AgLife Digital – March 31, 2021 edition

March 31, 2021

On top of the flock

More than 50 dogs competed in a Wimmera Yard Dog Trial, run in conjunction with the Wimmera Autumn Merino Sheep Show and Horsham Fleece Show, with organisers already planning next year’s event.

Story, page 33 Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

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Inaugural sheep show a success 95 Nelson Street, Nhill CALL 03 5391 2106

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uccess of an inaugural Wimmera Autumn Merino Sheep Show has provided incentive for organisers to work on making it an annual event.

Horsham Agricultural Society president Zack Currie said he was pleased with the number of entries in each of the show’s feature sections and was now looking forward to 2022.

“We had more than 50 dogs competing in the Wimmera Yard Dog Trial, more than 140 stud merino and poll merino sheep from 17 studs across Victoria and South Australia enter the Wimmera Autumn Merino Sheep Show and 70 fleeces entered in the Horsham Fleece Show,” he said.

“It was a brilliant effort by exhibitors.

“The show’s success was underpinned by Robert Harding who instigated the autumn sheep-show concept alongside Ouyen Tamaleuca Merino Sheep Stud owners Kevin Crooke and Danni Wilson.

“They were instrumental in compiling the schedule and the collaborative management of the show with Horsham Agricultural Society.”

Wimmera woolgrower and co-organiser Warren Russell of Melrose Merino Stud took home several awards across both sheep and fleece shows.

Mr Currie said having the support of Wimmera woolgrowers including Melrose, Glenpaen, Glendonald and Mt Yulong studs, in addition to growers who travelled from across Victoria and as far as the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia, indicated that showing was still relevant in the industry.

“This was reflected in a Orrie Cowie Merino ram from South Australia winning the Supreme Sheep of Show,” he said.

Mr Currie said another highlight was Glendonald Merino Sheep Stud’s Harding family from Nhill clocking up 100 years of showing and 50 years of showing for Robert Harding.

As part of the succession plan for industry events, the society’s introduction of junior sheep judging was also popular, with more than a dozen young agriculturalists entering the competition.

Matthieu Brehaut from Montrose Hill Merino Stud was the eventual winner.

Competition also attracted entries from Longerenong College students, most of whom volunteered as stewards on the day.

Mr Currie said entries in Horsham Fleece Show topped usual annual agricultural show numbers.

He said fleece judge and Elders Horsham wool buyer Amy Carpenter was impressed with the quality of the wool on show,

Wednesday, March 31, 2021

WORTHY WINNERS: Keith Mackley and Lois Trimble inspect prize-winning fleece, and above, John Dalla, Warooka, with his champion Marchshorn ram.

Pictures: PAUL CARRACHER which led to Melrose Merino Stud winning champion fleece and Alan Hutchinson the aggregate.

He said competition in Wimmera Yard Dog Trial was also strong, considering the event shared the date with state championships. There were high entries in the maiden and novice sections.

“Open winner Rob Macklin returned for the trial after competing in Lucindale on Saturday, which demonstrates the commitment and how far competitors will travel to showcase the skills of their yard dogs,” Mr Currie said.

“Competitors travelled from across the state for the trial and for many in the crowd of about 400 across the day, it was their first time watching a trial.

“Executing this COVID-safe event leaves us in no doubt Horsham Agricultural Society can manage shows and other events into the future as we recover from the effects of the pandemic, which is really encouraging.”

Results – Wimmera Autumn Merino Sheep Show: Supreme Sheep of Show, Orrie Cowie Merino Stud, Warooka, SA; most successful exhibitor, Wurrook Merino Stud, Rokewood; superfine poll merino ram, Melrose Merino Stud; superfine merino ram, Wurrook; superfine merino ewe, Melrose. Fine poll merino ewe, Melrose; fine poll merino ram, Wurrook; fine merino ewe, Wurrook;

fine merino ram, Coryule Merino Stud; medium poll merino ewe, Oakbank; medium poll merino ram, Oakbank; medium merino ewe, Koolevale Merino Stud; medium merino ram, Glendonald Merino Stud. Strong poll merino ewe, Oakbank; strong poll merino ram, Glendonald; strong merino ewe, Oakbank; strong merino ram, Orrie Cowie.

Reserve grand champion ewe, Oakbank; reserve grand champion ram, Oakbank; grand champion ewe, Oakbank; champion ram, Orrie Cowie.

Glendonald Merino Stud Trophy winner for a merino or poll merino ram and ewe pair, Glenara Merino Stud 1, Mount Yulong Merino Stud 2. Horsham Agricultural Society Trophy for a merino or poll merino group of one ram and two ewes, Glenara 1, Wurrook 2. Champion March-shorn ram, Orrie Cowie Merino; reserve champion March shorn ram, Melrose.

Junior sheep judging: Matthaiu Brehaut 1, Tom Edson 2, Abby McDonald 3.

Wimmera Yard Dog Trial: Open, William Macklin; local, Aaron Zwar; encouragement, Jason White; maiden, Bill Graham; novice, Bill Graham; improver, Steve Robinson.

Horsham Fleece Show: Most valuable stud ram fleece bred by owner, Warren Russell, Melrose; most valuable stud ewe fleece bred by owner, Warren Russell, Melrose; most valuable commercial fleece, D. Byrne and Sons; highest points awarded for weaner fleece, A. and J. Hutchinson; aggregate, A. and J. Hutchinson.

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Cheers to new collaboration

BY DYLAN DE JONG

W

immera-Mallee farmers are preparing their first shipment of barley for some of Australia’s most-loved beers after entering into a trade deal with a Japanese beverage company.

Asahi Beverages will brew its beers using barley purchased from Australian farmers for the first time in decades, with the first batch of beers set to roll off the lines next month.

More than 30 farmers across the region have entered into the deal to supply barley to the company, which owns Carlton and United Breweries.

The deal will mean Asahi will have clear oversight of the barley growing process to ensure the best barley is used to brew beers such as Victoria Bitter, Carlton Draught, Great Northern and Pure Blonde.

Lawloit broadacre farmer John Bennett, who will start supplying Asahi Beverages with his barley early next month, said the deal showcased Australian farmers’ commitment to producing high quality and sustainably grown barley.

“This deal really gives you confidence in the crop – what we grow here in the Wimmera and Mallee is very good quality,” he said.

He said the brewery company buying barley direct would generate major socio-economic benefits for farmers and

NEW DEAL: Asahi Beverages chief brewer Jaideep Chandrasekharan, left, and Wimmera farmer John Bennett in Mr Bennett’s barley paddock at Lawloit, southwest of Nhill. Mr Bennett will start supplying Asahi Beverages with his barley early next month.

surrounding communities in the region.

“It sends a clear signal to Australian barley growers that Asahi is happy to support them directly by buying from them – that has a flow-on benefit for country communities,” he said.

“Asahi really likes being able to demonstrate where their product comes from and for me as a farmer I really like to see where my product is going – it’s really exciting to see barley that I’ve grown turned into Asahi beer.”

Wimmera-Mallee farmers will supply 30,000 tonnes of barley to the compa-

ny’s Abbotsford Brewery once it has been malted.

Northern NSW growers are expected to join the scheme before this year’s grain harvest. The first beers using the barley will be brewed at Abbotsford and Yatala in April.

The new supply chain means more than 90 percent of Asahi Beverages’ barley is purchased from Australia.

Grain Producers Australia chairman and Rupanyup farmer Andrew Weidemann said the deal was ‘timely’ for Australian barley growers.

“Barley farmers have faced many challenges in recent years so it is fantastic to see a program like this launch,” he said.

“The program will help ensure crops are grown sustainably and farmers can grow new varieties that can open up more international markets for them.”

Asahi Beverages chief brewer Jaideep Chandrasekharan said Australian malting barley was of the highest quality and sourcing it direct from farmers was an important change for the company’s national operations.

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Victoria has greater protection from biosecurity and animal-welfare threats with 22 new authorised officers now working with Agriculture Victoria.

The new officers and inspectors are trained to cover a wide range of issues including animal biosecurity and animal welfare, plant biosecurity, weeds and pest animals, and agricultural and veterinary chemical use.

Of the 22 staff, nine are based in south-west Victoria, five in northern Victoria, six in south-east Victoria, and two in statewide roles.

Biosecurity operations acting program manager Rachel Cairns said the new authorised officers and inspectors were an important addition to Agriculture Victoria’s resources to address day-to-day issues as well as in emergencies.

“Responsibilities of authorised officers and inspectors include working with livestock owners and landholders to manage weeds and pest animals, tag livestock and inspect saleyards,” she said.

“They also monitor for pests and diseases, issue certifications for produce, investigate agricultural and veterinary chemical use and alleged animal cruelty, as well as issue fines for non-compliance with laws that protect Victoria’s domestic and export markets.”

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Mallee weather radar switched on 95 Nelson Street, Nhill CALL 03 5391 2106

Farmers in Mallee can now access real-time weather data after the Bureau of Meteorology switched on a new multi-million-dollar radar.

Located 45 kilometres west of Mildura at Cullulleraine, the new state-of-the-art radar will provide more up-to-date and accurate weather information, replacing the old radar at Mildura’s airport.

Member for Mallee Anne Webster said the new radar would be an important source of information for local farmers, industries and keen weather watchers.

“This is one of the best tools available for observing real-time rainfall, storms and even

debris in the atmosphere, across large areas,” she said.

“Images from the radar will appear on the BOM website and BOM Weather app, including areas to the north and south of the Murray that have previously not had coverage.

“I know real-time weather data in this region will be very welcome for farmers looking to make informed decisions for maximum productivity.”

The new $5-million radar is part of a multiyear Australian government project to upgrade or replace the bureau’s entire radar network.

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Distorted view after incentives N

ow that the long hours have passed for another year, crops harvested, stored or sold, dollars in the bank or on the way, what next?

Many will be planning ahead to the next cropping season after a few weeks off, hopefully.

Some might wonder was it all worthwhile and be asking what was the ‘bottom line’ for all the effort?

For many, on receiving their tax and profit statements, the first question will be, ‘how much tax?’.

Many will also ask, ‘how did our farm go despite having a good feel overall based on yields and prices?’.

For many, looking at the profit or loss report, P and L, and-or the tax return will not answer that question.

Why is this so? Often the profit for ‘tax’ purposes will be very different to the bottom line in the P and L, being out by ‘big’ – thousands – dollars.

Depreciation is a ‘book entry’ and rarely reflects the real ‘loss of value’ to the farming plant owned by a farming family.

At 30 percent and now at a 100 percent writeoff until June 30, 2022 under the ‘COVID-19 economic incentives’, it will lead to distorted results.

Sales of grain after June 30; stocks of grain in silos, wool held over until after June 30, no dollar value placed on farming family labour unless they are employed by the farm business, livestock valued at $4 at birth very conservatively valued, to name a few.

The median farm in our 2019 Wimmera farming KPI report had $8.2-million dollars of assets being managed; the median return on assets under management was 1.49 percent.

Returns ranged from a high of 14 percent back to a minus two percent.

These returns are on significant investments.

Comparative returns are available against other options and most are aware of these.

With farming, we all are aware that taking one year alone can be very misleading, hence we tend to look at five-year rolling averages. This was 2.3 percent.

Taking a closer look at Wimmera farms, consider what can be done?

Some are under performers and others are high achieving.

We simply divide the sample into four quarters; the first being the top 25 percent and so on.

This then tells us the strengths and weakness

Dollars and Dirt with Brian Watts

for 17 different areas – we now have a report on each farm’s strengths and weaknesses. The ‘lights are then turned on’ as we then are aware of what to work on if improvement is the goal.

So, returning to the start of this article.

Having removed the anomalies from the P and L and tax returns as listed, our Wimmera Farm KPI Reports provide 17 realistic answers to, ‘Are we in the top half or in the lower half?’.

Not bad information to be had if one wants to get a fair return on their farm investment.

Most have heard of ‘cost benefit’ appraisal.

With the knowledge of a farm’s strengths and any weaknesses on 17 different fronts, Wimmera farmers can then follow a simple process to turn things around.

Many in business will have used the ‘stop, start, continue’ process to improve.

Farmers will be doing this every day, they will stop what did not work, continue those practices that were successful, and start some that have been found to be helpful for other farmers or by their advisers.

Simply select an aspect that needs improvement – low-half KPI – and follow this process.

Inputs, timing, crop selection, harvest, storage and marketing are just a few topics that can be ‘worked’ on using this process to build on strengths and make changes to remove the weaknesses.

The Wimmera Farm KPI Report for 2020 will provide guidance on what to work on.

For readers of The Weekly Advertiser, Watts Price Accountants will provide a free comprehensive report to the first five Wimmera farms to contact us at 44 Wilson Street, Horsham. Phone 5382 3001 and mention this article and special offer.

• Watts Price Accountants of Horsham started reporting on Wimmera Farm Performance in 1991. Work on the 30th report, for the 2020 financial year, is in progress. Any Wimmera farm is welcome to be involved in the 2020 report and receive a comprehensive report on 17 KPIs for 2020. Five-year rolling averages for those 17 KPIs can be available on request.

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Grains industry prepares for season “Like” Us On Facebook

95 Nelson Street, Nhill CALL 03 5391 2106

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ictoria’s premier grains research, development and extension forum has helped equip the state’s grain industry for the 2021 winter cropping season.

About 180 advisers, growers, researchers and industry personnel attended a Grains Research and Development Corporation Grains Research Update at Bendigo earlier this month.

The event, which also attracted 300 registrations for an online livestream service, provided information about potential challenges and latest research findings, knowledge and advice.

GRDC southern grower relations manager Tom Blake said it was refreshing, after limitations on faceto-face events last year, for industry personnel to network in-person and speak with leading researchers and provide direct feedback to GRDC about its investment agenda.

“The Bendigo update was an important platform for extending critical information to the state’s growers and advisers ahead of sowing this season’s crops,” he said.

“Among the top-line messages from a line-up of industry experts was the need for growers to eliminate the ‘green bridge’ of weeds and volunteer cereals that summer rainfall events have promoted in some regions.

“By removing the green bridge

INFORMED: Grains Research and Development Corporation National Grower Network members Roger Armstrong, an Agriculture Victoria senior scientist in Horsham, left, and Craig Drum, Dagro Consulting, Tatyoon, at the Bendigo update. growers can better manage pests and diseases to reduce the risk to yields.”

Other key messages included: • Stripe rust in wheat was likely to be an important disease in 2021, especially where summer rain has supported disease carryover. Field experiments have found the new StripeRustWM App to be a useful tool to support incrop fungicide decisions; • Severe blackleg crown canker occurred when canola plants were infected during early seedling growth.

Before sowing, use the BlacklegCM decision support tool to identify highrisk paddocks and explore management strategies to reduce yield loss; • Encouraging growers and advisers to use PestFacts south eastern to remain informed about invertebrate pests and beneficials in broadacre crops and pastures during the winter cropping season; • More efficient use of glyphosate, combined with effective weed-management strategies to combat increas-

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cropping systems had identified the need to update current assumptions; • Stocks of soil organic carbon have declined in many Australian agricultural systems, including in dryland grains production; • For commonly grown faba bean varieties, sowing in April optimised grain yield in all rain zones across varying seasons; • Without a disease management plan that incorporated varietal resistance, paddock rotation, good agronomy practices and fungicides, grain yield losses of greater than 90 percent could be experienced in pulse crops; • Vetch had the ability and potential to fit into modern farming rotations in most areas, particularly in mixed farming systems where growers were looking for a versatile break option; • A new DNA soil testing service had been developed to measure Group E and F rhizobia numbers in soil to help growers in identifying the need to inoculate field pea, faba bean, lentil and vetch crops; • By 2022, the GRDC’s National Phenology Initiative would provide a tool for growers and advisers that would be able to predict optimal sowing dates for different cultivars across Australia at the point of release.

More information from the update is available online at grdc.com.au/ resources-and-publications/grdc-update-papers.

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VFF fearful of rates increase

R

ecord farm-land sales across Victoria has prompted the state’s peak farming body to urge regional municipal councils to be wary of applying ‘inequitable’ rate increases in response to the market.

Victorian Farmers Federation president Emma Germano said farmers were becoming concerned that the sales would have a major impact on their rate notices.

“Record land values and the fact we have annual valuations means many farmers are going to be hit with unfair increases to their rates notices this year,” she said.

“Ordinarily we expect farmland to double in value over a decade. However, we’ve been seeing land double in value within the space of three years, and in some instances values have doubled within 12 months.

“Instead of investing in their business, farmers are worried they’ll need to save more just to pay for their rates.”

Ms Germano said many local government councils had failed to adjust their rates according to the difference in value between farm land and other land uses.

“We have been seeing councils adjusting their rates based on the total change in land value across the entire council,

instead of adjusting the rates for each class of property.

“That means councils have been cutting the rate in the dollar by a flat amount for all classes of property, even though land value changes are different for residential, commercial and farm land.

“Ultimately this means the rating burden is increasingly being forced onto farmers.”

Ms Germano said farmers were ‘tired of excuses from local councils’.

“The recent Local Government Rating System Inquiry has made it clear that the responsibility sits with local government councils to help farmers avoid rates shock,” she said.

“Where we see an unfair rate rise, the VFF will be working with councils to achieve a fair deal for farmers.

“After all the challenges we’ve faced in recent times, we’ve learnt that farmers must be resilient for our nation’s overall resilience.

“The last thing we need is to be undermined by unfair rating strategies.”

Establishing a fair system for all ratepayers in regional municipalities, covering rural, urban, business and industrial properties, has long been the subject of consistent and fierce debate.

95 Nelson Street, Nhill CALL 03 5391 2106

KEEPING ACTIVE: Warracknabeal’s Justin Knorpp is keen to see more people join his Active Farmers fitness sessions to promote positve mental health and wellbeing.

Picture: DYLAN DE JONG

Push-ups improving positivity Improving mental health through physical exercise is the focus of a program Warracknabeal’s Justin Knorpp has launched in his town.

Mr Knorpp became group fitness instructor of a weekly ‘Active Farmers’ class after hearing about the Australia-wide program.

Tasmanian farmer Ginny Stevens started the program because she was concerned about the level of depression in rural communities.

Mr Knorpp said through exercise and interaction, he hoped participants would become more aware of their health.

“I just wanted to try to do something because we’re living in a massive farming community,” he said.

“Farmers are more isolated nowadays than ever because they own so much land and it can just be them and their dog as opposed to yesteryear with a family on every corner.

“I thought it would be good to get something going to get them off the land and trying something a bit different.”

Mr Knorpp grew up in Melbourne before moving to Warracknabeal in 2005.

He said he noticed there was a need for more mental health awareness in the farming community.

“Farming can be a hard game and this region has lost farmers to suicide over the years. This program is just a small way to help out with people’s headspace,” he said.

“It’s a way to take their minds off any stress they have in their working lives.”

Every Monday, a group of farmers gathers in Anzac Park for an hour session of circuit training.

Mr Knorpp said the classes were open to men and farmers of all fitness levels.

“The hardest thing can just be showing up. You just do what your body can do within your limitations – push yourself as hard as you want to,” he said.

“This is a once a week thing, but I hope it encourages people to go out and go for a walk, even if it’s just for 20 minutes.”

– Dylan De Jong

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risk Bumper harvest aids recovery Crop guides out “Like” Us On Facebook

95 Nelson Street, Nhill CALL 03 5391 2106

A

BY DYLAN DE JONG

Grampians boutique winery is among many across Victoria experiencing a major turnaround in wine-grape production following favourable growing conditions in the 2020-21 season.

Grampians Estate business owners Tom and Sarah Guthrie expect to harvest about 45 tonnes of produce this year, more than four times last year’s quantity.

Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, ABARES, forecasts overall wine-grape production across the country to increase three percent this season on the back of improved seasonal conditions.

Mr Guthrie said higher production in 2021 would replenish stock for the Great Western based winery.

“Nature has rebounded as it often does with fantastic yields,” he said.

“The fruit looks really good. With bigger crops comes a slower ripening period, which all adds to really good quality that we expect to complement the good yield.”

He said this year’s harvest would buck a three-year downward trend in production levels.

“We’ve had very mixed yields the past three years,” he said.

“Last year was our lowest crop for 20 years and that was a common theme among most winegrowers in south-

PROMISING RESULTS: Grampians Estate winery owners Sarah and Tom Guthrie are confident of a bumper harvest in wine grapes this year.

eastern Australia. Nature gives you headaches along the way – like in 2018 when we had a huge frost – but that’s just agriculture.

“This is just a really good year – it’s so great to fill the tanks up again and hopefully the quality will match quantity.”

Mr Guthrie said his winery was busy harvesting its white grapes and would likely start on reds this week.

“Like most regional winemakers, we are well and truly at the height of harvest and yields are fantastic in line with the generally good season for crops, livestock and now grapes,” he said.

“Everything looks really promising – but it is not done until it is in the bottle.”

The agriculture department forecasts the average price of Australian wine grapes will fall more than $100 to $540 per tonne this year, with the major reason being the loss of China as a significant export market for Australian wines.

Mr Guthrie said a favourable harvest this season would be crucial for Australia’s wine industry to recover after it faced ‘significant challenges’ in 2020, including complications due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“If you look at the past 12 months, we had very poor yields and then bushfires happened, and many wineries had smoke taint. Then China came along, and you throw COVID-19 into the mix, it’s been extremely challenging,” he said “Just speaking to the wineries that I know in the local region – a lot are running out of white wines because there wasn’t much made last year.

“It was such a low year last year, so this year will enable wineries to replenish their stocks, especially for small to medium wineries.”

Grain growers will have access to more information about managing disease risk in their crops this season with the release of Agriculture Victoria’s cereal and pulse disease guides.

Produced with support from Grains Research and Development Corporation, the annual crop disease guides detail how new and commonly grown wheat, barley, oats, triticale, lentil, chickpea, field pea, faba bean, lupin and vetch varieties will react to a range of crop diseases.

Agriculture Victoria senior research scientist Joshua Fanning said ratings developed nationally and released in February provided the most up-to-date information for Victorian growers.

For cereal growers, the Cereal Disease Guide provides updated information on crop-disease ratings and advice on how to reduce the risk from fungicide resistance.

The ratings provided in the pulse and cereal disease guides are based on an understanding of diseases in Victoria and on data collected from plant pathologists working across Australia with support from GRDC. The 2021 Pulse and Cereal Disease Guides are available online at agriculture.vic.gov.au.

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Company tapping into innovation 95 Nelson Street, Nhill CALL 03 5391 2106

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BY DEAN LAWSON

orsham manufacturer Australian Plant Proteins has continued its exploration into production innovation and efficiency by changing the way it stores and transports its products.

The company, producing and supplying plant-protein isolates from Wimmera-grown pulses such as faba beans and lentils to a growing national and international market, has changed from one-use bulk bags to a new reusable product.

Australian Plant Proteins, APP, is managing its raw materials with a product called UniBox, a food-grade product for handling ‘flowable’ products such as grain, seeds and granules.

Operations manager Puneet Chawla said the UniBox system had significantly improved day-to-day productivity, cost-efficiency and safety at the Horsham site.

“You could say that it ticks all the boxes for us. We’ve been using UniBox at Horsham for several months now, and the improvements have been immediate,” he said.

The company estimates the new system is saving $30 per tonne of processed beans, or about $250,000 a year.

“We currently process 12 tonne of faba beans and lentils per day, with more capacity due online next year

POSITIVE CHANGE: Australian Plant Proteins production assistant Peter Scott shows off the UniBox system, which has significantly improved day-to-day productivity, cost-efficiency and safety at the Horsham site. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER which will see us processing more than 30 tonnes per day,” Mr Chawla said.

“Until now we have been using bulk bags, which of course are only single use and have challenges with storage space, the risk of tipping or tearing, as well as potential issues with spoilage and rodents.

“The UniBox system has solved all of these problems, as well as delivering significant time and cost savings.”

Imported and marketed in Australia

by United Ag, UniBox units can handle up to 1200-kilogram loads.

United Ag director Tim McFarlane said heavy-duty construction made the units a ‘smart, reusable alternative’ to bulk bags.

“The UniBox is made from high-density polyethylene and meets food-grade standards with the option of a stainless-steel bottom plate,” he said “They seal completely with a secure lid, to give good protection against

infestation, contaminants or spoilage.”

Designed for safe, one-person operation, the UniBox interior is smooth and sloped with a generous centre exit to quickly and completely empty contents. The flow out can be controlled for metering or mixing.

The containers stack and nest for efficient warehousing and freight, with a semi-load holding 18 full UniBox units.

Mr Chawla said APP used the boxes to move and store raw grain before

processing, rotating its fleet every 1.5 days with suppliers.

“We send clean, empty ones across to them, which they then fill and return to us for processing,” he said.

“Our first processing step is washing the beans, which requires them to be loaded into a hopper system.

“When we were using bulk bags, it took 17 minutes to empty each one, but the UniBox decants the same volume in eight. It’s better than half the time, which is a lot when you add that up over a week or month.”

Safety benefits

Mr Chawla said forklift drivers also preferred the new UniBox system.

“Our drivers feel much more comfortable moving them around,” he said.

“Instead of lifting a bulk bag from the top and holding it up high, these are lifted at the bottom so feel much more stable for the driver.

“We can store three tonnes of product in the space we used to only be able to store one tonne.”

Mr Chawla said the company had another 40 boxes on order and the payback on investment would be in months, not years.

“We can’t wait for them to arrive.

All round, they are a great solution for our business. We won’t be going back to the bulk bags, that’s for sure,” he said.

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®

HEATING

Gason looks to

Proudly Manufactured in Ararat

Hicks Machinery would like to congratulate Gason on 75 years of local manufacturing and a engineering.

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Proud suppliers of Gason Agricultural Equipment 87-89 Dimboola Road, Horsham. Ph (03) 5381 0370

L

BY DYLANwoodheating DE JONG

“My father wanted a better way of life for his family in a country environment, but I don’t think he ever expected his business to take off in the way it has”

es Gason can vividly remember a time when his father Frank was running his one-man motor trimming business out of an Ararat garage.

Now celebrating its 75th anniversary, manufacturing and engineering company Gason has expanded to a 3.2-hectare industrial facility at a Blake Street site and employs 140 people.

The company made its start in farming and agriculture, with tractor cabins and tillage equipment, and has since grown to become a major supplier of various products and services to business partners in Australia and internationally.

Mr Gason, the company’s board of directors’ chairman, said the business’s long-lasting success could be attributed to commitment to the Ararat community and a willingness to diversify.

“It started with my mother and father putting everything into starting a small business when they first moved to Ararat. They never had any money behind them,” he said.

“My father wanted a better way of life for his family in a country environment, but I don’t think he ever expected his business to take off in the way it has.”

Seventy-five years after Frank Gason first started his business, a new generation of Gasons continue its legacy, with six family members spanning three generations filling roles with the manufacturing company.

The company began when Frank, his wife Jean and children relocated to Ararat from Geelong in 1946 to start his motor trimming business.

A year later, a Tatyoon farmer asked Mr Gason

– Les Gason

to build a tractor cabin, which became the first of thousands produced over a 40-year period.

It was a momentous step forward for Gason, as its cabins became a prominent feature on tractors across the country.

“We were picking up sales left, right and centre. We then set up a dealer network, starting in South Australia, New South Wales, into Queensland and Western Australia, which absolutely took off – we had 1200 dealers,” Mr Gason said.

Gason tractor cabins were market leaders right up until the market crashed in the ’80s.

However, Mr Gason said the market collapse was a catalyst to the company diversifying its operations.

The company started to design and manufacture agriculture equipment such as air-seeders, planter bars and fertiliser spreaders.

“We started importing farm machinery from the United States and we also developed what was one of the first air-seeders built worldwide, which was designed here and we had it tested at Melbourne University,” Mr Gason said.

“However, the farm machinery market can be volatile, and in February 1986, farm machinery sales just collapsed.

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HEATING Wednesday, March 31, 2021

®

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future

Proudly Manufactured in Arar

“We realised we needed to be manufacturing something else as well and were able to pick heaters with the brands Eureka and Jindara.

“We also have a sub-contract division where we do a lot of work for other people in laser cutting, folding, welding and painting.”

Mr Gason said an ability to adapt in the face of adversity was a clear sign of the company’s desire to continually diversify and grow.

“There are really three businesses operating out of this business today,” he said.

“That’s the way we’ve kept the business operating – it helps us to keep a good level of quality staff around and on top of that we’re able to ensure the business is secure from a future pointof-view.”

Mr Gason said as a family-owned business, Gason also understood the importance of supporting employment in the region.

“We have expanded to a fairly large workforce over the years, and we would like to take on more people, but we can’t get people in houses at the moment,” he said.

The company also runs an apprenticeship program for school leavers.

“I think its incumbent on us and tradespeople to train the next generation of tradespeople,” Mr Gason said.

MANUFACTURING LEGACY: Three generations of the Gason family continue to work at the Ararat-based manufacturing company, including, from left, Riley, Morgan, Les, Wayne, Oakley and Greg Gason.

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Early start for Ararat district B

BY DYLAN DE JONG

roadacre farmers across the Wimmera-Mallee are eagerly prepping their paddocks for an early start this sowing season off the back of a wet summer and autumn.

Rainfall totals have been varied across the region during the pre-sowing season, with locations such as Ararat experiencing above average rainfall at more than 75 millimeters in March.

Meanwhile, Edenhope received less than 10mm and Hopetoun in the southern Mallee less than 5mm in March.

Horsham received 37mm this month.

Tatyoon agronomist Ash Maconachie, who works with farmers across Tatyoon and surrounding districts, said a wet summer and autumn period was a positive sign for grain producers this year.

“After the rain we’ve had over the past couple of weeks, we’re off to a fairly good start and in general we’ve had a wet summer,” he said.

“Traditionally once we get a start, we need enough water to get us through winter, which we already have – we’re pretty close to a full soil-moisture profile and lack of moisture certainly won’t be an issue.

“The danger for us this year is it could be too wet, which sounds counterintuitive, but farmers could experience water logging if there’s a lot of water in the profile.”

Mr Maconachie said farmers in his region would likely start planting pasture crops for livestock and wheat this week.

“Everyone is preparing with fertiliser, chemicals and pre-season maintenance.

But I expect this week or the week after there might be some early sown long-season wheat happening across Ararat and district,” he said.

“Because we’ve got so much moisture around there will probably be a fair bit of pasture getting sown and some long-season wheat. But it’s probably a touch too early at the moment to be sowing canola.

“Our general sowing start will be somewhere between April 10 and 20 and there might even be some farmers starting before that.”

Mr Maconachie said he would advise producers working under wet conditions to sow early to avoid growth issues.

“Everyone is going to need to be really organised and sowing early. Once we’re into April, farmers are going to go really hard at it because we do have that potential to get wet,” he said.

Mr Maconachie said he expected farmers in western Victoria could be in for another strong harvest this season off the back of some record-breaking results in season 2020-21.

“We’re going to have a really good start – but cropping wise, we’re really reliant on what happens in autumn and

PROMISING START: Tatyoon agronomist Ash Maconachie is encouraged by a wet summer and autumn period. winter,” he said. “It’s always luck of the draw though, anything could happen.

“We had a pretty awesome season last year – canola averaged anywhere from three to four tonne per hectare and wheat was anywhere from five to eight depending on where the farmer was operating.”

Bureau of Meteorology predictions

for April to June show no significant shift towards a wetter or drier three months, with chances of exceeding median rainfall close to 50 percent.

A La Niña weather pattern that has affected much of Australia’s east is almost over, but might have a lingering influence on rainfall patterns into April.

Australian wool story 95 Nelson Street, Nhill CALL 03 5391 2106

WoolProducers Australia and Animal Health Australia are sharing the success story of Australian wool with the world through the launch of a new handbook.

WoolProducers Australia chief executive Jo Hall said the Trust in Australian Wool handbook explained how the Australian wool industry had evolved to produce the best quality wool in the world.

“Australian wool is the wool of choice for fine apparel and luxury garments; sought after by all processing nations due to its renowned quality,” she said.

“Underpinning this popularity are the world-leading practices our woolgrowers use on-farm, every day, along with state and national frameworks, quality-assurance systems and innovations.

“This handbook outlines how all of these elements work together to produce Aussie wool – a natural, sustainable product that is recognised globally for its excellence and quality.”

The handbook is the first of its kind and has been created to further strengthen trust among consumers who drive demand for Australian wool. It is available online at www.trustinaustralian wool.com.au.

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For the love of country A

s a rural journalist, it is not often one gets to rub shoulders with someone on the latest rich list. Allan Myers is one such man – and a selfmade one at that.

He recently agreed to an interview with Country Today and so there I was, in the Paris end of Collins Street, walking hurriedly past the Prada shop and other haute couture establishments, hunting for his offices, feeling ridiculously out of place.

Myers is one of Australia’s leading Queens Counsel and has specialised in the lucrative fields of commercial and international law.

He must be pretty damned good as he is also Chancellor of the University of Melbourne.

So why talk to him for a radio program on farming? He is also now one of the larger landholders in the country. His is a fascinating story.

Describing himself as a ‘country boy’, Myers’ family first came to Dunkeld in 1839 as convicts who had served their time in Tasmania.

“I grew up on a small farm on the edge of Dunkeld. I’m interested in the natural beauty of the country… not only around Dunkeld but in the Northern Territory and Western Australia and elsewhere in the country,” he said.

Indeed, so interested that he has bought land totalling millions of hectares and has employed conservationists on each property.

Country Today with Libby Price

As one would expect, he presents as a conservative, careful and considered man, wary of the reporter’s questions and well, rather stern.

But like most fathers, mention of his children and his demeanor changes into great pride for how they have driven the emphasis on farming with great attention to conservation and sustainability.

“In the Kimberley – in northern Western Australia – we have pastoral leases which are quite extensive above the Gibb River Road and the reason we’re there is to protect the flora and fauna of that part of the world. It’s a beautiful wilderness,” he said.

“Although it is a pastoral enterprise and we take thousands of cattle off every year, we’re motivated to undertake that because we’re interested in the rock art and the flora and fauna.

“One of our daughters, who works full time in the farming operations, I suppose she’s the head conservationist.”

So, do we need more of the likes of Allan Myers who has the resources to invest in such bold projects?

“I’m sure people have different in-

Kaniva

terests, and there are fewer and fewer people in Australia as a proportion of the population, who have any knowledge of or interest in rural matters,” he said.

“Obviously, I’d like more Australians to have great love of their country, the land, and what grows on it and the animals that live there.

“Whether that will happen who knows?

I suspect it will, because there’s more and more emphasis on preserving the planet, the desire to reduce carbon emissions and so on is associated with all these green activities.”

Unlike so many landholders, Myers is not afraid of foreign investment.

“Bureaucratic controls upon investment need to be so undertaken that they don’t stop investment altogether,” he said.

“We need foreign capital in Australia and we always have and we still do… I don’t really understand the fear of having foreigners invest in Australian land.

“The one thing that they can’t take away, the one thing that we are able to control completely is the land within our national borders.

“So I’d let them invest and have the right sort of controls.”

For the full interview with Allan Myers, who talks broadly on other topics such as the wool industry and mulesing, and the emergence of ‘fake’ meat, visit Country Today’s Facebook page, @Country Today.

HORSHAM WOOL

WOOL BUYERS

Ph. 0417 119 216

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CALL 03 5391 2106

AND THE WINNERS ARE: Collecting a $25 Toyworld gift card as winners of a colouring competition in support of an AgLife Digital marketing promotion are, clockwise from below: Lachlan Kafegellis; Elise Mayes; Bonnie Morson; and sisters Annika and Inara Petschel.

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