation’s past, present and future success.”

TSBE chair Dr John McVeigh said the organ-

isation looked forward to welcoming Greg and sincerely thanked Ali for her unwavering commitment.

“Ali is an energetic, gregarious and devoted pillar of our region who has successfully led

the TSBE team with compassion and enthusiasm,” John said.

“The board and the team wish Ali all the best as she embarks on her new adventure, alongside husband Ivan, in France.”

Mozzies still enthusiastic

Darling Downs Health is reminding residents that the onset of winter does not mean a reprieve from pesky mosquitoes.

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Te-angie Poll Herefords

take a bow!

Owned by the Ogilvie family, the NSW-based stud warmed the hearts of all at Queensland Farmer Today this month with its generous support of the Herefords Queensland Youth Association (HQYA) camp.

The camp, which attracts children of all ages from throughout Queensland, will be staged over four days, from 29 June to 2 July.

Te-angie Poll Herefords has not only donated a beautiful stud heifer to be awarded to the young cattle breeder who shows the most potential, it will transport cattle from Armidale to Dalby for the children unable to bring their own to camp.

HQYA president Aleacea Nixon said Richard Ogilvie - a leading beef industry figure - always put his money where his mouth is.

She said he was renowned for supporting young people entering the agricultural sector and often donated his time and expertise.

“Te-angie Poll Herefords has been an amazing supporter of youth programs,“ Aleacea said.

“They have supported us over the past couple of years, which we are so appreciative of.

“We just couldn’t do it without supporters like them.”

Indeed.

The Ogilvie family declined our request for an interview saying they were just happy to help!

We would absolutely love to hear about other acts of kindness in the agricultural sector.

Please email: fiona.gowers@queenslandfarmertoday.com.au

Thank you.

- Fiona Gowers

Dr Liam Flynn of the Darling Downs Public Health Unit said the opposite was true, with some mosquitoes becoming more active now the cooler temperatures have returned.

“In some rural areas, we see more mosquitoes at this time of year because it is actually too hot from them during the summer months,” he said.

Mosquitoes can pose a health risk with their bite causing more than just an itchy bump.“Mosquitoes can pass on a range of viruses from animals to humans,” Dr Flynn said.

“These viruses may cause mild symptoms in some people, but other people may experience severe sickness, hospitalisation, and even death.“It is therefore important for people to continue protecting themselves from getting sick from a mozzie bite even in winter.”

Personal protection includes

· Wear light-coloured clothing with long sleeves and long trousers, and covered footwear.

· Use effective insect repellent on exposed skin that contains DEETg, picaridin or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus.

· Avoid being outside at dusk and dawn.

· Cover windows or doors with insect screens.

· Remove rubbish from around your house to prevent mosquito breeding.

TSBE outgoing CEO Ali Davenport, TSBE CEO Greg Bowden and TSBE Board chair Dr John McVeigh.

‘Drinking’ milk remains key

By Fiona Gowers

The liquid ‘drinking’ milk market remains crucial to Australia’s dairy sector, with improved domestic retail pricing and opportunities for further export growth.

In an industry report, Australia’s Drinking Milk Markets: From Loss Leader to Improving Performer, Rabobank says the liquid milk category has struggled with many challenges.

These have included retailer discounting, which is a major “pillar” for Australia’s dairy sector, accounting for 30 per cent of milk production and generating more than $4 billion in revenue annually.

This is important, not only for revenue generation, but also strategically for supply chain efficiency, helping to support the Australian “dairy value chain and leading to stable farmgate milk prices“, the specialist agribusiness bank says.

“Drinking milk, being a staple product in the consumer basket, will remain a large and important category for Australian milk utilisation,” the Rabobank report says.

Australia’s domestic drinking milk market is, however, “very mature” with falling domestic consumption.

This is being offset, however, by growing exports of liquid milk, according to report author, Rabobank senior dairy analyst Michael Harvey.

Domestic milk market

“As we begin 2023, the market is experiencing a structural increase in consumer prices across the dairy aisle, led by drinking milk in particular,“ Mr Harvey said.

“This has been driven by dairy processors passing through record-high farmgate milk prices and higher supply chain costs, along with tight supply due to declining Australian milk production.

“An extended period of industry-related disruption and low margins is slowly coming to an end.

“For dairy farmers, higher consumer prices for milk and dairy products across supermarket aisles is welcome news. It will solidify the end of frustrations over the discounting of drinking milk.

“Additionally, it will ensure higher and more stable returns for the market and mitigate the potential volatility in returns in other channels – both onshore and offshore – for those with access to the drinking milk market.”

Mr Harvey said domestic consumption of drinking milk was a significant market for Australia’s dairy industry, “hence the health and performance of the category still has an important role to play in the industry’s profit pool”.

In 2021/2022, according to Dairy Australia, Australians consumed more than 2.5 billion litres of drinking milk, about 30pc of the estimated 8.554 billion litres of raw milk produced in Australia for that year, with the remainder going into manufacturing of dairy products and ingredients for the domestic and export markets.

Big ‘drinkers’

Australians are big consumers of drinking milk, the Rabobank report said, with Australia’s per capita consumption ranking among

the world’s highest.

“The average Australian consumes a large volume of drinking milk, ranking only behind Ireland, Finland and New Zealand, according to the International Dairy Federation,” Mr Harvey said.

“In 2021/22, Australian per capita consumption of milk stood at 93 litres per person for the year, which equals just over 250 millilitres per day.”

Full cream milk is “category king”, equating to 56pc of all drinking milk sold in the country.

However, the report said, the drinking milk market in Australia is “extremely mature” and domestic consumption is trending lower as dietary habits shift, a trend that is expected to continue into the medium term.

Dairy Australia figures indicate domestic milk consumption peaked in 2012/13 at 106.7 litres per person and has since fallen by 13pc. And in 2021/22, total drinking milk consumption in Australia contracted by 1.1pc or 36 million litres.

“This is not a story unique to Australia, however,” Mr Harvey said. “In many westernised economies, consumption of drinking milk shows a similar trajectory.”

Cost-of-living pressures and food price inflation are also providing some near-term headwinds globally, even though the consumption of dairy, including drinking milk,

is “relatively inelastic”.

There are signs of consumers trading down, resulting in declines in drinking milk consumption in grocery retail and out-of-home sales channels, the report says.

The “long-term dynamics of the drinking milk category” in Australia will be difficult to reverse, Rabobank says.

However, it’s not all bad news for domestic dairy consumption, with consumers simply consuming dairy in different forms.

“While fluid milk consumption is declining, other categories – such as cheese – continue to grow,” Mr Harvey said.

Growing exports

Export volumes of Australian liquid/drinking milk have also been growing, the report says, with the total volume exported increasing by more than 200 million litres annually over the past decade.

“The Australian liquid milk export sector has continued to perform strongly in recent years, despite dwindling milk supply,” Mr Harvey said.

In 2021/22, Australia exported more than 380 million litres of packaged milk to offshore markets.

Between 2012 and 2022, Australia’s exports of liquid milk grew by an average of 17pc each year.

The ‘Greater China’ markets – of mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan – have underpinned this export growth, the report says, with China itself the “clear stand out”.

Total volumes of liquid milk to Greater China have expanded by an average of 25pc each year over the past decades, Mr Harvey said.

“And while not growing at the same pace as China, export volumes to Southeast Asia have been increasing on average by double digits over the same period,” he said.

“There has been broad-based growth across Southeast Asia, but Singapore, the Philippines and Malaysia have been standout performers for Australian dairy exporters in the region.”

Looking forward, he said, there was still plenty of “runway” left for export volumes in these markets, supported by positive “demand and trade settings” in their economies.

These included an increasing appetite for sustainable nutrition, limitations in local dairy supply capacity, cost competitiveness of imported milk and consumer preferences for imported brands.

The key to long-term export success in these markets will be the ability to grow export volumes despite limited growth in Australian milk production, while also maintaining a competitive price point, the report said.

That’s gold! Queensland ale named Australia’s best beer

By Fiona Gowers

For the second time in three years, a Sunshine Coast couple have produced the best beer in Australia.

Husband and wife brewers Shaz and Matt Wilson of Moffat Beach Brewing Co created the Moff’s Summer Ale, which was named the Rallings Grand Champion Beer of Show at the RNA’s Royal Queensland Beer Awards.

It also won in 2020.

The brewery received a $5000 Lion bursary and further opportunities to be showcased during Queensland’s largest event, the Royal Queensland Show (Ekka).

Judge Steve Henderson said the beer was well-made, easy-drinking and it was “obvious“ that a team of talented brewers had produced it.

“Moffat Beach Brewing Co has demonstrated in this competition they can make a good beer, year after year,” he said.

“The fact they won Grand Champion in 2020 and have backed it up again this year, shows they’re a high-quality brewery consistently outperforming the rest of the industry.”

The Grand Champion trophy was just one of four awards for the couple.

They also collected Best Queensland Beer, Best Session Beer and Best Small-to-Medium Brewery.

It was fierce competition in this year’s national awards at the Brisbane Showgrounds, with a record 663 beers entered, an increase of more than 15 per cent compared with last year.

A team of 50 experienced brewers, sensory experts and industry figures judged the brews over two days.

Mr Henderson said, just as the number of entries rose, so did the quality of beers.

“There was a marked improvement in the standard of beers this year,” he said.

“One of the areas that improved the most was non-alcoholic beer, which has just gone from strength to strength.

“You don’t even know they’re non-alcoholic beers when tasting them – it wasn’t like that a few years ago.”

The Royal Queensland Beer Awards also recognised up-and-coming brewers, through The Star Entertainment Group Best New Queensland Craft Brewer of the Year.

Josh Batten from 10 Toes Brewery on the

Sunshine Coast claimed the award and will now have his beers sold at The Star outlets across southeast Queensland.

Meanwhile, Glass House Brewery won the Champion Pale Ale category, with their Tropical Pale Ale Draught.

RNA chief executive Brendan Christou said the Royal Queensland Awards showcased Australia’s best.

“As one of the most prestigious food, wine and beer awards in Australia, the Royal Queensland Awards is dedicated to unearthing the nation’s top food, beer and wine products year after year,” he said.

“Our awards date back to 1875 and the RNA continues to give Australian brewers a platform to shine, be judged against their peers and get great consumer market exposure.”

Rabobank’s senior dairy analyst Michael Harvey who authored ‘Australia’s

Drinking Milk Markets: From Loss Leader to Improving Performer’.

Justin wins battle of gavel

By Fiona Gowers

Emerald agent Justin Rohde has placed second in the 2023 ALPA National Young Auctioneers Competition at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.

In an exhilarating display of talent, the nation’s best young auctioneers showed great flair, personality and determination in selling three diligently prepared show steers.

The competitors were judged on their diction, values, voice and manner, as well as their presence and unique style.

“I feel really honoured to place runner up, especially in such a strong field of agents from across the country,” he said.

“I want to say a big thank you to the whole team at Nutrien and everyone who has been behind me over the past five years I’ve been with the company.

“I definitely wouldn’t be here today without the support of my team, community, vendors and buyers.”

Also representing Nutrien in the “battle of the gavel” was Jake Robinson, Nutrien Dalby, Jack Guy, Nutrien Bordertown, South Australia and Jack Ginnane, Nutrien South Gippsland, Leongatha, Victoria

Gundagai-based Elders agent Harry Waters won the competition in front of a packed auditorium at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.

ALPA CEO Peter Baldwin said: “Livestock auctioneering is a time honoured and specialised skill.

“ALPA takes great pride in the fact that not only did these young auctioneers deliver the

highest and best price outcomes for their vendor, they provided inspiration for the next generation.

“This is a living testament of the importance of selling livestock in saleyards and our unstinting commitment to professional

development and education of our up-andcoming young women and men in this great industry.“

Justin Rohde

Nutrien Ag Solutions, Emerald

· Age: 23

· Years in industry: Five

· Qualifications: Chattel Auctioneer, AuctionsPlus Level 3 cattle assessor

· Selling responsibility: Prime and store cattle weekly at Emerald, stud cattle and clearing sales.

Skilled livestock agents unlock more for the farmers

Livestock farmers face decisions daily about how much stock to buy or sell, genetics selection, animal health applications and when and where to sell.

They rely on support from specialist advisors such as their livestock agent to keep their “finger on the pulse“ of the industry.

Nutrien Ag Solutions regional livestock lead Colby Ede says Nutrien is committed to supporting the continued development of livestock agents.

“For the sustainability of the industry, we need to foster and empower the next generation,“ he said.

“Getting behind initiative such as the ALPA Young Auctioneers competitions plays a big part in the industry’s development.”

“I began as a trainee with a Nutrien legacy business and know first-hand how valuable the ALPA Young Auctioneers competition was for my development.

“The mentors, exposure to the industry and development of my skill set was instrumental to my career,

“I’m incredibly proud of Jake Robinson, Nutrien Dalby and Justin Rohde, Nutrien Emerald for representing Queensland at the ALPA Young Auctioneers Competition national final.

“Taking out the top two spots in the Queensland competition shows the strength of Nutrien’s boots on the ground.”

Jake and Justin’s colleagues Jack Ginnane, Nutrien South Gippsland Livestock and Jack Guy, Nutrien Bordertown - who both won their state finals - also made nationals.

Adam Mountjoy, Nutrien Ag Solutions regional livestock lead and also ALPA Young Auctioneer Competition alumni is excited to see the industry’s development.

“We’re seeing a change in how livestock are bought and sold in Australia,“ he said.

“We’re seeing the adaptation of more advanced online systems. AuctionsPlus has experienced 19 per cent growth from 2019 to 2022, with 4.8 million commercial cattle, sheep and goats offered for sale through the platform in 2022.

“Markets will continue to operate across different channels. We’re always looking for ways to give our farmers more information to assist them with making more informed decisions.

“Giving our livestock team more digital tools will increase efficiencies, increase knowledge and mean our team have more time to spend with farmers and less time completing manual paperwork.“

PIPES

Nutrien Ag Solutions regional livestock lead Colby Ede.

Justin Rohde, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Emerald, Qld.

Notorious weed spreading

By Breanna Lloyd

In the 1930s an exotic tropical grass known as Indian Couch was brought to Australia and has spread all throughout Central Queensland impacting the land and its farmers.

Indian Couch, also known as Bothriochloa pertusa and Indian Bluegrass, was brought to Australia for the use of lawns and aerodromes across the state.

The main factors which contribute to the spread of the Indian Couch include overgrazing and drought, which has affected Queensland for years.

Over the years 2017 to 2021, the Central Highlands area endured severe drought for five years, causing Indian Couch and other notorious weeds to spread rapidly.

Since its arrival, the grass has evolved through six strains of grass species and has been noticed to stabilise eroded gullies and expand very quickly.

One of these strains, (Heteropogon Contortus) a native black speargrass has also increased its presence in both Central and Northern Queensland.

Indian Couch becomes dominant over native grasses like buffel grass, by suffocating them and taking over.

Seed sales agent Matthew Lockwood said why the pest is such a big issue in the region.

“Indian Couch loves infertile soils whereas your better-improved pastures need fertility,” he said.

“The nature of the way it is so early maturing is incredible as it will thrive on infertile soils and all of our brigalow nitrogen has been all but depleted.

“Its such a good plant at regenerating itself because it seeds early and it’s not so palatable.”

“Indian Couch is the first grass to set seed and it’s the last grass to be eaten and that is why it’s so invasive.”

Matthew explained the best ways to reduce the tropical grass.

“You can improve your soils with the use of legumes so that they affiliate nitrogen that will give your Indian Couch more dry matter and also with grading management it will bring your better grasses back,” he said.

“The type of legumes depends on the soil type, but deep-tat rooted legumes that will compete with soil moisture on a different level

than what the Indian Couch is pulling out of the ground.”

Matthew further explained the goodness of legumes.

“Legumes to increase the productivity and quality of the Indian Couch and also grazing management to let you better species of grass set seed,” he said.

The impact the weed is having on regional farmers is major and reduces stock rates, low-

ers the quality of food, and decreases weight gain for livestock.

The invasive species is known by agronomists to be very aggressive and it becomes a monoculture meaning it will take out more palatable improved grass species.

For more information on Queensland agriculture and pests, please contact Matthew Lockwood on 0484186073.

Matthew Lockwood.

Picture: SUPPLIED

Buffel grass in the Central Highlands area.

Indian Couch in the Central Highlands area.

Protein sector all together

By Fiona Gowers

A capacity crowd of more than 230 people soaked up the Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE) Protein 2023 Conference at the Dalby Events Centre in March.

With a focus on sustainable food supply chains, the event brought together the region’s protein sectors with the view to share best practice and encourage collaboration across the sectors.

The program covered sustainable production systems, animal welfare, innovative energy solutions, on-farm production improvements, demystifying carbon markets and biosecurity.

While sessions were delivered via panels featuring industry leaders, attendees had the opportunity to participate in the conversation by submitting questions via an online platform.

“The interactive conference aimed to ignite the conversation around sustainability and highlight the important role farmers, processors, retailers, and consumers all play in adopting change to ensure we have a positive impact on the environment,” said TSBE food leaders Australia General Manager Justin Heaven.

“The conference certainly showcased the amazing work our world leading food producers are doing in developing sustainable food supply chains and the need for collaboration with all partners to drive innovative change that provides transparency and trust.”

Keynote speakers for this year’s conference was the Sustainability Consortium from the US, who provided a global overview of sustainability.

GOALSciences founder and director Peer Ederer discussed GOALSciences’ mission to research and communicate scientific evidence about the role of animals in the global food system.

Peer was integral in the Dublin Declaration of Scientists on the Societal Role of Meat Sustainability.

After the conference, attendees had the chance to tour Mort & Co’s feedlot and Grassdale fertiliser plant, a fully-integrated vertical supply chain that focuses on environmental change for the industry.

Tom Woods, Em Williams and Jeff Collingwood from Woods Group.

Tracey Muller and Simon Lott, EnviroAg Australia Pty Ltd with Bryce Camm, Camm Agricultural Group.

The TSBE Food Leaders Australia team.

Networking with trade stall holders at the TSBE Protein 2023 Conference.

The TSBE events team.

Suzie Holt and Bruce McConnell, FarmedWell Ltd.

Simon Jackson, Compass Group Australia and Ashley Williams, TSBE.

Earthtrade’s Thomas Key, who featured on the Demistifying Carbon Markets and Net Zero panel.

The APIAM Animal Health team.

Steve Budden and Matthew Hayden of the Optimal Group.

Sarah Short, Sunpork Group and Tina Wolens, The Lucas Group.

Mark Gilles Truhealth, Tony Eyres, Futurefeed and Simon Jackson, Compass Group Australia.

Molly Wagner, TSBE and Robbie Wagner at the TSBE Protein 2023 Conference.

Meredith King, McDonald’s Australia Ltd and Vivienne McCollum, DIT Agtech.

Animal EyeQ director Andrew Gray featuring on the Animal Welfare panel.

Dr Angela Lees, University of Queensland and Stephanie Sammes, Feedworks.

Dee Betts, Betts and Associates and Rowie Beveridge, TSBE.

Cameron Best, Mort and Co and Mayor Paul Callum Howell, The Water and Carbon Group, Jemma Postle, APIAM Animal Health and Umi Dowell RedTech WOH Pty Ltd.

Jodi Courtice, McLean Farms and Tim Sullivan AgDSA.

Jamie Dennison, Greencollar and Stephen Dummett, TSBE.

Dr Robert van Barneveld, Sunpork Group, Sam Ditchfield, Woolworths and Jack Graham Woolworths.

Joseph McMeniman, Meat and Livestock Australia facilitating the On-Farm Production Improvements panel.

Molly Sage, Stockyard, featuring on the Demistifying Carbon Markets and Net Zero panel.

Natalie Hick, Natural Capital Co, facilitating the Demistifying Carbon Markets and Net Zero panel.

Networking between panel sessions at the TSBE Protein 2023 Conference.

Four days of red meat talks

By Breanna Lloyd

The fourth annual Northern Intercollegiate Meat Judging Association (ICMJ) conference returned to Rockhampton from 12 to 15 April.

Over 130 university students and many young beef industry professionals attended and participated in the event over the course of four days.

The experience offered better skills associated with meat quality, carcass classification characteristics, new technologies and capabilities in the production of meat, and identifying Australia’s position in the global beef supply chain to participants.

President of the Australian ICMJ Association Peter McGilchrist said how important it was to hold the conference.

“We bring people together here to demonstrate the importance of what they do on the farm from conception through to consumption,” he said.

“We explain the impacts that has on consumers and the importance of genetics, feeding, breeding and the quality of delivering a consistent product to our consumers.

“There is a lot of young people here and we are trying to enthuse them about the opportunities and challenges that exist in the industry because these guys are going to be the ones to solve those challenges.”

The knowledge provided by the course was obtained at CQUniversities Central QLD Innovation and Research Precinct (CQIRP) and the site visit and beef judging competition at Tey’s Rockhampton.

The competitions included competitors judging several classes including retail cut identification, overall placings and questions, beef judging and commercial evaluation.

Students from the University of Queensland Harry FitzGerald, Sarah Hamblin, Holly Johnson and Amber Whibley, took the championship title after winning the beef judging competition.

Kilcoy Global Foods won the Industry category with Signature OnFarm being the runners-up.

At the Gala Awards Dinner in Rockhampton on 15 April, a series of individual awards were presented.

The champion for the individual meat judging category went to Sarah Hamblin from the University of Queensland.

The occasion attracted farming audiences countrywide and in New England as a visitor from the University of England, Tahila Morgan achieved runners-up for the individual awards.

There was a large number of professional agricultural speakers who spoke about the future of the red meat industry and trend predictions.

CEO of the Cam Agricultural Group and speaker at IMCJ, Bryce Cam said what he thinks farmers of the next generation will adapt to.

“What we know about Australian beef producers is that they are very resilient and quite effective at adapting to the challenges at the time.

“What I think we are going to see in the next 10 years is a resounding demographic shift as we see a generation hand over control.”

“The exciting thing is that we are training a

room full of young inspiring leaders to take the industry forward.”

In 2019, CQUniversity and Teys Corporate Australia joined a partnership to be able to branch out to hold the conference in Rockhampton QLD and Wagga Wagga NSW.

Veterinary student Jasmine Wholton from WoogaWoonga attended the ICMJ conference

and said why she thinks the event is essential.

“Being able to learn from industry professionals about producing sustainable beef for not only Australia but for the global markets is beneficial,” she said.

Deputy director of CQU Institute for Farming Systems Michael Thomson said how much the meetings have grown.

“The event has grown to just under 80 delegates in 2019 and to now at 130, so the relevance to the industry is reflected in the number of people standing,” he said.

ICMJ is now a highlight on Australian farmers’ calendars, hence, the National ICMJ Conference is scheduled to be held in Wagga Wagga from 4 to 9 July 2023.

Lauren Hoffman, Amber Mohammed, Patrick Sullivan, Emily Miles and Cheyenne Meldrum.

Maddison Rose, Lucy Hamblin and Shayla Ganly.

Nick Alcorn, Chris Court, Will Gordon and Jack Bowrey.

Emma-Rae Shaw and Rowan Vallance.

Georgie Evans, Sophie Marriott and Sophie Harris.

Jessica Maunder, Niamh Mason, Alana Henzell and Jasmine Beddows.Monique McKinlay and Gab Goldsworthy.

Holly Johnson, Mackenzie Leeson, Ethan Joblin, Harry Miscamble, John Caffery and Hayden McGuigan.

Pathway to medical career

By Fiona Gowers

The next generation of doctors have begun their medical careers as the inaugural cohort of the Darling Downs – South West Medical Pathway at the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ).

In all, 22 students were selected to undertake UniSQ’s first intake of the new Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences (Medicine Pathway).

Graduates of the program are eligible to move directly into the University of Queensland’s Doctor of Medicine at the UQ Rural Clinical School Toowoomba as part of a collaboration between the universities and health services.

One student is Georgia Betts, who relocated from Brisbane to Toowoomba to study the medicine pathway.

“I finished Year 12 in Brisbane last year, but I grew up in Parkes in NSW and I have always wanted to go back to the country,” she said.

“When my careers counsellor at school told me about this opportunity, I thought it was the perfect scenario for me because it was the medicine program I wanted to do, but it was in a regional area that would help me pursue my career in rural health after I graduate.”

For Jiayong Jiang, who completed Year 12 at St Ursula’s College in Toowoomba, it was an opportunity to pursue her medical dream while living at home.

“I have always wanted to study medicine and I have always wanted to practise

rurally,” Jiayong said.

“When I heard about this pathway, I was really excited to be able to stay in Toowoomba with my family but also know I was on a path to contribute to rural health in my future.”

Darling Downs Health Board chair Mike Horan AM said the pathway allowed university students to complete their undergraduate and postgraduate studies and clinical training in the region.

He said Darling Downs Health and South West Hospital and Health Service would provide student placements, internships and specialist training.

“I’d like to welcome the first cohort of students participating in the Darling Downs and South West regional medicine pathway,” Mr Horan said.

“Our local regions are home to some of the most remarkable medical professionals arguably in Australia, which makes us excited for the next generation to come through.

“This milestone marks the first of many cohorts building a medical workforce of not just skilled clinicians, but community leaders, innovators and doctors our towns can rely on.

“The Medicine Pathway is an evidencebased workforce strategy designed to improve health outcomes in regional, rural and remote Queensland.

“It will increase capacity in our rural medical workforce, as well as provide opportunities for local students to study medicine close to home.“

At the inaugural welcome event last month, new students were presented with a stethoscope the Toowoomba Hospital Foundation donated.

Groom MP Garth Hamilton and Toowoomba Hospital Foundation CEO Alison Kennedy presented the stethoscopes as many friends, family and collaboration representatives watched on.

Rural Aid’s popular photography competition returns

Australia’s most trusted rural charity Rural Aid has today opened its fourth annual Spirit of the Bush photography competition.

The winning 12 photographs will be used in Rural Aid’s stunning 2024 calendar.

Rural Aid CEO John Warlters said he was excited to see what the bush’s talented photographers had captured this year.

“The photographs that are submitted are always breathtakingly raw, real and reflect the highs and lows of life on the land,” he said.

“Last year, we received more than 1100 entries from across the country, making it very hard to whittle down to just 12 winners.

“I hope to see dozens of photos of successful crops, happy working dogs and fat cattle.

“On the flipside, the pictures of flooded creeks and empty paddocks tell a sobering, but equally important, story.

“I’d encourage anyone with a love - and eye - for the bush, to send their photos.“

Photographers are encouraged to submit their photos to the themes of family, community, mates, faces, eyes, tough, golden hour (sunrise/sunset) or All Things Rural.

Winners will be awarded a feature in the 2024 calendar and a $250 pre-paid VISA card.

The competition closes 29 May, 2023.

To enter the competition, entrants must submit a high-resolution, landscape image via Instagram or Facebook, with the hashtag ##SOTB2023 and tag @ruralaid in the picture or upload their photo through the Woobox link: www.ruralaid.org.au/spirit-of-the-bush

Rural Aid’s 2024 calendar will be available for purchase later this year.

Proceeds will directly support Rural Aid’s range of programs that help farmers and their families.

The competition’s Terms and Conditions can be found at www.ruralaid.org.au/spiritof-the-bush About Rural Aid . . .

Rural Aid is Australia’s most trusted rural charity. We stand with our farmers when they need us most.

Rural Aid provides critical support to farmers affected by natural disaster through financial, wellbeing and fodder assistance.

Rural Aid’s community programs help create more sustainable communities by building stronger futures for all Australian farmers.

Find out more at www.ruralaid.org.au

Neil Kendall’s photo - taken in Warwickfeatured in Rural Aid’s 2023 calendar.

University of Southern Queensland’s first intake of the new Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences (Medicine Pathway), with graduates of the program eligible to move directly into The University of Queensland’s Doctor of Medicine at the UQ Rural Clinical School, Toowoomba.

Jiayong Jiang, University of Southern Queensland Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences (Medicine Pathway) student.

Darling Downs – South West Medical Pathway students (from left) Jiayong Jiang, Georgia Betts, Alexandra O’Brien and Sarah Findlay.

Loving every second of it

By Fiona Gowers

Tessa Cook has had her sights set on a career in agriculture for as long as she can remember.

Raised on a mixed enterprise cattle and cropping property 60km north-west of Clermont, Tessa is in her fourth year of a veterinary science degree at James Cook University in Townsville.

And, she is “loving every second of it”.

“I am so happy with this course, it is fantastic,” Tessa said.

“It’s like someone has gone, ‘What are all the subjects Tessa would absolutely love?’ And then combined them into one course.

“It’s amazing.”

Tessa was last month awarded a 2023 AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship, which provides 22 scholars throughout Australia with a $10,000 bursary over two years.

Students also attend a four-day professional development workshop in July and complete two weeks of industry placement, all of which is covered by the support of their sponsor.

Basically, the AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship program provides the next generation of leaders with opportunities to kickstart their leadership skills and expand their networks.

“It is a privilege to be offered the Horizon Scholarship and have the opportunity to connect with like-minded people in the agricultural industry,” Tessa said.

“The work and advocacy that my sponsor Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) has as a spokesperson and investor in the agricultural industry is both inspiring and motivating.

“The networking opportunities and knowledge that I will acquire from working with MLA is exciting as I am always eager to broaden my knowledge on the current workings of the agricultural industry.“

Tessa attended the little bush school Kilcummin State, which is situated on the edge of her property “Coovin“ and then completed years eight to 12 at Stuartholme School in Brisbane.

After five years of boarding, she worked at home from 2018 to 2020 before starting university.

“I was always focused, ever since I was tiny, on pursuing a career in agriculture,” Tessa said.

“I grew up as the fourth generation on a cattle and cropping property in Central Queensland and absolutely loved it.

“I just knew that I wanted to do something in ag, yes, but I didn’t know what direction it was going to be.”

Tessa said she was passionate about the beef industry, in particular bovine reproduction and genetics.

“I was fortunate enough in my gap years to complete a pregnancy testing and artificial insemination (AI) certificate through the Emerald Agricultural College, which drove me to broaden my knowledge and apply to study veterinary science,” she said.

“Pregnancy testing, AI, IVF and embryo transfer have all sparked my interest from a young age and has been a focus of mine throughout my studies.”

AgriFutures Australia managing director John Harvey congratulated the 22 students from across Australia on their success and wel-

comed the future rural leaders to the AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship program.

“Congratulations to our 2023 … recipients, whose exceptional passion, ambition and commitment to agriculture has distinguished them from a talented pool of applicants,” he said.

“We are so appreciative to our industry sponsors for their investment in supporting the next generation of rural leaders.”

Students are carefully paired with industry sponsors that align with their career aspirations and industry experience.

Support from sponsors is key to the program’s success and assists students to network with industry leaders and learn new skills rel-

evant to a career in their chosen field.

2023 sponsors include Grains Research & Development Corporation (GRDC), Kalyx Australia, Marine Bioproducts Cooperative Research Centre (MBCRC), Baiada Poultry, Southern NSW Innovation Hub, Australian Eggs, Australian Wool Innovation (AWI), Dairy Australia, Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA), Hort Innovation, Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC), AgriFutures evokeAG., and the AgriFutures Export Fodder, Thoroughbred Horses, Rice, Pasture Seeds and Chicken Meat Programs.

Mr Harvey thanked the Horizon Scholarship sponsors and acknowledged their significant contribution to the program, particularly

in offering student’s valuable exposure to the agricultural sector.

“The AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship Program would not be possible without our sponsors. The diversity of industry sponsors reflects the desire across the board to focus on our future leaders who will build prosperous and sustainable rural industries of the future.

“I encourage scholars to make the most of the fantastic opportunities their industry sponsors provide.

“They will be able to collaborate across rural industries, participate in valuable work placements and attend workshops that will open doors to a successful career in their chosen field.“

The wheat crop last year on “Coovin” at Clermont.A multi-species crop on the Cook’s property at Clermont, “Coovin”. Walking out some weaners at dusk.

Tessa Cook, “Coovin”, Clermont was last month awarded a 2023 AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship, which provides her with a $10,000 bursary over two years.

Tessa Cook says hello to some weaners and cows at her family’s breeder block “Dooyne”.

Tessa checks a multi-species crop with her dog Monty.

Pictures: EMMA COOK

HEREFORDS QUEENSLAND YOUTH ASSOCIATION CAMP

Born to breed Herefords

By Fiona Gowers

Aleacea Nixon was born to breed, show and judge Hereford cattle.

The fifth generation producer, who began her stud Mickey Mouse Beef in 2015 at 14, has been in the industry for 18 years and won many champions in paraders, junior judging and herdsman awards.

She joined the Herefords QLD Youth Association (HQYA) committee at 15 and is the current president, having been sponsorship officer and secretary.

But, it all began with the New England Hereford Heifer Show when she was five, held in Tamworth, NSW before QLD Youth relaunched its show to Pittsworth in 2011.

Aleacea, 23, has never missed a year since. Why?

“Because it gave me so much confidence, 100 per cent,” she answered.

“I’m quite an introverted person but these youth camps are the most supportive places in the world to learn.

“There’s no one there judging you.

“It doesn’t matter what your school thinks. It doesn’t matter what your friends think because you’ve got like-minded people with you and all they want to do is support what you’re doing.”

Aleacea was raised on a Hereford farm at Chinchilla until she and her parents moved to Dulacca when she was 15 to help her grandparents.

She now lives in Miles in the Western Downs region.

After school, Aleacea moved to Wagga in NSW to study a Bachelor of Animal Science at Charles Sturt University before transferring to Armidale to study a Bachelor of Agriculture.

She graduates in July.

“My Dad is an engineer and my Mum has an associate diploma in farm management.

“And the thing we were always told as kids is that with a career in farming you need a back-up plan. Farming is a very volatile environment. You need a degree, you need a trade.”

While studying over the past 15 months, Aleacea has worked full-time in rural product sales “her dream job” for Elders in Meandarra.

“It involved talking to farmers in regards to different and new products,” she said. “My favorite part of the job was when they asked ‘I’ve got a problem can you help me?’

“When I am qualified, I want to get into animal nutrition. So, that’s sort of my next pathway and I haven’t really decided how I’m going to go about that yet.”

Aleacea’s stud Mickey Mouse Beef boasts Hereford and Gelbvieh cattle based on the genetics her parents use.

Her aim is to produce a moderate female that breeds a well-structured, big bull suited for the tough north Queensland markets.

Sales of her sires continue to be strong around Clermont in the Isaac region but Aleacea’s proudest achievement, to date, is win-

ning Grand Champion Gelbvieh bull at the Ekka in 2018.

“I sold him to some really good clients and he’s doing amazing,” Aleacea said.

“We went and visited him in Maclagan (in

the Toowoomba region) and had a look at his progeny and every single one of them looked exactly the same.

“He has created a beautiful line of cattle so I’m very proud of that.”

This year’s HQYA youth camp will be held in Dalby from 29 June to 2 July. It offers a range of hands-on, educational activities to teach future generations about the agricultural industry.

Aleacea Nixon is a fifth generation Hereford breeder.

Aleacea Nixon, 23, hasn’t missed a Herefords QLD Youth Association (HQYA) camp since she was five.

Strong youth are essential

By Fiona Gowers

Richard Ogilvie of Te-angie Poll Herefords is a big believer that strong youth associations underpin strong breeds. And, according to Herefords Queensland Youth Association (HQYA) president Aleacea Nixon, the leading beef industry figure always put his money where his mouth is. She says he is renowned for supporting young people entering the agricultural sector and also donates his time and expertise. This year, Mr Ogilvie, whose stud is based north-east of Armidale in NSW, has donated a stud heifer to be awarded to the cattle breeder who shows the most potential at the HQYA camp.

“I have seen photos of the heifer,” Aleacea said. “It is the sweetest little thing that anyone would be so proud to win and show off.

“Te-angie Poll Herefords is an amazing supporter of youth programs.

“They have supported us over the past couple of years, which we are so appreciative of.

“But, not only do they sponsor us, they lend cattle to the kids who don’t have any of their own to bring to camp.

“We just couldn’t do it without supporters like them.”

This year’s 12th annual HQYA youth camp will be held in Dalby from 29 June to 2 July. It offers a range of hands-on, educational activities to teach future generations about the agricultural industry. Entry forms are available on the Herefords Queensland Youth Association Facebook page or visit https://www.herefordqldyouth.com/

· What: HQYA youth camp.

· When: 29 June to 2 July.

· Where: Dalby.

· What: It offers a range of hands-on, educational activities to teach future generations about the agricultural industry.

· Contact: Entry forms are available on the Herefords Queensland Youth Association Facebook page or visit https:// www.herefordqldyouth.com/

Richard Ogilvie, Te-angie Poll Herefords, which is based in the Wongwibinda district, NSW has donated this stud heifer to the cattle breeder who shows the most potential at the 2023 HQYA camp.

I have seen photos of the heifer. It is the sweetest little thing that anyone would be so proud to win and show off.”

After making the move to re-enter the show ring, after a long break, Scott and Pip Hann’s Truro Whiteface, Bellata, has hit the scene with a bang, ably assisted by daughters Matilda and Sophie.

Earlier in the year at Glen Innes Show Truro won many awards culminating in 1st and 2nd in the Interbreed Sweepstakes and winning the Interbreed Pair of Bulls. This was followed by Inverell Show, a Hereford feature, with 75 head being exhibited. Once again, they did very well and made their mark by winning not only Supreme Champion Hereford but also Supreme Animal of the show, with Truro Sherlock S188 (P).

They recently made to the trip to the Sydney Royal Easter Show with a team of 3 bulls and one heifer, with all of the exhibits bringing home ribbons. Truro Fantasia T029 (H) (by Yarram Lottery M089) was awarded a Highly Commended in her class.

In the Junior bull classes they had one exhibit and what a beauty he is! Truro Sherlock S188 (P) (by Yalgoo Peacemaker) impressed the judge, Mr Alistair Day from Allendale Herefords in Bordertown , South Australia, and won the 19 and not over 20 months class, with a weight of 896kgs and an EMA of 131 cm²- great data for a junior bull. Mr Day commented that the class of 11 junior bulls was a “super impressive class of bulls”. He admired the thickness and structure of Sherlock and also described him as “tidy through the sheath and testicles”. Sherlock then went on to win Junior Champion Bull, from the 5 junior classes. Truro’s excitement for the day was building !

Truro’s two senior bulls Truro Spartacus

S135 (PP), sired by Churchhill Gunpowder 657D, and Truro Sahara S139 (P), sired by Yalgoo Peacemaker, were awarded 2nd and 3rd in the 20 to 24 months class of 16 bulls with Mr Day describing Spartacus as “a top sire”. Sherlock went on to become Grand Champion Hereford Bull, accompanied by loud clapping and cheering, and was presented the broad ribbon. What a thrill ! Sherlock then went on to compete against the Grand Champion female and he was awarded the 2023 Supreme Champion Hereford Exhibit of the Show. Wow !!

What a day as Truro also won the Pair of Bulls and was second in the Breeder’s Group.

The following day Sherlock represented the Hereford breed in the Interbreed being selected in the top 5 lineup of bulls, by a panel of three judges.

Overall, Truro had a terrific showing in Sydney, the joy of winning only enhanced by special moments shared with friends and family and many people, from within the Hereford breed, but from many other breeds, being thrilled for Truro and their success.

The next plans for Truro are to head south to Wodonga for the Hereford National Show and Sale in May. They will show their two senior bulls – Spartacus and Sahara – who are then offered for sale.

Sherlock also has plans to fulfill with Taroom and Roma Shows in Queensland, following on to Brisbane Royal (Ekka) in August. Sherlock will then come home to be the feature bull in Truro’s Spring on-property sale on 28th August, along with 40 other young sires.

Truro Sherlock S188 P being led by Scott Hann, Michael Crowley CEO of Herefords Australia, Pip Hann, Sophie Hann, Tilly Hann and judge Alistair Day Picture: CONTRIBUTED

Make a date with FarmFest

By Fiona Gowers

Queensland’s biggest primary industry business event, the three-day FarmFest field days, will return this year from 6 to 8 June.

ACM Rural Events - the organisers of Elders FarmFest - has taken a steady stream of enquiry since last year’s successful sales event concluded.

General manager Kate Nugent said the overall outlook in Australian agriculture was one of “high optimism”.

She said the feedback received from many agri-manufacturers and service providers across Queensland and other states had positioned this year’s Elders FarmFest in a positive light.

“I am certain we will see an even stronger showing of interest and support from farmers and people on the land, on the back of a record breaking visitation last year,” Ms Nugent said.

Elders FarmFest is located on its own dedicated site in Kingsthorpe, just 20 kilometres west of Toowoomba, in the heart of the Darling Downs, one of Australia’s richest agricultural regions.

The event is designed to offer display promotional and sales opportunities to all agribusinesses, from big farm machinery, tractors, tillage and irrigation equipment to pumps and power tools.

Ms Nugent said “more than ever” FarmFest was recognised as playing an important role in the Australian agricultural industry.

“We offer enormous opportunities to showcase new products and services, demonstrate machinery, highlight new technology, innovation and information,” she said.

In 2004, ACM Rural Events, a division of ACM (Australian Community Media), the largest and leading independent regional and rural publisher in Australia, bought FarmFest.

ACM Rural Events organise and promote several field days in Australia, including Australia’s largest, the AgQuip Field Days in Gunnedah, NSW.

This year at Elders Farmfest, an Agri-Tech Expo will highlight modern innovation in the agribusiness industry.

An Education Expo and seminars, meanwhile, will shine a spotlight on ground-breaking and exciting new farming practices to drive farming efficiency, productivity and profitability.

FarmFest is among one of the largest outdoor agricultural industry events, gathering more than 60,000 farming families and consumers.

“The key to the event is to ensure the experience always puts the customer front and centre – to enable the exhibitor’s product and service to resonate with them at a deeper and more impactful level than any other marketing platform,” Ms Nugent said.

FarmFest has been a significant force in field days over the past 48 years. It is an incomparable agricultural hybrid event in Queensland

and the 2023 event will be no exception. For information about exhibiting, please contact the event organisers ACM Rural Events

on email farmfest@austcommunitymedia. com.au or visit the FarmFest website at farmfest.com.au.

FarmFest positions new technology and innovation at farmers’ fingertips.

A renewable energy display at FarmFest.

Machinery displays at FarmFest.

From humble beginnings

By Fiona Gowers

Elders FarmFest is an annual agricultural show that has been held in Toowoomba, Queensland since the 1970s.

It is run over three days in June and is dedicated to showcasing the latest agricultural equipment, products and services, as well as providing a forum for farmers and rural communities to exchange ideas and knowledge.

The first Elders FarmFest was held in 1973 as a small agricultural exhibition, but quickly grew in popularity and size, becoming one of the most significant events on the Queensland farming calendar.

The event was initially held in a small paddock outside Toowoomba but soon moved to larger venues, including the Toowoomba Showgrounds and then the Kingsthorpe Park Raceway.

Over the years, Elders FarmFest has seen many changes and developments.

It has grown to become a showcase for new technologies, including precision farming, livestock handling and sustainable farming practices.

It has also become an important platform for networking, with farmers and agricultural industry professionals from across the country attending the event each year.

In the early days, Elders FarmFest was primarily focused on providing an opportunity for farmers to see new products and services, as well as to learn about new farming practices.

However, over time, the event has expanded to include a range of activities, including educational seminars, livestock competitions and demonstrations of farming equipment and techniques.

One of the most popular attractions at Elders FarmFest is the machinery and equipment displays, which showcase the latest advances in farming technology.

Visitors can see everything from tractors and harvesters to irrigation systems and fencing equipment.

There are also demonstrations of how this equipment can be used to improve farming efficiency and productivity.

Another important aspect of Elders FarmFest is the educational seminars and workshops.

These cover a wide range of topics, including animal health, soil management, crop production and marketing.

They are presented by experts in their respective fields and provide farmers with valuable insights and advice on how to improve their operations.

The livestock competitions are also a highlight of Elders FarmFest.

Farmers from across the state bring their best animals to compete in a range of categories, including beef cattle, dairy cattle, sheep, and goats.

The competitions give farmers the opportunity to showcase their breeding programs and livestock management skills.

Over the years, Elders FarmFest has become an important event for the rural community in Queensland.

It provides a platform for farmers, suppliers and industry professionals to come together, share ideas and learn from each other.

It is also an opportunity for the wider community to learn about the importance of agriculture and the vital role it plays in our economy and way of life.

Over the years, Elders FarmFest has seen many changes and developments. It has grown to become a showcase for new technologies.

CRT FarmFest 1980s aerial shot.

Elders FarmFest is staged over three days in early June; Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 6, 7 and 8 June.

Legendary axeman David Foster OAM at Elders Farmfest 2021. David has won 186 world axeman titles and was the first person in history to win 1000 championships. He is also an Australian Hall of Fame inductee, the only axeman ever.

Fashion trends at Elders FarmFest 2022.

Farmers from across Queensland bring their best animals to compete in a range of categories, including beef cattle, dairy cattle, sheep and goats.

A giant among field days

By Fiona Gowers

Elders FarmFest has cemented its status as a giant among Australia’s agricultural field days with more than 2000 agri-brands and companies participating in this year’s event.

The Toowoomba-based extravaganza has showcased and demonstrated new products and services over the past 48 years.

FarmFest is at the forefront of achieving representation from agtech companies internationally in order to position new technology and innovation right at farmers’ fingertips.

ACM Rural Events general manager Kate Nugent said she believed visitors to this year’s event would be pleasantly surprised at the number of improvements.

“The simple grid pattern of the purposebuilt FarmFest site makes it one of the best in Australia for visitors, including special areas for live demonstrations,” Ms Nugent said.

“Additional activities are planned at Elders FarmFest including the Caterpillar Global Challenge, the Queensland Working Dog demonstrations and a live auction on-site to raise funding for our farmers affected by floods in south east Queensland and northern NSW.”

Traffic management updates will enhance the event’s access and car parking arrangements – with courtesy shuttle buses in the car parks to help visitors make their way to the ticket booths on to the static display grid.

Shuttle buses will help visitors navigate around the enlarged 26- hectare site.

This year each ticket booth will be set-up to enable quick access to the site for visitors who have bought tickets online.

The free parcel pick up service will allow a more streamlined service to purchasers.

Other equally important improvements include more seating, more shade and more food choices.

Organisers will work to event safety best practice with sanitiser stations located across the site.

“Most importantly, you’ll discover the greatest and latest national agricultural brands in one location at one time of year, at one special event - Elders FarmFest 2023,” Ms Nugent said.

“It is unbelievable and, as the saying goes, ‘you have to see it to believe it’.”

For further information contact ACM Rural Events on (02) 6768 5800.

Major agricultural machinery manufacturing location

FarmFest is situated in Kingsthorpe in the heart of the Darling Downs.

It is a rich pastoral and agricultural region, with Toowoomba as the hub of commercial and light industrial activity in South East Queensland.

Well known in the Australian agricultural industry for its dedication to Queensland farming, FarmFest has been a major force in field days for the past 47 years.

The Darling Downs region has a reputation as one of Australia’s major agricultural machinery manufacturing locations.

It is also surrounded by areas renowned for peanuts, navy beans, grain, pork, stone fruit, grape and wine industry production, vegetables, lucerne, sorghum, wheat, barley, beef cattle, wool, prime lamb production, cotton, sheep, as well as horticulture and pastoral farming.

Elders FarmFest is located on its own dedicated site in Kingsthorpe, just 20 kilometres west of Toowoomba.

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FarmFest is among one of the largest outdoor agricultural industry events, attracting more than 60,000 farming families and consumers.

Busy times at Speckle Park

Return exhibitor to FarmFest, Wattle Grove Speckle Park is preparing for a busy six months, with its Fire & Ice Sale on 3 June then FarmFest on 6 June to promote its Annual Bull Sale in October.

The world-renowned Speckle Park stud is based in Oberon, New South Wales but considers Queensland its second home.

“We lease country near Warwick and have held sales in Queensland since 2012,” Bin Humphries said.

“Our cattle do well in the Queensland environment and we love seeing our clients benefit from using Speckle Park in their stud and commercial herds.”

Since 2008, the family-owned and -operated stud has been instrumental in establishing the Speckle Park breed in Australia.

“The breed is originally from Canada but it has definitely found its place in the Australian cattle industry,” Ms Humphries said.

“The feed efficiency and doability of the cattle really suit our Australian conditions. We have breeders from Tasmania right up to Cairns and the Gulf using Speckle Park.

“They are getting greater weight gains and higher yielding carcasses, which all means more dollars in the back pocket.”

Known for its moderate frame, eating quality and distinctive colour pattern, the Speckle Park breed is gaining increasing traction in the Australian cattle market.

“We see more and more saleyard-topping results from our clients in Queensland, which is great,” Dale Humphries said.

“The industry as a whole is moving towards greater efficiency and sustainability while still needing to provide consistent high-quality

beef to the end consumer.

“Speckle Park ticks all the boxes.”

Each year, Wattle Grove Speckle Park holds two sales in Toowoomba.

The Fire & Ice Sale is on 3 June from 3pm at The Cattle Complex, Toowoomba Showgrounds, with 50 purebred registered females, 30 commercial females and embryo packages offered.

“Anyone who attended the Fire & Ice Sale last year can tell you what a good time you can

have at a Wattle Grove Sale,” Ms Humphries said.

“We love putting on an event and pride ourselves on great cattle, great people and good times.”

The Annual Bull Sale will be held at 3pm, 14 October, once again at Toowoomba Showgrounds, with 60 bulls offered.

Online bidding for both sales is available through Auctions Plus and Elite Livestock Auctions.

“Wattle Grove Speckle Park cattle are in high demand as the breed continues to grow and prove its value,” Ms Humphries said.

“They provide hybrid vigour, longevity and higher returns all in an easy keeping package.

“Whether you’re looking for females and genetics to build your own purebred herd, or to add some carcass qualities to your existing commercial herd, we welcome you to join us at one of our sales or visit our site at FarmFest.”

FarmFest 2023 fast facts

· Elders FarmFest is Queensland’s premier primary industry field days.

· Elders FarmFest is Queensland’s biggest field days and fastest growing agri-event in Australia.

· Elders FarmFest field days in 2023 has become the largest event recorded in its history.

· Elders FarmFest celebrates its 48th anniversary.

· Elders FarmFest is a Safe Site – operating under Event Safety best practices. All attendees to follow the event safety with wash hands regularly and if you feel unwell with COVID-19 symptoms please return home.

· Elders FarmFest is staged over three days in early June; Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, June 6, 7 and 8.

· Elders FarmFest site is located twenty kilometres west of Toowoomba, QLD, off the Warrego Highway – in the heart of the Darling Downs.

· Elders FarmFest is held on its own dedicated site at Kingsthorpe Park, QLD.

· Elders FarmFest has its own App – go to Apple App Store or Google Play to download your free copy one month prior to the event.

· Elders FarmFest has its own radio station –FarmFest FM 94.5, powered by Elders commences transmission during the event.

· Opening hours are from 8:30am to 4:30pm on Tuesday and Wednesday – with an earlier close on Thursday from 8:30am to 4pm.

· Size of the static display area is 26 hectares – including Livestock Area; Farm Machinery demonstration area; Drone demonstration area; ATV/UTV and Motor Bike demonstration area; the new Agri-Tech Alley and AgriTech Pavilion and new Shopping Arcade #2.

· Parking areas will open from 7.30am. Car parking is free. Elders FarmFest car parks have capacity for more than 8,000 vehicles.

· Elders FarmFest has introduced new ticket booths at the event for visitors to move more easily and offer quick access to the static display grid.

· Tickets online go on sale from early May via the website www.farmfest.com.au - pre-purchase ticket online cost is $8, including ticket booking fee plus credit card surcharge, ticket at the event is $12 including ticket booking fee plus credit card surcharge.

· Taxi rank and buses drop off via Gate 2 off Weedons Road – at ticket booth 2.

· A representation of more than 2000 businesses, organisations and authorities will be on-site.

· Elders FarmFest boasts the biggest range of agri-products and services in Queensland –once a year, one-stop agricultural shop.

· Elders FarmFest offers a variety of local food - see the site map, which provides a location map of all food and drink outlets and type of food on offer.

· Elders FarmFest offers a free shuttle bus service on site during the days of the event and in the car parks.

· Elders FarmFest runs a free parcel pick-up

service for visitors.

· FarmFest features a lifestyle shopping arcade and marketplace featuring more than 100 lifestyle and general interest exhibitors.

· Elders FarmFest has emergency services on site including first aid, fire service, QLD police, security.

· Elders FarmFest has a parents’ room.

Elders FarmFest provides a platform for farmers, suppliers and industry professionals to come together, share ideas and learn from each other.

Smart farming from a hand-held device.One of the most popular attractions at Elders FarmFest is the machinery and equipment displays, which showcase the latest advances in farming technology.

Luke Hoare, Lilly Wingfield, Nicole Hutchison, Sandy and Chris Todd and Tanya Hoare with a Santa Gertrudis Rose Oak bull 285939

Amber, Peter and Jo from Grahams Precast Concrete 285939

Peter Trow with Clare and Mark Coughran from QLD Machinery Agency and Kris Trow 285939

Caity Jones, Georgia and Brad Densely from Grizzly Off The Grid 285939

Annette Weatherstone, Michael knight, Russ Dune, Gordon Baker and Boston Rockemer enjoying the warmth 285939

Doug Amos, Andrew Piper and Ben Tarrant from Ag knowledge 285939

Matthew Ross with Shane Christian Queensland Territory Manager from Muddy River Agriculture 285939

Murray Dover from and Sons with Rob Carter from Dalby “Struanville Farming Co 285939

Here’s your once a year opportunity to see over 2,000 agri-brands, rural and general interest companies and organisations - showcasing the latest in agricultural equipment and technology. Special features include AgriTech Pavilion, new Education Pavilion, Livestock Area with breed displays and competitions, new Livestock Marketplace, Rural Relief Precinct, new Lifestyle Shopping Arcades and Marketplace and Drone, Farm Machinery, ATV/UTV and Motor Bike live demonstrations and much more.

CONTACT ACM RURAL EVENTS

6768 5800 | www.farmfest.com.au

Power through problems

A practical new program has launched to support producers and growers located in the Southern Downs and Goondiwindi regions to understand and manage their on-farm energy consumption and at the same time, lower their carbon emissions.

Delivered by Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF), the Energy Southern Queensland (EnergySQ) program is free for participating farms with the aim of identifying tangible ways they can achieve increased energy productivity and efficiencies while supporting environmental outcomes on farms.

The two-year program will enable QFF to work with between 100 and 150 farms during the project lifespan.

Producers/growers are invited to participate individually or in a ‘cluster’. Their participation in the project is anticipated to take between two and three months, with ongoing follow-up and support. Farms participating in a cluster will have the opportunity to attend a series of short workshops to help navigate the process.

QFF CEO Jo Sheppard said rising input costs and disrupted supply chains continue to challenge farmers across the State and energy is a key line item for most farming enterprises.

“This program will support farmers across the Southern Downs and Goondiwindi Regional Council local government areas to identify ways in which they can become more efficient in their on-farm use of energy to save costs, improve productivity, and reduce emissions,” Ms Sheppard said.

“Queensland farmers continue to innovate and work to achieve efficiencies on-farm so that they can remain competitive in an increasingly difficult operating environment,” said Ms Sheppard.

“It is important that Queensland farmers

are supported to continue to build on farm capability to innovate and adapt if we are to ensure a sustainable food, fibre and foliage system into the future.”

QFF previously delivered the Queensland Government’s Energy Savers Plus Program which supported more than 300 farms to manage their electricity use and achieve savings through independent electricity audits.

Extending on this program, participants of the EnergySQ program will work with QFF’s

energy project team to develop their own individual Energy and Carbon Action Plan.

QFF has partnered with ACCIONA Energía Australia to fund the delivery of the project.

ACCIONA Energía is developing the MacIntyre Wind Farm near Warwick.

“We’re proud to be supporting the QFF to help primary producers manage their energy use. The pressures faced by farmers have never been greater and by supporting this program we hope to assist farmers continue to play

their vital role across Queensland,” said ACCIONA Energía Managing Director Brett Wickham.

Ms Sheppard said the support being provided by ACCIONA Energía is enabling QFF to take the learnings from previously delivered Energy Savers programs to develop EnergySQ and provide farmers in the region a tailored program to assist in achieving on farm efficiencies, productivity gains and a reduction in emissions.

“We encourage farmers within the Goondiwindi or Southern Downs regional council areas who would like to understand more about this initiative to contact the team at QFF to find out more and register their interest,” Ms Sheppard said.

Calling Western Downs agribusinesses eager to grow

Shell’s QGC Emerging Exporters Program, which TSBE Food Leaders Australia delivers, has laid the foundation for local businesses to successfully seize opportunities.

Now, Shell QGC and TSBE Food Leaders Australia are seeking Western Downs agribusinesses wanting to grow their businesses domestically and explore market trends to apply for the AgriEmerging Markets Program (Agri EMP).

With guidance and leadership needed more than ever to meet sustainable market demands, Western Downs businesses will learn how these requirements are affecting their supply chains and how to capitalise on value-add opportunities.

TSBE agribusiness development manager Rowie Beveridge said the AgriEmerging Markets Program was designed to complement business development already achieved through the Shell QGC Emerging Exporters Program (EEP) but would follow a new and refreshed direction.

“The program aims to assist Western Downs agribusinesses to identify business development goals, as well as grasp evolving domestic and global supply chain obligations and seize opportunities,” Rowie said.

“EEP was developed five years ago and, since its conception, the agribusiness landscape has significantly transformed to incorporate a strong focus on sustainability, which

is now at the core of Agri EMP deliverables.”

Four Daughters Beef owner Karen Penfold attributes some of their biggest business achievements to their participation in the Shell QGC Emerging Exporters Program.

“We joined the 2019 cohort with the goal of strengthening our business to provide our four daughters commercial opportunities

and we did just that by attending workshops, one-on-one and business coaching opportunities,” Karen said.

“The networks built and the guidance offered in the program are exceptional and we strongly encourage businesses to participate in the AgriEmerging Markets Program.”

Jim’s Jerky CEO Emily Pullen echoes Four Daughter’s praise of the program as Jim’s Jerky was part of the first ever Shell QGC Emerging Exporters Program cohort in 2018.

“The program lay the foundations for Jim’s Jerky export opportunities and we are very excited to share our recent news that our product is inbound to hit shelves across Asia,” Emily said.

“Our export success would not be possible without the mentorship and guidance offered to us by Shell QGC and TSBE.”

For more information about the AgriEmerging Markets Program visit https:// www.tsbe.com.au/agriemerging-marketsprogram.

Shell’s QGC Emerging Exporters Program 2022 cohort.

Jonathon Mendez from QFF, Richard Ross from Ashbern Farms and Granite Belt Growers Association (GBGA), Andrew Chamberlain from QFF, Jessica Andreatta from GBGA, Kerry Battersby from QFF, Jo Sheppard from QFF, Brett Wickham from ACCIONA Energia, Katherine Gow from Gow Produce and GBGA, Paul McMahon from GBGA and Bec Tkal from QFF.

QFF CEO Jo Sheppard and ACCIONA Energía Managing Director Brett Wickham.

Pictures: SUPPLIED

Optimism and your health

Recently on a trip through western Queensland, it was overwhelming the recovery of the regions that have received wonderful rains and channel country which has flooded as a result of the waters moving slowly south.

Such abundance has changed the mindset of many which in turn I believe may have a huge influence over the physical health and mental wellbeing of the residents in these communities. A caveat of course are those where the devastation from flooding rains will last for some time.

Being optimistic has proven to be linked to various health benefits as well as better resilience and longevity.

Does optimism make you healthy, or does being healthy make you optimistic? We would say both! The way that optimism can promote good health, and how that good health translates back into an optimistic mindset can be very powerful when we learn how to utilise it to our advantage. When done correctly, we can even use the momentum of an optimistic mindset to improve our lifestyle and longevity. I asked my colleague to help me prepare this article and in doing so proposed a few questions to Dr Kylie Gates.

What is optimism?

If we are going to use optimism to our advantage, we first need to understand what it is. As mentioned above, optimism primarily refers to a mindset that is positive in nature; its opposite being pessimism. An optimistic mindset has everything to do with the way we perceive things and events around us in the present and future. Some might assume optimism is a fixed personality trait, however optimism is actually a mindset that you can choose to opt into even in negative situations.

As a lens for perception, optimism influences your adaptive behaviour and cognitive

FARMERS’ HEALTH

WITH DR TOBY FORD

responses. An optimist is less likely to see a problem purely as a result of their own failings and instead see the impact of external factors. They are also more likely to see problems as a temporary state which can be changed; something that is limited to a specific event or entity, rather than every aspect of their lives.

A temporary health complication, for example, might stop you from practicing your favourite sport or pastime. In this situation, an optimistic mindset can highlight actions that you could take to recover and get back into the sport earlier. It could also motivate you to continue to support and engage with your team while you recover.

Optimism and its influence on your health and wellbeing

It can be easiest to see the linkage between an optimism and your mental wellbeing as opposed to physical health. Since optimism is a mindset and way of thinking, it can have a strong influence on your mood, relationship satisfaction, and the way you react to situations. Optimism can promote adaptive behaviours and cognitive responses associated with greater flexibility, problem-solving capacity, and more positive cognition of negative events. In the long term, an optimistic mindset can reduce your vulnerability to mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, and chronic stress.

Optimism also has a strong influence over

your physical health, although the link might not be immediately obvious. Its influence over your physical health primarily happens through the promotion of healthy habits, lifestyle choices, and coping strategies. When we are in a better frame of mind, we are more adaptive and make better, healthier choices more frequently. Optimists are more likely to eat healthier, exercise more, and smoke less. Because of this, the link between optimism and physical health is more evident in chronic conditions. A review of 15 studies involving over 200,000 participants found that optimists have a 35% lower risk of heart disease (which can have flow-on effects to blood sugar levels, metabolism and memory formulation), and a 14% less chance of an early death. Additionally, an optimistic mindset has been found to reduce chances of infection and cancer, as well as improve post-operative recovery.

In essence, an individual with an optimistic outlook does not take a fatalistic approach to their health. They believe that most problems have a solution and they are prepared to find a way under, over, around or through the issue to reach a positive outcome on the other side. This means they actively approach issues like weight gain, elevated cholesterol or injury with a ‘can do’ problem solving attitude to achieve improved outcomes on these parameters. What can I do to build my optimism?

It’s all well and good to say that optimism promotes resilience and longevity, but how can we utilise this to our advantage? Lucky, optimism can be learned, practiced, and strengthened. Below are three ways that you can improve and bolster an optimistic mindset for healthier decision-making and stronger resilience.

·

1- The “Best Possible Self” exercise. UC Berkley has a great guide for this exercise. The Best Possible Self (BPS) method is what’s

known as a positive psychology intervention. It involves taking time to imagine the bestcase-scenario for various aspects in your life such as your career, relationships, hobbies, and health. Studies have shown that the BPS method can increase optimism after just one session.

· 2- Practice Gratitude

What we focus on is what we see in our day to day lives. So, shifting your focus to what you are thankful for is a great way to emphasise the positives in your life and build the foundation for an optimistic mindset. This HBR provides a step-by-step guide on practicing gratitude.

· 3- Reflect on your Track Record

Look back over your track record of accomplishments, performance and times when you have overcome challenges. This builds a sense of reality-based confidence in your ability to deal with new challenges.

Use the F.A.C.E.D. method to deal with stress and negative emotions.

We have previously talked about the F.A.C.E.D method when dealing with stress. This method can be particularly good at shifting our mindset towards stressful and negative situations. The “acceptance”, “control” and “enjoy” steps in particular are focused on shifting to a positive, optimistic mindset.

· 4- Surround yourself with optimistic people Optimism is contagious. Surrounding yourself with people who focus on benefits and have a positive outlook on the future can influence your outlook and optimism too!

So as you go about your daily life in the bush consider this it is always more fun to be with optimistic people and you can do something about your own optimism if you really want to .

To hear more about health and wellbeing in the workplace, follow us through Linkedin!

Low, middle income tax offset axed as an Easter gift

MY DESK

The Albanese Government has tried to hide its decision to axe the low and middle-income tax offset (LMITO) while Australians were out enjoying their Easter break.

LMITO was designed to provide targeted relief to low- and middle-income earners when they needed it most.

Labor has tried to bury its decision to cut the offset and is not being upfront with Australians.

This decision will put even more pressure on everyday Australian families struggling to keep up with the rising cost of living.

Some 10 million low- and middle-income Australians will be impacted by this change. It means people earning under $126,000 a year will have up to $1500 less in their pockets.

This comes on top of higher mortgages repayments, surging energy bills and

Picture: CONTRIBUTED

soaring grocery prices.

Labor’s been in for around ten months, and they’ve managed to slap our truckies, our retirees, our resource industry, super accounts, and now the entire working class with blind taxes.

Superannuation taxes, franking credits, income tax, carbon tax 2.0 who knows where Labor is going to go next, but the one thing we do is that Labor loves to try to solve every problem by taxing Australians more.

We know low- and middle-income earners are already hit the hardest by higher prices and rising interest rate rises.

Low- and middle-income earners will join millions of pensioners, self-funded retirees, Australian mortgage holders and renters paying for Labor’s failure to rein in its own spending to bring down pressure on prices, and its broken promises on superannuation and franking credits taxes.

Anthony Albanese promised Australians he had a plan to address the cost-of-living crisis but since the election, life has only become harder for families.

I’m ready to work with anyone to make life easier for the residents of Flynn, and I believe it needs to start with cutting bureaucracy and getting Government out of everyone’s lives.

Member for Parliament Colin Boyce talking about low- and middle-income tax offset

COLIN BOYCE FLYNN MP

Trends driving food change

BREAKING GROUND WITH THOMAS HALL

Growing demand for healthy and planetfriendly plates, robots collecting data in factories and Artificial Intelligence detecting faulty items on the production line.

There’s no doubt about it – the food and beverage manufacturing industry is undergoing a major revolution as it embraces emerging consumer trends and new technologies.

When it comes to matters of taste, modern consumers – quite literally – have a real hunger for healthier and more sustainable foods, which is changing food practices from paddock to plate.

An increasing number of manufacturers, meanwhile, are implementing digital technologies to grow productivity and profitability.

This appetite for food and beverage manufacturers to become more agile and resilient was demonstrated during the Covid pandemic, which seriously disrupted food supply chains.

Many of the companies that struggled to keep up with food production demands amid lockdown worker shortages are now turning to new tech to automate parts of their operations.

The end result is some manufacturing trends once considered decades away are upon us now.

Here are some of the biggest trends driving change in food and beverage manufacturing right now:

· Automation and Industry 4.0: The pandemic was pivotal in speeding up this phase, which is so significant it’s also referred to as

the Fourth Industrial Revolution or smart manufacturing. It’s a transformation characterised by increased automated processes to help food and beverage operators reduce costs and improve productivity. Manufacturers are using automated machinery to help on the factory floor, such as robotics and AI (Artificial Intelligence) that can detect damaged food.

The potential is huge – automated machines and systems can take care of repeatable tasks so employees can be utilised in other ar-

eas of a company.

Automation also opens the door for 24/7 production and predictive maintenance.

· Digitalisation of food: Food and beverage manufacturers are increasingly investing in digital technologies to meet industry standards and consumer demands. They are using tech such as smart sensors and cloud computing to collect data, optimise production and ensure food safety and quality. There is also a push for stronger traceabil-

ity, which is the digital tracking of a product through all stages of production, processing and distribution. Consumers want to know where their food has come from and how it has been produced, and to be assured of its quality. Digital traceability tech will continue to evolve, with governments investing heavily in this space.

· Reducing food waste: More and more industries are making waste reduction a priority – and the food manufacturing industry is no exception. There is plenty of room for improvement too, with estimates that about a third of food production is wasted across the supply chain. Food manufacturers are using software systems to optimise their processes, so they generate less waste. Some are even implementing new tech to create fresh product lines from food that would have otherwise been wasted. Predictive maintenance is also helping reduce waste.

· Healthier and more sustainable food: A growing number of Aussies want plates full of healthy and planet-friendly options – they have a real hunger for nutritious food grown and prepared sustainably. Many shoppers are now actively looking for food that has been prepared using sustainable farming and manufacturing processes. We can expect to see more and more green and ethical labelled food on supermarket shelves as manufacturers keep innovating to produce healthier products in a more sustainable way.

Food and beverage manufacturing is a major focus for the Agtech and Logistics Hub. We work with innovators developing tech for this space and late last year we hosted a workshop featuring presentations from manufacturers who had implemented robotics. There are also a couple of great manufacturing events happening in Toowoomba in early May – you can find the details on our LinkedIn and Facebook pages.

James Diamond at the Agtech and Logistics Hub.

New safflower oil launched

In an Australian-first, a super high oleic safflower oil has been launched by Australian owned Plenty Foods.

The oil boasts superior cooking qualities and health credentials and will be the first food product to be made using Super High Oleic safflower seeds grown exclusively in Australia.

The safflower varieties were developed by CSIRO and Grains Research and Development Corporation specifically for Australian grain growers.

Josh Gadischke, Owner and Managing Director of the Kingaroy-based Plenty Foods, said this ground-breaking oil would shake up the $920 million edible oil category within the industry.

“Our Safflower Oil will appeal to customers looking for a healthier, Australian made cooking oil for everyday use, as an alternative to imported Rice Bran oil and other high smoke point cooking oils,“ he said.

Plenty Safflower Oil has the highest proportion of oleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid, and the lowest amount of saturated fats, of all common cooking oils. These unique qualities help to keep the oil stable at high cooking temperatures making it a healthy choice for frying, roasting, barbecuing, baking and everyday cooking.

“Given initial interest in the product and strong consumer conversion, we expect our Safflower Oil to be a $1.2 million product for Woolworths by the end of the year and grow steadily from there,” Mr Gadischke said.

“We are confident the product will also help to lift our portfolio’s household penetration from 1.5 percent to more than five percent.

“Our sales data tells us that once people try our Safflower Oil, they stay with it. We believe Australian households will grow to love this high-quality, homegrown alternative to the imports commonly available.”

The total cooking oils market is growing at a steady rate of 8.6 percent year-on-year, driven by an increase in the number of health-conscious shoppers looking to eat well.

Plenty Safflower Oil is the first food product

to be made from the super high oleic (SHO) safflower seeds and contains 92 percent oleic acid (omega 9), compared to 75 percent for regular safflower oil.

It is full of healthy monounsaturated fats (12.8g per 15ml serve) recommended by the Heart Foundation, and very low in saturated fats (0.75g per 15ml serve). It has a 4.5 Health Star Rating.

As well as an ideal oil composition, Plenty Safflower Oil has a mild, neutral flavour and it is extremely versatile.

It is a healthy choice for high temperature

cooking with a very high smoke point of 266°C, compared to extra virgin olive oil at 191°C, canola oil at 240°C and rice bran oil at 254°C.

The oil is made using SHO safflowers, which are grown in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia.

CSIRO reports that the SHO safflower is an ideal crop biofactory suited to Australian conditions as it is a very hardy and broadly adaptable crop that does well in warm season conditions.

GO Resources PTY LTD owns the exclusive

worldwide commercial license for the crop and supply of SHO safflower oil and supplies Plenty Foods with the raw materials to ensure that demand for edible oils and broader renewable oil uses are met.

Plenty extracts the oil from the SHO safflower seeds naturally with state-of-the-art presses that use pressure and heat.

This specialised processing line is the result of a $7 million investment to create Australia’s leading seed and nut oil facility.

“It takes a little more time than other methods, but it doesn’t use any chemicals. Creating a high-quality oil naturally is important to us as a company and we know it matters to our customers too,” Mr Gadischke said.

“As well as being chemical-free, the process creates no waste by-products and even the ‘cake’ of leftover seed husks is used to feed livestock.”

CSIRO, GRDC and GO Resources expect to see significant areas of SHO safflower grown in Australia by 2023.

Plenty, which rebranded from Proteco Oils in 2020, is now the leading manufacturer of cold-pressed gourmet oils and specialty oils in Australia and is based in the South Burnett.

The Plenty Safflower Oil will be available at Woolworths and selected independent grocers.

Hands-on program inspires aspiring healthcare students

High school students from across the region are being offered a unique insight into a day in the life of a healthcare worker, thanks to the Aspire2Health program.

The workshops take teenagers out of the classroom and allows them to experience simulated scenarios, participate in hands-on skills stations and meet health professionals.

Aspire2Health aims to excite and enthuse the region’s youth to guarantee a future workforce for the growing health industry.

Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE) education manager Shamus Garmany said it was an exciting opportunity for students interested in entering the health industry.

“The health sector is our region’s largest employer, so the Aspire2Health program is a wonderful way to ensure we link some of our brightest students to health opportunities,” Mr Garmany said.

“The series of workshops kicked off in mid-April, with 13 events being held across our region in Toowoomba, Kingaroy, Chinchilla, Dalby, Goondiwindi, St George, Charleville, Roma, Stanthorpe, Warwick.”

Southern Queensland Rural Health (SQRH) director Associate Professor Geoff Argus said the Aspire2Health program identifies high school students interested in working in medicine, nursing or allied health and gave them a full immersion into regional and rural healthcare.

“The students participate in interactive clinical skills stations which expose them to the broad range of medical, nursing and allied health professions,” said Associate Professor Argus.

“We know rural students who undertake a health degree are more likely to return to practice in a rural area so bringing these workshops to regional and rural southern Queensland creates a clear pathway for health career choices to grow the rural health workforce.”

Rural Medical Education Australia director of training Paul Purea said the Aspire2Health program allowed the teenagers to experience what a health student did in a day at a rural hospital.

“This program gives students encouragement and self-belief to pursue a health career,” Mr Purea said.

“We also share with them the various entrance pathways to health studies.”

The Aspire2Health workshops are

proudly delivered in collaboration with Griffith University, Southern Queensland Rural Health (SQRH), The University of Queensland - Rural Clinical School, University of Southern Queensland, Department of Employment, Small Business and Training (DESBT), Darling Downs and West Moreton PHN and Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE).

To enrol please visit, https://ruralmeded. org.au/courses/aspire2health/

Please see dates of the Aspire2Health 2023 events below:

· Chinchilla - 9 May 2023

· Dalby - 10 May 2023

· Toowoomba - 23 May 2023

· Toowoomba - 24 May 2023

· Charleville - 11 July 2023

· Roma - 12 July 2023

· Stanthorpe - 1 August 2023

· Warwick - 2 August 2023

· Toowoomba - 15 August 2023

· Toowoomba Region - 16 August 2023

· St George - 5 September 2023

· Goondiwindi - 6 September 2023.

The Aspire2Health program takes teenagers out of the classroom and allows them to experience simulated scenarios and participate in hands-on skills stations.

High school students from across the region are being offered a unique insight into a day in the life of a healthcare worker.

Aspire2Health workshops aim to excite and enthuse the region’s youth to guarantee a future workforce for the growing health industry.

Shadow Minister for Agricultural David Littleproud with Plenty Foods owners Josh Gadischke and Jo Gadischke. 257784 Picture: NEESHA SINNYA

The super high oleic safflower is suited well for Australia’s growing conditions.

Picture: CONTRIBUTED

Long lunch raises $175,000

Australia’s most trusted rural charity, Rural Aid, raised $175,000 for Australian farmers on 31 March at the annual long lunch event.

The lunch was held in Brisbane at the Howard Smith Wharves with more than 340 guests who attended.

The Woolworths Group has exceeded over 10 million in donations to Rural Aid along with S.Kidman and Co and James Power donating $60,000 each.

Rural Aid CEO John Warlters thanked the donators for their support.

“Rural Aid is grateful for their donator’s support, and especially thanks Mrs Rinehart, Ms Leung, and Mr Power,“ he said.

“Thanks for the unwavering support of Woolworths Group, Rural Aid has been able to respond to more than 50,000 requests for help from farmers battling droughts, bushfires, plagues, and floods.”

“It’s a significant number of farmers that we’ve been able to assist over the past eight years; it’s equivalent to every person in Dubbo receiving some form of assistance, whether it be hay, pre-paid VISA cards, or free counseling,

all thanks to Woolworths Group’s support.”

Also attending the lunch was the National Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management Minister, Senator Murray Watt, followed by Queensland Agriculture Minister Mark Furner and Agriculture spokesperson Tony Perrett.

John personally thanked the agricultural ministers for coming to the lunch.

“Their commitment to the ag industry is clear, and we thank them for taking time out of their busy schedules to learn more about the work Rural Aid does,” he said.

Woolworths Group CEO Brad Banducci said how the organisation’s partnership has shown non-stop support for Australian graziers.

“Our partnership with Rural Aid began through the grassroots support from our supermarkets to their local communities doing it tough during the drought,” he said.

“It has grown to become an important part of our national commitment at Woolworths Group to stand by regional Australia during times of natural disasters and delivering on our purpose of creating a better experience together for a better tomorrow.”

Rural Aid CEO John Warlters accepts a generous donation from S. Kidman and Co’s Loretta Leung and Adam Giles. Anthony Lee, Australian Country Choice and Rural Aid CFO Megan Armstrong.

Marlene Nolan and Katrina Mackay from APT Travel Group, raffle sponsors.John Warlters, Rural Aid CEO, Brad Banducci, Woolworths Group CEO, Mat Fisher, Rural Aid Philanthropy and Development Director.

Adam Giles, S. Kidman and Co CEO speaks at the Rural Aid Long Lunch. Pictures: SUPPLIED

in

FROM THE MLA

JASON

STRONG

The cost of living is dominating the news. Every time we read the paper or watch the news, there’s another story about inflation eroding the value of our dollar.

In that context, I recently had someone ask me: can people no longer afford to eat red meat?

It’s a valid question when household budgets are getting tighter. But when we look at the value of red meat, the question should be looked at from another angle.

When we talk about affordability, it is also incredibly important to have a conversation about value. First off, red meat is a very highquality product. It’s consistent and reliable.

This consistency and reliability has been driven by a system called Meat Standards Australia, which is based on almost 1.2 million consumer taste tests by more than 171,000 consumers from 11 countries, taking into account all factors that affect eating quality from the paddock to plate.

In addition to quality, we can also look at how red meat can be the centrepiece of a meal, helping us feel full with its protein and provide a range of fantastic nutrients like zinc, iron, and others. Finding these essential nutrients from other food sources can be difficult and more expensive.

Red meat is also free from additives and it comes from trusted providers: Australian farmers.

When we talk about the affordability of red meat, it’s also important to remember that

there is a range of red meat options that can suit a range of household budgets.

We absolutely believe red meat can and should continue to be a centrepiece of the Australian diet and that meal can be just as delicious whether you are eating eye fillet or lean mince.

The cost of living is currently undergoing scrutiny by a national Parliamentary Inquiry, and MLA presented to this inquiry in Brisbane in February this year. One of my key messages to this inquiry is that gram for gram, red meat is still considerably cheaper (and better value) than other common foods like chips, processed biscuits, muesli bars, and cereals.

When it comes to food inflation, red meat has experienced less of a price rise than many

other grocery items.

According to Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data, prices for products in the food and non-alcoholic beverage subgroup rose 9.2% over the last 12 months.

Amongst the food and non-alcoholic beverage category, the price of meat and seafood increased by the least amount - up 8.2% annually. The food groups that experienced the highest price rises in the last 12 months were dairy and related products (up 14.9%), bread and cereal products (up 12.2%), and non-durable household products (up 12%).

Over the past 12 months the price of fresh fruit and vegetables have increased at a faster rate than meat and seafood. Vegetable and fruit prices were up 8.5% in 2022.

According to ABS data, both beef and lamb retail prices fell in the December 2022 quarter. Beef prices fell 0.28% and lamb fell 2.49%.

There is no disputing that the red meat supply chain is subject to the same inflationary forces as the rest of the economy - labour, energy, transport. These all have an impact on production and processing, along with other issues like recovery from drought and fires and, more recently, major flooding.

At the end of the day, the whole supply chain is very focused on providing a highquality, nutritious product for Australian consumers.

The immense value is there - in the tasty piece of red meat on your fork and in the nutritional benefit that it provides your body.

country k tchens recipes

Sweet and Sour Chicken

Serves: 6

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 15 minutes

1 serve per portion

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons cornflour

• 2 tablespoons water

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 1 onion, sliced

• 1 garlic clove, minced

• 400g chicken breast, diced

• 1 carrot, sliced into rounds

• 2 teaspoons ginger, grated

• ½ red capsicum, diced

• ½ green capsicum, diced

• 440g can pineapple pieces in juice, drained

Sauce:

• ½ cup pineapple juice (reserved from canned pineapple)

• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

• 1 tablespoon soy sauce, reduced salt

• 1 tablespoon tomato sauce

Method:

• MIX together the sauce ingredients in a small bowl, set aside.

• PREPARE a cornflour slurry by mixing the cornflour with water in a small bowl or mug. Set aside.

• HEAT oil in a wok or frypan over high heat. Add the onion and garlic and stir fry for 1-2 minutes.

• ADD the chicken and carrot to the wok and cook until chicken is sealed but still pink inside (2-3 minutes). Add the ginger and capsicum and stir fry for a further 2 minutes.

• ADD the sauce to the wok and stir until it starts to boil. Simmer for a further 3 minutes until chicken is cooked through and vegetables are tender.

• STIR through the cornflour mixture and simmer until sauce thickens. Add pineapple pieces and take off the heat.

• SERVE with brown rice.

Ever yday Everyday Food

Beef Teriyaki Balls

Serves: 8 (makes 24 meatballs)

Ever yday Everyday Food

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cook time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

Meatballs:

• 500g lean beef mince

• 1 onion, very finely chopped

• 1 carrot, very finely chopped

• 1 cup breadcrumbs

• 2 tablespoons soy sauce

• 2 teaspoons fresh ginger, grated

• 1 egg, lightly beaten

• 2 tablespoons sake

• 2 tablespoon potato flour or corn flour

• Cracked black pepper

• 2 tablespoons peanut oil

Teriyaki sauce:

• 1/3 cup soy sauce

• 1/3 cup sake

• 1/3 cup sugar

• 1/3 cup mirin

• 1/3 cup water

• 1 serve per portion

Garden salad:

• ½ head lettuce, shredded

• 1 medium cucumber, sliced

• ½ punnet cherry tomatoes, halved

• ½ small Spanish onion, sliced thinly

• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

• Extra virgin olive oil

Method:

• COMBINE all meatball ingredients except the peanut oil in large bowl and mix well.

• ROLL mixture into evenly sized balls (roughly golf ball sized).

• HEAT oil in frypan over medium heat and add meatballs. Fry until golden brown, remove and set aside. Repeat until all meatballs are cooked.

• COMBINE teriyaki sauce ingredients in a small saucepan and cook until sauce thickens slightly (5-10 minutes).

• PLACE meatballs in a bowl and coat with teriyaki sauce.

• ADD salad vegetables to a large bowl and toss to combine. Drizzle over balsamic vinegar and olive oil just before serving.

• SERVE salad together with the meatballs.

Empowering women through education and health is a priority for the Queensland Country Women’s Association (QCWA). The QCWA Country Kitchens program, funded by the Queensland Government through Health and Wellbeing Queensland, supports Queenslanders to adopt healthier lifestyles. To find out more about the program visit https://qcwacountrykitchens.com.au/.

Recipe courtesy of the Country Kitchens team

Recipe courtesy of the Country Kitchens team

Get your bling on for sale

By Breanna Lloyd

Put on your bling and grab your bidding cards, for the Grant Daniel Long (GDL) Brangus Ladies Invitational Notable Genetics sale (BLING) on 27 April at Paradise Lagoons.

Offering a powerhouse of 24 exquisite lots and one flush of heifers, buyers have the opportunity to purchase a variety of genetics from 12 different stud vendors.

Cocktail dress, an operational bar and canapes will be served at 5pm before the auction commences at 6:30pm.

Racing Queensland, Rocky Amateurs and

GDL have partnered to help showcase the herd on the barrier draw for the Archer Horse on 26 April.

The led heifers will each be allocated a number and that will be the barrier number for the slot holder in the race.

Having both statewide and international interest the event will be broadcasted on Elite Livestock and live-streamed to World Brangus Congress in Argentina.

GDL branch manager Joshua Heck said how the vendors feel about the upcoming event.

“I’d just like to congratulate the vendors for selflessly putting up some of the best heifers

you will see out of any breed for this special event.,” he said.

“The excitement and build-up to this sale is probably the best I’ve seen and the vendors have really got behind the promotion of this sale.

“Doesn’t matter what breed you are in, the BLING sale will be a must-see.”

Owner of Earlwood Brangus stud Mick Madden said why he offered his herds genetics.

“Offering quality females, getting different genetics and just high-quality females for people to purchase,” he said.

“That’s what the wholesale is about.

“Everyone has got high-quality females there, and I don’t think I have ever seen a line of 24 heifers that have this good of quality.”

GDL stud stock agent of five years Georgie Connor said why this is a rare occasion.

“It is a unique opportunity to showcase the Brangus Breed to interstate visitors who will also be in attendance,” she said.

“There has been a strong inquiry to date and it certainly is and will be a highlight on the Brangus calendar for many years to come.

“This is an empowering moment for the entirety of Brangus Females in Queensland.”

New and consolidated Aussie Meat Trade Hub launched

Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) has launched the Aussie Meat Trade Hub.

The Aussie Meat Trade Hub is MLA’s new single source for resources and services to assist with buying, selling and marketing Australian beef, sheepmeat and goatmeat across global markets.

According to Andrew Cox, general manager - International Markets at MLA, the Hub’s greatest benefit is that it brings together a wide variety of great promotional tools into one place.

Users can also access everything through a single log in.

“Prior to the Hub’s launch, users may have needed to log in multiple times across mul-

tiple websites to complete different tasks,” Mr Cox said.

“Now, users can access the five functional areas: exporters database, brand and licensing, assets library, global insights and trade shows, in one place with access via a single sign-on using their existing myMLA account.“

As of this month, the Hub is open to all MLA partners, including exporters, importers, retailers, butchers, and chefs from around the world.

Users simply need to log-in by using their existing myMLA account.

There is also relevant content for Australian red meat producers and MLA’s

industry partners.

Users will enjoy content tailored based upon their profile and the full range of tools and services offered by MLA.

While the new Hub provides benefits for Australian producers and exporters, there are a range of benefits available for those in overseas markets.

For importers, they can connect directly with potential exporters to enquire about world class Australian red meat through the new and improved Hub.

An integrated workflow enables trade show exhibitors to self-manage trade show preparations such as supplying booth artwork and gives users access to marketing

collateral and brand imaging.

Mr Cox said the ultimate role of the Hub is for the world to have a single, streamlined site to access suppliers of world class Australian red meat.

“Australia’s reputation for producing trusted high quality red meat products is shown by Australia exporting to more than 100 countries around the world,“ he said.

“The Aussie Meat Trade Hub simply makes buying and selling the world’s best red meat easier.

“We’re very excited to showcase our product to more of the globe through this Hub.“

Mick Madden owner of Earlwood, Livy. Her sire is the top-priced bull at CBC in 2021. Brad and Nicole Saunders, Pheasant Creek, Skye.

Bullakeana stud, Victoria’s Secret, who is sired from Junior Champion Female at BEEF 2021, owned by Brad and Vicki Hanson.

Plenty to see out west

By Breanna Lloyd

The Way Out West Festival in Winton kicked off at 4pm on 31 March, and had a string of live events for its audience.

The two-day festival brought a new line of performances to their viewers known as Bulls, Bands, and Bikes After Dark (BAD).

In addition to this, Winton offered guests with champion freestyle motocross riders, professional PBR bull riders and a series of live bands.

World champion Pat Bowden and record breaker Robbie Maddison brought their skills from Sydney’s Freestyle Kings to present their gravity-defying freestyle motocross show.

A prize of $50,000 was offered to the best and longest rode bull rider, leaving it to be ‘the richest bull ride in the west.’

PBR Australian General Manager Glen Young said what else riders competed for.

“In addition to the cash prize, riders were also competing for crucial points to them to qualify for the PBR Origin Series on 22 April,” he said. Mount Isa rider Dovonvan Rutherfurd, took home his first-ever PBR win, with Macaulie Leather from Calliope who grabbed second place.

Australian artists Amy Sheppard, Andrew Farriss, Robbie Mortimer, Hayley Jensen, Melanie Dyer, Andrew Swift, James Van Cooper, and Wade Foster all took to the stage over the weekend.

Due to concerns about a Covid outbreak, the show was postponed in 2022 and Glen said how the idea turned out to be a terrific experience for guests.

“This event was just an idea back in 2017, it was actually a great feeling to see the PBR team embrace the idea and develop it into an actual live event,” he said.

“It combines great Australian country music talent with daredevil stunts from the world’s best freestyle riders and then the best bull riders in the nation.”

PBR Australia Senior Consumer Marketing Manager Amanda Tuimalealiifano said how amazed she was with the turnout.

“The atmosphere was so electric, and it was great to see so many people come to the town for the weekend full of fun,” she said.

“We are looking forward to continuing to replicate our BAD events in other areas and seeing everyone from different corners of the country come together.”

Live action shot of Dan Ruhland coming off a ripper bull.Aaron Kleier trying his hardest to stay on the bull.

FMX riders readying up for their ride.

Family and friends at the Way Out West Festival enjoying the atmosphere.

Picture: SUPPLIEDThe crowd enjoying the performances.

Amy Sheppard performing at the Way Out West Festival.

Cattle report Report Date: 13/04/2023

Saleyard: Blackall

A total of 1,100 head were yarded at Blackall this week. The prime cattle consisted mostly of local cattle while the light weight yearlings included a run of 450 yearlings from Halls Creek, WA. Prime cows sold to strong demand and the inclusion of a live export order improved prices for heavy bulls.

There was solid demand from local restockers for steers over 280kg, with those 280 to 330kg selling to 394.2c to average 374c and medium weight steers returning to the paddock also sold to 394.2c to average 362c/kg.

‘C’ muscle light weight restocker heifers sold to 352.2c while a large run of light weight ‘D’ muscle heifers sold to the processor at a top of 246.2c to average 219c/kg. Medium weight heifers to the restocker sold to 350.2c.

Heavy prime heifers to the processor sold to 295.2c, medium cows sold to 266.2c to average 260c and good heavy cows sold to 280.2c to average 271c/kg.

Light weight bulls sold to 354.2c and heavy bulls to the processor sold to 276.2c to average 259c/kg.

A pen of PTIC heifers sold to $1840/head.

-Market reporter, Sam Hart

Report Date: 19/04/2023

Saleyard: Casino

Casino penned 1713 head which was 652 extra from last sale. Young cattle provided the bulk of the offering with cows accounting for just under half the yarding. The regular buyers attended to a cheaper market due to extra numbers and a lapse in quality for a portion of the offering. Steer weaners sold to dearer trends to restockers and processing steers dearer to 432c/ kg. The better bred weaner heifers were slightly dearer however the bulk of the heifer offering sold to considerably cheaper trends owing to large drafts of plainer quality and conditioned cattle. Yearling feeder steers were significantly cheaper as were the heifers selling to 350c/kg back to the paddock. Heavy grown steers sold to 302c/kg and heifers to 291c/kg. The cow market was cheaper with quite a few plainer cows offered. Medium weight cows sold to 248c/kg the heavy drafts firm to cheaper to top at 274c/ kg. Cows back to the paddock made 250c/kg.

Report Date: 19/04/2023

Saleyard: Gracemere

Another increased yarding at CQLX Gracemere sale with 2865 head on offer, 1393 head more than last week. The yarding came mostly from the usual draw area with smaller numbers this sale from coastal areas around Bowen. Quality and condition were good throughout the major portion of the offering. Feeders, processors and restockers offered better competition to improve returns to most vendors. Light weight yearling steers reached a top of 525c/kg, averaging 369c to 427c/kg - relative to breeding and Bos Indicus content. Medium weight pens averaged 309c to 381c/kg with a 445c/kg top price.

Yearling heifers in light weight pens sold to 403c/kg to average 280c to 331c/kg. Score 3 and score 4 bullocks to processors made from 279c to 320c/kg average, with a 327c/kg top whilst grown steers to feed topped at 359c/kg to average 280c to 338c/kg. Grown heifers to the trade averaged from 282c to 299c/kg. Those to livex averaged 280c to 305c/kg and those to feed 282c to 305c/kg. Restocker cows averaged 230c/kg with heavy, four score cows averaging 273c/kg and topping at 279c/kg. Heavy bulls averaged 281c to 284c/kg to livex and processors with a top of 291c/kg. Cows and calves made from $1,800 to $2,350 per unit for the better bred pens with several pens of PTIC cows and heifers making from $1,100 to $1,400 per head.

-Reporter: Richard Thomson

Report Date: 19/04/2023

Saleyard: Dalby

Dalby agents penned 4,820 head a lift of 3,404 with 1,080 from far western QLD 190 from NSW and the balance from the local supply area. The regular processors and feeder operators plus restockers were active across the suitable lines however the lesser quality cattle received limited competition. Yearling steers to feed lifted in price by 11ckg with yearling heifers to feed firm a large run of good western heavy cows sold to prices that mirrored last weeks rates.

Light weight yearling steers to restockers made 496c/kg. Yearling steers in the 200-280kg range made 502c to average 424c/kg. Yearling steers over 280kg to restockers made 394c/kg. Yearling steers over 330kg to feed lifted in price and made to 438c to average 376c/kg. Heavy yearling steers to feed followed the trend and sold to 380c and averaged 358c/kg. Light weight yearling heifers to background made 378c to average 341c/kg. Yearling heifers over 330kg to feed made 344c/kg. Yearling heifers over 400kg to feed averaged 321c and sold to 340c/kg.

Grown steers to processors averaged 308c and sold to 320c with those to feed sold to 364c/ kg. Grown heifers to feed made 330c to average 305c/kg. Medium weight cows to processors made 255c to average 229c/kg. A line of PTIC cows to restockers made 274c/kg. Good heavy score 4 cows to processors made 278c to average 271c/kg. Heavy bulls sold to 302c and averaged 269c/kg.

-Market Reporter Errol Luck

Report Date: 13/04/2023

Saleyard: Emerald

Emerald vendors offered a slightly smaller yarding of 1600 head which were mostly drawn from the local area. There were good numbers of prime cows and well bred weaner steers and heifers along with quality pens of feeder steers. The usual lineup of processors and feeder buyers were present along with local and travelling restockers. Yearling steers in light weight pens sold to 471c/kg to return quality related averages from 337c to 382c/kg to restockers. Medium weight lines made from 320c to 367c/ kg. Yearling heifers in light weight lines made to 401c/kg, returning averages from 297c to 357c/ kg. Medium weight pens averaged 265c to 357c/ kg - quality related.

Grown steers went to feed to average 309c to 351c/kg, whilst the few bullocks offered made from 306c to 309c/kg. Grown heifers went to the trade to average 276c to 292c/kg with feeders buying their grown heifers from 274c to 288c/ kg average. Heavy, four score cows averaged 269c/kg and heavy bulls sold to processors to average 285c/kg and top at 301c/ kg. One pen of cows and calves sold for $1,890 per unit.

Report Date: 18/04/2023

Saleyard: Roma

The combination of seasonal conditions and no sale for two weeks due to the Anzac Day holiday next week, cattle numbers at the Roma store sale lifted to 7,713 head to be 5,013 more than the previous sale. Cattle were drawn from a wide area of the state plus 885 head from New South Wales. Buyer attendance was good with the larger numbers attracting additional operators. Buyers were able to absorb the larger numbers plus maintain firm prices across most categories and yearling heifers improved in price.

Light weight yearling steers returning to the paddock made to 526c to average 424c with poor quality lines at 331c/kg. Yearling steers under 330kg averaged from 403c to 416c with restockers lines to 450c and feeder classes 446c/ kg. Medium weight yearling steers to feed averaged 378c and made to 426c/kg. Heavy weight yearling steers to feed averaged 364c with one outstanding pen to 410c/kg. Light weight yearling heifers returning to the paddock made to 370c to average 349c and poor quality lines 272c/kg. Yearling heifers to feed averaged

from 325c to 342c and sold to 370c/kg. Grown steers and bullocks to export processors made to 322c to average 313c/kg. Medium weight 2 score cows made to 246c to average 234c/kg. Heavy weight 3 score cows averaged 252c and good heavy weight cows made to 275c a large number at 267c/kg. Heavy weight bulls made to 302c/kg. Light weight bulls returning to the paddock made to 398c/kg.

-Market Reporter, Trevor Hess

Report Date: 17/04/2023

Saleyard: Toowoomba

The number of cattle penned at Toowoomba increased to 196 head. Young cattle were in the largest numbers and only a handful of cows were penned. A fair panel of buyers was present and operating across all classes. Light weight yearling steers to restockers averaged 7c/kg better. Yearling heifers to restockers and feed also lifted in price compared to the previous sale two weeks ago.

Light weight yearling steers under 200kg returning to the paddock made to 440c/kg. Yearling steers under 280kg to restockers averaged 378c and reached a top of 418c/kg. Yearling steers to feed for the domestic market made to 412c and averaged 400c/kg. Handful of heavy weight yearling steers to feed made to 336c/kg. Light weight yearling heifers to restockers or background made to 378c and averaged 338c/ kg. Yearling heifers to feed averaged 325c and made to 342c/kg. Heavy weight feeder heifers sold to 322c and averaged 319c/kg.

Grown steers to feed made to 312c/kg. The best of the cows made to 238c/kg. Cows and calves made to $2,320/unit.

-Market Reporter, Trevor Hess

Report Date: 18/04/2023

Saleyard: Warwick

With Anzac Day falling next Tuesday numbers lifted by 635 head to 916 at Warwick. The yarding contained improved numbers of bullocks and heavy cows plus quality lines of feeder and restocker yearling steers and heifers. All the usual export processors were present along with local restockers and feeder operators who competed strongly lifting prices across all classes.

Light weight yearling steers to restockers made 478c/kg. A good sample of yearling steers in the 200-280kg range to restockers made 472c to average 389c/kg. Yearling steers over 330kg to restockers made 442c and those to feed sold to 382c/kg. Heavy yearling steers to feed made 376c to average 343c/kg. Light weight yearling heifers to background made 426c to average 335c/kg. Yearling heifers in the 200-280kg range to restockers made 347c to average 325c/kg. Yearling heifers to feed for the domestic market made 348c with those to the wholesale meat trade selling at 412c/kg. Young bullocks to processors made 330c to average 318c/kg. Grown heifers to processors made 312c to average 298c/kg. Light weight cows to processors averaged 254c and sold to 259c with good heavy score 3 and 4 cows averaging from 257c to 270c and selling to 278c/kg. Heavy bulls to processors made 293c to average 270c/kg.

-Market Reporter Errol Luck

-Market Operator, Stephen Adams

Machinery: JD4240 tractor, Kubota GR2120 Ride

• Three years with purchase option

•Cattle property preferably located Northern Downs/South Burnett areas.

• Capable of carrying 200 breeders

• Must have good water, yards and secure boundaries

Housing not required, however, may suit landowners wanting to semi retire/slow down

AFL grudge match

The fiercely contested southern Queensland versus North Queensland representative clash returns in 2023.

North Queensland will defend its titles on home soil this year, with both men’s and women’s games to be played in Cairns at Cazaly’s Stadium on Saturday 24 June.

The North Queensland side – comprising players from the Cairns, Capricornia, Mackay, Mount Isa and Townsville leagues – will take on the best players from the South East Queensland’s QFA, Darling Downs and Wide Bay.

This is the second time women will have

Annette

Camps kick goals again

AFL Community Camps are done and dusted for 2023 with more than 25,000 kids participating following a two-year hiatus due to Covid-19.

Brisbane Lions players visited more than 12,000 students across 51 schools in the Wide Bay, Sunshine Coast, Darling Downs and Southeast Queensland regions.

Speaking at the Super Clinic in Toowoomba, Lions’ defender Brandon Starcevich reflected on his own experiences with AFL visits and the role Community Camps play for young fans.

“I grew up in Perth and remember having some West Coast Eagles players coming to my primary school,“ he said.

“I was a Freo supporter, but it was pretty cool to have some AFL players at your school, running a few clinics and chatting with them.

“They were definitely role models and superstars in my eyes so it’s pretty weird to be on the other side of it now.”

an opportunity to play in the intrastate representative game, after a highly successful inaugural match last year.

As the program eyes its eighth year for the men, players are chomping at the bit to represent their regions.

Queensland competitions manager Mitch Simpson said the prestigious clash was a key event in the Queensland football calendar, which players looked forward to each year.

“The North Queensland versus southern Queensland representative games are a fantastic way to showcase the up-and-coming talent that exists across regional and South

East Queensland,” he said.

“It’s always exciting to see the new talent that emerges from the squads.

“Over the past couple of years, all squads have had a good mix of youth and experience, which we can expect to see again this year.

“There’s a really strong rivalry between the two sides, which has made the clash a very popular event among the players.

“It was a clean sweep for North Queensland across both the men’s and women’s games last year, so southern Queensland will be wanting to square the ledger this year.”

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

Michael Callaghan | P: 0401 233 803

E: michael.callaghan@burnetttoday.com.au

Breanna Lloyd | P: 0447 621 904

E: breanna.lloyd@queenslandfarmertoday.com.au Classified

E: sharon.jones@burnetttoday.com.au

15,000 copies published. Inserted into the following newspapers:

• South Burnett Today

• Central & North Burnett Today

• Warwick Today

• Stanthorpe Today

• Longreach leader

• Central & West Leader Today

• Emerald Today

• CQ Today

• Goondiwindi Argus

Also available from the follow outlets:

• Hartleys Newsexpress Toowoomba

• Roma Sale Yards

• Warwick Sale Yards

• Highfields News & Post

• Pittsworth Newsagency

• News Extra Central City

Brisbane Lions’ defender Brandon Starcevich with a fan at the AFL Super Clinic in Toowoomba.

Dalby’s new world record

By Breanna Lloyd

Stationary engine enthusiasts came together at the Dalby showgrounds on 15 April and accomplished breaking the world record for the most vintage stationary engines running at once.

Dalby residents and the district show society achieved their goal and broke the world record now standing at 471 vintage engines running simultaneously for 10 minutes.

Over 500 motors were running by 2pm on the day and had to last for 10 minutes to complete the record and the 52 which broke down before the 10 minutes were eliminated.

The Dalby residents were confident in breaking the record as they strived to bring the competition to Queensland (QLD) and make history.

Fuel cans, oil tins, and spanners were all put to use throughout the 10-minute period as the majority of the motors were 30 years old and over.

The Dalby community were preparing for the event since Easter and organised many local clubs to help make the occasion happen.

The day before was what residents called ‘Tinker Day’ where repairs, maintenance, and transport were all underway.

On the day it was ‘all plans being put into action’ as more engines arrived, warming up the motors and last-minute repairs took place.

Over several hundred volunteers arrived at the show, supporting the operators with supplies and errands.

Darren Grey organiser of the Machinery World Record and long-time engine enthusiast offered a total of 43 vintage engines to the event. Mr Grey said the moments leading up to the starting time were tense and the excitement of breaking the record.

“The atmosphere was electric but sus-

penseful leading up to the announcement,” he said.

“When we got the record it was like relief, joy, and happiness all at once.”

Mr Grey said why he decided to go through with the idea.

“I wanted to put Dalby on the map and do something special for the town and region,” he said.

“I wanted to show people how wonderful

Australia and manufacturing is and how we need to preserve this for future generations.”

World record marketing coordinator Craig Tunley said they were aiming for a big turn-out.

“We wanted to attract and bring people in, whether from Brisbane, Sunny Coast, Goold Coast,” he said.

“We thought maybe people will come to see heaps of people wearing overalls in the world record attempt.”

Youngest overall participants.

Allan Jackson and Darren Grey prepare their 43 engines prior to the world record attempt at the Dalby Show 2023.

Proud winners of the new world record.

Pictures: SUPPLIEDVolunteers Izzy Brown, Emily Akers and Nicole Collins.