Picture: PAUL CARRACHER
Rural Aid: All is not well on the farm
Rural Aid chief executive
John Warlters says primary producers are feeling overworked, underappreciated and anxious amid unusually dry conditions.
Mr Warlters said a recent Rural Aid study showed one in two farmers indicated they have felt their mental health decline in the past year.
“Seventy-six percent of our farmers rated their mental health as poor, very poor or average,” he said.
“These numbers show all is not well on the farm.
“It’s a sentiment echoed across the industry; Rabobank’s Rural Confidence Survey has shown farm confidence has plummeted in the past three months.”
Across Victoria, Rural Aid counsellors continue to provide wellbeing support while discussions with industry continued regarding how Rural Aid could best support farmers above and beyond its ‘traditional’ service delivery.
“Rural Aid continues to be active right across the country at this time providing hay for livestock,
drinking water, and financial relief,” Mr Warlters said.
“Our counsellors are particularly active in providing one-onone support, but are also attending a wide cross-section of industry events to ensure they are visible and easily accessible to anyone who wants to chat.”
Rural Aid’s mental health and wellbeing manager Myf Pitcher said weather conditions, biosecurity concerns, and disaster recovery were on farmers’ minds.
“Our counselling team is making a really important difference every day. We’ve been all over the country supporting primary producers,” she said.
Mr Warlters said rain had failed to dampen demand for fodder to feed drought affected livestock.
“We don’t expect the demand for fodder, or the challenge in sourcing it, to change in the short to medium term,” he said.
Large parts of Victoria remain especially dry – rainfall during autumn had been at record lows in the south-west, parts of the west, north-east and East Gippsland.
Edenhope’s autumn rain totalled 32.4 millimetres, well below the
autumn average of 127.1mm, Bureau of Meteorology data showed.
Similar totals were recorded at Kanagulk, near Balmoral, with 31.6mm across March to May, compared to the autumn rain average of 99.2mm.
Mr Warlters said record dry conditions in the south and west of the nation were proving especially difficult for farmers to deal with, and the demand for hay in South Australia had been particularly strong.
He said Rural Aid relied heavily on community and corporate support to fund its activities and was encouraging tax-time donations to help sustain its efforts.
“Rural Aid can’t do any of its vital work without the generosity of the Australian public,” he said.
“With June 30 just around the corner, now is an opportunity to make a tax-deductible donation in support of Rural Aid and ‘our mates in the bush’ – the farming families who need our help.”
To donate to Rural Aid, or to find out more about Rural Aid’s mental health and wellbeing program, visit www.ruralaid.org.au or call 1300 327 624.
BCG podcast sharing solutions
Birchip Cropping Group’s latest podcast series ‘On the Horizon: Farm Tech’ empowers farmers with knowledge and confidence to explore the integration of on-farm technology.
BCG’s communications and engagement officer Jess Bidstrup said BCG was on a mission to bring the latest in agricultural technology to farmers across the Wimmera, Mallee and North Central regions.
“The latest series of BCG’s podcast, Shared Ag Solutions by BCG, explores topics such as protein mapping, optical spray technology and batching machines,” she said.
“Episodes of the On the Horizon: Farm Tech series will also investigate non-chemical weed management strategies, the latest in drone technology for livestock management, autonomous spray units and on-farm security.
“By conducting interviews with farmers who have walked the path, we’re arming
our listeners with the information they need to ask the right questions and feel comfortable in the ever-changing technological landscape of agriculture.”
The first episode with Wimmera farmer Tim Rethus, called New technology and when to pull the trigger, aired on June 9.
Mr Rethus discusses some of the technology he has implemented on his farm, such as camera sprayers, drones and variable rate treatment application.
It is available across all podcast streaming services.
Ms Bidstrup encourages farmers to follow the podcast on their favourite player to receive updates when new episodes release.
Hosted by mixed-farmer and BCG media and communications manager Janine Batters, listeners can expect each episode to delve into the benefits, challenges and solutions associated with implementing new technology.
Birchip Cropping Group’s Janine Batters and Jess Bidstrup create their podcast.
A boost for farm tech Hay plant’s jobs boost
BY BRONWYN HASTINGS
Quality Australian Hay, the Wimmera’s latest animal-feed hay exporting enterprise, is under construction and set for production to begin early next year – in time for next hay harvest.
Owned by Warracknabeal farmers Scott Somers and Paul Johns, the Henty Highway site will feature one production shed and three storage sheds, with a sprintproduction rate of 28 tonnes an hour.
Mr Somers said site construction was well underway, with footings in place for a 1.1-hectare production shed, and concreting for the 12-hectare site started within the production shed.
“Barring a front garden bed, the site will be concrete to make sure we don’t have to do any further ground works for many years – concrete takes a bit more chewing,” he said.
From the front entrance, trucks transporting hay to the facility will travel in one of two directions and onto a weighbridge. They will continue to a long-term storage shed, or to the production shed where the hay will be graded and stacked, ready for production.
“In the main production shed, we’ll decontaminate the hay to make sure there’s no foreign objects in it and to comply with export standards, before breaking it down and pressing it into the container packing.
“It needs to be re-pressed to make it exportable – if we put it into a shipping container in the form it comes in, we can’t get enough weight in the containers to ship it around the world.”
QA Hay will purchase all grades of hay and straw from local farmers, with several signing up at a growers’ day in February.
Mr Johns said both his and Mr Somers’ families had lived in the Warracknabeal district for generations.
“We’re farmers ourselves, Scott is sixthgeneration, I’m fourth-generation – we wanted to do something different, have another option for farmers,” he said.
“It’s taken six years to this point, from the first beer and casual thought, then the next discussion was, ‘far out, that’s big’.”
Mr Somers said the concept grew over the years.
“We were going to build the plant on my farm and produce about 25,000 tonnes, enough to do our own hay, but then we decided we’d make it on a mutual facility,” he said.
“After another year or so, we approached a local farmer and told him what we were
going to do, and ended up here.”
Mr Johns said the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the project, delaying the subdivision for 18 months.
“It was like the chicken and the egg, it seemed you needed the other one first – you can’t subdivide unless you have a planning permit, and the planning permit won’t pass unless you have a subdivision.”
During the COVID-19 delay, the concept was still being developed.
“We finally broke ground and shifted 30-odd-thousand tonnes of dirt to level the site, then we got really wet a few years ago,” Mr Somers said.
“We lost our general manager, he was killed in a road accident, we then pulled the pin and said it was never going to happen.”
However, the project suddenly fell into place with a new general manager and Bec Winsall joining the team in September.
“We were full steam ahead – we were too far in to turn back,” Mr Somers said.
The production shed will be fully airconditioned and will include an office and board room.
The site boasts the latest fire-detection technology, hay plant management software, expert safety plan layout and a dust management system.
Mr Johns said when he and Mr Somers first talked about starting the business, they wanted to employ as many local people as possible.
“We have the local earthworks guy, the local concrete guy – in this calibre of job, you usually get people from major centres, who ultimately take the money out of town. Housing may be an issue, but
our main reason for this is to support our town,” he said.
Mr Somers said the pair wanted to encourage people to live and work at Warracknabeal, offering both skilled and unskilled roles at the site.
“We will have 60 to 70 full-time jobs. It’s not finalised yet, but we have the basic ones lined up and we’re putting lackeys on now,” he said.
“It’ll be six months before we need the rest of the workforce, and a lot can happen in six months.”
In the meantime, mains power to the site is being upgraded, and three storage sheds will have solar panels installed on top to supply more power than the plant uses.
Mr Somers said the production shed would be the first of four sheds erected.
“We were supposed to start the install of the machines in July. We’re a little bit behind schedule, but it’s probably not a real problem,” he said.
“We’re concreting through now, so the shed builders aren’t affected if it rains –the first load of the shed is coming on site shortly.
“It’s a big facility – it’s probably the one thing that’s surprising everyone the most.”
The plant will operate 24-hours-a-day across a five-day week, with an estimated average output of 28 tonnes each hour, and 120,000 to 130,000 tonnes each year.
If there is demand, production can increase to seven days a week.
“It started as a few million dollars and mates stuffing around, and is now a multimillion-dollar venture,” Mr Somers said.
A new world of tough
The State Government is supporting the establishment of tech startups to create new technologies that will help farmers improve efficiency and adapt to new challenges in the industry.
Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence announced $1 million for the AgTech Grants program, which will invest $50,000 in eligible startups looking to build their business capability.
Delivered in partnership with LaunchVic, the grants provide founders with mentoring from startup experts to build their businesses and seize new opportunities.
They can also support activities that help create new jobs and support Victoria’s economic growth.
Ms Spence said the agriculture sector was critical to the Victorian economy, but that changing conditions meant the sector needed to continuously adapt to new challenges.
She said AgTech startups would help drive adaptation and provide farmers with the tools, data and knowledge they needed to improve productivity and sustainability.
“We’ve seen some inspiring AgTech startups come through the program addressing everything from weather, crop productivity, and supply chain,” Ms Spence said.
“AgTech startups are driving innovation and adaptation in our agriculture sector, and we are providing crucial support in their early critical stages.”
LaunchVic chief executive Kate Cornick said the AgTech Grants Program had awarded grants to 19 startups since 2023, providing services in supply-chain efficiency, farming automation, soil sensing intelligence and pollination-management systems, among others. A recipient of the first round was Drone-Hand, the first commercially available, user-friendly, AI-driven, automated flight-app for livestock monitoring. Applications are open until Sunday. To read more about past recipients and to apply, visit launchvic.org.
Expressions of Interest
Long-term Farm Lease
at
Expressions of Interest (EOI) are invited for long-term leases to manage farmland that surrounds GWMWater’s Birchip, Horsham and Murtoa wastewater treatment plants.
The farmland at these sites is suitable for dryland farming and grazing purposes. Recycled water may also be available, depending on seasonal conditions and water quality requirements.
To express your interest, please complete our EOI form and return to us at eoi@gwmwater.org.au or to our Tender Box at 11 McLachlan Street, Horsham.
EOIs close 2 pm on Wednesday 31 July 2024.
Our EOI form is available on our website at gwmwater.org.au/news. If you prefer a hard copy of the form, please contact our Customer Service team on 1300 659 961 during business hours.
Mark Williams Managing Director
GWMWater is an innovative water corporation providing, managing, operating and protecting water supply and sewerage systems within the Grampians, Wimmera and Mallee regions of Victoria.
11 McLachlan Street Horsham Call: 1300 659 961 (business hours) info@gwmwater.org.au | gwmwater.org.au
Farmland
GWMWater’s
Birchip, Horsham
Murtoa
GROUND-BREAKING: QA Hay owners Scott Somers, left, and Paul Johns, right, with employee Bec Winsall prepare to open their Warracknabeal site.
Roads win for freight vehicles
Asignificant route for agricultural freight in the Ararat municipality will undergo a $6.25-million reconstruction.
Six kilometres of Mount William Road, also a popular route with local and tourist traffic, has been allocated funding in Ararat Rural City Council’s 2024-25 Budget.
The road is critical to wheat, barley, canola and oats farmers accessing the Lakaput bulk grain storage facility – CHS Broadbent’s primary Victorian bulk grain receival space.
Improving access and efficiency for the larger capacity vehicles that transport the harvests will increase the efficiency of transport, reducing supply-chain costs for primary producers and enabling them greater competitiveness in an increasingly global market.
Mount William Road is also the main route for residents accessing the Yalla-YPoora Tennis Club and Recreation Reserve, and is used by many people to get to the Tatyoon Cemetery.
The works will deliver a smoother road surface and driving experience, reducing travel times and levels of fatigue.
In addition, the widening of the road seal will reduce impact of dust on crops located close to Mount William Road.
Currently, when vehicles veer off the narrow seal onto the unsealed shoulders to avoid passing traffic, they generate dust that spreads to the crops via wind. Reduction in dust improves the yield quality of the crops.
The project splits the targeted segment of road into three subsections to be completed chronologically, with works for each subsection including the excavation and removal of the existing degraded road seal and pavement, new road base course layers, drainage works, sealing, line marking, safety barriers and associated safety signage.
Ararat Rural City Mayor Bob Sanders said the project was jointly funded by the Federal Government’s Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program, which awarded Ararat Rural City Council $5-million earlier this year, and council’s own contribution of $1.25 million.
“These upgrades will make the road safer and improve efficiency,” he said.
“Cars and trucks won’t need to slow down and drive off the narrow road seal onto the gravel shoulders to pass each other.
“It will fix the pot holes and uneven patches, so the journey can be safe and smooth, which we desperately need during harvest time when there are many more trucks using this route.”
EXPERIENCE:
Students on industry placement
The Fox and Lillie Group hosted Longerenong scholarship recipients Charlotte Cain and Patria Lees for industry placement, where they gained hands-on experience in the company’s wool brokerage, direct buying services and export division.
Charlotte, of Carisbrook, and Patria, of Ullswater, were each awarded a $5000 Fox and Lillie Wool Scholarship last year.
The Fox and Lillie scholarships provide financial assistance towards their tuition fees over the two-year course at the college and students are also offered work placement during their second year of study.
Fox and Lillie has been work-
ing with Longerenong College for seven years as part of the company’s ongoing commitment to attract more young people into the agriculture industry, particularly in wool.
The work placement is designed to give students hands-on industry training to support their studies and expose them to various career opportunities in the wool industry.
Over the course of industry placement, Charlotte and Patria gained experience in store door wool buying, wool brokering, showfloor logistics, and wool auctions, as well as gaining experience in wool trading and exporting.
They also had the opportunity to visit two local wool scourer and carbonising mills in Melbourne to see a couple of Fox and Lillie’s orders going through early-stage wool processing before being exported overseas.
Both Patria and Charlotte are undertaking their wool classing qualification at Longerenong as part of their studies and were able to put that into practice while learning a few new skills.
Fox and Lillie Rural human resources manager Casey Ritchie said the business was growing and there have been some instances where industry placement had led to career opportunities for some past Longerenong students.
Contact Horsham Autoglass today to organise prompt repair or replacement.
Longerenong College students Patria Lees and Charlotte Cain with Fox and Lillie Group’s James Lillie during the students’ work placement.
Protecting Australians Since 1975
With over 50 years of local experience, specialising in Heavy Transport, Contractors, Farm & Crop we have the answers to all your general insurance requirements.
How can we help?
Quotes and premium
Claims management
Expert advice
Automated payments
Success depends on reducing emissions
Agriculture keeps getting a bad rap for its part in greenhouse gas emissions. It also needs to keep pace with what other countries are doing, or not doing, to reduce emissions.
The growing economies such as India and China are surging ahead with little evidence of attempts to curb their greenhouse gas output.
I’ll hazard a guess that you probably do not know that nitrous oxide is a greenhouse gas. It’s number three after carbon and methane.
The bad news is that agriculture is responsible for 75 percent of nitrous oxide emissions, mainly due to the use of synthetic fertilisers.
Unlike methane, which only lasts in the atmosphere for about 12 years, nitrous oxide hangs around like a bad smell for a century.
The latest Global Nitrous Oxide Budget shows agriculture is the primary driver of humaninduced nitrous oxide emissions.
“The top five country emitters by volume of anthropogenic N2O emissions in 2020 were China with 16.7 percent, India 10.9 percent, USA 5.7 percent, Brazil 5.3 percent, and Russia 4.6 percent,” the report revealed.
The good news for us is that Australia’s anthropogenic, human induced, N2O emissions have been stable during the past two decades.
But we must not just take a big sigh of relief and think, ‘job done, at least our share’.
The report reveals the once top emitter, Europe, has reduced its emissions since the 1980s by 31 percent, through industrial emission reductions.
That gives the EU more licence to pressure
Country
other countries to prove their environmental credentials. If we ignore its demands, we do so at our peril, not just for the sake of our changing climate: for the sake of our ability in the future to continue to be one of the globe’s most successful exporters of agricultural produce.
For example, the EU’s deforestation regulations, which come into effect at the end of this year, will require large companies trading in seven key commodities to prove these products do not originate from recently deforested areas or contribute to forest degradation.
Those commodities are cattle, wood, cocoa, soy, oil palm, coffee and rubber. Yes, cattle.
Cattle Australia is taking submissions on how to define deforestation in our unique context. But the clock is ticking.
The EU has also just committed to controversial environmental footprint labelling laws. The final details are yet to be decided, but the wool industry has been fighting for several years to ensure synthetic fibres do not have an advantage over natural wool products.
Yes, that wool will come off second best to synthetic fibres that are made from fossil fuels.
Today with Libby Price
Jochinke delivers to Europe
National Farmers’ Federation president and Wimmera farmer David Jochinke is in Europe championing Australian trade and sustainability.
Mr Jochinke, who runs a farm at Murra Warra, west of Warracknabeal, has joined NFF chief executive Tony Mahar, along with Special Representative for Australian Agriculture Su McCluskey to meet with key personnel about Australia’s trade and sustainability credentials in Europe.
The delegation has been showcasing the Australian Agriculture Sustainability Framework, AASF, an industry-led initiative that highlights Australia’s dedication to sustainable agriculture.
The visit began in the Netherlands, a global leader in agricultural technology and the third-largest exporter of agricultural products worldwide.
“This engagement underscores Australia’s commitment to sustainable agriculture on the global stage, as well as the pivotal role of collaborative initiatives such as the AASF in ensuring both industry and government are positioned as leaders in this space,” Mr Jochinke said.
The delegation’s itinerary included meetings with the Ministry of Agriculture of the Netherlands, visits to the World Horticultural Centre, the Greentech Conference, discussions with representatives from Wageningen Uni-
versity, farm tours, and meeting with the Dutch Farmers Association.
The delegation also visited Rome to meet with key representatives of the Food and Agriculture Organisation and is hosting an evening event on the AASF at the Australian Ambassador’s residence alongside the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
They also attended the World Farmers’ Organisation General Assembly where the NFF will ensure Australian farmers’ voices are heard and are part of international agricultural policy development.
“Engagement with government officials and industry stakeholders has centred around common challenges such as environmental regulations, farm productivity, water management and trade,” Mr Jochinke said.
“It’s imperative we work with our EU counterparts on their approach to deforestation, animal welfare, and use of chemicals in agriculture, especially making sure they understand how these are managed in Australia’s unique landscapes.”
In her role as the first SRAA, Ms
ON TOUR:
National Farmers’ Federation
president
David Jochinke and chief executive
Tony Mahar engage with the Food and Agriculture Organisation in Rome.
McCluskey works to boost Australia’s presence and influence in the agricultural institutions that shape farmers access to export markets.
Mr Jochinke said the NFF valued its partnership with the SRAA, recognising it as pivotal for ongoing bilateral engagement and advocacy in international forums.
“This collaborative effort underscores the shared commitment by industry and government to present a ‘team Australia’ approach on the world stage,” he said.
Business spotlight
Agronomist Dr Kate Burke will lead several farming business courses across the state, offering advice on seasonal challenges and developing adaptive plans to meet business goals.
Two-day events at Brim, Goroke and Joel Joel will cover topics including income versus cost of production and impact of rotation, calculating basic financial benchmarks, key profit drivers and high-level benchmarks, and scenario planning for the 2024 and 2025 seasons and beyond.
The courses are suitable for grain and mixed farmers, and are delivered through the Farm Business Resilience Program, jointly funded by the Australian Government Future Drought Fund and State Government Future Agriculture Skills Capacity Fund.
The course will run at Brim on July 24 and 25, Goroke on August 20 and 21, and Joel Joel on August 27 and 28. People can book by visiting TryBooking or www.agriculture.vic.gov. au/events.
CFA backs farmers
BY COLIN MacGILLIVRAY
The Country Fire Authority has thrown its support behind Marnoo and Gre Gre residents opposing planned high-voltage power lines in the region, confirming its members will not fight fires beneath the lines.
The proposed lines are part of the VNI West project, which aims to connect renewable energy generators in Victoria and New South Wales via a series of overhead transmission lines.
Marnoo and Gre Gre are among several regional Victorian towns to express misgivings about the proposal, and CFA West Region deputy chief officer Brett Boatman said local brigades backed their communities.
“That proposal has been in discussion for quite a while now, and the brigades and the community members up in that part of Victoria have got some concerns around this proposal,” he said.
“Our CFA members are voicing their concerns about it. They’ve come out and said they’re not going to fight fires under high-voltage transmission lines, which is consistent with CFA’s procedures, and also around electricity-generation infrastructure they would only take a perimeter defence.”
Mr Boatman said the CFA had few concerns about large-scale lithium-ion battery storage present in renewable power generators such as wind farms, but that fighting fires amid wind turbines presented its own set of risks for CFA volunteers.
“Typically the issues we see with lithium-ion batteries are in small transport devices such as scooters and e-bikes, and typically those that are not made by quality manufacturers and they might be imported,” he said.
“In terms of grid-scale battery energy storage, there was one fire at a storage facility at Geelong a few years ago while that facility was in the process of being commissioned, but once they’re up and running and being properly monitored, generally we don’t see any issues with grid-scale
battery energy storage. CFA has guidelines for the developers of renewable energy in terms of how they set their sites up, what the space is between their facilities, how much water they have on site, their emergency procedures and the like, which are world-class guidelines that guide developers.
“At that end of the scale we’re not seeing a whole lot of issues.”
Mr Boatman said while the CFA had developed procedures for fighting fires around high-voltage power lines since they became commonplace in regional Victoria in the 1950s, they still presented risks to volunteers.
“It does change the way we approach and fight fires, and it’s another hazard in the environment that we have to work around,” he said.
“We don’t fight fires under transmission lines –we stay out of the easement, we stay at least 25 metres away from the wires. If a fire is travelling under the transmission lines, we need to find a way to catch up with the fire on the other side of the transmission lines.
“There are none of these lines running across the communities now, so we’ve been doing some work with the brigades and local groups up there to do training and bring them up to speed with what the procedures are.”
Mr Boatman backed the members protesting against the planned power lines.
“CFA and community members are interchangeable. I would expect that most of the people who live at Gre Gre are probably members of CFA, so as firefighters in their community they are demonstrating their right to have their voices heard,” he said.
“From a CFA perspective we understand their concerns – we understand the anxiety in the community that’s with them every day.
“They’re being a very respectful group of people in the way they’re having this conversation and I think from a CFA perspective our job is to give them the right tools and resources to go and do their job safely, which is our mission.”
Money for gorse control
The annual Victorian Gorse Taskforce grants program has opened for 2024-25, with funding available for community-led gorse control projects.
Gorse, an invasive weed that grows up to four metres tall, is difficult to eradicate, with seedlings repeatedly emerging for many years.
The community grants program’s objectives include building community knowledge and capacity in managing gorse, and reducing the impacts of gorse on environmental, agricultural and social values.
Community groups can apply for funding up to $8000 for on-ground gorse control works on private land. All participating landholders involved could receive up to $1500 in grant funding and must match this with their own monetary contribution.
People can apply or find more information at vicgorsetaskforce.com.au/community-projects/ community-grants and downloading a copy of the 2024-25 VGT community grants funding guidelines and application form.
LIFE MEMBERS & SPONSORS
All ATTENDEES will go in the draw to win 2 x Medallion Club tickets
SATURDAY 13TH JULY
GOODS & SERVICES AUCTION
Marquee from 2pm to 5.30pm then follow on with the from 6pm in the Pavilion
Roast Meat & Salads Tea – $20 adult – $10 kids – Under 12 Free All Natimuk and surrounding community welcome to attend THERE WILL BE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE!
Enquiries to: nufnc.sponsorship@gmail.com Jana: 0439 354 107
Duck-season infringements on the rise
This year’s duck season ended on June 5, with Victoria’s Game Management Authority conducting more than 500 waterway and wetland patrols on private and public land.
Working in partnership with Victoria Police, Safe Transport Victoria, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Parks Victoria, and Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, GMA regulated the eight-week season.
GMA director of compliance and intelligence Zac Powell said there was an increase in patrols this year, with officers inspecting 1550 games licences and 1200 hunter bags.
“Officers were deployed to conduct 511 patrols across wetlands and waterways on both private and public land this year,” he said.
“During the whole period, there were 56 offences across the state – from people infringing on public safety laws to people having invalid game licences.
“We have public safety laws to keep non-hunters away from hunters – it’s obviously a very contentious issue.”
GMA detected 26 hunting-related offences, mainly having an invalid game licence, being in possession of toxic, or lead, shot, and failing to leave a wing attached.
“Some people had expired game licences – the one or three-year terms may have been overlooked – and some had never bought a licence,” Mr Powell said.
“There were also people using toxic shot, which has been banned for more than 20 years for waterbird hunting.”
The discharge of lead into the environment is poor for the health of non-target species that might ingest those pellets.
“People can still obtain toxic shot for other purposes, and I wouldn’t call it ignorant, I call it lazy, if people are still using it when it’s been prohibited,” Mr Powell said.
“There’s a range of people that don’t like duck hunting, that’s not our issue, it’s part of a being in a healthy democracy, the biggest issue for us is making sure we don’t have instances of public safety being compromised by people coming into contact with each other, that’s why we have public safety laws.”
There were 23 people suspected of breaching public safety laws by entering or remaining in a specified hunting area, or hindering or harassing hunters, with GMA issuing 22 banning notices as a result. Seven non-hunters are also being investigated for hindering or obstructing an officer.
GMA uses a range of sanctions to deter illegal hunting and protestor activity, including official warnings, infringement notices, license suspensions and cancellations. Illegal activity can be reported online or by calling 136 186.
Duck farms wary of bird flu
Aresponse to avian influenza, or bird flu, on seven poultry farms across Victoria and New South Wales is underway after the first detection of an H7 HPAI strain was confirmed last month at a farm near Meredith, Victoria.
The viral disease is described as low pathogenicity, LPAI, which causes minimal disease in wild birds and poultry, or high pathogenicity, HPAI, which causes widescale death of poultry and wild birds.
The federal, state, and territory governments along with affected livestock industries are working together to manage the outbreaks through well-established response arrangements.
Nhill’s Luv-a-Duck chief executive Daniel Shoppee said the duck farm had not detected any cases of avian influenza.
“We are pleased to confirm that no positive tests for bird flu have been recorded at any of our facilities,” he said.
“This is a testament to the stringent biosecurity protocols we al-
ready have in place to protect our birds and operations.”
Luv-a-Duck enforces several biosecurity measures to minimise the risk of spreading disease, including restricting access to authorised personnel; strict hygiene practices for staff, equipment and vehicles; flock health monitoring; and wildbird control.
“All of Luv-a-Duck’s livestock and primary processing operations are situated over 300 kilometres away from the infected properties in Meredith and Terang, ensuring a safe distance from the affected areas,” Mr Shoppee said.
The current strains do not appear to transmit easily between humans, nor do they pose any threat to the consumption of eggs or chicken meat, provided they are handled and cooked according to standard food-handling practices.
“We want to emphasise that avian influenza does not pose a food safety risk,” Mr Shoppee said.
“Consumers can continue to enjoy duck meat products with confidence, as our products undergo stringent quality control processes
to meet the highest safety and hygiene standards.”
The six infected properties near Meredith and one near Terang are confirmed to have a high pathogenicity strain, with restricted and control areas in place at all affected premises.
The outbreak-affected properties have been placed in quarantine, with all poultry required to be safely and humanely disposed of, with the sites to be cleaned and cleared of the infection.
Agriculture Victoria staff are supporting the affected properties and working with poultry owners and industry to contain and eradicate the virus.
Tracing is also underway to determine the source and spread of the infection.
“The outbreak at the chicken farm at Meredith transferred to nearby ducks, but it has not come close to our farms,” Mr Shoppee said.
Luv-a-Ducks 23 farms, including 55 sheds, are located from Nhill to St Arnaud, and across to the Natimuk area.
FUN WITH FUNGI: Ecologist and environmental photographer Alison Pouliot, above and right, spoke at Landcare’s Meeting with Mushrooms fungal ecology and identification workshop at Natimuk earlier this month.
“We remain committed to working closely with government authorities to ensure the health and safety of our flocks and the wider community,” Mr Shoppee said.
“We will continue to follow all guidance and regulations set forth by Agriculture Victoria and other relevant agencies to prevent the spread of avian influenza.”
All bird species are considered vulnerable to avian influenza, including domestic poultry and birds. Domestic bird owners can manage the risk of avian influenza by preventing contact with wild birds, quarantining new birds, and knowing the signs of disease, including sudden death, lethargy, droopy appearance, diarrhoea, and reduction in egg production.
Poultry farmers, backyard flock and bird owners are urged to report any cases of unexplained bird deaths to the VicEmergency Hotline on 1800 226 226.
People can visit farmbiosecurity. com.au for more detailed information on preventing disease in chickens, ducks and other species.
The workshop introduced participants to the diversity of fungi and the basic principles of fungus identification, including fungi from both local habitats and further afield. In addition to the ecological and mycological aspects, cultural and conservation aspects of fungi were also discussed, with participants having an opportunity to examine and handle fungus specimens.
Pictures: PAUL CARRACHER
National freight strategy roadmap
GrainGrowers earlier this month unveiled its National Grain Freight Strategy, with a road map for government to help drive Australia’s global competitiveness.
The strategy is designed to increase the productivity and efficiency of the supply chain, driving down costs and delivering savings for Australian growers.
Launching the strategy, GrainGrowers chairman Rhys Turton said a unified and considered approach was vital to address a complex and multifaceted issue.
The launch was supported by a panel discussion featuring participants across the supply chain discussing some of the challenges and opportunities facing the grain supply chain.
Panel participants included Minyip grower Ryan Milgate, GrainCorp commercial general manager Sean Barker, Australasian Rail Association freight and haul general manager Georgia Nicholls, and Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association executive director Rachel Smith.
Mr Turton said the grain freight supply chain was characterised by diverse, complex and multidirectional freight journeys across multiple modes of transport.
“In 2022-23, a record winter crop production of 65.7 million tonnes was moved from paddocks across regional Australia, by either road or rail to port for export or to domestic markets,” he said.
“The expense of moving grain is the
FIRST-HAND: Freight transport service Specialised Container Transport, SCT, in conjunction with Horsham Rural City Council, hosted an industry event on June 13, featuring guest speakers and a tour of the Wimmera Intermodal Freight Terminal at Dooen. ‘Wimmera Regional Port Logistics Industry Event 2024’ also featured guest speakers from various sectors of the logistics industry at a networking event at Horsham Town Hall. Pictured is SCT operations manager Damian Paynter explaining SCT’s operations at the Wimmera Intermodal Freight Terminal.
Key elements of the action plan
Road funding: With most domestic grain and an increasing proportion of export grain transported by road, a well-maintained national road system is required. Elements required in the short-term include the development of state-based grain freight strategies; increased funding to direct funding mechanisms such as the Roads to Recovery Program; funding to critical grain freight routes under the Infrastructure Investment Program; and elevating the National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy’s governance structures to a national cabinet priority to increase resourcing and accountability.
Road regulation: Short-term actions include a greater streamlining of HPFV regulations; improvements to safety and reduced red tape, including crossing rail lines; and increased sharing of resources to local councils to determine road access decisions.
Bridges: Practical ability to operate is impeded by bridge infrastructure nearing the end of its useful life, with many councils unable to afford bridge replacement and imposing bridge load limits to protect assets. Immediate action is required to identify and fund bridge upgrades on high-volume freight routes.
Rail: Increasing rail grain freight is a viable way to not only reduce carbon emissions, but efficiently transport grain long distances from growing regions to port. Unfortunately, a localised rail network, undermines the interoperability of the network reducing overall freight efficiency and increasing costs. Urgent work required includes targeted funding to upgrade critical rail freight corridors; the harmonisation of roll-
single largest cost of production, with CSIRO modelling highlighting transport costs of $2.1 billion per annum.
“Increasingly, our ability to compete on the global stage is not just determined by what we grow, but also how efficiently and effectively we can get our grain to market.
“For context, prior to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, both
ing stock access agreements; an audit of infrastructure standards to identify opportunities for standardisation and expansion; and co-funding for industry to upgrade rail sidings and loading capacity.
Ports: A well-functioning port system is critical to transport grain to overseas markets, however Australian ports and landside logistic chains face major challenges from a growth in trade. Increasing trade will intensify current issues, with inefficiencies impacting grain exports with spiralling costs and delays. In the short term the industry requires a nationally co-ordinated approach to port regulation to improve consistency and co-ordination including terminal charges; and monitoring of port productivity by the Federal Government.
Freight decarbonisation: As a hard-to-abate industry, a nationally co-ordinated and staged transition is required, to implement a fundamental shift to Australian grain freight. With the commercialisation of low-emission road and rail technologies still in its infancy, targeted government support is required to establish low-emission pathways for grain freight. Immediate steps required include: the implementation of a National Transport and Infrastructure Net Zero Roadmap and Action Plan; ensuring decarbonisation is included in the National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy; developing a National Modal Shift Scheme to encourage increased grain rail freight; and exploring opportunities for domestic production of canola-based biofuels for use in existing machinery to reduce emissions.
countries production costs were $70$120 AUD less than Australia’s.”
GrainGrowers commissioned international consulting firm LEK to develop the ‘Connecting the Dots’ report to identify key pinch points in the supply chain.
Following the report, GrainGrowers consulted with more than 40 stakeholders across the supply chain to gain
further input into the issues.
“By collaborating with industry stakeholders and policymakers, we’re paving the way for a more efficient and resilient grain supply chain that meets the evolving needs of Australian grain growers,” Mr Turton said.
“While growers are at the heart of the strategy, with a key focus on the issues that impact transporting
grain off farm such as local roads and bridges, it is vital the approach reflects the views of the broader supply chain.
“What we have now is a clear strategy built around six key objectives, with the potential to make a real difference to productivity and efficiency of the grain freight supply chain.”
The framework underpinning the strategy is based on the following objectives: encourage competition and new supply chain entrants; increase scalable capacity within the supply chain; streamline and harmonise regulation; build supply chain resilience; support new technologies and innovation; and enhance freight sustainability.
Mr Turton said the practical application of the strategy was embedded in an action plan focused on road funding, road regulation, bridges, rail, ports and freight decarbonisation.
It outlines ways for government and industry stakeholders to work together, ensuring Australia’s grain supply chain remains competitive on the global stage.
“Part of this strategy highlights what needs to happen and the timeline required to deliver results,” Mr Turton said.
“This is not a wish list. It is a pragmatic, strategic pathway forward, and we urge the government to support this and make strategic investments to bring substantial benefits to the industry and broader Australian economy.”
In The Paddock
With Simon, Jack & Charlie
It is important to monitor the forecast for frost as it will significantly a ect the results of certain modes of action, particularly groups A (1) and B (2).
Sprouting Strength: Embracing Change in the Post-Emergent Season
Although this season has been slow, the time has come to prepare for post-emergent spraying. This month’s article will cover off two key drivers in getting the most out of our selective spraying jobs.
Environmental Conditions
Spraying in poor conditions can often cause poor results when applying post-emergent products. For example, products that are translocated or move within the plant are heavily impacted by growing conditions. When targeting Annual Ryegrass, Clethodim efficacy is dramatically reduced if sprayed within 3 days of a frost. A study by the University of Adelaide showed up to 50% survival of susceptible Annual Ryegrass at label rates of Clethodim when applied after 3 days of frost and up to 30% survival before 3 days of frost. Their findings also showed that survival percentage grew when resistance occurred and/or when targeting ryegrass that is 4 leaf of larger. There are also some groups of herbicides that require good sunlight intensity and high humidity to get better results. Group H (27), which is often used to target resistant Wild Radish and other brassica weeds, requires good light intensity and humidity during application for good results. The most common Group
H (27) actives include Pyrasulfotole and Topramenzone. Another product that requires these conditions is Glufosinate, a Group N (10) which is great for targeting resistant ryegrass on fence-lines and used in Liberty Link canola.
Resistance Management
Herbicide resistance to post-emergent chemicals is widely known and ever increasing, particularly in problem weeds such as Annual Ryegrass and Wild Radish but it also occurs in Wild Oats and Sow Thistles. According to Dr Chris Preston from the University of Adelaide, there are an estimated 40 000 resistant populations in Annual Ryegrass to herbicide groups A (1) and B (2) across Australia. There is also confirmed Ryegrass resistance to 9 different herbicide groups including pre and post emergent chemicals. However, there are very few populations that are resistant to multiple herbicide groups and multiple active ingredients and as such mixing different mode of actions (MOA’s) is a crucial component to delay resistance and improve weed control. Following rules such as only using 1 application of each MOA or herbicide group per year and not using the same MOA or group in consecutive years goes a long way in reducing the number of resistant weeds in
your paddock. This is especially important with Group B (2) herbicides which have been over-used due to the increased area of Imidazolinone Tolerant crops leading to these products having poor results on problem weeds such as Wild Radish and Ryegrass.
Overall, a good result from post-emergent chemical applications will lead to a better crop and more profit. Finding a balance between spraying in good conditions and spraying on time is important to getting a good result. Identify any failed post-emergent sprays and find the cause because it will change how you manage that paddock in the future. If there are any weed populations that are suspected to be resistant, get them tested to confirm and tailor a strategy to remove the resistant population from the seed bank.
If in doubt, please give us a call and let’s hope that we get some good rain over the next few weeks.
Find Nutrien On Facebook
Farm safety focus ongoing
The Victorian Farmers Federation’s Making our Farms Safer project will continue to run until 2025 after receiving a $600,000 grant from the State Government.
VFF vice-president Danyel Cucinotta said the project, which launched in April 2020, would continue to help shift the dial towards zero on-farm deaths and injuries.
“The project has been a vital and trusted resource for the farming community since 2020 and the team will hit the ground running to help reduce the over-representation of the agriculture industry in workplace deaths and injury,” she said.
“Farmers and our regional communities have told us loud and clear how important this project was to them, and I welcome the government’s commitment to helping us keep farmers safe.”
Ms Cucinotta said the project would focus on four key areas to help ensure the safety of farmers.
“Mental health is an enormous, hidden burden confronting many farmers,” she said.
“The VFF MOFS project will develop and publish a handbook specifically made by our farmers, for our farmers.
“The use of telehandlers on
farms brings particular risks, which are a key focus for the VFF.
“With the new options for telehandler licencing to rollout beginning in July, we’ll be working with farmers to help ensure they understand the requirements and dangers when operating or working around them.”
Ms Cucinotta said more than 40 percent of all deaths on farms in 2022 were people aged older than 60.
“This announcement means we’ll be able to continue the rollout of the recently launched ‘Stay Farming Longer and Safer’ handbook, aimed at farmers over 60,” she said.
“Nothing beats in-person, tailored safety advice to your farm.
“The team will be busy conducting on-farm safety visits, safety briefings as well as attending field days and presenting to community groups throughout Victoria.”
Agriculture minister Ros Spence announced three grants, totalling $1.25 million, awarded to the VFF, Gardiner Foundation, and Fruit Growers Victoria.
The funding will help extend existing safety programs and contribute to new initiatives that will support cultural diversity in the agricultural workforce.
The Gardiner Foundation will
receive $610,000 from the government and provide $1.22 million of its own money to increase the engagement of culturally and linguistically diverse communities in agricultural regions.
Fruit Growers Victoria will receive a $49,402 grant to deliver farm safety videos relating to cool stores and working from heights in multiple languages targeting culturally and linguistically diverse, CALD, workers, and a mental health webinar for fruit growers in the Goulburn Valley.
Ms Spence said the Farming Safe and Well Program was part of the government’s Backing Victoria’s World Class Producers to
Grow commitment in the 202324 State Budget. “These grants encourage proactive measures to ensure the wellbeing of farmers and agriculture workers, while promoting diversity and inclusion across the sector,” she said.
“It is vital that we can continue to work alongside industry to combine our resources and expertise to enhance farm safety standards and farmer wellbeing and create a more inclusive environment that can benefit all.”
People can learn more about the program and access resources by visiting makingourfarmssafer. org.au.
Feed for winter
Lactating stock, weeds and wastage are among the considerations growers will have when purchasing feed and sheep for cattle during winter, although costing feeds based on energy is still the number one consideration.
There are immediate and long-term implications when feeding to energy content requirements – maternal and offspring survival can be compromised if nutrition is insufficient during late pregnancy and lactation, with long-term implications for future growth, maturity and fertility.
While feeding requirements of maternal stock is significantly less once young are weaned, early-weaned stock have the highest protein demands of any livestock on a farm.
Lactating or young growing sheep require more than 12 percent protein – up to 18 percent – whereas lactating or growing cattle require more than 10 percent. Therefore, feeds such as maize, oats and hays might not be sufficient for some stock if fed on their own.
Once lambs are weaned, the requirements of the ewes are significantly less and depending on their condition, a maintenance ration or poorer pasture might be adequate to maintain weight and halt weight loss.
Wastage must also be factored into costings, particularly when conditions are wet – pellets break down quickly, and other feed become unpalatable when ground-feeding.
Fibre and roughage need to be carefully balanced, as too-high fibre might result in stock not able to eat enough to meet their energy needs.
Some grains, such as wheat, triticale and barley, need to be processed for cattle to achieve the full energy value – processing grains for sheep is not required and will increase the chance of acidosis.
Storage and handling of feed also needs to be considered, as does introducing weeds from new suppliers. Growers can visit agriculture.vic.gov.au to find more tips on feed and early weaning.
IT PAYS TO PLAN AHEAD
Minimise your tax by taking advantage of our prepayment solution* this EOFY.
Speak to your local branch to start paying on your terms.
Farm financial skills workshop
Horsham district farmers will have an opportunity to expand their knowledge at a free Rabo Client Council workshop designed to teach financial skills critical to managing an agricultural enterprise.
The practical financial skills workshop, which provides farmers an opportunity to both upskill and network, will be in early July.
The workshop is spearheaded and funded by food and agribusiness banking specialist Rabobank’s Rabo Client Council, a volunteer group of the bank’s farming clients who implement programs that contribute to the sustainability of rural and regional communities.
The interactive workshop provides practical, hands-on advice for understanding financial statements and banking requirements, and explores topics including taxation versus management accounting, essential business management ratios and understanding key components of a business’ financial profile.
Rabo Client Council South Australia and northwest Victoria chair and Millicent-based mixed farmer Nikki Kirkland said financial literacy was ‘essential for both existing farmers and the new generation joining the sector’.
Ms Kirkland said the workshop aimed to bridge a divide between agricultural expertise and financial understanding.
“While many of our up-and-coming primary producers may have strong education backgrounds or extensive on-farm experience, understanding the complexities of financial reporting and banking requirements can still be unfamiliar. That’s precisely why these workshops are immensely valuable,” she said.
Ms Kirkland said while the original target audi-
ence for the workshop was the next generation of farmers, the Rabo Client Council was also receiving feedback that current farmers also received benefit from the sessions.
“The workshop is designed to allow couples and family members to attend together,” she said.
“It offers an excellent chance for farmers to step away from their business, absorb the same information, and develop a shared understanding of financial reporting.
“By learning together, they can enhance their financial knowledge as a team.”
Ms Kirkland said the Rabo Client Council network was focused on developing grassroots initiatives to support agri education, rural wellbeing, sustainability, adaptation and creating rural-urban connections.
“By equipping farmers with the knowledge to effectively utilise financial reporting, the financial skills workshop plays a role in enhancing the resilience and prosperity of local farming enterprises,” she said.
“As a result, our rural and regional communities also reap the benefits of a financially robust and healthy agricultural sector.”
The workshop – which will be limited to 30 participants and open to all farmers regardless of who they bank with – will be presented by director of Hudson Facilitation, Tony Hudson.
It will be on Tuesday, July 2 from 8.30am to 3.30pm at Horsham Golf Club. Morning tea and lunch catering will be provided.
People can register to participate by visiting rabobankaunz.eventsair.com/financial-skillsworkshops/registration/Site/Register.
People can email rabocommunity@rabobank. com with any queries about the workshops.
Growing support for compost program
Ararat Rural City Council is encouraging residents to support its new composting endeavour after a recent case study sparked interest across the community.
Council last month shared the story of TerriAnne and Mark Lewis, a Cathcart couple who established a market garden on their property using 200 tonnes of council-created compost.
Chief executive Tim Harrison reported a surge in community interest in the compost program after the story’s publication and said he hoped people would investigate how they could become involved.
Dr Harrison said the project was a joint venture between Ararat Rural City Council and Gaia EnviroTech, a Ballarat bioenergy and wastemanagement company.
He said Gaia set up a composting system at Ararat’s transfer station under a reciprocal agreement that allowed Gaia’s senior engineers to try out new ideas.
“We need to be collaborative, and commit to the process of research and development. We’re not just end recipients; this isn’t a turn-key solution. It’s about continual innovation – and there are a whole range of great community stories
coming out of it,” he said. Dr Harrison said the transfer station produced 120 tonnes of compost each fortnight, mixing green waste and food waste from across the municipality.
Gaia technical director Sandy Gray said the company carefully measured the ratio of green waste to food waste to create top-class compost.
After mixing, contaminants are removed by hand before the material is shredded by a machine and loaded into pasteurisation containers made from repurposed shipping containers.
The containers heat the mixture to more than 55 degrees for 72 hours, while engineers digitally monitor and control temperature, moisture and other factors.
The resulting matter is drained, screened and tested to ensure compliance with relevant health and safety regulations.
“Every batch of compost we process is sampled and sent to the Gaia EnviroTech lab for testing,” Dr Harrison said.
People can learn more about the composting process and secure batches of 50 or more tonnes for agricultural projects by emailing Ian Cooper at icooper@ararat.vic.gov.au.
E-Catalogue OUT NOW
Scan Here for Deals
Farming groups protest export ban
The Australian agricultural industry is reeling following the Federal Government’s announcement that it will phase out the live exporting of sheep during the next four years.
Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt made the announcement in Perth on May 11, offering the industry a $107 million transition package.
Representatives from the National Farmers’ Federation, NFF, joined by multiple agricultural bodies, walked out of Mr Watts’ address during an agricultural industry budget breakfast in Canberra on May 15.
The group comprising the NFF, Wool Producers Australia, Sheep Producers Australia, Cattle Australia, Australian Livestock Export Council, WA Farmers, AgForce Queensland and NSW Farmers left the event when the minister started talking about the ban.
NFF president and Murra Warra farmer David Jochinke said the walkout was intended to show the minister that he had crossed a line by announcing a four-year timeline to banning live sheep exports.
“We turned our back to the minister just like he turned his back on farmers,” he said.
“The walkout represents what this government did to agriculture when it pursued this ideological agenda, dis-
regarding the real-world implications this ban will have on farmers, communities, our trading relationships and animal welfare outcomes.
“It appears this government listens to activists over agricultural experts and farmers. Perhaps if we start behaving like activists it might listen to us.
“Overseas farmers are taking to the streets to rebel against governments who won’t listen. We don’t want that here, but is that what our leaders want?
“We are putting this government on notice. We are only just getting warmed up. There’s plenty of fight in farmers.”
Mr Jochinke said it was imperative
to make a stand for the thousands of people and small businesses the trade ban would impact, but that it was also much bigger than the live sheep export trade.
“The government has cancelled a viable and important industry. What industry will be next on the chopping block?” he said.
“We know the calls are already ramping up for cattle to follow suit, but what if a vocal minority decides it doesn’t like apples or cotton or dairy?
“We will fight this decision tooth and nail. Agricultural policy must be built on evidence, science and listening to farmers, not ideology and inner city vote grabbing.”
The Victorian Farmers Federation,
VFF, also voiced its disapproval, saying the Federal Government’s decision to ban live sheep exports could have dire consequences for Victorian farmers.
VFF president Emma Germano said the decision demonstrated a lack of understanding of the entire agricultural industry.
She said the move had left many farmers questioning the motive of government decision makers.
“The flow-on impact of this decision simply cannot be underestimated and couldn’t come at a worse time with many Western Australian farmers battling severe drought,” she said.
“Decisions like this don’t actually improve animal welfare outcomes. It’s ignoring the fact that Australian farmers are world-leaders in animal welfare practices and are regulated using science-based methods.”
Ms Germano said the government was pandering to the demands of minority activists, which was ‘incredibly concerning’.
She said the live sheep sea export ban decision would add further strain to an already insecure food security situation.
“Decisions like this don’t just impact those directly involved in the industry. It sends a message that your business can be shut down with the stroke of a pen and that leads to massive uncertainty throughout the entire Australian agriculture industry,” she said.
“We urgently need leaders that understand the critical importance that our industry plays.
“We help feed millions around the globe, inject billions into the economy and employ hundreds of thousands of people in the country.
“It’s time our leaders understood the decisions they make have very real and potentially dire consequences.”
“Undoubtedly there will be direct impacts, nonetheless the livelihoods and generational farmers that have been destroyed. That is devastating and the mental health impacts will sadly be enormous.
