Western downs farmer march 2017

FARMER

Ruralweekly

MARCH 2017 EDITION NO. 7

RICH PICKINGS MELON SEASON WRAPUP PAGE 3

2 WESTERN DOWNS FARMER

chinchillanews.com.au Thursday, March 23, 2017

Warrego upgrade getting underway Welcome Welcome to the March Western Downs Farmer.

After a long hot summer knocked growers, graziers, stock and crop yields around, it seems the weather is finally turning the corner with some parts of the Western Downs recording falls as big as four inches in 48 hours.

While the summer rain was patchy, the rain falling mid-March was more consistently spread across the region and helps set the scene for a better winter crop plant thanks to the increased moisture profile.

But those on the land are resilient and innovative; enjoy reading about the Laffy family’s expansion story and hearing about Amy Ballinger’s new business championing unsung country women.

Enjoy this News Corp publication and best of luck for the winter months.

- JACINTA CUMMINS

contact us EDITOR Jacinta Cummins, Phone 07 4672 9900, Email editorial@chinchillanews.com.au ADVERTISING (CHINCHILLA NEWS) Bobbie Gorring, Phone 07 4672 9930, Email bobbie.gorring@chinchillanews.com.au ADVERTISING (DALBY HERALD) Nicole McDougall, Phone 07 4672 5502, Email nicole.mcdougall@dalbyherald.com.au GENERAL MANAGER Erika Brayshaw, Phone 07 4672 9921, Email Erika.brayshaw@chinchillanews.com.au All material published in Western Downs Farmer is subject to copyright provisions. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior written permission for the publisher.

DISCLAIMER: The information contained within Western Downs Farmer is given in good faith and obtained from sources believed to be accurate. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher. The Chinchilla News or Dalby Herald will not be liable for any opinion or advice contained herein.

Projects commencing early this year as part of a $40 million project to improve road safety MOTORISTS travelling the Oakey to Miles section of the Warrego Hwy will see a number of road projects commencing early this year as part of a $40 million project to improve road safety.

Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester said this project is one of 15 upgrade projects between Toowoomba and Miles as part of the Warrego Highway Upgrade Program, which will be delivered by the end of next year.

"This highway serves a diverse range of motorists, from holiday makers heading to the outback to heavy vehicles transporting agricultural or mining freight to the Port of Brisbane," Mr Chester said.

"The end result will be a safer road environment and improved driver experience for all motorists on this stretch of the highway while also improving conditions for a safer, more efficient transport of freight.

Acting Queensland Minister for Main Roads and Road Safety Jackie Trad said construction of the first package of works would include wide centreline marking, road repairs and upgrades to improve town access in Jondaryan, Macalister, Warra and Brigalow.

Up to 70 jobs would be supported by the work.

SLOW-GO: Warrego Highway upgrades along the eastern approach to Chinchilla.

PHOTO: MATTHEW NEWTON

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This highway serves a diverse range of motorists

— Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester

Renal upgrade for regional patients ACTING Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Stirling Hinchliffe welcomed the establishment of renal services at Dalby Hospital.

"People from Dalby and surrounding areas needing haemodialysis previously needed to travel to the Toowoomba Hospital renal unit for treatment," the Acting Minister said.

"The establishment of a renal service at Dalby Hospital, comprising two haemodialysis chairs, with the capacity to treat four patients a day, will mean a vast improvement in quality of life for those patients. "Being able to receive treatment closer to home means the three-to-four-hour

round trip to Toowoomba, three times a week, will be a thing of the past, and that is a tremendous outcome." Darling Downs Hospital and Health Board Chair Mike Horan said the project, worth more than $93,000, would be a boon for patients.

"The DDHHS purpose is to deliver quality healthcare in partnership with our communities and this is an excellent example of fulfilling that purpose," Mr Horan said.

"We have installed around $32,000 worth of water treatment plant and reverse osmosis units at Dalby Hospital, and we have invested more than $61,000 in haemodialysis machines and specialised chairs, but for the patients

who will be having treatment closer to home, the service is invaluable."

Toowoomba Hospital renal unit nurse unit manager Josie Skewes said the service at Dalby Hospital had been eagerly anticipated.

"We have been working with staff at Dalby Hospital to provide training and also preparing the room where the specialised haemodialysis equipment will be located," Ms Skewes said. "As patient safety is our priority, at this stage the service will only be available to low acuity/limited care haemodialysis patients, so patients who do not need constant monitoring while receiving treatment."

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WESTERN DOWNS FARMER 3

Thursday, March 23, 2017 dalbyherald.com.au

RICH PICKINGS: Anthony Guenette (front) and Tom Brett (back) picking melons in the early morning light at the Bretts’ property, Bar-K.

PHOTO: MATTHEW NEWTON

Grower’s fruitful season

In just two years, Chinchilla melon growers have seen both extremes of Mother Nature IT’S EARLY on a bright, autumn morning and already Tom Brett and his crew are picking their way through a melon patch as mist slowly lifts over the landscape.

Originally a worker in the gas industry who grew melons part time on their old block down near Old Man Lagoon, Tom and his wife Emily, along with their young brood, packed up and moved onto their Pelican property of Bar-K two and a half years ago to take up melon farming in earnest.

With just four weeks of picking left, it’s safe to say this year’s season has been much better than their first, which saw the Bretts’ first crop of melons - like some others around the district - wiped out by hail.

While too much water was the problem last

year, this year there wasn’t enough.

“We sort of had two extremes; we’ve had a very wet season and now we’ve had a very dry one,” Tom said.

But he knows that’s just how it goes when you make a living from the land.

“There’s ups and downs and that’s in every industry I suppose. (Farming) is good, we enjoy it.”

While managing water during the dry has been the biggest challenge for the region’s growers this season, it’s also had a positive impact.

Whereas typically the Bretts would see three or four “sets” of melons from a crop, this year they’ve been picking up to eight times from a single patch.

The hot, dry weather has meant there is less disease pressure on the vines, meaning that with enough water they stay healthy for longer and keep producing fruit.

Another of the big “ups” this season was the price of melons.

Around December, when they began picking, the Bretts were receiving upwards of $2.50/kg for their melons, something they’d not seen before and probably never will again.

The price spike was the result of Bundaberg growers finishing their picking season early and a late start to the NSW melon season.

Tom said prices had since settled down to around average - 60c/kg.

“It was definitely incredible money so we don’t expect to see that again any time soon,”

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he said.

The Bretts planted around 50 acres all up across five patches, and used a mixture of local labor and backpackers to pick the fruit.

Their staffing levels have fluctuated between 6-10 extra employees during picking.

As the Bretts slow down and swing into clean-up mode, rolling up the plastic mulch and drip tape they use to irrigate their crops and preparing their country to go into rotation, Tom feels it’s been a “reasonable season” for the district’s melon growers.

With another year under his belt as a full-time grower, Tom reckons his transition from the resources industry to horticulture has been for the best.

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4 WESTERN DOWNS FARMER

chinchillanews.com.au Thursday, March 23, 2017

TOP GONG: Dalby Rural Supplies has been named the CRT Business of the Year for 2016.

PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED

And the winner is - Queensland Dalby Rural Supplies beats out the rest of the nation to scoop major CRT award for first time Queensland State Award but taken out the national award as well.

“The leadership John Cullen and his team provide in rural merchandise and customer care is second to none. The support they give to the wider Dalby region is exceptional, they consistently demonstrate a deep understanding of the needs of the locals.

“The diversified business model Dalby Rural Supplies has adopted impressed the judges, it covers all rural markets in the region and has drawn praise from customers and suppliers;

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and is held in very high esteem by fellow CRT members.

“The professionalism of the business is outstanding. It has the best range of products in their region and they pride themselves on delivering the best service, a key part of their success.,” Mr O’Neil said.

John Cullen, Dalby Rural Supplies Principal, said the award was a great honour for the business and for him personally.

“Being recognised for the way we have serviced the Dalby region over many years is

Our focus has always been to be experts on our region, the advice we give is specific to the unique challenges of farming here

— John Cullen, Dalby Rural Supplies Principal

humbling, but it has been our privilege to work with the people here,” Mr Cullen said.

“Our focus has always been to be experts on our region, the advice we give is specific to the unique challenges of farming here.

“The extensive range of services and resources we can provide as a CRT business means we can help our clients with everything from rural merchandise to insurance, but we never stop learning.

“We employ locals who understand local conditions and our community. We see ourselves as a partner with our customers and we make sure that everything we do in offering service and advice helps make them more successful.

“Our team are to be congratulated on the very high level of commitment they show day in and day out, the award is a tribute to their dedication.”

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Dalby Rural Supplies, has been named the CRT Business of the Year for 2016 after a final round of judging.

CRT (Combined Rural Traders) is Australia’s largest group of independent rural retailers with close to 400 stores nationally.

Greg O’Neil, head of the CRT network on behalf of Ruralco Holdings Limited, said that while the competition had been fierce amongst the CRTs across the country, Dalby Rural Supplies was simply too good.

“Dalby Rural Supplies is an exceptional business, it consistently rates highly with customers, suppliers and staff. It has impressed with their wide-ranging technical expertise, their constant drive to improve the business and their deep understanding of the needs of the local community.

“The business has been a regular finalist for the Queensland award due to the quality of the business, this year it not only has won the

WESTERN DOWNS FARMER 5

Thursday, March 23, 2017 dalbyherald.com.au

Increasing farm efficiency Dalby Mower Supplies can help with yields, crop health and pests

ON HAND: Dalby Mower Supplies’ manager Gus Murphy is ready to help with all your farming needs.

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PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED

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Having a huge impact on crop yield, plant health, pest control and in turn; your operation’s overall profitability, these precision-engineered nozzles are innovative and industry leading.

And thankfully for all farmers on the Western Downs, Dalby Mower Supplies stocks these revolutionary agricultural technologies.

Thanks to Dalby Mower Supplies preferred supplier, Croplands – customers enjoy unparalleled access to these first-class products.

Boasting a full selection of broadcast, banding, special application, turf, orchard and vine and liquid fertiliser nozzles, all the nozzle fittings, spray guns, pressure regulators, filters, electric spray valves and so much more – Dalby Mower Supplies once again live up to their reputation of being far more than just a mower store.

A family run business, owners and operators Scott and Jo Seis pride themselves on the fact that they go above and beyond to supply customers with all their needs.

Stocking mobility scooters, farm and racing quadbikes, crop spraying equipment, irrigation and plumbing equipment, safety equipment, pumps and of course, all the standard goods you expect in a mower store – you cannot go past Dalby Mower Supplies for a vast range of high quality products.

6 WESTERN DOWNS FARMER

chinchillanews.com.au Thursday, March 23, 2017

ON THE LAND: Darcy, Jimmy, Maggie, Anna, Ned and Charlie Laffy and their parents Dan and Veronica on their organic farm at Ducklo.

PHOTOS: CONTIBUTED

Organic farming Ducklo producers expand organic range to lamb

By JACINTA CUMMINS VERONICA and Dan Laffy haven’t looked back since deciding to convert their farm at Ducklo near Dalby to organic farming in 2009.

After hearing American Joel Salatin speak about holistic farming, they were only more certain that their decision was the right one and it’s a whole family operation with children Sam, Jimmy, Maggie, Darcy, Ned and Charlie all involved in the production or looking after 18-month-old Anna in between school and sport.

“It’s like a tuning fork, something just strikes a chord with holistically managed organic farming; farming in the conventional way wasn’t adding up for us financially or ecologically,” Veronica said.

The fourth generation farmers bought the 1300 acre farm in 1999 and farmed conventionally until 2008, taking three years to switch from conventional cropping and stock to organic.

The couple and sell their 100% grassfed Angus beef online and at markets and recently increased their organic lamb herd

after seeing a demand for it.

The season’s first lambs were ready for sale in February, but like most producers, the Laffys took a production hit due to the drier conditions even though their Wiltshire and Damara Dorper crosses are well suited to tougher conditions.

When the sheep flock was established, the producers were chasing meat quality and taste so went for a mix of Damara and Wiltshire ewes which are joined to Dorper rams.

Damara are an uncommon sight in the area as they can be black, brown or white or a mix of the colours.

Originating from Egypt and Eastern Asia, they are highly resistant to pests and disease and are renowned for their mothering capacity with high survival rates of lambs.

Dan said while they wanted straight Wiltshires, the sheep were just not available locally so they sourced the ewes from across the Downs with the majority coming from Warwick. Wild dogs can also be a problem in their area, so they use two Maremma dogs as sheep guardians.

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It’s like a tuning fork, something just strikes a chord

— Veronica Laffy

The Laffys have 100 ewes which are joined at a rate of 30 ewes to a ramwith lambing year round and the long term plan is to build the flock up to 300 ewes to become self-replacing.

The stock are holistically grazed with the cattle shifted to fresh paddocks daily and the sheep moved every three days.

Average annual rainfall is 650 millimetres but the farm has only received about 450 mms over the last year.

They credit holistic grazing management with helping them adapt to the drier seasons and plan to experiment with in pasture crops like oats, wheat and barley to increase biological soil activity, water retention, food supply and quality.

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WESTERN DOWNS FARMER 7

Thursday, March 23, 2017 dalbyherald.com.au

Heart of the Darling Downs PAT WEIR MP Member for Condamine THE Condamine electorate is situated in the heart of Darling Downs agricultural sector. The fertile soils and temperate climate enable a wide diversity of broad acre and intensively farmed irrigated crops to be grown including horticultural crops. There is a large feedlotting industry located on the Darling Downs with cattle, pigs and poultry lot fed for both domestic and international markets. The accessibility to grain ensures the lot feeders have a secure supply.

The last winter cropping cycle saw a huge increase in the acreage of chickpeas grown in the area, yields were above average with some

YOUR REPRESENTATIVE: Pat Weir, Member for Condamine.

PHOTO: Contributed

crops yielding almost 3.5 tonnes per hectare.

Growers received record prices for their chickpeas which made the return per hectare very profitable. There was a reduced area planted to barley and wheat due to the lower prices for these commodities.

This summer the season started well for most areas across the downs with good planting rain falling early to allow farmers to plant sorghum, mung beans, corn and cotton at an optimum time. Most areas continued to receive some rain and growing conditions were favourable into November and December 2016.

Unfortunately January and February 2017 brought extremely hot weather with records tumbling, along with very little rain in most parts of the Darling Downs. Sorghum and cotton crops suffered severely with the heat cooking the grain and bolls literally. The expectations of a record cotton harvest have been reduced by almost half with dryland growers experiencing the relentless heat coupled with a lack of rain and many irrigators running out of water or struggling to get water across fields on time.

The prolonged heat and absence of rain has been devastating for farmers across the downs. It will cause a great deal of pain economically, socially and psychologically as they face very low yields and poor quality cotton and grain. I am hopeful that the resilience of the farming community will remain strong and support will be given where required.

Farming is a difficult industry to be part of, with its heavy reliance upon the weather. When conditions are unfavourable it makes life on the land very challenging.

SUPREME SERVICE: John Manning at Harvey Norman Dalby.

PHOTO:CONTRIBUTED

Unparalleled service IN TODAY’S world, there is no denying that time itself is a luxury.

With busy lives and hectic schedules, households need to run as efficiently as possible and when it comes to purchasing the items needed to make that happen, people simply don’t have the time to shop around.

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8 WESTERN DOWNS FARMER

chinchillanews.com.au Thursday, March 23, 2017

BRANCHING OUT: NSW candlemaker Sarah Ryan was one of the first featured on Amy Ballinger’s Wattle & Twine blog.

PHOTO: BRIGID ARNOTT PHOTOGRAPHY

Branching out online Wattle & Twine championing women in agriculture, wherever they are

By JACINTA CUMMINS SWAPPING the beach for the bush made Amy Ballinger remember just how much women in agriculture and regional Australia often achieve with little recognition.

The humanities teacher and beef producer from Jandowae launched Wattle & Twine in February to an overwhelming response.

"I grew up on my parents’ property at Kumbia, but left for university and the Sunshine Coast was my first posting which is pretty unusual, but we moved to Chinchilla for Josh’s work in 2012 and it was only then that I’d realised how much I missed being in a country community."

Amy and husband Josh bought "Reedy Park" at Kumbia shortly after moving and "Redlands"

outside Jandowae in 2016.

They run 150 Droughtmaster breeders with calves at "Redlands" and 80 replacement heifers at "Reedy Park" and grow forage feed.

But with Amy and Josh juggling full time work and developing on their own properties as well as helping her parents on theirs, something had to give.

"I’ve been teaching for nine years and I love it, but we were working and spending weekends flat out fencing or with the cattle, it just didn’t stop," Amy said.

She took some leave to focus on farming, but missed the mental stimulation of teaching so saw the opportunity to give birth to Wattle & Twine.

"There was really nothing which celebrated country living and women at the same time.

"I was surrounded by great women role

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Wattle & Twine founder Amy Ballinger at home with Wally who she and husband Josh have raised by hand after he was orphaned near their front gate. teaching."

It was challenging at times, but Amy never looked back.

"The internet is great, but we do get blackouts and I don’t have a landline or get very good reception here, but the women I’m dealing with face the same problems.

"The best thing about Wattle & Twine is I can focus on farming, but still champion women; it’s a better balance."

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models growing up starting with my mum Debbie but so often women in the country just think ‘Oh I just help out on the farm’ or downplay their achievements in business."

And so Wattle & Twine was born.

The business is a website which tells the stories of rural and remote women in farming or business and an online shop selling their products to allow them to focus on creating rather than marketing.

One of Amy’s first interviews was her school bus driver Desiree Crawford, but she has since featured women as diverse as a candlemaker in Quandialla, NSW and a beauty therapist from Mundubbera.

"I’d always wanted to do something creative, but I wasn’t sure what – when I was in year 12, I thought about being a photographer, then a journalist, but the sensible part of me went for

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WESTERN DOWNS FARMER 9

Thursday, March 23, 2017 dalbyherald.com.au

Heat hits honey producers Beekeepers report reduced honey harvest, forcing some to move their hives to cooler climates

By JACINTA CUMMINS BEES are summer’s latest victims with beekeepers reporting a reduced honey harvest and some forced to move their hives to more moderate temperatures out of the Western Downs due to the unusually hot conditions.

Graeme and Helen Murray own Bunya View Honey at Kaimkillenbun and usually keep their 50 hives at different locations including Bell, Yamsion and in the Bunya Mountains foothills, but sent most of them to Surat in November.

"When things first started to really dry off, we fed them with sugar water as we produce local honey, but they were really struggling so we had no choice but to move them," Graeme said.

"When it’s dry, beekeepers hurt just like grain growers and cattle farmers."

Bees can travel up to five kilometres in search of blossoms to pollinate, but work best within a three kilometre radius.

The drier weather also meant a reduced honey harvest as summer is peak production season for the bees which can make up to 10 times as much honey as they can eat themselves.

"We make Ironbark and Coolibah honey and we’d expect to collect a 44 gallon drum of honey every six weeks, but we’ve only harvested once or twice since September,"

Each hive collects nine frames with each frame yielding 1.5-2 kilograms of honey once extracted.

PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED:

Helen said. "We extract, bucket and label it on-property and sell it untreated and unheated alongside our honeycomb, creamed honey and the beeswax at markets, through Dalby businesses and through our Facebook page, but this winter will definitely see a supply drop as the bees just haven’t produced like they normally do."

The Murrays are trying to bring their bees back to the Western Downs but wet weather has stalled them because the hives can flood and the swarms drown if it rains during transportation.

The Murrays started commercial beekeeping and honey production after getting a hive to pollinate their own vegetable garden, but the hobby became a business with both of them working with the bees or extracting and packaging the honey and its products every day.

They will not harvest honey again until summer as production levels drop heavily

HEAT STING: Beekeeper Graeme Murray with one of Bunya View Honey’s 50 hives. leaving just enough honey to sustain the bees.

The dry season isn’t the only thing to have affected production in recent years with the pair noting that some traditional blossoms such as sunflowers are becoming less effective as new breeds are released.

"Sunflowers are meant to be one of the best crops (for bees), but the new hybrids just don’t have as much pollen so the bees really didn’t respond to them like we’d expected," Helen said.

Bunya View Honeys honey coming out of the extractor

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10 WESTERN DOWNS FARMER

chinchillanews.com.au Thursday, March 23, 2017

Weather woes Scorching weather and no rain set sorghum crops back

By JACINTA CUMMINS THIS summer’s sorghum plant was back with most growers planting a reduced area because of the low moisture profile and no rain.

Others growers chose to plant more dryland cotton instead as cotton prices were stronger than sorghum at the time of planting.

Those growers who did plant sorghum are now reporting a poorer yield with most of the crop grading 2 instead of 1.

Third generation Macalister farmer Jason Schelberg wanted to plant 610 hectares of sorghum and a bit of corn across his 1150 hectares cropping operation, but only planted 485 hectares of sorghum in early October.

2850 acres He postponed planting corn hoping for rain, but by the time it arrived in January, it was too late to build up the moisture in the soil, so he CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

HOPEFUL: Jason Schelberg in his best sorghum crop this season on his Macalister property which he hopes will go 3 tonnes to the hectare; he says his 485 hectare plant varies from "brilliant to absolutely terrible" and that he probably won’t achieve the 2.5 t/ha that he’d like to. PHOTOS: CONTRIBUTED

Chinchilla 435 Dahlers Road

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Modern 3 bedroom brick home with ensuite and built ins homestead is approx. 8 years old. Fully air conditioned with carpeted bedrooms and cork tiled living areas. Single lock up garage. Also on the property is an 3 bedroom old timber home with wrap around verandas on 2 sides suited for renovation or storage.

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Property is located in a pleasant rural residential setting only a few minutes from town and would make an ideal semi retirement or young family home.

56.47ha - 139.53ac

WESTERN DOWNS FARMER 11

Thursday, March 23, 2017 dalbyherald.com.au

FROM PAGE 10

planted 56 hectares of mungbeans for the second year.

"I’m glad we didn’t plant corn because we just didn’t have the moisture and even the sorghum struggled with the heat and the dry so the corn just wouldn’t have performed," Jason said.

"For a while after planting the mungbeans I was worried that they’d need to be able to swim there was so much rain, but they’ve done pretty well, so I’m confident they’ll have a handy return.

"It won’t be as good as last year when they went 1.6 tonnes to the hectare, but that was a honeymoon as it was our first season growing them and a good season overall."

"Our sorghum was at opposite ends of the spectrum: some is brilliant, but some is absolutely terrible with my best and worst crops only a few kilometres apart from each other."

Jason, who operates the family farm with his wife Le-Anne and children Tiffany, Kirralee and Aidan, said you could reasonably expect to yield 5-7.5 tonnes of sorghum to the hectare in

❝

This rain will hold us up in terms of sorghum harvest, but it’ll be good for the mungbeans

— Macalister farmer Jason Schelberg

the area in a good season.

"This season I’d be very happy with 2.5 tonnes a hectare because it’s just been a really tough season for most crops with the lack of water and so much heat but I’ll be lucky to get that.

"This rain will hold us up in terms of sorghum harvest, but it’ll be good for the mungbeans."

Dalby Rural Supplies agronomist and part owner of Warra Rural Supplies Greg Hartwig said while the overall sorghum plant was down and it’d been more severely affected by Rutherglen Bug than previous seasons, it’s not all bad news.

"A few of the really late crops planted at the end of January and early February might still do well as they’ve had the rain that the earlier ones missed out on, but they still need a month to finish off so those growers would be hoping for continued warm weather and no early frosts.

"The good thing is that with a smaller supply than the market expected, the sorghum price has risen and even though the rain that we’re getting now will hold up harvesting, it will definitely build the moisture profile for the winter plant."

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LEFT: The proof is in the pudding: Jason Schelberg’s sorghum crops were all planted between October 8-15, but the tiller on the left hand side comes from his best crop while the tiller on the right hand side is from his worst crop.

RIGHT: Sorghum from Jason Schelberg’s best crop.

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12 WESTERN DOWNS FARMER

chinchillanews.com.au Thursday, March 23, 2017

More choices available

Given the competitive nature of the 21st century, consumers enjoy more choice than they ever have before however, often this leads to difficult buying decisions

WINNERS: Midwest Fabrication General Manager Amy Wilkins with her father Martin Schutt at the Business Excellence Award.

PHOTO: ANN ALCOCK

DECIDING on which product to purchase to ensure the overall efficiency of one’s business or operation can be challenging which makes quality assurance and product innovation extremely important.

One such company which possesses this all-important quality assurance and an unwavering commitment to innovation is Midwest Fabrication.

Manufacturing the only Australian made drapers and boasting the widest drapers in the world from 36 foot through to 60 foot, to call Midwest Fabrication specialists in their field is an understatement.

Having experienced huge growth in 2016 onto Case and New Holland combines and recording an 80% spike in the sale of 60 foot drapers from 2015 to 2016, there is no denying the incredible success story of this company.

A family owned business which has been in operation for 20 years, Midwest Fabrication offer 100% combine capacity without excessive ground speeds and best of all, customers can rest assured in the 10-year life cycle and structural integrity of the drapers.

As anyone in business would know, there is no better testament to a product’s success than satisfied customers and when it comes to Midwest Fabrication, the reports are glowing.

Clients operating 18 metre platforms have attested to harvesting 600 to700 acres per day, with others reporting reduced fuel and labour costs and stating that the 60 foot drapers have removed the need for a second header or a contract harvester.

Along with these impressive testimonials, Midwest Fabrication have an array of awards upon which to hang their hats, including 2016 Best Manufacturing Business, 2016 Business of the Year, Best New Innovation Release award and Best Australian Agricultural Machine.

With an unwavering commitment to innovative product development and a clear goal to continue to provide the industry leading, largest capacity, most versatile and highest quality draper crop harvesting platforms – there is no denying that the future looks incredibly bright for Midwest Fabrication and its team of dedicated staff members.

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WESTERN DOWNS FARMER 13

Thursday, March 23, 2017 dalbyherald.com.au

Delivering peace of mind Since 2007, Queensland Machinery Agency (QMA) has been delivering incredible peace of mind to its many clients across Australia

RELIABILITY is a trait that is more than skin deep with QMA. With over a decade of experience in the demanding agricultural machinery industry, QMA deliver on all they say they are going to.

QMA prides itself on delivering high-performance products, along with reliable service and back up support to customers and this gives their clients a comforting sense of

quality assurance.

QMA sell and provide service to Seko Feed Mixers, Supreme Feed Mixers, AXON Manure Spreaders, GT Grain Dryers and Diesel Conversion Kits and Thomas Rollermilss.

People across eastern Australia can testify to the incredible value, unmatched service and world- leading products that QMA bring to the demands of rural production.

QMA are also preferred suppliers of new and used machinery, including Spare Parts, Workshop Repairs, Infield Service and Maintenance to the iconic products that so many progressive people use every day.

Talk to QMA today about how they can give you and your business peace of mind and help ensue your operation runs at its highest possible efficiency.

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14 WESTERN DOWNS FARMER

chinchillanews.com.au Thursday, March 23, 2017

Finch Engineering delivers best quality by country mile LOCATED in the tiny town of Kaimkillenbun on the Darling Downs is Finch Engineering, a unique family-owned business that is renowned Australia wide for their quality products.

Established in 1983 by Des and Keran Finch, Finch Engineering has come a long way from its humble beginnings.

It is now regarded as one of the leaders in its field when it comes to grain-handling equipment and agricultural products.

Finch Engineering is 100% Australian owned

and operated, and the friendly team can do everything to meet a client’s needs on site.

They specialise in grain haul-out bins and also manufacture mother bins, seed and fertiliser bins, livestock feeders and grain augers.

Finch Engineering sales manager Brett Edwards said the company recently released a new model chaser bin which was designed, fabricated and manufactured in their workshop.

“No matter how big or small a job is, we can do everything on site,” Brett said.

“Once fabrication is complete, our painting and detailing teams ensure every Finch Engineering product leaves the factory gates looking its best and more importantly, is ready to be used.

“One thing we pride ourselves on is customer service and support.

“We have a service truck available that carries a supply of spare parts readily available

for the farmers needs.”

Finch Engineering’s premium products are distributed across the countryside, including Western Australia and Victoria.

For more information, visit www.finchengineering.com.au.

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WESTERN DOWNS FARMER 15

Thursday, March 23, 2017 dalbyherald.com.au

Wandoan Cup Contemporary fashion set to meet country charm at 2017 Wandoan Cup Race day FLEMINGTON might have Super Saturday and the Bird Cage but the 2017 Wandoan Cup Race Day is the guaranteed winner this racing season, boasting the trifecta of an exclusive decorated trackside marquee, five race program and $10,000 for the main race.

The inaugural trackside marquee is set to bring a new level of glamour to the races for those who are more familiar with fashion than form guides as it will be decorated by Style Out Here from Guluguba.

"The marquee will incorporate touches of gold, horses and greenery with the tickets selling out last month, but if you missed out, there will still be plenty of other things to

entertain you including an original Wandoan Cup photo backdrop so you can capture all the highlights of your day in picture perfect style," Wandoan Diggers Race Club Sponsorship Manager Jason Erbacher said.

"There’s $400 on offer in the traditional fashions on the field competition while the Weeroona Feedlot Foot Race is set to be one of the day’s highlights before the action moves from the track to the after party at the Juandah Hotel from 7pm."

The 2017 Wandoan Cup Race Day is on this Saturday, March 25 at Wandoan Showgrounds with gates open from midday.

ABOVE: Tammy Stiller, Guluguba and Katie Gould, from Chinchilla.

LEFT: Adam Erbacher, Justin Rodger & John Atkins

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PHOTOS: CONTRIBUTED

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16 WESTERN DOWNS FARMER

chinchillanews.com.au Thursday, March 23, 2017

LOFTY HEIGHTS: Matt Kidston clears a jump in the 1.15m heat at Chinchilla Show.

PHOTO: ALANA CALVERT

Old is new again Putting a new twist on the classics at the 105th Chinchilla Show

By JACINTA CUMMINS THE theme for the 105th Chinchilla Show may be "Old is new again", but don’t be fooled into thinking the two day event is just for babyboomers or dyed-in-the-wool show supporters because the Show Society is moving with the times to appeal to all ages.

Due to last year’s overwhelming response to going online with categories, Chinchilla Show Society Secretary Rhonda Bruggemann said schedules will soon be available online and that the show’s social media presence on Facebook was drawing in lots of new people.

"Last year we had 30% of our hard copy schedules leftover because people really liked being able to access them online so eventually I’d love to see a whole new website which could take secure payment so people can eventually enter online as well," she said.

"It’s been a pretty full on few months because the showgrounds and the Show Society were involved in last month’s Melon Fest and it was a great way to showcase our facilities to visitors from near and far.

"We are a bit unique in that the showgrounds are owned by the community so it’s a year round job maintaining them because they are used by so many different groups but this means that when the show is on our doorstep, it’s more about upgrading than fixing so we are constantly improving the showgrounds and its facilities.

"This year the Show really is offering something for everyone with the Chinchilla Showgirl Gala Dinner in place of the traditional

❝

We are a bit unique in that the showgrounds are owned by the community

— Secretary Rhonda Bruggemann

show ball on Saturday night where the Showgirl entrants will be chauffeured to the show grounds in classic cars by car club members right through to the actual show itself.

"The car club is getting more involved with a bigger car display planned over the two days and we’ll have all the traditional attractions like the horse events, fat cattle, woodchopping, the Chinchilla Show Rodeo and the fireworks."

And getting involved in the show is what makes it really interesting, with photography being a case in point.

Last year saw a record 1000 photos in the photography competition which was well beyond the 600 stewards had estimated.

Rhonda agrees that getting hands on is an eye opener from her own experience of signing on as secretary in late 2015 having never had a lot to do with the show other than attending.

"It’s definitely been a steep learning curve, but it gives you an idea of just what goes on behind the scenes to make the show happen and it’s just amazing!"

Chinchilla Show is on May 26 and 27.

RIGHT: 2016 Chinchilla Showgirl Tammy Pukallus with the Champion Dressage Horse at last years Chinchilla Show BELOW: YOUNG LEADER: Dalby State High School student Piper Barth was the Champion Junior Parader at the Chinchilla Show.

PHOTOS: ALANA CALVERT

WESTERN DOWNS FARMER 17

Thursday, March 23, 2017 dalbyherald.com.au

New technologies available FARMERS from across the region got together to view first hand the technology that is set to take agriculture by storm

The field day hosted at Walmer had a range of new technologies including drones, Swarm Bots and security systems.

Roger Henderson works at AgriRisk and is also on the board of directors at Conservation Farmers.

He was amazed with the amount of farmers that attended the event and believed that some of the technology on show could profoundly impact agriculture.

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"We’ve been improving planters and boom sprays, but there hasn’t been a game changer," Mr Henderson said.

"That’s where technology like drones and Swarm Bots come in."

Drone specialist Meg Kummerow noted that farmers need to take to the technology, and occasions like the field day help that process.

"It’s slowly getting there, more farmers are open to the idea," Mrs Kummerow said.

"Farmers that are new to technology need to adapt otherwise they risk getting left behind.

"Field days give those farmers the hands on experience.

"Drones can improve multiple aspects of agriculture; from livestock, feedlotting and horticulture."

PHOTO: Meg Kummerow from FlyingAg

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18 WESTERN DOWNS FARMER

chinchillanews.com.au Thursday, March 23, 2017

Dalby grower and contract cotton harvester David Walton in a dryland crop at Cullingral, Miles which yielded two bales to the hectare.

PHOTO:CONTRIBUTED

Heat shrinks cotton crop yields But price still strong

CONTRACT cotton picker and grower David Walton expects to harvest 4,500 hectares of cotton from Dalby to Miles and through Goondiwindi by late May. While last week’s rain will boost David’s late cotton, it is too late for many growers.

The Darling Downs had a positive start with nearly 70,000 hectares of dryland irrigated cotton planted this season.

Limited early season rain and almost no mid to late in crop rainfall coupled with extended periods of above average heat has made for a tough season.

This season saw many growers return to cotton or plant it for the first time because the price for cotton was outstanding in comparison to grain prices at the time of planting.

"We received 90 millimetres in 48 hours on our December planted cotton and I was really happy as that crop will maintain itself now with the profit increase definitely outweighing the docking our early cotton might receive because of that same rain," the third generation Dalby grower said.

"Overall the rain was really too little too late and for people set to harvest, it just means interruptions and the risk of discolouration."

David and his father Ian planted 234 hectares of irrigated cotton and 356 hectares of dryland cotton on "Glenwood" and

❝

"Yaraandoo", Dalby, but are only looking at two to three bales to the hectare for dryland in comparison to six bales to the hectare in 2016.

This is the first season they’ve planted irrigated cotton in four years but they are anticipating a yield reduced to about eight bales a hectare due to limited water and unexpected chemical residue issues in some of their newer country.

"It was a good outlook at planting, but the tap turned off mid-January, the microwave turned on and it just fried the dryland."

Darling Downs Cotton Growers Association

It was a good outlook at planting, but the tap turned off mid-January, the microwave turned on and it just fried the dryland

— David Walton

President Adam McVeigh said while yields are down, the strong cotton price means growers who opted to plant cotton over sorghum are still likely to be better off than if they had planted a grain crop.

"It’s been a tough season no matter what you grew and an ordinary dryland crop probably would have been a failed sorghum crop," Adam said.

"On the bright side, the cotton price is still outperforming grain prices so growers will get a solid return for the product they do produce."

Adam said while not enough rain had been the biggest problem so far this season, Mealybug could become local growers’ newest challenge.

While Mealybug isn’t common across the Darling Downs, the pest has turned up in the last fortnight meaning growers will need to be alert and monitor it to avoid it becoming widespread.

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By JACINTA CUMMINS

WESTERN DOWNS FARMER 19

Thursday, March 23, 2017 dalbyherald.com.au

Australian Reining Breeders Cup Will bump Dalby’s population over Easter

By JACINTA CUMMINS EVERY woman has a favourite wedding photo.

And while Gita Thomas probably wouldn’t want to admit it to her husband Errol, it’s a pretty safe bet to say that he actually isn’t her favourite shot.

That’s because one of her favourite shots wasn’t taken on her wedding day, but a year afterwards when she was freestyle reining wearing her wedding dress and veil on the couple’s champion stallion Docs Fancy Roy! Errol and Gita share a lifelong passion for reining and both have held positions at Reining Australia, the official governing body of the sport in Australia, over the years which inspired them to establish and sponsor the Australian Reining Breeders Cup in Dalby three years ago.

For the uninitiated, Gita explains that reining is a bit like Western dressage with a bit more speed.

"It’s about the ability of the rider to guide their horse through set manoeuvres willingly without exerting too much force," she said.

"There is actually a bit judge who looks at the horse at the end of the reining pattern to check legal head gear was use and see the animal hasn’t been forced; in this way, it’s a great sport where the horses’ wellbeing is the priority and if the judges see the competitor being too forceful they will be marked down for this.

"You have to have them (reining horses) soft, supple and have them on a loose rein to do well, it’s not an easy sport to excel in, but it is an exhilarating one to participate in and also to watch.

"A good reining horse is described as "chilled" which means it is relaxed and can handle loud music so crowd involvement is encouraged, we love to hear the cheers and loud music and it doesn’t affect the horses."

Errol owns Thomas Manufacturing and Thomas Arena Products and also has a great love for Dalby and reining so it was only natural that he and Gita came up with the ARBC to not only create a high end professional event for reiners but to also bring people to Dalby and in turn, boost the local economy.

The Windsor Hotel caters the VIP Dinner and helps operate the bar and a lot of the riders stay with local motels and Errol works closely with Dalby Chamber of Commerce & Industry to engage local businesses and give them opportunities to be involved.

The ARBC has two events under its banner: there is the Reining Derby and the Classic Challenge Event, which combined are the Australian Reining Breeders Cup. Last year a total prize $65,000 was awarded to riders and horse owners and this year there is are 2 saddles and a $800 bridle handcrafted from silver and gems also up for grabs as well the cash prize pool.

But the one thing the ARBC has which money can’t buy, is its community spirit and friendliness.

"The reining community is very friendly, but we’ve really worked to bring everyone together over the four days to meet new people and help those who might be newcomers get to know people; we do this with various activities, but the $2 Corona Happy Hour is always a hit," Gita laughs.

"This event has a reputation for being one of the most prestigious calendar events for reiners and for its warmth and friendliness, it offers something for the everyone."

This year the ARBC is April 12-15, so if you’ve never seen reining it’s the perfect time to head to the showgrounds over the East Long weekend to check out some of the best professional and amateur reiners and their horses from across Australia.

The feature event the ARBC Derby will be on Saturday afternoon, April 15.

QUICK SKILLS: Leah Read out-rode the men on the stunning buckskin Captains Tiger Lily, for a win in the ARBC Dalby Rural Supplies Open Challenge.

PHOTO:CONTRIBUTED

Michaela Martin on Mocha Upfront.

Ken May and Leah Read with their winnings, including a trophy, bridle, buckle, rug and a big cheque.

PHOTO:CONTRIBUTED

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20 WESTERN DOWNS FARMER

chinchillanews.com.au Thursday, March 23, 2017

Out and about around the Tara Show

Ken Eley and Dana Deane at the 81st Tara Show on Saturday. 11/03/17 PHOTO: MATTHEW NEWTON

Samantha Morgan, representing Tara Swimming Club, reacts to the news she has been named Miss Tara Showgirl 2017. PHOTO: MATTHEW NEWTON

Jess and Chloe Cassidy with their pony Humbug at the Bell Show PHOTO SOPHIE VOLKER

Young handler Kelly Anne Slade with her bull PHOTO SOPHIE VOLKER

Guluguba's Frieda and John Hoffmann took out first and second place in the Giant Pumpkin Weigh-In. Their winning pumpkin pipped the scales at 45kg.

PHOTO: MATTHEW NEWTON

BELL SHOW ACTION: The woodchop competitors during the underhand heat. PHOTO SOPHIE VOLKER

Joceyln Prain, Piper Johnson, Quentin, Chelsea and Matthew Prain at the 81st Tara Show.

PHOTO: MATTHEW NEWTON

Young handler Lewis Carmmack with his bull Mr Watson.

PHOTO SOPHIE VOLKER

WESTERN DOWNS FARMER 21

Thursday, March 23, 2017 dalbyherald.com.au

Out and About around the district

FACES OF THE SHOW: (From left) Miss Showgirl runner-up Sophie Volker, Miss Dalby Showgirl Emily Akers, 2016 Miss Dalby and Darling Downs Showgirl Annie Fulton, Dalby 2016 Rural Ambassador Chloe Maxwell, Miss Junior Showgirl Melita Cupitt and Rural Ambassador Jessica Weeks PHOTO: NICOLE MCDOUGALL

Emily Golding and Bradley Smith presenting the Rural Ambassador award to Jessica Weeks, Dalby show Girl Ball PHOTO: NICOLE MCDOUGALL

Indy and Katie Kajewski enjoy meeting the animals in the petting zoo at the Bell Show. PHOTO SOPHIE VOLKER / MICK DOYLE:

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22 WESTERN DOWNS FARMER

chinchillanews.com.au Thursday, March 23, 2017

The Farmer Wants a Life

BMO helps farmers get Moore out of life Spirits were lifted and lives re-energised thanks to The Farmer Wants a Life MORE than 150 people had their spirits lifted and their lives re-energised thanks to The Farmer Wants a Life event hosted by BMO Business Centre in Moonie and Dalby last week.

Some guests even went so far as calling keynote speaker Robyn Moore’s message “life changing”.

BMO communications manager Megan James said professional voice-over artist and International Make a Wish Foundation volunteer of the year Moore had the audience captivated with both humour and moments of solemn reflection.

“It’s difficult to explain the 2017 The Farmer Wants a Life. It was an experience like we’ve never had before. The

room erupted so many times with side-splitting laughter, then Robyn would take us right to the cliff face and give us moments of real clarity and quiet reflection,” Mrs James said.

She said The Farmer Wants a Life was BMO’s way to give local farming communities a morale boost and help them navigate the roller coaster of life.

“We can provide people the best financial planning and accounting advice, but if we are not supporting people in their well-being as a whole person, then our work has little point,” Mrs James said.

After revealing she was the voice of Blinky Bill and all the female voices in the How Green Was our Cactus? radio

show, Moore drew the audience into the more serious side of her life’s work.

As a volunteer with the Make a Wish Foundation Moore shared personal stories of her work with terminally ill children, with their parents’ permission, to encourage guests to live with “urgency before the emergency”.

“Robyn is the ultimate story teller, she isn’t politically correct, she doesn’t beat around the bush, she just uses real Australian talk. She gave us all a little kick up the backside and made us hold a mirror up to ourselves and encouraged us to live with real purpose,” Mrs James said.

She said the evening also reminded people to laugh.

GUEST SPEAKER: Robyn Moore.

“It was pretty confronting when Robyn told us that in the 1950s people laughed an average of 18 minutes a day.

These days we are only laughing around four minutes a day,” she said.

PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED

Mrs James said Moore also provided practical tips to help people navigate life by making clear choices about who they chose to be.

“She helped us all recognise where we are on

life’s roller coaster and then gave us a beautiful technique to use, so that when we find ourselves caught in a negative situation that makes us angry or cynical, to be bigger than our circumstances,” she said.

$6000 competition set to showcase the best of Wandoan and District

O 'S NOBBY'S ' TRANSPOR TRANSPORT RA SPO CH NCH C CHINCHILLA C L

Wandoan Show Secretary Julie Walz said the prize money is on the very high end of the scale compared to other photo competitions and that the sponsors wanted to use the competition to encourage people to showcase what they love about Wandoan, its people and lifestyle.

"This competition is independent of the Show but is being held at the same time to maximise exposure of the area and the entries," she said.

"Anyone who’s been to Wandoan and taken a great shot in the last year can enter, no matter where they are from; it’s all about promoting our town and district."

Images can be entered in the competition at the Wandoan Show website.

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Ingolf Eide’s photo capturing the incredible detail of baby Willy Wagtails in the nest on farm at "Stanley Park", Guluguba was one of the photos which won in the 2016 Wandoan Show. PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED

THE old saying goes that "a picture is worth a thousand words", but your photo could actually be worth $6000 in the Wandoan on Show Photographic Competition.

The winning photos must capture the essence and heart of Wandoan district, the people and the lifestyle, with the area defined as anywhere within a 50 kilometre radius of the Wandoan Post Office.

There are three categories: People; Places and Lifestyle with $500 for each section winner and a $5000 prize for Overall Grand Champion.

There is also a $250 Peoples’ Choice prize and a $250 Encouragement Award.

The overall winner will also collect another $500 if they are at the Wandoan 2017 Show when results are announced.

WESTERN DOWNS FARMER 23

Thursday, March 23, 2017 dalbyherald.com.au

ASSOCIATED GRAIN — Grain Merchants and Seed Specialists

Seamer – the new chickpea bowls them over A NEW CHICKPEA for Queensland and NSW is producing improved results for growers in the region.

PBA Seamer chickpea from Seed Net not only produces high yields, it is delivering an excellent disease resistance package. Rated as Resistant to Ascochyta Blight, Seamer is a step ahead in the fight against this virulent disease.

PBA Seamer is an improved desi chickpea for the northern region with the highest available Ascochyta blight resistance rating (rated R). It is broadly adapted from central NSW to central Queensland, with significantly higher grain yield than all current varieties in high disease years.

on most farms, Kev and Steve Berger from Kenmore Park, Pirrinuan have been trialling the new chickpea variety for the second season in a row, and it has delivered the goods.

As a new release from Pulse Breeding Australia through Seednet, PBA Seamer was sown in a farmer trial next to the popular PBA Boundary variety in the 2015 season.

“It was about a week quicker in maturity,” said Steve, “andshowed no signs of Phytophthora root rot although there were symptoms in the Boundary crop.”

Dalby district growers had good The PBA Seamer yield was results with Seamer in 2016 similar to the PBA Boundary In a year where chickpea prices and was a visually taller plant. have remained high and yields Since planting it was always have been average or better PBA Seamer has a semierect plant type with superior lodging resistance to PBA HatTrick and PBA Boundary.

PBA Seamer has improved seed quality with larger seed size than PBA HatTrick and higher dhal milling yield than all current varieties in southern QLD and northern NSW. PBA Seamer is also rated Moderately resistant to phytophthora root rot, equivalent to PBA HatTrick. Its early to mid-flowering and midmaturity provides an excellent planting window for this region.

ahead of the Boundary, according to Steve and looks to be a variety that will easily find a home in the Berger’s farming program.

Kev and Steve were part of a significant seed production exercise conducted in 2016

by Associated Grain to provide quality planting seed for the 2017 season.

“We are fortunate to have some excellent farmers with sound experience to be growing these seed crops for us,” said Associated Grain’s Seed Manager Geoff Birch.

“We know that we are getting top results in both quality and integrity with our seed crops.

We are very pleased with the seed being delivered, and it is a

credit to these producers to be able to grow such high standard crops. Having access to good farmers, with good farming practices on excellent farming country is a real bonus for us.”

Associated Grain expects to have adequate supply of PBA Seamer seed for the coming season, but Mr Birch urges growers to think about their requirements now to ensure they have covered off their needs before the planting window opens.

The combination of semierect habit, excellent lodging, and Ascochyta blight resistance make PBA Seamer well adapted to the higher rainfall environments in Southern Queensland and central/

northern NSW. PBA Seamer’s yield potential can be optimised in these environments when planted on narrower rows, 25–50 cm, and at a high density (30 plants/ square metre). Pulse Breeding Australia (PBA) recommends to sow high quality seed at these rates, which will typically work out at 60 to 75 kg/ha, depending on germination percentage, vigour and planting conditions.

PBA Seamer can be purchased through your preferred seed reseller. Call Associated Grain to secure your order – office 07 46699500, Geoff Birch 0400 303666, Kevin Collingridge 0499 700666.

Don’t get bowled out!

Plant PBA Seamer chickpea •Best Ascochyta resistance •Good Phytophthora resistance •High yielding

PBA Seamer Delivers Do not miss out!

To secure your PBA Seamer seed for this season, contact your preferred Reseller or call Associated Grain on 07 4669 9500

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