The Farmer January-February 2021 by The Intermedia Group

Keeping Varroa mite at bay

A history of NSW Farmers

Regenerative agriculture

Calm farms of lovely lavender

Protecting our precious bee industry

The Association through the ages

It all starts with healthy soil

An industry set to soar in 2021

–

JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2021 / $ 9.95

Grains of hope Fresh horizons after a challenging 2020

–

From the editor

THE MAGAZINE

PUBLISHER James Wells EDITOR Michelle Hespe ART DIREC TOR Ryan Vizcarra

–

EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES

Michelle Hespe Email: mhespe@intermedia.com.au 41 Bridge Road, Glebe NSW, 2037

–ADVERTISING

SALES DIRECTOR

Ben Payne Email: bpayne@intermedia.com.au Phone : 0403 893 668

–CONTRIBUTORS

Alexandra Bunton Darren Baguley Emily Herbert Ian Lloyd Neubauer Lisa Smyth Lucy Knight Paul Henderson-Kelly Phil Somerville Rachel Lenehan Sandra Godwin Susan Gough Henly Tony Blackie NSW FARMERS

CEO Pete Arkle MEDIA RELATIONS MANAGER Michael Burt HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS & ENGAGEMENT Kathleen Curry MAGAZINE CONTENT TEAM

Alicia Harrison - Membership Service Manager Annabel Johnson - Head of Policy & Advocacy Alexandra Bunton - Senior Policy Advisor CONTAC T US

Level 4, 154 Pacific Highway, St Leonards, NSW 2065 PO Box 459, St Leonards, NSW 1590 Head Office: 02 9478 1000

–

MEMBER SERVICE CENTRE For membership, magazine subscriptions and mailing list enquiries: 1300 794 000

@ NSWFarmers THE INTERMEDIA GROUP

MANAGING DIREC TOR Simon Grover GM OF OPERATIONS Chris Baker FINANCE MANAGER Mina Vranistas PRODUC TION MANAGER Jacqui Cooper HEAD OF DIGITAL Pauline Grech HEAD OF EVENTS Beth Tobin The Farmer magazine magazine is published for the NSW Farmers Association (ABN: 31 000 004 651) by The Intermedia Group (ABN: 94 002 583 682) 41 Bridge Rd, Glebe NSW 2037. All rights reserved. Printed by IVE Group. Getty Images were used throughout the magazine. Keeping Varroa mite at bay

A history of NSW Farmers

Regenerative agriculture

Calm farms of lovely lavender

Our bee industry needs to be protected

The Association through the ages

It all starts with healthy soil

An industry set to soar in 2021

–

Photo by Rachel Lenehan

JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2021 / $ 9.95

Seeds of hope After a challenging 2020

–

elcome to our first issue of 2021, and a happy new year to you all. Looking back at 2020, I think most of us can agree that it was a year that had many challenges, but there were plenty of good things that arose too. For one, the massive amount of support thrown behind buying local and from the bush was incredibly heartwarming, and that movement continues to grow. And travel restrictions have led to people spending money where it is most needed – with businesses that have struggled through drought, bushfires and the ongoing fallout from COVID-19. From farmers selling their wares to tourists, to city folk booking stays in places that they might not have otherwise visited, there has been so much more money spent here at home. And as so many of us had to spend so much more time at home, I’ve also seen increased appreciation for Australian produce, and farmers leveraging that. When you are buying all of our own produce and then cooking it, and experimenting with different products, then the appreciation for top quality produce naturally grows. There is not a single thing I can think of that I have to buy overseas now. Sure, I admit I enjoy a glass of French Champagne or a white wine from California, but really, we have the best wine in the world here and now, like so many other people, I have decided that this is the year when I will be only buying Australian. Another thing that really hit home for me in 2020 was the amount of innovation going on everywhere I looked. In a crisis people have to think outside of the box and do things differently if they are going to make it through. And although resilience and the ability

to adapt to changing conditions have always been cornerstones of farming, 2020 made people look at all aspects of their business in a different light. The lack of social contact also made many of us look within – not just at ourselves as people, but deep into the innards of our operations. Changes happened so quickly it was a matter of just jumping on and holding on, rather than having a chance to think about not changing. I’m not saying that I want another year like 2020. But I do like the idea of using everything we learnt in 2020 to be bigger and better in 2021. So bring on the new challenges, and let’s get this show on the road folks! Enjoy this issue and drop us a line anytime – we love hearing from you.

MICHELLE HESPE

Editor

The Intermedia Group takes its corporate and social responsibilities seriously and is committed to reducing its impact on the environment. We continuously strive to improve our environmental performance and to initiate additional CSR based projects and activities. As part of our company policy we ensure that the products and services used in the manufacture of this magazine are sourced from environmentally responsible suppliers. This magazine has been printed on paper produced from sustainably sourced wood and pulp fibre and is accredited under PEFC chain of custody. PEFC certified wood and paper products come from environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of forests. The wrapping used in the delivery process of this magazine is 100 per cent biodegradable.

DISCLAIMER: This publication is published by The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd (the “Publisher”). Materials in this publication have been created by a variety of different entities and, to the extent permitted by law, the Publisher accepts no liability for materials created by others. All materials should be considered protected by New Zealand and international intellectual property laws. Unless you are authorised by law or the copyright owner to do so, you may not copy any of the materials. The mention of a product or service, person or company in this publication does not indicate the Publisher’s endorsement. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Publisher, its agents, company officers or employees. Any use of the information contained in this publication is at the sole risk of the person using that information. The user should make independent enquiries as to the accuracy of the information before relying on that information. All express or implied terms, conditions, warranties, statements, assurances and representations in relation to the Publisher, its publications and its services are expressly excluded. To the extent permitted by law, the Publisher will not be liable for any damages including special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages (including but not limited to economic loss or loss of profit or revenue or loss of opportunity) or indirect loss or damage of any kind arising in contract, tort or otherwise, even if advised of the possibility of such loss of profits or damages. While we use our best endeavours to ensure accuracy of the materials we create, to the extent permitted by law, the Publisher excludes all liability for loss resulting from any inaccuracies or false or misleading statements that may appear in this publication. Copyright © 2021 – The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd

JAN - FEB 2021

THE FARMER

Contents TRADE

THE MUSTER

ENVIRONMENT

NEWS AND VIEWS

CALM AMONGST THE STORM: AUSTRALIA’S

REGENERATION AND RENEWAL

What the Budget means for farmers; NSW Farmers’ Farm Safety Advisory Program; Man recognised for detecting an exotic grains pest; RDC overhaul; China’s list of escalating tariffs �� 6

LAVENDER INDUSTRY

Regenerative Agriculture offers a multifaceted tool kit to help farmers improve the bottom line and the health of the land �� 76

THE BIG PICTURE GRAINS OF HOPE

A sense of hope across the country after a challenging 2020 grains harvest �� 10

With the world in a continuing state of emergency, this crop is expected to soar into 2021 ��

50 ATTACKING WILDLIFE SMUGGLING ON

GROWING NSW’S MUSHROOM INDUSTRY

ALL FRONTS

Now is the time for NSW farmers to take advantage of this burgeoning crop �� 54

After drugs, counterfeit products and human trafficking, wildlife smuggling is the world's largest illegal trade worth $27 billion a year �� 81

SPECIAL REPORT COMMUNITY

UNWANTED GUESTS: THE BEST WAYS TO REMOVE PESTS & WEEDS

Managing weeds and pests costs Australian farmers dearly every year �� 58

THE BIG ISSUE BEES IN YOUR BONNET

Australian beekeepers are always living in fear that the Varroa mite could arrive on our shores �� 24

NEW GENERATION: THE WILLIAMS

Meet the Williams from Storybook Alpacas in the beautiful Southern Highlands. �� 84 MEET OUR STAFF AT NSW FARMERS

TOOLS

Checking in with Emily Simpson – Policy Advisor at NSW Farmers �� 93

DRONE HOME

From instruments of war to a great addition to a farmer’s toolbox – drones have come a long way ��

INSIDER

FARM DOG 64

NSW Farmers’ President James Jackson’s amusingly educated dog, Fluffy �� 95 TEAM PLAYER

NSW FARMERS ASSOCIATION THROUGHOUT THE DECADES

A look at some of the key moments in the history of NSW Farmers Association �� 30

NSW Farmers’ Member Jarrod Amery ��

BUSINESS

THE TAIL END

OUT OF A PRICKLY PICKLE

When a pandemic closes one door, Prickle Hill Produce opens another �� 68

INDUSTRY

Some farmers say that Moosic for cows makes them more productive ��

A WELL-OILED MACHINE

Rylstone Olive Press launched in 1998 as a practical step towards reducing the world’s cholesterol problem �� 72

TALES OF SHEEPMEAT

Australia’s sheepmeat industry has been pulled in many directions over the past year. Here are four farmers’ tales ��

38 THE SALESYARDS

Great products for summer ��

SPECIAL REPORT POST-HARVEST INFRASTRUCTURE

The government’s instant asset write off and plunging solar panel costs are changing farming infrastructure �� 44 Rubey, Mick and Karen of Storybook Alpacas in Mittagong – their business is also their dream lifestyle

JAN - FEB 2021

THE FARMER

The Muster l FUNDING BOOST

Farm Safety Advisory Program to continue for four more years NSW Government gives the green light to Farm Safety Advisory Program (FSAP), committing funding for the next four years.

Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation, Kevin Anderson, has recently announced the ongoing funding and commitment to support the FSAP for a further four years. The program delivers practical support to farming businesses to establish, improve and implement Work, Health and Safety (WHS) practices on their farms. NSW Farmers’ President James Jackson says WHS can be daunting for small and medium farming businesses where there are numerous activities with specific risks. “Funding of the FSAP will enable the continuation of direct delivery of practical education and advice on work, health and safety matters to the farming community, especially to those businesses that might not have had access to such support previously.” He said that participating businesses not only develop frameworks for reducing and preventing injuries, they become better equipped to reduce the costs of injuries to people, businesses and communities. “Now is a crucial time for the farming industry to be supported with targeted, practical advice and assistance on WHS issues as a large proportion of the industry are in a recovery and rebuilding phase after a long period of drought and catastrophic bushfires,” Mr Jackson said.

SECURE THESE LOW PRICES BEFORE THEY INCREASE LIMITED NUMBERS!

15M x 18M x 5.1M $20,650 inc GST | FINANCE NOW AVAILABLE

CALL US TODAY ON 1300 559 668

LARGE MULTI PURPOSE

ONLY

$27,480

BIG DEEP & HIGH PLUS

ONLY

$57,320 INC GST

INC GST

TRADIES WORKSHED

ONLY

$25,590

ABN HOLDERS ONLY

MASSIVE WORKSHOP

INC GST

ONLY

$57,310 INC GST

Clermont Crane Hire

13M x 22.5M x 5.1M (43’ x 75’ x 17’) Open front with two large 9M openings for wide access and one 4.5M opening.

LARGE OPEN ENDED

ONLY

$34,110

18M x 36M x 5.7M (60’ x 120’ x 19’) Wide and high openings for large machinery or hay.

AUSSIE LEGEND

INC GST

15M x 31.5M x 5.1M (50’ x 105’ x 17’) Lots of storage space with easy access. Add an end wall for $3,310 or an extra bay for $4,400.

ONLY

$23,100 INC GST

13M x 22.5M x 5M (43’ x 75’ x 16’8”) Open in the gable ends for taller machinery or more hay. Add an end wall for $2,250 or an extra bay for $4,160.

MANUFACTURING LOCATIONS: DUBBO, CARDIFF, TAMWORTH, COFFS HARBOUR, QUEANBEYAN

CALL 7 DAYS 1300 559 668 JAMES 0413 104 820

9M x 16M x 5M (30’ x 53’ x 16’8”) Easy workspace with plenty of height for a hoist. Colorbond walls, doors and trim.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE

UNLIMITED INSTANT TAX WRITE OFF*

18M x 45M x 5.1M (60’ x 147’ x 17’) An awesome shed with so much potential. Increase height at the eave to 5.7M (19’) for $3,570.

COMPLETE PROTECTION

ONLY

$12,730 INC GST

9M x 13.5M x 4.5M (30’ x 45’ x 15’) Sheeted three sides, open one 9M end. Add an extra bay for $3,330.

W W W.NOWBUILDINGS.COM.AU

JOHN 0437 699 111

TREVOR 0431 597 160

Images are from the Now Buildings range and are for illustration purposes only. Imperial measurements are approximate. Extras pricing in bold is applicable at the shed purchase stage only. Extensions for existing sheds POA. WA and NT slightly extra. Delivery extra. Now Buildings will not be responsible to honour these prices once the total allocation has been sold. E&OE. Prices are Region A, Terrain cat. 2. Reg B available at slightly extra. Prices are based on collection from one of our many depots, delivery is available at an extra charge in most areas. *You should consult your own tax and accounting advisors before engaging in any transactions.

The Muster l BIOSECURITY

Dangerous grain pest detected

A Canberra man has been recognised for detecting an exotic grain pest, prompting a new call for the government to do more about biosecurity. In August 2020, Brett Burdett detected the larvae of the khapra beetle – the grain industry’s primary enemy – in the packaging of a new fridge. Immediate action was taken to initiate tracking, tracing, inspection, containment and treatment of the pest, revealing what a critical role the community plays in biosecurity surveillance. The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) has formally recognised Burdett’s efforts through a community award, noting that vigilance is an important component of biosecurity.

However, NFF CEO Tony Mahar says these efforts must be supported by the requisite will and investment of the government in order to truly protect the industry from threats such as the khapra beetle. “An outbreak of khapra beetle could cost Australia $15.5 billion over 20 years through revenue losses from reduction in production and exports,” says Mahar. “It would be a heavy blow to our grain growers, many of whom are embarking on the first decent harvest in years.” A report released by CSIRO in December suggests the current business as usual approach would not meet the challenges facing Australia’s agricultural sectors and would leave us exposed to potentially devastating impacts of exotic pests and disease. Mahar stresses that all Australians – particularly those in government – must heed the warning in CSIRO’s Australia’s Biosecurity Future report, and play their part in delivering a strong national biosecurity system.

Australian designed, engineered and manufactured bulk solids storage and handling solutions for Australian conditions

Walla Walla, NSW (02) 6029 4700

www.kotzur.com

Toowoomba, QLD (07) 4634 4622

info@kotzur.com

l THE BUDGET

Ag-led recovery for NSW Rural and regional NSW fared well in the NSW Budget 2020, with strong investment in regional roads and freight networks, regional schools and local jobs. Announced in November, the Budget includes an additional $300 million for the Regional Growth Fund and $100 million for the Regional Job Creation Fund. NSW Farmers’ President James Jackson said agriculture must be the key industry to leverage investment and drive jobs from a big regional spend in the NSW Budget. “Now is the opportune time to use the agriculture sector to help the economic recovery and drive job growth in the regions,” Mr Jackson said. “Let’s use these funds to invest in value adding and processing of local food and fibre in the regions. This will create opportunities for farm diversification, create regional jobs and further enhance food security in NSW. It’s a win-win.” Mr Jackson added that real opportunities exist right now for the establishment of small scale processing plants close to growers to extend product freshness and shelf-life and support market expansion. NSW Farmers also welcomed strong investment in biosecurity, weed and pest management, $700 million to secure healthy water resources and $50 million to extend research under the World Class Food and Fibre program. Mr Jackson said the increased threshold for payroll tax, a $1,500 voucher for small businesses to offset the cost of government fees, and additional funding for skills development are all important for agricultural businesses. However, NSW Farmers is concerned by the NSW Government’s appetite to overhaul the stamp duty tax scheme in favour of a land tax. “NSW Farmers will certainly be highlighting some of the unintended consequences for the agriculture sector from potential stamp duty reform. There must be flexibility for a sector which is cyclical in nature and exposed to climate variability,” Mr Jackson said.

CASTRATING TOOLS - WIDEBAND™ RINGS - WATER MAGNATION - CATTLE HANDLING EZE BLOODLESS CASTRATOR®

TRIBAND GREEN®

MAGNATION

The all new Highflow 260 HD Extreme™ is designed for the very serious stockman. Hold any size of beast with 100% control.

NEW

TH2078Mau - 09/09/2020

ANY SIZE ANIMAL

STAINLESS STEEL MODEL

SERIOUS CRUSH!

HEALTHIER WATER SAVE WATER, SAVE ENERGY, GROW MORE!

www.technipharm.com.au sales@technipharm.com.au PH: 1800 124 034

The big picture

he record-breaking numbers – the latest ABARES forecast is 17.6 million tonnes – led to headaches for some, as grain accumulators struggled to cater for the influx and truck drivers faced longer than usual wait times to deliver their loads to receival sites. But as Trangie farmer Kevin Flinn told ABC Rural in November: “This season is something I don’t think we’ve ever seen around here before. You might have to wait in line to get your wheat delivered, but how good’s that?” It didn’t take long for the renewed confidence of farmers, buoyed by the heady combination of good yields and good prices, to have tangible benefits for regional and rural economies. NSW Farmers grains committee chair Matthew Madden says the money will quickly flow into towns as farmers pay down overdrafts and accounts with suppliers, and schedule long overdue machinery repairs, equipment upgrades and other improvements. “It’s very hard to buy a new car at the moment, so that’s a good sign,” he says. “People have been managing their businesses carefully for the last few pretty tough years. This will be a good shot in the arm, and they’ll be able to make sure that everybody’s bills will be paid. It brings back a lot of confidence to the industry and to the farmers and their towns.” OVER THE LINE IN MOREE

Matthew, who grows wheat, barley, chickpeas and sorghum 25km east of Moree, says harvest in the region was mostly complete in mid-November after several rain delays. Apart from some staining, grain quality remained high. The potential for labour shortages caused by COVID-19 related international and interstate border closures was recognised and dealt with early in the season. “In June, July, August, the message went out and people came out of the woodwork to help,” Matthew says. “Older guys, recently retired farmers and airline pilots came into the scene. I had a retired accountant on our chaser bin. It was a trying time for people who weren’t fully trained, but they were able to get these guys over the line.” A COMEBACK IN GUNNEDAH

NSW Farmers vice president Xavier Martin, who farms south-west of Gunnedah, says a significant number of farmers in the Liverpool Plains had harvested the best crop in their lifetime – a far cry from the situation they faced in 2019. “We had dust storms, drought and wind erosion,” he says. “I’d never seen black soil blow like it did this time last year – it was severe. And anything that was flammable was on fire around the valleys, so it was all... like Armageddon.” >

THE FARMER

JAN - FEB 2021

Grains of hope There’s been a remarkable turnaround in the fortunes of New South Wales grain growers, with the 2020 harvest pouring rivers of gold into storages across the state.

–

Words SANDRA GODWIN

JAN - FEB 2021

THE FARMER

THE BIG PICTURE

Life-changing rain in February and March set most farm businesses in the region up for an astonishing comeback, even with the added challenges of mice, disease and frost damage. “We shouldn’t have been surprised that the biblical plagues were coming after the drought and the fires,” Xavier says. “We had to bait the whole crop aerially for mice, and none of that was in the budget. But the result and yields are very good quality and even better quantity. So, on those two counts, it means we’ve made a startling recovery in our farm businesses. And that’s reasonably universal across the Liverpool plains.” Xavier, who made the unusual decision to grow only canola because of issues with cereal diseases, says he was unable to relax until he could see the end of the last paddock in front of the headers. “A lot of the early harvest is all about cost recovery and it’s only that last bit you get off that’s the profit end of the deal,” he says. “Getting it in out of the weather is such a relief.” Once his own crops were safely in the silo, Xavier began helping neighbours, as many farmers have done. “We’ve all been through so much stress the last few years that we’re all looking out for each other and saying, ‘How can I help you?’ with a chaser bin or a

THE FARMER

JAN - FEB 2021

RIVERS OF GRAIN

Top to bottom: Harvest time at Sam Evans’ farm in Walgett; Wheat being harvested in Moree.

A GOLDEN YEAR

Harvest began at Walgett in mid-October. Wheat averaged almost 3t/ ha. “When we finished, I wanted to pinch myself,” Sam Evans says.

header or, ‘Do you need our crew?’,” he says. “There’s a lot of that going on.” And while most farmers across the state are having their best ever season, Xavier says that’s not the case for everyone. “There’s a few people that have really, for one reason or another – sometimes it’s a hailstorm, sometimes it’s frost, sometimes they were a bit late responding to a significant rust infestation in their wheat – and they’re just not going to get average yields,” he says. “That hurts, so we just can’t sprinkle pixie dust over the whole lot and say it’s all wonderful.” LESS PRESSURE AT WEST WYALONG

NSW Farmers grains committee deputy chair Brent Morton, who has a spray contracting business and farms near Lake Cowal, 35km north east of West Wyalong, says 2020 was a “do-or-die year for a lot of people”. “It’s been shocking here for a few years,” he says. “If it didn’t come off we were in a bit of trouble. But we got that early rain, the season started to look good, the long-term forecasts looked good. Everything was sort of stacking up to show signs of a good year and people just went hard at it.” After three years of zero demand for contract

spreading of nitrogen, Brent says the phone rang nonstop as farmers did their best to keep nutrients up to the rapidly growing crops. Frequent rain events meant business also was brisk for aerial spreading and spraying of fertilisers and fungicides across the large swathes of country that was too wet for machinery. Harvest in the region started in mid-November with sensational yields, including 5-8 tonnes per hectare (t/ha) of barley and 2t/ha or more of canola, which Brent says is double the district average. But he won’t breathe easy about 2020 until New Year’s Day 2021. “There’s definitely a lot less pressure now, but we haven’t got it in the silo yet,” he says. “We’ll relax when the header’s back in the shed and the last bit of grain is harvested.” A PHENOMENAL START IN THE SOUTH

Justin Everitt, who farms between Brockleby and Howlong near the NSW-Victorian border, says they were fortunate to harvest crops in 2019, but this year’s crops were 60 per cent better. “We’re in what we consider normally a very safe area,” he says. “But the past two or three years was very dry, and we cut a lot of crops for hay and silage. It was very tough trying to maintain livestock, although meat prices have been rewarding for those who kept going through the drought.” JAN - FEB 2021

THE FARMER

THE BIG PICTURE

Justin says it’s been a phenomenal year, even though the season dried off towards the end. “The start that we had was something I’ve never experienced in my 20 years of farming,” he says. “I know 20 years is not a long time when you’re third or fourth generation, but it’s pretty impressive for me to see a year like this.” By the end of November, GrainCorp’s 87 up-country NSW sites had accepted more than 6.29 million tonnes of grain and set several new daily receival records.

FATHER AND SON

Sam and Mark Evans handfed their sheep for almost two years after drought took hold in 2013. A bumper 2016 crop provided some respite, but drought led to feeding stock for another 27 months.

HIGH HOPES IN NORTHERN NSW

General manager of operations Nigel Lotz says yields 20-30 per cent higher than expected, especially in northern NSW, and fears of crop downgrades and damage from La Nina-related rain and storm events during harvest drove the early rush. “The season is early and it’s coming in very, very fast,” he says. “It blew us away. It’s been very challenging to receive it so quickly and I think everyone is worn out.” Nigel says GrainCorp was well into a program of upgrading its facilities to improve efficiency and reduce costs. Extra contingency measures include sending grain by train to the company’s two port terminals, reopening some older sites and creating temporary bunkers. Most of the crop was expected to be in by Christmas, with a “second wave” of grain deliveries to come in early 2021 from farmers using short-term on-farm storage, such as silo bags. RELIEF IN WALGETT

After cutting one decent crop in the previous seven years, it comes as no surprise to learn that Walgett farmer Sam Evans didn’t relax until November 17 – the day he wrapped up the 2020 harvest.

THE FARMER

JAN - FEB 2021

FILLING THE SILO S

Right: Silos on Sam Evans’ farm in Walgett. Once his own crops were safely in the silo, Xavier Martin from Gunnedah began helping neighbours, as many farmers, friends and family have done right across the country. Far right: Sam Evans and his (now) wife Rebecca.

Drought took hold in 2013, forcing Sam and his father Mark to feed their sheep for almost two years. A bumper 2016 cropping season brought some respite, but the drought returned with renewed intensity and handfeeding of livestock continued for another 27 months. A sixth-generation farmer, Sam says average annual rainfall at the family farm south of Walgett is about 450mm. The tally for 2019 was “just over five inches”, or about 127mm for the year. “That’s the lowest on record, or as far as our records go back, anyway,” he says. “We pretty much started 2020 from scratch. January was still dust storm after dust storm. And we were looking down the barrel of missing four in a row, which wouldn’t have ended so well for many people in the area and we would have definitely been one of them.” Rain began falling in late January and continued into February, allowing Sam to start with a clean slate, a renewed sense of optimism and begin sowing almost 10,000 hectares of wheat, barley, chickpea and faba bean crops. “Being able to put the crop in, that was probably one of the biggest things, but it’s still a long way between sowing and harvest,” he says. “We always knew we were going to get something when we were planting. That was probably the biggest time we were hopeful, I suppose. And then any rain in the growing period was just a bonus.” By the time The Farmer photographer Rachael Lenehan arrived at the farm in spring it was looking a treat, with wall-to-wall fields of green, compared to the bare paddocks and endless dust storms of previous years.

DIVING INTO THE NUMBERS After producing just 3.2 million tonnes of winter crops in 2018 and 3.3 million tonnes in 2019, the latest ABARES forecast estimates NSW farmers will harvest a record 17.6 million tonnes. That’s a 46 per cent increase on the previous ABARES forecast of about 12 million tonnes, and reflects the ideal conditions that persisted through the second half of the season. Wheat and barley are expected to set new records for average yields (3.2t/ha) and production, with the NSW wheat crop forecast at 12.2 million tonnes and barley 3 million tonnes. Canola production is forecast to reach 1.1 million tonnes, with record average yields of 1.95t/ha.

A DECADE OF WINTER CROP PRODUCTION

Harvest began on October 15 and yields were solid. The wheat averaged almost 3t/ha, barley about 3t/ha, faba beans 1.6t/ha and chickpeas 1.3t/ha. Sam delivered contracted grain and put the rest into on-farm storage – silos, bunkers and sheds – ready for marketing in the new year “after the harvest games are over”. “When we finished, I wanted to pinch myself,” he says. “But it’s a relief more than anything just to be able to get the ball rolling again. Hopefully – surely after what we’ve been through – even if we only get a few years in a row of average ones that are not so dusty on the ground. They don’t have to be big years every year, just things keep ticking over. You try and diversify as much as you can, but if you go back longer than the last 10 years… since my father’s been here, we’d only missed the occasional crop, never three in a row, let alone six out of seven.” One of the things that kept the farm business afloat during the tough times was continued demand, and good prices, for beef and lamb. As well as Dohne sheep, they produce Angus cattle for the trade. “Meat prices have been pretty kind,” Sam says. “We set up our own sheep feedlot just to finish our own lambs off. We weren’t buying any in. But if it did happen again, we’d definitely look at that possibility, depending on grain prices and everything at the time.” The next step is to sell the grain, pay down the bank overdraft and get stuck into maintenance and improvements postponed during years of belttightening, before preparing to go around again in autumn. But first for Sam and his fiancée Rebecca Crawford, there was a December wedding and honeymoon in Tasmania to enjoy. l

Year

New South Wales Australia (‘000t) (‘000t)

2011-12

11,952

45,673

2012-13

11,123

37,936

2013-14

9,773

41,881

2014-15

10,445

39,198

2015-16

11,624

37,687

2016-17

15,510

56,675

2017-18

7,743

38,396

2018-19

3,243

31,737

2019-20

3,339

29,092

2020-21*

17,601

51,463

% change 2019-20 to 2020-21

427

*ABARES forecast Source: ABARES Australian Crop Report, December 2020

LO CATOR MAP – SHOWS APPROXIMATE LO CATIONS OF THO SE INTERVIEWED FOR THE STORY

JAN - FEB 2021

THE FARMER

The Muster l RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Rural research shake-up Rural research and development is key to Australia moving ahead in ‘big picture’ innovative farming. With the launch of Agricultural Innovation Australia (AIA), there is hope that the winds of change will take the sector in a new, great direction. Words LUCY KNIGHT

armers tip roughly half a billion dollars into rural research and development each year through annual producer and industry levies, but the system has long been criticised as inefficient, steeped in duplication, and slow at getting good ideas to market. It’s hoped a new research and investment company launched by the Federal Government in late 2020 will address some of these issues and help big-picture, transformative research find its way into Australia’s everyday farming operations much faster than it currently does. Agricultural Innovation Australia (AIA) will operate as a single entity for investment and research strategy development to work on cross-sectoral research, helping address research duplication and attract private funds outside the RDC network. All of the 15 rural research and development corporations have signed on as foundation members

Fast facts

THE FARMER

Research and development corporations are responsible for investing around $800 million each year in agricultural innovation.

JAN - FEB 2021

and the Federal Government has provided $1.5 million in start-up funding. Crucially, AIA’s structure enables it to collaborate with the private sector on research projects – a key component in helping commercialise ground-breaking research and new technology and make it available and affordable for farmers to adopt. AIA’s formation is the first major announcement on agricultural innovation from the Government since it undertook a broadscale review of Australia’s R and D model in 2018 and 2019, which included the major inquiry and report by business auditors and consultants, Ernst & Young. Ernst & Young made five major recommendations, which along with funding and investment (addressed by the AIA formation) also called for a strengthening of the system’s leadership and culture, worldclass innovation practices and the development of innovation

$500m come from producer levies, $300m is from the taxpayer.

hubs or precincts, strengthening regional engagement and the integration of existing farming systems groups into the R and D model, and a “next-generation” innovation platform. AIA will start 2021 by tackling its first project on cross-sectoral climate change research, with more announcements expected on other major industry issues once permanent board and staff appointments are completed. In 2019 former minister for agriculture Bridget McKenzie said Australia’s research and development model was “too short term” and not enough innovation was being commercialised. She said many producers “pay multiple levies to different bodies” on top of additional payments to state farmer organisations and commodity advocacy groups. She called for “consolidation” of the mechanisms for planning and procuring research and

Farm groups are pushing for Australia to become a top 20 nation in terms of innovation efficiency – Australia currently ranks 76th (NFF 2030 roadmap).

Innovation is crucial to the National Farmers’ Federation goal of becoming a $100b sector by 2030, with the full adoption of digital adoption alone worth $20.3 billion to the sector (Australian Farm Institute, 2018).

said there was scope for reducing duplication through better collaboration and structures. National Farmers’ Federation Chief Executive Officer, Tony Mahar, welcomed the establishment of AIA but he cautioned against further levy waste, particularly in the area of administration and duplication. He said in the past decade, agriculture’s innovation pipeline had “waned” – hampered by “inefficiencies, duplication and an outdated way of operating”. “It’s imperative this new entity delivers for Australian farmers and does not waste levies on yet another layer of expensive administration and bureaucracy. It must be lean and results driven. It must have clear KPIs and its leadership must be held accountable to these goals.” NSW Farmers’ President James

Jackson said the association emphasised during the review process the value of increased collaboration between RDCs. “We also urged stronger interaction with other research bodies, such as universities,” Jackson says. “Having AIA in place will simplify the process for seeking external partnership and investment opportunities.” Minister for Agriculture, David Littleproud, told The Farmer AIA’s establishment was part of a “longstanding priority to streamline and improve outcomes for levy payers”. Minister Littleproud indicated there was still more work to do, adding the government was consulting with stakeholders to develop a “National Agriculture Innovation Priorities” and a “Digital Foundations for Agriculture Strategy”, both expected to be released in the first half of 2021.

Further reading: • Agricultural Investment Australia: https://www.aginnovationaustralia. com.au • Council of Rural Research and Development Corporations: http://www.ruralrdc.com.au/about/ • Agricultural Innovation – a National Approach to Grow Australia’s Future (EY report, March 2019) https://www.agriculture.gov.au/ ag-farm-food/innovation/vision-foragricultural-innovation

AUSTRALIA’S MOST EFFICIENT BIO-CONTROL RELEASE SERVICE

Using drone technology to release beneficial insects exactly when and where they are needed 27

.au

m .co g u

• Faster application by a single operator • Reduced demand on labour • More evenly distributed application • Access areas with challenging terrain • Disperse bio-control agents to the tops of tall crops & trees

b ra

.au

m .co ug

ab ar

.p ww

ell

a @p

4 |0

7 58

Tailored cover for Aussie farmers

WFI provides personalised service and a wide range of different policies that can be tailored to your specific needs. As one of Australia’s peak farming associations, NSW Farmers understands the importance of agriculture and what it means to their NSW Farming members. WFI are proud to partner with NSW Farmers. We share the same values and understand the importance of protecting you against loss with flexible insurance options. With over 100 years’ experience and more than 80 area Managers across the country, WFI recognise that every farm is different there is no one size fits all when it comes to Rural insurance.

The WFI Rural Plan gives you the freedom to choose a insurance package that suits your individual needs. If your circumstances happen to change, it’s easy to add more coverage to your plan. So, whether you’re a hobby farmer or a major agricultural producer, you can cherry-pick a tailored package to suit your unique needs. Why WFI?

• • • •

Leading farm insurer with over 100 years’ experience

•

NSW Farmers members have access to a Rebate off their NSW Farmers Membership fee’s

•

Choose to deal with your WFI Area Manager face to face over the phone or however is most convenient to you

Over 80 Area Managers across Australia Flexible insurance options tailored to suit your needs Deal directly with an Area Manager who lives in and understands your community

To speak with you local WFI Area Manager, contact WFI on 1300 934 934 or simply visit wfi.com.au Alternatively you can contact NSW Farmers on (02) 9478 1042 or www.nswfarmers.org.au/wfi and they can refer you to your local WFI Area Manager *Rebate amount will depend on your insurance policy premium. To see if WFI products are right for you, always read the PDS from the product issuer, Insurance Australia Limited ABN 11000016722 AFSL 227681 trading as WFI (WFI). This flyer doesn’t take into account your objectives, financial situation and needs. You should consider these matters and the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) before you act on any advice. You can get a copy of our PDS from our website at www.wfi.com.au or by calling 1300 934 934. If you purchase any WFI product you will be charged a premium, plus any taxes and charges based on your risk profile and circumstances. NSW Farmers (NSWF) is an Alliance Partner of WFI and does not make any recommendation or provide an opinion about WFI’s products. If you take out a policy with WFI, NSWF receives a commission from WFI between 5% and 10% of the value of the premium payment (excluding taxes and charges). WFI0985 REV0 11/20

Cherry-pick a tailored package with WFI With a WFI Rural Plan you can choose from 13 different insurance policies:

Farm Property Damage

Farm Legal Liability

Farm Machinery Breakdown

Farm Burglary and Theft

Standard Home

Farm Loss of Income

Farm Electronic Equipment

Personal Legal Liability

Personal Valuables

Farm General Property

Motor Vehicle

Pleasure Boat

Farm Transit

Classic home

The Muster

What’s really behind China’s farming tariffs? First came barley. Then meat, then wine. What’s next for trade with China?

–

Words IAN LLOYD NEUBAUER

THE FARMER

JAN - FEB 2021

n April China's commerce ministry announced a crippling 80.5 per cent tariff on our barley over claims Australian trading practices have “caused material injury” to its domestic barley industry. A number of analysts were quick to describe the move as “economic coercion”, saying the move closely coincided with Chinese displeasure over Canberra's demand for an independent enquiry into the source and early spread of COVID-19. “If the mood is going from bad to worse, maybe the ordinary people will say ‘Why should we drink Australian wine? Eat Australian beef?” China’s Ambassador in Canberra Cheng Jingye told the Australian Financial Review. Less than a month later, China imposed import bans on four large Australian abattoirs over what is said was improper food labelling. The move cancelled out $200 million in monthly trade and placed thousands of Australian jobs on the line. Two of the four abbatoirs banned over labelling and health certificate requirements had been banned by China for the very same reasons in 2017. “As far as we're concerned, this is a technical issue about labelling that goes back six to 12 months,” said John Seccombe, a NSW Farmers Member and chairman of the Northern Rivers Meat Cooperative in Casino. “We should have moved faster and put corrective action in place before this happened.” “China was buying 20 per cent to 30 per cent of our products. Products no other county would buy at a good price. It's disappointing for something like to happen so quickly without warning.” In August, the final part of ambassador Jingye's prediction came true when China launched a new antidumping investigation over claims Australian wine was being sold in China at artificially low prices. The move threatens to derail 39 per cent of the value of total Australian wine exports and sparked sharp falls in the share prices of local wine companies listed on the Australian Stock Exchange. It also generated incredibility given Australian wine is on average the second-highest priced wine in China after New Zealand's. “Australian wine is not sold at below-market prices and our exports are not subsidised,” Federal Trade Minister Simon Birmingham told a packed press conference in Adelaide on 17 August “There are no grounds to uphold the claims being made.” READING BETWEEN THE LINES

Chinese officials have also compiled a detailed list of imports including seafood, oatmeal and fruit that could be subjected to increased tariffs, while Australian dairy and lamb producers, which both have China-dependent export industries, have been losing sleep since, concerned, that they could be next. Yet beyond the headlines lies a complex web of longstanding trade issues that when taken into account help douse fears of an all-out trade war with our biggest trading partner. The decision to impose tariffs on Australian barely came at the end of an 18-month-long Chinese anti-dumping investigation. Since the 2010s, Australian barley exports to China have accounted for up to 80 per cent of total barely imports in China per year – a clear contravention > JAN - FEB 2021

THE FARMER

The Muster of Chinese import-diversification and foodsecurity policies. And while there is no evidence of Australian wine being sold on the cheap in China, the anti-dumping investigation is understood to have been triggered after China’s wine industry association complained about the tough competition it faces from Aussie wine on its home turf. Gavin Thompson, vice-chair of Wood Mackenzie Asia Pacific, a Singaporebased energy consultancy, notes that the trade sanctions have been limited to farm products that may draw heavily on emotions but count for relatively little when seen in the big picture. Before the August announcement, Australian wine exports to China accounted for $1.1 billion in annual trade while iron ore exports are worth almost $80 billion per year – and keep on rising. Figures from 2019 show China is also importing more liquified natural gas and coal from Australia than it did before the pandemic, up 8 per cent and 9 per cent respectively compared to the previous year. COOL HEADS, DIALOGUE AND PRAGMATISM WILL PREVAIL

Warwick Powell, an adjunct professor in economics at the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, believes the timing of the barley tariffs was purely coincidental as “the deadline was coming up anyway.” Powell also believes China's grievances over beef labelling are legitimate. “The idea that a buyer has the right to exercise choice

is not unusual,” he said. “And strangely enough, you have to their requirements if you want to sell to them.” Dr Anthony Graceffo, an economist and author who worked in China for a decade, says Chinese trade policies are rarely black and white. “You can easily make the case that there are several legitimate reasons why China complained and why its complaints are justified,” he says. “But China has a history of using selective enforcement of trade rules when it gets angry. The Soviet Union used to do the same thing but China is more clever in that they look for real problems and then exploit them. “I 100 per cent believe that is exactly what China is doing now,” Graceffo says. In an essay published in the Japanese website The Diplomat on 19 June, Scott Waldron, a senior research fellow at the University of Queensland’s School of Agriculture and Food Science said the broader lesson from these cases is Australian farmers face “significant and rising risks through high trade exposure to China. Trends in Chinese domestic agricultural policy, the bilateral relationship, and the international trading system suggest that disruptions will continue or even escalate in one form or another.” Adds Thompson of Wood Mackenzie, Asia Pacific: “All relationships go through their bad patches but both sides would likely be worse off if the current diplomatic spat were to escalate further. Now is the time for cool heads, dialogue and pragmatism to prevail.” l

IMP ORT, EXP ORT WOES

In August 2020, the final part of ambassador Jingye's prediction came true when China launched a new anti-dumping investigation over claims Australian wine was being sold in China at artificially low prices.

THE FARMER

JAN - FEB 2021

Top to Bottom Fence Solutions

Make the Most From What You Have with, An Exclusion Fencing System You CAN Afford!

Fast & Easy to Install NO Need to Remove Wire

Bottom Wire

STOP Them Going OVER!

Anchors

STOP Them Going UNDER! Galvanised Steel

Recycled PVC

Feed your stock, Not the Wildlife! Watch the Videos at

wiremanhq.com

CALL NOW!

Ph: 02 9955 2264

THE BIG ISSUE BEES

n April, actor Chris Hemsworth posted a video of him and his children collecting honey at their home at Broken Head on the North Coast of NSW. British soccer legend David Beckham has also taken up the pursuit – part of a global trend that has seen thousands jump on the beekeeping bandwagon to kill time and reconnect with nature during the pandemic. But experts around the world warn of beekeeping being viewed in romantic terms instead of a discipline that carries grave biosecurity challenges. Australia is particularly vulnerable as the only beekeeping country in the world free of the varroa mite – also known as the varroa destructor – a parasite that attaches itself to the bodies and kills up to 95% of infected bees. And it’s just one of the biological threats facing our honeybees and the plants they pollinate in their never-ending search for nectar. “Some 35 of our horticultural and agricultural industries depend on pollination services provided by our honeybees,” writes John Harvey, managing director of AgriFutures Australia. “The annual contribution to the Australian economy of our honey bees is estimated to be a staggering $14.2 billion. This is in addition to the $147 million in farm gate value generated by honey and beeswax.” In this edition of The Farmer, we speak to three industry stakeholders about the risks and responsibilities attached to amateur beekeeping in Australia. THE VETERAN

A commercial beekeeper with 100 hives who did his apprenticeship in Christchurch more than a decade ago, Daniel Webb remembers how things changed when the varroa mite arrived in New Zealand. “When I first got to New Zealand, beekeepers could leave their hives over the winter and come back to healthy bees,” he says. “But after the varroa mite arrived in Auckland and rapidly spread across the country, they’d come back after the winter and every single bee in their hives would be dead. “In commercial terms,” he says, “it tripled the number of inspections beekeepers needed to do each year to keep hives healthy and that was ultimately reflected in the price of honey in New Zealand because honey cannot be imported to New Zealand.” Like most experts, Daniel believes it is only a matter of time until the varroa mite hits Australia. “It already has arrived here but they managed to stop it,” he says, referring to a 2018 incident when quarantine officers intercepted a swarm of honey bees carrying the varroa mite off the Port of Melbourne that had built a hive inside a container on a ship that had originated from the US. Another way the varroa mite could enter Australia is by beekeepers importing infected equipment or bee semen. >

THE FARMER

JAN - FEB 2021

Bees in your

bonnet

Australian beekeepers are always living with the fear that the varroa mite might arrive on our shores, and an increasing number of amateur bee-keepers raise its chances.

–

Words IAN LLOYD NEUBAUER

JAN - FEB 2021

THE FARMER

THE BIG ISSUE BEES

“You would hope that no respectable beekeeper would bring any second-hand beekeeping gear into the country,” Daniel says. “But I think there is a lot more room for education about varroa among beekeepers in Australia as there are very few of us who have experienced it or seen it before. He adds: “I think that’s the biggest point to get across, If and when varroa arrives in Australia, beekeepers can manage it in their hives with more frequent inspections. But if it decimates feral bee populations, we will be completely reliant on farmed bees to pollinate our crops.” THE SECRETARY

During the day, Vincent Schnyder crunches numbers for a big multinational bank. But at night and on weekends he contributes his time and expertise as secretary of the Amateur Beekeepers’ Association of NSW. Vincent acknowledges self-taught hobbyists – what he calls “Youtube beekeepers” – are propagating the spread of American foulbrood (AFB) disease. An incurable ailment transmitted through spores, it generally kills infected hives within a matter of months and ranks as the most problematic brood disease among honey bees in NSW. “One of the biggest biosecurity risks are these Youtube beekeepers who study online and don’t get firsthand training with a mentor or a hands-on beekeeping course where they learn what a healthy

THE FARMER

JAN - FEB 2021

QUEENS FOR SALE

Since the 1990s, Charlie and Brenda Casida (pictured above) of Australian Queen Bee Line (AQBL) have helped the farming community of NSW by offering queen bees that give beekeepers the best chance of earning good money from honey and honey byproducts.

The queen bee of farming She has an army of thousands who slave day and night to bring her food, clean her house and distribute pheromones that inhibit the reproductive abilities of other female bees. But the life of a queen bee is anything but regal. She is expected to deliver up to 1,500 eggs per day – more than her body weight. And with such a heavy workload, she needs to be replaced every year. That’s where queen bee breeders like Charlie and Brenda Casido of Australian Queen Bee Line (AQBL) in Orange come into play. Since immigrating from the Philippines in the 1990s, the couple has helped the farming community in NSW by offering queen bees that give beekeepers the best chance of earning good money from honey and honey byproducts. “We crossbreed Italian bees and Carniolan bees, which are themselves a crossbreed of bees from Europe and North America,” Charlie says. The Carnolian is clever because it reduces beehive populations during winter when there is not much honey bloom, and the Italian bee is a good breeder. When you combine the two, you get get a good balance between honey flow and resistance to winter or drought.” AQBL’s sales have doubled compared to last year. The boom in beekeeping hobbyists has made a difference but most of their growth has come on the back of ideal farming conditions in 2020 following four years of drought. “The drought was a huge challenge for us,” Charlie says. “But now it’s over and every week we are getting big orders from local beekeepers asking for 200 to 500

queen bees because they want to produce lots of honey while the season is still good. We’ve been in business for 15 years and we smashed our sales record this year: 1,500 queen bees in one week,” Charlie says. But getting skilled staff is difficult. “We have 21 workers AQBL,” Charlie says. “If I could get more, I could double production overnight.” And getting good at the job takes a lot of time – and money. “It’s very sensitive, technical and labour-intensive work,” Charlie says. “For example, I have to count the larvae ten times a day to ensure a virgin queen bee is accepted by the worker bees. And I have 100 nests in the ground. That’s why there’s only a handful of us breeding queens in NSW. Most beekeepers don’t want to do it. “But there are huge opportunities for new businesses and you can make a lot of money out of breeding queens,” he says. “We are a mixed-farming business. We sell honey and flavoured honey that’s always running out of stock. There’s huge demand for our pollinating service from orchardists in NSW and Victoria. And our bee byproducts like beeswax and honeycomb, they sell really, really fast. But our most profitable income stream is queen bees – by a long shot.”

JAN - FEB 2021

THE FARMER

THE BIG ISSUE BEES

hive looks like, what a hive looks like when there is something wrong – and the proper course of action to remedy it,” he says. “If a hive has AFB, there are only two ways to get rid of it – irradicate with expensive equipment that small beekeepers don’t have or burn the entire hive in a pit,” he explains. “But often they think ‘I don't want to kill animals’. The problem with that is bees from healthy hives sense that a hive is weak, they fly in to steal the nectar and then take AFB back to their hives. That’s how it spreads.” But Vincent says some commercial beekeepers are also spreading AFB by treating it with Terramycin or oxytetracycline – two antibiotics used to cure European foulbrood (EFB) – a less fatal strain of the spore disease. “Any commercial beekeepers can tell the difference between AFB and EFB. It’s easy to differentiate,” he says. “But sometimes they try to mask AFB because they want to protect their investment. If you ask me, this is a far bigger biosecurity issue than amateur beekeepers who are idealists and think ‘I am not prepared to kill 50,000 bees’.” THE INVENTOR

In 2015, Byron Bay-based beekeeper Cedar Anderson and his father made headlines after they raised US$12 million through a crowdfunding campaign to build a new kind of simplified hive that allows honey to be harvested with the twist of a tap. “The whole process of harvesting honey took an incredible amount of work and we thought there had to be a better way,” he says. “It took us a decade, but we found it.”

THE FARMER

JAN - FEB 2021

THE VARROA MITE

If and when Varroa mites (pictured here) arrives in Australia, beekeepers can manage it in their hives with more frequent inspections, but if it decimates feral bee populations, we will be completely reliant on farmed bees to pollinate crops. Below: Charlie and Brenda Casida of Australian Queen Bee Line (AQBL).

*Cash distributions are forecasts only and not guaranteed. Refer to the information memorandum for details. Offer open to wholesale investors only.

Cedar now employs 40 people in Byron Bay and Brisbane and exports Flow Hives – as the father-son invention is called – to amateur beekeepers all over the world. And the unique design, he says, mitigates the spread of diseases. “Typically what beekeepers do during harvesting is remove the frames out of each hive and try to mix them up when they put them back,” he says. “If you are good at management you can do it but if you get even one wrong, you run the risk of mixing pathogens like AFB between hives. Even the tools you use have to be sterilised every time to ensure you do not share the spores that produce bacteria in beeswax and honey. But with our hives, all that work and risk is redundant.” Cedar also claims he produces more training content than any other beekeeping supply company in the world. “We create lots of written material and videos that are streamed on the Internet,” he says. “We answer our customers’ questions in real-time and take them from knowing nothing about bees to having deep knowledge of biosecurity. We’ve created a global community where experts are passing on knowledge to new beekeepers, and that is a very important function for healthy bee populations that can pollinate.” Flow Hives even feature a device that allows beekeepers to identify the presence of varroa mite. “If we did have an outbreak in Australia, all our hives would prove to be an amazing asset to track and eliminate it,” he says. l

SWEET GO OD S

AQBL's sales have doubled compared to last year. The boom in beekeeping hobbyists has made a difference, but most of their growth has come off the back of ideal farming conditions in 2020 following four years of drought.

FAST FACTS

can recognise individual humans the  Bees same way we do, by cobbling together lips, ears and other organs to make out a whole face

bees are thrill-seekers. Others are  Some more timid. A US study even found that agitated honeybees can be pessimistic, and may have feelings

Keep growing with a proven performer Targeting cash distributions of 8%p.a.* in real estate EG Private Wealth now offers sophisticated investors the same disciplined, data driven approach to commercial property investing that’s been so successful for our institutional clients. Call Rodney Walt on +61 2 9220 7000 or email rwalt@eg.com.au to learn more about our high yield and growth secure investments.

Visit eg.com.au/investments/private-wealth

THE FARMER

JAN - FEB 2021

INSIDER NSW FARMERS' HISTORY

NSW Farmers throughout the decades NSW Farmers traces its roots back to the Pastoralists’ Union of 1890. We take a look at some of the key moments in the Association’s history, and its biggest wins.

–

Words ALEXANDRA BUNTON

tepping into the Honour Room in NSW Farmers’ head office in St Leonards, Sydney, visitors are often surprised by the long and storied history of the Association. A presidents’ roll from the late 1800s still hangs in the office’s meeting room, listing all Association leaders from W.H. Suttor in 1890 to James Jackson as the current President. THE BIRTH OF RURAL ADVOCACY IN NSW

RALLYING AROUND

NSW Farmers CEO John White, NFF Executive Director Rick Farley and NSW Farmers’ President Peter Taylor leading a rally of 4,000 farmers in Tamworth in 1990 against high interest and exchange rates.

The history of NSW Farmers can be traced back to the Pastoralists’ Union of NSW, which was formed in 1890 as a countermeasure to the Shearers’ Union ‘closed shop’ policy and subsequent shearers’ strike. The Pastoralists’ Union was ultimately successful in ending the strike, which would have prohibited Shearers’ Union members from working with non-union shearers and requiring woolgrowers to hire only Union members. The enforcement of ‘freedom of contract’ – the ability of growers to engage workers regardless of union status – was the first major achievement of the NSW farm sector’s advocacy body. An agreement between the Pastoralists and Shearers unions from 1891 still sits in the NSW Farmers office. > JAN - FEB 2021

THE FARMER

The organisation was involved in the 1890 Australian Maritime Dispute when the Maritime Union refused to handle wool shorn by non-union shearers, and the dispute ended when governments took the side of employers. The maritime and shearers’ strikes led to the formation of groups that were predecessors to today’s Australian Labor Party. Amidst a climate of strikes and industrial warfare, much of the Union’s work set the foundations for NSW Farmers as it exists today, and started a strong tradition of member volunteerism alongside professional staff. GRAZIERS OR FARMERS – WHAT’S IN A NAME?

In 1893, the Farmers and Settlers’ Association was formed to take on the Pastoralists’ Union over colonial legislation that reserved large tracts of arable land for grazing, preventing small farmers from cropping. The Association held its first meeting in Yerong Creek, where a plaque commemorating the founders was unveiled in 1999. Tom Connors, in his book To speak with one voice: the quest by Australian farmers for federal unity, notes that the Pastoralists’ Union changed their name to the Graziers’ Union in 1916 in an attempt to “soften the image of an organisation established by prominent wealthy pastoralists”. “There was rarely any controversy at a graziers’ conference,” Connors says. “Delegates were usually dressed in expensive suits, many spoke with educated accents and were tactful in their remarks about politicians, public servants and farmers. “Many delegates to farmers’ conferences wore sports jackets, some were coatless, and there was a sprinkling of beards, broad Australian accents and fiery speeches.” MOVING TO AN APOLITICAL SYSTEM

Connors says that the graziers had a difficult time dealing with Labor politicians following the industrial fights of the 1890s; farmers generally found it easier

THE FARMER

JAN - FEB 2021

WRITING ON THE WALL

Above, left: The Graziers Association’s annual conference in 1922. Above, right: An agreement between Pastoralists and Shearers unions still sits in the NSW Farmers’ office.

to get along with Labor governments due to closer social attitudes and shared animosity towards graziers. “Among farmers was a core of Labor Party supporters, although they were swamped by the majority who traditionally backed the Country Party.” Up until the 1970s, Connors says the divide between farmers and graziers looked insurmountable, but “the desire for unity remained just below the surface”. In bringing together farmers and graziers under a common banner, the industry needed to work to lobby on behalf of all members, across party lines. “The election of the Whitlam Labor government changed the very nature of rural lobbying,” Connors says. “No longer could farm leaders telephone a Cabinet minister and pursue policy changes.” With downward pressure on wool and grain prices, increasing competition from international markets, and uncertainty around quotas, farmers needed to organise professionally to talk to government about industry-wide solutions. LIVESTOCK AND GRAIN PRODUCERS FLEX THEIR POLITICAL MUSCLES AND BECOME NFF

The most recent precursor to NSW Farmers was the Livestock and Grain Producers’ Association (LGPA), formed in 1978. In that year, the LPGA began holding talks with other industry bodies on establishing a national farm organisation, which became the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF). A 1982 issue of the Livestock and Grain Producer outlined major LPGA and NFF achievements, which included abolition of NSW Death Duties, tax deductibility for soil conservation, depreciation allowances on farm machinery, freight subsidies, and increases to restocking loans.

INSIDER NSW FARMERS' HISTORY

STANDING UP FOR FARMER’S RIGHTS

Clockwise from top: 1986 rally in Martin Place, Sydney, when NSW Farmers Association was called Livestock and Grain Producers’ Association of Australia (LGPA); A draft of the Murray Darling Basin Plan being burned in Griffith in 2010; Murray Darling Basin plan meetings in Griffith in 2010.

JAN - FEB 2021

THE FARMER

NSW Farmers was also instrumental in delivering the diesel fuel rebate, through which primary producers could claim back the fuel excise. In 1986, the LGPA delivered a rural action plan to the Federal Government calling for reduced interest rates, floating the Australian dollar, eliminating capital gains tax, reducing tariffs, increasing funding to the Rural Adjustment Scheme, and a moratorium on rural foreclosures. The LGPA and NFF planned a blockade of all roads into and around Canberra, as well as locally-organised rallies – a Canberra rally opposing a proposed consumption tax drew over 45,000 farmers in one of the capital’s largest ever protests. The Federal Government took heed, and the consumption tax idea was dropped.

We asked four recent NSW Farmers’ Presidents what they think are the Association’s biggest wins. JAMES JACKSON

• Action on Right to Farm, including tougher sentencing for farm invasions • Greater awareness of Q fever and government funding for vaccines DEREK SCHOEN

• Changes to native vegetation management laws, allowing farmers to manage their landscape • Standing up for members facing encroachment from mining companies FIONA SIMSON

• Initiation of a moratorium on CSG exploration and agreement to a farmers’ right to say no to CSG exploration • Agreement with the then State Government in 2015 guaranteeing reforms to native vegetation management, increased biosecurity spending, young farmer finance schemes, flying fox netting and extension to drought resilience and recovery measures

FROM THE LGPA TO NSW FARMERS

The NSW Farmers’ Association title was adopted in 1987. Chief executive John White said the new name “would identify the Association as representing all farmers, irrespective of the type of primary production in which they were engaged”. “In the cities, the word ‘farmer’ is now identified with courage, determination and leadership,” Mr White said. The 1990s saw large farmer protests against high interest rates and low commodity prices, as well as the uneven playing field caused by US farm subsidies. The introduction of SEPP 46 in 1995 was a rallying point for many farmers after the NSW Government introduced an overnight ban on land-clearing. The fight to overturn the SEPP would last until the start of new native vegetation codes in 2017 – a direct result of NSW Farmers’ ongoing advocacy. NSW Farmers continued the fight against tariffs, and delivered a major campaign win when the Federal Government decided not to place GST on livestock sales.

CHARLES ARMSTRONG

• Making quad bikes safer through government rebates for fitting Crush Protection Devices • Changing Safework’s relationship with farmers to one of information and encouragement rather than penalties and legal action

BY PHIL SOMERVILLE

TOWARDS A UNIFIED SECTOR

The Association strengthened its advocacy by welcoming intensive commodity groups in the 1990s and 2000s, including oyster farmers, chicken growers, dairy farmers and pork producers. In the early 2000s NSW Farmers successfully lobbied for collective bargaining in the dairy industry, represented farmers in water debates, fended off fee hikes on crown road enclosure permits, defended NSW research stations, and won significant workplace relations battles.

Timeline of NSW Farmers Association 34

THE FARMER

1890 – 1977

1893 – 1962

1907 – 1977

Graziers Association of NSW

Farmers and Settlers Association of NSW

Graziers Association of the Riverina

JAN - FEB 2021

INSIDER NSW FARMERS' HISTORY

The NSW Farmers’ Get off our Backs taskforce was established in 2006 to fight unfair and overburdening red tape and regulations – work that is continued by many NSW Farmers policy committees today. Grain producers were frustrated by deregulation talks in 2008, coming out in force at Canberra rallies to support the Single Desk for wheat exports. While deregulation went ahead, NSW Farmers members made their voice heard in the halls of power. In 2009, Peter Spencer began his hunger strike against further government actions to restrict land clearing, which brought significant public attention to farmers’ ongoing concerns with the erosion of property rights. Members were also concerned about the MurrayDarling Basin Plan and increasing coal seam gas exploration. NSW Farmers secured a landmark agreement with Santos and AGL, with the gas companies committing to honour a landholder’s right to say no to exploration on their property. NSW Farmers continued delivering wins for members through the 2010s, including Country of Origin Labelling, primary industries education, drought support, inland rail, multi-peril crop insurance, and codes of conduct for the horticulture and dairy industries.

MORE VOICES ARE STRONGER THAN ONE

Left to right: NSW Farmers led a rally in Macquarie Street in 2012 to step up the fight to protect land and water from mining activities; A large property rights rally in Canberra, 2010.

AN EYE TO THE FUTURE

In 1998, NSW Farmers Youthlink – the precursor to

NSW Young Farmers – held a ‘Farmers Toward 2020’ forum, where they delivered the following forecast: “That 2020 will be a dynamic and exciting time for agriculture. Farmers will be profitable, well-educated, adaptable, self-determining, and capable of carrying out economically, socially and environmentally sustainable practices.” "It’s a forecast that could be dubbed a selffulfilling prophecy,” says Rachel Nicoll, current chair of the NSW Young Farmer Council. “Not only is it a thoughtful curation of its time, but it carries as much weight today, so far as demonstrating the excitement and curiosity about the possibilities of the future in agriculture. IT’S NOT JUST THE BIG WINS

Looking back at what NSW Farmers has achieved, James Jackson says that it’s not always about making something happen – sometimes it’s stopping things from happening. “You like all of your policy development to be proactive, but by the very nature of policy, you have to react to what others put on the table – including government,” he says. “There are things they haven’t thought through that well, like the koala SEPP, that have inadvertent consequences for agriculture.” While the Association has delivered some landmark wins, James recognises that it’s not always about the major headlines. “A lot of small wins make up some big achievements for the Association.” l

1929 – 1962

1962 – 1977

1978 – 1987

1987 – present

Wheat and Woolgrowers’ Association of NSW

United Farmers and Woolgrowers’ Association of NSW

Livestock and Grain Producers’ Association of NSW

NSW Farmers Association

JAN - FEB 2021

THE FARMER

Tales of sheepmeat Australia’s sheepmeat industry has been pulled in many directions over the past year. Here we meet four different people involved in the industry, all with very different tales to tell.

–

Words IAN LLOYD NEUBAUER Photography PAUL HENDERSON-KELLY

THE FARMER

JAN - FEB 2021

INDUSTRY SHEEPMEAT

JAN - FEB 2021

THE FARMER

020 was the most tumultuous year on record for agriculture in NSW and no sector has been left unchanged. Some, such as egg farmers, have enjoyed record year-on-year spikes in sales, while others, such as wool farmers, have seen demand and prices for their produce slashed in half. Sheep-meat producers, however, paint a picture of a sector being pulled in many different directions because of COVID-19-related travel restrictions, lockdowns and the global economic recession. Australia is still the second-largest sheep meat producing country in the world and third-largest live sheep exporter in the world. But a sudden plunge in sales to China last March, which previously consumed 39 per cent of Australian sheepmeat, and the shutdown of the airlines and cruise industries and as well many restaurants abroad, left the sector reeling. Within the space of three months, the

THE FARMER

JAN - FEB 2021

PADD O CK TO PLATE

Top left, then clockwise: Chris Kemp with a lamb at his Merriwa farm in the Upper Hunter; Sheepmeat-Carre with couscous. (Photo by Winston Gambatto); Lamb for sale.

number of sheep slaughtered for lamb dropped 12 per cent while the number slaughtered for mutton had dropped 26 per cent, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The after-effects of the 2019 drought, which the Bureau of Meteorology declared as the hottest and driest year on record, have also caused dramatic change. In 2017-2018, there were 70.6 million head of sheep in Australia, according to the ABS. But skyrocketing feed prices forced sheep farmers to de-stock, while the bushfire crisis tested their resilience. Members of the NSW Farmers Sheep Meat Committee estimate the number to now be just over 60 million â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the smallest flock size in more than aÂ century. To get an understanding of how these seismic developments will shape the sheepmeat sector in 2021, we share the stories of four industry stalwarts, warts and all.

INDUSTRY SHEEPMEAT

SHEEPMEAT LINKS

“As far as the sheepmeat goes, we’re one of the largest exporters in the world,” says Roger Fletcher, director of Fletcher International Exports in Dubbo, which accounts for a quarter of Australia's sheepmeat exports. “We established a dozen new markets – we now go to more countries than the beef guys – so shipping is vital to our business. That’s why what happened last September when wharfies in Sydney went on strike because they wanted a $40,000 wage increase over four years was so unfair to the rest of Australia. We do all the work, truck the sheep in, put the products together in boxes, and all they have to do is press a button to drop them on a ship. “But that’s just one link in our business, and every link is just as important as the last,” Fletcher says. “We have to keep our quality assurances up and the same goes for farmers. You need to prepare for drought, that is vital, and do what you do best

with your land because a farmer in New England is not a farmer in Moree. Don’t listen to consultants. If you are good at rearing ewes, focus on that. If you have the feed to deliver finished lambs to abattoirs, do that. “I think the future of the sheepmeat industry looks good. The airlines and cruise ships that were the major buyers of our better quality lamb are gone but they will come back with a vengeance. Same thing with wool.” PRICE DRIVES

“What happened with Australian sheepmeat last year was unprecedented,” says Ian Mccoll, a board member of Sheep Producers Australia as well and the NSW Farmers Sheepmeats Committee who runs a mixed enterprise farm in Cowra. “But I’m not talking about Covid-19. I'm talking about the effects of the drought and the best Spring rains we had seen in more than five years.” > JAN - FEB 2021

THE FARMER

“Late last year, farmers were trying to take advantage of the abundance of pasture by buying lots of stock, but there wasn’t much supply. Those two forces working against each drove up prices at breeder sales by 50 per cent to 100 per cent. That has driven the amount of money farmers need to go into sheepmeat production to the highest point I’d seen in my lifetime, so we have to be a lot more professional to survive. “We’re also entering a new phase in the market where customers are requiring more accountability and transparency for our products. I’m not talking about mutton. India and China will always buy mutton; it’s a staple part of their diet. I’m talking about lamb, which is a premium product. Farmers need to acknowledge that by taking a greater level of ownership of their lamb by forming closer relationships with people in the supply chain to get a better understanding of what customers actually want. “In the UK, they’re putting edible data dots on meat that consumers can read with their smartphones to learn about its providence and even see a photo of the farm where it comes from. They’re no longer just buying a piece of meat. They’re investing in their health and wellbeing, and they want reassurance they're making the right choice.” TABLES ARE TURNING

“Last year’s drought was the hardest thing I’ve ever experienced as a farmer, much harder than when

THE FARMER

JAN - FEB 2021

SHEEPMEAT PRO CES SES

From above, then clockwise: Chris Kemp of Merriwa loads a sheep into a marking cradle; Fresh lamb being prepared by butchers; Chris Kemp uses the rubber ring method for the docking of his lambs' tails.

sheepmeat sales fell off a cliff last March,” says Chris Kemp, a grazier at Merriwa in the Upper Hunter Region of NSW. “Before we had 200 cattle. Now we have 30. At least our sheep were able to pay their feed bill though we still had to reduce their numbers by a third. “The rain changed everything and by the second half of the year, things started looking up. At the same time, we were pretty lucky that with the lockdowns, social distancing resulted in people spending much more time at home and cooking for themselves, and so the domestic market really picked up and we were able to move more sheepmeat through retail outlets than any time in the past five years. Everyone had to learn to cook again instead of going to restaurants and getting takeaway every night. “When you live on the land, you forget about how easy it is for people in the city to just whiz down the street for a good square meal. But farmers don’t have that luxury. We have to come home and cook every night. Either that or heat up a can of baked beans.

FAST FACTS

have horizontal, slit-shaped pupils that allow them to see  Sheep behind themselves without turning their heads 2001 study found sheep can recognise and remember at least 50  Aindividual faces for more than two years – longer than many humans

INDUSTRY SHEEPMEAT

“The biggest challenge for this year will be what happens if a vaccine arrives early and COVID-19 ends. The tables will turn and farmers won’t be able to keep up with supply because of small sheep numbers. That's why I’m trying to get my sheep enterprise running at full capacity again. I’m pushing as hard as I can.” A CHALLENGING MARKET

“Several factors were working in favour of sheepmeat farmers in the second part of last year and one of them was restocking after the drought,” says James Jackson, a mixed enterprise farmer in Guyra in the New England Region and President of NSW Farmers. “Sheep have a reasonably high reproductive rate, especially breeds used for sheepmeat, so farmers can quickly rebuild flocks. Once the drought broke across NSW, things got very buoyant and farmers became very keen to put more kilograms on their sheep. That created extraordinary demand for cross-breed ewes of up $300 to $400 per head against a 40 per cent drop in sheepmeat prices. “Why did prices fall last year? Well, 60 per cent of sheep in NSW are butchered in Victoria because they have larger abattoir capacities than us. But a lot of those abattoirs closed down during the lockdowns, which created a lack of processing facilities and that drove down the slaughter price. So we had a two-pronged effect and that caused a huge disconnect between saleyard prices and slaughter prices. “Another factor playing into the market,” Jackson says, “is African swine fever and the devastating effect it had on pig numbers in China. That’s put a lot of pressure on the global protein market as people look for other sources of protein. After pork, the Chinese prefer fish as their source of protein. Beef is next and sheepmeat is not far off, especially in the north of China. So even though sheepmeat and pork aren’t directly interchangeable, swine fever has certainly given sheepmeat exporters a leg up.” l

REAL. CUSTOM. SHEDS. We wouldn’t say one rural property is like another. The sheds we’ve built across the country, have certainly been different from one to the next. From housing hay and machinery, to your precious stable, we’ve custom built sheds for every need and purpose. From Rochester to Rockhampton, we’ve seen everything this great land can throw at us and built systems that stand the test of time.

• Fully Welded Frame • Deal Direct with Manufacturer

• Concrete Panels Available • Many Sizes and Options

• Plans and Engineering So if you are looking for a shed or structure built tough and to suit your needs... give Telfords a call today.

VICTORIA

(03) 5821 4399

NSW

(02) 4229 8116

QUEENSLAND (07) 3804 6688

www.telfords.com.au JAN - FEB 2021

THE FARMER

Post-harvest

Forecasts of a bumper harvest, the federal governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s $150,000 instant asset write off and plunging

THE FARMER

JAN - FEB 2021

SPECIAL REPORT SHEDS AND INFRASTRUCTURE

infrastructure

solar panel costs are changing the face of Australian farming infrastructure. Words DARREN BAGULEY

JAN - FEB 2021

THE FARMER

SPECIAL REPORT SHEDS AND INFRASTRUCTURE

hree years of drought in Eastern Australia were followed by one of the best autumn breaks in years leading to forecasts of record grain harvest and a burst of optimism in the agricultural sector. For farm shed and silo manufacturers, this confidence coupled with the $150,000 instant asset write off brought down in the recent federal budget has boosted demand. At the same time, a shift to putting solar panels on the roofs of farm buildings is changing the face of farming infrastructure. According to Andrew Telford, owner of Telford Building Systems, the instant asset write off and growing confidence in the Australian agriculture

THE FARMER

JAN - FEB 2021

SUPP ORTING AUSTRALIA

In 2020 the industry has seen a big swing back to Australian-made sheds. Part of that is about supporting Australian businesses, but it is also due to practical reasons such as improved delivery times and the quality of products.

sector has driven increased demand for shedding. “Farmers, on the east coast especially, have come out of drought and are heading for a good season. There’s a sense of renewed confidence.” SUPPORTING AUSTRALIAN MANUFACTURERS

Trevor Walker, National Wholesale Manager at Now Buildings, says the company has also seen strong demand and adds that farmers are going back to Australian-made steel for their sheds. “In 2020 we saw a strong swing back to Australian-made sheds. Part of that is that with COVID-19 people see it as important to be supporting Australian industries but there are also more practical reasons. “Delivery of sheds where the steel is sourced from China is getting slower as the lead times keep pushing

out but there is also a swing back to Australian made steel because of the quality aspect. Some steel that comes from overseas, mainly China, is as low as 100 MPa (megapascals, a unit that measures the stiffness, tensile strength and compressive strength of materials in construction) where we’re supplying steel that’s graded from 450 to 500 MPa. The steel looks similar but there is no comparison in performance.” Both Telford and Walker are seeing a trend towards larger sheds. “Sheds are just getting larger,” says Telford. “Machinery sizing is also increasing, so the sheds have to get larger as people are conscious of protecting expensive assets from the elements. Hay sheds are getting bigger and bigger as people seek to reduce their risk in future droughts and shelter for stock in feedlots is getting bigger and bigger as well.”

INCREASED SILO DEMAND

The bumper harvest on the east coast is driving demand for on-farm grain storage. Managing Director of Kotzur Silos (silos pictured above), Andrew Kotzur, says the demand is the strongest it's been since 2015.

“We are seeing requirements for larger openings and higher buildings,” says Walker. “And we are opening up the gable ends rather than the long side so there are no posts in the way. Even if the openings are in the long side, machinery has got wider and higher. Thirty years ago, a farm shed would be 3.6 metres high and now they are between 5 and 6 metres high. As a lot of the new machines are too big for the old sheds, especially the opening, farmers are buying new ones.” Walker and Telford also agreed that while some farmers will buy solely on cost when it comes to purchasing a new shed, in most cases it comes down to more intangible factors such as reputation and a company’s track record. According to Telford, “Time frames are also important. A lot of farmers will hold JAN - FEB 2021

THE FARMER

SPECIAL REPORT SHEDS AND INFRASTRUCTURE

off buying a new shed until they have got the crop off or sold the weaners so it’s important to be able to deliver when they are ready.” Walker adds that flexibility is also important. “Our business is 90 per cent rural and no one has ever said that shed you built is too big, so our system allows customers to extend their shed in any way, except up. No one buys all their shedding in one go but that flexibility means people can add a lean-to or a couple of bays so if they have a good season, they will order an extension.

on-farm storage of grain continuing to grow. Grain producers are implementing higher capacities of grain handling and there has been a surge in automation in grain handling to improve the logistics of harvest. “Fixed handling machinery such as augers and drive over road hoppers are becoming more popular,” Kotzur says. “Growers are also looking to be able to

FAST FACTS STORAGE BOOM AFTER BUMPER HARVEST

The bumper harvest on the east coast is also driving demand for on-farm grain storage. Kotzur Silos managing director, Andrew Kotzur, says that demand is the strongest it has been since 2015. This year started looking like a wetter harvest so there has been a lot of interest around moisture management, getting the crop into the silo and then cooling it and drying it. We can incorporate aerated storage into silos, basically electric fans driving ambient air, and so demand for that product has been strong. More generally Kotzur is seeing the trend to

THE FARMER

JAN - FEB 2021

steel is having a resurgence as farmers seek to buy  Australian Australian and recognise the value of quality local steel versus imported materials.

are getting bigger. To fit modern machinery, typical sheds have  Sheds grown in height from 3.6 metres, to 5 or even 6 metres. are responding to the federal government’s $150,000 instant  Farmers asset write off and investing in farming infrastructure including sheds, silos and solar.

blend grain whether it’s to meet quality factors such as protein levels or blending out screening etc.” Despite grain producers being nervous about the implications of the looming trade war with China, Kotzur says he is not seeing producers looking to increase storage as a result of that uncertainty. “It’s too early to see the China situation having an impact as a lot of grower made decisions on their storage before that started to become an issue. The $150,000 asset write off measure in the budget is having an effect, however. Grain storage has had favourable tax treatment for a while now, but that measure is a strong influence.” SURGE IN RENEWABLES

Another key trend in farm sheds and infrastructure is that they are increasingly being used to house solar installations. According to both Telford and Walker, reputable shed manufacturers are engineering roof loads in because of the likelihood that solar panels will go on at some point in the shed’s lifetime. Upton Engineering managing director, Paul Upton, says pumping costs for stock and irrigation water is a major farm expense and the use of solar can

THE BIGGER THE BETTER

There has been significant growth in on-farm storage and handling, with silo manufacturers noting a surge in automation as grain producers seek to streamline harvest logistics while implementing higher storage capacity.

dramatically reduce operation costs when pumping water. As a result, the company is partnering with large solar providers to offer cheap electrical power rates to farmers who have ideal conditions for large scale irrigation pumping and a suitable site for a solar array. “We are seeing a lot of windmill replacement going on and the systems are beginning to increase in size and are being put to use in pumping for irrigation water. Solar arrays can be set up in two different ways, the first is to directly run the electric pump from the solar panels if there is no grid connected electricity on site. The second way is to have a large solar array that is grid connected and use the solar input to the grid to offset the farm power bill. An irrigation solar system can easily see a solar panel array of 100kw in size. Red Earth Energy CEO, Charles Walker, is also seeing a lot of interest from irrigators. “With electricity costs rising, we have seen enquiries double. Irrigators especially are farming to the tariff rather than what is best for the crop and they are looking to change that. For farmers who are off-grid, renewables pay back the investment in as little as four years, but the capital costs are still an issue.” l JAN - FEB 2021

THE FARMER

Calm amongst the storm:

Australia’s

lavender industry

It’s said that crises are always good for lavender sales, and with the world in a continuing state of emergency, this crop is expected to soar in 2021.

–

Words LISA SMYTH

avender is a herb with a particular reputation – it’s soothing smell is often associated with hugs from grandma, antique linens and bowls of potpourri in stately homes. While comforting, there’s no point denying that lavender often conjures up one word – ‘old’. In an age of memes, likes and next day delivery, does lavender have a future? It turns out that this vibrant flowering plant has a very bright future. The global lavender oil market was expected to reach US$38 million in 2020, but due to the COVID-19 crisis, that figure has been revised upwards to US$54 million – a milestone it wasn’t supposed to meet until 2027. Due to its calming properties during these times of high, and prolonged, stress, Australian lavender farms have seen a huge surge in their online sales. “What started as a cottage industry is now becoming more commercial,” explains Fiona Glover, Secretary of The Australian Lavenders Growers Association Inc. (TALGA). “New farms are being established across the country on a larger scale than in previous years. Some farms

THE FARMER

JAN - FEB 2021

are opening to tourists with a cafe and shop, whilst others are developing large scale farms for oil production.” The demand for Australian lavender oil is 50 tons per year, but the country is a net importer, so there is definitely room for domestic producers to scale up production. The Australian Government believes enough in the industry’s growth that its AgriFutures Emerging Industry Program announced in September that it’s investing in a five-year research project to understand how to optimise lavender production across the country. The program only invests in rural industries it believes can reach, or exceed, AU$10 million in revenue by 2022. “TALGA has received many enquiries this year about planting lavender in NSW,” says Glover. “From the Upper Hunter Valley across to the coast, these regions vary widely in their soils, temperatures and climate and this will affect the variety of lavender grown, and TALGA can offer support and advice.” With the industry ready to take a big leap forward, we spoke to three NSW farmers about their current challenges and future opportunities. >

TRADE LAVENDER

CALM YOUR FARM

Harvesting Lavender on Majesse Estate, home of Snowy River Lavender. Photo courtesy of Snowy River Lavender

Uses of lavender

Flowers can be used fresh for ornamentation or dry for potpourri

Flowers can also be used to flavour vinegars, jams and sugars

Lavender oil can be used in perfumes, beauty and hair products

Lavender oil is often used in aromatherapy

Lavender oil can be used in medicine as it has antiseptic properties

JAN - FEB 2021

Lavender fields are huge agritourism drawcards

THE FARMER

PADD O CK TO PRODUCT

Sharon Bailey, Little Willow Lavender WILLOW TREE, NSW

Business: We planted our first section in 2014 and, after the drought, we are now replanting our fields with lavenders propagated from our surviving plants. We are also taking the opportunity to trial a few different varieties with a much longer flowering season, so visitors can enjoy the fields when visiting our farm shop. We also plan to produce our own product line, open a cafe on the farm and hold events. Challenges: At the start of 2020 we experienced a drought never before seen in our region and we lost most of our crop in one month – five years of hard work just gone. Lavender, thankfully, lasts for many years as a dried product. Then COVID hit, but online sales have been steady since as people are turning to lavender for the calming benefits.

THE FARMER

JAN - FEB 2021

Top left then clockwise: 2020 Scentimental Collection of lavender body products and mist (Photo courtesy of Talga); The majestic Lavandin, Rocky Hall Margaret, in full flower in Snowy River Lavender’s top paddock; Harvest time at Little Willow Lavender in Willow Tree.

Fun fact France has the largest share of the global lavender oil market

(34%), followed by the USA (29%).

Opportunities: In the five years since we first planted we have been contacted by businesses overseas interested in having us supply product. Moving forward we expect worldwide interest to increase. When we attended our first Australian Lavender Conference in March 2019 it was really interesting to see the number of younger generations starting out in the industry.

Sharon Goldsworthy, Snowy River Lavender AVONSIDE, NSW

Business: We are a boutique operation with a 50 acre planting. We direct sell to clients and do not seek to bulk on-sell or wholesale our essential oils. Our interest is in regenerative and ecological agriculture and how lavender and other aromatic plants can assist in increasing the fertility of the land we farm while also bringing in a farm income. Challenges: Climate change and its varying impacts on the seasons is definitely an issue that has increased over the 20 years we have been growing lavender. Opportunities: Agritourism is a big opportunity, and the direct selling of our products through our own retail facilities, both on-farm and online.

TRADE LAVENDER

Louise Bickerton, Blue Mountains Lavender Farm LITTLE HARTLEY, NSW

Business: We planted our first lavender varieties in November 2018 and subsequent plantings in 2019 struggled as rainfall dropped to historic lows. Although lavender is one tough herb, it still needs regular water during the early years. My business plan has been critical and with the launch of our online product range soon, including body care, lifestyle and sleep aid lavender products, I am optimistic of a positive reaction. Challenges: There are two main challenges – longer, hotter, drier seasons with unpredictable and severe weather events, and the lack of experienced specialist lavender tube stock suppliers who can guarantee quantities required for large scale commercial enterprises. Opportunities: There is huge scope for the lavender industry in Australia to expand production and increase our share of supply of lavender oil to world markets. Lavender is a specialty high-value crop, just like wine grapes and olive oil, but it is still mainly a cottage industry in Australia. But, it is also an industry where smaller artisan farms, like ourselves, can contribute to regional diversity and retail product offerings that are highly attractive to tourists. l

FIVE FAST FACTS ABOUT LAVENDER

originates from the  Lavender Mediterranean region derives its name from the Latin  Lavender ‘lavare’ meaning ‘to wash” history of farming lavender dates  The back 2,500 years

LAND S OF LAVENDER

Louise Bickerton at work in the fields at Blue Mountain Lavender; Neat rows of lavender that were planted in 2018 and 2019 at Blue Mountains Lavender.

ancient Greeks called Lavender  The ‘nardus’, and it was one of the holy herbs used to prepare the Holy Essence

 Lavender is part of the mint family

JAN - FEB 2021

THE FARMER

THE FARMER JAN - FEB 2021

TRADE MUSHROOMS

Growing NSW’s

mushroom industry Whether found fresh in salads, replacing meat between burger buns, or acting as a substitute for leather in shoes and bags, mushrooms are more popular than ever before. Now is the time for NSW farmers to take advantage of this burgeoning crop.

–

Words LISA SMYTH

o the ancient Egyptians, mushrooms were totems of immortality, only to be eaten by pharaohs and their families. So it was quite a fall from grace when, in the 1970s, most mushrooms consumed in Australia could be found processed and heaped into a can. Luckily, the humble mushroom’s divine properties have once again been recognised in recent years, and now 95 per cent of mushrooms eaten in Australia are fresh. In September, Hort innovation reported that in the previous year mushrooms had grown 7.2 per cent in terms of dollars, and 5.9 per cent in terms of volume. These figures are quite remarkable considering the number of mushroom growers in Australia is relatively small. “We have seen the mushroom industry consolidate since the 1980s when Australia had about 140 mushroom growers,” says Martine Poulain, Relationship and General Manager of The Australian Mushroom Growers Association (AMGA). “By 2016, we had only 42 growers, and this figure has remained stable. But, our growers are still producing the same volume as when we had over 100 farmers.” Commercial mushroom growing in Australia can be traced as far back as 1933, and mushrooms are now Australia’s sixth most valuable horticulture crop, and the third most valuable fresh produce item in the vegetable section of the supermarket after potatoes and tomatoes. According to the AMGA, more than 85 per cent of Australian households purchase fresh mushrooms regularly, with 55 per cent buying them at least once a week. >

JAN - FEB 2021

THE FARMER

Any disruption to the industry would be keenly felt by Australian consumers, and while mushrooms are grown indoors and aren’t impacted by seasonal issues like other crops, the drought has impacted the availability of straw – vital for making compost in which to grow the mushrooms – and electricity costs and labour prices have continued to increase dramatically in the past five years, eating into profit margins. “Australia’s producers of Agaricus bisporus currently produce over 70,000 tonnes of mushrooms annually at a farm gate value of over AU$440 million. As a highly labour intensive industry, those businesses rely on a workforce of over 3,500 employees working in a wide cross-section of roles. But the job the pickers do is vital to the reputation of the grower. If they do a rough job, 24 to 48 hours post-harvest you’ll see that damage,” describes Poulain. NSW is the second largest producer of Australian mushrooms with 22,500 tonnes grown in 20182019, just behind Victoria’s 25,500 tonnes. However Australia’s largest privately owned mushroom business, operated by the Tolson family and producing 14 million kilograms a year, is based in NSW. A HEALTHY INDUSTRY

There are 14,000 known species of mushrooms around the world, with possibly another 150,000 yet to be named or described, and while they can differ

THE FARMER

JAN - FEB 2021

BIGGEST MUSHRO OM PRODUCER IN AUS

Above, left: The mushroom growing rooms owned and operated by the Tolson family – who produce 14 million kilograms of mushrooms a year.

Fast fact The market for edible fungi is expected to reach

US $69 billion worldwide by 2024.

radically in appearance, taste and growing method, there is one thing they all share – mushrooms are overflowing with health benefits. “The rise in health consciousness among consumers across the globe is one of the key factors driving the growth of the market here in Australia,” explains Poulain. “Owing to shifting preferences toward plant-based diets and vegan foods, mushrooms are being preferred as a proteinrich, vitamin-rich and mineral-rich substitute to meat.” While the AMGA only represents those farmers that grow Agaricus bisporus mushrooms – the common varieties like button, portobello, cup, flat and swiss brown – alternative mushrooms, like king oyster and lion’s mane, are also surging in popularity due to their health benefits and ability to act as nutritious meat substitutes. A review of 5000 global studies undertaken by Hort Innovation in July 2020 discovered that mushrooms are shown to reduce inflammation, increase fullness and reduce hunger, and improve gut health. “The immunity and health benefits of mushrooms, and their capacity to store Vitamin D (once exposed to sunlight), has meant that they are regarded as a super health food during this pandemic. Consumers are looking at their health more than ever and we have seen a solid increase in mushroom sales over 2020,” notes Poulain.

TRADE MUSHROOMS

Statistics FRESH MUSHROOMS PRODUCTION BY STATE 2018 – 2019

Mushrooms are grown in most states of Australia, usually close to population centres. The Sydney Basin, especially the Hawkesbury Valley, is the major production area for mushrooms in NSW.

FRESH MUSHROOMS EXPORT BY COUNTRY 2018 – 2019

Our Pacific neighbours receive the majority of Australian mushroom exports, with 32 per cent sent to Fiji, 15 per cent to Nauru and 12 per cent to Papua New Guinea.

31%

32%

NSW

FIJI

35%

17%

VIC

BRUNEI

15%

QLD

NAURU

17%

12%

21%

TAS

PNG

FRANCE

OTHER

THE NEW TYPE OF FUNGI

Fast fact The mushroom is neither a fruit nor a vegetable. All mushrooms come from what is called the

‘3rd Food Kingdom’.

The AMGA claims that 90 per cent of people over the age of 25 either like or love mushrooms (only half of children do). Considering that in 2018-2019 Australia was a net importer of fresh mushrooms, with more than 82 per cent of imports coming from South Korea, there is plenty of room for new growers to enter the market, especially in the exotic and alternative categories. For instance, the reported neuroprotective properties of lion’s mane mushrooms have pushed its retail price as high as AU$85 a kilogram. While new technologies are creating more efficient mushrooms farms that can shorten cropping cycles and double production, mushroom roots and spores are also now being used for other innovations, like manufacturing ‘fungi leather’. Biodegradable, sustainable and ethical, fungal leather prototype products, including watches, purses and shoes, were released in the US, Italy and Indonesia last year, and are expected to be on sale soon. The industry has certainly come a long way since the canned mushrooms of the past. “There is no typical Australian mushroom grower. Our industry is made of a few large players, but our growers are mostly smaller, family-run, generational businesses, and the AMGA will continue to ‘promote and protect’ the industry and support growers in the future as we do today,” concludes Poulain. l

JAN - FEB 2021

THE FARMER

Unwanted guests... ...the best ways to remove weeds & pests It’s a job that most of us are not fond of – managing weeds and pests. And it costs Australian farmers dearly every year.

–

Words SANDRA GODWIN

eeds are estimated to cost almost $5 billion in chemical control and production losses – including yield, environmental damage and grain contamination. Similar data is not readily available for insect pest control, which varies from year to year depending on seasonal conditions. As well as competition and damage to crops and pastures, weeds and insect pests are responsible for lost carrying capacity, burrs in wool, damage to hides and poisoning of livestock.

THE FARMER

JAN - FEB 2021

HITTING WEEDS FOR SIX

A 2018 report by Dr Ross McLeod, titled Annual Costs of Weeds in Australia, found the biggest burden was borne by broadacre cropping, estimated at $2.3 billion, followed by grain and livestock ($886 million) and the beef sector, with a 5 per cent decrease in productivity at an estimated cost of $462 million. In New South Wales alone, the Department of Primary Industries estimates the agricultural economic impacts of weeds at more than $1.8 billion a year. Costs vary between regions, with Dr McLeod estimating yield loss at 0.11-0.16t per hectare across

NSW, revenue loss of $25-$36 per hectare, expenditure of $129-$152 per hectare and total costs of $162-$189 per hectare. Junee-based WeedSmart southern extension agronomist, Greg Condon, says there’s a long list of problem grass and broadleaf weeds requiring action on a regular basis, especially for farmers who have embraced minimum and no-till systems. Proactive attitudes to weed control have significantly reduced yield loss, but a consequence is the emergence of herbicide resistance. “That incurs costs in terms of additional investment in higher cost products,” Greg >

SPECIAL REPORT WEEDS AND PESTS

PESTY IS SUE

Left to right: An armyworm; Cowpea aphid on a faba bean plant, which is a widespread and relatively common pest of legume crops throughout Australia.

JAN - FEB 2021

THE FARMER

SPECIAL REPORT WEEDS AND PESTS

says. “Generally, the lowest cost herbicides are the first to form resistance, so then you have to start paying more for those higher end and newer herbicides to control that resistant weed.” Charles Sturt University, which has been testing weeds for herbicide resistance for more than 25 years, found about 75 per cent of annual ryegrass populations in its latest survey were resistant to Group A ‘fop’ herbicides. The highest levels, up to 90 per cent, were found in Southern NSW. Glyphosate resistance was found in 29 per cent of the populations surveyed in the Liverpool Plains region. Resistance to herbicides has been found in 48 other weed species, including wild radish, wild oats and sow thistle. Greg says multiple group resistance has become common, especially in ryegrass, which has encouraged farmers to adopt integrated weed management practices. “We probably hit the wall a lot earlier than other parts of the world,” he says. “But our practice change as a consequence of that has been far more advanced than other places in the western farming world.” Greg says integrated weed management relies on a combination of chemical and non-chemical methods, known as The Big Six. “Farming is completely driven by compromises because you need to remain profitable at the same time,” he says. “Our mantra within WeedSmart is

THE FARMER

JAN - FEB 2021

FIGHTING PESTS

This page, Clockwise from top left: NSW DPI ressearch entomologist Dr Jo Holloway at work; Weevils decimate grain; Growave developer and Melbourne University senior lecturer Dr Graham Brodie with a prototype using microwaves to kill weeds. Opposite page, top to bottom: Drone shots show a commercial paddock before treatment with the Weed Chipper (top) and divots after (bottom). A photosensitisationaffected sheep.

‘More crop less weeds’. So, you’re still focused on growing a profitable crop and having a profitable farming system, but not letting weeds dictate the crop sequence or the crop choices because of resistance pressure or high weed numbers.” The Big Six includes rotating crops and pastures, using double-knock to preserve glyphosate, mixing and rotating herbicides, stopping weed seed set, increasing crop competition, and harvest weed seed control. Greg says reducing the bank of weed seeds is crucial, and that starts with preventing weeds from reaching maturity by using herbicides at different timings, such as a knockdown followed by pre-emergent and post-emergent applications, and late season crop-topping to stop weeds from setting seed. “Harvest weed seed control is probably the most exciting of all of them,” he says. “It started out with windrow burning and chaff decks that allow you to put the weed seed on wheel tracks, and then the ultimate is the seed mill.” Seed mills crush the weed seeds filtered out of grain collected by the harvester. There are now four different mills available commercially: the Harrington Seed Destructor, the Seed Terminator, the Redekop Seed Control Unit and the Tecfarm WeedHOG. Greg says croppers in Northern NSW have led

the adoption of camera-activated sensors on their sprayer booms, such as the Weed-It or WeedSeeker, to target green weeds on a brown background of fallow or stubble. “That’s allowed them to, rather than using glyphosate all the time for example, use alternative chemistry on really low percentages of the field or the paddock,” he says. “That gives big chemical savings and the option to really alternate the chemistry.” Another innovation, developed by a team led by University of Sydney weed research director, Dr Michael Walsh, and University of Western Australia agricultural engineer, Dr Andrew Guzzomi, is a weed chipper which uses the same camera as the Weed-It but engages a tyne to knock out weeds rather than spraying them. “Cultivation is a really handy tool in terms of integrated weed management, but it undoes all the other benefits we’ve been striving to achieve with no-till farming,” Greg says. “You often hear people say, ‘Why don’t they just go back to ploughing?’ but a lot of growers and the researchers behind them have looked to innovate in this space rather than just go back to the old ways of ploughing and burning. We farm in a fragile environment as it is, so why not try and innovate so you can still have those gains with no-till, but not forgo the challenges of resistant weeds. It’s a delicate balancing act.” JAN - FEB 2021

THE FARMER

LAY OF THE LAND

Greg says there also has been a lot of interest in work by researchers into more novel non-chemical tools. These include units that can deliver microwaves, steam, electrical pulses or lasers to weeds in a green crop, guided by maps generated from a boom spray, robot or drone. INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT

Greg says there’s also a growing awareness among grain and livestock producers that blanket sprays killing all insects, including beneficial and predatory insects, are unhelpful. “There will be times when a certain insect pest will have a big impact on a pasture and they will need to spray,” he says. “And that’s also the case in cropping where you’ve got two key times: at establishment for canola and at maturity in pulses like chickpeas and lentils.” Greg says integrated pest management can be more difficult than integrated weed management but it’s not impossible. “We’ve got a lot of growers who are really quite focused on minimising their broad-spectrum insecticide use,” he says. “And once you can step off that intense insecticide program the beneficials build up very quickly. It’s quite remarkable, even within five years, some of the transformations we’ve seen. It’s about understanding the pests and managing the predators – recognising their value and when you might need to act above them or when you just let them be.”

THE FARMER

JAN - FEB 2021

Clockwise from top left: Windrow burning to destroy weed seeds in canola stubble; Warakirri Cropping farm manager John Stevenson talks weed control with Greg Condon and Peter Newman from WeedSmart; Warwick Holding of Yerong Creek explains the chaff deck system on the back of the header.

NSW DPI field crop entomologist Dr Zorica Duric says a major problem with insect pests, apart from feeding damage, is their role as carriers of viruses. During 2020, large numbers of aphids were responsible for spreading bean yellow mosaic virus across faba beans in northwest NSW, where the disease caused severe damage and plant death. They also transmitted alfalfa mosaic virus into faba beans and chickpeas. Zorica says the pests weren’t a problem during the previous drought years, but summer rain and a mild autumn were conducive to an explosion of aphids earlier than usual. They’re thought to have picked up the virus from medic in nearby pastures. “We could see great numbers, especially of cowpea aphid, in faba bean crops,” she says. “We couldn’t see damage from virus at the time, that came later in the season.” There’s no treatment for the virus, so Zorica says this was a case where spraying the aphids as soon as they arrived in-crop was warranted. It’s not just crops that suffer from aphid infestations. In September, South East Local Land Services warned graziers to check stock grazing on lucerne across the Monaro, after reports of severe photosensitisation in sheep, causing permanent damage to ewes, as well as lamb deaths. A survey found huge numbers of cowpea aphids – which produce a dangerous photo-toxin – on almost every lucerne crop in the region. Poisoned sheep developed extreme swelling and crusty lesions on their faces and the udders of lactating ewes. There also is a looming resistance problem with insects, including those that target stored grain. The five main pests of stored grain are the lesser grain borer, rice weevil, flat grain beetle, rust-red flour beetle and saw-toothed grain beetle. NSW DPI research entomologist Dr Jo Holloway says insecticide resistance has been identified in flat grain beetle, mostly in grain stored by bulk handlers. The development of phosphine resistance in stored grain insects is of great concern because phosphine

SPECIAL REPORT WEEDS AND PESTS

is the only chemical approved for use by unlicensed operators to kill live insects. “Phosphine really needs a sealed gas-tight storage,” Jo says. “And that’s the problem we face. A lot of the growers are using unsealed storages and if they’re really unsealed, they’re not going to kill the insects at all. If they’re partially sealed, you may develop strong resistance over time if you keep doing it.”

Jo says phosphine resistance has been found in the flat grain beetle primarily in central NSW, around Parkes, and in the lesser grain borer throughout NSW. When that happens, growers must clean out their storages, dump the seed or hire a licensed fumigator to treat it with Profume, a more expensive alternative containing sulfuryl fluoride gas. “The good thing about grain storage is if you do it right, it should be okay,” she says. “We emphasise hygiene and, if growers can use cooling aeration, they may get away with not needing any treatment at all.” Jo says IPM strategies are standard practice in horticulture and the cotton industry where they have led to significant reductions in chemical use. Research is continuing into the potential for targeted releases of beneficial insects into broadacre cereal crops in spring, and chemical manufacturers are working on new baits for ants, snails and slugs. The newest pest to watch out for is fall armyworm, which was detected in a Queensland maize crop in February 2020. By November moths had been found at several locations across NSW, including the Liverpool Plains and Central West. Larvae also have been found near East Maitland in the Hunter region. Fall armyworm poses the greatest risk to summer crops, such as corn and soybeans, cotton and sorghum. l

Drone releases natural enemies Parabug Australia specialises in beneficial insect release technology. The drone based Parabug system hails from the US and has been applying beneficial insects there for the past six years. Parabug Australia is now in its second year and has released beneficial insects into cotton, corn, vineyards, fruit and nut trees. The use of beneficials within a structured IPM program can allow growers to reduce the number of chemical spray applications across a season. By using compatible sprays at the correct times, the beneficials will remain in the crop defending it against the pests. Beneficial insects are hunters, moving throughout the plant canopy to find their prey. Releasing beneficials is a process of repopulating the natural enemies to control the pest insects as nature intended. In the past, beneficials were released by hand which is costly, labourintensive, time consuming and inaccurate. This is where Parabug and the use of drone technology steps in; it is possible for growers to release beneficial insects in a fraction of the time, at far less cost than doing it by hand, deploy workers to other tasks and reduce chemical applications. The Parabug system is calibrated prior to each release to ensure the prescribed volume per hectare of biocontrol is applied. This consistent release will continue across the entire site, something that is unlikely to occur with hand release. Parabug Australia recently released a tiny parasitic wasp into corn in northern NSW to target the Fall Armyworm. The parasitic wasp Trichogramma is a natural enemy of the FAW, which provides growers with another biocontrol option. The release of the Trichogramma was in conjunction with the release of the predatory mite Persmilis, which was released to target pest mites in the corn. “The gentle action of the Parabug mechanism allows tiny fragile insects such as Trichogramma to be released without injury” says David Pearce, Managing Director of Parabug Australia. Parabug Australia and Data Sense Agriculture are Australian owned and family operated businesses based in Mudgee NSW. For more information see www.parabug.com.au or www.datasense.com.au JAN - FEB 2021

THE FARMER

Drone home From instruments of war to a great addition to a farmer’s toolbox – drones have come a long way in the last 200 years. The question is – do you need one?

–

Words TONY BLACKIE

BIO CONTROL BY AIR

A Parabug drone distributing beneficial live insects on to fields of corn in the Lower Namoi Valley.

THE FARMER

JAN - FEB 2021

TOOLS DRONES

t began with a bang. Sadly the birth of many new technologies comes from conflict, war or military arms races. The first recorded use of drones was in the early 1800s by the Austrians, who used hot air balloons carrying loads of explosives to wreak havoc on their then-enemy – the Venetians. It apparently had marginal success, but gave weapon manufacturers food for thought. From there the weapons planners in Britain’s Royal Airforce used drones in 1917 during World War I to be aerial targets to hone the skills of the budding air aces, and developed a drone as a ‘flying torpedo’. They had developed a radio controlled plane which could be stuffed with explosives and guided into enemy camps. In World War II all sides used drones for surveillance and weapons delivery and guidance systems for more accurate bombing were being developed. People living in London during the war would not quickly forget the German V1 and V2 flying bomb, a guided jet powered drone which caused massive destruction in London and other English cities. In the Vietnam War drones were used on a large scale to deliver weapons, and so it goes. DRONES IN RECENT TIMES

As we have seen over recent years, the military weapon makers have become even more serious, and jet-powered drones can now fly across countries to deliver a lethal payload on people and places with pinpoint accuracy. A few entrepreneurs also saw a commercial application for the technology and drones began to be used by cartographers, town planners, developers and government agencies. Over the past 25 years drones have been developed with onboard cameras and computing equipment which allows users to film and access land, buildings and scope out entire regions. The development of remote control systems to be used by the amateur with little or no training in flight has now put these machines in the hands of anyone with the money to pay for one. Small battery powered drones could initially fly for 10 to 15 minutes and take still photography which could be bought back to the user for analysis. These evolved into systems which can stay in flight for several

hours, take video and record data which can be controlled from a console on the ground. In some parts of the world, drones are using specialised sensors to spot bomb-making materials and this technology can also create real-time surveillance of a small town. The military and drug enforcement police use drones fitted with hyperspacial and multispectral laser technology which allows them to detect hidden drug and weapons caches. While a lot of that technology is still top secret the inevitable has occurred and some of it has been adapted in the agricultural sector. Connecting these drones with growing onboard sophistication to computers and Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems allows users to gain a massive amount of information. This is where farmers come in... FARMERS AND DRONES TODAY

Drones now have batteries allowing them to stay aloft for much longer periods and many are waterproof and can land and float on water. They feature high resolution cameras and they are often connected to highly sophisticated computer technology. They have also moved a long way from the fun machines that model aeroplane users flew down at the local park on a weekend. They’re used in military surveillance and in offensive action, police use them to go where they can’t go to help look for people and at events they’re used in rescues. They were also used in the recent bush fires where they could go forward and spot outbreaks ahead of the firefighters. They have also become a useful tool for farmers, and in many cases they are as much a part of the farmer’s tool box as the tractor. Sales of drones have increased rapidly at the lower end of the market from $500 to $2,000 but in those cases the users are most often only gaining video footage. The more serious drones with on-board computer analytics technology can cost a great deal more and usually require people with special skills to decipher the information. A number of specialist drone companies have set up through NSW to provide consulting services to farmers from broadacre through to much smaller holdings such as boutique wine growers and organic farmers. The price tag for one off consulting services is now well within the budget for most farming operations. The fact is that the information gained from the drones whether it be simply video footage or high level weed, soil, land and yield management is well worth the price. > JAN - FEB 2021

THE FARMER

FROM THE ARMY TO FARMING

Tristan Steventon saw how drones operated during his time in the Army. He saw the technology that was used in warfare and recognised that it could have great benefits when used in a passive form for farmers. Having grown up in the Central West of New South Wales, Tristan knew many of the challenges farmers faced in producing a competitive agricultural product. So when he finished his tour of duty he decided to put that military drone knowledge to use for the benefit of industry, predominantly farmers. Tristan’s Company StevTech, provides consulting services to farmers, offering them contract drone use for specific tasks or the sale of a drone to allow the farmer to undertake the work themselves. The drone system allows the analyst or farmer to look at the property in detail, identifying weed growth allowing for remedial action on a very localised level. “That helps the farmer to make better planting and replanting decisions,” he says. The farmer can do spot checks for weeds Tristan explains, and then deal with them on a case by case, area-by-area basis. This means that there is substantially reduced spraying required saving the farmer a great deal of money but also limiting potential damage to the land from over use of sprays. With high resolution cameras and applying the onboard technology, the drone operator is able to accurately identify weed types quickly. “We have made a practice of scanning the globe for the best technology available, and the best software,” Tristan says. He admits that while there is increasing interest in drones, it tends to be the early adopters who are reaping the benefits of this new technology. However, he says there is a steady increase in the number of people using the technology and as new applications and analytical tools are added to the drone’s armoury, the interest will continue to rise.

EARTH FROM THE AIR

Some farmers use drones to check crops and stock, and also to identify problems with soil, weeds and plant health, so they can quickly remedy issues.

DRONE TRAINING FOR FARMERS

Ben Watts delivers regional training courses for drone users in conjunction with NSW Farmers and Tocal College, and he says that interest in drones from farmers has never been so high. He should know, as over the past two years, Ben’s company Bralca – located near the Central West town of Molong – has worked with manufacturers of specific

Safework NSW rebate for drones Farmers may be eligible for $500 rebate from Safework NSW for the purchase of an eligible drone. The drone rebate joined the Quad Bike Safety Improvement Program (QBSI Program) in February 2019. The QBSI Program has recently received an extra $2.2 million dollars in farm safety funding from the State Government. NSW Farmers lobbied for the inclusion of drones in the QBSI Program after hosting a series of drone training sessions for

THE FARMER

JAN - FEB 2021

farmers that identified the safety benefits of this flying farm management tool. To be eligible for a drone rebate you must already own an agricultural quad bike or side-by-side vehicle, attend an eligible safety interaction before purchase, and meet the other terms and conditions of the Quad Bike Safety Improvement Program. Head to http://www.nswfarmers.org.au/QuadBikeRebate for more information.

TOOLS DRONES

drones to develop specialised training. The aim has been to help farmers better understand the uses and benefits of drones. He says demand is high among the rural community and whenever a course is advertised, it is over-subscribed within days. “Many people do the training to find out about drones,” he says. “Some people decide it’s not for them, others have bought a drone 12 months ago and need training. It is not unusual to meet a farmer who uses a drone to check the stock.” Ben says that farmers of all backgrounds are showing interest in drone technology. He points out that some want to use the drone to check stock on a property so they don’t have to drive over the land and impact the soil. Others on broadacre properties need the full spectrum of on board drone resources not only to check crops and stock but also to identify problems with soil, weeds and plant health so they can quickly do something about it. He admits that flying a drone is not always as easy as it looks. “The best way is to get a young relative to help,” Ben jokingly suggests. On the serious side, knowing how to operate a drone safely and understanding the rules that the drone pilot must abide by, is vital. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) website provides the rules and regulations relating to the use of drones and the obligations of the person flying the drone. In deciding which drone to buy, Ben admits that the choice is broad and often complex. “If you choose a drone below $600 it is most likely a hobby-type drone and probably not too good for the complex job required. A top class drone for farm work could easily cost from between $3000 and $6000.” Ben says that aspiring drone owners can look for advice from the NSW Farmers’ website which provides some guidance on types of available machines. CASA RULES: THE DOS AND DON'TS OF USING DRONES

• Only fly one drone at a time • Always fly your drone within visual line-of-sight • Only fly your drone during daylight hours • Avoid flying in cloud, fog or heavy rain – you should be able to see your drone with your own eyes at all times — not by using binoculars or watching a video screen • Do not fly your drone behind trees, buildings or anything else that stops you seeing your drone at all times. • Do not fly your drone higher than 120 metres above ground level – that's about the height of a 35-storey building or length of a football field. • Do not fly a drone closer than 30 metres to people – other than those helping to fly or navigate your drone over or above • Do not fly a drone closer than 5.5 km to a controlled aerodrome or airfield – usually those with a control tower If you fly a drone, or remotely piloted aircraft (RPA), for business or as part of your job, you must get an RPA operator accreditation to fly it by 28 January 2021. l

DRONE TRAINING

Top and centre: Farmers in drone training with Ben Watts and his company Bralca, and NSW Farmers. Above: NSW Farmers’ Wingham branch member Greg Newell hosted a drone training course on his property. JAN - FEB 2021

THE FARMER

Date time When a pandemic closes one door, Prickle Hill Produce opens another.

â&#x20AC;&#x201C;

Words SANDRA GODWIN

THE FARMER JAN - FEB 2021

BUSINESS PRICKLE HILL PRODUCE

he coronavirus pandemic shut down Australian fresh fruit exports in January 2020, leaving produce valued at millions of dollars sitting on pallets in cool rooms at the Sydney wholesale markets. Among the casualties was 5000 kilograms of fresh jujubes, also known as Chinese red dates, from the Duffell family who operate Prickle Hill Produce at Coleambally. Forced to move quickly to find new customers, the Duffells dried most of the surplus fruit for sale online and at farmers markets across Sydney and southern New South Wales. The blows kept coming but so did their ingenuity. When many farmer’s markets closed during the first nationwide lockdown from March 30, they began offering home deliveries to Sydney residents. Co-founder Roy Duffell, a third-generation fruit grower, says making the changes took a lot of effort but it was the only way to ensure they could stay in business. Roy, his wife Judy and their son James are no strangers to hard work, or being at the mercy of changing consumer and market trends. Roy and Judy began growing jujubes in 2012 at a time when demand for prunes had declined and they were looking for ways to diversify and add value to their fruit.

SWEET LIFE

In Chinese culture, the jujube represents a sweet life, a flourishing business, fertility, harmony and happiness.

Their story began with Roy’s grandfather, William, who established a fruit block at Yenda in 1920 after returning from service in World War I. He became known as The Fruit Salad King and was famous for his nectarines. William’s son, John, also grew fruit: peaches, apricots, oranges, grapes and the sugar plums that are dried for sale as prunes. Roy developed his own orchard on a sand hill, 15km south west of Coleambally, in the 1990s and was heavily involved in research and the development of new prune varieties. But the popularity of prunes continued to wane, and local fruit was displaced by a flood of cheaper imports from the United States and Chile. Encouraged by daughter Joanne Stratford, a former horticulturist at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens who has returned to Prickle Hill as a horticultural adviser, Roy planted a trial plot of jujubes in 2012. “We thought jujubes were well-suited to our climate here,” he recalls. “They’re suited to the sandy soils we have because they prefer well-drained soils. They don’t mind the heat, they don’t mind the cold and they don’t need as much water as other fruit trees. There’s no known diseases at this stage and they don’t require much in the way of fertiliser. We thought, ‘Wow. This sounds good!’.” Since then Roy has propagated his own trees, grafting three different varieties, Li, Lang and Chico, > JAN - FEB 2021

THE FARMER

About Jujubes Jujubes are indigenous to China and one of the country’s most important fruit crops, consumed as a food and used in traditional Chinese medicines for thousands of years. China is the world’s biggest grower of jujubes, producing an estimated 9 million tonnes in 2015. WHAT ARE JUJUBES LIKE?

The fresh fruit is smooth and bright, like a large red pearl. The flesh is as sweet as honey and as crisp as an apple or pear. WHAT IS THE NUTRITIONAL PROFILE OF JUJUBES?

The fruit is particularly rich in nutrients, and contains high levels of Vitamin C and B, cyclic nucleotide, proline, triterpenic acid, potassium, iron and zinc. It contains twice as much sugar as apples, 100 times the Vitamin C, and 1000 times the cyclic adenosine monophosphate. The fruit is also a rich source of polysaccharides, triterpenic acids, flavonoids, alkaloids, polyphenols and pigments. WHAT IS JUJUBE USED FOR?

The fruit is eaten fresh or dried and made into confectionery, tea, syrup, and wine. The fruit, seed, and bark are commonly used in traditional Chinese herbal medicines for stress and insomnia, and as an appetite stimulant or digestive aid. The sweet smell of the fruit is said to make teenagers fall in love, and also has very positive meanings in Chinese culture, representing a sweet life, a flourishing business, fertility, harmony and happiness.

THE FARMER

JAN - FEB 2021

TO MARKET, TO MARKET

(Above) Jujubes must be carefully harvested by hand. (Below) James Duffell encouraged Roy and Judy to value add and sell their products at farmers markets.

onto root stock. The orchard now has about 4,000 jujube trees producing 15-20kg of fruit each year. Whole jujube fruit is 20 per cent lighter than other types of fruit and the trees can grow up to 10m tall, but Roy prunes them to 3-3.5m for ease of harvest. Unlike many other fruits, the jujube tree bears fruit on the current season’s wood, which can grow up to 20cm and keeps throwing new flowers from October to January. That rules out mechanical harvesting because pickers must carefully work their way through the canopy, taking only fruit that is ready and of the right colour. Pickers also must dodge sharp thorns, which can grow up to 3cm long, and try not to knock off any of the flowers that will produce fruit later in the season. “You probably cover the same tree twice a week for about two months,” Roy says. “The beauty of it is we’re not flooding the market all in one go, as happens with some of the other fresh fruit. We pick for colour, then we sort them into about three grades and send them off to the market.” At the same time as the Duffells began their foray into jujube production, Roy, Judy and James started selling fresh and dried plums, olives, oranges, peaches and apricots, as well as relishes, jams and Roy’s silver-medal-winning prune-based Worcester Sauce at farmers markets across southern NSW. No preservatives are used on the dried fruit and the farm is operated on organic principles, although it isn’t certified organic. James, a former chef who had been working as a project manager, saw an opportunity to expand their reach and introduced Prickle Hill Produce to farmers markets in and around Sydney in 2015. “It was all about prunes to start with, and the

BUSINESS PRICKLE HILL PRODUCE

jujubes came on board a little bit later,” Roy says. “We then started value adding and things have been going fairly well for us. It’s picking up all the time. There’s a lot of work involved but the return is there, and the satisfaction. Instead of just taking what the supermarkets say the price is, we can dictate it a little bit more.” Most of the fresh jujubes are sold to Asian customers and greengrocers who are familiar with the Chinese superfood that is a key ingredient in many traditional Chinese herbal medicines. Fresh jujubes are sweet and crisp like apples, while the dried fruit is chewy and tastes a lot like dates, which is why they’re commonly known as Chinese red dates. Roy estimates about a third of his crop is bought by exporters – jujubes are a popular ingredient in dishes to celebrate the Chinese New Year – which is why the sudden halt to exports in January came as such a shock. They had already dried a larger proportion of jujubes than usual because of sunburn from 21 days of above 35 degrees Celsius, including nine days above 40 degrees, in November and December 2019. “But then COVID-19 hit and that shut down the export markets overnight,” Roy says. “Suddenly, the domestic market was clogged with our product, plus all the others that have got jujubes. There was a lot landing at the market at the one time, so we had to take a hit on price.” Unsold fruit was kept in cool rooms for several weeks as Roy and James methodically hand sorted the best quality fruit to be sold fresh. The rest was trucked back to Yenda for drying in the gas-fired dehydrator James uses to dry the sugar plums each February.

WINNING PRODUCERS

Left to right: Roy Duffell's Royboys Worcester Sauce won a silver medal at the 2015 Sydney Royal Fine Food Show; James and Roy Duffell in the orchard at Coleambally.

Despite farmer’s markets being deemed an essential service, many closed during the first nationwide lockdown. “That made it very difficult for James and he had to find some other way to keep going,” Roy says. “He did a lot of home deliveries and online sales. There was a lot of work involved in setting it up and doing it, but it was worthwhile – it was either that or shut down and walk away.” James started taking orders from Sydney customers by phone and online through the Farmer and Son Produce website for Prickle Hill preserves, and fresh fruit, vegetables, herbs and eggs sourced from their own and other family-owned farms across NSW. As restrictions eased and farmer’s markets returned to the ‘new normal’, James found himself running two growing businesses. Demand from the home delivery market shows little sign of slacking off, so he’s looking to employ more people to help with both ventures. Roy has also been kept busy building a new shed at the farm to house a packing line and cool room. “At the moment, we take it all to our shed in Yenda, which is 100km away,” he says. “That’s a bit awkward because we need to put (fruit) straight into a cool room and then pack out from the cool room and send it straight off to the market.” Ever the optimist, Roy hopes their next harvest is much less eventful. “Things have picked up again, but I don’t know what it’s going to be like,” he says. “I know it’s a product the Chinese want. We’re counter seasonal with fresh fruit to China, so they’ll be looking for it, and they seem to prefer Australian product.” l

JAN - FEB 2021

THE FARMER

JAN - FEB 2021

BUSINESS RYLSTONE OLIVE PRESS

A well-oiled machine Jayne and Peter Bentivoglio established Rylstone Olive Press in 1998 because it was a practical step towards reducing the world’s cholesterol problem.

–

Words SUSAN GOUGH HENLY

LO CATION, LO CATION

The Bentivoglios fell in love with the Monivae area of Rystone – located 750 metres above sea level, because of its beautiful undulating topography. Photo by Susan Gough Henly.

s a neurosurgeon at Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital, Peter Bentivoglio repeatedly saw the impact of high cholesterol as one of the major causes of strokes. Extra virgin olive oil has been proven to boost good HDL cholesterol while reducing the prevalence of bad LDL cholesterol. “And so establishing Rylstone Olive Press was a practical way for us to come up with solutions, rather than just dealing with the problems,” explains Peter's wife Jayne. “Our long-term goal was also to enjoy the benefits of a tree change ourselves,” The couple moved to Rylstone permanently in November 2020, and it didn’t hurt that Peter is a thirdgeneration Italian Australian. You could say that extra virgin olive oil ran in his blood. In fact, his family were once lords of Bologna.

WHY RYLSTONE?

The Bentivoglios fell in love with the Monivae area of Rylstone – located 750 metres above sea level – because of its beautiful undulating topography. They bought 325 acres in 1997 and planted 6,000 olive trees in October 1998, exactly a hundred years after Peter’s grandparents first immigrated to Australia. After extensive research, they chose two Italian varietals (manzanillo and correggiola), a Spanish varietal (picual) and an Israeli varietal (barnea). Two years later they planted another 2,000 trees, this time focusing on four other Italian varietals (frantoio, lecchino, pendolino and corratina). “Our goal was to have a wide array of flavour profiles, which would make interesting blends,” says Jayne. The region’s coarse clay sandy loam, which warms up early in the spring and stays warm into autumn, is perfect for olive trees because it enables their roots to go straight down to access deeper moisture efficiently. While the Rylstone area is dry, there is generally sufficient winter rain to set the trees for spring budding and flowering, summer storms provide rain for January stone hardening and there’s enough autumn rain to help plump up the fruit for good oil content. They also undertake supplementary irrigation and use pasture sward to protect the soil from drying out. Being a high-altitude olive grove, Rylstone has lower temperatures and less humidity than nearby inland areas. “This makes for excellent conditions for olive growing, helping to develop more fruit character, pungency and complex flavours,” Jayne explains. Starting and managing an olive grove is quite an exercise and Jayne studied horticulture at Sydney University in Orange (now Charles Sturt University). She joined the Australian Olive Association, the peak industry body representing Australian olive growers, and soon became a mover and shaker in the olive business. HARVESTING AND PROCESSING

The couple always start picking the day after Anzac Day. “We hire a contractor who uses an umbrella catcher and shaker harvester to harvest from hanging fruit, and process all our olive oil within 24 hours of harvesting. Otherwise, you get a mustiness in the oil because the olives are dying,” Jayne explains. “The extra virgin olive oil extraction is a very natural process using our Pireseli three phase continuous olive oil extraction plant.” First, they blow off any remaining leaves brought into the hopper and wash the olives with dedicated filtered rain water which becomes a closed 120,000 litre water recycling system for olive washing only. After the harvest, this water is recycled again to use for spraying the trees with nutrients. The olives are then crushed into a paste which goes through a centrifuge to separate the dry husk, vegetable water and extra virgin olive oil. > JAN - FEB 2021

THE FARMER

BUSINESS RYLSTONE OLIVE PRESS

“For cool extraction, it is essential to keep the paste below 27 degrees centigrade – the world standard for extra virgin olive oil processing – to preserve its natural aroma, flavour and acidity,” Jayne explains. “If extraction is done at a higher temperature, the resulting oil is effectively cooked. The oil is then put into tanks and is racked off to remove any sediment. It is then filtered and after settling for about eight weeks, I taste each varietal batch and make my blends. Some of the vegetable water is mixed with the dry husk, and chicken manure and hay is added to make a sort of lasagne compost, which we mulch around the olive trees.” Jayne explains that extra virgin olive oil is unique among all the world’s cooking oils because there is no refining and it’s made from the juice of perfect olives and is totally pure. “For high-altitude olive groves like ours, it takes so much fruit to make a drop of olive oil. It is hardly anything but it’s such a beautiful oil,” Jayne says. THE FINAL PRODUCT

All Rylstone Olive Press extra virgin olive oils bear the Australian Extra Virgin Olive Oil certification label. Once the blends have been made, Jayne sends them off to the Department of Primary Industries lab in Wagga Wagga so they can be strictly assessed for the certification label. This includes tests for free fatty acids, polyphenols, durability and organoleptic (taste) testing where eight specialists do blind tastings to ensure each oil is balanced and without defects. “We have a range of four different extra virgin olive oils, each named after a NSW River,” says Jayne. “The softest oil is called Crooked River, after my Dad’s vineyard in Shoalhaven. He even shaves with it! Cudgegong, named after our local river, is medium, fruity and herbaceous. It is our most awarded oil. The Murrumbidgee, which is a blend of our oils and those of that river basin, is the big brother of Crooked River while the Murray Darling, is the big brother of Cudgegong.”

THE FARMER

JAN - FEB 2021

A GO OD YEAR AHEAD

Rylstone produced no olives for a 2020 harvest due to the November 2019 dust storms, but Peter and Jayne are looking forward to a great year in 2021 as there has been great winter rains and lots of budding on the trees.

Rylstone has been winning awards since they first started production. Most noteworthy include their Limited Edition Extra Virgin Olive Oil winning the Best of Show, Best in the Southern Hemisphere and Champion Italian varietal at the 2017 Australian International Olive Awards. At the 2014 Los Angeles International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition their Cudgegong and Murray Darling blends won Gold Medals while at the inaugural New York International Olive Oil Competition in 2013 their Cudgegong No 3. Blend won Best of Class and their Cudgegong No 2. Blend and Crooked River both won gold awards out of 600 entries from 22 countries. At the 2012 Canberra Royal Agricultural Show they won Champion Oil, Best of Show and Best Commercial Extra Virgin Olive Oil. And the list goes on and on. “We produced no olives for harvest 2020 because of the November dust storms, the enduring drought and bushfires,” says Jayne, “but we’re very excited about this year as we had good winter rains and there’s lots of budding on the trees.” And while awards are always desirable, the Bentivoglios are most excited about extra virgin olive oil’s health-giving properties. Its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties help the immune system while a Mediterranean diet rich in extra virgin olive oil is excellent for the cardiovascular system. Peter set up the Peter Duncan Neurosciences Research Unit at St Vincent’s Hospital in 2012 and with Director, Professor Bruce Brew, it has grown to 30 researchers doing research into multiple sclerosis, dementia and Parkinson’s disease. “I would love to have one of those researchers working on the positive impacts of extra virgin olive oil,” says Jayne. “We actually did supply the wound clinic at St Vincent’s with extra virgin olive oil. They used it to rub around the good skin of vascular ulcers which then helped to regenerate the skin and close the ulcer. It’s the best place to buy our oil and help St Vincent’s Open Support community service organisation at the same time.” l

GIFTS MARKETPLACE

The saleyards Summer is well and truly here – so we’ve pulled together some awesome products to make the most of the hottest months. Edited by MICHELLE HESPE

SOUTHERN WILD CO. CANDLES RL FOOTE DESIGN

This Melbourne-based workshop produces unique and contemporary ceramic flatware, silicone food moulds, interior design objects and event-based designs. Each piece is handmade and sure to turn heads. rlfootedesign.com

Handcrafted in Australia in collaboration with local artists, photographers, this collection of unique fragrances are designed to bring a little bit of the wild Australian landscape into your home. southernwildco.com.au

TRED 4X4 RECOVERY BOARDS

TRED is the ultimate all-in-one off road recovery device, specially designed to get your four-wheel drive, ATV and equipment out of trouble when traction is lost in sand, mud, sludge, slime or snow. tred4x4.com.au

ECO TOWELS

Kind to the environment and your body, ECO Towels are made from a soft and absorbent recycled yarn called RPET that uses post-consumer recycled plastic bottles and fabric cut-offs, so you can help reduce waste and save the planet while you dry off. kedesign.com.au

TANYA KALANTARY

Aussie artist, Tanya Kalantary is the creator of some of the most fun, colourful and uplifting artworks you’ll come across. Her gorgeous originals and vibrant prints will liven up any room in your house. tanyakalantaryartist.com

SNOWY MOUNTAIN COOKIES

Specialising in the art of baking gourmet foods made without artificial colours, flavours, additives or preservatives, Snowy Mountains Cookies are dedicated to only baking with quality ingredients – keeping it natural by keeping it simple. snowycookies.com.au

MUTATING CREATURES

The studio produces Australian made sustainable pendant and table lighting, bespoke wooden stools, eco-friendly coffee holders and a range of colourful 3d printed handcrafted jewellery. mutatingcreatures.com.au

PIONEER BREWING

Grateful. Humble. Free-spirited. That’s the very essence of Pioneer Brewing, a multi-award-winning craft beer company based in Country New South Wales. Independently owned and operated, Pioneer tastes exactly like hand-crafted beer should. pioneerbrewing.com.au

Do you have a great product you’d like us to consider for this page? Email an image and details to mhespe@intermedia.com.au

JAN - FEB 2021

THE FARMER

Regeneration and renewal Regenerative agriculture offers a multi-faceted tool kit to help farmers improve the bottom line, the health of the land and the long-term generational sustainability of farming.

â&#x20AC;&#x201C;

Words SUSAN GOUGH HENLY

THE FARMER

JAN - FEB 2021

ENVIRONMENT REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE

t was during the Millennium drought that fifth-generation Monaro sheep farmer Charles Massy had his ‘a-ha’ moment. “I had a high-value sheep stud running lots of little mobs that were essentially overgrazing my paddocks. I was crippled with debt, weighed down with depression, and I just didn’t know how I could make it all work anymore,” he says. “I finally realised I was the weakest link in the whole system. There was a disconnect in my head because I was trying to make money while ignoring the ecology of my land.” Charles consulted with Dr Terry McCosker, a trailblazer in holistic farming practices long before the term ‘regenerative agriculture’ was widely used. Terry, who is the founder and director of Resource Consulting Services (RCS) explains that many farmers mistakenly believe that they’ll go broke if they try farming from an eco-system perspective, something he likens to the ‘fear of going through the valley of death’. “I deal with this by focusing on building the foundations of a bridge to cross to the other side,” Terry explains. “I always start with the farmer’s mindset and then do an extensive analysis of the farm’s business model (understanding its strengths and weaknesses with the goal of increasing turnover, decreasing overheads and increasing gross margins) before working on anything remotely related to soil biology. You can't fix the soil if the overheads are too high. Even then, it's about taking small steps to do less harm to the soil biology. If you need to continue using chemical additives, there are so many ways to reduce their negative impacts.” Regenerative agriculture has several definitions but essentially it is regarded as a system of farming principles and practices that enrich soils, improve the water cycle, increase biodiversity and dynamic ecosystems, and restore the solar energy function of plants to draw down carbon from the atmosphere. It can sometimes cause knee-jerk reactions because of what some perceive as its ‘holier-than-thou’ philosophy, but third-generation beef trader and 2018 Australian Rural Community Leader of the Year, Lorraine Gordon sees things differently.

Af t e r d i r e c t i n g t h e Fe d e r a l Government’s Farming Together Program – the largest capacity building program in Australia’s agricultural history – she harnessed its collaborative approach to form the Regenerative Agriculture Alliance. She also created Southern Cross University’s (SCU) cutting-edge Bachelor of Science in Regenerative Agriculture. After just one year in operation, it’s the largest agricultural science program in Australia with certificate, bachelor and master degrees, and the only one of its kind in the world. The focus is on teaching students how to read landscapes and solve complex problems from a holistic perspective. “When I’m speaking to a roomful of farmers and list regenerative agriculture’s practices, such as minimum tillage and time-controlled or holistic grazing, so many people say, ‘Oh my God, we’re already doing some of those things.’‘’ “We don’t have a them-and-us scenario,” Lorraine explains. “Rather, it’s about us all going on a journey together so we can be more resilient. It’s about farmers expanding the tools in their toolboxes and trying some techniques that might work well in their specific bioregions,” she says, adding “We’ve all seen our red dust covering the snow caps on New Zealand’s mountains. They’re very thankful for that top soil that’s come all the way from Australia but there are lots of strategies to help farmers keep that soil on their own farms.” In fact, a key tenet of regenerative agriculture focuses on recognising and adapting farming practices to particular soils and climate patterns. The Australian continental massif is ancient with some of the world’s oldest soils that not only endure high temperatures but also regular droughts and bushfires. These poorly structured, often saline-heavy soils present challenges when it comes to water drainage and plant growth. Into this fragile landscape, settler farmers brought agricultural methods based on the deep forgiving volcanic soils and regular, dependable seasonal shifts in temperature and precipitation that were the norm in the Northern Hemisphere. “We’ve all made some mistakes along the way such as replicating inappropriate European methods of agriculture and thinking that they would work here,” says Lorraine. >

JAN - FEB 2021

THE FARMER

A more sustainable, less-is-more approach, enables landscapes to renew themselves and underlines the importance of working with Mother Nature so as to allow her to do her work. And that work starts on the microscopic level with the soil. Ensuring soil is spongy and full of humus (dark, organic matter rich with bacteria and fungi) enables it to store more carbon which directly impacts the soil’s ability to retain water and therefore grow quality crops and pastures. Soil biology is a relatively recent science. “Agronomists have essentially focused on chemistry and physics in their training. We now know that soil biology has a profound impact on all aspects of farming,” says Terry. “I’ve been teaching basic ecology to farmers for 30 years,” he adds. “It’s the one thing that gets them excited. Once farmers understand how an ecosystem operates, they can get it to work with them. In agriculture, we get four things for free: rain, sunlight, air (nitrogen and carbon dioxide) and ecosystem services. If we’re going to optimize our farming businesses, we need to optimize the free stuff. And once we optimize biological health, we can double a plant’s photosynthesis capacity (and even increase yield five-fold with irrigation assistance).” “The zero-till initiative had a huge uptake because farmers didn’t want to lose their topsoil,” explains Terry. “Now we need to slowly, slowly take the next steps in ways that don’t threaten profitability. You can add compost extracts and other biological inputs during seed planting to enhance soil biodiversity. You can also leave litter on the ground or grow transitional multispecies cover crops because living plants, not bare earth, feed soil biology which feeds everything else. Soil that has heavily relied on chemical inputs is going to have withdrawal symptoms so adjustments must always be made slowly.”

THE FARMER

JAN - FEB 2021

ON THE FRONTLINE

Clockwise from top left: President of NSW Farmers Association, James Jackson, 2018 Australian Rural Community Leader of the Year, Lorraine Gordon; Terry McCosker and graziers discussing the successional shift to high productivity native species.

“We look after the soil and the soil looks after plants, which in turn looks after livestock. Those tiny soil microbes are also an essential element of human gut health, resulting in humans being more resilient to diseases such as cancer and autoimmune complications. It’s all one big long chain of interconnectedness,” says Lorraine. Charles Massy agrees. “It’s so important for farmers to carefully observe every element of their landscape, right down to the minutiae of soil microbes. I was basically landscape illiterate. My

ENVIRONMENT REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE

property should have been in intensive care but instead I was overgrazing, ploughing under native grasses and bringing in expensive feed.” Charles started making changes, including matching the number of sheep to the feed ability of his paddocks. He did an autumn end-of-year stocktake of his feed (incorporating the next six months with no growth) and calculated that he’d be 20% overstocked. He made an early decision to sell down when the prices were still good and ran his remaining sheep in one mob across smaller paddocks

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE SOIL

Above, left to right: Terry McCosker – Founder and Director of Resource Consulting Services; Monaro sheep farmer Charles Massy.

to drive more effective plant ecology. By comparison, in the early 1980s he shipped out a semi-trailer load of emaciated sheep that were worth less than the transport cost. Charles is doing creek restoration, has planted more than 60,000 trees and some native grasses have also returned. With this increased biodiversity, pests such as wingless grasshoppers have disappeared. And when big rains come, the soil is porous enough to absorb the extra moisture with no run off. He’s also started feeding his sheep rock salt which they distribute across the paddocks as walking fertiliser. President of NSW Farmers, James Jackson, concurs, “Using strategic cell grazing to recycle nutrients and more effectively enable the growth cycle of grasses is a real game changer and breaks the old idea that hard-hooved animals are bad for the environment. And the study of soil biology is revealing the benefits of soil microbes. Actually, I think a lot of farmers have been on top of many regenerative agriculture practices for a long time.” It’s really not about the label, according Lorraine. “Nobody is more pragmatic than me. As someone who’s been farming for 35 years, I’m not sure I’ll ever reach Utopia but I know we need to be able to question how we farm and seek out alternative ways to achieve not just sustainable but also restorative outcomes. I am not in the business of going broke but I also want to be able to eat real food and I want to leave my farm in the best shape possible for my children, who will be fourth generation farmers.” “Anything that marries the three goals of productivity, profitability and environmental JAN - FEB 2021

THE FARMER

ENVIRONMENT REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE

sustainability is a really great outcome for farmers and rural communities,” says Fiona Simson, President of the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF). She explains that the NFF’s new $100 billion farm gate goal is all about value adding, ensuring sustainability, promoting regional community development, unlocking innovation and diversifying income streams, some of which can be done through environmental initiatives such as creating biodiversity and carbon sequestration. “It is about smarter farming, not farming more hectares, and regenerative agricultural practices, many of which have been used and proven by mainstream farmers for years, have the potential to create a win/win situation for farmers,” says Fiona. “By focusing on developing microbe-rich humus that helps store more carbon in the soil, this enables water retention which helps better quality and higher volume cropping in a healthy managed landscape.” “The NFF also believes that agriculture can play an active role in climate change solutions” explains Fiona. With soil biology working effectively, payment for carbon sequestration can contribute to NFF’s vision that five percent of the agricultural sector’s income will be derived from environmental services by 2030 and the entire sector will be carbon neutral by 2050. l

“Anything that marries the three goals of productivity, profitability and environmental sustainability is a really great outcome for farmers and rural communities.” – FIONA SIMSON President of the National Farmers Federation (NFF)

A BIO-DYNAMIC FERTILISER AND SOIL CONDITIONER FROM THE SEA Dr Maynard Murray (1930-1983) believed in the concept of using seawater as a fertiliser and soil conditioner for a wide-spread farming application, which he called ‘seasolids’. His work is well-documented and the product was patented in the US. Moodie & Associates has developed plans for the infrastructure needed to process a seawater liquid concentrate that is a ready-to-use nutritiondense product. The living product contains all the minerals, with the exception of the unwanted sodium, as well as the

vital biota component containing phytoplankton and bacteria. When diluted and applied to the soil by spraying, the biota go to work magnifying the organic activity of the top-soil. The product can be used as a foliar spray and assists with soil remediation and soil conditioning, increased plant strength and immunity, greatly reducing dependence on herbicides and pesticides. Our approach is well established thanks to a century’s worth of rigorous well-documented and diverse experiments.

Email moodie@labyrinth.net.au to receive more information.

ENVIRONMENT WILDLIFE SMUGGLING

Attacking wildlife smuggling on all fronts

After drugs, counterfeit products and human trafficking, wildlife smuggling is the world's largest illegal trade worth $27 billion a year, according to estimates by the World Wildlife Fund. So what is being done to combat it?

–

Words IAN LLOYD NEUBAUER

ost wildlife smuggling reported in the media focuses on the poaching of iconic species like elephants, tigers, rhinoceroses as well as pangolins, also known as scaly anteaters, the most trafficked animal in the world. COVID-19 is believed to have jumped from bats via pangolins to humans at a wet market in the Chinese city of Wuhan where stallholders sell and slaughter live animals on site. Of all new and emerging human infectious diseases, threequarters 'jump species’ from animals to people, according to the United Nations Environment Programme. While wet markets do not exist in Australia, the release and escape of exotic pets also pose a risk to our biosecurity and, by proxy, our reputation for clean green food. The red-eared slider turtle, a popular pet turtle from North America immortalised in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles entertainment franchise, is a textbook example. Despite being listed as a restricted invasive animal under the Biosecurity Act that cannot be traded or kept as a pet without a licence, it has become a problem feral pest on the eastern seaboard, displacing native turtles and frogs. Slider turtles can also spread salmonella to humans by contaminating drinking water, while the handling of salmonella-infected turtles has been linked to the death of children in the US. There is a huge financial cost too: Queensland has invested close to $1 million in red-eared slider turtle eradication programs without remedying its problem. >

JAN - FEB 2021

THE FARMER

A threat to biosecurity Smuggled wildlife presents a serious risk to Australia’s biosecurity – for our livestock, wild animals, and domesticated pets. Released exotic wildlife can inflict significant damage on the Australian landscape, and can also carry bacteria, parasites, viruses and seeds. Highly pathogenic Asian avian influenza – known commonly as bird flu or H5N1 – poses a severe threat to Australia’s poultry industries. Following a major outbreak in the early 2000s, travelers were caught smuggling animals infected with H5N1 across international borders.

While bird flu might have faded from public consciousness in the wake of Covid-19, an outbreak of H5N1 was reported in China’s Hunan province in February 2020. Almost 20,000 birds were culled as a result of the outbreak. “Increased global movement of goods and passengers means that biosecurity threats are consistently evolving, and Australia’s authorities need to be well-resourced to intercept wildlife and other risky material before they can cause a damaging outbreak in our sector,” NSW Farmers President James Jackson said

COMMONLY SMUGGLED CRITTERS

Clockwise from top: Red-eared slider turtles; A red-bellied black snake; A black cockatoo – in the wild, they are rarer than lions in the wild in Africa.

THE FARMER

JAN - FEB 2021

ENVIRONMENT WILDLIFE SMUGGLING RUTHLES S CRIMINAL SYNDICATES

Beyond the harmful actions of naïve pet owners, Australia is home to ruthless criminal syndicates that supply native birds and reptiles to the black market pet trade in Asia. In June, NSW Police Force’s Strike Group Raptor and Commonwealth Environmental Crime Investigators executed six search warrants at houses across Sydney and the Illawarra Region where they found and seized turtles, pythons, lizards and poisonous snakes such as the Death Adder and Red-bellied Black Snake. A month earlier, an investigation by the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (AWE) stopped the shipment of 21 Australian native reptiles via an Australia Post outlet in NSW to Hong Kong – part of a nation-wide blitz named Operation Blizzard that resulted in 17 detections in six states and territories. And last March, police found three entire rooms in a house in Belmore in Sydney's west with wildlife enclosures that contained 30 snakes, 43 lizards, 40 turtles, 22 tortoises, 22 frogs, 19 reptile eggs and five salamanders. The occupants of the house had previously attempted to mail other animals to Hong Kong and Taiwan in parcels also containing speakers and toy trucks. “Organised criminals are seeking to profit from the high price that our unique wildlife fetches on the international black market and today we’ve made it clear that we will hold those people responsible,” Federal Minister for the Environment Susan Ley said after the most recent bust. Monica Collins, head of environmental compliance at the AWE added: “We remain resolute in our tough stance on this transnational criminal activity that threatens our unique Australian fauna and resilient agriculture industry.” Penalties for wildlife trade offences in Australia include up to 10 years imprisonment and $210,000 fines. But according to Al Mucci, general manager of life sciences at the Dreamworld Wildlife Foundation, these “may still be an insufficient deterrent when possible rewards are so high”. A single black cockatoo can fetch $30,000 overseas while goannas have been traded for up to $100,000. Mucci also claims “enforcement can be lacking”, noting a recent case where a Darwin resident was found with 1,300 wildlife specimens in his house worth about $500,000 on the black market but received a suspended sentence. SNIFFER DOGS, CHEMICALS AND APPS

At a recent Sydney workshop on illegal wildlife smuggling called Attacking on All Fronts, Mucci and a group of experts concluded a multi-pronged approach involving law enforcement, researchers, and members of the public is needed to more effectively combat the trade. “Our most immediate needs would appear to be more collaboration between people working in different fields, more public awareness amongst hikers, tour operators and remote area accommodations

REPTILE SMUGGLING

Australia is home to ruthless criminal syndicates that supply reptiles to Asia's thriving black market.

and service stations, and encouragement to report suspicious activities,” they said. “The public can be trained through social media, rangers and tour operators telling visitors what kinds of suspicious activities to look for, and also told about the extent of trafficking in Australia so they realise the importance of watching for it.” Technology can also play a part. The Wildlife Witness smartphone app co-created by the Taronga Conservation Society empowers everyone to easily report illegal wildlife trade by taking a photo and pinning the exact location of an incident. Credible incidents are referred to enforcement agencies for action and used by researchers to identify trends. Amanda Hancock, director of Ecological Services and a wildlife detection dog specialist who also attended the workshop asked why few sniffer dogs are checking for wildlife trafficking at airports: “As an example of how dogs can be used to detect wildlife or their parts being smuggled, we were shown a video of a quoll toy soaked in real quoll scent, inside a briefcase inside a closed station wagon that smelt of hay, horses and cigarette smoke. Within minutes the dog had detected a quoll smell coming from inside the car.” Detection dogs, Hancock added, can also accompany rangers on their rounds to detect if people leaving national parks are holding wildlife samples. Chemical and elemental profiling can also help combat the trade, according to Simin Maleknia, a researcher at the University of New South Wales developing elemental and chemical fingerprints as non-invasive forensic tools for wildlife trafficking. “The identification of odour compounds at very low levels is easily possible by the current analytical instruments, she says. “The aim is to analyse a range of wildlife for their odour to select a set of odour identifier compounds that can be utilised in chemical sensor devices. This will enable the use of chemical sensors at airports or by park rangers, similar to the dog detection protocols,” she says. l To report suspected wildlife smuggling, write to the Department of Water, Agriculture and the Environment at compliance@awe.gov.au. JAN - FEB 2021

THE FARMER

COMMUNITY NEW GENERATIONS

For the love of alpacas: one family’s fairytale Since 1998, Mick and Karen Williams have been building a business empire in the Southern Highlands, based upon alpacas. With the baton being handed to their 20-year-old daughter Rubey, the Storybook Alpacas fairytale has many more chapters to come. Words MICHELLE HESPE / Photography PAUL HENDERSON-KELLY

“All three of us are so passionate about what we do, and that means there are going to be clashes. But that same level of passion also complements us so well when we work together and decisions need to be made. I really wouldn’t want to work with anyone else.” Rubey Williams

THE FARMER

JAN - FEB 2021

AN EMPI RE BUILT UP ON ALPA CAS

n (Left to right) Mick, Rubey and Kare feel that ly Williams are a tight-knit fami all them g givin for indebted to alpacas kind the and es rienc expe exceptional y of business and lifestyle that so man people dream of building.

A BUSINES S WITH MANY ARMS

The family business has many facets including three farms, a farm stay with alpaca petting, a thriving cafĂŠ in Berrima and a live animal export company. Storybook Alpacas is also part of an alpaca fibre co-operative.

JAN - FEB 2021

THE FARMER

“Rubey’s very first memory is wandering around a stockyard filled with alpacas when she was three or four years old. Parents of the year here! We couldn’t find her and then we saw this tuft of blonde hair bobbing along through the alpaca bodies at the back of the pen!” Karen Williams

n 1998 Karen Williams started researching alpacas, considering it to be something that she and her husband Mick could get into. She also often thought about owning her own café, as when she was a child she had her very own cubby house named Karen’s Café – where she served her friends and family tea and snacks. “It was the quirkiness of alpacas that appealed to me, and their beautiful faces and eyes. I don’t think it was a lightbulb moment, but rather a gradual move towards something I have always loved,” Karen says. Mick was sceptical at the time, as the industry had no foundation in Australia, and the fibre was worth nothing as there was no market for it. Up until the 1980s alpacas were only bred in their native homeland of South America. Mick and Karen bought their first parcel of land – 30 acres in Bargo – and the building of a dream began when the couple who owned two alpacas on agistment on their land, decided to stay in Europe rather than return to Australia as planned. They told Mick and Karen to sell Ruba and La La, or keep them. As fate would have it, they

THE FARMER

JAN - FEB 2021

kept the two creatures, bought another parcel of land in Pheasants Nest, and purchased their first breeding female that they named after their daughter Rubey’s kindergarten teacher – Mrs Herraman. “That led to a lot of funny stories throughout Rubey’s time at school, especially during ‘Storytime’,” says Mick with a laugh. “We’d often talk about shearing Mrs Herraman or clipping her nails!” The day came when they had to name their business, and as both of them saw it as the beginning of a dream soon to become true, Storybook Alpacas became the name of one property, while the other was called Coolawarra – a blending of Coolaroo and Illawarra. “It was quite literally the beginning of a fairytale,” says Karen. “Once upon a time is a catchphrase that has been used as the opening lines for storytelling since the 1380s. These stories end with ‘they all lived happily ever after’–and Storybook Alpacas is such a tale.” “We also all share a love and belief in the notion of Carpe Diem – aka seize the day or make your life extraordinary,” says Mick.

COMMUNITY NEW GENERATIONS

A SOUTHERN HIGHLAND S DREAM

Mick was sceptical about investing in alpacas at first, as in the 1990s the industry did not have a foundation in Australia and up until the 1980s, alpacas were only bred in their native homeland of South America.

JAN - FEB 2021

THE FARMER

COMMUNITY NEW GENERATIONS

ALPACAS ARE US

The farm stay grew from Mick and Karen's passion and appreciation for ecotourism. The idea was that people could visit the alpacas, give them a pat and have a cup of tea. Today that part of the business is thriving and they have bookings from busloads of tourists.

THE FARMER

JAN - FEB 2021

THE BUILDING OF AN ALPACA EMPIRE

During the development of the farm, another few arms of the business were launched – farmstay accommodation, a café in Berrima called Courtyard Cafe, a livestock export company, and the family became a part of the Waratah Alpaca Fibre Co-operative, which has 50 alpaca members from across Australia, with the majority based in NSW. Members of the collective realised that a group of them was far stronger than any one company, and this has paid off when it comes to selling and buying power. Over the past two years for instance, the co-op sold more than 70,000 kilos of alpaca fibre. “Previously, that market didn’t exist – the fibre was just stuff sitting around on the floor,” says Mick. “Now we sell fibre domestically, and into New Zealand, China, and Italy. Before COVID-19 hit, we’d just sent samples to England, Istanbul, and India. That will pick up again I’m sure. China is one of the world leaders in textiles and as alpaca fibre is such a rare commodity, it is still in demand there,” says Mick. The couple also own a martial arts studio called Just for Kicks Taekwondo, as in a former life Mick was a black-belted Taekwondo instructor. “That’s how we met,” says Karen with a laugh. I was a junior at the studio and he knocked me in the head while practising. He bought me flowers to apologise and the rest is history!” The farm stay and the café grew out of Karen and Mick’s appreciation and passion for eco-tourism. “The idea was that people would come and visit, pat an alpaca and enjoy a real working farm experience,” explains Karen. “We were the first ones to start charging for this kind of experience in Australia,” adds Mick. At first the couple weren’t charging for the visits, then decided to add a fee and see how it went. The crowds kept coming. Then they added to the experience – morning tea or afternoon tea and some alpaca education, and it became even more popular. “I’d get home and there’d be 40 or more people on the property with Karen showing them around. Then we started getting enquiries from buses, and we realised that it was too much, both of us having corporate working lives, while we were also running

our farm. It dawned on us that we could build our entire business and lives around our herd of alpacas.” The café that Karen had always dreamed of opened two years ago, after the couple sold their ski chalet in Jindabyne in order to buy it. It’s now a buzzing eatery, and of course Karen brought alpacas to the party – adding things such as alpaca burgers, alpaca stroganoff and alpaca stew to the menu. There’s also alpaca meatball nachos, alpaca salads, and an alpaca salami and prosciutto served on a popular ploughman’s platter. The locals and tourists love the many offerings straight from the paddock to their plates. Mick and Rubey can often be found serving customers at their café, but it’s Karen’s main role alongside the popular farm stay operation, while Mick and Rubey run the farm and do most of the labouring and breeding work together. “Rubey has been driving the tractor since she was eight, and from around the same age she’s been feeding and watering the animals,” Mick says with pride. “Over the past few years she’s really started to see the business potential in what we do.” Ru b e y r e c e n t l y bought shares in her parent’s company and Mick and Karen hope to hand the baton over to her one day, so that she can continue to grow the business. “She has skin in the game now,” explains Mick. “By buying into the herd she can also go to university and pay off her HECS debt. We are incredibly proud of her.” Karen also looks forward to Rubey taking on more responsibility in the business, and knows that she’s not only smart and hardworking, but also savvy and kind. To top things off, Rubey is also the current National Champion for Young Alpaca Judging, and the Australian Alpaca Association’s youngest apprentice judge. “She’s a good kid, our Rubey – we did a great job!” she says. “And our beautiful, four-legged animals have given us all some of the best experiences we could have ever asked or dreamed for, and that will continue under Rubey’s watch.” Mick whole-heartedly agrees. “They have changed our lives for the better, and we are truly indebted to them. They’ve supported us – and given us such a unique lifestyle. We wouldn’t be where we are today without them.”

JAN - FEB 2021

THE FARMER

“I saved my pocket money when I was 12 to buy my first breeding female alpaca. By 16, I realised that farming was something I could do with my life – something I was good at and that I had a passion for. Then I started to take things seriously and realised that if I bought into the herd, I could pay off my HECS debt.” Rubey Williams

ubey Williams, now 20 years of age, went to Illawarra Grammar in Wollongong, and throughout school she was aware that she had a very different life to most of the kids around her. “The bulk of my friends – they didn’t have the space I had, and I think that’s a good thing. I really appreciate our lifestyle,” Rubey says. “I would come home from school to a large property with a couple of dogs running around, and plenty of livestock wandering about. There was always something to do and always something to work on. “I saved my pocket money when I was 12 to buy my first breeding female alpaca. By 16, I realised that farming was something I could do with my life – something I was good at and that I had a passion for. Then I started to take things seriously and realised that if I bought into the herd, I could pay off my HECS debt.” Rubey recently started a Bachelor of Agricultural Business Management at Charles Sturt University, and she also works two days a week at Waratah Alpaca Cooperative in the sorting house – grouping, classing and pressing alpaca fibre. When it comes to being hardworking, her parents sure aren’t wrong – Rubey also works in the café most weekends. “Obviously I am chasing alpacas around 90 per cent of the time, so I am in no rush to finish my studies,” she says. “I should be finished my degree by the time I am 26 and I am happy with the lifestyle, the work, and not being overly stressed about my study.” Rubey’s studies led her to doing some research on the alpaca industry in Western Australia, where she now has a long-term goal of the company’s expansion. “I had to do a unit of study on establishing and running an alpaca enterprise and it got me really excited,” she says. “It would be an enterprise a lot bigger than what we are doing here – ten times the size actually, with around 10,000 alpacas.” For now, the next expansion on the horizon is coming up soon, and Rubey can’t wait to get stuck into it with her parents. The trio have ordered 17 Babydoll sheep from across the country for breeding, pigmy goats for their meat, and will also expand their live export market in Speckle Park cattle. “The Babydoll sheep arrive during January, and I am so excited! They’re three-month-old weaners when they arrive, and we have breeding ewes and two rams from South Australia,” Rubey says. “They’re hard to come by so we had to buy them from all over the country, but we can start breeding

THE FARMER

JAN - FEB 2021

early and they are only pregnant for six months, so we’ll have new lambs in the spring. “You can sell them off for an amazing price as they have great fibre,” Rubey says. “They are hot on the export market right now too.” This continual education on new products, planning and business organisation comes from sharing their own knowledge and learning together, and so company meetings are a structured affair. “Dad chairs them, and he’ll ask mum and I to put our ideas, plans and what we are working on forward, beforehand. Mum focusses more on the farm-stay and the café, and dad and I on the farm, but we all need to be across what everyone else is doing, and understand all parts of the business,” Rubey says. “It’s really important to know what’s going on for everyone.” In the meetings, everything from animal movements and joinings, shearing, café, co-op and business logistics are covered. “We always have to get through a lot. Dad and I need to work through things such as which mobs we’ll shear first – managing the herds so we don’t mix them, things like that. It’s a rigmarole and I am always glad when shearing is finished,” Rubey says. “There’s a lot of staff to manage too, from those in the café, to shearers and everyone else.” First and foremost, Rubey stresses that the aim of the game is achieving the best possible fibre from their alpacas. “We are getting closer and closer to the quality of Merino, but that industry has had more than 200 years to fine-tune its fibre, and we’ve only had about 30! Slowly, slowly, we will get there,” she says. As anyone who has done it knows, it takes a certain kind of family to work and live together, but between Mick, Karen and Rubey, they have all bases covered for the many prongs of their enterprise, and Rubey’s maturity and independence are traits that have obviously been encouraged from a young age. “Dad and I work together on all aspects of the farm, and I see it more as a partnership rather than one of us working for the other,” she says. “I am mainly a labourer around the farm, a stud manager really, but we make all of the decisions together.” Rubey adds that she is not going lie – it can be hard working with your family and it’s not always a well-oiled machine. “All three of us are so passionate about what we do, and that means there are going to be clashes. But that same level of passion also complements us so well when we work together and when decisions need to be made. I really wouldn’t want to work with anyone else.” l

COMMUNITY NEW GENERATIONS

IN THE PURSUIT OF FIBRE PERFECTION

Rubey stresses that the aim of the game is achieving the best possible fibre from their alpacas. “We're getting closer and closer to the quality of Merino, but that industry has had more than 200 years to fine-tune its fibre, and we've only had 30!” she says.

JAN - FEB 2021

THE FARMER

Protecting you, your family & your business

FARMERS ACCIDENT & SICKNESS INSURANCE We are all aware of the damaging impact a sudden accident or illness can have on you, your family and your business. That is why the NSW Farmers Association have partnered with GIBA and Ingenium Insurance to create an group insurance plan with you in mind. Farmers Accident & Sickness Insurance utilises our collective bargaining power to make accident and sickness insurance more accessible and affordable for farmers. Some of the benefits include: Weekly Income Benefits

Lump Sum Benefits

Additional Benefits

When your unable to work due to an injury or illness

For accidental death and permanent injuries

To support recovery back to health and work

Key features • Mental Illness coverage included • Simple application with no medical assessment • High age limits up to age 75 • 24 hour worldwide coverage • Available to members and non-members • Accessible to self-employed, permanent employees, contractors and casuals. Compare and save

“I was in the process of reviewing ours [income protection] because it was very expensive, so the timing was perfect. The huge advantage was they understood farm work and were much cheaper- win win!” Amanda Member of NSW Farmers Association

Find out more

1300 175 228 nswfarmers.org.au/insurance Click on Farmers Accident and Sickness Insurance

GIBA

GENERAL INSURANCE BROKERS OF AUSTRALIA

The information provided is general advice only and does not take into account your personal financial situation, needs or objectives. You should consider the Product Disclosure Statement and Financial Services Guide and your own circumstances before deciding to purchase this insurance. Ingenium Insurance is a trading name of Ingenium Technology Solutions Pty Ltd ABN 16 635 281 239, a Corporate Authorised Representative (CAR No. 1277583) of General Insurance Brokers of Australia Pty Ltd ABN 94 135 132 455 AFSL 342546. NSW Farmers Association receive a commission of 5% of the premium (excluding taxes and charges) which goes towards supporting the initiative and member services to association members. This payment does not increase your premium.

COMMUNITY MEET THE TEAM AT NSW FARMERS NSW FARMERS’ COMMITTEES – CONTACTS AND CHAIRS AG SCIENCE

agvetcommittee@nswfarmers. org.au David Mailler ANIMAL WELFARE

animalwelfarecommittee@ nswfarmers.org.au Jim McDonald BIOSECURITY

biosecuritycommittee@ nswfarmers.org.au Ian McColl BUSINESS, ECONOMICS & TRADE

beatcommittee@nswfarmers. org.au Peter Wilson CATTLE

cattlecommittee@ nswfarmers.org.au Derek Schoen CONSERVATION & RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

crmcommittee@nswfarmers. org.au Bronwyn Petrie CONTRACT POULTRY MEAT

poultrymeatcommittee@ nswfarmers.org.au Justin Roach DAIRY

dairycommittee@nswfarmers. org.au Colin Thompson EGG

eggcommittee@nswfarmers. org.au Brett Langfield GOATS

goatcommittee@nswfarmers. org.au Felicity McLeod GRAINS

grainscommittee@ nswfarmers.org.au Matthew Madden HORTICULTURE

horticulturecommittee@ nswfarmers.org.au Guy Gaeta OYSTER

oystercommittee@ nswfarmers.org.au Caroline Henry PORK

porkcommittee@nswfarmers. org.au Ean Pollard RURAL AFFAIRS

ruralaffairscommittee@ nswfarmers.org.au Garry Grant SHEEPMEATS

sheepmeatscommittee@ nswfarmers.org.au Floyd Legge WESTERN DIVISION COUNCIL

wdc@nswfarmers.org.au Greg Rogers WOOL

woolcommittee@nswfarmers. org.au Andrew Wood YOUNG FARMERS

yfc@nswfarmers.org.au Rachel Nicoll

Agricultural advocacy

Emily Simpson is pleased to have secured a career in agricultural advocacy and communications at NSW Farmers. While 2020 was like no other year before it, COVID-19 allowed her a work sojourn at home in Orange, which led to her promoting one of her passions – increasing demand for local food and fibre.

rowing up in Orange and spending most weekends on her family’s farm at Dubbo, Emily had an early introduction to regional NSW. Then, after finishing school, she moved to Canberra – the so-called ‘Bush Capital’ – to study a double degree in Law and Arts at Australian National University (ANU). After deciding to work in policy, Emily fell into the world of agricultural advocacy through her first job out of university at the National Farmers’ Federation, where she worked in the industrial relations team advocating for things such as Ag Visas. “I didn’t really have a plan coming out of university, but I knew I didn’t want to practice as a lawyer, and policy seemed like a good middle ground between my two degrees,” Emily explains. “Having a natural affinity with the country, moving into advocacy for agriculture and regional areas just made sense, and I haven’t looked back. Emily started at NSW Farmers in July 2019 and the Annual Conference that year is one of her earliest memories with the organisation. “One of the highlights of working at NSW Farmers is meeting the members,” she says. “It’s nice to be able to build rapport with the committees who you work closely with to pursue advocacy outcomes.” After working in the livestock intensives division for six months, Emily moved into a role with a stronger focus on communications and has been able to flex her editorial, blogging and social media skills gained from her time working on magazines and on her own blogs. Most recently – a movie blog that was the result of boredom during the height of COVID-19 restrictions. Despite it being a strange time, COVID-19 led to Emily moving back home to Orange after an eight-year hiatus and she really enjoyed it. “What I thought would be a two-week break from the city turned into a four month break, during which I returned to Sydney only once,” Emily says. “One of the silver linings of the pandemic is that it has shifted mindsets around lifestyles and has forced people to reassess what is important to them. To me,

“On any given day, there’s something interesting happening at either a state, national or global level, and there’s plenty of issues to advocate on. On top of that, you get to work with some passionate, friendly and down-to-earth people.” this time has been a reminder that I’d love to move back to regional NSW permanently one day.” Emily hopes that COVID-19 and its impact on supply chains can also lead to a conversation around the role of the bush in Australia’s social and economic fabric. “It’s really heartening to see appreciation for local food production has grown during the pandemic, but we need to make sure that sentiment does not disappear over time,” she says. “It really struck me when a member said earlier in the year that Australians shouldn’t be termed ‘lucky’ to have access to locally produced food, because that downplays the hard work of farmers,” Emily says. “It really shouldn’t take a pandemic to show how privileged we really are.” One of the other reasons Emily loves working with NSW Farmers is that she can help give a voice to a demographic that she believes isn’t represented as much in the media and politics, as, say, urban Australia. “I think there’s a bit of a divide between the city and the bush, but I also think there’s lots of positive things happening to bridge that divide and I’m excited about the future of regional NSW,” she says. l JAN - FEB 2021

THE FARMER

JOIN US

Help protect your livelihood. NSW Farmers is your voice – we are only as strong as you make us. The greater our numbers; the greater our voice.

Keeping Varroa mite at bay

A history of NSW Farmers

Regenerative agriculture

Calm farms of lovely lavender

Our bee industry needs to be protected

The Association through the ages

It all starts with healthy soil

An industry set to soar in 2021

–

JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2021 / $ 9.95

Seeds of hope After a challenging 2020

–

Memberships include The Farmer magazine delivered to you.

Annual membership options

FULL PRODUCER MEMBER $438.90 1 VOTE PER MEMBERSHIP

For those who own or manage a farm. Includes our basic workplace relations package which provides: ·C ollective representation on awards, minimum wage review, workers compensation. · Wage information, including wage guides issued annually. · Phone advice, four calls a year.

ADDITIONAL MEMBER $100 1 VOTE PER MEMBERSHIP

SECOND VOTE MEMBER 1 VOTE PER MEMBERSHIP

$100

Linked to a full producer, with a proprietorial or income interest. Linked to a full producer, most often a family member.

Have a small holding and do not receive majority of income from it. ASSOCIATE MEMBER $100 Do not own a farm, e.g. teachers, agronomists, business people. COUNTRY CONNECTION $100 Supporters of farms from the city.

SMALL FARMS MEMBER

$150

Members can upgrade to this package to receive: · Unlimited advice on employment matters. · Assistance in negotiating with the Fair Work Ombudsman’s office. · Representation in employment matters handled by tribunals, such as Fair Work Australia. · Assistance with drafting and reviewing employment-related correspondence, policies and procedures, and employment agreements. The Essentials Workplace Relations package fees start from $165 for up to two employees. Extra charges may apply for assistance required within your first four months of membership. All prices include GST.

Use your voice, become a member at nswfarmers.org.au or call 1300 794 000.

Contact the Member Service Centre on 1300 794 000 or your local regional services manager:

FOR ALL GENERAL ENQUIRIES

NORTHERN Michael Collins, 0439 958 163, collinsm@nswfarmers.org.au NORTH COAST & TABLELANDS Mark Bulley, 0429 330 348, bulleym@nswfarmers.org.au CENTRAL TABLELANDS & ORANA Andrew Coughlan, 0447 393 092, coughlana@nswfarmers.org.au SOUTHERN David Banham, 0428 411 221, banhamd@nswfarmers.org.au SOUTH WEST Daniel Brear, 0427 773 495, breard@nswfarmers.org.au LACHLAN & NORTH RIVERINA Catriona McAuliffe, 0488 100 005, mcauliffec@nswfarmers.org.au WESTERN DIVISION Caron Chester, 0400 116 207, chesterc@nswfarmers.org.au

YES, I WOULD LIKE TO JOIN NSW FARMERS. I HAVE TICKED MY MEMBERSHIP CHOICE ABOVE . PLEASE CONTAC T ME .

ESSENTIALS WORKPLACE RELATIONS PACKAGE

REGIONAL SERVICE & SALES MANAGER Jonathan Tuckfield, 0409 493 695 tuckfieldj@nswfarmers.org.au MEMBERSHIP SERVICE MANAGER Alicia Harrison, 0429 817 611 harrisona@nswfarmers.org.au

NAME: _ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ADDRES S:________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ EMAIL:____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ PHONE:___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ COMMODITY (IF APPROPRIATE):_____________________________________________________________________________________

THE FARMER

JAN - FEB 2021

COMMUNITY FARM DOGS

Fluffy from Guyra

Fluffy is a highly motivated long-haired kelpie living the life in Guyra on a sheep farm with his owners – Jenni and James Jackson. Having the President of NSW Farmers as his owner has given him a political edge. Words MICHELLE HESPE

REAL NAME AND NICK NAME

Fluffovious Maximus Son of Gregorious. Aka Fluffy. FAVOURITE THING TO DO ON THE FARM?

Ride the motorbikes like there’s no tomorrow. HAVE YOU EVER DONE SOMETHING REALLY NAUGHTY?

I once watched Insiders on a Sunday morning. WHAT IS YOUR WORST HABIT?

I don’t have one, but a close friend of mine has eaten a couple of the neighbour’s budgies. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE FOOD?

Smashed avo and a deconstructed latte. IF YOU BECAME FAMOUS FOR ONE THING, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

Demanding a recount at shearing time. IS THERE SOMETHING THAT DRIVES YOUR PARENTS MAD?

My ABBA records. IF YOU COULD HAVE ANOTHER ANIMAL AS A FRIEND, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

A koala. FAVOURITE TOY OR THING TO PLAY WITH?

The Competition and Consumer Act. WHAT DOES EVERYONE LOVE ABOUT YOU?

The fact that I aced the Emotional Intelligence Test at Sydney University. ANY LAST WORDS?

I told you it was rigged.

JAN - FEB 2021

THE FARMER

COMMUNITY TEAM PLAYER

Hailing NSW Farmers for supporting young farmers The NSW Young Farmer Business Program (YFBP) has been much more than a course in improving farm business skills for NSW Farmers’ Member Jarrod Amery. Jarrod Amery – father of six – took on the year-long tailored coaching program, provided by the NSW Department of Primary Industries, during the onset of drought conditions in the Forbes district, in 2018. Buoyant wool prices, low interest rates, reducing input costs and mentorship through the program helped Jarrod and wife Emma sustain their 23,00-hectare cropping and sheep enterprise, but such a severe drought has also had a toll on their mental health. “During the drought, it was very easy to lose perspective. We often looked at our bank account and the level of our funds determined the level of our happiness. It shouldn’t be that way,” Jarrod says. Part of the deal with the Young Farmer Business Program was that the couple had to share a one to two minute video clip explaining to other farmers what they had learnt along our journey with the business coach. Following advice from his business coach, Jarrod joined the world of Twitter and began posting the required videos. “I am not much of a social media person at all, and it felt a bit weird at the start, but I had heaps of people comment on how helpful the posts were. I started sharing different things I thought about during the drought like trigger points and different strategies that I thought would be helpful to others.”

THE FARMER

JAN - FEB 2021

Jarrod’s videos have amassed thousands of views on Twitter and he is now also sharing his journey and life experiences via his jarrodamery.com website. “I hope it has helped some people out there,” he says. "I adopted a strategy during the drought of telling myself every morning that I am going to enjoy my day, not endure my day.” The YFBT program, in a roundabout way, also led to Jarrod applying for a Nuffield scholarship this year. “The business coach I had wrote a book about a couple of farmers and asked me speak at the book launch. I had never been to a book launch, let alone speak at one, and there was lady in the audience who told Emma I should apply for a Nuffield scholarship. I was surprised at first, but I did apply for it, and I made it through.” Supported by the Grains Research & Development Corporation (GRDC), Jarrod’s scholarship will focus on researching what it takes to build and maintain a successful farm business and achieve a sustainable Return on Assets Managed (ROAM) Plans to visit farmers in countries such as China and the US as part of the scholarship have been put on hold due to travel restrictions. “I am really interested in what it takes to build and maintain a

successful agricultural business and Emma and I plan to study farmers that have achieved this, to see what makes them different. We started from scratch with our farming business, so this will help with our journey and the journeys of other young farmers.” Party of the couple’s work will include offering advice on how to achieve a sustainable work/life balance, pathways to expansion and diversification, as well as how to encourage new entrants into farming. “I would not have had the opportunity to do the YFBP or in turn the Nuffield Scholarship if it wasn’t for NSW Farmers,” says Jarrod. “It was NSW Farmers that lobbied strongly for the $4 million in funding for the program.” l

Why did Jarrod join NSW Farmers? “I joined about five years. Although I'm not a political person, I feel that farmers need to have a voice, and I think it's important to be a part of a group of people who are all barking up the same tree when it came to supporting agriculture.” “I am also forever grateful to NSW Farmers for lobbying the government for funds for the Young Farmer Business Program. I would not be where I am today without that.”

ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S TIME TO JOIN Jed was bred by Kevin and Kay Howell at Karana kelpie stud at Eugowra NSW.

www.nswfarmers.org.au

THE TAIL END

Moosic for more milk

Dairy farmers are constantly investing in technology to improve their milk yields, but there’s one thing that might provide a cost-effective improvement – music for cows. Words ALEXANDRA BUNTON

ust as we all have our preferred radio station or Spotify playlist, it turns out that cows also enjoy listening to their favourite tunes, and it could be a win-win for farmers too. But do bovines enjoy Bach or Billie Eilish? In 2001, researchers at the University of Leicester found that Friesian cattle produced more milk when listening to Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony and Simon and Garfunkel’s Bridge Over Troubled Water. Calming music was found to relax the animals, leading to a small increase in milk production. However, the music has to reduce the cow’s stress – upbeat tunes are unlikely to lead to any noticeable gain. The researchers observed 1000 cattle, who were treated

BY PHIL SOMERVILLE

THE FARMER

JAN - FEB 2021

to music from 5am to 5pm, and observed a 3 per cent increase in milk yields. A farmer in Turkey came to the same conclusion, after his cows delivered a 5 per cent increase in yields when listening to classical music. Producer Mehmet Akgül claimed that the production benefits from musical therapy were better than those he had observed when chasing increases through his feed program. Dr Rebecca Doyle from the University of Melbourne told the ABC that cattle are inherently curious, and that new experiences – such as listening to music – could be enjoyable and calming for them. Videos of cows enjoying tunes proliferate on the internet, with farmers demonstrating their musical chops to bring the animals in for milking or feeding. The British Columbia Dairy Association in Canada went so far as to create a competition

called Music Makes More Milk, inviting people to submit songs that cows would enjoy when being milked. The songs were played for the cows during milking, with the winner being the tune that engendered the highest yield increase. However, like most experiments, the musical study needs to be replicated on a large scale to confirm any impacts on yield. It’s not just cows that are thought to enjoy music. A study from the University of Sao Paolo found that piglets displayed better behaviour and higher feed conversion when exposed to Bach’s Cello Suite no. 1. And in Spain, researchers were surprised to learn that layer hens who listened to music produced larger eggs. While there’s more research to do, it could be a cost-neutral way to destressing animals – and enjoying a tune yourself while you work. l

Top tips to avoid driving tired

Get a good nightsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; sleep.

Avoid driving after midnight.

Plan to take regular rest breaks.

Pull over for a break in a safe place.

Arrange to share the driving.

Take a nap, 20 minutes works best.

Tiredness can affect your drive no matter how long or short. Visit testyourtiredself.com.au

Delivering results in the toughest conditions. At Pacific Seeds, our researchers partner with Australian growers to develop varieties that perform in the toughest local conditions. Stealth, from Pacific Seeds, is a new APH wheat variety with a leading crown rot rating that also delivers solid resistance to leaf diseases. Stealth is a tough variety developed to help both your crop and your business flourish, even in the most challenging environments.

To find out more about Stealth visit pacificseeds.com.au