Match made in clothing heaven
RB
To celebrate the role of Australian cotton in its workwear range, RB Sellars and Cotton Australia hosted two events in Toowoomba on March 13: a Young Growers Forum focused on the future of farming and a special RB Sellars event at its flagship store showcasing the impact of homegrown cotton in durable, highquality clothing.
More than 70 cotton growers, VIPs and invited guests celebrated the partnership.
Cotton confidence
By Fiona Gowers
was one of the first to pick this year on 31 January, earlier than previous seasons.
Of the 420 hectares he has sown to cotton, Mr Kiely will harvest an initial 15 per cent then grow on the balance “to see what the potential is“.
“We are very happy with the result at this stage,
with early estimates around 11 bales per hectare,“ he told Queensland Farmer Today.
“Overall, we have had a nice growing season throughout with low pest pressure however there were a few minor weather events causing slight impact to yields.
“The quality and yields are looking good and we were happy to receive a further 14 per cent water allocation in February for the 2024/2025 water year, which we are looking to carry forward for next season’s crop.”
Local farmers Justin Yarrow and Thomas Pearce both from Cecil Plains. (Supplied)
Cotton picking continues in central Queensland, with producers cautiously optimistic despite a slow start to the season.
Emerald grower Aaron Kiely, Deneliza Downs,
Address: 154-156 Haly Street
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Resilient new arrival
By Fiona Gowers
Amid the wild weather ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred delivered, Summer Land Camels welcomed a new addition to its herd.
Little Alfie, a strong and healthy baby camel, made his grand debut during the storm.
Born on 10 March, Alfie’s arrival brought a ray of sunshine to the turbulent weather, making his birth a symbol of resilience and new beginnings.
Paul Martin, CEO and founder of Summer Land Camels, expressed his excitement about Alfie’s arrival.
“We’ve seen a lot on the farm, but this is certainly a first — welcoming a baby camel in the middle of a cyclone,“ he said.
“Alfie’s timing is incredible and he’s already won the hearts of our team and visitors.
“He’s a true reminder of the resilience and beauty of nature.”
Alfie is the latest addition to Australia’s largest camel dairy and agritourism destination, located in the picturesque Scenic Rim region of Queensland.
Summer Land Camels is renowned for its award-winning camel milk products, its commitment to sustainable and ethical farming and its unique farm experiences, including camel rides and educational tours.
Visitors can meet Alfie in person as part of the Tour, Taste and Camel Encounter, where guests can interact with the farm’s gentle camels, learn about the nutritional benefits of camel milk and experience the magic of a camel ride.
“There’s something truly special about meeting a newborn camel up close,“ Mr Martin said.
“We love seeing the joy on visitors’ faces when they connect with our animals.“
The farm is expecting a surge in visitors keen to see Alfie, much like the excitement around previous camel births at Summer Land Camels.
Beyond being a beloved agritourism destination, Summer Land Camels is at the forefront of camel dairy innovation in Australia.
The farm has led the way in sustainable agriculture, pioneering regenerative farming techniques that support both land conservation and animal welfare.
“We believe in working with nature, not against it,” Mr Martin said.
“Camels are uniquely suited to Australia’s harsh environment. They’re incredibly efficient grazers, require less water than traditional livestock and play a crucial role in land regeneration.”
The company’s award-winning camel milk and dairy products have experienced rapid growth, with camel milk powder sales surging by 715 per cent since 2021.
This rise reflects the increasing demand for lactose-friendly, nutrient-rich dairy alternatives both in Australia and overseas.
Summer Land Camels recently secured two Gold Medals and the prestigious Australian Cheeseboard Perpetual Trophy at the Sydney Royal Cheese and Dairy Produce Show, further solidifying its position as a premium dairy innovator.
To meet the demand for camel milk, Summer Land Camels has launched a crowdfunding campaign, inviting Australians to be part of the future of sustainable dairy.
“We are revolutionising the health and dairy industries with camel milk,“ Mr Martin said.
“With this funding, we can scale up production, rescue more wild camels and continue crafting premium, nutrient-rich products.“
It was a privilege to meet decorated cattleman Eric Ross this month whose achievements across the dairy and beef cattle industries are vast.
In 2010, Mr Ross was presented with Life Membership of the Australian Ayrshires. Eleven years later, he received the same award from the Square Meaters Cattle Association of Australia.
During his years in the dairy industry, he was a director, then chair of the Port Curtis Dairy Association, chair of the Queensland Dairy Processors Association and a representative of the Australian Dairy Processors Association.
In 1984, he became a director of the Queensland Butter Marketing Board, which was renowned for the butter cooking product QBB Ghee. The Board marketed butter products locally and around the world, mainly in the Middle East and South East Asia.
In the 1980s, he, alongside Professor Ian Langdon, planned the future and amalgamation of the dairy industry in Queensland and, in 1993, he was elected a director and later treasurer of the Livestock and Business Centre at Kiama NSW, which he held for 26 years.
Mr Ross is an unassuming, humble and quietly-spoken man.
When asked for his advice to young cattlemen and women today he recommended learning as much as they could about their interests, then applying it with logic and common sense.
“Most of my goals in life have been achieved through that formula of logicallyapplied learning,” Mr Ross said.
“I believe anyone starting out today, who is willing to expand their knowledge and then apply logic and common sense to its application, will enjoy just as much success and satisfaction.
“It’s up to each of us to try and make the world a better place for everyone, including ourselves and our families.”
Hear, Hear!
- Fiona Gowers
Summer Land Camels welcomed baby Alfie during ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. (Supplied)
Solid cotton season tipped
By Fiona Gowers
Cotton picking continues in central Queensland, with producers cautiously optimistic despite a slow start to the season.
Emerald grower Aaron Kiely, Deneliza Downs, was one of the first to pick this year on January 31, earlier than previous seasons.
Of the 420 hectares he has sown to cotton, Mr Kiely will harvest an initial 15 per cent then grow on the balance “to see what the potential is”.
“We are very happy with the result at this stage, with early estimates around 11 bales per hectare,“ he told Queensland Farmer Today.
“Overall, we have had a nice growing season throughout with low pest pressure however there were a few minor weather events causing slight impact to yields.
“We have another 325ha that has been grown on and we expect to harvest that in midMay.
“The quality and yields are looking good and we were happy to receive a further 14 per cent water allocation in February for the 2024/2025 water year, which we are looking to carry forward for next season’s crop.”
Meanwhile, Theodore’s Andrew French, a third-generation farmer and myBMP certified grower, picked 35ha of cotton in mid-February but was soon hit by 100 millimetres of rain, which delayed further picking.
He had 200ha left to pick and will grow-on a further 100ha.
While only small numbers have been harvested in central Queensland and the Dawson and
that more than 4.8 million bales would be produced.
“Most of our growers have enjoyed favourable weather conditions, but we are mindful that some have been impacted by negative conditions such as very heavy rain, hail or indeed a lack of enough in season rainfall.
“Despite the challenges, we expect to generate more than $3.3 billion for the economy in fibre and seed and that money flows through to our regional and rural economies.”
The Australian cotton growing season usually begins with planting in October but that varies as growers look for the right soil conditions including water profile and temperature before making a decision to plant.
Mr Murray said one of the pleasing aspects this year was some of the new growers emerging in central Queensland and in the Southern Valleys.
“We attended an ‘acres of opportunities’ information session last year in Kilcummin and there were farmers there looking for other options due to the poor return for sorghum,“ he said.
“Of those, several have chosen to grow dryland cotton this season for the first time and the early results are impressive.
“We also have new and emerging growers in the Murray Valley with indications that they too are being rewarded with good crops thanks to the conditions.”
The last crops for season 2025 should be picked in April to May.
Elders back Cowboys with two-year deal for both teams
Elders has committed to a two-year Gold partnership with the North Queensland Cowboys to support both its NRL and NRLW teams.
Elders is a long-term supporter of the club, which is an integral part of the sports - and broader culture - in Queensland.
General manager Queensland and Northern Territory Lisa Hewitt said Elders was committed to its service in the north and is driven to supporting like-minded organisations that can make real and long-term impacts.
Celebrating their 30th anniversary in 2025, the Cowboys is a club that embodies the notion of what it is to be a Queenslander.
The club, which now boast an NRL premiership and was one of the NRL’s earliest teams to develop a women’s team, was started by community members, for the community.
“We acknowledge the critical role that every day Queenslanders and the business houses played in developing an iconic organisation like the Cowboys and, 30 years later, the role not only the Cowboys, but all sporting clubs continue to play in community cohesion, particularly in our regional areas.” Ms Hewitt said.
“I’m proud that our sponsorship this year
will expand to supporting the Cowboys’ NRLW team.
“It’s important that our girls realise and have access to the same opportunities living in rural Queensland and are encouraged and supported to achieve their ambitions – in sports or in agriculture.”
Chief executive of the Cowboys Jeff Reibel said that he was delighted to again be partnering with Elders.
“Together, the North Queensland Toyota Cowboys and Elders have championed initiatives that have supported the growth and development of rural and regional communities throughout Queensland,” Jeff said.
“We are excited to have Elders aboard again this year, extending their support to include our NRLW program.
“Their support of our round four match day against the Raiders and their activations throughout the year will celebrate our region’s role in Australia’s rural industry.”
Elders and the Cowboys will work together throughout the 2025 season on community events and initiatives.
Elders has committed to a two-year Gold partnership with the North Queensland Cowboys to support both its NRL and NRWL teams. (Supplied)
Callide Valleys, growers are cautiously optimistic that yields on the grown-on cotton will exceed 14 bales.
Cotton Australia general manager Michael Murray said, generally, the signs were good across the country for cotton with expectations
Aaron Kiely, Deneliza Downs, Emerald, picks cotton in February 2024. (Supplied)
From farm life to finance
By Fiona Gowers
In his final year of university, Henry Rowley revived his childhood dream to work as an agribusiness banker.
“To my six-year-old brain, all an agribusiness banker did was sit around the dining table with people like my Mum and Dad – drinking tea, eating scones and talking about ag.
“It sounded like the best gig ever!
“And, even to my 21-year-old brain, obviously now knowing there was a bit more to it than that, it still seemed like it would be far more fulfilling for me than many other corporate careers.”
Mr Rowley last year graduated from the Australian National University and now joins 12 others in the 2025 Rabo Graduate Program, which agribusiness banking specialist Rabobank hosts.
Since starting its formal graduate program in 2023, the bank has launched the careers of a range of university graduates across the country, in locations spanning from Sydney to Geraldton in regional Western Australia.
Mr Rowley recently began his first four month rotation in the Toowoomba rural banking team as a credit analyst.
“Credit is a lot of fun,“ he said. “Put simply, you are looking at financial data and determin-
ing if there is a ‘deal’ or not.
“As a graduate, I am doing the basics to start off with. I am mostly writing annual reviews for clients, making sure they are performing well and helping our rural managers put in place strategies to support our clients with their banking needs.“
Originally from a sheep and cattle farm near Goulburn in New South Wales, Mr Rowley said he was excited to be working in Queensland.
“The grad program provides a great opportunity to work from a range of locations that I may otherwise not have had the chance to,“ he said.
“And, having the opportunity to learn about the industries and commodities produced in those different regions and develop an understanding of their complexities is something really appealing about Rabobank’s graduate program.“
During the 18-month graduate program, Mr Rowley will work in Rabobank’s head office in Sydney, before rotating through its Adelaide, Cloncurry or Geraldton branches.
He will then accept a full-time role wherever his passion may lie.
As to career goals, Mr Rowley is open minded.
“If I had to pinpoint it, my goal is to go full circle – inspiring some young farmer into thinking that all I do is drink tea, eat scones and talk about ag with their parents.
“Hopefully, they pursue that passion like I did. That goal probably involves some form of customer-facing relationship role – such as a ru-
ral manager.“
Meanwhile, fellow 2025 program graduate, Molly Davidson has begun her first rotation in Rabobank’s Perth office.
Each graduate is paired with a senior leader within the Rabobank team to provide mentorship and help graduates build their skills and knowledge and gain a broader understanding of the agricultural sector.
Ms Davidson has been matched with Rabobank’s state manager for WA, Steve Kelly.
Ms Davidson said she was familiar with Rabobank having grown up at Lucindale in South Australia’s south east.
“The bank and the local staff support so much across the ag community – local shows and sales, field days, expos and royal shows,” she said.
“Growing up in my family’s farming business – two sheep studs and a commercial cattle and sheep operation – I had the chance to see first-hand my parents, sitting at the kitchen table, working with their bank manager.
“It’s a role that requires not only an understanding of finance but also an understanding of the challenges within farming and be able to provide support.”
Early entry applications for the 2026 Rabo Graduate Program will open from March 18, 2025. For more information on the program, visit the Rabobank website or click here.
Rabobank graduates 2025. (Supplied)Mr Rowley last year graduated from the Australian National University and now joins 12 others in the 2025 Rabo Graduate Program.
Program graduate, Molly Davidson has begun her first rotation in Rabobank’s Perth office.
All Stars are shining bright
By Breanna Lloyd
The annual Rocky All Stars Elite Brahman Female Sale left vendors and buyers satisfied, achieving an 84 per cent clearance rate.
Held on Saturday, 15 March, at CQLX Gracemere Saleyards, the sale offered a total of 63 lots of grey and red Brahman cows, calves, and heifers, along with three semen packages.
The cow and calf duo, lot 1 — Glengarry Duchess 3308, offered by Michael Ingram, Glengarry Cattle Co — kickstarted the bidding and topped the sale, selling for $16,000.
Equalling the top sale price of $16,000 was Lot 58 — Stockman Dienka 644, offered by Christopher McCarthy of Stockman Red Brahmans.
The 17-month-old red heifer was purchased by Brian Hughes of Lanes Creek Brahmans, Georgetown.
Buyers came from as far north as Georgetown and Charters Towers and as far south as the New South Wales border.
Elders stud stock agent Michael Smith said it was a pleasing day for all involved.
“Overall, it was a big and good spread of cattle from across the state,” he said.
“I’d like to congratulate the vendors, buyers, and everyone else involved.”
Full sale results:
Grey cows and calves
• Two out of two sold
• Average - $13,500
Top price was lot one, which sold for $16,000 and was purchased by M Ingrham.
Grey heifers
• Sold 22 out of 29 (76 per cent clearance)
• Average - $5682
Top was lot eight, which sold for $13,000, offered by Glengarry Brahmans and purchased by M Ingrham.
• Gross - $125,000
Grey females overall
• Sold 24 out of 31 (77 per cent)
• Average - $6354
• Gross - $152,500
Red heifers
• Sold 29 out of 32 (91 per cent)
• Average - $6,483
Top was lot 58 which sold for $16,000, offered by Stockman Red Brahmans and purchased by Lanes Creek Brahmans.
• Gross - $188,000
• IVF Aspiration one out of one for $6000
Semen packages
• Sold two out of two
• Average - $350.
• Top price was $400/straw for lot 35
Overall live lots
• Sold 53 out of 63 (84 per cent)
• Average - $6415
• Gross - $340,000
• Genetics - three out of three sold.
• Gross - $9500
• Overall gross - $349,500
Stockman Dienka 644, Stockman Red Brahmans, equally topped the sale, selling for $16,000 to Lanes Creek Brahmans.
Glengarry’s Duchess 3308 and calf, Glengarry Cattle Co, sold for $16,000. (Supplied)
Boosting housing supply
Quilpie, the little town with the big heart that generated global interest with a Home Owner Grant scheme four years ago, continues to prioritise housing with the completion of stage one of a new townhouse development.
Stage one of the townhouse development has seen construction of six freestanding, two-storey townhouses that are part of a planned 30 lot development completed and officially opened, with their new residents stepping through the doors this week.
Cost of living continues to put pressure on affordability in metro and coastal regions, ensuring demand for housing in outback Queensland remains strong, with Quilpie Shire Council committed to ongoing investment to help ease the housing shortage in their region.
“We introduced a unique home owner grant scheme that resulted in 13 blocks of land sold since 2021,“ said Mayor Ben Hall, Quilpie Shire Council.
“Then Quilpie was the first region to bring modular homes to outback Queensland and now we’ve bought stage one of another housing development to fruition.
“We’re very focused on addressing the issue of housing availability that impacts nearly every town in outback Queensland.
“We’ve been ahead of the curve in coming up with solutions that have attracted new residents to our Shire and resulted in new home builds.
“It’s a legacy that I’ve been very happy to take the baton on and this new townhouse development will help meet the growing demand for accommodation in the region.
“I arrived in Quilpie in 2021 and at 29 yearsold had to live in the Retirement Village the housing shortage was so extreme.
“We have definitely made inroads into that, and have plans afoot to do even more.
QuilpieShireCouncilhostsaribbonceremonyfortheopeningofitstownhousedevelopment.(Supplied)
CEO Justin Hancock. Strategicallylocatedneartheheartoftown,the Townhouse Development offers residents convenient access to essential amenities, including the local swimming pool, hospital and schools.
The project is repurposing the former Shire Works Depot, breathing new life into the site after Council relocated to a modern depot facility in 2016.
“The townhouse project will help ensure that the region remains an attractive place to live and work.“
With a shire population that is currently around 800, Quilpie is located 1000km west of Brisbane.
“The completion of this new townhouse development is the most immediate phase in achieving this,” said Quilpie Shire Council
A carefully designed green space will also be incorporated into the project, providing a relaxing communal area for both residents and locals.
Quilpie Shire Council successfully secured State Government funding through the 2024-28
“There are employment opportunities in Quilpie and we’re renowned as one of the friendliest towns in the Outback and our facilities and lifestyle make us a very liveable town,“ added
It is a popular outback tourist destination renowned for scenic locations such as Hell Hole Gorge and Eromanga Natural History Museum.
Local Government Grants and Subsidies Program, to help bring the vision to life.
Mayor Ben Hall.
Varroa destructor
By Sarah Murphy
Varroa mite is coming ever closer to wreaking havoc amongst Queensland apiaries with Biosecurity Queensland confirming varroa mite (Varroa destructor) has been detected for the first time in Queensland, in a recreational apiary in the Lockyer Valley.
Initial samples from the Lockyer Valley apiary returned a positive diagnostic result for Varroa Destructor earlier this month, but further testing is still underway in additional apiaries in the region to test whether the destructive pest has spread and also check for the presence of other exotic pests and diseases.
This additional threat comes just weeks after varroa mite was discover just kilometres south of the Queensland/New South Wales border near the township of Boggabilla, putting bee keepers in the border regions on high alert.
Department of Primary Industries deputy director-general and chief biosecurity officer Dr Rachel Chay said despite the unsettling news, the detection in of varroa mite in southern Queensland is not a shock considering recent detection in northern New South Wales.
“Biosecurity Queensland has been preparing for this event and is working closely with the affected beekeepers to slow the spread of varroa mite and help guide management practices,” Dr Chay said.
“We’ve joined all other states and territories in shifting our focus from eradication to management to safeguard Queensland’s valuable honeybee industry and recreational beekeeping.
“Queensland’s Varroa Mite Biosecurity Zone remains in place, which restricts the movement of bees, beehives and beekeeping equipment from states and territories with varroa mite.
“We remain committed to supporting the beekeeping industry by working alongside individual beekeepers, peak industry bodies and a dedicated biosecurity champion network.”
Queensland Beekeepers’ Association Presi-
dent Jacob Stevens said the first detection of varroa destructor in Queensland had been expected for some time now.
“Thank you to the Queensland beekeepers who have reported varroa mite. Unfortunately, these reports come as no surprise,” Mr Stevens said.
Queensland bee keepers are hopefully in a good position to mitigate the risk of varroa mite, with most serious bee keepers, including those around the Goondiwindi region, already undertaking regular hive health checks to ensure their apiaries remain varroa destructor free.
With the detection of varroa mite near Bog-
gabilla in January, Goondiwindi bee keepers are already well versed at hive checks and undertaking alcohol washes.
Goondiwindi bee keeper Terry Fairbanks spoke to QLD Farmer Today last month and he is already regularly checking for varroa mite in his hives and that won’t change any time in the near future.
“We’ve already been working with the Department of Primary Industries for a few months in preparation for Varroa Mite entering Queensland and they have provided up with sticky pads and the equipment to do alcohol washes to detect the presence of Varroa Mite,” he said.
“We have been testing out hives regularly for the last couple of months and we haven’t, as of yet, found any mites, but we are prepared for if and when that happens.”
All beekeepers, not matter the number of hives, are urged to remain vigilant and undertake monthly hive health checks to determine varroa mite presence.
All results should be reported to the Bee 123 online form, even if no mites are found.
Immediately report unexpected hive deaths, deformed bees, bees with parasites, poor brood patterns and dead brood to Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23.
Varroa development officers (VDOs) are available to provide advice to all Queensland beekeepers in early detection and integrated pest management principles. VDOs can be contacted at varroa@daf.qld.gov.au.
All beekeepers should:
• monitor for mites monthly using the alcohol wash method
• report all hive checks using the quick and easy Bee 123 form, even if no mites are found
• immediately report any suspect mites, unexpected hive deaths, deformed bees, bees with parasites, poor brood patterns and dead brood to Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23
• stay up to date with the latest information by subscribing to the bee e-alert
• attend a training workshop to learn how to best manage varroa mite in your hives
• register as a biosecurity entity, whether you have one hive or 100
• use decontamination practices between apiaries and always come clean and leave clean
• keep up to date on movement restrictions for your intended destination before moving bees or equipment.
For more information, visit daf.qld.gov.au/ varroa. Beekeepers with enquiries can email varroa@daf.qld.gov.au or call 13 25 23.
/ 9.5 under
A hive in Goondiwindi at risk from Varroa Mite. (Supplied)
A match made in the fields
By Fiona Gowers
Renowned rural clothing brand RB Sellars has given Queensland cotton a big thumbs up, choosing the home-grown fibre as the future of sustainable workwear.
The Australian, family-owned business has embraced Australian Cotton Mark-certified fibre in its best-selling Burton and Sandy work shirts, reinforcing its deep ties to rural Australia and a commitment to premium, traceable materials.
To celebrate the role of Australian cotton in its workwear range, RB Sellars and Cotton Australia hosted two events in Toowoomba on March 13: a Young Growers Forum focused on the future of farming and a special RB Sellars event at its flagship store showcasing the impact of homegrown cotton in durable, high-quality clothing.
More than 70 cotton growers, VIPs and invited guests celebrated the partnership.
“It was an honour to celebrate cotton growers from across the Darling Downs in our Toowoomba store,“ said RB Sellars CEO Jim Gall.
“Aussie growers produce the best cotton in the world and we are proud to be working with them and Cotton Australia to return it to the land, on the backs of farmers across the country who know a hard day’s work.“
The partnership comes as the Cotton to Market program reports unprecedented growth in the industry, with more than 85 million products now carrying the Australian Cotton Mark.
In 2024 alone, 33 million products were licensed, a 16 per cent increase on the previous year, while the number of licensed brand partners has expanded to 52, reflecting 33pc growth.
Mr Gall said the company was a prime example of how Australian brands could lead the way in ethical, local sourcing while maintaining superior product quality.
“RB Sellars has always been about more than just clothing, it’s about creating garments that reflect the strength and resilience of the people who wear them,” Mr Gall said.
“Australian cotton is world-class in durability, breathability and sustainability. For us, using homegrown fibre isn’t just a sourcing decision; it’s an investment in Australian agriculture and the future of responsible manufacturing.”
“Consumers are demanding more transparency about where their clothing comes from.
“When they choose RB Sellars, they’re choosing a product that directly supports Australian cotton farmers, strengthens regional economies and upholds the highest sustainability standards.”
Cotton Australia Board chair Nigel Burnett said RB Sellars’ work with local cotton growers represented a major success story in the shift toward sustainable, locally-sourced materials.
“Australian cotton has come a long way,“ he said.
“Today, it requires 97pc less pesticide, 52pc less water and 34pc less land than it did in 1992.
“Brands like RB Sellars are helping drive the demand for homegrown fibre, proving that Australian cotton isn’t just a better choice environmentally, it’s also a premium product that consumers and businesses alike want to support.”
With traceability and ethical sourcing now key priorities for brands and consumers, RB Sellars is demonstrating how technology can enhance supply chain transparency.
Brooke Summers, who leads Cotton Australia’s Cotton to Market program, said RB Sellars exemplified how brands could harness innovation
to offer customers full visibility into the origins of their clothing.
“The technology is there to show where a piece of fabric comes from, how it was grown and
under what conditions,”
“It can then be followed through the manufacturing process all the way to the delivery of the
Summers said.
end garment.
“RB Sellars’ commitment to Australian cotton proves that traceability isn’t just possible, it’s the future of responsible fashion.”
Clemens Waetjen and Rochelle South (back) from Yarramalong Farm, Brooke Summers, Cotton Australia (front). (Supplied)
Andrew Bridle, Talbingo Pastoral Company and Paul Sloman, Cotton Australia. (Supplied)
Claudia Mitchell, The Capacity Co and Lauren Roellgen, Future Farmers. (Supplied)
Claudia Mitchell, The Capacity Co, Majella Nolan, John Deere and Lauren Roellgen, Future Farmers. (Supplied)
Claudia Mitchell, The Capacity Co, Paul Sloman, Cotton Australia, Mitchell Brimblecombe, Moira Farming and Majella Nolan, John Deere. (Supplied)
Jim Gall, RB Sellars and Adam Kay, Cotton Australia. (Supplied)Rob Crothers, Cotton Australia, Nerina Smith and Garth Hamilton, Member for Groom. (Supplied)
Square Meaters
Quality fair and square
By Fiona Gowers
Bevan and Dawn Voight own Warrill Creek Square Meaters stud at Purga, near Ipswich in south east Queensland.
They offer quality stud stock for breeders and also excellent commercial stock for the meat trade.
“We firmly believe that happy customers are our stud’s best advertisement,“ Mrs Voight said. “Our motto around here is, ’We don’t sell anything we would not happily own ourselves’.
“We don’t advertise much, all of our sales are made through word of mouth.
“Also, If we sell Square Meaters cattle to new breeders, we like to help them really understand what they are doing to ensure they’re on the right track, we feel that’s our responsibility to the breed.“
The Voight’s story so far
The deregulation of the dairy industry forced many small farmers to reassess their futures.
Having run a dairy farm at Purga for almost half a century, the Voights were among those forced “to face the music“.
“Conservative by nature, we took almost two years to decide what to do next,“ Mrs Voight said.
“We knew we wanted to stay on our farm and that we wanted to continue with cattle. So we started looking around at the options.
“Both myself and Bevan wanted cattle that
were quiet, suitable for our area and that could be turned off early at premium rates and I guess that’s what attracted us to Square Meaters.“
Warrill Creek Square Meaters stud boasts both stud and commercial cattle and the Voights are eager to show all who are interested how Square Meaters can inject muscle and finish into crossbred cattle.
Their commercial herd is focused on breeding Square Meaters-cross Illawarra, producing vealers destined for the Silverdale Saleyards
in Ipswich.
“We kept some of our favorite Illawarra milking cows and have had excellent returns for our vealers,“ Mrs Voight said.
“They consistently sell in the top 10 to 20 per cent of the market and Coles is usually the buyer.
“Some of these calves have weighed in excess of 200kg at five months of age, straight off their mother with no grain.“
The Voight’s formed Warrill Creek Square
stud in January 2002
As the years have rolled on, Warrill Creek Square Meaters stud has expanded to more than 50 stud females with many success stories.
“We are very proud of our compact, quiet achievers and the many great show results at different events and sales over the years,“ Mrs Voight said.
“We welcome visitors to view our cattle, So please feel free to contact us at Warrill Creek on 0407 034 634.“
Eric Ross - a Square Meaters success story
By Fiona Gowers
“An unassuming, humble and quietly spoken man of great integrity with a strong passion, energy and drive for the Square Meaters breed, Eric Ross is always ready to step forward and support our breed in whatever way he can.”
So said Julie Gillies of Sunset Park Square Meaters at Peachey when Mr Ross of Rosellino’s Square Meaters was awarded Life Membership of the Square Meaters Cattle Association of Australia Ltd (SMCAA) in October 2021.
“Always a dedicated and passionate member and breeder in the association,” she continued. “Eric is ever-willing to help out with any problem and has made many extremely generous donations over the years.”
Indeed, Mr Ross has belonged to the SMCAA since joining on 14 November 2005 and was on the Board of Directors for nine years, from 20092013 and 2016-2019, assuming the role of treasurer for eight of those.
“As happened when I was awarded Life membership of Australian Ayrshires in 2010, I recognised what a big privilege it was,“ he said.
“I am still honoured to think that both Boards at the time considered me worthy and made those decisions.
Eric Ross has been a director and chair on many Boards through his involvement with the Australian Ayrshires and Square Meaters Cattle Association of Australia Ltd. (Supplied)
“The fact that I teared up (when awarded Life Membership of the SMCAA) proves how proud a moment it was for Marlene and me.”
Starting with Brisbane’s 2007 RNA (EKKA), Mr Ross and his late wife Marlene successfully
led their ribboned Square Meaters through many cattle exhibitions and, whether showing, viewing or in the market to buy or sell, that was their focus.
Mr Ross estimates they would have contributed 400 Square Meaters calves to the national herd, with as many as 100 breeders at one time.
Although now scaled back to a “handful of animals“, Mr Ross still tries to maintain the characteristics the “father of the breed“ Ric Pisaturo had prized a decade earlier.
“Alongside other features, including early maturity and temperament, the Square Meaters’ conformation and constitution gives you the best of what the breed can offer,” said Mr Ross from his 3.2-hectare retirement property at Carbrook in Queensland.
Now considering himself “a city farmer,” Mr Ross was raised on a dairy farm his family had established in the 1930s in the Mackay Hinterland’s Eungella Ranges, before starting the Ardrossan Ayrshire stud in 1957.
In 1993, the Ross family decided to sell its north Queensland farm, favouring a move closer to Brisbane and alternative business opportunities.
“But, it wasn’t long before I heard cattle call-
SQUARE
ing,” Eric said. “And we started looking around for just a small place.”
Initially, it looked as though they might explore their conversion from dairy to beef farming with Herefords, or otherwise add Rosselino’s to the growing Angus network.
But, a chance meeting with Square Meaters at Brisbane’s 2004 RNA (EKKA) changed their minds.
Mr Ross had always coveted traditional Murray Greys and, indeed, had used their semen by artificial insemination on dairy cows not required for breeding.
“When I saw the traditional Murray Greys at the Ekka I said, ’That’s what I want’!“
“They looked the perfect size and a little research proved them to have good conformation and constitution, with a renowned temperament counting among other attributes.
“So we started out with a pen of what I still think of as ‘original’ Murray Greys, fully supporting Ric Pisaturo’s thoughts that they were just right for the domestic market.
“And I still think they, together, got it right. They are the right size cattle for the Australian table and I believe they are the sort of cattle we should be farming.”
Meaters
by buying the bull, Vesco Vice Regal from Jo Van Eltens’s Vesco stud and two heifers from Ron Lowe’s Kre-8 Beef stud.
Exhibiting their Square Meaters at the Brisbane RNA (EKKA) each year for many years has been Bevan and Dawn Voight’s “happy place”. (Supplied)
A full grassfed steer bred by Bevan and Dawn Voight, Warrill Creek Square Meaters stud, Purga. Warrill Creek steers are top performers, producing high quality butcher steers.
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Showcasing innovations
Asia Pacific’s premier agrifood innovation event evokeAG 2025 was hosted in Brisbane last month, giving Queensland the chance to showcase the best of its booming agriculture sector.
This year’s theme Common Ground aimed to highlight Australia’s leadership in agricultural technology and delegates from around the world attended.
A major part of the conference included 12 regional sideline tours across Queensland, showcasing the capabilities of local producers.
Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE), in partnership with SQNNSW Innovation Hub, hosted the Transforming Agriculture in Real Time tour of the Darling Downs region.
It drew more than 70 delegates, with participants from across Australia, the United Kingdom, the European Union and Taiwan.
The tour focused on real-time advances in robotics, automation and tech-driven innovation that enhance business efficiency, drought resilience and sustainability.
The delegation visited Toowoomba region operators Boomaroo Nurseries, Story Fresh, RDO Equipment, Tosari Crop Research Centre, Pulse Data Centre, AgriBusiness Connect, Swarm Farm and Pyrocal.
Each visit emphasised the importance of sharing their stories and showcasing the innovative work being done in regional Queensland’s agricultural sector.
The words of TSBE executive director Dr John McVeigh sum it up: “These tours are so important in demonstrating the capability and capacity in our region and promoting the valuable benefits of agtech to farmers, community and industry is paramount.”
Telling stories - where technology meets tradition to find Common Ground - is the future of food and farming.
Boomaroo
Southbrook-based Boomaroo Nurseries has been producing premium-quality commercial seedlings for more than 30 years. With the capacity to grow up to 400 million vegetable seedlings annually, Boomaroo has evolved into an internationally recognised leader in the horticulture sector. Its Southbrook location was strategically chosen to minimise storm and pest risks, ensuring yearround production and seamless customer connections. As part of the Transforming Agriculture in Real-Time tour, Boomaroo showcased its latest innovations and automation technologies, addressing workforce shortages, enhancing water efficiency and maintaining consistently high product quality.
Story Fresh
The Story family began growing lettuce in the Toowoomba Region in 1965. Since then, this family operation has adapted and embraced agtech to become one of the most trusted vegetable processors in Australia, producing enough shredded lettuce product to make 750,000 burgers per day.
Providing high quality, consistent productand supply chain services to most major food service outlets across Eastern Australia, including McDonald’s and Subway - the Story Fresh story is one of regional and family innovation and tenacity.
RDO Equipment
A key player in regional Queensland’s agriculture, offering advanced machinery and technology. Their products, such as tractors and harvesters, help farmers boost productivity and efficiency. The Toowoomba facility is the largest in the Southern Hemisphere, showcasing the region’s demand for top machinery.
Innovation drives RDO Equipment. They provide the latest machinery and precision farming tools, aiding farmers in optimising operations and cutting labour costs. By partnering with local businesses and focusing on local employment, RDO Equipment supports the regional economy and community.
Tosari Crop Research Centre (TCRC)
Run by the University of Southern Queensland, Tosari spans 748 hectares and serves as a research and commercial cropping facility. It focuses on grains industry research and training, helping to drive innovation in Australian agriculture.
TCRC addresses issues like disease management, soil compaction, cropping constraints and rotation strategies. To ensure reliable research outcomes, the facility operates on permanent tramlines and an eight-year commercial cropping rotation.
During the Transforming Agriculture in Real-Time tour, TCRC showcased its spray drone
technology, showing its potential to support the creation of floating solar farms that reduce water evaporation and preserve cropping land.
Pulse Data Centre
Pulse Data Centre, developed by Toowoombagrown FKG Group, is Australia’s first major data centre outside a metropolitan area. Designed to support corporate enterprises, all levels of government, defence and global technology leaders, the centre was strategically built in the region to enhance disaster recovery capabilities, ensuring asset security for clients.
The centre guarantees 100 per cent uptime for power and cooling, backed by advanced infrastructure that includes redundant power systems and onsite generators, providing continuous operation even in the most challenging circumstances.
FKG’s Pulse Data Project has injected the Toowoomba business community with investment into future data security and management and is another fantastic example of the capability of our local contractors and enterprises.
Swarm Farm
SwarmFarm Robotics began in a paddock in 2012 on Andrew and Jocie Bate’s central Queensland farm. Today, the company has grown significantly, recently opening a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility at Wellcamp Business Park outside of Toowoomba.
With 145 autonomous spray units operating across Australia, Swarm Farm’s robots work around the clock, providing real-time data and direct feedback to farmers, accessible from everyday devices such as laptops and smartphones.
Unlike larger agricultural machinery, these lightweight robots minimise soil impact while offering simplicity and ease of use. SwarmFarm continues to push the boundaries of innovation, developing new automation technologies and adaptable enhancements to meet the evolving needs of its partners and customers.
Pyrocal
Pyrocal is committed to delivering scientifically-verifiable environmental solutions, helping industries and communities navigate the carbon economy and accelerate decarbonisation. Founded with a focus on tackling the growing volume of non-recyclable agricultural waste, Pyrocal has spent over a decade designing and manufacturing industrial-scale biochar production systems for global clients using continuous carbonisation technology.
Operating from Toowoomba, Pyrocal’s systems offer a unique advantage, full-scale trials can be conducted at its demonstration plant while simultaneously producing biochar from nutshells and generating carbon offset credits. In agriculture, biochar provides significant benefits, including improved soil fertility, enhanced nutrient and water retention, heavy metal immobilisation and even animal health benefits when used as a feed supplement.
With its scientifically proven ability to capture and store carbon in a stable form for centuries, biochar stands as one of the most effective Carbon Dioxide Removal methods available today.
John McVeigh, TSBE, Erin Byles, Kate Harris, Wim Linstrom, Bruce McConnell, Southern Queensland Northern New South Wales Innovation Drought Hub at SwarmFarm Robotics. (Supplied)
Eloise Cosgrave of Queensland Farmers Federation and Anna Geddes of TSBE at SwarmFarm Robotics.
Boomaroo Nurseries.
Pyrocal.Tosari Crop and Research Centre.
Tech gets green thumbs up
By Fiona Gowers
With farmers facing unprecedented challenges through food security and climate resilience, Queensland researchers hope new technology will help them understand and solve these issues.
One of the world’s most advanced plant phenotyping technologies is set to revolutionise plant research and agriculture at the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ).
The PlantEye F600 H-Portal, made by Dutch company Phenospex, is a fully automated system that scans thousands of plants multiple times daily to create 3D models with multispectral information.
UniSQ is the first in Australia to acquire the H-Portal model, opening new possibilities for agricultural and crop health research as scientists tackle global challenges such as food security and climate resilience.
UnveiledatarecentlauncheventinToowoomba, the scanner is part of a three-year, $950,000 project that includes upgrades to the glasshouse at the university’s Agricultural Science and Engineering precinct.
UniSQ research logistics manager Lauren Goldspink said the scanner significantly expedited the process of collecting high-quality data.
“This groundbreaking sensor technology can accurately monitor and analyse plant growth and development in a fraction of the time it would take our researchers,” Mrs Goldspink said.
“With its high-throughput and non-destructive data collection capabilities, we no longer face the challenges of manual measurements, which can be slow, costly, subjective and often harmful to the plants.
“This allows our researchers to dedicate more time to analysing and interpreting data, enabling us to find agricultural solutions that benefit farm-
ers, consumers and the environment more quickly and efficiently.“
The scanner can deliver various measurements and insights related to plant growth and productivity, including plant height, growth rates, biomass, leaf pigmentation and stress responses.
Mrs Goldspink said it had proven highly effective in delivering research outcomes in real-world agricultural settings abroad.
“We’ve seen the F600 H-Portal applied in various research projects overseas, including crop breeding programs to assess varieties for traits like drought tolerance and yield potential, disease monitoring to detect early physiological changes in plants affected by fungal or bacterial infections and studies on environmental stressors such as heatwaves and nutrient deficiencies,” she said.
“This model supports precision agriculture by providing site-specific, actionable data that helps farmers and researchers optimise water
use, nutrient application and pest management, ultimately reducing waste and minimising environmental impact.”
UniSQ Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) and acting executive director of the Institute for Life Sciences and the Environment Professor John Bell said the scanner supported the University’s world-standard agricultural and crop health research.
“With the growing global population and escalating environmental challenges, advanced digital tools and technologies like the PlantEye are shaping decisions in agricultural research and development and playing a crucial role in enhancing sustainable agriculture,” Professor Bell said.
“This technology keeps our researchers at the cutting edge of their field, enabling them to address emerging issues affecting farmers and agricultural communities worldwide.”
Neil Robinson and Lauren Goldspink in the glasshouse showcasing the PlantEye 3D Multispectral Scanner. (Supplied)The PlantEye F600 H-Portal.
Home kits cut the long wait
By Fiona Gowers
Wait times in rural and regional areas for essential therapeutic services such as speech, occupational and play therapy are critical, impeding access to time-critical support.
Children are typically waiting up to six months for their first assessment alone, with subsequent wait times to required therapies often up to two years.
Rural communities are, in most cases, feeling this shortfall the most.
Delays in accessing these services - and the lack of early intervention - has significant longterm impacts on health, educational, occupational and emotional outcomes for these children and their families.
As wait times continue to rise, two Australian mums have now developed a solution that’s giving rural families access to immediate, effective support at home.
An accessible solution for rural communities Jess Watson is a speech therapist and the owner of Redlands Children’s Therapy Centre.
Through her work, she sees the impact of the support shortfall first hand daily.
That’s why Jess, alongside play therapist Vanessa Taylor, have created Out of the Box Therapies, a solution for the many rural and regional families in desperate need.
These two Aussie mums, who have three decades of combined experience in providing critical therapy support to local children, have designed at-home therapy kits to provide immediate support for families struggling to access help.
Out of the Box Therapies offer a range of athome therapy kits, which include:
• Step-by-step, expert-designed therapy programs in speech therapy, occupational therapy (OT), play therapy, mental health support, school readiness and anxiety
• All the necessary tools and resources for parents to implement these programs effectively at home, empowering families to take an active role in their child’s development.
The growing need for therapy services in children and adolescents
With an increasing number of children facing challenges such as language delays, sensory processing issues and mental health concerns, the demand for therapy services has never been higher.
The statistics are stark:
• In all, 20 per cent of infants and toddlers experience early language delays.
• One in 14 Australians, including children in our local community, live with a language disorder, impacting their ability to communicate effectively.
• More than seven per cent of children aged 0-14 experience a disability, often requiring ongoing therapeutic support.
• Between 13 and 16pc of children face sensory processing challenges.
• Some 14pc of children aged 4-17 experience mental health concerns, yet only half of these children receive adequate support.
Despite this pressing need, long (and growing) wait times for therapy, as well as a lack of professionals in many communities, mean many of these children miss out on crucial early interventions that could help them overcome these challenges and allow them to thrive academically, socially and emotionally.
This is precisely why Out of the Box Therapies was born.
Created with rural families in mind Jess and Vanessa, who have seven children between them, have decided to take matters into their own hands.
Drawing on their extensive experience - and the expertise of other child development professionals - they created Out of the Box Therapies to support parents in the community who are struggling to access support.
Their boxes are perfect for families who are stuck on long wait lists or who have no local access to support, or even for families who just want some extra support between appointments to expedite their child’s progress.
“We understand how overwhelming it can be when your child is waiting for therapy,“ said Jess Watson, co-founder of Out of the Box Therapies.
“As parents and therapists, we want to do everything we can to help our kids and we knew other families were feeling the same way.
“That’s why we developed these at-home therapy kits — to provide a practical solution and empower families to make a difference in their child’s development, right from home.”
Supporting families when they need it By offering these at-home therapy kits, Out of the Box aims to make a meaningful difference in the lives of rural families.
Whether a child needs speech therapy to address language delays, OT for sensory processing challenges or mental health support to manage anxiety, these kits ensure that children receive the support they need, when they need it.
• To learn more about these at-home therapy kits or to see how they can support your family, visit outoftheboxtherapies.com.au
Wide interest in Charnelle Charolais invitational sale
By Jane Lowe
The 15th annual Charnelle Charolais Invitational Female and Genetics sale has concluded, marking another successful year with strong buyer participation and impressive results.
The event attracted interest from a wide geographical area, with buyers travelling from Charters Towers in north Queensland to Victoria in the south and substantial support for genetics in Western Australia.
As the hammer fell, 71 out of 76 females were sold, achieving a clearance of 81 per cent and an average price of $5105.
The top price of $14,000 was reached for Lot 11, a Mountview Goldbeef S2, owned by Ian and Katrina Bebbington and purchased by John Hurley and Owen Smith of Oakey Bovine Breeding Services.
The only bull offered sold for $6000 to Mark and Fraser Hess Maclagan.
Flushes: two out of three flushes sold at an average price of $3750.
Embryos: 34 embryos were sold, averaging $676.
Semen: 528 straws of semen were sold, with an average price of $76 and a top price of $550 per straw for semen from Ryan and Rachel Holzwart’s stock.
Charolais Youth Packages: Andrew and Jemma Postle, Luke and Leigha Gardner and Mal Stewart from West Moreton Anglican College
purchased Charolais Youth packages, raising $3,400.
AI Tank: One AI tank was sold for $650.
Charnelle Charolais had a great result with 12 out of 12 females selling to an average of $6333, with a top price of $12,000 for Lot 1, pur-
chased by Moondoogundi Charolais. The Charnelle bull sold for $6000.
Mountview Charolais also had fantastic results with all 12 females offered sold, averaging $6208, with a top price of $14,000 for Lot 11.
As long-time vendors at the sale Ian and Katrina Bebbington, Mountview Charolais, were
absolutely thrilled with the result of the sale. Mountview Goldbeef S2, a three-in-one package topped the sale and was sold to John Hurley and Owen Smith, Oakey Bovine Breeding Unit based at Oakey.
Goldbeef S2, with a heifer calf at foot, is sired by Mountview Ramsey, with the cow back in calf to Palgrove Eclipse.
“Its been a long time coming but we finally did it,“ Mr Bebbington said.
“We were so proud to offer such top quality females and to sell the top price female. This is what makes it all worthwhile.“
Branch View sold three out of three females, averaging $6833, with two reaching their top price of $7000 (Lots 14 and 44).
The judging of the Best Female by Jenni Sullivan, Elders Stud Stock Toowoomba, was won by Judith Turner at Jay Tees Charolais with Lot 37 Jay Tees Popcorn’s Urania
The organisers expressed their sincere gratitude to all buyers, bidders, agents, Stocklive, transport companies and other contributors who played a role in the sale’s success.
They also thanked fellow vendors for their collaboration in presenting a high-quality offering of livestock.
Overall, the 15th annual Charnelle Charolais Invitational Female and Genetics sale was a resounding success, demonstrating the strength of the Charolais breed and the dedication of breeders and buyers alike.
Sale topper Mountview Goldbeef S2, owned by Ian and Katrina Bebbington, Mountview, was bought by John Hurley and Owen Smith of Oakey Bovine Breeding Services for $14,000. (Supplied)
Out of the Box Therapies co-founder Jess Watson with a happy client. (Supplied)
Two happy clients using their Out Of The Box Therapies.
Out Of The Box Therapies co-founder Jess Watson with another client.
Open to sesame opportunity
By Julian Lehnert
Sesame could be your new ’crop of the summer’. Growers and agronomists gathered at the Department of Primary Industries’ Kingaroy research station on 20 February for a field day, where they learned about alternative summer cropping options.
Chief among the over a dozen species on display was a plot of sesame varieties, touted by industry members as the next ’opportunity’ crop for Burnett farmers to consider.
Farmers got an in-depth look at a range of white and black sesame varieties by Israeli seed developer Equinom and US firm Sesaco, which have both developed ’non-shattering’ versions of the traditional sesame plant and which the Queensland Government’s Department of Primary Industries has been trialling on Australian paddocks since 2017.
Andrew McDonald, a manager for Australian seed tech company AgriVentis, explained to the crowd that ’normal’ sesame plants must be harvested by hand, as the plant will discharge its seeds when disturbed - meaning it must be harvested carefully by hand to avoid waste.
’Non-shattering’ varieties, instead, retain the sesame seeds inside their pods, allowing a header to harvest the plants without issue; this also means the seeds are not exposed to the elements before harvest time allowing the potential yield to be higher.
Rod O’Connor, a development officer for the Department of Primary Industries, said the change in the sesame plant’s makeup means Australia has the potential to emerge as an industry leader in locally-grown, machine-harvested sesame.
“The big reason Australia has a great opportunity in this market is that, currently, 90 per cent of sesame is hand-harvested,“ Mr O’Connor explained.
“Australian farmers are so innovative and good at harvesting with machines that we can produce
crops really well.
“There’s a huge market here. Plenty Foods in Kingaroy, for instance, are really interested in it [for making sesame oil], because obviously you’d have the whole supply chain here [if local farmers grew sesame].“
Mr O’Connor added that, owing to the sesame plant’s hardy nature and quick growth - nonshattering varieties are harvest-ready within 100 to 170 days from planting - the crop makes for a solid ’opportunity’ option.
“As we’ve got changing climate conditions,
New era in Downs aged care
Senior citizens from across the Western Downs will have the opportunity to spend their golden years in the community they call home now the Illoura Village expansion is open.
The expansion has allowed Southern Cross Care Queensland - the provider of Illoura Village - to transform the site from a 66-bed facility into a contemporary home supporting up to 81 residents.
It includes a dedicated dementia care home.
Funded in part by $14 million from the former Coalition Government’s Aged Care Approval Round, the project has helped set a new standard of care for rural homes.
Leader of The Nationals and Federal Member for Maranoa David Littleproud said the Illoura Village expansion would go “a long way“
to ensuring our seniors can age in Chinchilla, close to the support of family and friends, with the facilities to support their needs.
“It’s a tragedy when our seniors are forced to move away from their rural communities and everything they’ve ever known to a larger town or city to receive care as their needs change,” Mr Littleproud said.
“Everyone deserves the opportunity to grow old with grace, dignity and in the community they call home.
“That’s why I fought hard to secure the funds for this expansion through the former Coalition Government’s Aged Care Approvals Round in 2020.
“It gives me great pride to see this vital project completed.”
we’re looking into alternative options that can fit into both our current and future industries,“ he explained.
“This and many of the other crops at the field day today are a great opportunity crops; this time of year in the Burnett you don’t have a lot of crop options.
“You could grow [sesame], harvest it and still be in time for the winter crop. If you miss, say, the planting window for sorghum, you could plant this stuff,“ he said.
Farmers at the field day were asked to consid-
er ’buying in’ to the sesame craze, though some were critical about the prospects and viability of the crop.
From their questions, they learned the sesame plant requires an investment of fertiliser, can struggle with too much rainfall, and cattle as well as other livestock are not interested in grazing on the plant’s stubble left after harvest.
However, the sesame plant also presents a number of upsides: it allegedly controls nematodes in the soil, blocks out weeds on the paddock and is not strongly affected by drought.
Daniel Weinstock, the chair of the Australian Sesame Industry Development Association, was present at the field day and urged farmers to consider sesame as a summer cropping option.
Mr Weinstock said local interest had the potential to replace around 10,000 tonnes of sesame imported to Australia each year, which is then used to make products like oils and tahini, a Middle-Eastern condiment.
With the help of Burnett farmers, Mr Weinstock said his organisation wants to see the Australian sesame industry grow to up to 400,000 hectares - making it a strong player in the six million-tonne annual sesame market.
Illoura Village expansion opening smoking ceremony.
Leader of The Nationals and Federal Member for Maranoa David Littleproud with Chinchilla locals at the Illoura Village expansion. (Supplied)
A plague acknowledges the opening of the Illoura Village expansion.
Western Downs councillors George Moore, Sophie Bougoure, Sam Condon and Maranoa MP David Littleproud.
Daniel Weinstock, chair of the Australian Sesame Industry Development Association, with a crop of black sesame. (460989)
Scott Campbell from the Department of Primary Industries holds up a sesame plant. (Julian Lehnert: 460989)
Experts share with farmers
By Sarah Dimond
Tara Rural Supplies invited local farmers to join them at the Condamine sports club last week to hear from experts on carbon farming, animal health and canola crops.
Around 30 farmers headed to the event to hear from experts from DPI, Abby Animal Health and Pioneer Seeds.
“We do these to bring together farmers and experts,” Eric Liljegren from Tara Rural Supplies said.
Jed Sommerfield from the Department of Primary Industries spoke about carbon farming and how the government funded carbon credits which can generate a side income for farmers.
Chris Rutland from Pioneer spoke about growing canola in the area and how it could be a valuable crop for the region.
Jay Richards from Abby Animal Health presented some information about its products, informing farmers.
Mr Liljegren described the Farmers Night as an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the topics from experts.
They plan to hold another two farmers’ nights this year around the region.
Chris Rutland from Pioneer Seeds spoke about the potential for Canola to be a crop in the Western Downs.
David Gunther (Owner of Condamine Seeds and Tyres and Tara Rural Supplies) with Heidi Loveday (Sales at Condamine Seeds and Tyres.)
Jed Sommerfield from Department of Primary Industries spoke about carbon farming.Jay Richards from Abbey Animal Health spoke about their products.
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Shoot for the musical stars
By Breanna Lloyd
Central Queensland rising country music star
Mackenzie May is shooting for the musical stars as she kicks off the year with her second single, Old School Kind Of Love.
With a passion for her trusty guitar and singing capabilities, the 19-year-old struck a chord of luck in the industry after being named a finalist in the prestigious 2023 Ekka Country Music Showdown and winning the 2024 Tamworth Songwriters Association Novice Songwriter of the Year award.
Mackenzie shared that her new single, Old School Kind Of Love, is based on modern societies love and how it is different from how it was ‘back in the day.’
“My pop grows roses, and he brings my nan a new bunch every week. That’s what inspired me to pursue this new song,” she said.
“While brainstorming, I noticed it’s not common for men to do any romantic gestures anymore like opening doors, not buying flowers and not meeting the dad and shaking his hand.
“This is where I thought of the title (Old School Kind Of Love) and ran with it.”
Mackenzie quickly got to work, letting her artistic colours flow, and within only an hour of work, the song was complete.
Mackenzie draws inspiration from influential artists like Chris Stapleton, Colter Wall and Sierra Ferrell.
From these artists, she intertwines her knowledge and experiences into her music.
“I don’t know how to explain it; ideas just come to me,” she said.
“Honestly, I have lost count on how many songs I’ve made over the years.
“My notes app is filled with heaps of different songs, probably many will never be released.”
Mackenzie’s musical journey began when she first learned to sing at a young age, thanks to her pop, a former country music singer, and when she learned to play the guitar at the age of 13.
“My pops’ style of music really inspired me, and now I love classic country music,” Mackenzie said.
In addition to songwriting, singing and performing, Mackenzie keeps herself busy by solely operating a home beauty salon while working at a juice and smoothie bar during the week.
Thanks to the tremendous support of the Central Queensland community, Mackenzie has been able to build her musical career to where she now stands.
“The CQ community has been really supportive of me, my music, and my upcoming career,” she said.
“I love this area so much, honestly. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to leave this place.
“Moving to the Brisbane area is definitely an option because of how many great opportunities they have down there.”
With adventure in her heart and her dream becoming a reality, Mackenzie plans to hit the road running, playing her country music throughout Australia.
‘Get in and have a go’: Horsewoman an inspiration
By Maddison Richards
A true test of courage is letting go of the reins, both physically and metaphorically, and this local horsewoman from the North Burnett region embodies this trust every time she climbs into the saddle.
Brydie Hughes is a horsewoman who has called Biggenden her home since 2015, and in 2018, her and her partner Nathan purchased his family farm, where they now reside.
Brydie’s passion for horses began a long time ago, as she says she has “been riding horses for as long as I can remember.”
From Pony Club to campdrafting as a child, to winning her first ladies draft at 13, before moving onto the thoroughbred racing industry for a few years when she was 18, there is nothing this experienced horsewoman has not tried.
When she was 19-years-old, Brydie moved to Brisbane to try her hand as an apprentice jockey and rode trackwork.
She met her partner, Nathan, in 2014, where she got back into campdrafting, riding in her first ASCA Stockmans Challenge in 2015.
In 2016, her first year at the club, Brydie won the Snaffle Bit Cutting title at the Wide Bay Burnett Cutting Club. She was secretary for the club for a duration of time before passing the reins over to Julie Moore.
Brydie is a woman who has a strong passion for volunteering, and attends the WBBCC with her partner on days that do not clash with campdrafting competitions.
“When there, I do my best to help out by turning back, supporting others and offering any advice anyone needs,” Brydie said.
She volunteers at the club “to give back to the club.”
From her years volunteering at the club, a highlight from her time for Ms Hughes was “helping someone to achieve their personal best and seeing a smile on their faces once the buzzer goes off.”
Throughout her many years in the equestrian world, Ms Hughes says “any win is signifi-
cant” when asked about her accomplishments.
“A lot of time, effort, patience and money goes into a win, regardless of how big or small,” she said.
Among her many accomplishments is receiving two Australian titles in 2023, “a huge milestone for me and one that I will always be grateful to have achieved.”
“I have been extremely lucky to have been blessed with many, many great horses,” Ms Hughes said.
“A couple of my favourites would be Beniah, Praise N Tassa, Tassas Lethal Spin and Gweneva.”
“Each of them have taught me a lot, as well as taken me to many wins.”
Gweneva is a 3-year-old that Brydie has started, and is the result of two of her favourite horses, Beniah and Tassass Lethal Spin.
“She holds a very special place in my heart for many reasons, and she knows it,” Brydie said.
Beniah is the resident stallion that her partner, Nathan, bred, and is the sire of a majority of their horses.
“I recently had the success of selling a 3-yearold mare by Beniah at the 2025 Nutrient Classic Sale for $70,000.”
Beniah, aside from being an excellent sire, has taken Brydie to the 2023 Australian Open Challenge Rider of the Year title, as well as winning the 2023 Open Challenge Horse of the Year Title.
“We have won many open campdrafts together, snaffle bit cuttings, and cow horse events.”
Praise N Tassa is another special mare that Brydie bred and trained.
“She has won over $12,000 in LTE just in the Challenge Arena alone,” Brydie said.
“Both my children have gone on to win Stockman’s Challenge events on her, as well as learning to ride on her.”
“Tassas Lethal Spin is another horse I was fortunate enough to train out,” she said. “She has gone on now to become one of our best producing Broodmares.”
Brydie currently has nine horses in work, including client horses, sale horses, that keep her very busy.
When Brydie is not volunteering at the WBBCC, she works for Gibbs Enterprises and Muan Pastoral in Administration and Livestock Administration.
In her spare time, she rides her horses as much as possible.
When she gets time, she thoroughly enjoys water skiing, reading and spending time with her children.
“I tend to stay in my own lane, and only focus on being better than the person I was yesterday,” Brydie said. “I don’t have a particular woman I look up to, but there are a lot of women out there that have plenty of inspiring aspects.”
“Anyone who is out there giving it their best, is inspiring.”
Brydie shares two pieces of advice she would give to her younger self and to young women entering the equestrian world.
To her younger self, she would say “don’t over complicate thoughts, training a horse or life in general.”
“Get in and have a go,” is her advice to the young women entering the equestrian world. “Nobody is here to judge you!”
“My favourite quote is ‘you don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.”
Brydie Hughes, an experienced Biggenden horsewoman and long time member of WBBCC. (Supplied)
Central Queensland country music artist Mackenzie May. (Supplied)
Pockets full of dreams
By Di Stanley
There’s Basalt, Moss, Banana, Beans, Coach, Fancy, Pigeon, Coach and a brand-new pup called Daisy getting ready to join the pack and be trained up for life as a working dog in the grazing paddocks of the Spencer family holdings in the Central Highlands.
And then there’s Pockets – a Collie in Kelpie country with swagger and all the moves like Jagger.
Capella’s Renee Simpson reels off the names in her doggie menagerie with a laugh or two in between, as she adjusts to the spotlight trained on her through a starring role in series three of the cult ABC TV show Muster Dogs.
When they were introduced for the show, Renee was tempted to call Pockets another name like Hen, “something quite soft or nice”, but the well-placed fluffy white markings on the coat of this irresistible pup were something Renee couldn’t ignore.
“Yeah, she’s got little pockets on her behind and she’s gorgeous,” the 27-year-old, whose heart is firmly planted in the bush, said.
“I definitely live by the idea that the name’s got to match their personality, but also just be nice and happy.”
After introducing Clermont dog whisperer and Kelpie breeder Frank Finger to an adoring national audience in series one, Muster Dogs has Renee on team Collie as six graziers and trainers from across the country tackle the task of transforming their Kelpie and Collie pups in a year with only one breed coming out on top.
Renee admits she felt the pressure of having a ‘TV dog’ and tried to pamper Pockets, making the mistake of giving her a flash pet bed, which she promptly “made a bit of an artwork of it“.
“It’s definitely been a bit of a wild experience, having that steep learning curve on TV,” she said.
“But you know, I’m still happy with how she went, with how I went.
“I got involved because it is such a positive thing for the industry, and to be able to put my spin on it and what our family is doing.
“I am quite proud of what we’ve achieved with our stock education and our dog handling, and also with how we manage the land… we’ve still got a long way to go and we’re still learning a lot as an organic farmer.”
CapellagrazierReneeSpencerwithPockets,herMusterDogsColliewhoshebelievesisonthewaytobeingoneofhertopdogsaftertheintensivetraining effort.(Supplied)
Renee is a fifth-generation cattle farmer and her family has two properties, one 20km from Capella and the other 80km west of Emerald.
The Spencers champion regenerative, timecontrolled grazing through the use of smaller paddocks for their Brahman herds.
Renee’s passion admits Muster Dogs has been a voyage of self-discovery as much for herself as well as Pockets.
“I’ve met amazing people and had an amazing opportunity,” she said.
“I had to upskill myself pretty quick, I think, but yeah I did learn that I wasn’t the biggest fan of being on camera as I thought I would be.
“That was quite intense that eye contact and answering questions on the spot with a great big lens staring down at you.“
Renee took a stab at city living when she enrolled in a teaching degree at Brisbane’s Griffith University.
It wasn’t for her, despite living at the university’s Nathan campus, surrounded by native vegetation.
She lasted two years before high-tailing it back to the clean, crisp Capella air.
“I think what teachers do is amazing... I cannot respect them more (but) I didn’t see myself being happy doing it,“ Renee said.
“I think everything’s just going a bit too fast for me in the city and not being surrounded by nature has had quite an impact on me.
“I like running around... I like observing tings and looking at all the birds and interacting with all the animals and bugs and the soil.
“I wouldn’t mind in the future even going to do some contracting... take my dogs and see if anyone needs weaners breaking in.
“Next year, I think I’ll be trying to go out and expand my skill set away from home, so that’s all very exciting.
“And Pockets will be coming along all right.“
Renee knows there’s no answer that won’t instantly pit kelpie and collie lovers against one another in the kitchens and smoko rooms of working properties right around the nation when it comes to who is top dog.
“I’m a bit of a fan of the barbwire fence,” she said, acknowledging just how uncomfortable diplomacy can be.
“They both their place, I just reckon both of them have different skill sets.”
Managing farm workers just got easier with the official launch of the People in Paddocks (PIPA) app, a first-of-its-kind, hands-free workforce management app designed specifically for Australian agriculture.
PIPA is unlike anything on the market, with this groundbreaking tool set to transform the way farms hire, train and manage staff.
Following successful beta testing with trial farms, PIPA is now live, providing farmers with an all-in-one, seamless solution to workforce challenges.
Founder Samantha Pritchard, a highly experienced HR and WHS consultant in agriculture, created PIPA to eliminate the common frustrations of managing farm workers.
“You know how it’s really difficult to source farm labour and then when you do hire new workers, they’re generally little angels for the first week until the minute you turn your back and all of your training and rules go out the window?” said Samantha.
PIPA provides the solution. The platform connects farms with a pool of skilled ag workers while ensuring staff remain productive, compliant and proactive about safety every shift.
Momentum builds following EvokeAG 2025 showcase Fresh off a successful showcase at StartUp Alley at EvokeAG 2025 in Brisbane, PIPA captured the attention of industry leaders, investors and farmers looking for innovative workforce management solutions.
“EvokeAG provided an incredible opportunity to showcase how PIPA is changing the game for farm workforce management,”
Samantha said.
“The response was overwhelmingly positive, with many farms eager to adopt a tool that
makes hiring and managing staff seamless.”
Why farmers are adopting PIPA
Since its beta launch, PIPA has already seen
strong adoption, with early users reporting significant improvements in staff efficiency:
• Workers are clocking in every shift and actively reporting hazards.
• Safety training is being completed without reminders.
• More than 50 ag workers have already created profiles and are looking for jobs.
Key features driving adoption
• A searchable database of ag workers with skills and licence verification.
• Neurodiverse & multilingual training resources, including video tutorials.
• GPS location tracking, fatigue management & digital timesheets.
• Automated safety compliance & performance tracking linked to KPIs.
Farmers backing PIPA’s impact
One of the first farmers to implement PIPA and successfully recruit a staff member through the app is already seeing the benefits.
Having worked with Samantha for more than three years in her consulting business, he immediately saw the value in PIPA.
John Bennett of Bennett and Bourchier in Lawloit, Victoria shared his experience:
“PIPA is the latest tool from Sam and People in Paddocks to ensure we continue on our quest to be an employer of choice and that our team are productive, efficient and safe on every shift,“ Mr Bennett said.
“The model reflects Sam’s overall philosophy of working closely with her clients to ensure the highest standard of workplace safety and culture.”
Strong results at Glenlea
The recent Glenlea Charolais Heart of the Herd female sale topped at $10,500, with strong prices achieved for the first 25 lots that averaged $5174.
In total, 38 lots sold from the 58 offered to average $4980
Glenlea Rebby 27th, by Glenlea Just Red from Rebby 21st - with an eight-month-old calf at foot and PTIC to a homozygous polled red factor bull, Waterford Red Rascal - sold for the top bid of $10,500, to repeat clients Aussie Hardwood, Warradingo Charolais at Irrewarra, Vic.
The second top priced female was MAW Glenlea Gina 3rd, a red factor Charolais with a heifer calf at foot. She sold to Mitch Redding, Moondoogundi Charolais at Lidsdale near Mudgee for $7500
Another standout performer at the sale was Glenlea Josie 2nd, a first calver with heifer calf at foot, sired by Glenlea Kenworth from Orara Waterfall.
This young cow, from a productive line of Glenlea Josies, lived up to her reputation by producing the heaviest heifer calf of the offering. She has been grazing on the sub-tropical North Coast and sold for an impressive price.
Glenlea Janet 128th also sold for the same price as Glenlea Josie.
This led female is sired by LVH-Fairfield Lethal from stud bull producer Glenlea Janet Z8E. Her first bull calf is set to lead the stud’s July sire offerings, highlighting the quality genetics of this cow.
Two heifer calves sold for a notable $4750. One of these was Glenlea Appeal 8th, a red factor heifer sired by Challambi Rover from Douglasdale Appeal 19.
The other was Glenlea Sandy 9th, another red factor heifer sired by Waterford Red Rascal from Glenlea Sandy 2nd.
Notably, Glenlea Sandy 9th’s maternal sister sold for $8000 at 10 months old in 2021, demonstrating the consistent high value of this bloodline.
The successful sale was conducted by Elders Toowoomba, Queensland, in conjunction with AuctionsPlus, providing both on-site and online bidding options for buyers.
Overall, the Glenlea Charolais sale show-
cased the breed’s adaptability and productivity, with strong demand for quality genetics from both stud and commercial buyers.
The sale results reflect the ongoing commitment of Glenlea Charolais to breed high-performing cattle for the Australian beef industry.
Glenlea Beef has been identified as a “Top Sud“ for 2024, which recognises that its genetics, expressed through the maternal Breedplan indices, are in the top half of the breed.
Across all studs in Australia, only 237 made that list.
The next sale on the calendar for Glenlea Beef is at Winton in July and then Roma in September.
Gowers | E: fiona.gowers@queenslandfarmertoday.com.au
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Inserted into the following newspapers:
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• Warwick Today
• Stanthorpe Today
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Also available from the follow outlets:
• Hartleys Newsexpress Toowoomba
• Roma Sale Yards
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• Highfields News & Post
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• Dalby Saleyards
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• Crows Nest Newsagency
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• Longreach saleyards
• Emerald saleyards
• Meringandan Produce
• Goombungee Newsagency
Glenlea Rebby 27th, by Glenlea Just Red from Rebby 21st topped the Glenlea Charolais Heart of the Herd female sale (Supplied)Glenlea Rebby 27th’s eight-month-old calf.
Message in ‘Just a Farmer’
By Maddison Richards
Leila McDougall took on a massive yet important undertaking, successfully writing, directing and starring in the movie, Just a Farmer.
Based in Tatyoon, Ararat, Victoria, Leila was inspired to film Just a Farmer after her and her husband’s experience working in the mental health space in rural communities over the past decade.
Filmaker Leila and her husband have been volunteering and working in this rural mental wellbeing area for more than 10 years, and have since founded a non-for-profit- organisation that supports mental health in farming communities called Live Rural.
“We noticed that we were often preaching to the converted,” Leila said, “the message wasn’t reaching a broader audience, and there wasn’t enough widespread appreciation for farmers and the incredible work they do.”
“During COVID, like so many others, we were sitting at home watching TV, and it struck us - this is where people were finding human connection and engaging with stories,” she said.
“That’s when we realised the power of film as a way to educate and inspire a wider audience.”
Just a Farmer centres on the aftermath of suicide and how it impacts a farming family and their community in rural Australia. The story explores the grief, challenges, and resilience of those left behind, highlighting how family and community come together to support one another in the wake of such a profound loss.
“It’s a powerful and heartfelt look at the importance of connection, understanding, and care in the face of tragedy,” Leila said.
“Creating Just a Farmer became our way of sharing these important stories, connecting people to the challenges and resilience of farming communities, and helping foster a greater understanding of their vital role in our world.”
The inspiration behind the film’s plot came from stories Leila has heard over the years, experiences she’s had personally and the experiences of friends and family.
“It’s rooted in a deep understanding of the reality of living on a farm and the authenticity of the challenges, resilience, and connections that define farming life.”
“These real-life moments and emotions shaped the heart of the story, making it a genuine reflection of what it means to live and cope in rural Australia,” Leila said.
“I’m a complete newbie to the film industry,” Leila said, “I had zero experience when I decided to make a movie.”
“Honestly, I was probably a bit naive about how much work it would take and everything I’d have to do to create a film,” she said, “but I think if I hadn’t been that naive, I might not have started at all.”
Throughout the process of creating Just a Farmer, Leila experienced many challenges, and coupled with her being new to the film industry, made these challenges even tougher.
From pre-production through to filming and beyond, there were numerous challenges, and Leila said these have helped her grow as a person.
“When you see the final product - a beautifully polished, professional film - you don’t see the massive learning curve behind it,” she said. “I’ve learned so much about people, the industry, and the art of negotiation.”
One such challenge Leila encountered was having 60 people on set for seven weeks.
“It was chaotic at times,” she said, “managing everything from feeding and accommodating everyone to staying organised, but the biggest challenge hasn’t been the filing; it’s been the distribution, marketing, and promotion of the film
afterward.”
Distribution has been the biggest hurdle for Leila, as she has been distributing the film herself.
“A lot of people might think filming is the hardest part, but it’s nothing compared to the work involved in getting the film out to a wide audience.”
Leila truly believes that film is an incredible way to educate people.
Her interest in movies began as a little girl who, being dyslexic, was not drawn to books, but instead gravitated towards films.
“They gave me a window into culture, history, love stories, fairy tales, and a chance to use my imagination to live in those worlds and learn.”
“That’s why I chose to tell this story as a movie rather than a documentary,” Leila said. “A lot of people prefer to watch a movie because it doesn’t feel like you’re being preached to or bombarded with facts and figures.”
“Instead, you experience raw emotion and live through the character’s journey,” she said. “To really get a reaction from people, you need to let them feel the story, and film allows audiences to experience what the characters are going through in a deeply emotional way.”
Creating this film has impacted Leila’s life in more positive ways than negative.
She had to make a lot of sacrifices, and work around the clock, there’s no such thing as worklife balance when you’re making a film or pursu-
ing something you’re truly passionate about, she stated.
“I haven’t had a proper break in three years; it’s just been non-stop,” she said.
There have been times where Leila felt exhausted and questioned why she was doing this, but then, she will receive a beautiful email from someone saying the film saved their life, or changed the way they see suicide and farming, and it reminds her exactly why she made this film.
“Playing the role of Alison was emotionally intense and took a toll on me,” Leila said. “I truly lived as that character, and in those moments, my subconscious didn’t distinguish between reality and fiction.”
Leila described it as feeling like she had lost a husband to suicide, which is one of her greatest fears.
“My biggest concern was doing justice to the women I represented in Alison’s character,” she said. “I gave everything I had to the role because I didn’t want to let them down.”
“I hope my portrayal is an accurate and heartfelt reflection of what it could be like to lose a husband and a lot of strength these women show in such unimaginable circumstances.”
Leila stated the reaction and reception they have received from audiences have been overwhelmingly positive, saying that honestly, she wasn’t expecting so many people to connect with
the film as much as they do.
Leila conducted a survey with 300 people who have watched the film, and the feedback has been incredible.
“People have shared how it’s impacted them - some realised they needed help after watching it and actually sought help, while others said it’s changed the way they view suicide and mental health.”
“It’s encouraged them to see that talking is okay and reminded them of the importance of coming together as communities to support one another.”
Leila has hosted community screenings of the film, which have been hugely effective, with every screening drawing between 150 to 300 people in attendance, which is pretty remarkable for a mental health event, she stated.
“These topics are usually something people shy away from,” she said. “But with the film, people can sit in the dark, watch, listen, and go on a journey together.”
“The conversations that happen afterward have been absolutely amazing. I’ve never experienced anything like it - the way people open up, how positive and healing these discussions can be.”
“It’s truly something special,” she said.
“We’re slowly getting there, sharing the film’s message, and we hope to keep building momentum so as many people as possible can see Just a Farmer.”
Ascenefromthemovie.
Ascenefromthemovie.
RELIABLE PRODUCTS ... RELIABLE
PEOPLE
Aussie’s crop success
By Aussie Pumps
Australian farmers should be congratulated on crop values predicted by ABARE.
With production values expected to rise 2.2 Billion higher, reflects the expected crop production volumes (up by 7%).
It should be noted that improved seasonal conditions, relative to last year from Western Australia, New South Wales and Queensland, supported winter crop production.
One Australian company that appreciates the huge contribution Australian farmers make to the economy, is Australian Pump Industries.
Just a little over 30 years old, they’ve already stamped their identity with a great range of Australian designed and built products that out-do competitors from the USA or Europe.
THREE ESSENTIALS
It’s obvious that the three essentials for successful cropping are soil, sun and water.
This is not news to any farmer but city folk don’t necessarily relate to the conditions, challenges and hazards that farmers have to deal with.
Apart from huge costs of diesel fuel, seeds and fertiliser, the weather is a major factor.
Australian Pump, recognise this issue and have come up with a range of liquid fertiliser handling pumps that can tolerate the corrosive nature of these essential ingredients.
“Whether it’s nitrogen based, phosphate or potassium, our ‘Smart Pumps’ can deal with the liquid fertiliser and ‘fast fill’ sprayers at amazing rates”, said Aussie Pumps Product Manager, Sam Loria.
The pump bodies and key internal components are manufactured from injection moulded 30% glass filled polyester.
That material, designed originally by NASSA has proved to be impervious to the effects of corrosive liquid fertilisers.
CHOICE OF PUMPS
Aussie’s ‘Smart Pumps’ can be close coupled to Honda petrol engines, providing a good combination of performance and reliability.
“We choose Honda because of their terrific support program they have, not just in Australia, but also for the export market”, said Loria. “Recoil start is standard but Aussie also offer electric start versions”.
The pumps, available in 2” or 3” are self priming and are simple to maintain and repair.
The 2” pump is designed for pumping up to 835 litres per minute.
That translates to being able to fill a 5,000 litre tank in around six minutes.
The big 3” pump, is able to deal with bigger flows, up to 1010 lpm! Those pumps are extremely popular for fast filling sprayers, providing a fast fill function to save time and improve spraying efficiency.
“We heard stories about one farmer down in the Esperance region who had a big 5,000 litre tank on his sprayer that was followed by a truck in the paddock with an 8,000 litre fertiliser refill tank.
It was it’s own Aussie Smart Pump. As the sprayer ran out of fertiliser, the ‘Mother Ship’ would come along side and fast fill so that efficiency levels could stay at maximum”.
The Aussie Smart Pumps are available in two different impeller/volute configurations.
OPTIONAL ELASTOMERS
Having the right elastomers for the job is important. The most popular elastomers for fertiliser are EPDM and Viton.
EPDM is less expensive and handles liquid fertilisers with ease.
Viton elastomers are more expensive but can handle a huge range of liquid including diesel fuel, seawater, even acids of various types.
A third option, Buna N, is suitable for diesel fuel, seawater, cooking oils and even gear oil.
The range of combinations of components, high pressure low pressure impeller and volute, coupled to the elastomer of choice, makes for an exceptionally versatile product range.
“We have even heard of farmers use them as firefighting pumps because in the high pressure version, they can deliver a 37 m head, which amounts to around 52 psi pressure.
It may not have the huge amount of ‘throw’
as traditional fire pumps but will push a huge amount of water at the fire”, said Loria.
Aussie Smart Pumps are also available in polypropylene.
That is a big success for Ad Blue pumping and is available only in the 2” x 2” configuration.
In some cases Halar siliconized graphite mechanical seals are available for corrosion and chemical resistance.
The pumps all come as standard with Honda engine drive.
Those Honda driven 2” and 3” pumps are all mounted on powder coated steel skid bases with anti vibration mounts.
Alternatively, they can also be supplied in stainless steel frames, mounted on stainless steel base, with anti vibration mounts.
BIGGER PUMPS ON THE WAY
Aussie Pumps engineers are working on a big 3” pump that will deliver 1800 lpm.
The new pumps are expected to be out before the end of the year.
They know there is a requirement for batching and have worked with specialist sprayer companies like Goldacres on the best solutions for the process.
Most use Aussie’s 3” Smart Pump with Honda engine or alternatively with hydraulic motor drive.
“The existing 3” pump with Honda 6.5hp
GX200 engine is perfectly matched and produces great performance.
The new pump will be even better”, he said.
BIG VOLUME TRANSFER
Aussie recently brought out a range of electric motor drive cast 316 stainless steel self priming pumps that deliver flows up to 2,000 lpm.
The big pumps, part of the Aussie GMP range, are also popular in sewage handling, acid and solvent pumping, industrial food waste and even mine tailings dam pump-out.
“They’ve been a huge success with the whole pump end being 316 stainless steel, mounted with Viton seals as an option.
They are easy to service and much simpler to operate than submersibles”, said Loria.
SURPLUS GRAIN
With the ABARE report projecting wheat up by $1 Billion this season and pulses also up $1B, seasonal conditions seem to be very positive.
Horticultural values are projected by ABARE to be up $860M.
These are all positive and may compensate to some extent by the issues with sugar cane reduction from the recent Queensland floods.
AUSSIE PUMP SUPPORTS REGIONAL
AUSTRALIA
Australian Pump understand the essential nature of agriculture.
Overlooked by most city people, the value of Australia’s agriculture has the potential to generate as much income for this country as Australia’s mining results.
“The problem is water security”, said Loria. Legendary prospector, journalist and light horseman, Ion Idriess, wrote in 1956, after seeing what was called the “Great Floods”.
This was when we had an inland sea that flooded towns from Menindee to the Murray. Even in Mannum, floodwaters swirled through the main street.
Here’s his insightful words;
“Pause, and if only for a moment, try to imagine the unimaginable volume of freshwater that has rushed away to sea during these last few years alone. Then, imagine the broken hearts that would not break, the homes we would save, the jobs we should keep, the individual and national wealth we should retain. Imagine what we could do with that water in drought times. Flood and irrigation control of our river systems, the conservation, control and use of flood waters. These are far more important to Australia than the making of atomic bombs!” Idriess knew what he was talking about. For further information or “Ion Idriess comments on the floods” is readily available from contacting Australian Pump Industries at aussiepumps.com.au
Product Manager, Sam Loria is proud of Aussie Smart Pump 5 year pump end warranty.
Aussie’s essential Smart Pump is fert friendly. Goldacres Batchmate with 3” Aussie Smart Pump.
The Aussie Smart Pump production line in Sydney’s Norwest.
The accidental goat gurus
By Gladys Barreta
When two cattle farmers needed to find a purpose for their less productive land, the choice came down to sheep or goats.
Brian and Keeleigh Allport established one of the largest goat operations in the south of the state, and it was all by ‘accident.’
Grassland Goats, located in the Western Downs district between Warwick and Goondiwindi, in Gore, runs a premium goat meat paddock-to-plate business, managing around 17,000 goats.
The 9,300ha property on soft traprock country, traditionally fine Merino wool country, is the perfect land for raising goats.
The farm is managed by Brian and Keeleigh, who have been involved in agribusiness for over 30 years.
Brian grew up on a cattle farm, coming from a family of long-time farmers, while Keeleigh, a former registered nurse who grew up in Brisbane, learned how to manage a cattle farm from scratch.
The pair bought a herd of goats in 2018 as an additional income source and to graze the less productive land on their property in Moonie and Gore. Back then, their main herd consisted of cattle, along with some sheep.
But what’s unique about Grassland Goats is how they grew their small herd of goats to become their main enterprise. They have vertically integrated their own supply chain— from farming to operating their own cold chain management with refrigerated trucks, as well as logistics management.
“We were beef producers through and through, and we wanted to clean up the regrowth. The decision came down to sheep or goats,” Keeleigh said.
“So we decided to buy goats, and we did this on a whim. We really couldn’t run our cattle in these heavily timbered paddocks, so we had to find an animal that could survive all year and goats ticked all the boxes.
“A lot of our country had to be re-fenced, so we ran both cattle and goats at the start and progressed from there.”
It wasn’t long before they began distributing their goats to the domestic market.
“We had our product, and we knew it was good,” Keeleigh said. “So we knocked on doors around Brisbane... and our first delivery was in April 2021. We sold 35 goats.”
When the drought hit Queensland, the Allports had to decide whether they would risk it and keep building their goat herd.
“We decided to buy goats and offload some of the cattle because of the lack of feed during the drought,” Keeleigh said.
“There was a lot of regrowth in the paddock that cattle wouldn’t eat. We knew the drought would eventually break, so we had to have stock in the paddock when it did.”
Luckily, when the drought broke, the Allports’ goats ran their cycle and eventually there were kids in the paddock.
Another hurdle in their operation occurred when COVID-19 shut everything down in 2020, including abattoirs and their wholesale butcher. They had to figure out how to sell their product themselves and continue growing their goat herd.
In May 2021, Grassland Goats was selected for Shell QGC’s Emerging Exporters Program.
“We were one of a dozen producers or indus-
try stakeholders in the Western Downs looking to export products,” Keeleigh said. “When we first entered the industry and were still developing our product, we thought our main market would be export. But we realised there are no accredited small-stock abattoirs in Queensland that perform service kills. We would have had to freight them to Victoria.
“We looked into logistics for a carrier, so we
decided to do our own cold freight. We bought our own refrigerated truck, which now delivers four days a week.”
With their operations in full swing for some time now, Brian said they would like to focus on marketing their premium product— a goat with a better meat-to-bone ratio.
“We want to change our customers’ mindset on what they can enjoy and try to tap into a dif-
ferent market who may not be eating goat meat,” Brian said.
“Lamb and beef are what most people eat, so exposing people to another staple they haven’t tried before will be our main focus.”
Keeleigh said that learning how to farm goats wasn’t difficult, as all the skills and knowledge from cattle farming were transferrable.
Today, the Grassland Goats run around 17,000 goats on their property in Gore.
The Allport family who run Grassland Goats: Oscar, Brian, Charlotte, Keeleigh & Will.
Grassland Goats grow all of their own fodder.
Brian and Keeleigh in the yards with their goats.
Keeleigh in the yardsKeeleigh and Brian Allport of Grassland Goats.
“When we were just producing cattle, we wanted to have a branded product, but at the time, the market was so competitive and saturated,” Keeleigh said. “When we were given that opportunity, we just transferred everything we knew about the beef industry— from breeding to nutrition and marketing— so it wasn’t unfamiliar to us. It wasn’t difficult once we knew what we were doing.”
Grassland Goats now distributes throughout Queensland to butchers and restaurants, as well as interstate. They also supply major festivals for the Nepalese and Muslim communities in Queensland, such as the Qurbani Eid festival in June and the Dashain Festival in October.
Brian said they are happy with the direction the business is growing and will maintain the same herd size for the foreseeable future.
“We’ll keep doing what we’re doing. What
we’re looking at now is minimizing and improving our processes and systems,” Brian said. “For the last two years, we have been working on developing software that automates our ordering and invoicing system.
“We have no regrets about our decision to move to producing goats and what it has done for our business.
“Because it’s a weekly supply distribution, it gives us guaranteed cash flow year-round,” he said.
“Rather than the normal farming program, which comes in clumps and rarely hits the top of the market consistently, this game has allowed us to be constant. We have about 20% of our kills being lamb.”
“It’s a very busy operation with a standard we set. We aim to produce the best goat and lamb— a premium product.”
Brian and Keeleigh with daughter Charlotte in the yards.
Keeleigh’s cattle background and her entrepreneurial skills have combined to build a modern-day profitable livestock enterprise.
The Allport family.The farm run Boer/Rangeland cross.
Grassland Goats deliver to butchers and restaurants around the state four times a week.
Brian checking progress of goats on a crop of oats as part of a finishing (nutrition) program.
Election a call to ag action
By Michael Allpass, AgForce general manager
There’s no doubt that the upcoming 2025 Federal Election is a critical moment for Australian agriculture.
This election result will determine critical policy decisions that dictate the future of food security, regional resilience, and environmental sustainability.
Queensland is Australia’s largest agricultural state, producing food and fibre that underpins national food security, regional economies, and environmental outcomes.
But the right policy settings are crucial to ensure its continued success.
The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) has launched its election platform, calling for a National Food Security Preparedness Strategy to protect affordable, locally grown food and fibre for all Australians.
Farmers must be part of this conversation. Rising costs, growing red tape, labour shortages, and competition for farmland from urban expansion and energy projects all pose challenges to our industry that must be heard and acknowledged at the negotiating table.
We need all Queenslanders – farmers, families, and regional communities – to speak up.
Engaging with politicians, telling our stories,
and helping the wider public understand why agriculture matters is vital to ensuring the right policies are put in place.
The strategy is just one of the NFF’s key elec-
Rebalancing the workload
By John Gillespie, QRIDA economist
Drawn to efficient, cost-effective and smart solutions, more and more primary producers are plugging into the agricultural technology revolution.
While I looked forward to seeing the latest agtech innovations at the AgriFutures Evoke Ag conference in Brisbane last month, we also need to focus our minds on a different kind of invention – innovating a way for farm businesses to use technology to improve productivity, without impacting the very communities they operate in.
The first part of this challenge is that for rural and regional businesses to survive, technological innovation and adoption is crucial because it gives Aussies a competitive advantage in the global productivity race.
After all, it was Aussies who last century invented the labour-saving combine harvester, allowing farmers to both cut and separate crops with one machine, as well as the culturally iconic ute, merging the practicality of a truck with the comfort of a car.
Australian farmers are building on this rich history of innovation by using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for various tasks, including spot spraying weeds, checking stock watering points and aerial mustering.
These examples demonstrate how innovation can improve productivity and profitability.
When businesses improve productivity, they produce more with less. This means input costs for materials, labour and capital reduce and, if businesses maintain the same return, their profits increase.
Governments across Australia know this and that’s why they continue to help primary producers invest in agtech, like the Queensland Government’s low interest Sustainability Loans delivered by QRIDA which can be used, for example, to help graziers invest in pneumatic crushes and fruit growers upgrade to computerised grading machines.
However, since around 2010, Australia’s improvement in productivity has slowed, while productivity in our competitor countries has improved.
This is due to other countries operating with more relaxed compliance frameworks and sig-
Bushfire preparation too late
The “The Future We Want” report of the United Nations 2012 Conference on Sustainable Development called for disaster risk reduction and the building of resilience to disasters to be addressed with a renewed sense of urgency.
California’s Governor has now directed more than $2.5 billion to support wildfire responses. Why did he not spend HALF of that on fire prevention measures?
nificantly lower wages, energy costs and material input prices. Our comparative decline in productivity has significant trade consequences for Australia, as it could lead to more food and fibre being imported into the country rather than being grown on home soil.
For this first part of the technology-productivity challenge, my tip is for Australian businesses to be more productive both from an operational and market perspective.
Operationally, businesses need to have a strong understanding of their key performance indicators, including labour efficiency, material use and operational costs.
Then, from a market perspective, businesses can focus on producing what consumers want and what they’re willing to pay a premium for.
This brings us to the second part of our challenge – while we increase the productivity and profitability of the agricultural industry, we are also trying to grow dynamic regional economies with increased employment.
Implementing innovation through technologies such as robotics can be seen to reduce employment. However, unless we embrace the productivity advantages offered by these innovations to improve efficiency, our global competitiveness will diminish. These new technologies are also creating new types of jobs in agriculture including robotic and software engineers and the like, offering exciting new career pathways in agriculture and helping reduce the impact of more manual and time-consuming jobs on the property.
Importantly, as in life, it’s all about how we balance the implementation of these new technologies to improve productivity while we continue to support and grow jobs in our regional communities. Opportunities to establish first and second stage processing and small industry-focused technology fabrication in regional areas has the possibility of further enhancing regional employment opportunities that improve farm profitability through cost reduction, as a result of freight efficiencies and proximity to customers.
Whatever the solution, it will require governments, industries and communities to brainstorm, band together and strike the right balance.
As of 22 January 2025, Californian wildfires killed 29 people and 16,000 buildings were destroyed. News Weekly, on 25 January 2025 exposed reasons for unnecessary destruction including NOT climate change, but:
• State governments for years deliberately ignoring forest undergrowth;
• Flawed politics and disaster management preparation;
• Inadequate water resources available;
tion priorities which also includes the Fair Farm Costs campaign.
This will highlight the importance of protecting policies like the Fuel Tax Credit Scheme and
the instant asset write-off to keep farm businesses viable into the future.
The NFF is also campaigning strongly on the value of trade and market access - to strengthen global trade relationships to secure fair prices for farmers.
It will also raise issues around sustainable farming - and the significance of policies that support natural resource management, pests control and climate adaptation.
And finally in the leadup to the election the NFF wants to highlight the importance of workforce and regional growth - and how that must involve a dedicated agricultural visa as well as further investments in regional housing, childcare, and roads to keep farming communities thriving.
Now is the time for Queensland agriculture to tell its story.
Every farmer, worker, and regional business has a role in explaining why agriculture is essential—not just for the bush, but for every Australian family that relies on affordable food.
It’s important to take stock - and rememberyour vote counts.
This election is about ensuring the right policies are in place so agriculture can continue to grow, support regional jobs, and contribute to a stronger, more sustainable Australia.
The big tech changes I’ve witnessed in agri sector
By Angelo Rigano, QRIDA’s regional area manager for North Queensland
When I began my career as a young banker in the late 1980s, farming in Queensland was a very different world.
Back then, most operations relied heavily on manual labour, intuition and experience passed down through generations.
Looking back 40 years later, now as QRIDA’s regional area manager for north Queensland, the integration of technology into both farming and finance is nothing short of remarkable.
In the cattle industry during the late 80s, record-keeping was often done in notebooks and managing livestock involved physical counts and inspections.
Today, electronic identification systems and satellite-based monitoring allow graziers to track their herds with precision and manage grazing land sustainably.
Horticulture has also undergone a seismic shift. Irrigation was often a matter of turning on a pump and hoping the water reached where it was needed.
Now, precision irrigation systems, soil moisture sensors and smart farming tools ensure every drop counts.
Automation has also reduced reliance on seasonal labour and AI-driven robotics are now sorting and packing produce with precision that would have been unimaginable decades ago.
Broadacre cropping has moved from broad estimations of input needs to GPS-guided planting, fertilising and spraying.
The introduction of drones capable of realtime imaging has revolutionised crop monitoring. Farmers can now pinpoint issues such as pests or nutrient deficiencies with incredible accuracy and act swiftly to protect their crops.
In sugarcane production, advancements
• Reduced budget (read trained men, vehicles and equipment) for fire fighting;
• Infighting between a mayor and fire fighting services;
• Neglect (deliberate?) of sensible, proven land management practices including, controlled burns in winter, maintenance of fire fire breaks and vehicle tracks in forests.
Reportedly inner-city activists killed sound land management practices to save, for example,
in harvesting and irrigation technology have made a significant difference.
Automated harvesters and mill optimisation have streamlined operations, while innovations such as precision irrigation and bioenergy initiatives from sugarcane by-products reflect a commitment to sustainability that wasn’t on the radar in the 80s.
Reflecting on these changes, I am struck by the resilience of Queensland farmers who have embraced innovation to meet the challenges of climate change, market volatility and consumer expectations.
As someone who started their career during a much simpler time, I feel privileged to have witnessed this incredible transformation and to now work as QRIDA’s regional area manager for north Queensland where I help primary producers use our Sustainability Loans to invest in agtech.
The advancements in primary production are testament to the ingenuity and determination of our farming community and the partnerships formed between agriculture, technology and finance.
an endangered “Three Headed Pink Lizard“ or the “Antarctic Eau de Cologne Lilly“. Pardon my sarcasm please.
Parts of Victoria, NSW and Queensland are bushfire tinderboxes and have been for decades.
A retired Queensland fire chief friend is close to tears.
But none of that would never happen here eh?
Geoff Pickering, Warwick
Angelo Rigano then and now. (Supplied)
Michael Allpass AgForce General Manager. (Supplied)
Brahmans a feature
The South Queensland branch of Australian Brahman Breeders Association is excited to hold a Brahman feature show during the 50th year of Farmfest at Kingsthorpe.
This year marks 20 years since a Brahman feature show was last held at Farmfest. The South Queensland branch has held a display at Farmfest for more than 40 years.
The current Brahman shed on the Farmfest site at LS11 was designed in the late 1980s/ early 1990s by Graham Bauer and built pre-1993 with the help of branch members Peter Dingle and Graham Bauer who sourced the timber.
With the support of ACM and the Australian Brahman Breeders Association (ABBA) - along with generous sponsors - there will be more than $20,000 in prizes up for grabs in this year’s Brahman Feature Show.
The prize for Supreme Exhibit is a Leicht’s CIA Stockman Pro Chute cattle crush valued at about $11,000 that has been kindly donated by Leicht’s CIA, Goombungee.
Mark Leicht said it was important to him for two major reasons.
Firstly, it is a “great way“ to promote a local manufacturing company that is Australianowned who is making livestock equipment predominantly from Australian-made steel. And, also, a “great way“ to showcase what is being manufactured on the Downs.
“It’s a fantastic marketing opportunity,” he said.
Leicht’s CIA is known throughout Australia as the manufacturer of ‘The Intelligent Livestock Equipment’.
Their products are designed to be user-friendly, efficient and practical without compromising safety.
The range has been designed and engineered from the ground up with input from experienced cattlemen and women of all generations and with different breeds of cattle in mind.
Mark Leicht’s second reason for supporting the Brahman breed is that he owns Sunnyside Park Brahmans and he would like to see more commercial producers infusing Brahmans into their herds to reduce the amount of chemicals used to treat fly, ticks and parasites in Queensland’s south east.
“Since breeding Brahmans we have noticed how we do not have to treat for flies like a lot of producers around us,“ Mark said.
“We need to breed into our herds something that is going to withstand the elements so we are not using chemicals on our herds.“
Members who display their cattle on the ABBA site at Farmfest, spend the three days promoting the Brahman breed to visitors, handing out an average of 400 sample bags per year.
These bags contain promotional material and information on the advantages of Brahmans. Brahman merchandise is also for sale and the proceeds from these sales are used by the branch to further the promotion.
Over the past eight years, the ABBA display at
GrandsonsofGrahamBauervisitingtheAustralianBrahmanBreedersAssociation standlastyearduringFarmfestwithJackGaiter(secondleft)and CynthiaStark.(Supplied)
Farmfest has won the Best Livestock display three times, a testament to the time and effort put in by exhibitors and our pride in our breed.
Members have also exhibited in the “Battle of the Bulls” and “Fantastic Females”, with some members winning and placing in the Tropical Breeds section.
The Cattleman’s Cup competition, which used to be run at Farmfest, was won by Bundaleer Miss Buttons and Bows two years running.
The South Queensland Branch of ABBA has more than 400 members and is very active in supporting members and promoting the Brahman breed in the state’s south.
The branch meets three times per year at various locations to enable members to attend with-
out travelling too far. Members compete at local shows, EKKA and Beef.
There are two annual Brahman female sales held in south Queensland. Gympie Brahman Female Sale will this year hold its 50th annual sale the Saturday after Farmfest and the 4th annual Silverdale sale was held on 22 March.
The branch also supports its younger members by sponsoring a child to attend Junior Beef in Rockhampton.
Nominations for the Brahman Feature Show are $20 per head, with prize money for each class to five placings, first - $100, second - $80, third$60, fourth - $40, fifth - $20.
Champions through the whole show will receive $300 champion and reserve $200.
Grand Champion Bull and Female will each receive $500.
Judging will take place over two days, starting at 9am daily.
Wednesday, 4 June will see the bulls compete and immediately following the Brahman judging, the Farmfest Battle of the Bulls will be contested. Thursday 5 June will be the females’ opportunity to shine, with the Farmfest Fantastic Females to follow.
Any Brahman competing in the feature show is eligible to compete in the Farmfest Battle of the Bulls and Fantastic Females in the Tropical Breeds class.
* Please visit the Farmfest website for details.
As you travel through life it pays to keep an open mind, and an ear to the ground. ERLE LEVEY had a fascinating afternoon at a tropical plant nursery growing quite exotic varieties as well as some old favourites ghting falling out of favour.
Expect the unexpected...
You drive past it so often on the Tin Can Bay Rd, not quite knowing what’s behind the fence.
That is until you stop. Take the time to sit down, to have a look and listen.
That’s the case at Ross Creek Tropicals. It was a complete surprise to find what Tom Esler is doing - from a local perspective but also by sending so much product to each state of Australia.
The four-acre property, near the Ross Creek Service Station, is home to the largest range of fruiting trees in Queensland.
“Follow the driveway up,’’ Tom said on the phone. “It’s bitumen all the way.’’
There is a netted orchard plus potting area. Then across the creek and up the north-east slope are more fruit and decorative trees, as well as workbenches.
I met Tom Esler at Odd Spot Plants earlier this year when the Titan arum - dead corpse flowerwas blooming.
At the time I didn’t realise but, yes, Tom had a hand in supplying the original bulb to Neil and Lisa Paterson.
Sitting at the verandah, looking over the property, Tom tells me he was born in Brisbane, and worked in supermarkets for 20 years.
“Woolworths brought me to this area … Cooloola in 2016 to manage the store.
“I bought this property on a whim - there were a lot of good things to do and knew I would be moving with my work.
“It was a matter of grabbing the opportunity when the property came up for sale.
“Once I moved in, I never worked at Cooloola again but was sent all over Queensland.’’
The Goomboorian/Ross Creek area was chosen by Tom due to its good all-round climate and reliable rainfall.
It’s cold enough for a fireplace in winter, meaning it is favourable for growing stone fruit.
There is a distinct change in climate on the east side of the highway due to the influence of the sea breezes.
“We have not had a frost in that time,’’ Tom said. “I’m absolutely happy with this decision.’’
At the time, there were simply two front paddocks of grass and about 30 fruit trees planted.
Now there are more than 1000 planted and Ross Creek Tropicals stock over 900 varieties.
Much of Tom’s knowledge has come from taking the time to listen to the advice of otherswhether his mother and grandmother or customers in the supermarkets he worked at.
The benefit of time has given him the chance to take a look at what is suited, what is in demand and what can be made available.
Most are from seeds grown on the property, from cuttings and grafted varieties.
They are having some good success with red papaw, lady finger bananas and black sapote.
The most common would be citrus - and Tom points to one tree in front of us that would have somewhere near 400 lemons on it.
Then there are apples, pears, 60 varieties of mango and more than 30 varieties of avocados.
There are five or six different types of red papaya, and all sorts of berries - blueberries, rasp-
berries, mulberry.
More than 30 varieties of mulberry are in the grounds - from dwarf varieties to red and white shatoots that are the size of your finger.
That’s when we reminisce about mulberry pie, mulberry jam and the stained mouths from eating fresh mulberries from the tree in season.
“I encourage my family to come and pick them, as the berries don’t store,’’ Tom said. “In the heat of the season my stepmom came up and filled two 10-litre buckets, and didn’t make a dent in the crop from the trees’’
Some of the more unusual plants are jackfruit, custard apple and loquat, lychees and longan, guavas and jujube.
Tom carries the jujube fruits around while working and eats them like lollies or raisins. The fruit originates from China and is crunchy, with a dry apple taste, but very well known for its health benefits.
The fig Tom gave me to taste was as good as any I have eaten in Italy.
“Our climate suits South East Asian fruits. We can push it at borderline some winters but our days warm up so quickly that the plants are forgiving.’’
As for bananas, among the rarer ones are red daccas and blue java. Then there are a few different types of plantain - they are good for cooking and grow perfectly at Goomboorian.
“My brother did nine months in South America,’’ Tom said, “and every day he used them as a meal. They can grow so well.’’
Gympie has a strong legal case for selling banana trees as the Sunshine Coast is restricted by
the threat of spreading disease.
Tom can send into those areas, but they cannot send out. There are a few different types of disease - bunchy top and panama disease.
Plants from Ross Creek Tropicals can be sent throughout Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia through on-line markets.
The nursery can sell into the Northern Territory, Western Australia and Tasmania by means of a quarantine service.
A lot of people utilise that method as they cannot get the stock otherwise.
Bananas love a full-sun position, moist but well-drained soil rich in organic matter, and regular fertilising.
Papaw want dry feet, planting on a mound and east facing - perhaps near the house or a path.
Somewhat of a super fruit, papaw can be enjoyed daily due to being high in fibre and vitamins.
“They are good for health. The seeds can be dried and used as pepper.
“As for bananas, we cannot eat enough of them. I might pick six bunches at a time and luckily CC at Woolooga Farm Kitchen takes some to the markets for us.
“Generally, they ripen from the top of the hand. Remove the bell from the bunch once it stops producing, then covering the fruit helps stop the raiders from attacking - birds, bats, possums, even bush turkeys will fly up on a bunch.
“They are the guide to when to harvest.’’
While Ross Creek Tropicals mostly engage in
retail they do have some big wholesale orders.
The new orchard at the front of the property is to allow them to grow a greater range of varieties and graft more from their own trees.
These include black sapote, persimmon and tamarillos. Then there are tamarinds which can be used as a bean in Asian cooking.
Pomegranates are high in anti-oxidants, super juicy and can be grown in a pot or the ground. They can be eaten fresh, in salads or juiced.
Once established, they are drought tolerant trees some two to three metres tall.
“They look pretty when in fruit but the flowers are impressive as well,’’ Tom said.
The outbreak of the Covid pandemic in 2020 meant that by the time Ross Creek Tropicals started in 2021 demand was high for fruiting trees, and supply was low.
“We were trying to source plants from anywhere we could to meet the demand.
“We could see big players were not meeting demand and this was a good opportunity to start a specialised nursery.
“At the big outlets you can buy one type of orange … we sell 12.’’
Floods, bush fires, interruptions to transport created supply issues in general terms that helped specialised producers.
The rise in the cost of living has also pushed people to small backyard orchards.
“Lots of people are buying lemon trees due to the price going up.’’
There is a sense of nostalgia around citrus trees.
Tom Esler at Ross Creek Tropicals fruit tree nursery at Goomboorian. (460854)
Ross Creek Tropicals fruit tree nursery. (460854)
The taste of the figs was exceptional. (460854)A handful of jujubes. (460854)Tom with a jackfruit. (460854)
The Safou fruit is high in protein, fat and vitamins. (460854)
Growing up, there was always one in the yard so that a lemon could be picked at any timemuch like a passionfruit vine.
Then there were bush lemons on farms and in the bush. I know my grandfather loved to pick one when he came across a tree.
“Lemons are a simple fruit yet so effective,’’ Tom said. “Cooking, drinks, marinades, baking, they are high in vitamin C.
“As for oranges, my favourite is Cara Cara blood orange. It develops a good colour in our milder winters.
“It can be eaten early in the season or will hang right to the end of winter … the longer it hangs (on the tree) the more colour it develops.’’
Last September Tom was the first to release the Jala avocado - a giant-sized fruit that ripened in winter.
The demand was intense.
“My phone rang just out and the battery was flat by 10am. The initial stock was sold out within 12 hours.
“There were on-line calls and walk-ins. Phone calls from all over the country wanting the trees.’’
Everyone needs a fig tree - they are good for shade but for fruiting it is best not to let it get too big.
They produce over a long season. Tom starts picking September-October and will go through til March-April.
“What most don’t realise is that the fruit is actually the flower. I love them with prosciutto, cheese … and fig jam is pretty good.’’
Getting Ross Creek Tropicals going meant a fair bit of earthworks - not only for the orchard but for the growing area.
It is north-east facing and has a good water supply. Netting at the front is to protect the trees and fruit mostly from insects.
Citrus and mango trees are grafted to ensure a good fruiting variety and disease resistance.
The reason Tom got into the fruit tree industry was simple - a love of gardening.
“That came from both my grandmothers,’’ he said. “The passion for growing fruit came from those years working in the fruit and veg industry.’’
Part of that was learning from a lot of of Italian, Greek and Asian customers.
There would be walking clubs coming through the stores of a morning that would rate the fruit and veg display.
Through the discussions, the customers would teach Tom how to grow, eat and cook things from their heritage and desire to share their knowledge.
“Now I eat a lot of fresh food - from backyard gardens, friends and neighbours.
“I wake up thinking about what I’m going to have for dinner, not wondering.
“There is that ability to just wake up and pick a fresh orange, go from a fig for breakfast, stone fruit in afternoon then mulberries.’’
There are mulberries at the nursery that are twice as long as ordinary. Finger shaped with a rich, sweet flavour.
Then there are the older fruits such as quinces that are making a comeback.
The introduction of Queensland garnet plums to the market in recent years has shown how the Department of Primary Industry (DPI) and private enterprise can work together to develop a super plum high in anti-oxidants.
Renowned for its deep, almost black colour it was developed specifically in Queensland and New South Wales and has gained popularity for its distinctive flavour and health benefits.
It involved intentionally cross-pollinating flowers, then planting the subsequent seeds to create the root stock.
Then it is a matter of waiting to see how the new variety responds. It could be five to 10 years to judge how the new fruit is rated for shelf life, if it ripens evenly, does it taste good?
For Tom, he gets a great kick out of his work when customers send in photos of when trees first start fruiting and how much they enjoyed them.
Tips for choosing good produce from a store include any fruit should feel heavy for its size.
That’s when you know it’s at its peak. Melons, papaw and the like will have a distinct smell. They will be less green in the ridges, and have a blush colour at the bottom.
“You want to see the colour you are looking for on the inside, coming through on the outside,“ Tom said. “The blush or the bloom coming through.
“There is nothing better than the smell of stone fruit in season.’’ Tom has the first release shortly of an avocado that produces a glossy 800-1000gm greenskinned fruit that turns red when ripe, and one big enough to make two serves of guacamole.
Then there is another small, back-skinned avo about the size of a 50cent piece. Very cold tolerant, the trees have been sent to people in Tasmania and they get snow on them.
“The fruit has an aniseed flavour. Really nice on toast as it has that fennel taste.’’
Developing the nursery - especially the netting - has shown Tom that spiders are your friends for cleaning up caterpillars and insects.
Meanwhile the magpies and butcher birds have worked out ways to get under the netting but the wagtails are content to come along and peck them off the outside.
“A lot of plants we are growing are no longer being produced commercially and are at the threat of being lost,’’ Tom said.
“Some of the lychees are no longer commercial varieties but they have their place. And if these get bulldozed then they have gone completely.’’
Pumpkin and tomatoes are planted as ground cover in between trees, together with mulch.
Among the lessons learned during the development of the nursery have been the way the floods came up quickly.
“We weren’t able to trade during that time. We had severe damage to the driveway due to the run-off and were unable to dispatch on-line
orders.
“It’s bitumen now as we couldn’t keep repairing it.’’
The most recent rainfall had 100mm an hour, and the water was running over the contours and down the roads.
The orchards are all in raised beds to store the moisture, but angled so that it doesn’t saturate the roots.’’
Tom uses local organic potting mix and the plants love it.
Less is more in regard to fertiliser but do it regularly - especially with organic products.
Nothing beats picking your own home-grown fruit, Tom said. After all, you know where it came from, and how fresh it is.
The biggest volume of sales is Queensland and New South Wales. Customers can order for pick up so locals do not miss out.
Trees are grown in full sun, not in greenhouses, to give a strong sun-hardened plant ready to go in the ground.
“We are not just selling plants - we have them growing here too,’’ Tom said, “so we know how they perform in the area.’’
So what gives Tom the most satisfaction about his life among plants?
“I wake up at 6am, look at the weather to see
how hot the day will be or if it will rain. Then we know how much to water the plants.
“From there, every day is different … early in week we pack the plants to send across Australia.
“There is a pick-list for the orders. The team of five establish the most suited for shipping due to size, health and the the variety the customer is looking for.
“Looking down the valley, it’s beautiful to not only wake up to but work from here each day … it’s like an oasis.
“We can get some heavy fog,
“Throughout the week we are preparing for the three open days - Thursday, Friday and Saturday - and restocking the nursery.
“Sunday we still water. There is never a day off.’’
It was so fascinating to visit the nursery and talk with Tom, because of the unexpected about what they are doing from a local perspective as well as sending so much product interstate to all states of Australia.
Tom spent years working hard to invest in his life on the land. Yet now, when you see how passionate he is about his trees and produce you realise that with such passion he’ll never have to work another day in his life.
Tom is a real inspiration for all of us.
Tom Esler with the flowers of the star fruit. (460854)
The covered orchard. (460854)
Jujubes. (460854)
Now that’s an avocado. (460854)Tarocco rosso blood oranges. (460854)
Blue java bananas. (460854)
Mexicola avocado ... with an aniseed flavour. (460854)
The Bitter bean (Parkia Speciosa) or Pedai produces long, flat edible beans with bright green seeds the size and shape of almonds. (460854)
SUNDAY 20th April 2025
FRIDAY 18th April 2025
17th - 21st APRIL 2025
ENJOY ROMA THIS EASTER WITH ‘EASTER IN THE COUNTRY’
Exploring Roma, Queensland, o ers a perfect blend of natural beauty, history, and warm country charm. This Easter dive into local history at the Big Rig Oil and Gas Museum, where you can learn about the area’s pioneering oil and gas industry. Wander through the Roma Bush Gardens, a peaceful spot to enjoy native flora and fauna. A trip to Roma wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the vibrant cattle saleyards, the largest in Australia, o ering a unique insight into the region’s agricultural heartbeat. End each day sampling local wines at a boutique winery, basking in the breathtaking sunsets that paint the sky. Roma o ers a perfect mix of relaxation and adventure, inviting you to truly savour its outback charm.
The Big Rig Tower & Tree Walk
2 Riggers Road, Roma
Up The Creek Garage and Museum
14 George Street, Roma (Just behind the Shadys Lagoon)
Roma On Gungil Art Gallery
38-44 Hawthorne Street, Roma
Roma Saleyards
Bull Ring, Roma Saleyards Warrego Highway
Roma Bush Gardens
Corner of Main & Duke Street, Roma
Roma Butter Factory
18-20 Station Street, Roma
Moorelands Bush Nursery & Feed Shed
Drive west along Miscamble Street or Oralo Road and then turn onto Dargal Road and follow the signs.
“Why Worry” Open Garden
1559 Burton’s Road, Euthella (23km from Roma)
Miniature Trains Rides
The Big Rig Parklands, 2 Riggers Road, Roma
Roma International Motor Speedway
27 Two Mile Road, Roma
Ironbark Raceway Drag Racing
Kimblers Road o Warrego Highway
Western Spirits Queensland (Distillery & Cellar Door)
50 Bungeworgorai Lane, Roma
Mount Abundance Homestead
Mount Abundance Drive 7km West on the Warrego Highway, Roma
“Avenel” Open Garden
159 Brinsop Road, Roma (32km West from Roma)
Quality, conditions were up
CATTLE Report Date: 19/03/2025
Saleyard: Casino
The movement of cattle got back to normal in most areas of the North Coast this week with 1,450 head yarded. There was a good supply of young cattle and cow numbers also increased. The yarding of young cattle consisted of several runs of well bred and well finished vealers and weaners, along with a few pens of yearlings. The market followed similar trends to most other selling centres this week to be easier for most classes of cattle. Restockers were active in the sale acquiring a large percentage of the young cattle, however there was a increased number of vealers that went to the trade. Restocker weaner steers sold from 260c to 402c with medium weights averaging 352c/kg. Restocker weaner heifers ranged from 230c to 344c/kg. Trade vealer sold from 240c to 290c/kg. Yearling steers to restock and background sold from 282c to 370c, while yearling heifers sold from 230c to 286c/kg. The yarding of export cattle consisted mainly of cows, while there was a few pens of grown steers and heifers through the sale. Grown steers sold from 328c to 342c to process, while grown heifers sold to a top of 310c/kg. Cows also sold to an easier trend with 2 score medium weights ranging from 220c to 242c and 3 scores averaged 248c/kg. The 4 score cows ranged form 257c to 283c/kg. Heavy bulls reached a top price of 296c/kg. Report compiled by Doug
Robson
Report Date: 19/03/2025
Saleyard: CQLX Gracemere
CQLX Vendors penned 3957 head at Gracemere sale- 2692 up on the previous wet sale. Quality and condition were much improved on the preceding sales, although prices failed to hold last week’s rates for most categories. The usual processors were present and operating and there were several local feeders who were not operating. There were quality related variations in some categories, with an overall easing tendency evident. Vealer steers sold to an occasional 413c/kg, whilst vealer heifers topped at 279c/kg, averaging 270c/kg.Yearling steers in light weight pens made to 409c/kg, yielding averages of 326c to 364c/ kg. Medium weight pens averaged 301c to 347c/ kg. Light weight yearling heifers went to the veal trade and to restockers, averaging 279c to 286c/ kg for well-bred pens. Medium weights sold to 355c/kg to backgrounders on occasions to average 272c to 286c/kg. Grown steers to feed eased, selling to 349c/kg and averaging 316c to 333c/kg while those grown steers and bullocks to processors made from 278c to 333c/kg average, relative to condition. Grown heifers to the trade were also easier than last sale with sales mostly from 267c to 286c/kg average and to a top of 301c/kg. Plain conditioned cows sold to 257c/kg with the best, four score cows making to 289c/kg and averaging 268c/kg. Heavy bulls averaged 262c/kg with sales to 275c/kg. A mixed offering of cows and calves sold from $1,150 to $1,800 per unit. Reporter: Richard Thomson.
Report Date: 19/03/2025
Saleyard: Dalby
The supply of stock at Dalby increased to 5,699 head which included 740 from far western QLD
258 from NSW and a handful from SA. All the regular export buyers plus a southern processor and feeder operators attended along with local restockers. Heavy bulls and bullocks sold to dearer trends with heavy cows firm and plainer light cows selling to easier prices. Heavy feeder steers and heifers improved in price however restockers were very selective with only the better quality lines of yearlings selling to firm prices. Light weight yearling steers to background made 443c to average 391c/kg.Medium weight yearling steers to feed sold to 350c with restockers paying to 428c/kg. Heavy yearling steers to feed made 376c to average 341c/kg. Light weight yearling heifers to restockers sold to 320c/kg. Yearling heifers over 280kg to feed and to background sold to 330c/kg.Heavy yearling heifers to feed sold to 346c and averaged from 293c to 323c/kg. Grown steers in the 500-600kg range to processors sold to 365c and averaged 328c with bullocks over 600kg at 354c to average 323c/kg. Grown heifers to processors sold to 348c/kg. Light weight 2 score cows to processors sold from 210c to 255c/kg. Heavy score 2 cows sold from 220c to 256c/kg 3 score cows 248c to 270c/kg. The best heavy cows sold to 295c and averaged 278c/kg. Light weight bulls to restockers sold to 346c and averaged 290c/kg. Medium weight bulls to feed made 298c to average 277c/kg. Heavy bulls to processors made 295c to average 283c/kg. Market Reporter Errol Luck. Report Date: 18/03/2025
Saleyard: Roma Store
Continuing dry outlook Roma Agents yarded 6,712 head. Cattle were drawn from the local distrist as well as western and far western QLD. All the processors feedlotters and backgrounders present however not all operating. Buyers were selective with only top quality lines receiving strong support. Yearling steers 200 to 280kg sell-
ing from 302c to 434c/kg. Yearling steers 280 to 330kg topping 436c to average 376c/kg. Yearling steers 330 to 400kg also could not maintain the levels of last sale and made 392c to average 354c/ kg. Yearling steers 400 to 480kg topped 350c/kg to feed. Yearling steers over 480kg sold from 300c to 318c/kg to processors. Yearling heifers 200 to 280kg with the majority making from 200c to 322c/kg for the better lines. Yearling heifers 280 to 330kg with a large portion selling to improved rates and made to 334c/kg to restockers. Yearling heifers 330 to 400kg also improved and made to 328c/kg back to the paddock. Yearling heifers 400 to 480kg however lost ground and sold to 322c/ kg. Grown steers 400 to 500kg topped 382c/kg. Grown steers 500 to 600kg topped 338c and bullocks over 600kg to 326c/kg to processors. Grown heifers over 540kg topping 318c/kg. Once again quality cows penned with the 2 score cows selling from 214c to 270c/kg. The 3 score cows made to 288c/kg. Bulls over 600kg to 303c/kg. Bulls 450 to 600kg to 280c and young bulls under 450kg to 382c/kg. Market Reporter David Friend Report Date: 18/03/2025
Saleyard: Warwick
Warwick agents penned 1,281 head. All the regular processors attended and operated with all export cows and bulls selling to dearer trends. Heavy feeder yearling cattle sold to firm rates depending on type and quality with restockers yearling steers and heifers selling to improved prices. Light weight yearling steers to background made 370c to average 344c/kg. Yearling steers in the 280-330kg range to feed sold to 368c and averaged 338c/kg with restockers paying to 412c/kg. Yearling steers to feed for the domestic market made 382c to average 350c with those to restockers at 389c/kg. Heavy yearling steers to feed sold to 376c and averaged from 340c to 352c/kg. Year-
ling heifers in the 200-280kg range to background sold to 334c/kg. Medium weight yearling heifers to feed made 340c to average 301c/kg. Heavy yearling heifers to feed made 316c to average 298c with those to the wholesale meat trade topping at 375c/kg. A small sample of grown steers to processors sold to 320c/kg. Grown heifers to processors sold to 341c and averaged 319c/kg. Light weight score 3 cows to processors sold from 250c to 268c up by 6c/kg. Heavy score 3 and 4 cows improved by 10c to 12c selling to a top of 288c to average 281c/kg. Heavy bulls to processors made 310c to average 286c/kg. Market Reporter Errol Luck.
SHEEP
Report Date: 19/03/2025
Saleyard: Warwick
Warwick agents penned 1,695 lambs and 1,213 grown sheep. All the regular buyers attended and operated on a cheaper market for the trade and store lambs however the mutton sold to dearer trends. Light weight young lambs to restockers sold from $30 to $71/head. Young lambs in the 16-18kg range to feed sold from $70 to $95 with restockers paying to $85/head. Young lambs to the butcher trade sold from $79 to $106/head. Older lambs to the wholesale meat trade sold from $143 to $195/head. Trade weight lambs sold from $170 to $199/head. Heavy lambs to processors sold to dearner trends at $203 to $250/head. Crossbred hoggets sold from $96 to $110 with dorper hoggets to $146/head. Light weight ewes to processors sold from $35 to $50/head. Heavy ewes to processors sold from $61 to $115/head. Merino wethers to processors sold from $55 to $81/head. Heavy wethers sold from $80 to $125/ head. Ram lambs to butchers sold from $56 to $140/head. Market Reporter Errol Luck. Please note this market captured remotely.
• On 150mm ibeam skids, 75/50 welded joists
• Bullet proof (not really) but built Aussie tough • Shower / Toilet / Basin • Cyclone rated to C2
Berends have been operating since 1966 and are one of the last Australian tractor implement manufacturers still going. We build a large range of slashers, mulchers, rippers, graders, post hole diggers, cultivators etc and have an extensive dealer network throughout Queensland.
Australia first genetics
to 2.4/3.0m Heavy Duty linkage Hydraulic graders up to 3.6m trailing road graders.
Contact your local Berends dealer for more information or call direct on (03) 9791 2494 www.johnberendsimplements.com.au | sales@johnberends.com.au
A new line of beef genetics that produces maximum productivity, efficiency, and sustainability has been successfully bred in Australia for the first time.
Western Downs cattle producers Nick and Kate Boshammer of NB Genetics reached a milestone last weekend, confirming the birth of Australia’s first NuEra T14 calves — an Angus hybrid line providing an unmatched product of growth, extreme feed efficiency and tremendous carcass quality.
This marks a significant achievement in their partnership with ABS, which has allowed the Boshammers to breed these elite, embryo transfer bulls with some of the most advanced genetics available.
Backed by more than two decades of ABS progeny feed intake data, the NuEra T14 genetic line has proven to produce calves that are born unassisted, grow rapidly to weaning and continue that trajectory through harvest with superior carcass results.
It’s a major step in introducing the genetic line to Australian beef producers.
“Our NuEra line is for those commercial cattle producers looking to add more terminal profitability traits in their calf crop,” Mr Boshammer, owner of NB Genetics said.
“We are so excited to be able to connect commercial beef producers directly to the newest genetics and technology on the market.”
In May last year, NB Genetics took a huge step forward by implanting NuEra T14 male sexed embryos into recipient cows, straight from the ABS research and development facility in Wisconsin, USA.
ABS’ partnership with NB Genetics has involved many “long conversations” according to ABS technical and genetic services representative Matt Aikenhead.
“Nick knows what type of bulls he wants to produce for his clients to deliver the best solutions as they endeavour to raise a calf crop while making better beef,” Mr Aikenhead said.
“These calves will be a great addition to our herd. It opens us up to a genetic pool without any limitations, to focus on what’s really important in terminal feeder cattle - growth, efficiency, and meat quality,” Mr Boshammer said.
As the first in Australia to have the NuEra breed in their herd, the Boshammers plan to sell them as 17-month-old NB Genetics AngusX bulls at their annual bull sale next year, and harvest offspring once the herd grows in size.
“In August 2026, we’ll proudly be presenting our first offering of NB Genetics AngusX bulls. Our goal has always been to help cattle producers attain unmatched growth, extreme feed efficiency, and tremendous carcass quality.
“With our 2026 Bull Sale that goal will be taken to a whole new level as we proudly present our first offering of NB Genetics AngusX bulls,” Mr Boshammer said.
NuEra T14 Bulls.
Western Downs Farmer Nick Boshammer from NB Genetics with the first Australian-born NuEra calf. (Supplied)
Nick Boshammer with the first Australian-born NuEra calf and recipient cow.
Kate and Nick Boshammer from NB Genetics with Matt Aikenhead from ABS.
Hazelnut cakes with pear and pistachio
· 3 eggs · 1/3 cup self-raising flour
· 2 large pears, thinly sliced
· 1/3 cup crème fraiche
· 1 tsp vanilla bean extract
185g hazelnuts, skin off
· 110g caster sugar
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 180°C (fan-forced). Grease and line four ramekins. Place on a baking tray and set aside.
2. Heat a large fry pan over medium heat. Add in hazelnuts and toast for 4-5 minutes or until golden all over and starting to become fragrant. Remove from pan and set aside to cool. Once cooled, place hazelnuts in a small food processor and pulse for 2-3 minutes or until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.
· 1/4 cup roasted pistachios, roughly chopped
4. In a small bowl, whip together creme fraiche and vanilla bean extract until firm peaks form.
5. Serve cakes warm with a dollop of creme fraiche, pear, and a sprinkle of chopped pistachios.
Tip:
3. In a large bowl, whisk eggs and sugar until light and fluffy. Add hazelnut meal and self-raising flour and stir through until just combined. Divide cake batter between prepared ramekins and bake for 12-15 minutes or until just cooked through. Allow to cool slightly in the ramekins before turning out.
1. To easily remove the skins of your roasted hazelnuts, pop them into a clean tea towel while they’re still warm and rub them together.
Recipe developed by Sprout (https://sprout.edu.au) for Nuts for Life
Indian Tomato and Ginder Biryani with Eggs
Prep time: 50 mins
Serves: 4
Ingredients
· 2 tbsp canola oil
· 1 brown onion, halved lengthways and thinly sliced
· 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
· 1 tbsp finely grated ginger
· 1 long red chilli, thinly sliced, plus extra to serve
· Salt and pepper, to season
Method:
· 1 tbsp ground cumin
· 1 tbsp ground coriander
· 1 cup long-grain rice
· 3 large tomatoes, chopped
· 2 cups (500ml) water
· ½ cup coriander leaves
· 4 eggs, soft boiled (see tip) and peeled
· 250g green beans, trimmed
· Plain yoghurt, optional, to serve
· Lime wedges, to serve
1. Heat oil in a large heavy-based frying pan over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, ginger, chilli, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, for4-5 minutes or until softened. Add spices, rice and tomato and stir to coat. Add water and stir. Cover with a lid, and reduce heatto medium-low, allowing it to cook for 30 minutes. Add the eggs, cover and cook for a further 5 minutes or until rice is cookedand eggs are warm.
2. Meanwhile, cook the beans in boiling salted water for 4–6 minutes or until just cooked. Drain and shred. Set aside.
3. Fluff up rice with a fork and serve topped with beans. Cut eggs in half and place on top. Serve with coriander, chilli, yoghurt andlime.
Notes:
1. For the best soft-boiled eggs, bring a small saucepan of water to the boil. Add eggs and simmer for 6 minutes. Drain and stand incold water. Crack shells and gently peel.
Recipe courtesy of Australian Eggs
Tag-a-toga’s first catch
By Jessica McGrath
Tag-A-Toga was not an ordinary fishing expedition.
The Kingaroy Sportsfishing Club’s event saw about 50 anglers enjoy Lake Boondooma, near Proston, for the 10th annual Tag-a-Toga on 28 February to 2 March.
Club Secretary Karen Bradwell explained that this was a citizen science project to research their target species, the resident southern Saratoga.
“You can track the whole fish’s life from the tag,” she said.
Limited to just 20 boats to ensure the South Burnett dam was not overwhelmed, participants catch, tag the fish with a pink tag and then release the fish.
President Glen Unverzagt shared that the data collection was quite extensive, including what lure or bait, time of capture, and terrain where each fish was caught
“At event closure, this data is shared with entrants to help fine tune angler’s skills to have better success chasing these mighty fish,” Mr Unverzagt said.
The Saratoga captured over the weekend ranged from 450mm to 805mm, proving there is a good, self-sufficient breeding process underway. This was supported by a larger size range which points to suitable living conditions in the dam.
“If you haven’t targeted these fish in Boondooma dam yet, do yourself a favour, and get in contact with the club to learn the techniques that work the best,” event organiser Bob Dover said.
Kingaroy Sportsfishing Club Vice President Shaun Manthey shared the citizen science project collects data on population, growth and growth rate dynamics of Lake Boondooma Saratoga.
“The talented anglers adjusted to the conditions with a total of 46 Saratoga caught,“ he said.
Each of these fish were released and most were tagged with the Queensland Sportsfishers pink tags which will help the citizen scientists learn more about these creatures.
“It’s great to see people unlocking the secrets in landing these great fish and this is proven with the results this year,” Mr Manthey said.
Gympie fisherman Robbie Proctor caught a 795mm model, however the longest Saratoga caught was 805mm by Pete Drakos who was fishing out of a ski boat.
“Fish of this size are very crafty and landing one of these are a testament to the anglers’ ability,” Mr Manthey said.
Non-target species were also caught and released, including Australian Bass and Golden Perch.
“We’re really just here to research data on the Saratoga… you might catch 30 other species, but the data for this weekend is the Saratoga,“ Treasurer Carolyn Barritt said.
The 2025 Tag-a-Toga marked the first year at Lake Boondooma, after nine years of research was wrapped up at Lake Borumba, near Imbil.
Ms Bradwell shared the club has locked in Tag-A-Toga at Boondooma for a total of six years until February 2030 for the research project.
“It’s all about research and science, and fun,” Ms Bradwell said, sharing this move to Boondooma was “really exciting” with fishing tourism on the horizon for the South Burnett.
Club tagging officer Mat Cutler explained Queensland Sportsfishing only tag enough fish to gain sufficient information on the local population.
“After 9 years and over 700 Saratoga tagged in Borumba through this event alone, it was time to move locations,” Mr Cutler said.
Funds raised from previous Tag-a-toga events were used to sponsor Boondooma Dam Fish Stocking and Management Association to obtain and transport brood stock to Boondooma Dam in 2016.
“We have been very eager to understand how they were thriving in their new home,” Mr Cutler said.
Mrs Barritt is keen to see what the project will reveal about the Saratoga.
“Sometimes you can check the numbers and realise that the same fish was caught at the Condamine,” Mrs Barritt said.
“It shows you the size and journey of the fish by that one little number.”
The Saratoga are renowned as a premier freshwater sports fish due to their willingness to take
both lures and flies and their acrobatic performances once hooked.
The fish’s upward facing eyes make them a target for surface presentations, however, their hard, bony mouths make hooking and landing them challenging.
Taking away the ‘bite’ of a regular fishing competition, Tag-A-Toga had a more relaxed environment, focusing heavily on everyone enjoying themselves rather than winning.
This non-competitive approach encouraged teams to share tactics, which resulted in more captures and therefore, more data collected to create a greater understanding of these important fish in Queensland impoundments.
The club now looks forward to continuing their research next year and beyond.
“I believe we only scratched the surface this year, hopefully with better conditions in 2026, we will showcase the first-class fishery we have here in the South Burnett,” Mr Dover said.
Kingaroy Sportsfishing Club committee members at Lake Boondooma: Sean Manthey (Vice-President), Bob Dover (Club Captain), Glen Unverzagt (President), Karen Bradwell (Secretary), Ben Horne (Junior Club Captain) and Carolyn Barritt (Treasurer: 463388)
Jay McColl from Maryborough showing that local knowledge is not always required. (Supplied)
Club Treasurer Carolyn Barritt with her first ever Saratoga catch. (Supplied)
Pete Drakos with the largest fish of the weekend (810mm). (Supplied)
Noel Day from Redcliffe enjoyed a week at the dam prior to catching this beauty. (Supplied)
Ryan Sanders from Maryborough with a perfect specimen. (Supplied)
Champs stuffed, no bull!
By Breanna Lloyd
History has prevailed for the second time in PBR Australia after champion bucking bull Fully Locked N Loaded, of Dittmann Bucking Bulls, was granted “another way of life“ by a Rockhampton taxidermist.
Inspired by a photo taken from an award-winning ride, Jason Dittmann, with the help of Central Coast Taxidermy Rockhampton taxidermist Gary Jorgensen, positioned Locked N Loaded (LNL) into a spectacular bucking action pose.
Although he has been in the taxidermy industry for over 20 years, Gary said he had never taxidermied a bucking bull before.
“This being the second time in Australia that somebody has taxidermied a bucking bull, it, of course, was a massive project, but it was exciting to take on the challenge and the honour of partaking in history,“ he said.
“It’s fascinating how people love to cherish their animals, and that’s why I love what I do.“
The 712kg Charbray bucking bull, known as a “little pocket rocket,“ was recognised as the PBR Australia Bucking Bull of the Year in the 2019/2020 awards, winning over 30 buckles and multiple Australian PBR tours and team awards.
Business owner Jason Dittmann purchased the mighty bull from PBR world champion Troy Dunn in 2015.
When the champion bull passed away from old age, Jason knew it was time to give him “another way of life.“
“He (Locked N Loaded) was absolutely electrifying. You never saw anything like it,“ Jason said.
“LNL was always the first one on and off the truck. Sometimes he’d jump over the rails and charge you through the yards — he was a menace.
“But that’s what made him the most incredible bucking bull I’ve ever seen to this day.“
From skin tanning to creating a bull-sized mannequin to then stretching the skin, Gary certainly had his hands full.
“Thanks to the help from several fellow taxidermy friends, we were able to finish the procedure,“ Gary said.
After three weeks of poking, prodding, and stretching the materials, the approximately 70kg project was finally complete.
Now, LNL will breathe new life inside Jason’s home.
“As soon as I purchased him (LNL), I knew he would be a good bull. But I didn’t realise how good he would be until he ran into the ring for the first time,“ Jason said.
“At our first PBR, I turned to my business partner Kerry Bentley and said, ’This one’s going to
make history,’ and sure enough, he did.
“That bull was like one of my kids, and I couldn’t have asked Gary to do a better job. We will definitely be going back to him next time.“
Thanks to Gary’s superb expertise, Jason has already planned for two more of his bucking bulls to be taxidermied by him.
Central Coast Taxidermy Rockhampton taxidermist Gary Jorgensen and Dittmann Bucking Bulls owner Jason Dittmann with Fully Locked N Loaded. (Supplied)
Dittmann Bucking Bulls owner Jason Dittmann and business partner Kerry Bentley.
Fully Locked N Loaded was famous for his unique bucking style and for winning PBR Australia Bucking Bull of the Year in 2019/2020 awards, claiming over 30 buckles and multiple Australian PBR tours and team awards.