The Farmer July-August 2022 by The Intermedia Group

Renewables infrastructure

Ability Agriculture

Butchers on the road

Special Report

Is green energy too powerful?

Giving more farmers a chance to thrive

An old trade that has gone mobile

A deep dive into our cattle industry

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After the floods It's a long road to recovery but help is pouring in

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Contents THE MUSTER

SPECIAL REPORT: REGENERATIVE AG

INTERNATIONAL INFLUENCE

NEWS AND VIEWS

Potential unfair terms in growing contracts for chicken meat farmers; Results of the Australia’s Oyster Coast (AOC) photography competition; A farewell from former President James Jackson; Pay now, buy later schemes; FMD threatens Aussie cattle; Federal Election report; Ability ag gives more people a chance in farming �� 6

THE TIDES ARE CHANGING

TRADING PLACES

The fact is – the climate is changing and that means we must change too. �� 46

After years of ties with China, a trade alliance with India could spell changing tides �� 78

SPECIAL REPORT: CATTLE

COMMUNITY NEW GENERATION: THE FENECHS

THE BIG PICTURE A LONG ROAD TO RECOVERY

After the floods, help from others is inspiring the comeback for a family’s 112-year-old farm �� 22

THE BIG ISSUE DOES RENEWABLE ENERGY HAVE TOO MUCH POWER?

And has progress been made on the vexed issue of land use conflict and community impacts? �� 28

TRADE BUTCHERS ON WHEELS

From poultry and pigs to big old bulls, nothing gets overlooked or goes to waste with a mobile butcher service �� 34

INNOVATION MILKING THE MOST OF ENERGY

NSW Farmers, Norco and researchers are discovering ways for dairy farmers to reduce energy costs �� 38

THE FARMER

JULY - AUGUST 2022

THE CATTLE GAME

Despite so many challengees in the world, the cattle industry is heading full throttle into a bright future that is seeing many breeders rejoicing �� 56

On the Fenech farm in Horsley Park, the chickens, eggs and everything else connected to them make this business a success story �� 82 MARKETPLACE: SALEYARDS

SPECIAL REPORT: NSWF ANNUAL CONFERENCE WHAT’S NEXT FOR NSW FARMERS’ GOALS?

In July, more than 300 farmers from across NSW will meet at Luna Park as delegates for the NSW Farmers Annual Conference �� 68

SPECIAL REPORT: FARMING MACHINERY INNOVATIONS IN FARMING VEHICLES

What you need to kit your farm out with the right gear �� 74

We’ve rounded up some top products made by great Australian businesses �� 87 FARM DOGS

Meet Norman from Mullumbimby – an all-black German Shepherd who is seeking a piglet friend �� 88 MEET A MEMBER

Meet NSW Farmers advocacy for Upper Hunter young farmers, Rolanda Clout-Collins �� 89 JOIN US – SUBSCRIBE

WE ALREADY KNOW YOU MAKE GREAT CHOICES… YOU OWN A JOHN DEERE.

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From the editor

THE MAGAZINE

PUBLISHER James Wells EDITOR Michelle Hespe ART DIREC TOR Ryan Vizcarra

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EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES

Michelle Hespe Email: mhespe@intermedia.com.au

–ADVERTISING

SALES DIRECTOR

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

–CONTRIBUTORS

Anthony Bev Hadgraft Darcy Watt Darren Baguley Emily Simpson Ian Lloyd Neubauer James Jackson Jeanette Severs Michael Burt Paul Henderson-Kelly Sue Wallace Tony Blackie NSW FARMERS

CEO Pete Arkle S O CIAL & CONTENT MANAGER Michael Burt MAGAZINE CONTENT TEAM

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

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

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MANAGING DIREC TOR Simon Grover GM OF OPERATIONS Chris Baker FINANCE MANAGER Mina Vranistas PRODUC TION MANAGER Jacqui Cooper HEAD OF DIGITAL Jordan Guiao The Farmer 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.

Renewables infrastructure

Ability Agriculture

Butchers on the road

Special Report

Is green energy too powerful?

Giving more farmers a chance to thrive

An old trade that has gone mobile

A deep dive into our cattle industry

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find it interesting that when the human race turns a corner and a big issue is addressed, that it is suddenly so glaringly obvious that things should have changed a long time ago. I think it’s partly to do with the fact that all animals (including us humans) learn from our parents. So although many of us are innovative and strive for new things and change, we often fall into the trap of replicating the behaviours and actions of our forefathers. Take the gender gap for instance – I’m in my 40s and I’ve known it existed and that I didn’t agree with it since I was in my teens, and yet it’s only thirty years later that things are picking up pace and a noticable difference is being made. Look at climate change and regeneration – organic and soil health are not new ideas or terms, yet it'’s taken decades for education to catch up and for the next generation to focus squarely on the problems and look at ways in which we can make changes to improve not only our own plots of lands and lives, but the world. So in this issue we have looked at what some great people are doing to not only incite change, but educate others about options that may have always been there, but not been given the attention they deserve. One of those people is Josie Clarke – the Founder of Ability Agriculture. Having grown up with a father who has a disability that he has not let define him or his work, she set out to change the perception of those with disabilities – while giving them a platform, a voice, a community, and a chance at working in the area of agriculture that they want to be in. One in five Australians has a disability (that’s more than 4.4 million people), so you would think it would be a

glaringly obvious thing to address. Well done Josie for creating such a great movement. We’ve also taken a deep dive into renewables and the hot topics that will be addressed by NSW Farmers this year at the Annual Conference. And we’ve profiled some farmers recovering from the recent devastating floods that affected so many of us in so many different ways. Also, I know I’m not supposed to pick favourites but I love our story on mobile butchers and it is a shining example of someone thinking outside of the box, believing in their dream and shaking things up. As we head into a new era with a new government, here’s to more change and to embracing different ways of looking at the world around us.

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.

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After the floods It's a long road to recovery but help is pouring in

THE FARMER

JULY - AUGUST 2022

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The Muster l NEWS

Oyster farming captured on camera A photography competition turns the lens on the industry for biennial conference. The joys and challenges of oyster farming were framed in an Australia Oyster Coast (AOC) photography competition at the NSW Oyster Industry Conference 2022 in Batemans Bay. Winners of the Portrait category were Josh Burkinshaw (Professional) and Simon Rowe (Amateur). Images by Port Stephens oyster farmer Caju Barbosa won two awards, Susan Lowick won the Amateur section in the Oyster Farming Activities category and Chris Paschalidis from Pinnacle Oysters won the Amateur section the Oyster Farming and the Environment category. More than 150 north coast and south coast oyster farmers joined NSW DPI, Oceanwatch Australia, NSW Local Land Services and Landcare NSW at the biennial conference. NSW Farmers members Todd Graham and Mark Hunter received NSW DPI awards for significant contribution to the oyster industry.

ABOVE THEN CLO CKWISE

The Oyster Farmer by Simon Rowe was the Winner of the Amateur section in the Portrait section. Chris Paschalidis from Pinnacle Oysters won the Amateur section in the Oyster Farming and the Environment category with this image taken during the 2020 bushfires. Life in the oyster paddock: Port Stephens oyster farmer Caju Barbosa won an award in the Oyster Farming Activities category.

l NEWS

Fowl terms found by ACCC in poultry contracts The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has identified potential unfair contract terms (UCTs) in growing contracts for chicken meat farmers. NSW Farmers is calling on the new federal government to strengthen unfair contract terms (UCTs) legislation, with UCTs found in growing contracts for chicken meat farmers. The UCTs included terms that allowed processors to vary growers’ supply arrangements or impose additional costs on growers. NSW Farmers President James Jackson says the Australian Government must act now to make UCTs unlawful. “The ACCC probe has prompted some chicken meat processors to change terms in their current contracts, but we really need hard and fast rules that restrict UCTs,” James says. “We hope to see this new government take action in the competition space to make fresh food supply

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JULY - AUGUST 2022

chains more sustainable, and Labor’s commitment to outlawing UCTs is an important build on the work of the former government in this space.” James says the ACCC’s findings highlight the market imbalance at play in the poultry meat industry. NSW Farmers Poultry Committee Chair Peter Wojcicki says growers had been calling for a code of conduct, because processors continued to dominate the supply chain and in turn family farmers were missing out on the ‘fair go’ Australia prides itself on. “Removing some potentially unfair contract terms is a positive step for growers, but it only goes so far,” Peter says. “The market power imbalance in the industry and resulting behaviours can only be managed by a code of conduct.”

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The Muster A FARMER’S LIFE

James and his wife Jenni run sheep and cattle on their Guyra property. He is also a vet, while Jenni is a trained pharmacist. Photo by Ant Ong.

l PRESIDENT ’S FAREWELL

Some words from James Jackson NSW Farmers President James Jackson has spent the past four years “off the tools” on his Guyra farm to spend time treading the pavement pressing the state government and others to put agriculture first. James will step down as President at the NSW Farmers Annual Conference in July. Here he reflects on four years as leader of the state’s peak advocacy body for local food and fibre production. It is interesting to reflect on four years as President of the NSW Farmers Association. Of course, it would be remiss not to mention the drought, floods, fires and plagues, all of biblical scale. These challenges have been catastrophic on the farm but in a strange way they have opened up opportunities for our organisation to put agriculture in the spotlight. It’s so important we engage public empathy and understanding of the importance of agriculture in the nation’s prosperity. Agriculture and food supplies have been all over

THE FARMER

the news, which has helped build some of our core policies into the nation’s narrative. Have we done this well on my watch? I hope so. It is very difficult to measure success without baseline data. Although the NSW Farmers Board had some basic statistics on financial performance and membership, we had little forensic information on the core business of NSW Farmers. Benchmarking activity offers the chance to measure success or failure, and is critical for any business. So the Board embarked on building

JULY - AUGUST 2022

a new strategic plan for the organisation with a number of Key Performance Indicators that can be benchmarked, and thus be bettered. The job was difficult because the key business is influence, which is notoriously hard to measure meaningfully, and I must acknowledge CEO Peter Arkle in this pursuit because he has embraced the strategic plan to meet this challenge. There is more work to do in this space, but I do think our influence and the consistent work of members and staff has resulted in important outcomes for farmers and rural communities. NSW Farmers was instrumental in getting NSW to be the first state to introduce ‘right to farm’ legislation. That is something I am proud of. We now have offences and penalties in place for activists and trespassers that have caused so much stress for farm businesses. Our advocacy and media campaigns resulted in mouse plague support funding, an increase in coastal harvestable

rights, breakthroughs on competition policy and practical government drought assistance funding, to name just a few. I came to the job promising to reconnect the organisation to its roots. To empower and encourage the “many champions” model. I have always been keen on the democracy that NSW Farmers has created. I have lost my share of propositions on the floor of NSW Farmers forums, but that rigour makes you listen to your opponents. And maybe, just maybe, they have a point. If you can’t get your colleagues excited and over the line on a proposition, then it probably needs some work. Thank you for the opportunity to be a part of an important ‘broad church’ of an organisation that really does have true value for farms of all shapes and sizes. And many thanks to Jenni for supporting me on this journey. I wish the new NSW Farmers Board the best in all of their endeavours to put agriculture first. l

ADVERTORIAL

CIRCLE 8 BULLS: CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF BREEDING PREMIUM ANGUS Recognising that female cattle are a critical facet for developing your herd, Jeremy and Carmen Cooper have decided to sell an entire year’s quotient of their heifers at this year’s on-property Angus bull sale. This generous decision is to celebrate Jeremy’s 30th year of breeding cattle under the Circle8 brand. “This year is my 30th year of breeding Angus bulls that excel in key economic traits,” Jeremy says. “We’re doubling the bulls we sell at auction this year, and selling the complete S-drop of females.I thought of putting a few females in the sale for people who are starting out. With feedback, we decided to sell them all. “We still own the mothers and have full sisters on the ground and embryos in the can, so this sale is an opportunity for Angus breeders to align closely with the genetic gains that we’ve achieved.” The heifer sale – and additional bulls – are a unique opportunity to buy into a genetic program that uses embryo transfer and recipient cows. The line of 80 S-drop heifers are yearlings. Jeremy has added to the sale pregnancy-tested-in-calf heifers joined by artificial insemination to Millah Murrah Paratrooper, and the foetuses have been sexed in-utero. “There is up to six generations of verified pedigree and EBVs for Paratrooper, and that type of data works in well with our genetic program,” Jeremy said. The female sale is also unique, because normally Circle8 donor cows and embryos are tightly held within the stud. There will be 70 Angus bulls offered during the on-property sale. Six months of almost-daily rainfall, including 203 mm of rain over four days in March, has challenged Jeremy’s management, but he is pleased with the form of all cattle. “This has been the hardest preparation campaign and it’s been hard on the cattle. We’ve worked hard to make sure we’ve raised them ethically and comfortably as much as possible in the environment we’ve been given,” Jeremy says.

That included every day moving the cattle into a forage crop to graze and bedding them at night on higher ground, where they received pellets. “It was easy because the bulls are so quiet,” Jeremy says. Animal welfare and ethical practices are important to Jeremy and Carmen. They believe all breeding should be done with the consumer in mind. “The modern consumer wants to have a direct line of vision back to the piece of steak or other protein that they’re consuming. Management practices on-farm need to be acceptable to consumers, so they’ll buy our products, otherwise we’ll be out of business,” Jeremy said. “So we have to make adjustments on-farm to create standard operating practices that are acceptable to consumers. The animal welfare we

Feature female lot: BBB21S543

practice daily today is totally different to what happened when I was a kid. I love my cows and I want to make sure they’re doing their thing in a comfortable environment.” As well as doubling the number of Circle8 bulls that will be available for sale this year, Jeremy is increasing the number of Wagyu bulls he breeds with an eye to hosting an on-property Wagyu bull sale in a few years. “All the Wagyu are custom bred and sold to two offtake partners on order,” he says. “This year we’re starting to put more Wagyu embryos into recipient cows, which will give new clients the opportunity to come in to our program for these genetics. “I’m really pleased with the performance data from the bulls. “We’re still looking outside the box for other sires to bring into the Angus and Wagyu programs, but only as they complement what we’re doing, that drives profitability for our customers. “Getting there is a slow process that takes more than one generation. Over the last 15 years, we’ve focussed on identifying and classifying and selecting, from our herd, the cows we breed that will help us produce that. We’ve raised the bar on our selection criteria and progressed our herd genetically. Our level of discipline used today is 100 times better than when we started out. “In 30 years, I’ve collected decades of reproduction data from our breeding programs. “The bulls we’re breeding, I’ve artificially inseminated their mothers, grandmothers, their great grandmothers and great great grandmothers, and I’ve collected a lot of data, and observed their growth from when they’re on the ground. That data collection is focussed on basic elements – fertility, longevity, phenotype, sustainability and eating quality. “We’re now collecting semen from our own bulls and using that to put back in our herd to line breed.” Circle8 has a national footprint selling bulls. Jeremy also breeds Wagyu bulls, tailored to customer order, with a two year waiting list. JULY - AUGUST 2022

THE FARMER

The Muster ABOUT TO BO OM

The sector will continue to grow by 42 per cent per year, hitting an eye-watering $160 billion by 2028.

l CREDIT RISK

Lend me the money The Buy Now Pay Later revolution has hit the farming sector, but opinions are split about the benefits of buying livestock, machinery and feed with short-term loans. Words IAN LLOYD NEUBAUER

“Spread the cost of the things you want and need over time, with no hidden fees.” “Create a world where people can live fearlessly today, knowing they’re in control of tomorrow.” These are two of the sales pitches from some of the 20-odd Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) services that have sprung up in Australia over the past four or five years. In offering near-instant credit to everyday shoppers of everything from healthcare to solar panels, BNPL services have ridden the crest of a wave that coincided with the explosion in the popularity of online shopping and digital payments during the pandemic. The Reserve Bank of Australia calculates BNPL transactions grew from $1 million in 2018 to $9 billion in 2020 and $11 billion last year, and the sector will continue to grow by 42 per cent per year, hitting an eye-watering $160 billion by 2028, according to projections by Business Wire. Soon shoppers will even be able to buy essentials such as milk, bread and fuel with BNPL services, thanks to a new deal inked between grocers IGA and FoodWorks and United Petroleum. But all this easy money comes at a price. More than one in five BNPL customers missed payments in 2020, according to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. The Guardian newspaper has called BNPL

THE FARMER

“just another type of debt”, while Curtin University’s School of Accounting has described it as a “deep black hole”. And as BNPL services generally charge fees instead of interest, they can operate outside regulations. But now a new genre of BNPL-like services designed by farmers for farmers is looking to change the way farmers borrow money and take on the banks, government-backed schemes and store credit suppliers like Elders, which have dominated the space for more than 100 years. How? By being different. IRONING OUT THE LUMPS

Banks normally take weeks or months to approve business loans. But BNPL services can turn around applications in two or three days. Business loans from banks range in length from one to 25 years, while BNPL loans are generally for 30 to 180 days. And unlike store credit, BNPL loans allow farmers to choose amongst suppliers and negotiate from a position of strength. “I saw this opportunity years ago when I was working in farm machinery supplies – the idea of short-term credit to help farmers iron out those lumps in cash flow and take advantage of opportunities,” says Dwain Duxson, a member of a multi-generational farming family in Victoria, who co-founded DelayPay. “As an example, last year when we went into a big

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harvest we helped farmers buy new headers and bins. That’s what agriculture is about: taking advantage of opportunities.” He adds: “Cash flow for farmers is lumpy. They don’t have the working capital they need all the time. They have crops coming but no income for months. We even out those lumps.” DelayPay has provided short-term loans for about 500 farmers since 2018 but rejected about 50 more – or 10 per cent of all applicants. “Yes, we turn people down, but it’s not as easy as you think,” Dwain says. “We don’t take on anyone who we think may be in trouble because it is not in our best interest to do that. We are insured by QBE and we have to get their approval for every decision,” he adds. “Agriculture is such a small industry. Everyone knows everyone. We’re in the business of building strong, positive relationships with farmers. We’re not an app, we talk to people on the phone every day. And a lot of our business is from repeat customers. People use us again and again.” NEW KID ON THE BLOCK

DelayPay is not the only BNPL service for farmers in Australia. Established in 2020, AgPAY has given loans of $10,000 to $50,000 to about 50 farmers. “Consumer BNPL companies such as AfterPay

provide finance for purchases with four equal payments for purchasing merchandise, and the merchant pays, with no or very limited investigations into the creditworthiness of the consumer,” says AgPAY Managing Director Ben Edney. “But what we do is fundamentally different and we are completely different from of credit. We provide a line of working capital directly to our customers and we use artificial intelligence to determine if a particular farm is in a particular area to ensure farmers are not overburdened with debt. Last year, all the farmers we helped repaid us on time.” BUYERS BEWARE

A FEW CLICKS AWAY

Advocates for Buy Now Pay Later say the schemes help farmers iron out bumps in their cash flow. Detractors urge caution before you commit to any credit.

NSW Farmers has no policy on BNPL because the uptake among farmers is still small. Dr Andrew Grant, a senior lecturer in finance at the University of Sydney, says as BNPL services aimed at farmers “are more badged as BNPL rather than quintessential BNPL,” they probably aren’t as risky. “These agri-lenders are much more likely to assess the risks of the borrower than typical BNPL accounts, and the borrowers should be more sophisticated because they are business owners. “Their main edge over a bank,” he says, “is the speed with which a consumer can receive funds. And as the borrower is required to spend the money on business expenses, self-control issues should be less common. It is less impulse spending than with BNPL.” But not all experts are so convinced. The NSW Rural Financial Counselling Services, which offers financial counselling services around the state, has numerous clients who have been caught out by BNPL. “It adds another element of risk,” CEO David Galloway told ABC Rural. “You’re not

only dealing with interest rates and penalty payments, you’re then also hoping the livestock price holds.” He adds: “Really make sure you’re going into it with your eyes open and are understanding of all the risks as well as the benefits.” Dr Lien Duong, a senior lecturer in accounting at Curtin University, expresses even stronger reservations about BNPL services. “There are some advantages such as quick approval, flexible and paperless transactions that can help farmers with their business cash flow,” she says. “However, I think it would be even riskier than BNPL consumer schemes as farmers face higher risk with climate change. If farmers cannot pay the instalments on time, there will be some penalty interest.” AgPAY charges a 1.5 per cent application fee, 10.5 per cent interest and a penalty rate is 8.5 per cent, bringing the total interest for late payments to 19 per cent, according to information posted on the company’s website. DelayPay won’t publicly disclose the interest or late fees it charges but Dwain says the company “keeps an eye on forecasts and is always wary of climate change”. “We all know there is going to be another drought but farmers still need to produce food. We also think farmers are better equipped now to handle drought because the last one was such a shocker,” he says. “Their properties are worth more and they are putting away fodder and hay. They are in a better position now.” Nevertheless, Dr Lien urges caution. “BNPL companies are debt providers but are not regulated under the National Credit Code, so it is an unregulated industry. We are all calling for better regulation to avoid the debt spiral problem.” l

JULY - AUGUST 2022

THE FARMER

The Muster

l A NEW PANDEMIC

Foot-and-mouth disease fears Australia’s livestock and dairy industries are on high alert as foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) spreads in Indonesia’s cattle. Words MICHAEL BURT

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) – the livestock sector’s worst nightmare – has taken hold in Indonesia, with thousands of cattle believed to be infected across the provinces of East Java and Aceh. Our near neighbours, who had been FMD-free since 1986, are also grappling with an outbreak of lumpy skin disease – a viral disease affecting cattle and water buffalo. Indonesia’s Agriculture Ministry has issued an emergency FMD disease zone declaration and imposed lockdowns for the livestock sector, and the former federal Coalition government offered aid to combat and contain the outbreak. FMD is a contagious viral disease of cattle, sheep, goats and pigs that spreads rapidly between animals through infected sources such as breath, saliva, milk and faeces. The virus can be excreted by animals for up to four days before clinical signs appear and can also travel short distances by wind. NSW Farmers President James Jackson, a trained veterinarian with expertise in FMD, said it had been found to travel via fog from France to the UK. “This FMD outbreak in Indonesia is far too close for comfort,” says James. “This is a disease that will absolutely smash our economy if it reaches our shores. It is critical for Australia to remain FMD free.”

THE FARMER

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Modelling by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences in 2013 determined that a large outbreak of FMD in Australia would have a financial impact of around $50 billion over 10 years. “We have been calling on both sides of politics to make an urgent commitment to beefing up biosecurity to prevent outbreaks, but neither side seems prepared to do it properly,” James says. “A sustainable funding model for border biosecurity must be pursued by state and federal governments to protect NSW and Australia’s agricultural industries. “We don’t have enough people trained to respond, and we don’t have enough people carrying out that biosecurity enforcement at our borders.” James says farmers are taking biosecurity seriously, with a new report from the NSW Government revealing a 20 per cent increase in farmers adopting biosecurity management plans. The latest State of Biosecurity Report from NSW Agriculture Minister Dugald Saunders shows 70 per cent of farms have a current biosecurity plan in place. Biosecurity Management Plans are designed to prevent, eliminate, and minimise the biosecurity risks posed by people entering farms. Failure to comply with these arrangements can lead to an on-the-spot fine of $1,000

or a court-ordered fine of $220,000 for individuals and $440,000 for corporations. NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Chief Veterinary Officer Sarah Britton says farm-based biosecurity plans are critical in keeping Australia’s reputation for high-quality, safe and disease-free food and fibre. “I do advise that farmers think about incorporating a plan for culling and disposal of animals if an outbreak occurs into their biosecurity plans,” Sarah says. “Having solutions for this process means you will get released from quarantine more quickly.” She also advises farmers to be extra vigilant with their own stock and the health status of any animals brought onto the farm from other areas. “Some FMD cases do not have the classic symptoms in the early stages, so I recommended getting animals checked out if you have any concerns,” she warns. “Early awareness and early reporting are vital, so we can get onto it as quickly as we can.” Templates for developing a biosecurity management plan which aligns to the regulation are available from www.farmbiosecurity.com.au/ toolkit/planner/ If livestock exhibit any unusual signs, people are urged to call their veterinarian

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Livestock infected with FMD develop blisters around their nose, mouth and hooves. Drooling, fever and lameness are common warning signs.

or Australia’s Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888. CRISIS RESPONSE TO LUMPY SKIN DISEASE

Australia’s beef and dairy industries have activated a crisis response to the significant risk posed by the declared presence of lumpy skin disease (LSD) in Sumatra, Indonesia. Originating in Africa, LSD is currently endemic in most of Africa, the Middle East and Turkey, and has spread through China and South-east Asia since 2019. A structured expert judgement (SEJ) exercise conducted by the Melbourne Universities Centre of Excellence for Biosecurity Risk Analysis (CEBRA) has

suggested a 28 per cent probability of an LSD outbreak in Australia within the next five years. “The red meat and livestock industry activated its crisis response process, or CRIMAC,” says Red Meat Advisory Council (RMAC) Independent Chair John McKillop. “An agreed action was to form a high-level cross-industry taskforce to ensure coordination and collaboration across all affected industry sectors,” he explains. The taskforce is comprised of senior representatives of RMAC, the National Farmers’ Federation, Australian Dairy Farmers and industry service providers. NSW Farmers sits on a working group that is providing input on domestic containment strategies. LSD is a viral disease that affects cattle and water buffalo and causes low mortality; however, the disease can result in animal welfare issues and significant production losses. Biting insects primarily spread the disease, such as certain species of flies, mosquitoes and ticks. It does not pose a risk to human health. “If LSD were to occur in Australia, it would have significant consequences for our beef, water buffalo, and dairy cattle industries,” says NSW Farmers Cattle committee chair Deb Willis. “If wild buffalo populations and cattle in northern Australia’s extensive rangelands were exposed to LSD, reservoirs of the virus could establish. If this were to occur, eradication would be extremely difficult.” l

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The Muster l ELEC TION ANALYSIS

Grassroots engagement wins historic 2022 election It was a nail-biting night as results came in, and the battle for Parliament House hung in the balance. As a new day dawned and a Labor victory was confirmed, the fallout from the polls became clearer: critical losses for the Coalition, and significant gains for The Greens and independents. Words EMILY SIMPSON

he 2022 federal election result was a vote for change, with a 5 per cent swing against the incumbent Liberal-National Coalition and a 2 per cent gain for independents and The Greens. This outcome has sent a resounding message to Australia’s two major parties, with the success of so-called ‘teal’ independents upending Liberal strongholds in multiple high-profile capital city seats. But beyond the policy platforms many successful candidates differentiated themselves on, it may have been their community involvement that got them over the line – an outcome that resonates for grassroots advocacy organisations such as NSW Farmers.

parties in the state’s centres of production. “That said, Labor has already expressed support for reform in areas such as biosecurity and competition law,” he says. The Labor Party has committed to establishing a long-term funding model for biosecurity, which is aligned with NSW Farmers’ position. Regarding competition reform, the Labor Party has committed to outlawing unfair contract terms for companies with under 100 employees and less than $10 million in turnover.

Pete says that Labor’s stance on live export, water buy-backs, and committing to a dedicated Agricultural Visa were raising concern within the NSW Farmers membership, and the organisation would be constructively engaging with the new federal government to find a way forward on these issues. “Labor leadership is good news for skills and training, which agriculture would benefit from, but we worry about Labor’s plan to scrap the dedicated Agricultural Visa given the sector is really

A SEA OF TEAL

A WIN FOR LABOR

Anthony Albanese has been sworn in as the 31st Prime Minister of Australia, and he will lead a majority government. In his acceptance speech, Albanese reiterated the two key principles guiding the government he wants to run: no one will be left behind, and no one will be held back. NSW Farmers chief executive Pete Arkle says many people in regional areas might be wondering what the country will look like under Labor leadership, especially considering the traditional support for conservative

THE FARMER

hurting from labour shortages at the moment,” he says. The dedicated Agricultural Visa is an industry policy spearheaded by the National Farmers’ Federation. The policy was adopted by the former Coalition government and a migration pathway was established with Vietnam under the visa. However, the visa’s future has been brought into question, with Labor favouring the expansion of the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme instead. The future of the $92 million live sheep export industry has similarly come under doubt, with Labor committing to ban the trade in its election campaign. Pete says Labor needs to take an objective, evidencebased approach to the continuation of live sheep export. “Banning the live sheep export trade would have significant real-life impacts for many farmers, regional communities, and the economy, and it could potentially set a precedent for other livestock industries,” he says.

The federal election result was a hot topic at the Nambucca River Branch farmers lunch at the Eungai Creek Buffalo farm on the Sunday after the election. NSW Farmers CEO Pete Arkle (centre) attended, along with branch chair Greg Desmond, vice chairs Ross Welsh and Mathew Gooch and Regional Service Manager Mark Bulley

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The success of the teal independent candidates in several blue-ribbon seats is the main story to come from the federal election. Allegra Spender had a comprehensive win over Dave Sharma in the Liberal stronghold of Wentworth in Sydney’s east, Kylea Tink beat former Liberal MP Trent Zimmerman in North Sydney, Zali Steggall held on to Warringah after winning it in the last election, Kate Chaney took the famously Liberal Perth seat of Curtin, and Sophie Scamps, Zoe Daniel and Monique Ryan claimed seats in Sydney’s northern beaches and inner Melbourne respectively, which had been exclusively Liberal

since their inception. Former treasurer Josh Frydenberg’s seat of Kooyong, which was ultimately won by Monique Ryan, had been held by the Liberals since Federation. Teal independents get their name from the combination of their ‘blue’ centre-right Liberal fiscal outlook and their ‘green’ environmentally progressive policies. They strongly support climate action, a federal integrity commission and women’s equality. Zali Steggall was the first successful teal independent, after she wrested Warringah from former prime minister Tony Abbott in 2019. WHAT ABOUT REGIONAL SEATS?

The shake-up within city seats was not replicated in the regions, but the major parties in some coastal

electorates had a close run with independents and The Greens. Agricultural heartland electorates including Parkes, Riverina, New England, Calare and Page were safely retained by the Nationals. However, minority parties including The Greens, Pauline Hanson’s One Nation and the Liberal Democrats, as well as independents, experienced small swings in these seats. A push by teal independent Caz Heise in the mid-north coast seat of Cowper gave the Nationals incumbent Pat Conaghan a scare, while Labor was put on notice by The Greens in nearby Richmond. Electorates in the Hunter region have been retained by Labor, while a swing against the Liberals in the central coast seat of Robertson has strengthened

Labor’s presence in that area. Down south in Gilmore, Fiona Phillips narrowly beat Liberal contender Andrew Constance, while Labor’s Kristy McBain easily held on to EdenMonaro. A RENEWED APPETITE FOR GRASSROOTS REPRESENTATION?

This election result shows a desire for change, but it also shows a hunger for genuine representation. In the southwestern Sydney seat of Fowler, independent Dai Le’s success over her high-profile Labor counterpart Kristina Kenneally is telling. Le (who does not identify as a teal independent) attributed her win in the safe Labor seat to her grassroots campaign, the resonance of her backstory with the multicultural electorate, and

community dissatisfaction with Labor’s decision to run Kenneally in Fowler despite her home being located on Scotland Island in Sydney’s northern beaches. Pete says the success of grassroots campaigning in this election is testament to the power of democracy, and it is good news for organisations such as NSW Farmers, where members can guide the policies that are taken to Macquarie Street and Canberra. “Regardless of the result, we should be reassured from this election that every voice truly does count,” he says. “Where you have an opportunity to speak up, you should. If you are feeling disaffected, you should reach out to your local member on issues impacting you.” l

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The Muster l ABILITY AGRICULTURE

Seeds of change The shortage of workers in agriculture is a perennial problem – but what if a solution was staring us right in the face? Words BEV HADGRAFT

am Bailey was left a quadriplegic following a cattle station car accident. In rehab it was suggested he give up his dream of farming – but he wouldn’t hear of it. Now operating a beef property at Croppa Creek, he rides a quad bike, developed a hoist to get him up onto his farm machinery, and has modified his tractors, front-end loaders and ride-on mower. Felicity Weal lost the use of her legs after falling through a roof, but she also continues to help run her sheep, cattle and cropping enterprise in Cowra. A ramp and platform help her get onto her horse, and a specially adapted dressage saddle helps prevent her from falling. She’s doing so well that, as well as running the farm business and raising her toddler, she’s hoping for a place on the Paralympic team. Glen Clarke ignored advice to leave his Kempsey farm after a truck accident left him a paraplegic, instead having his all-terrain vehicle adapted so he could continue doing anything on his property, from spraying weeds to mustering cattle. Oh yes, and he also goes mountain biking and skiing. They’re just three of the stories featured on the pages of online community group Ability Agriculture, which features dozens of inspirational and eye-opening stories of disabled farmers determined to stay on the land. Ability Agriculture was set up in February 2021 by Glen’s daughter Josie who is a grain researcher. She was just five when her dad was injured, and for the past 20 years she has watched admiringly as he’s found solutions to every problem and mentored others who are disabled to help them do the same. Josie was determined to follow in his footsteps and share the message that it’s possible to remain in agriculture and live in regional and remote areas whether intellectually or physically impacted. Clearly that message has resonated as she already has more than 2,000 community members and has seen up to 300,000 people reading her stories. Her inbox is full of messages from people wanting to share their own experiences and in May she won a NSW Rural Women’s Award for the Instagram and Facebook platforms. Her dad picked up the award as Josie was studying for her PhD in Mexico – and he had a tear in his eye as she was awarded a grant of $15,000.

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The cash will be invaluable as she continues providing information not only to the disabled but to employers, trainers and developers. “I want to do a lot more with Ability Agriculture. I want it to be a representative group and a voice for disability in agriculture,” she explains. Her plans include registering as a not-forprofit and attending industry events. “I would like an Ability Agriculture fund so more people can be advocates for disability,” she says. “You can’t be it if you can’t see it.” Josie is also keen to open more and better opportunities for people with a disability to get started in agriculture. “We talk about inclusion and diversity, but we’re not an industry showing that beyond gender equality,” she says. “When advertising roles we don’t say they’re inclusive so someone with a disability can apply and know they’ll be supported. These things need to happen.

WILLING AND ABLE

Glen and his family are farmers from the mid North Coast. “Never give up trying,” he posted on Ability Agriculture’s Facebook page. “It may be frustrating at times, but there’s always another way.”

INNOVATE AND ADAPT

After an accident left Glen (left) a quadriplegic, he adapted farm vehicles so he could continue getting around his property – and these days he goes mountain biking and skiing too. His daughter Josie (below) set up Ability Agriculture in 2021. Photo by: Pip Farquharson

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THE FARMER

The Muster

“We keep talking about workforce shortages in agriculture. We need to look at those gaps and work out how we can fill those roles,” Josie adds. “We need to support growers and have them look at their business and ask themselves: ‘How can I make an inclusive or adaptive position here and support someone with a disability?’” She says that the industry also needs to do more to support owners with a disability. Farmers are so used to being inventive and problem solving, this shouldn’t be such a huge stretch, Josie continues. Many of her members worked out the adaptations they needed to operate their equipment then found an engineer who could build them. In addition, agriculture has changed so dramatically, with fewer physical requirements for jobs and more technological and agribusiness opportunities, it should be more inclusive and adaptive. Encouragingly, there are examples of this already happening, Josie says.

THE FARMER

SunPork, for instance, has been building capacity for opportunities for people with autism, pointing out they often have exceptional ability to focus and pay attention to detail which makes them ideal for specialist animal care roles. Many also find comfort in repetitive activities and perform well on solitary tasks, often enjoying the isolation of rural life. Meanwhile, Cassie and Mark Gardner from Dubbo are the founders of Ability West, a not-for-profit organisation inspired by their daughter Emily who has Down syndrome. Cassie and Mark have used their combined experience of agriculture, business and working with people with a disability to help families create microenterprise opportunities, utilising and navigating the NDIS system. Emily herself is at the centre of Go Get ’Em, Errands with Heart, which sees her running errands for four local businesses and delivering eggs. While the NDIS and support groups exist to provide medical

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assistance and advice to farmers in the regions, Ability Agriculture is different. “It’s a place to share stories and create community, not only for rural Australians who have a physical or intellectual disability but also for carers, family members, health professionals, agribusinesses or anyone with an innovation making agriculture more accessible for those with a disability,” says Josie. And for anyone still doubting the wisdom of getting onboard Josie’s campaign, her old Ag teacher Graham Bramley has some advice. He sustained nerve damage and lost several fingers after nearly severing his arm in a car accident, and telling him he can’t do something is the best way to make sure he finds a way to do it. That has included getting his semi licence which has since seen him driving B Doubles and road trains. “Never let your doubts be known to the person with a disability,” he says. “They have an amazing determination and capacity for adaptation. Treat them just the same as you would anyone else.” l

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The big picture FELLED BY THE FLO OD

The Baker family had been progressively revegetating riparian zones over the past 30 years, and have lost thousands of native trees planted along the Tweed and Oxley Rivers.

A long road to recovery Persistent rainfall is extending the long road to recovery for Tweed Valley farmer Neil Baker, but help from far and wide is inspiring a comeback for his family’s 112-year-old farm.

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Words MICHAEL BURT Photography ANTHONY ONG

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(Photo: Neil Baker)

ost of the Baker family’s 160-hectare historic Tweed Valley farm was swamped by floodwaters on February 27, after the upstream catchment received 1,300mm of rain in 36 hours. “Our annual average rainfall is 1,850mm, so to have that amount of rain in such a short time is astounding,” Neil Baker says. “It caused a flood that was catastrophic. There are no other words to describe it.” Neil’s father Bruce is 95, and he says he has never seen a flood like it in his lifetime. The Baker family has been on the same Tweed Valley farm near Murwillumbah for 112 years. Neil now runs the farm business with wife Michelle and son Liam, producing grassfed beef and free-range pork. Bruce still lives on the farm and remains an integral part of the business. While the Baker family did not lose any livestock, it was a testing time for their cattle herd and semi free-range pigs, who normally have a stress-free life grazing on lush pastures along the Tweed and Oxley Rivers. Luckily, they have been able to keep their Tweed Valley Beef and Tweed Valley Pork brands on the menu for local customers and butchers. “There were lots of transport interruptions and we have had to reduce cattle numbers, but we have been able to keep some supply going,” Neil says. “The issue now is just being able to get onto the paddocks to sow winter pastures and get some fences back up. “The ground is so muddy, and the rain just keeps coming. We have only been able to plant a small amount of rye grass and it’s hard to rotate stock with no fences.” The family lost all of their fences on their floodplain, so now there’s about two and half kilometres of fencing to replace. “I’d estimate that we would have 15,000 to 20,000 cubic metres of silt on our flats now,” he says. “In time that will benefit our pastures, but for now it is definitely not pretty, and makes access very difficult. “Prior to the floods in February, we were looking at a screamer of a year. Things change so quickly.”

ASSISTANCE FOR RECOVERY

The Baker family has been approved to receive a $75,000 primary producer flood recovery grant, which will be used to replace fencing, repair internal roads on the farm, clean out drains and culverts and replant pastures. “It is going to be a long-term process,” Neil says. “We’re talking at least a few years here on our farm, and repairing the erosion and damage to the four kilometres of riverbank we have will take even longer.” The Baker family had been progressively revegetating riparian zones over the past 30 years, planting around 5,000 native trees and plants along the Tweed and Oxley Rivers. “The trees were completely destroyed and washed off the property, and we lost about another 10 to 15 metres of riverbank,” Neil says. “There is always room to improve and adapt when it comes to farming. That’s one of the reasons why we have been revegetating the riverbanks, to preserve them for future generations. So it’s really disappointing to lose all of that, but we will recommence the project as it is the only way to protect our farm’s future sustainability.” SOME HELPING HANDS

The Bakers were one of 48 flood-affected farming families in the Tweed Valley region to receive a share of $380,000 in direct assistance from Queensland-based charity Aussie Helpers, immediately after the floods. Neil says the assistance from Aussie Helpers at that time “was simply brilliant”. “They helped organise fodder and fencing materials, provided fuel cards and a pre-paid $500 credit card. It was immediate assistance, which is what was needed.” Aussie Helpers returned in May to follow up on farmers they visited and arranged a barbecue and gathering for them at the showground. “Everyone appreciated the chance to socialise and to wind back momentarily,” Neil says. Aussie Helpers CEO Tash Kocks joined three other Aussie Helper team members on the fourday visit to the Tweed region in March, after the charity received an influx of calls from farmers. >

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THE FARMER

THE BIG PICTURE FLOODS

“We prefer to do things face-to-face as it works for farmers,” Tash says. “We want to go out to meet them and hear what they are going through and identify immediate needs like fencing, feed and water tanks. “This way, farmers also don’t have to jump through hoops to get the assistance they need.” Tash says conversations that she and the team had with some Tweed Valley farmers were tough, but they were also part of the healing process. “They all thought that everyone was worse off than them, but they were all a bit broken and hurting,” she says. “One farmer told me that he had never seen her dad cry and he is in his eighties. She said he just sobbed because he had never seen water like that in his life. “A lot of the farmers said the financial stuff is great, but just being able to have a conversation with someone benefited them so much more.”

AFTER THE RAIN

Neil says 2.5km of fencing will need to be replaced on the Bakers’ property, and estimates there’s now 15,000-20,000 cubic metres of silt dumped on his floodplains.

WHERE THERE’S A WILL THERE’S A WAY

Neil says support from NSW Farmers and local state member Janelle Saffin inspired him to move forward with his generational farming business. “Through NSW Farmers, I was able to provide feedback about the impact directly to the Agriculture Minister shortly after the floods, and have input into appropriate assistance measures,” he says. >

The nine NSW Farmers flood response recommendations RECOMMENDATION 1:

An agreement to be negotiated between the NSW and Commonwealth Governments to ensure that the Australian Defence Force (ADF) on-theground support be activated as soon as natural disasters occur to ensure the most timely emergency response. RECOMMENDATION 2:

Priority be given to the establishment of renewable energy micro-cells on farms and on telecommunication infrastructure to aid farmers, rural landholders, and telecommunication providers mitigate the impact of the loss of production and connectivity as a consequence of natural disasters.

and contractors undertaking emergency repairs following floods and other natural disasters. RECOMMENDATION 4:

Given the increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters, a review of the cost of insurance premiums to be undertaken, with a particular focus on the Emergency Services Levy component. RECOMMENDATION 5:

The Harvestable Rights limit in coastal draining catchments is increased to 40 per cent productive use in appropriate catchments.

Fair Trading NSW to establish and broadly communicate a single point of contact for businesses recovering from flood events to mitigate any unconscionable practice by providers

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Additional funding be allocated to the NSW Rural Assistance Authority to deliver improvements to the automation of the grant assessment process. RECOMMENDATION 8:

Consideration be given on a sliding scale of support for smaller or establishing primary producers based on percentage of off-farm income against net primary production income where the landholder has a right or interest in a farm enterprise, and contributes a part of his or her labour and capital to the enterprise. RECOMMENDATION 9:

RECOMMENDATION 6: RECOMMENDATION 3:

RECOMMENDATION 7:

Review the process for multiagency input for Natural Disaster Declarations to ensure the most appropriate data is collected across all community and business impacts and increase transparency.

Consideration be given to identifying alternate processes to confirm expenditure for natural disaster rectification work where third party contracting arrangements may not be the most cost effective or timely option available.

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THE CLEAN-UP

NSW Farmers Regional Services Manager Mark Bulley and NSW Farmers CEO Pete Arkle with Tweed Valley cane farmer David Bartlett and Neil Baker.

Other charities such as Lions Need for Feed and Rural Aid also rushed fodder and support to Northern Rivers farmers, while farmers in other parts of the state teamed up to donate fodder and cash. The NSW Farmers Glen Innes branch supported a special ‘Thinking of our Fellow Farmers Flood Appeal’ cattle sale at the Glen Innes saleyards, which raised more than $49,000 to donate to farmers in the Northern Rivers region. Glen Innes branch Chair Kylie Falconer said local members were pleased to participate in the event. “Raising that sort of money is something that everyone involved can be proud of,” Kylie says. “Farmers in our region really appreciated the support we got during the drought, and this was a way to give back to the farmers that supported us.” The funds will be donated to the NSW Farmers Natural Disaster Relief Fund for distribution to farmers in the Northern Rivers region. RIVERS NEED HELP FOR FUTURE FLOODS

Tweed Valley sugarcane farmers and the farmerowned Condong sugar mill felt the full force of the February flood. The sugarcane plant is a tough one, and it has survived many floods since first being planted in the

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region in the 1870s. But the force of the 2022 flood has truly tested its resilience. Tweed Valley Canegrowers Association Chair Robert Hawken said farmers are estimating a 25 per cent decrease in yield and a delayed start to harvest. “If it keeps raining like they are predicting, it will be extremely difficult to get a June start to harvest, which has impacts through the whole supply chain,” Robert says. While this year’s harvest is top of mind, Robert said the region’s farmers want action from Tweed Shire Council on desilting the Tweed River system to clear the way for future floods. “Just as we farmers need to regularly maintain our cane drains and canals, the valley’s main drain – the Tweed River – requires urgent and strategic desilting of the channels and removal of obstructions,” he says. “The enormous silt loadings in the floodwater were very obvious in the clean up after the event. When these dirty floods occur, large volumes of silt settle in downriver areas, on the farmland, roadways, urban areas and in the river channels. “No one can control or even predict this type of torrential rainfall, but I believe we can improve the river’s ability to discharge the massive volume of water to the ocean as quickly as possible.” Robert admits that they’ll never be able to stop these types of flood events, but says that they all must do everything to prevent major losses to the community. Neil agrees, saying that parts of the river systems have not be dredged for more than 40 years. “There is a consensus from all of the farmers that the Tweed Shire Council is ignoring them on a lot of issues, including the need for a full hydrological study of the riverine system and a plan to desilt our waterways,” he says. “With the repair works that are needed now, and the extent and severity of the erosion at present, it is appropriate for the state government to get involved.” FARMERS RECOMMEND FLOOD RESPONSE CHANGES

According to NSW Farmers, more frequent, intense storms will require swift defence force deployment and streamlined government support. In a submission to the NSW Parliament Select Committee Inquiry on the Response to Major Flooding Across NSW in 2022, the state’s peak farming body made nine recommendations to improve reactions to natural disasters (see page 24). NSW Farmers CEO Pete Arkle said food and fibre production in regions like the Northern Rivers had been catastrophically impacted by rain events since March 2021, resulting in significant hardship for town residents and businesses, and particularly the farming community. “We’ve seen some communities smashed by two or even three major flooding events in a 12-month period, which is absolutely unprecedented,” Pete says. “In fact, we’ve seen the resilience and productivity of our farming communities sorely tested since late

THE BIG PICTURE FLOODS

REPAIR AND REBUILD

Neil Baker and Pete Arkle survey the damage. “The challenge is now the transition to recovery and rebuilding,” explains Pete.

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2017, when severe drought took hold. Since then, we’ve had destructive bushfires, a mouse plague, a global pandemic and now these terrible storms and floods. Communities are hurting.” Pete adds that the unprecedented scale of the storms and floods of the past 15 months has left many with considerable damage that will take years, rather than months, to identify, restore, and repair. “We have highlighted this extended impact in our submission to the inquiry as for many primary producers the effect of natural disasters or critical global events is both immediate and delayed,” Pete explains. “Once you get over the immediate devastation, there is the long-term impact on your business, and in turn that has a long-lasting impact on local jobs and communities. “Ultimately, the challenge for primary producers, as with other residents, is now the transition from emergency response to recovery and rebuilding.” Pete says the emergency response provided to farmers by the Department of Primary Industries and Local Land Services had to be recognised and acknowledged, calling it swift, professional, and relevant to the immediate need. l

ROCK BREAKERS I POST DRIVERS

DOES GREEN ENERGY HAVE TOO MUCH POWER? The renewable energy transition is powering on, but has there been any progress on the vexed issue of land use conflict and visual impacts?

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Words MICHAEL BURT

THE FARMER

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armers, local councils and rural communities are facing a renewable energy dilemma. While all agree that a renewable energy future is certain, there is growing opposition to largescale projects due to a lack of community consultation regarding the location of renewable energy infrastructure. It’s not just communities located within the NSW Government’s Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) who say their concerns about social, visual and noise impacts are being ignored. Large-scale green energy projects have recently been approved with minimal community consultation in the Riverina and Central West. NSW Farmers has been bridging the gap in consultation with regional forums for farmers and rural communities impacted by large-scale projects, both within and outside the REZs. EnergyCo and the Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) have supported the forums, including a recent forum hosted by NSW Farmers’ branches in the New England region in Armidale. Felicity Greenway, DPE Executive Director of State Policy, told the forum solar and wind development is permissible across a “lot of land in NSW”. “Currently, solar and wind development can be proposed on any land zoned Rural, Industrial or for special uses,” Felicity says. “The Minister for Planning is the consent authority for larger scale projects. If there are objections by the local councils, applications are referred to the Independent Planning Commission for determination.”

THE BIG ISSUE RENEWABLE ENERGY

Felicity says the assessment process is rigorous, but admitted it was time to update the guidelines first developed in 2018 for large-scale renewable projects. The Department is reviewing the guidelines and has promised a focus on improving transparency, the impacts on prime agricultural land, and the visual impact. “The importance of community consultation cannot be underestimated, and I do agree that proponents historically and perhaps currently have not been good at it,” Felicity says. “They can have a sense of entitlement to do whatever because it’s green energy. We are trying to steer a different course with our work as there is plenty of room for improvement. “In relation to wind projects, we probably have the most conservative noise standards for wind energy in the world, but if any new research comes in we are open to reviewing those standards,” she says. “There have been wind projects that have been refused, particularly in the Southern Highlands region.” Matt Riley, DPE Specialist Planner, also spoke at the forum about changes to the development approval guidelines for largescale solar projects. “We want to encourage solar projects on less productive land and make it harder for proponents to do it on prime agricultural land,” Matt says. “There are lots of disputes about the quality of land, and some of that comes down to the regional maps that are used. “We are proposing to use the Soil Capability Class Mapping that covers the

whole state, and all solar project applicants must verify this mapping through soil samples and water studies,” he says. “We also want to make sure that the visual impact on the application’s agenda is very early in the process. “We also want to provide more guidance for landholder agreements. NSW Farmers has developed some guidelines and I think it’s a great document. We are taking inspiration from it to double down and help provide that service.” NSW Farmers Uralla Branch chair Callan Schaeffer said the Department of Planning should have staff based in the regional areas where REZs are being developed to help build community trust. “Having someone stationed locally that farmers can actually talk to would go a long way to smoothing out the process,” Callan says. LOCAL COUNCILS WANT MORE SAY

The New England Renewable Energy Zone (NE REZ) will be 8GW in size, and is predicted to offset almost 11 per cent of Australia’s current CO2 emissions. Armidale Regional Council Mayor Sam Coupland says this is the equivalent of planting 500,000,000 trees or removing 12.5 million cars from our roads. “The contribution that the region is making in Australia’s reduction of carbon is nationally significant, but it is burdening our Council with significant financial and social costs,” Sam says. Speaking at the NSW Farmers forum, Sam said the mayors of local councils in the NE REZ – Armidale, Uralla, Inverell, Glen Innes and Walcha – have set out three >

GAUGING THE P OWER OF WIND AND SUN – AND P OLITIC S

Large-scale renewable energy projects should be subject to better community consultation, be restricted to less productive land and have a plan in place for end-of-life decommissioning and rehabilitation, according to NSW Farmers. (Photo to left: Nick Cubbin) JULY - AUGUST 2022

THE FARMER

THE BIG ISSUE RENEWABLE ENERGY

essential development approval conditions for the state government to mandate. The three conditions are a new requirement for project developers to provide a community contribution fee and decommissioning bonds, and demonstrate authentic community consultation. “It’s not all-encompassing, and it won’t answer every bit of community concern, but we should have some clout in the decisionmaking process,” Sam says. “We are still working on how a community contribution fee would be structured, but I would envisage it going towards a future fund for councils to use to benefit their communities in the long term. “Mines have decommissioning bonds, so why shouldn’t renewable energy projects? That would go a long way to removing some of the angst,” he says. “I see these conditions as absolutely non-negotiable, but we have also set a number of what we call ‘desirables’. “These desirables include that 75 per cent of any carbon offsets required for a project be purchased in the local government area, and that telecommunications infrastructure be constructed as part of the project.” Former Orange City Council Mayor Reg Kidd said local government is removed from the planning process. “We had a solar development proposed to council on the outskirts of town on some of our top horticultural land,” Reg says. “The surrounding farms objected. Our council is not against renewable energy, but objected to the siting of this development,

and we said there were better locations. “The council ended up voting 10 to one against it, so the proponents took it to the western planning panel, who approved it,” he says. “That planning panel did not come to Orange at all and I never got the chance to speak to anyone in planning. We were extremely disappointed and felt completely ignored. Reg, who is Chair of the NSW Farmers Energy Transition Working Group, has welcomed a new report that states energy ministers must increase the benefits to regional communities that host large-scale solar and wind infrastructure to ensure continued support for renewable energy. Published by the Australia Institute and the Sydney Environment Institute on June 15, the report says if the pace and intensity of development are not carefully managed and local benefits maximised it community conflict that could delay the renewable energy transformation. AG COMMISSIONER WEIGHS IN

The NSW Ag Commissioner, Daryl Quinlivan, is reviewing the renewable energy transition’s impact on the NSW Agriculture sector. NSW Farmers has provided a comprehensive submission to the Ag Commissioner outlining 11 key recommendations to improve the interaction between agriculture and renewable energy projects in the planning system, and even out the playing field. “At present, agriculture is not afforded

adequate protection and consideration under the NSW planning system,” says NSW Farmers President James Jackson. “Agricultural land is not vacant land readily accessible for renewable energy projects. However, with the right conditions in the right locations, renewables and agriculture can co-exist and provide mutual benefits. “For it all to work, landholders must be provided information and consulted early in the process, have the opportunity to influence projects, and be made aware of their rights and options.” James says the need to reform engagement with regional communities and farmers is now, and the ‘mitigate, mediate, litigate’ process of government and developers should be replaced with effective consultation, recognition of regional community values and agricultural production. “The current dissatisfaction with developments stems from a lack of mandatory minimum standards for engagement and compensation, and no understanding of the end outcome of the transition footprint,” James says. For instance, the decommissioning of large-scale projects at the end of their lifetime was a key issue of concern raised at the NSW Farmers forum in Armidale. NSW Farmers has recommended that contracts for renewable energy installations must include clear obligations as to how the decommissioning of a site and rehabilitation will occur and who is involved. l BY PHIL SOMERVILLE

GREAT GREEN DEBATE

Community members at the NSW Farmers Region 2 forum in New England voiced concerns over large-scale renewable energy projects. “With the right conditions in the right locations, renewables and agriculture can co-exist,” says President James Jackson.

THE FARMER

JULY - AUGUST 2022

ADVERTORIAL

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by MRA Consulting Group, supported by the NSW Environment Protection Authority’s Organics Market Development grants. As part of this trial, loose commercial compost was put through a pelletiser machine to make pellets. The pellets were then put down the tube of an airseeder and planted with the seed, putting the compost exactly where it was needed – making it more cost-effective and easier to apply. In promising news, the trial more than tripled triticale yield, increasing revenue by $1,000/ha.

Steve Leisk

Commercial compost is made from food and garden organics, so it contains high-quality carbon and trace elements, meaning less reliance on synthetic fertilisers. As MRA Consulting Group compost expert Virginia Brunton says, compost is a vital ingredient in farm productivity. “I realised, principally talking to farmers, that a lot of their production problems were due to lack of carbon in the soil – a lack of organic matter,” says Virginia. “And one of the main sources of organic matter can be compost. Carbon in soil drives the chemistry and biology and everything that makes a farm productive.” To learn more visit www.circularag.com.au/compost.

Virginia Brunton JULY - AUGUST 2022

THE FARMER

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NEW KID ON THE BLO CK

Mobile butcher Drew goes to his clients with a one-tonne crane and a refrigerated truck.

THE FARMER

JULY - AUGUST 2022

TRADE MOBILE BUTCHER

C H T E U R B – ON WHEELS –

From poultry and pigs to big old bulls, nothing gets overlooked or goes to waste with a mobile butcher service.

–

Words DARCY WATT

rom Raymond Terrace to Nowra and beyond, mobile butchers are popping up across New South Wales like a new crop in spring. A mobile butcher service takes the meaning of ‘home grown’ to a whole new level, where your meat is now also cut, sealed and served on a dinner plate, all in your own front yard. ONE-MAN BANDSAW

Among the many things Drew Shearman does to bring in the coin, Shearman Livestock Mobile Butchery is one avenue for business that is only growing bigger by the day. As a one-man bandsaw, it’s difficult to keep up with all the emails. When you add a lack of mobile coverage out on the farm, Drew says he is busier than he ever anticipated. “People are buying five- to 10-acre blocks for the sole purpose of growing their own animals and veggies,” says Drew. “A lot of people want to enjoy the taste of produce they have raised. People want to know exactly where their food comes from, and what better way than to have it butchered and packaged on location at the farm.” If nothing leaves the property, then the client has absolute certainty it’s their animals that are being processed. Clients can follow the process from start to finish rather than seek the services of an abattoir then butcher. > JULY - AUGUST 2022

THE FARMER

TRADE MOBILE BUTCHER

“With the right equipment and the right set-up it’s very much a good business to be had. If you utilise your time well and travel as efficiently as possible, it becomes more cost effective,” Drew explains. He operates a ute with a one-tonne crane as well as a refrigerated Pantech truck. It’s fully laid out like a butcher’s shop with a bandsaw, mincer and tenderiser, where Drew can break a beast down to all the cuts, roasts and rolls. If you fancy, he can even deliver corned meat and sausages. “If they want the full service then I’ll portion it out into bags that are labelled,” Drew says. “It can go straight into the fridge or freezer after that.” Drew is a fifth-generation farmer, and his mobile butcher service began as an add-on to his mobile shearing service and livestock management business. On top of that, he also has a contract pest control service. He was used to finding himself delivering an awful lot of emergency kills for animals with broken necks and legs when out on the farm. “I had an emergency kill only the other day. They opted to have him processed on farm and they utilised the meat themselves. Not only is mobile butchery a way for people to have their own meat processed, it’s also an avenue for people to gain the most out of culls and other bad situations. This fellow ended up with nearly 130 kilograms of meat they otherwise would never have got if they’d just had the calf put down,” Drew explains. After seven years in business, with many other services coming and going in that time, Drew puts his success down to efficient travel and YouTube videos – as well as a passion for a good old barbecue. “I’ve had a few butchers jump in the cool room with me and show me things that have made my job so much easier,” he says. “I also watch a few YouTube channels like the Australian Butchers Guild that have helped me become a better butcher. Back in the early days I would watch the video, pause it, cut the meat, then move on to the next piece. I’d say in the first four years I processed around 180 bodies of beef.”

TRADE SECRETS

Drew honed his craft watching YouTube videos and practicing inside his mobile cool room. He can break down an animal and package the meat to suit his clients.

TO THE SOUTH OF THE STATE

Mark Junior from South Coast Mobile Butcher has been operating his mobile butcher service for around

“A lot of people want to enjoy the taste of produce they have raised. People want to know exactly where their food comes from, and what better way than to have it butchered and packaged on location at the farm.” – DREW SHEARMAN Shearman Livestock Mobile Butchery

THE FARMER

JULY - AUGUST 2022

18 months. However his experience goes back to when he was just 14 years old, when he left school to work at a butcher in Cootamundra. Then when Australians were eligible to withdraw from their superannuation during the COVID-19 pandemic, Mark jumped at the chance to build the business he had always dreamed of. “I saw an opportunity to get into the market, and with all the rain we’ve been having, I’ve never been busier,” he says. “There are a lot of broken legs because of the weather, and usually if you get to the animal within a 24-hour period, 90 per cent of it can be salvaged. Depending on the size of the family, that’s enough meat to last a very long time that would otherwise be wasted.” An abattoir will not process injured animals. But as Mark explains, if the affected animal remains on the farm in an environment it’s used to it will remain relatively calm in the lead-up to being processed for human consumption. Mark has not only earned back all of his super, but he has also enlisted the help of his entire family – his mother and father, brother and sister – as he gets nearly three new enquiries per day on top of his regular customers.

Mark purchased an automatic pig squatting machine through the help of Many Rivers – an organisation that helps low-income earners become self-employed. The machine is one of just two in Australia. It runs off three-phase power and is capable of scalding, dehairing and cleaning pigs for a rapid on-site butcher service. Unfortunately, Mark hasn’t been able to use his new investment as much as he would like, due to all the bodies of beef he’s processing. He’s also partnering with Kia Ora Stud Farm in Bungendore in a trial where consumers can purchase

READY TO ROLL

With a bandsaw, mincer and tenderiser onboard his cool room, Drew can provide all cuts of meat as well as mince and sausages.

cattle that will live on the farm, where they will eventually be processed by Mark. The consumer can request how they would like the animal butchered and how they would like to receive the meat. Between the farmer, butcher and customer, great relationships are developed through transparency. “There are instances where farmers have brought in bodies of beef to a butcher and it’s been swapped around in the shop,” Mark says. “But with a mobile butcher service that comes to you, you’re guaranteed that it’s your animal you’ll be eating, and people really love to know that.” l

BY PHIL SOMERVILLE

JULY - AUGUST 2022

THE FARMER

JULY - AUGUST 2022

INNOVATION DAIRY EFFICIENCY

MILKING THE MOST OF ENERGY NSW Farmers and Norco have teamed up with researchers to discover the pathways for dairy farmers to reduce energy costs.

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Words MICHAEL BURT Photography ANTHONY ONG

JULY - AUGUST 2022

THE FARMER

INNOVATION DAIRY EFFICIENCY

NSW Farmers-led research project has found there are energy savings to be made for dairy farmers in the step of getting milk from the cow to filling the milk tanker for delivery to the factory. This short but costly step in the dairy supply chain accounts for around 80 per cent of a dairy farm’s energy costs, mainly due to the need to cool and store large volumes of milk below 5.5°C. The cooling must also occur within a narrow window of time, resulting in high peak demand costs. Running milking equipment and hot water systems also contribute to a hefty electricity bill, which can be up to $80,000 annually for an average sized dairy farm. Inspired by changes in Australia’s energy mix and significant electricity cost increases for dairy farming businesses, NSW Farmers and Norco teamed up to identify the least cost pathways to reducing energy use in the dairy. The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) is funding the Agricultural Renewable Energy Acceleration (AREA) project, in collaboration with the University of Technology Sydney Institute of Sustainable Futures (UTS ISF), the University of NSW (UNSW) and electrical infrastructure company Essential Energy. The ongoing project included an energy audit of dairies on 10 farms in the Northern Rivers and north coast regions, with the farms’ annual milk production ranging from 387,000 litres to 2.4 million litres. >

THE FARMER

JULY - AUGUST 2022

GREEN PASTURES

Julie, Michael and Stuart Moore run a 140-head milking herd on their 240-hectare farm near Dorrigo. “The priority for us right now is getting our cows through this extreme wet period,” says Julie.

Water powered milking? Installing a micro-hydropower system is worth exploring to reduce energy costs for Dorrigo dairy farmers Julie and Michael Moore. It is one of the long-term pathways identified in the energy audit conducted on the Moores’ dairy as part of the AREA project’s onsite energy data collection from 10 dairy farms. The couple’s scenic 240-hectare farm, located on an escarpment on the Dorrigo plateau, boasts two waterfalls that are gushing after taking in more than three metres of rain in the last 12 months. It’s just a pity they are not located closer the dairy. “We are looking to invest in a new dairy, so we might have to look at putting it closer to the one of the waterfalls,” Julie jokes. Julie, Michael and their son Stuart have seriously toyed with the idea of hydropower, given that “farming in the clouds” at 1,100 metres above sea level does not bode well for solar power

generation. Dorrigo is also home to Pelena Energy – a company that manufactures micro-hydroelectric turbines and installs them in remote parts of Melanesia. “Peter Lynch from Pelena has been out to the farm and I think it’s an option that should not be dismissed, but the priority for us right now is getting our cows through this extreme wet period,” Julie says. “That means getting out as much rye grass seed as we can, and Stuart has the new daily task of checking and caring for our cows’ hooves.” Julie says they have received a staggering 3.46 metres of rain in the past 12 months, which has washed out walkways and made virtually the whole farm wet underfoot. Having a close connection with their cows – each of the 140-strong milking herd has a name – is a priority for the Moores, meaning Stuart can check, clean and attach rubber blocks to damaged hooves in the paddock and the dairy.

Julie says the energy audit will play an important role in planning the farm’s new dairy. “The audit will come in handy when we build the new dairy. That’s when we will be able to marry the investment in the dairy with seriously reducing energy costs,” she says. Electricity is the major energy source used by the farm, while some diesel is used for mobile equipment and backup generation. The pitt&sherry audit report suggested a spend of $22,600 to upgrade existing equipment would have payback of four years in energy cost savings. For now, Julie says they will make minor investments based on the audit in the existing dairy. “It was good to know that we have being doing some things right over the years, but we will do upgrades to improve the cold chiller that we use for pre-cooling and switch to LED lights in the dairy,” she says.

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INNOVATION DAIRY EFFICIENCY

Bold new era for NSW dairy farmers The state’s dairy farmers now have a dedicated advocate who will work to ensure a strong voice in state and national policy decisions. NSW Farmers Dairy Committee Chair Colin Thompson says dairy advocacy will be more powerful under new Dairy Manager Daniel Brear. With extensive experience working with farmers at a grassroots level, Daniel says he is excited to take up the new opportunity. “Like most families we love our milk, and I’m keen to play my part in making sure we’ve got a strong dairy industry for years to come,” Daniel says. “Our dairy farmers have done it tough in recent years, and while things are turning around, they are going to need support to build a stronger future. “I’m looking forward to taking concerns from farmers directly to the decision makers, and marrying up the needs of farmers with the advocacy capability of NSW Farmers.” In recent years farmers had exited the industry due to several issues that Daniel is keen to tackle. “By addressing some of the key challenges the dairy industry faces, we hope to see young farmers looking to dairy as an opportunity to get into agriculture,” he says. “The committee is focused on addressing issues such as retail pricing, labour and housing, as well as being involved in the implementation of the Dairy Action Plan. “We need to make sure our children and their children can enjoy Australian milk, cheese, ice cream and yoghurt into the future.” Colin says the NSW Farmers Dairy Committee has secured the support of the NSW Farmers board in pursuing an opportunity to build a strong dairy advocacy presence throughout the state. “With the NSW Government rolling back the role of Dairy Advocate Ian Zandstra, NSW Farmers is standing up to fill this gap and ensure that dairy remains a focus,” Colin says. “We are reforming our approach to deliver specialised policy advice, advocacy, and projects on topics that matter to farmers. “Our clear focus moving forward is to improve the sustainability and profitability of our industry, and I’m glad to have Daniel on board.”

THE FARMER

JULY - AUGUST 2022

P OWERFUL ADVICE

Electricity is the main source of power on the Moores’ farm. They’ve investigated hydropower and will look into other upgrades suggested by the audit. “It was good to know we’ve been doing some things right,” says Julie.

Conducted by pitt&sherry consultants, the extensive review of the dairies’ milk processing, cooling equipment and hot water systems revealed an average energy use of 51.7 kWhr per kilolitre (kL) of milk. This compares to a national average energy use on dairy farms of 48 kWhr/kL of milk. Energy use per kL of milk was highly variable amongst the 10 dairies, ranging from 27 to 75 kWhr/ kL. There was a herd size impact on energy use, as farmers with larger herd sizes experienced lower energy use per kL milk. KEEPING IT COOL

The 10 dairy audits, known as the Onsite Energy Data Collection chapter of the AREA project, demonstrated pre-cooling the milk before it enters the vat can reduce overall refrigeration use by 25 per cent. Eight of 10 dairy farms have already adopted a pre-cooling step, which typically requires a water storage tank, plate cooler heat exchanger drop (HX) and a water pump to reduce the milk temperature from 37°C to 20°C.

FARMING IN THE CLOUD S

Julie, Michael and their son Stuart (pictured here) toyed with the idea of hydropower, given that “farming in the clouds” at 1,100 metres above sea level does not bode well for solar power generation.

“We want to be able to help farmers understand if and how renewables can be most cost-effectively integrated into small, medium and large-sized dairy farms.” – CHRISTOPHER HORVATH from pitt&sherry

“The most immediate upgrade is to have milk pre-cooling, as this predictably and reliably reduces the peak energy demand and energy consumption of a dairy significantly,” says Christopher Horvath from pitt&sherry. Christopher said the audits identified further ways to maximise the effectiveness of this measure, such as adjusting pump speeds and volumes, reviewing water tank locations, and consistent cooling water temperatures during milking >

“We believe that it is our job to make sustainable farming practices affordable, more accessible, and practical to implement with the innovation of mechanical machinery.”

WEED ERADICATION

COVER CROPS

PASTURE IMPROVEMENT

IMPROVE BIOMASS

STUBBLE CRUNCHING

FEED ACCESSIBILITY

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INNOVATION DAIRY EFFICIENCY

“Where already in place, measurements of water and milk temperatures before and after each milking on different days, as well as volumes used, can be reviewed to further tweak systems. “Upgrading to new refrigeration technology provides efficiency advancements, in addition to other benefits such as reduced maintenance and manual cleaning, and improved reliability,” Christopher says. Upgrades for vacuum pumps used for milking, refrigeration heat recovery, hot water adjustments and installing metering equipment were identified as other stepping stones on the pathway to reducing energy costs. Five of the dairy farms were selected for metering with Wattwatchers to scope future equipment upgrades and quantify benefits and returns. “With estimated cost of upgrades ranging from $13,200 to $62,000 and payback periods from two to seven years, the visibility of metering and monitoring provides more investment confidence. “With prioritising upgrades, it’s a balancing act of available capital, energy and cost savings, the expected paybacks, and existing equipment end of life,” Christopher says. “Upgrades not only reduce energy costs but also

THE FARMER

JULY - AUGUST 2022

reduce maintenance, increase reliability, improve product quality, and enable production growth.” WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE AREA PROJECT?

DAIRY IN THE DELUGE

It’s all hands on deck to keep the herd safe and healthy during the wet weather. The Moores’ farm received a staggering 3.46m of rain over the past 12 months, meaning Stuart is busy tending to hooves and getting out feed.

The energy data collection from the 10 farms will feed into future projects to further understand the larger opportunities that are available to a community of end users in a local area. This includes renewable energy options, after the University of NSW found that solar designed to fit dairies’ very peaky energy demand could reduce the daily energy bill by about 30 to 40 per cent. “A significant portion of follow-on work is considering various loads across sites that can be used in conjunction with the electricity network provider towards demand response events,” Christopher says. “This is for both flexibility in reduction and increase of usage. “We want to be able to help farmers understand if and how renewables can be most cost-effectively integrated into small, medium and large-sized dairy farms.” NSW Farmers will also be preparing publications for farmers including two farmer case studies, a fact sheet, podcasts and a final release highlighting the benefits identified in the pre-feasibility study. l

Local Land Services

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SPECIAL REPORT REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE

THE TIDES ARE TURNING It doesn’t matter whether you think it is all part of a natural process which impacts climate every few thousand years or whether you think that it is also due to human intervention. The fact is that the climate is changing and that means we must change too.

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Words TONY BLACKIE

THE FARMER

JULY - AUGUST 2022

here is no doubt that change is upon us. Global temperatures are rising, extreme weather events are more frequent and more extreme, land usage in some areas is changing dramatically as weather patterns make the land less viable. The mantra often quoted by many farmers these days is that they aim to leave their better than when they found it for the next generation, and that means a focus on regenerating the land for a healthy handover. Happily, there is a ground swell of regenerative farming activity, not only in NSW but around Australia and across the world, as increasing numbers of young farmers and rural business people look for new ways to manage the land. In the USA a recent survey showed that on any given day there is 227,965 acres of farming land undergoing regeneration. SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT

MORE INTEREST, MORE PRO GRES S

There has been a consistent rise in the number of people wanting to delve deeper into soil chemistry, plant biology and the full raft of agroecological teachings.

Over the past few years there has been a huge increase in the number of enrolments in agroecology, regenerative farming, organic farming and agricultural science courses at universities, TAFEs and colleges. The National Environment Centre – a TAFE college in Albury – is a case in point. The centre runs one of Australia’s leading agroecology courses – a Diploma in Organic Farming, turning out many graduates who have gone on to be practical examples of the new way of managing the soil, plants, animals and the general environment. Gerard Lawry is the head teacher for the course, and he is also a 15-year veteran of teaching agriculture, permaculture, organics and practically allied courses. He has also been a mentor to hundreds of farmers looking to apply sustainable practices on their land. Gerard says there has been a consistent rise in the number of people wanting to delve deeper into soil chemistry, plant biology and the full raft of agroecological teachings. “There is a massive change going on and it’s multigenerational,” he says. “The ideas around agroecology are getting a much better reception these days than they did in the past.” While he points out that there are now many courses being offered in regenerative agriculture, many simply focus on soils, which is only one aspect of the process. He says that to be truly regenerative farmers need to look at the total environment and that includes such things as water management, revegetation, better soil testing, a greater understanding of plant biology, building habitats for native birds and animals and so on. “We need to be thinking of the whole package, that is using ecological services to manage the entire agricultural production system,” Gerard says. He delivers a strong message about the application of the total package to his students as he believes that >

JULY - AUGUST 2022

THE FARMER

SPECIAL REPORT REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE

unless we take into account the whole ecosystem, the ideal of regenerating land could fail. “To drag the luddites into the light, you have to be extreme,” he quips. Dr Hanabeth Luke is the Senior Lecturer in Science and the course co-ordinator for regenerative agriculture at the Southern Cross University. She says there have been 500 enrolments across the University’s regenerative agriculture oriented courses which include a number of Diploma, Graduate Diploma and Degree qualifications. Dr Luke says the students are varied in age from school leavers to some in their sixties. The popularity of regenerative agriculture courses has prompted the University to look at obtaining farming land for a practical application of the courses. In addition, she says the university is now looking at the potential of a Masters Degree in Regenerative Agriculture. TREATMENT BY ECTOL ON THE GROUND

John McKay is owner and Director of ECTOL – a family owned business created by farmers for farmers, and the provider of unique solutions for the changing climate and economic dynamic. Ectol specialises in plant and crop nutrition, developing products and protocols specific to each farmers’ crop and soil operation.

Left to right: Pasture after being treated with organic nitrogen formulation; Field of wheat after being treated with organic nitrogen formulation.

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John says there is a lot of confusion around the definition of regenerative, and around the word sustainable. “In my mind they both mean the same thing,” he says. “Because in modern farming practices we are seeing a loss of production and of vital top soil. The rising costs of inputs such as fertilisers means farmers have to look elsewhere.” ECTOL’s products include a core nutrient range, a certified organic range and extended nutrient range providing soil nutrition in 1000 litre, 200 litre and 20 litre volumes. “We have always been in this spectrum of sustainability and regeneration, but my understanding is that the science behind it is to build up soil carbon. We have seen with the overuse of some chemicals and the resulting loss of soil carbon affecting productivity. John says that in the past some farmers found inorganic elements stimulated production and provided higher yields, but he adds: “We have found that yields are declining because the elements are being bound up and can’t be used by the plant. We aren’t getting the response from a bag of super that we used to get.” ECTOL was born with a long-term vision to improve farm production using smart science, in harmony with nature, says John. NOT JUST DIRTY WATER

It’s not just deep science that is helping in the regenerative process. Jason Nicholls is an entrepreneur who has built a large business from very small beginnings to service the growing needs of farmers looking for sustainable, environmentally friendly fertiliser. He has turned “worm wee” (also known as worm juice) into a godsend for farmers unable to pay the escalating prices for fertiliser. “For us, the rising cost > of fuel and fertiliser has been a blessing,” he says.

Worm Solutions are your Vermiculture specialists Highlighting the importance of creating healthy soils and sustainable practices in and around the farm and garden. We can provide you the following healthy/natural alternatives. • Premium worm juice BIO stimulant… very high in microbial life capable of activating and unlocking the nutrients in your soil. Starting from 5L right through to 1000L pods and beyond. (Typical Analysis and Laboratory results on our website). • 1000L Worm Factory Kits…. So you can produce your very own liquid

GOLD BIO stimulant, pure worm castings and breeding of worms. • Commercial size IN GROUND concrete worm bunkers… Complete with in ground juice storage tanks and option for added storage above ground. Ranging from 50m2 right through the 200m2 and beyond. • BULK composting and fishing bait worms at exceptional prices and delivered fresh.

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SPECIAL REPORT REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE

While worm juice was always known for its soil health benefits, there were detractors for its use. But Jason says the benefits are undeniable. From a credibility perspective Jason had his juice biologically tested. “It is full of microbes, and applying this into your garden or soil will unlock precious nutrients which are valuable for healthier, stronger plants and crops,” he says. Jason began selling his worm juice by the bottle on an almost door-to-door basis, He says his wife accused him of selling people “dirty water”, but he was convinced in the benefits and the future of the product. His company Worm Solutions, which is based in Albury, is now producing tens of thousands of litres of worm juice a year. Worm Solutions claims the added nutrient in worm juice helps build a soil profile capable of sustaining itself into the future without the requirement of adding synthetic compounds. With the help of local farmers, Jason has been able to show the benefits of the worm juice delivering increased production and more sustainable land practices as an alternative to costly fertilisers. He is also encouraging others to compost base and worm juice production and he is producing worm farms for those who want to do it themselves. ““I am now manufacturing worm farms from Mackay in Queensland to Tassie, and 200 were made this year,” he said with “We have now sold worm farms from Mackay in Queensland to Tassie and 200 were made this year,” he said. ACTIONING LAND MANAGEMENT

The Green Collar Group is Australia’s largest environmental markets investor and project developer. >

THE FARMER

JULY - AUGUST 2022

SEVERE WEATHER IMPACTING FARMING

Above: There is no doubt that change is upon us. Global temperatures are rising, and extreme weather events are more frequent – such as recent flooding across NSW (A main road in the Hunter Valley pictured). Right: Compost can improve soil health.

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REGENERATIVE CROPPING – THE NEW FRONTIER Many factors are prompting farmers to ask questions about regenerative cropping, whether it be high costs of fuel and fertiliser, rising input use, declining soil health or the desire to decrease risk. “Building carbon in cropping is the next frontier in agriculture,” said Dr Terry McCosker OAM. “It is possible for farmers to transition to a regenerative cropping system that will sequester carbon.” McCosker is the Founding Director of RCS, Australia’s leading educator and advisor in regenerative agriculture. But many producers fear the so called ‘valley of death’ where if they start changing or pulling out inputs they may lose money or damage their business. “There are many very good technologies being used in high input agriculture that can go with us as we transition,” McCosker said. “The experience of those who have successfully done it is that there is no valley of death.” He likens soil health to building a bridge where you put in place the supports and early spans. “We want to put in place the supports to help our soil develop, without making any change to the productivity of our system. There doesn’t need to be a change in profitability either, as in the early stages we may just be replacing one input with another or softening the impact of a hard input on the soil biology,” he said.

This soil coating on the roots is the rhizosheath also known as dreadlocks which are an indicator of soil health.

“The more carbon in your soil the less nitrogen you need to apply as fertiliser. It may take 8, 10 or 15 years to build the bridge and cross to the other side, but when you do the plants will access nitrogen from the soil rather than fertiliser. RCS is running its first online regenerative cropping workshop from 19 August – 7 October. It’s applicable to anyone, ranging from pure croppers to those with a mix of livestock and farming. The course looks at how to give you a healthy balance between

your physical, chemical and biological elements to ensure you’ve got good microbiological activity working for you in the soil. “There is no recipe or one way to achieve this. It’s about understanding the soil health principles and looking at the practical and appropriate way to implement them in your specific circumstances on your farm,” McCosker said. For more info on the Regenerative Cropping Workshop, call RCS: 1800 356 004, visit rcsaustralia.com.au or email info@rcsaustralia.com.au.

SPECIAL REPORT REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE

which means that participating farmers are paid for undertaking environmentally positive land management actions such as looking after the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions or by storing carbon in vegetation and soil. According to Green Collar, carbon farming does not mean locking up the land. They contend that farming and good environmental land management can work together. SOIL ENHANCEMENT

It defines its services in four major areas – Carbon, Water, Nature and Plastic – and in each of these areas the company says it works in partnership with farmers, graziers, traditional owners and other land managers to identify, implement and monitor the projects that deliver economic, environmental and social benefits. According to Susan Horn, the company’s head of marketing, Green Collar has been working with farmers and others on land regeneration since 2008. She says that the regeneration process is not just about storing carbon, it also involves high level management of water resources, ground cover and biodiversity to mention a few. The company delivers diverse projects to assist in the maintenance of a healthy environment. In Queensland, Green Collar is working with farmers to improve water quality run off that can impact the great barrier reef. Using a mechanism called Reef Credits – a voluntary environmental market that addresses the issue of poor water quality at the Reef – managers are paid for improved water quality resulting from their on-farm actions, without compromising the productivity of their land. The projects focus on reducing the flow of nutrients (namely Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen) to the Great Barrier Reef through improved cropping practices, or by establishing wetlands. Repairing gullies also generates Reef Credits by preventing fine sediment erosion. Each Reef Credit is a tradeable unit representing a quantifiable amount of nutrient or sediment prevented from entering the Great Barrier Reef. Reef Credits are sold to businesses, investors, philanthropists and governments seeking to reach water quality targets or achieve corporate ESG or compliance outcomes. The revenue generated from Reef Credits provides land managers with an additional and diversified income stream, that supports ongoing improved practices. Eco-Markets Australia is the independent administrator of the Reef Credit Scheme. The company is also involved in carbon farming

THE FARMER

JULY - AUGUST 2022

COMP O STING COUNTS

The EPA has been involved in supporting natural regenerative process for farmers for many years, including a number of campaigns around the production and use of quality compost. (Mushroom compost is pictured above.)

A new method of applying compost – in the form of compost pellets – is opening up affordable ways for graziers to use commercial compost. High quality compost is set to become a major player in agriculture, after the NSW Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) invested close to $100m since 2013 via its Waste Less Recycle More program to develop high-quality commercial compost industry. For graziers, commercial compost can be a wise long-term investment in the health and productivity of the land. It is rich in nutrients and can improve soils and boost crop yield. Commercial compost has traditionally been applied by spreading it over the surface of the soil. But to do this, graziers need large volumes and, even then, spreading compost across the surface doesn’t guarantee that it gets into the soil. And that’s why applying compost in the form of compost pellets could be a game changer. To test the potential of compost pellets the EPA funded compost pellet trails by MRA Consulting group through an Organics Market Development Grant. One trial site is Steve Leisk’s farm near Molong in the Central West where the compost use has been an element in transforming the property from sandy paddocks into rich fertile soil. As part of this trial, loose commercial compost was put through a pelletiser machine to make pellets. The compost pellets were then put in the tube of an airseeder and planted with the seed, putting the compost exactly where it was needed – making it more cost-effective and easier to apply. “The end result is a truly remarkable paddock, and its production is phenomenal,” says Steve. “We’re basically running at four and a half times > our previous production levels.”

“We need to be thinking of the whole package, that is using ecological services to manage the entire agricultural production system.” – GERARD LAWRY Head teacher at The National Environment Centre in Albury, and a 15-year veteran of teaching agriculture, permaculture, organics and practically allied courses.

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SPECIAL REPORT REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE

In promising news for the grazing industry, the trial more than tripled triticale yield, increasing revenue by $1,000 per hectare. Compost expert Virginia Brunton from MRA Consulting Group says compost is a vital ingredient in farm productivity. “I realised, principally talking to farmers, that a lot of their production problems were due to lack of carbon in the soil – a lack of organic matter. “And one of the main sources of organic matter can be compost. Carbon in soil drives the chemistry and biology and everything that makes a farm productive.” PHOSPHATE SOLUTION AS FERTILISER PRICES CONTINUE TO CLIMB

With growing concern among farmers about soaring fertiliser prices brought on by supply chain disruptions, contemporary resource company Agriflex Pty Ltd is inviting farmers to consider finely crushed phosphate rock for direct application on crops and pastures. Agriflex Pty Ltd is wholly owned by Centrex Limited (ASX:CXM) and has recently begun mining at its Ardmore Phosphate Rock Project, just south of Mount Isa. The project has been several years in the making and is now operational at a very fortuitous time for farmers. Agriflex agronomist Walter van Leeuwen, who joined Agriflex in February this year from S&W Seed Company – where he was Vice President of MENA Sales – said that many farmers are unfamiliar with Direct Application Phosphate Rock (DAPR). “We crush phosphate rock to less than 4mm so that it becomes a slow-release organic fertiliser which consistently adds phosphate to the soil profile and is therefore a very cost-effective way to augment crop nutrition,” Walter said. “We encourage farmers to talk to us about crushed phosphate rock and whether it is suitable for their needs.” DAPR is also known to strengthen biotic microbial activity and release additional tied-up nutrients. It is better suited to high rainfall areas or irrigated crops with acidic soils (pH6-6.5) and can be applied in conjunction with Single Superphosphate and other fertilisers to provide combined immediate and long-term benefits. Centrex Limited’s (ASX:CXM) much anticipated Ardmore Phosphate Rock Project in North West Queensland mined its first parcel of high grade phosphate rock last year with an initial 25,000 tonne parcel being made exclusively available to farmers for use as direct application phosphate rock. The lion’s share of the mine’s future product is intended for the phosphatic fertiliser production market, and the company is already supplying finely crushed phosphate rock to an organic fertiliser producer on Australia’s east coast. But as contract negotiations with other producers intensify, it is eager to make local farmers aware that Australia’s reliance on imported phosphate could soon be over. Centrex announced its plans to mine phosphate

THE FARMER

JULY - AUGUST 2022

WORM WEE DELIVERS

Entrepreneur Jason Nicholls has turned worm wee (pictured above) into a very successful business called Worm Solutions. “It is full of microbes, and applying this to your garden or soil will unlock precious nutrients which are valuable for healthier, stronger plants and crops,” he says. rock at Ardmore in 2018 to help reduce Australia’s increasingly risky reliance on imported phosphate. Over the past year, economic conditions and phosphate rock prices have improved substantially, paving the way for the commencement of mining operations at Ardmore – a key contributing factor being the benchmark 70 per cent BPL rock phosphate price which has climbed month on month over the past year, reaching USD$250 per tonne in May. “Phosphorus is critical to the production of food crops and in pasture for livestock and yet we are almost entirely reliant on imported product,” Walter said. “Direct application phosphate rock (DAPR) is an effective and affordable soil nutrition solution and Agriflex can deliver direct to any farm in Australia.” REGENERATIVE FARMERS CAN DOUBLE INCOME WITH CARBON CREDITS

One of the most important aspects of running a soil carbon project is adapting your management to build

carbon rich, healthy soils with productive pastures. This is the core business of RCS and has been for more than 30 years. RCS is Australia’s leading educator and advisor in regenerative agriculture and works with landholders to profitably build soil health and productivity in agricultural landscapes. “We’ve had the opportunity to work alongside thousands of farmers as they transform their land and business, and we are now seeing how that can translate into soil carbon below ground,” said RCS chief of delivery David McLean. Carbon aggregator CarbonLink recently released preliminary soil carbon findings linked to properties where landholders had graduated from RCS programs and adopted RCS principles. CarbonLink commercial director, Andrew Gatenby said: “The results showed that producers on extensive grazing properties can double their income by undertaking a soil carbon project that generates carbon credits”. “The top 20 per cent of beef producers in southeast Queensland implementing time-control grazing can generate $100/ha/year, and with a well-managed soil carbon project this can lift to $200/ha/year (net of costs-unaudited),” Andrew said. “To build soil carbon your ecosystems need to be regenerating. That is, spiralling up towards greater diversity and health, rather than spiralling down towards degradation,” he said. “Combine this with more hydration, resilience and access to new income streams – like natural capital and biodiversity payments – and the health of the land, livestock, business and people will benefit.” THE EVOLVE BLADERUNNER

What originated as a cover crop crimping machine is quickly evolving to cater to changing conditions and benefit farmers in the short and long term. The Evolve Bladerunner's first prototype was designed and built in November 2020 as a way to sustainably terminate thistles in pasture and crimp cover crops. “The results astounded us,” cattle producer Gus Hickman from Woodstock said. “Not only did we eliminate a variety of weeds, but we were also able to influence the growth of desirable grasses and clover which shot up. “Since then we have seen a dramatic change in weather patterns and an increase across the board in input prices. Evolve Engineering, as the name suggests, is evolving with these changes and paving the way for sustainable enterprises by allowing producers to reduce input costs and manage the challenges that come with increased rainfall. “We are seeing a number of key influences in why farmers are contacting us interested in investing in our machines and leaning towards a more sustainable approach to improving their seasonal practices both in pasture and cropping,” owner Joe Fleming said. Stock prices, the cost and availability of chemicals, fertilisers and inputs and increasing weed resistance

are all weighing on producers and pushing them to seek alternatives. Evolve Engineering is providing this alternative and allowing producers to maximise production efficiency per acre by avoiding elimination of desirable pasture with broadleaf chemical sprays. “I think farmers are realising now how the continual increase of inputs is really hurting their profit margin. It’s just not sustainable anymore. It is really exciting that we can provide a multi-purpose alternative to Australian farmers, helping them to overcome these challenges and make the most of the good seasons we are seeing. “The applications of these machines are only limited by the producer's desire to innovate and implement new practices. An example of this is Gus Hickman using the Bladerunner to knock down seeding Phalaris grass which drastically reduced the prevalence of Pink Eye in his herd. The team at Evolve is customising their patented Bladerunner machines to suit farmers needs across Australia. l

A CONTINUAL EVOLUTION IN FARMING

(L-R) Joe Fleming – Founder of Evovle Engineering – with his team Tim Mutton and Jack Witts, and shed dog Zeus; Evolve Bladerunner 6000 working through pasture to eradicate weeds and promote new growth for the season ahead. Photos by Stephanie Hunter.

JULY - AUGUST 2022

THE FARMER

SPECIAL REPORT CATTLE

MUSTERING 'EM UP

Nic Robertson mustering Turanville Shorthorn bulls for sale. Shorthorn cattle have been bred on Turanville since the mid-1800s and the current custodians of the brand are Doug and Nic Robertson.

THE CATTLE GAME 56

THE FARMER

JULY - AUGUST 2022

With the continued rebuild of the national herd, firm traditional export markets and prices that reflect Australia’s commitment to breeding quality cattle, the future for cattle producers is looking positive.

–

Words JEANETTE SEVERS

he outlook is so positive that Meat and Livestock is forecasting 5.6 per cent growth this year in national herd building, to 27.6 million head. The top five markets for export of Australian beef continue to be China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam and the United States of America, particularly for quality grass-fed and grain-finished beef. China also takes commodity beef from Australia. This demand reflects a growing middle class in all of the top five countries, with increased earning capacity matched by an increased demand for quality protein in the form of meat, particularly red meat. An increasing demand for heavier cattle has seen MLA estimate 2022 slaughter rates will be lower than initially predicted – as it originally forecasted numbers to rise by 11 per cent this year. But overall beef production is forecast to rise by 4.5 per cent to 1.97 million tonnes. Continued good seasonal conditions in farming country – notwithstanding six months of rain across the eastern seaboard and flooding in March affecting many cattle regions in NSW – has guaranteed full soil moisture profiles, giving farmers confidence in spring pasture growth.

“Our southern clients want a complete package of calving and getting growth into the calf. There’s a lot more focus on eye muscle area now and breeding cattle that producers know are going into the feedlot grids.” – BEA LITCHFIELD Hazeldean Angus

The continued growth in demand for Australian beef as a quality grocery item is a significant reflection back on Australia’s main competitive markets, which are in a state of decline and are filling the demand for ground and trim beef, in a similar way to how we were during the protracted drought. These markets include domestic supply in the USA, and Argentina and Brazil, countries that are all in herd retraction status and, like Australia, among the top seven global producers of beef. >

Knowla Livestock Annual Production Sale 1pm Friday 29 July 2022 84 Performance Recorded Bulls, 6 PTIC Stud Heifers and 100 NSM Heifers $500 ONE-OFF REBATE to financial members of NSW Farmers on their purchase

• On property and online sale • Pre Sale inspection Friday 15 July Kanangara, Kia-Ora, Gloucester • Private inspections invited • Free bull delivery to major NSW centres James & Annie Laurie 0439 616 003 jameslaurie@skymesh.com.au Ted & Alison Laurie 0428 472 948 ted@knowlalivestock.com.au Elders Walcha 02 6777 2011 Auctioneer Paul Dooley 0458 662 646

www.knowlalivestock.com.au

SPECIAL REPORT CATTLE

Now the Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting potentially successive La Niña rainfall and other weather predictions also support ongoing positive rainfall conditions. So long as favourable weather and climate conditions continue, herd expansion will be maintained. In recent years, some producers have coupled their herd expansion with an integrated supply chain, developing their own feedlot and processor facilities. There has also been growth in paddock to plate agribusinesses, either as single origin beef or with regional branding encompassing a number of breeders. This has all added up to steadily rising prices at the farm gate in the cattle industry. Commentators keep talking about their expectations that prices will plateau and reset, but the demand for beef globally, especially quality beef, continues to drive cattle prices in Australia. Where did this demand come from? It’s not an overnight sensation. It’s a reflection of decades of breeding investment by cattle producers, and lobbying by producers and industry groups to leverage overseas markets. It’s about building animal welfare and safe food handling into Australia’s supply chain. It’s about culling poor quality cattle and building a herd that is genetically fertile and produces cattle that lay down muscle and marbling in a steady growth pattern. It’s about building a national herd that can finish on grass or grain, allowing Australians to fill diverse markets without having to make major adjustments in their breeding goals. And it’s about investing in and improving the knowledge and skills of everyone who works along the supply chain. BULLS SELECTED FOR PERFORMANCE

Last year, reflecting beef producers’ confidence, cattle breeders purchased 10,000 bulls at auction, as the herd rebuild that began in the previous year gathered pace. Dependent on seasonal conditions and no major climate nor biosecurity disasters, MLA forecasts for the next couple of years large numbers of cattle on feed and prices remaining high. Premiums are incentivising breeders and backgrounders to increase the weight of cattle before they enter the feedlot. This year, as part of their open day inspections, the Laurie family of Knowla Livestock organised a series of guest speakers and created a knowledgesharing event. One of the speakers who addressed the 100-plus-strong crowd of attendees, explained how to prepare cattle for a feedlot. “We thought this year we’d put on a bit more than a pre-sale inspection day, so we organised a genetics industry day and well over 100 people attended,” Ted Laurie said. Andrew Talbot from Elders Killara feedlot talked about feedlot inductions and the pathway that

THE FARMER

JULY - AUGUST 2022

THE BEST GENETIC S

Top: Hazeldean's clients are using Angus genetics in straight and cross-bred breeding systems, to produce cattle that walk up hills and across distances. Bottom: Ed Bradley and Bea Litchfield (with baby Stirling) and Libby and Jim Litchfield, principals of Hazeldean Angus.

producers can take in preparing their cattle on farm to go into the feedlot. “We thought it would be valuable knowledge for us and our clients,” Ted says. “Most of our clients are within a 250km radius of our property and a lot of them sell their turnoff as weaners or as feeder steers in the Angus feedlot market.” The information segued well with a discussion about Knowla stud genetics, presented by Jack Laurie, with an emphasis on how steers from the family’s own commercial herd performed in the feedlot system. “It definitely helps shape what we’re doing from a breeding perspective,” Ted says. “We sell our commercial progeny into the feeder steers market.”

ANNUAL BULL SALE 14TH JULY 2022 AT 1 PM

70 BULLS

LOT 3 BOORAGUL REALIST R122

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It’s no surprise, either, that a feedlot would specialise in finishing Angus cattle, given 48 per cent of Australia’s national herd is Angus or has components of Angus breeding. That percentage is not lost on the Litchfield family, principals of Hazeldean Angus. Two generations of the family – Jim and Libby, with daughter Bea and her husband, Ed Bradley, breed stud and commercial herds in Cooma, and run four bull sales, two on-property at Cooma, one in Tamworth and one in Queensland. The demand for British breeds to bring muscle development into northern cattle, enabling producers to turn off young stock faster into feeder steer markets, has seen the rise of Angus-cross progeny in northern Australia, and in northern NSW, including the development of Brangus – a cross of 5/8 Angus and 3/8 Brahman – as a breed of its own. For 25 years, the Litchfield family has been selling Angus bulls to Queensland pastoralists. All bulls are bred at Cooma, in NSW Monaro country, renowned for its short growing season and tough snow-filled winters. “We breed our cattle in the south at Cooma, as they often need to calve and rebreed before a Spring break," says Bea Litchfield. “When they go into more marginal country in Queensland, the bulls perform. A lot of our Queensland clients have cross-breeding enterprises and buy Angus for ease of calving, improved carcase merit and significant market premiums. “Our southern clients want a complete package of calving ease and getting growth into the calf. There’s a lot more focus on carcase quality, particularly intramuscular fat, and breeding cattle that producers and processors know are going to perform well on the feedlot grids.” Bea said having a reputation for breeding bulls with superior >

LOT 6 BOORAGUL REALIST R133

LOT 17 BOORAGUL NOBLEMAN R101

On Property “Downfield” Gunnedah NSW Contact Tim Vincent: 0429 031 610

SPECIAL REPORT CATTLE

been able to invest in more bulls and increased their joining rates. So long as there’s grass on the ground, there’s buoyancy. When that tightens up, we’ll see an adjustment in the market.” BUILDING KNOWLEDGE ACROSS THE INDUSTRY

IN THE KNOW

Studs such as Knowla Livestock (their cattle is pictured above) support knowledge development through partnerships with schools. They helped Pymble Ladies College establish a cattle club.

fertility and growth and constitution traits was an advantage, as commercial breeders were looking for potential sires that could equally go into mobs of heifers and cows. “The cattle industry forecast is for a very, very positive future. The market is sitting in a place that complements people’s breeding,” she says. “The demand for red meat is continuing to head in a positive direction, locally and globally,” she adds. “For those cattle producers who stuck it out through the drought and kept the best of their herds, they’ve

With the next generation coming into the cattle industry during a buoyant period, the emphasis is on opportunity and knowledge building. A healthy industry expands that knowledge building across the sector, focussing internally and externally, formally and informally. Studs such as Knowla Livestock support knowledge development through partnerships with schools. About a decade ago, on their daughter’s initiative, Ted and Alison Laurie helped Pymble Ladies College establish a cattle club, and they continue to donate four steers each year. “The students have had great success showing our steers and entering a carcase competition every year,” Ted Laurie says. “It’s a really good partnership. Forty students participate in two classes a week, learning to look after and feed the steers, and they show their cattle in a few local shows throughout the year. “It’s also an opportunity to educate students from suburbia about the beef industry, about where their > food comes from and how it’s produced.”

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SPECIAL REPORT CATTLE

The cattle are part of a small school farm that also hosts sheep, chickens and ducks. At Booragul Angus stud, the Vincent family continues to support the next generation, with Hayden undertaking a certificate in agriculture traineeship on farm, working beside his parents, Tim and Margaret. Hayden is the third generation of the family to be involved with Booragul Angus, where the focus is on own-bred bulls, and the buying of selected genetics. “We select up to six bulls a year that we’ve bred ourselves, to use in our breeding program,” Tim says. The strategy pays off. Last year, the highest price paid for a bull at their on-property sale was for a son of Booragul Docklands. He had progeny on the ground prior to the sale, which enabled clients to see the physical results of breeding by him, as well as his genetic data. Tim has been a mentor for many years, and is on the Northern Advisory Committee, working with commercial cattle breeders in northern Australia. “The members of the Northern Advisory Committee are working with commercial cattle breeders in northern Australia to identify how to breed with Angus in the tropical climate and achieve profit margins,” he says. More broadly, industry initiatives can create measurable benefits where they’re least expected. At the end of June this year, Angus Australia released a range of education and training resources for livestock agents, to help them build the skills needed to help their clients build their businesses. Jake Phillips, Angus Australia’s Extension Manager, said The Stock Agent’s Toolkit is a new addition to a suite of resources in the organisation’s online Education Centre and recognises the livestock agent’s role in the beef industry. “We realised livestock agents play a really crucial role for being a catalyst of stud and commercial information, so we created an education tool that’s

THE FARMER

JULY - AUGUST 2022

EXCEPTIONAL GENES

Top left, then clockwise: Booragul Angus cattle grazing in a forage crop; The Vincent family (Hayden, Margaret, Tim and Amy) from Booragul Angus; This year Knowla Livestock (cattle pictured above) will again offer six pregnancy-testedin-calf stud heifers and 100 unjoined commercial heifers, alongside their bulls at their on-property sale.

very tailored for stock agents, with written, video and audio options,” Jake says. “It summarises a lot of information available to breeders into key segments, including about the role of genetics in a clients’ herd, environmental factors, and how to interpret information in sale catalogues. “Stock agents are the catalyst for the transaction that occurs in the marketplace between the seedstock breeder and the commercial buyer. This toolkit will enable them to have strategic conversations about genetics with breeders and clients.” EXPANDING THE INDUSTRY

The Laurie family are one of a number of studs that release female cattle each year – from their stud and commercial herds – to enable people to enter the industry, or expand their existing herd’s genetic potential. This year Knowla Livestock will again offer six pregnancy-tested-in-calf stud heifers and 100

unjoined commercial heifers, as part of their on-property bull sale, at Kangangra. “People breed their own females, so we focus on the maternal traits, and we don’t compromise on things like temperament and the maternal traits of cows,” Ted says. “We create a moderate package that fits most production systems.” For the second year in a row, Knowla Livestock will also support NSW Farmers members who buy at their bull and female sale. Financial members of NSWFA, who register as bidders at the production sale, will receive a one-off $500 rebate on their purchase at the sale. “This was a popular offer at last year’s sale, so we’ve decided to continue it this year,” Ted says. “We feel NSWFA does a very good job of representing NSW farmers and we also want to show our appreciation to existing clients for their support of the organisation and our sale.” Circle8 principal, Jeremy Cooper, has decided to celebrate 30 years of breeding by releasing an entire quotient of heifers at this year’s on-property bull sale. At Booragul Angus, the Vincent family released embryos for sale this year, bought by studs in Victoria and Queensland at the Sydney Royal Show at Easter. The embryo sale was a follow up to their first female sale in November last year. “The female sale was an opportunity to attract new clients and provide an opportunity for younger people coming into the industry to invest in some prime genetics,” Tim Vincent says. Booragul Angus bulls are bred for diverse markets, bought by breeders from northern NSW, Katherine and South Australia. “We have to supply bulls that have a pretty broad range of requirements – for breeders, to sire progeny that meet the heavy steer feedlot grid, to breed terminal cross cattle in northern Australia where they end up in a composite, and for commercial >

ON-PROPERTY

BULL SALE PERFORMANCE BRED CARCASS DRIVEN GRASS FED

REBATE ALL AGENTS

18TH AUGUST 2022 SELECTING THE BEST

A bull from Booragul Angus, where they select up to six bulls a year that they bred themselves, for their next breeding program.

Contact Doug Robertson 0418 619 909 Turanville Scone View Catalogue at www.turanville.com.au

breeders in New England and northwest NSW that are meeting supermarket specifications,” Tim says. At Ironbark Herefords, Adrian Spencer has taken advantage of opportunities to be an advocate for the cattle industry, travelling to the northern hemisphere to help build Australia’s live cattle trade markets. Taking those opportunities helped him build partnerships to sell breeding females into Serbian and surrounding countries, building the global uptake of Australian genetics that has helped establish new markets. BULLS HELP BUILD BEEF BRANDING

The modern day customer is searching for more than just beef when it comes to their consumer habits – they are looking for a quality eating experience and, from a beef industry point of view, it is important that we give them that.

THE FARMER

JULY - AUGUST 2022

THE RIGHT BULLS

Top left then clockwise: A Knowla Livestock bull; Jake Phillips from Angus Australia; Turanville Shorthorn bulls being rounded up for sale.

That’s the view of Turanville Shorthorns principals, Doug and Nic Robertson. With the Meat Standards Australia (MSA) grading system now widely adopted across the beef industry production chain, processors can underpin quality in their production systems and in doing so grow brand names. “Building quality is where the future of the cattle industry lays,” says Doug. “For a branded product to survive in the marketplace it must be of high quality and consistent and these characteristics are both delivered by Shorthorns. This is also why they still walk the paddocks of Turanville and have done so since the mid-1800s.” Doug, as the current generational custodian of Turanville, has spent his life developing the herd. “I focus on mid maturity style cattle that are balanced in their carcass attributes. Above average

SPECIAL REPORT CATTLE

“We realised livestock agents play a really crucial role for being a catalyst of stud and commercial information, so we created an education tool that’s very tailored for stock agents, with written, video and audio options.” – JAKE PHILLIPS Angus Australia's Extension Manager

marbling is a must, along with doing ability and fat cover. Visual muscle shape with a good soft cover results in yield – we have to maintain yield for processor profitability as well,” he says. “This leads me to source genetics that have shape and muscling, but are not too heavy in the bone, so as not to create calving problems.” Many Turanville clients produce feeder steers for the Thousand Guineas brand label and since its inception the brand has continued to build returns for producers, with feeder steer prices consistently competitive and profitable for the producers who supply to it. “On occasions, Turanville Shorthorns genetics have achieved above the Angus feeder price,” Doug says. “As well as the Thousand Guineas Grid, Shorthorns also fit well into the JBS Great Southern Grassfed label. Turanville has focussed on this market with their own commercial cattle and has also seen clients achieve some outstanding results. “Rose Grange Pastoral Company, with properties in Victoria and southern NSW, joins Turanville Shorthorn ai16557692037_Jacks Creek No text PlaceX.pdf

21/6/2022

BUYING WAGYU BACKGROUNDERS, FEEDERS & CARCASES F1 TO FULLBLOOD

CONTACT VICTOR RIXON

0418 763 857 | VICTOR.RIXON@JACKSCREEK.COM.AU

9:53 am

bulls to Angus cows. They recently consigned a line of 54 steers to the JBS Great Southern Brooklyn plant. “From a profitability point of view, the most telling fact from the kill sheet data shows 30 per cent of the consignment achieved the 0.30c/kg premium for high indexing, high marbled carcasses. “These results back up our claims of carcass consistency by using Turanville Shorthorns. Across the kill sheet the average weight of the steers was 390kg with an average ossification of 152. The average marble score was 3.52 with one individual scoring a 9. “What’s very favourable is this was done with average fat measurement of 11mm, which reflects good yield results for the processor. The consignment had an average MSA Index score of 64.93 across the 54 head of Shorthorn-Angus cross steers.” Doug said the results reflected a genetic mix that balances carcasse traits with maternal and fertility traits. “These are the real drivers of profitability in a commercial herd and are the traits we believe Turanville Shorthorns can really deliver on,” he says. In the last four years Doug and Nic have brought an infusion of Red Angus genetics into their breeding program; this has created their Durham Red breeding program. “The Durham Reds offer clients the opportunity to introduce hybrid vigour into their own herds without compromising their Shorthorn traits and, more importantly, Shorthorn branded markets like Thousand Guineas, which requires cattle with assured 75 per cent Shorthorn blood,” Doug says. “The Red Angus genetics have to pass rigorous standards to be included in the Durham Red programme at Turanville and the future of these cattle was cemented by the inquiry at last year’s sale when the first Durham Red was offered.” >

More stud breeders are proving the capacity of Australian cattle by following the performance of their own and their client’s commercial progeny. The family behind Hazeldean Angus is also focussed on extrapolating data that helps their clients run profitable businesses. “Almost all our customers are commercial breeders, we rarely sell to stud buyers,” Bea Litchfield says. “Because of our scale, we focus on commercial viability.” The family has commercial and stud herds on their Monaro properties and Bea says this is an advantage when it comes to understanding clients’ businesses. “If your commercial herd is performing for you, it’s a direct result of what you’re doing in the stud herd. It’s in synch with what your clients are doing, trying to run a profitable operation,” she says. Hazeldean Angus turns off weaner cattle, trading directly with Rangers Valley Feedlot, reflecting the same business decisions of many of their clients. “Our clients are using Angus genetics in straight and cross-bred breeding systems, in southern and northern climates, needing cattle with good constitutions that can withstand and perform in a wide range of environments," Bea says. “By understanding what our commercial cattle are doing – and knowing we are doing it in a no-frills system that is all about structural correctness, temperament and commercial viability – how our cattle perform in a feedlot environment reflects knowledge about how our clients’ cattle perform.”

THE FARMER

JULY - AUGUST 2022

COMMERCIAL VIABILITY

CREATING STRONG PARTNERSHIPS

The family behind Hazeldean Angus (their cattle is pictured above) focusses on extrapolating data that helps their clients run profitable businesses.

The family behind Ironbark Herefords has a multifaceted branded business building real rewards for clients, tracing data from the bull pen to the feedlot. Adrian and Wendy Spencer – with children Hugh, Ben, and Isabella – run stud and commercial breeding herds and a feedlot to grow out and finish their own and clients’ cattle, consistently meeting the grid for a local beef processor. Adrian and Wendy focus on their breeding herds – with 1000 stud cows and 300 commercial cows – while Isy, Ben and Hugh are responsible for the feedlot with its focus on turning off 400 cattle each month for a domestic processor. The family is supported by a staff of seven people. “Everyone has roles across the enterprise,” Adrian says. Ironbark Herefords provides their own and some clients’ feeder cattle for a 70-day turnaround, going

“If your commercial herd is performing for you, it's a direct result of what you're doing in the stud herd. It's in synch with what your clients are doing, trying to run a profitable operation.” BEA LITCHFIELD Hazeldean Angus

SPECIAL REPORT CATTLE

FROM LITTLE THINGS, BIG THINGS GROW

Top to bottom: Turanville Shorthorns weaner heifers; Booragul Angus bulls are prepared for sale with a few weeks grazing a forage crop.

in at 340-350kg and killed at a dressed weight of 270-310kg. They also purchase 2000 trade steers throughout the year for the feedlot. The data from the feedlot and processor helps shape the family’s own stud and commercial breeding direction. “We get a lot of feedback on our program. It enables us to trace different lines from our stud operation and get a real indication about how our cattle are performing,” Adrian says. “It’s data that adds to the stud’s capacity to breed cattle to perform in the paddock. “Our stud herd runs in a commercial environment. So the cows need to prove themselves in a commercial environment, and that’s how we’ve developed milking ability, calving ease and constitution,” he adds. “I believe if a breed can’t calve its own breed, your stud is in trouble. Heifers need to be able to calve successfully to the same breed bulls. This year is Ironbark’s 89th year breeding Hereford cattle and we have 50 years of low birth weight data for establishing calving ease into our program. “The commercial farmer needs to be able to rely on traits that produce easy-care cattle. Calving problems are also an animal welfare problem, that as a cattle producer and a stud breeder, you have to address and fix.” l

FRE DELI E VE IN NS RY W

DE FR LI EE VE R

430 BULLS FOR SALE

Bred from one of Australia’s largest Angus Stud

Drillham - Queensland Thursday, 11th August 200 Bulls

TRLX Tamworth - NSW Tuesday, 16th August 80 Bulls

Hazledean Spring Bull Sale 150 Bulls | 1st September 2022

CATALOGUE ONLINE AT

Hazeldean May Bull Sale 80 Bulls | 5th May 2022

WWW.HAZLEDEAN.COM.AU

Queensland Sale

200 Bulls | 11th August 2022 | Drillham QLD

Tamworth Sale

80 Bulls | 16th August 2022 | TRLX Tamworth.

Ed Bradley - 0412 298 546 • Bea Litchfield - 0427 933 103 Spring Bull Sale Hazeldean 150 Bulls | 1st September 2022 | Hazeldean Merino is in its 157th year of operation Jim Litchfield - 0417 676 561 • edbradley@hazeldean.com.au Monaro Ram Sale

SPECIAL REPORT ANNUAL CONFERENCE

COMING TOGETHER FOR THE FUTURE OF AG More than 300 farmers from across NSW will meet at Sydney’s Luna Park as delegates for the NSW Farmers Annual Conference on July 19-21.

–

Words TONY BLACKIE

THE FARMER

JULY - AUGUST 2022

THE FARMER

SPECIAL REPORT ANNUAL CONFERENCE

his year the Annual Conference has even greater significance and importance to our rural community than ever before. For the past two years farmers and rural businesses from all corners of the state have experienced unprecedented issues due to bushfires, floods, a global pandemic, global supply chain issues and a war in Europe. Over this time the Annual Conference had to be held virtually due to the COVID pandemic, so 2022 will bring farmer representatives together physically once again. These issues will be discussed at length at the conference where around 100 motions on agricultural and rural affairs issues will be debated. Some of the major topics for discussion will include biosecurity, land planning, the management of pests, weeds and water, livestock traceability and energy transition. It is expected, as always, that the discussion will be lively and with the input of experts in all fields.

THE FARMER

JULY - AUGUST 2022

ALL MIND S ON DECK

INSIGHT FROM SPEAKERS

Some of the major topics for discussion will include land planning, biosecurity, livestock traceability and competition policy. It is expected, as always, that the discussion will be lively and with the input of experts in all fields.

For 2022 the impressive line-up of speakers will provide great insights into government, corporate and industry issues. NSW Farmers CEO Pete Arkle said it is exciting to be back at Luna Park in 2022 after a two-year COVID-induced hiatus. “The 2022 Annual Conference is the principal policysetting agenda for our members to advance agriculture and regional communities in NSW. It is really important to the DNA of NSW Farmers,” Pete said. “We’ve had virtual events for the last two years, which did work, but it’s not the same as getting farmers, industry leaders, politicians and service providers all together in the one place.” Pete said the 2022 Annual Conference features a number of keynote speakers, including NSW Agriculture Minister Dugald Saunders, NSW Opposition Leader Chris Minns, NSW RFS Commissioner Rob Rogers and National Farmers Federation President Fiona Simson and CEO Tony Maher.

“Debating and setting NSW Farmers advocacy priorities is the focus, but it’s also an opportunity for members to share farming stories and get insights from our business partners, sponsors and government bodies.” HOT TOPICS FROM THE FRONTLINE

An issue which has been high on the agenda for many farmers has been the perception of escalating crime in rural areas. A recent survey showed that 81 per cent of farmers felt victimised by crime. High cattle and sheep prices have made many farmers very nervous about the safety of their stock

P OLICY SETTING GET TO GETHER

“The 2022 Annual Conference is the principal policysetting agenda for our members to advance agriculture and regional communities in NSW," Pete Arkle (pictured here at the 2019 conference) said.

so NSW Police have been working to defeat the criminals through the specialised unit, The Rural Crime Prevention Team (RCPT). Representatives of the team will be attending the Conference and will be available to answer questions from delegates. Other notable attendees will include representatives from Isuzu Trucks, a company which has been a supporter of NSW Farmers for some time. The company has operated since 1979, and has a long association with the many agricultural sectors of Australia. Grant Walford, Isuzu Australia’s Fleet Sales Manager for NSW, said the company was proud of its heritage in supporting the farming and rural community from a product and service provision front, but also the many sponsorships and support initiatives it was involved in. “Over the last half century, Isuzu products have taken a range of shapes and forms, many of which Australian farmers would be familiar with. Although, some of our guiding principles have never changed – reliability, range, and application specificity,” he said. “Isuzu has a long history of learning from experience and utilising feedback. Australia’s agricultural sectors are a diverse range of communities that Isuzu has sought a genuine working relationship with. By way of the brand’s expansive dealer footprint, we have confidence in our product, local knowledge and also in our thought leadership when it comes to application-specific road transport solutions. “We’ve always said that our people are our greatest asset at Isuzu, and when it comes to rural and regional Australia, it’s these relationships that matter most. We know our market, we know our customers and perhaps most importantly, we have an expert level of knowledge when it comes to building and developing regional businesses and their transport needs.” >

NRAR is coming to a ﬁeld day near you Field days are a fantastic opportunity to ask questions about metering, basic landholder rights, water access licences, or work approvals. With a range of fact sheets and handy e-tools, we’ll help you know the rules. The next stop for our friendly NRAR ofﬁcers is Mudgee Small Farm Field Days, site #583. You can also catch us at AgQuip, Henty, Murrumbateman, ANFD and Primex later this year. Scan the QR code for a full list of events.

Natural Resources Access Regulator www.nrar.nsw.gov.au | 1800 633 362 | nrar.enquiries@nrar.nsw.gov.au

SPECIAL REPORT ANNUAL CONFERENCE

“We’ve had virtual events for the last two years, which did work, but it’s not the same as getting farmers, industry leaders, politicians and service providers all together in the one place.” – PETE ARKLE CEO, NSW Farmers

Mr Walford said in addition to the truck and vehicle operations, Isuzu’s Power Solutions arm was also assisting farmers in diverse areas such as the design of irrigation systems for a cool climate vineyard in Victoria’s King Valley, to assembling and installing marine engines for barges in Far North Queensland. INVESTING IN REGIONAL AUSTRALIA

Another long-time supporter of the rural and farming community is the Regional Investment Corporation (RIC) which has been providing concessional loans for approved projects with the aim of building a stronger regional Australia. RIC loans provide federal government-backed concessional finance for farmers, farm-related small businesses and plantation businesses. The RIC loans are available nationally and aim to help businesses improve productivity, profitability, and ongoing financial resilience. The RIC management and staff said they were pleased to partner with the NSW Farmers Annual

THE FARMER

JULY - AUGUST 2022

DEBATE & ADVO CACY

Top to bottom: Debating and setting NSW Farmers advocacy priorities is the focus, but it’s also an opportunity for members to share farming stories and get insights from our business partners, sponsors and government bodies; NSW Farmers CEO Pete Arkle with President James Jackson at the 2019 Annual Conference.

Conference and are looking forward to continuing to provide concessional loan support available to farm and farm-related small businesses in financial need. WFI has been supporting NSW Farmers with the WFI Rural Plan – a specialised rural and regional oriented insurance package. The insurer has been around for more than 100 years and has built a network of more than 80 area managers across Australia with more than 30 per cent of them located in NSW. Farmers are able to deal directly with an Area Manager who is always resident in the area. For members of NSW Farmers, WFI offers a rebate off their membership fee. A spokesperson said WFI was proud to partner with NSW Farmers. “We share the same values and understand the importance of protecting you against loss with flexible insurance options. WFI recognises that every farm is different, and that there is no one size fits all when it comes to rural insurance.” Among the exhibiters expected to join the conference Expo Hall is leading Australian real estate funds manager, EG who help grow the wealth of their private investors through commercial property syndication opportunities. Targeting cash returns of 6.5 per cent p.a. and consistently delivering above-average returns and capital growth, EG takes a personalised and aligned approach to every opportunity. “We are excited to share our bespoke offerings with members of the NSW Farmers Association who are looking for a savvy property investments with manager who truly cares about their success,” said EG’s Head of Private Wealth, Rodney Walt. “We’re a data driven team, offering hands-on, bespoke property opportunities, combined with a personalised service at every stage. Our investor community take great comfort in knowing we are only a phone call away.” EG uses its data-driven approach to uncover new opportunities and enhance returns with proprietary risk-management software. EG has been around for

more than 20 years, deploying over $5.1 billion in capital and delivering strong yields and capital growth in the medium to long term. BOOTS ON THE GROUND SUPPORT

Local Land Services is the premier NSW government organisation for delivering farm production, biosecurity and natural resource management extension, advisory and capacity building services. Its network of expert staff, specialising in everything from veterinary advice to native vegetation management, stretches right across regional NSW giving farmers a familiar face they can rely on for expert, on-ground and tailored advice and services. Local Land Services Chair, Allison Harker, said it is the agency’s ‘boots on the ground’ approach and strong connections with local farmers across the state that allows staff to provide the best support possible. “While it is always important to focus on the big picture when it comes to developing our agriculture sector, you cannot overlook the importance of practice change at the farm level,” Allison says. “At Local Land Services, we support and work with landholders to make these farm level changes, which ultimately drive increased productivity, sustainability and improved biosecurity practices across the entire industry.” “Local Land Services wants to work collaboratively with industry and landholders to see what services are most needed and where we can best support farmers, which is why the NSW Farmers Conference is a great opportunity to kickstart these discussions and hear directly from both producers and industry.”

STRONG CONNECTIONS

Top to bottom: Experienced staff have knowledge about the land, conditions and communities they work in; LLS Board Chair, Allison Harker.

With Local Land Services joining us once again at the NSW Farmers Conference, we will be incredibly well placed to delve into the exciting opportunities available for farmers, as well as the big issues impacting our state’s agriculture sector. The organisation is currently investing considerable resources into supporting the implementation of sustainable ag production, driving the sustainable development of the farm forestry sector after implementing new codes of practice, and with its team of veterinarians and biosecurity officers, it plays a key role in the early detection of animal and plant diseases. l JULY - AUGUST 2022

THE FARMER

SPECIAL REPORT FARM MACHINERY

Decking out the farm with the right gear Good seasons with high commodity prices combined with global crises and supply chain shocks have had a big impact on farmers’ farm machinery purchase decisions.

–

Words DARREN BAGULEY

“

May you live in interesting times” is an ancient Chinese curse, and there’s no doubt about it, times are certainly interesting for the Australian farm machinery sector. Farmers are flush with cash due to good seasons and high commodity prices, but supply constraints caused by the ongoing pandemic and global uncertainty are impacting supply chains. Here we cover some businesses with different products on offer, and stories of trends that they’ve seen recently in agriculture. AUSTRALIAN-MADE EQUIPMENT AHEAD ON AVAILABILITY

The Seed Terminator is an Australian invention designed and manufactured in Australia that attaches to harvesters, where it kills off seeds before they become weeds. “Some farmers are feeling let down by the mainstream suppliers and dealers,” says marketing manager Kelly Ingram. “Machinery costs seem to have grown faster than normal, delivery dates are flexible at best, and the ability of the dealer to support the products is the worst it has ever been. One response to these factors is that farmers are locking in purchases earlier than ever due to long lead times on mainline machinery brands.

FORGET THE DRIVER

An autonomous battery-powered electric tractor by John Deere.

THE FARMER

JULY - AUGUST 2022

“Some of these situations can be alleviated by purchasing Australian-made products, that have stable local production and supplies of spare parts,” she says. “However we need to think outside the box to overcome these issues – hold larger inventories, order inputs further ahead, be inventive about finding good staff and retaining them.” While supply chain issues such as stock delays and staffing issues are driving many of the buying trends at the moment – as well as creating both short-term and long-term costs, Kelly says farmers’ buying decisions are still driven by the need to solve problems on their farms. “Seed Terminator is a product proven to be very successful at actually killing weed seeds but the drivers for farmers investing in mechanical weed control are varied,” she says. “We see innovative growers looking to diversify their weed control to stay on top of their weed seed bank, growers with herbicide resistance problems who need to diversify, or those just looking to tidy up at harvest as they don’t see the value in spreading weed seeds out the back as they harvest.” TREND TOWARDS TOUGH MACHINERY FARMERS CAN REPAIR THEMSELVES

Australian Frontline Machinery is dedicated to auctioning ex-Australian military assets ranging from trailers to helicopters, motorbikes to Mack trucks. According to marketing and sales manager, Tara O’Hara, there is a definite trend towards equipment that is tough and easy to operate, and that farmers can repair themselves. And despite

Unlike new equipment, where there is not always a lot of room to negotiate.” Tara says that the Mack R6X6 cargo trucks have been a best seller in the past, and that they come with a winch and cargo crane so farmers can use them to carry all sorts of things around the farm such as hay and livestock. “Recently we’ve seen a trend towards the Mercedes-Benz Unimog,” she says. “They’re a 4X4 vehicle that also comes with a cargo crane and winch that is extremely capable – some farmers are even using them to pull implements. “Just like the rest of the country we have experienced higher prices for vehicles, but it hasn’t affected the Unimog or the Mack that much,” she adds. “It’s really only affected Land Rovers, which have almost doubled in price when it comes to average auction prices.” THE TERMINATOR

REDUCING INPUT COSTS

The Seed Terminator kills off seeds before they become weeds.

Michael Murphy of Essar Machinery, and the NSW agent for Diesel Performance Solutions, has seen strong growth in one of the company’s main services – remapping engine control units (ECUs) of tractors, harvesters and other farming machinery to bypass the need to use AdBlue. “AdBlue is another high-cost consumable for farmers and if something related to the AdBlue breaks down, instead of just one day to source parts as it would be for a non-AdBlue diesel engine, it can be three to four days before the parts to fix it are available,” he explains. “I go out to the farm and take all of the information out of an engine’s ECU, >

the great season and strong prices, many farmers are still looking for a bargain. “We’re giving farmers the opportunity to buy used machinery over brand new machinery, in order to avoid paying those exorbitant upfront costs,” Tara says. “It’s particularly good for smaller farmers who don’t necessarily have the capital to be able to purchase new equipment and because they can bid on the equipment, they can determine exactly what their price point is.

E L K C A UNSH RSELF YOU ROL PRICES! T FROM PE

Justin Hoad – 0412 209 328

contact@electricoffroadbikes.com.au

electricoffroadbikes.com.au

SPECIAL REPORT FARM MACHINERY

download it onto a laptop, send it away to the technicians at DPS, and they remap the ECU to make the modifications they need to adjust then I redownload it to the ECU of the tractor,” he says. “As well as bypassing the need to use AdBlue, some farmers are opting to increase the horsepower of their machinery. By remapping the ECU, farmers can get a 180-horsepower tractor to perform at a similar level to a 250-horsepower tractor for much less investment than buying the larger unit.”

ROLLOVER PROTECTION REGULATIONS DRIVES DIFFERENT BUYING

It’s not just big iron that is seeing new major trends in buying patterns. According to Justin Hoad of Electric Offroad Bikes, in the personal transport segment, a big change has been that four-wheelers now need to have rollover protection. “As a result, a lot of farmers are switching to side-by-sides, but they can be just as big of a rollover risk, and if you don’t have a seatbelt, they can be just as dangerous as a quad bike,” he says. “In

addition, they are expensive to purchase and run compared to a quad bike, so people are going back to two-wheeled bikes as an option.” And so, Justin explains that they are now offering an electric two-wheel bike that runs on batteries and can be charged at home, allowing farmers to decouple from the fossil fuel industry. “Even if there is a fuel crisis like there is now, you can still get around your farm,” he says. “A lot of farmers have invested in solar panels to offset the cost of running items such as irrigation pumps and shearing sheds. So for them, an electric bike is very cheap to run around the farm. It’s also lightweight and so instead of a 300kg quad bike possibly landing on you, you’d have a 60kg or 80kg two-wheel bike, which you can crawl out from under if you need to.” Electric Offroad Bikes has a range of models with ranges of 50 and 100 kilometres, or “three to eight hours of mustering type work where you’re poking around behind stock,” says Justin. “Most of them take only three or four hours to recharge and many users buy a second battery so they can have one on charge and one in the bike.” THE FUTURE OF FARMING IS AUTONOMOUS AND ENERGY INDEPENDENT

BIG BOYS' TOYS ON THE FARM

Top to bottom: An electric two-wheel bike from Electric Offroad Bikes, that runs on batteries and can be charged at home, allowing farmers to decouple from the fossil fuel industry; A Mack water tanker from Australian Frontline Machinery.

THE FARMER

JULY - AUGUST 2022

Farmers seeking energy independence is a nascent but growing trend that is only going to gather pace with John Deere announcing an autonomous battery-powered electric tractor at Hort Connections 2022 in Brisbane, slated to be launched in Australia in 2026. “Electrification and autonomous equipment help businesses reduce CO 2 emissions, improve safety and bolster productivity – all outcomes which strongly align with John Deere’s overarching goal to deliver a fleet of intelligent and connected machines to help the industry become more sustainable, productive and efficient,” says John Deere Australia and New Zealand Production System Manager, Steph Gersekowski. “Automation is perfectly scalable, meaning farmers can rapidly scale up the use of autonomous equipment during pinch-point moments, like harvest or spraying, where labour may be scarce, and then just as easily scale down when they have less time constraints or greater access to skilled workers,” she says. “Rather than being a futuristic ideal, electrification and autonomous machinery has become today’s expectation.” l

O N L I N E AU C T I O N S M AC K S | U N I M O G S | C R A N E T R U C K S WAT E R TA N K E R S | AT VS | M AC H I N E RY

A U S T R A L I A N F R O N T L I N E M A C H I N E R Y. C O M . A U

TRADING PLACES After years of strong ties with China, a trade alliance with India could spell changing tides for Australia, and shifting dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region.

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Words EMILY SIMPSON

n interim free trade agreement is heralding a new era of trade relations between Australia and India, with tariffs on 85 per cent of Australian exports to be cut and agriculture set to be a key beneficiary. The value of trade between Australia and India has boomed over the past decade, growing from $13.6 billion in 2007 to $24.5 billion in 2020. The recently inked AustraliaIndia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (AI-CECA) aims to deepen this relationship, opening both economies to a bigger pool of goods and services. For Australia, the agreement could mean greater access to the world’s fastest growing economy and a market of 1.3 billion people. Many agricultural commodities will benefit from immediate and phased-in tariff cuts when the agreement comes into effect later in the year. Sheep meat, wine, fruit,

THE FARMER

JULY - AUGUST 2022

nuts, vegetables, wool, dairy concentrates, lentils and seeds are among the big winners, following decade-long negotiations between Canberra and New Delhi. Jenny Bradley is a sheep producer based near Armatree in central New South Wales and the chair of the NSW Farmers Sheep Meat Committee. She welcomes the immediate removal of a 30 per cent tariff on Australian sheep meat and looks forward to a more competitive international market for producers. “This trade deal will make us less exposed to fickle export markets, like what we saw in 2020 when a major trading partner added hefty tariffs to several Australian goods overnight,” Jenny says. “It is also great timing for lamb producers, given our sheep numbers and prices are reaching historic highs. The timing really could not be better.” The wool industry is another key beneficiary of the proposed trade agreement,

buoying the already strong presence of Australian wool in India. India has become the third largest importer of Australian wool in recent years, and an 82 per cent year-on-year increase in volume purchased between July 2021 to January this year means the agreement is ideally timed. HORTICULTURE: A BIG WINNER

The trade agreement, when ratified, will phase out tariffs over seven years on a range of horticultural commodities, including cherries, raspberries, blueberries, macadamia nuts, hazelnuts, avocados, lettuce, celery and spinach. The macadamia industry sees enormous potential from the scaled back tariff. Chief executive of the Australian Macadamia Society Jolyon Burnett says the deal coincides with the industry’s drive to make India one of its key export destinations.

INTERNATIONAL INFLUENCE INDIA AGREEMENT

“This agreement opens the door to a potentially huge market at a time when the industry is rapidly increasing supply and actively looking for new markets,” Jolyon says. “Eating nuts is part of the Indian way of life, and with the necessary market research and trade development, India has the potential to be worth up to $100 million to the industry.” THE BOOMING CROPPING SECTOR

For the cropping sector, which is set to experience its third consecutive bumper harvest, the proposed trade deal is mostly a case of business as usual. But industry leaders remain hopeful that come September, when the interim agreement is reviewed, the Indian government will realise an opportunity in Australia’s booming cropping industries. Grain Producers Australia chair Barry Large says the interim agreement is a positive start, but there remains room to harness more potential from Australian production in the future. “Reducing tariffs and other trade barriers for Australian grains will not only open up better opportunities for Australian growers,

but it can also deliver real benefits for 1.3 million Indian consumers who can access our high-quality products in their daily diet,” he says. The omission of chickpeas from the tariff cuts has come as a shock to industry leaders. India – where pulses are a dietary staple – was the dominant export market for Australian lentils and chickpeas prior to the introduction of hefty tariffs in December 2017. According to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Australian lentil exports to India were worth almost $1 billion while Australian chickpeas had an almost $1.4 billion stake in the Indian market. While the 2022 interim agreement has given renewed hope to lentil growers, the prohibitive 66 per cent tariff on chickpeas will remain intact. Pulse Australia chief executive Nick Goddard said this is a disappointing outcome that will negatively impact both Australia and India.“With India effectively shutting the door to Australian chickpeas, not only will Australian growers remain locked out of what was their main export market, but India will be reliant on its domestic crop,” Nick says.

Chickpeas are consumed as a wholefood and they are a key ingredient in dhal, a popular Indian dish, so any disruption to domestic production would be keenly felt there. “Monsoon conditions present the biggest risk to India’s chickpea production,” Nick says. “With the monsoon coinciding with an off-season for chickpea production here, there is no way Australia could just step in during an emergency.” Nick says the tariffs imposed in 2017 were a significant blow to the pulse sector, which had fine-tuned its exports for the Indian market. “When David Littleproud became Agriculture Minister, one of his first priorities was to have the prohibitive tariffs removed, and within weeks of entering office he was on a plane to India to negotiate with leaders there,” he recalls. New South Wales had been a leader in breeding chickpeas tailored to the Indian market, with the NSW Department of Primary Industries a co-collaborator w i t h t h e G r a i n s Re s e a r c h a n d Development Corporation for the national chickpea breeding program, Chickpea Breeding Australia. >

NUTTING OUT THE NITTY GRITTY

The agreement offers Australian producers access to the massive market of India’s 1.3 billion population. Macadamia growers are keen to tap into the national fondness for eating nuts, although there’s less hope our chickpeas will become a staple in dhal recipes. JULY - AUGUST 2022

THE FARMER

INTERNATIONAL INFLUENCE INDIA AGREEMENT

However, the interim agreement is not all unwelcome news for the pulse and oilseed industries. The phase-out of tariffs on crude canola oil over seven years has opened significant market and value-add opportunities. New South Wales will be a key recipient of this value, with canola processing plants in Wagga Wagga, Cootamundra, Manildra and Newcastle. While the removal of an 11 per cent tariff on lentils would only apply up to 150,000 tonnes, Nick says it provides a glimmer of hope and a foot in the door for Australian growers. Meanwhile, Australian chickpea exporters will have to focus on the burgeoning export market in one of India’s closest neighbours, Sri Lanka.

BY PHIL SOMERVILLE

A MOVE AWAY FROM CHINA?

While the interim agreement left some industries disappointed, commentators agree it is a positive step in relations between India and Australia. It also comes amid a push to diversify export markets and a possible transition away from China as our dominant trading partner. According to DFAT, almost one-third of Australia’s global trade is done with China, but trade between the two countries has decreased in recent years. Reduced service

exports during the pandemic are the main factor behind this drop, but trade restrictions imposed by China in 2020 also explain a 3 per cent drop in that year alone. China surprised Australian producers in 2020 when it placed tariffs on a range of Australian goods. A prohibitive 80 per cent tariff on Australian barley drastically altered the industry’s exports to what was its biggest global customer. Barley producer and chair of the NSW

Farmers Grains Committee Justin Everitt says fickle trade dynamics can impact a farmer’s bottom line. “Exporters are at the mercy of global politics and decision-making, but at the end of the day we just want a decent price for our produce,” he says. However, many in the grains sector believe there are problems at home as well as abroad, with Justin hinting at a push among growers to obtain greater price transparency

WINNERS AND LO SERS: GOING, GOING, GONE?

Tariffs of up to 30 per cent on sunflower seeds will be phased out over seven years, while a 30 per cent tariff on sheep meat goes straight away. Chickpeas are a loser in the deal, though, with the current tariff of 66 per cent remaining in place.

THE FARMER

JULY - AUGUST 2022

through an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission inquiry. “International prices are highly disparate to what we’re receiving, and this has come into sharp focus with the war in Ukraine pushing the global wheat price right up,” he says.

Snapshot of interim trade deal with India • •

WHERE DOES INDIA CURRENTLY SIT IN AUSTRALIA’S TRADE PORTFOLIO?

India is Australia’s seventh biggest trade partner after China, the US, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the UK and Singapore. Agricultural exports were worth $49.6 billion in 2021, making it the third biggest export sector after minerals and fuels and the service sector. Beef has been Australia’s main agricultural export, while cropping and dairy have had significant growth over recent years. Australia signed a free trade agreement with the UK in December 2021, which is expected to come into effect later this year. Under the agreement, tariffs on Australian wine, beef, sheep meat and sugar will be removed over eight to 10 years. l

• •

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Sheep meat tariff of 30 per cent eliminated immediately. Wool tariffs of 2.5 per cent eliminated immediately. Tariff of 50 per cent on infant formula and protein concentrate phased out over seven years. Tariffs up to 30 per cent on cherries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, currants, macadamia nuts, cashews, shelled pistachios, hazelnuts, avocados, onions, shallots, leeks, lettuce, cucumbers, asparagus, spinach, artichokes, celery and olives eliminated over seven years. Tariffs on peas, figs, dates, strawberries, kiwifruit, lychees, garlic and pineapples halved over seven years. Tariffs on barley and oats bound at zero per cent. Tariffs up to 30 per cent on sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, linseed and poppy seeds eliminated over seven years. Tariffs on adzuki beans, kidney beans, broad beans and split beans eliminated over seven years. Tariff of 11 per cent on lentils eliminated up to 150,000 tonnes per year. Tariffs up to 45 per cent on crude canola oil, crude palm oil and olive oil eliminated over seven years.

“It’s more complicated being on the edge of the city but it’s also what makes us lucky because our customer base is here. We’re not carting stuff from 500-600km away.” Matthew Fenech

THE FARMER

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COMMUNITY NEW GENERATIONS

Meet the

FENECH FAMILY

from Horsley Park What comes first, the chicken or the egg? On Fenech Family Farm in Sydney’s west, the chickens, eggs, and everything connected with them, make this business an ongoing success story.

Words BEVERLEY HADGRAFT Photography PAUL HENDERSON-KELLY

JULY - AUGUST 2022

THE FARMER

“Cages are cleaner, there’s less mortality, less stress on the bird, reduced pathogens and disease and no predators” Matthew Fenech

ust off Sydney’s busy M7 is Horsley Park – Sydney’s Green Belt – and it’s constantly under threat from developers. “I reckon 90 per cent of the market gardens and small farms have gone from here now,” says thirdgeneration egg farmer Matthew Fenech. Matthew puts his survival down to an entrepreneurial streak, good customer service and a determination to get the maximum return on his investments. “If someone walks through this door, I want to sell them more than a tray of eggs,” he explains, gesturing at the shelves of his farm shop, laden with Maltese and Italian specialties. As we talk, a constant stream of customers arrive. Many are from Chinese, Indian or Vietnamese cultures, eager to buy niche products such as dressed roosters with feet and legs still on. “Roosters are a by-product of the egg industry. They grow slower than normal chickens – five months rather than five weeks – so they suit their cooking style better.” Customers also flock for dressed pullets, quail, spatchcock and pigeons, as well as legally processed and farmed rabbits, snapped up by Maltese and South American customers despite the $37 a kilo price tag. While big producers generally send spent hens to pet food processors, Matthew makes a better profit selling them to families who want to convert them into nutritious chicken soup. He bags up the manure from the laying sheds and then it’s for sale alongside bags of mulch, because if keen gardeners are shopping they’ll want both. And if customers fancy buying a few laying chickens of their own to take home, he’ll sell those as well. And yes, the feed to go with them. Like everything else, the range of eggs Matthew sells is also impressive. Along with caged, barn or free-range brown chickens eggs, Matthew sells duck and quail eggs plus white eggs, popular among Orthodox customers, especially at Easter when they like to colour them. It won’t come as a surprise to hear that he also sells the colour, or that his exceptional customer service includes helping buyers load all their purchases into their cars. The Fenech Family Farm also supplies restaurants, cafes, bakeries, food manufacturers, corner stores, and butchers. The wholesale market grows by word of mouth, Matthew says. IN THE BEGINNING

The original Fenech farm was established by Matthew’s grandparents, Charlie and Rose Grima, in the 1960s, beginning with just one shed and everything being packed by hand. It was the days before the 1989 egg deregulation, so it was easier to make money, Matthew observes.

THE FARMER

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With the current free-for-all, it’s impossible to keep surpluses under control. This is one of the reasons that egg prices have barely risen since, says Matthew.. In 2003 the Grimas’ daughter Marion and her husband Joe (Matthew’s parents) took over the Fenech farm, and Matthew moved on to their old home at Cecil Park, where he raised broiler chickens. Four years later, he convinced his parents to join both businesses together – producing eggs and pullets. “It put more money into the business and gave me the opportunity to maximise the potential,” he explains. Matthew took over the main Fenech farm about nine years ago, with his dad keeping a 10 per cent share and returning to Cecil Park. Both farms now have three sheds, currently holding around 23,000 chickens between them. The majority of these hens are in cages. “Cages are cleaner, there’s less mortality, less stress on the bird, reduced pathogens and disease and no predators,” Matthew insists. Not everyone agrees, however, and although 40 per cent of supermarket egg sales in Australia are caged, animal welfare experts and government are still debating whether to phase them out or insist on more modifications. Among proposals so far are to end their use by 2036 or come to a compromise with larger cages that include perches and scratch pads. Either way, the uncertainty makes it difficult to plan and invest, Matthew sighs. So what does Matthew’s dad think of the way his son is running things? “We do argue,” Matthew admits. “He thinks I employ too many staff and he doesn’t understand the expenditure on advertising. But it works. I advertise a lot in ethnic newspapers because they’re the people I want through the door for those niche products. I’ve done my research and I know what they want and whether there’s enough of a market. “I’ve always got ideas but I have to be mindful of biosecurity. It’s more complicated being on the edge of the city but it’s also what makes us lucky because our customer base is here. We’re not carting stuff from 500-600km away, and people who worry about buying good food without food miles appreciate that. “When we had COVID lockdowns, there was a point when produce wasn’t getting in from the country to Sydney but we were still here,” he says. “The only problem was the government stuffed us up with the five-kilometre rule. It was great for supermarkets but there’s not much around us in a five-kilometre radius.” Matthew admits that he’s still recovering from that blow – but at least he’s still here, doing what his family has been doing for 60 years. “And we’ll continue doing it for as long as we can,” he says. >

COMMUNITY NEW GENERATIONS

A FARMER'S LIFE

The green fields of Horsley Park are under constant threat from Sydney’s sprawl. Joe recognised the farming community there as “his place” soon after arriving from Malta in the 1970s. Now his son Matthew is in the driving seat.

JULY - AUGUST 2022

THE FARMER

COMMUNITY NEW GENERATIONS

THE FIRST GENERATION

Joe Fenech arrived in Australia in 1971. He was just 20 years old and had no idea where to settle but as soon as he saw the Sydney Basin’s Horsley Park and the thriving market garden scene there, he declared: “This is my place”. “I’d been a farm boy back in Malta,” says Joe. “So when I got here, I’d stop and help people loading cabbages for market or sorting other produce. Within six months, I was one of them.” Joe was a devout Catholic and became treasurer of the church parish council. The secretary was a young woman named Marion Grima. “The council met every two weeks and we’d sit next to each other. We ran all the social events, from dances to bingo. I don’t know how many years we did that but eventually we both decided to quit the parish council and I suddenly realised I wasn’t going to see her again. “So I spoke to her cousin and said: “Can you tell Marion I’d like to ask her out?’ “He said: ‘Joe! You sit next to her every two weeks!’ But I’d never thought of her that way before. It never crossed my mind. Anyway, I told her and that was it, we got married and I never regretted it one bit.” With both parents and grandparents working as market gardeners and egg farmers, Marion knew it was 24/7 labour and was keen to do something different. “But I loved farming, so she went along with it. If it wasn’t for her, I’d never have got as far as I got,” Joe says. The couple bought their five-acre

“I never got more than four hours’ sleep a night. People don’t realise what you sacrifice to get ahead.” Joe Fenech property, Cecil Park and for the next 25 years raised broiler chickens on contract. For the first 12 years Joe was still doing afternoon shifts at a brickyard as well. “I never got more than four hours’ sleep a night. People don’t realise what you sacrifice to get ahead.” The couple ended up with three 100-metre sheds, all built by Joe, with him always waiting until he had the capital necessary for the next investment. “I was growing 60,000 chickens at a time by the end but I felt I was controlled by the processors. I hated it,” he says. When Marion’s parents Charlie and Rose decided they were getting too old to run their egg farm, 10 minutes up the road, Joe saw his opportunity. He leased their eight acres, changed the name to Fenech Family Farm, and started converting his broiler sheds to hold barn laying chickens. “It was my proudest achievement, changing from broilers to eggs. I couldn’t stand it any longer,” he says.

“I started making improvements, and since Matthew took over we’ve improved biosecurity, put in a modern grading facility, renovated the farm shop… it almost doesn’t look a farm it’s so clean and tidy.” Sadly, just as the couple were getting comfortable, Marion discovered she had stage 4 cancer, and within weeks she passed away, aged just 58. Joe carried on for a couple of years without her but his heart was no longer in it. Of their four children, only Matthew wanted to take over. Today Joe is back at Cecil Park, still doing a few hours’ work a day. His motherin-law is now 90 and lives nearby, and he visits her regularly. Is he ever tempted to sell to the circling developers? “Never,” he replies. “I’m used to being outside and being free to wander around my five acres. I love this lifestyle.” THE NEW GENERATION

Luke is the youngest of Matthew’s three children, and at 10 years of age he is the one who has shown interest in taking up farming one day. “It’s pretty good being part of a farming family, but the work is hard,” he says. Luke enjoys taking care of the chickens and also the family’s “lawn-mowing cows”. However he admits that his favourite job is driving the forklift. “I help my grandfather. If he needs me to get some pallets, then I do that. I like helping him on the tractor too. He’s only round the corner and is teaching me about farm management, animal husbandry and how to drive stuff.” l

KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY

Joe has returned to the Cecil Park property he first bought with his wife, while Matthew runs the family enterprise from his grandparents’ farm. His 10-year-old son Luke is keen to learn the ropes from both his dad and his grandfather.

THE FARMER

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MARKETPLACE

The saleyards We believe in supporting Australian businesses, so we have rounded up some unique Aussie products. Words PHOEBE TRAN

A BLOOMING GOOD BAG THE AUSSIE BOX

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Keep your dogs safe and secure with an ‘Aussie Box’ raised dog kennel. Flat-packed for easy transport, Aussie Kennels are available at over 400 rural stores across Australia. From $995. aussiedogkennels.com.au

This crochet hammock is made from high-quality cotton fabric with excellent craftsmanship. It is ideal for your patio or garden, for terraces, balconies, or even the beach. $149.90. fabhabitat.com.au

This pretty satchel bag, covered in blooms and with a slight sheen, is good for a night out or to use as an everyday bag. The fabric strap can be self-adjusted and it also has inside and outside pockets to keep your bits and bobs well organised. $135. catherinemanuelldesign.com

REAL FOOD, REAL TASTE

Tweed Real Food is run by a 5th-generation farming family that creates awardwinning salt, rubs, dukkah and vinegar. This delicious balsamic can be used as a finishing sauce, marinade or salad dressing, and is perfect for beef, chicken, pork or even salad. $16.95. tweedrealfood.com

NICE AND NATURAL

This cleaning bundle meets all your kitchen needs in a sustainable fashion. The set includes a kitchen scrub made from sisal, a kitchen cloth, a washing-up set, a tawashi scrub and a tea towel in a choice of two colours. $30. buxtonhanley.com

SOAP OR ART?

This hand and body wash is infused with Australian botanical extracts to nurture and cleanse your skin. Its design features Aboriginal artwork by Nora Davidson from Papulakutja Artists in Western Australia. $14.95. alpersteindesigns.com.au

MADE TO LAST

REMOTE SPRAY

This cushion cover from Beach Abode Living is from its Birds collection, with different designs on the front and back. They are UV-treated, water repellent and mildew resistant, so they stand the test of time indoors or outdoors. $49.99. beachabodeliving.com.au

TRAINER ADD-A-DOG® COLLAR

The PetSafe Remote Spray Trainer Add-a-Dog Collar gives you the ability to train two dogs at once. The collar works within a 300-metre range and uses spray, tone, or vibration stimulation. $328.95 petsafe.net JULY - AUGUST 2022

THE FARMER

COMMUNITY FARM DOGS

Meet Norman from Mullumbimby Norman the black German Shepherd has a thing for rocks and piglets, but his real claim to fame is being an all-black.

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EDITED BY MICHELLE HESPE PHOTOGRAPH BY ANTHONY ONG

NICKNAME:

Normie FAVOURITE THING TO DO ON THE FARM?

Swimming in the dam and getting really wet and completely muddy. No one else ever seems to be as impressed as me when it comes to how much mud I can bring back home. HAVE YOU EVER DONE SOMETHING REALLY NAUGHTY?

I sat on the sofa in my boss’s favourite spot, and watched a whole lot of Netflix while he was out having dinner. How good is Ozark? WHAT IS YOUR WORST HABIT?

Eating rocks. But it’s not much fun getting them out… WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE FOOD?

Rocks and sardines. My boss needs to find a good recipe so I can enjoy them together. IF YOU BECAME FAMOUS FOR ONE THING, WHAT WOULD THAT BE?

Being really good looking. You know, what can you do when you’re born that way? IS THERE SOMETHING YOU DO THAT DRIVES YOUR PARENTS MAD?

Pooping on the verandah. Sometimes I don’t like to get my feet wet and it’s been raining a lot up here. IF YOU COULD HAVE ANOTHER ANIMAL FRIEND, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

A piglet called Piglet. He’d be really cute like me. FAVOURITE THING TO PLAY WITH?

My collection of rocks and my squeaky piglet toy. WHAT DOES EVERYONE LOVE ABOUT YOU?

That I am an all-black German Shepherd with a big heart. ANY LAST WORDS?

All pups be warned: it’s not a good idea to jump off the back of a moving ute. You’ll break your leg in two places and vets are notoriously expensive.

THE FARMER

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COMMUNITY MEET A MEMBER

Boots on the ground A love of life on the land has inspired involvement in NSW Farmers advocacy for Upper Hunter young farmer and accountant Rolanda Clout-Collins. Words MICHAEL BURT

Name: Rolanda Clout-Collins Branch: Scone & Rouchel Years as Member: Three Farm Name: Meaduligulah Produce: Beef and sheep meat

Why am I a NSW Farmers Member? “I thought it would be a great way to interact with other farmers in the district because we were experiencing such a hard drought. It was so easy to get bogged down at the time and think that you are alone, but joining NSW Farmers showed me that we were not alone, and that we can help and support each other. I have also found that being a member is such a great way to share knowledge between generations.”

olanda Clout-Collins’s goal to secure a future in farming now stretches beyond her family’s farm near Scone. The young farmer is spearheading local NSW Farmers activity as the new Chair of the Scone and Rouchel Branch, and is providing valuable input into agricultural economic and trade policy at a state level. This is on top of being an accountant and helping out with the family farm business, which is spread across 773 hectares of land at Kars Spring and Bunnan. Run by her parents, Laurie Clout and James Collins, the farm produces beef from a Speckle Park cross cattle herd and lamb from a small flock of White Suffolk cross sheep. “I couldn’t imagine my life without farming,” Rolanda says. “I grew up on the farm, it’s what my family has always done and it’s the life I adore.

“I just love the freedom of being out on the farm, the air is always fresh. It’s just fantastic!” Rolanda became involved with the local NSW Farmers branch during the peak of the drought in 2019, to engage with other farmers about protecting a future for their farm, which has been in her mother’s family since the 1920s. The 25-year-old relished the opportunity to have a voice on issues affecting both her family’s farm and agriculture across the state through the Association, and she is now a Young Farmer representative on the NSW Farmers Business, Economics and Trade (BEAT) Committee. “I can combine my accounting and my agricultural background to provide input into policy discussions. I’ve got boots on the ground and experience in both those fields,” Rolanda says. “Farming produces the food we eat and

the fibre we wear, so really we all have a stake in making sure we have a strong agricultural industry, no matter where we live. “With the high price of fuel and fertiliser and the price of land going up, there’s a lot of barriers to entering the industry as a young farmer – but I’m thankful we’re seeing a lot of tenacious people at NSW Farmers tackling the problem head-on.” Rolanda also supports the NSW Young Farmers Committee, which has several policy initiatives to assist with farm startups for young people. “There’s good money to be made working in agriculture. We’re keen to see more young people enter the industry and take up those great opportunities to help grow the world’s best food and fibre,” she says. “It’s critical that the young farmers of today are able to have their say on the sector of tomorrow.” Back on the farm, the family’s cattle and sheep are currently enjoying a native pasture bounty. “The land is mainly high country and very hilly, so we rely on native pastures to produce quality beef and lamb,” Rolanda says. “It has been a massive turnaround. There is plenty of grass everywhere and the cattle are looking gorgeous and fat. It really is hard to believe where we were three years ago.” l JULY - AUGUST 2022

THE FARMER

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The Farmer July-August 2022

Articles inside

SPECIAL REPORT: FARM MACHINERY

SPECIAL REPORT: ANNUAL CONFRENCE

SPECIAL REPORT: THE CATTLE GAME

SPECIAL REPORT: REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE