Prospect Spring 2012

ProspectFOR FARMERS IN THE KNOW

IN THIS ISSUE:

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Master Farmer Meet the Blue-E: Cowra’s latest cattle breed In FocusAustralian Agriculture Company’s David Farley

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Special Report Mate helping mate – saving our farmers

InterestStrong country ties for Lockhart daredevil

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WelcometothespringeditionofProspect.Aswealllook forward to thewarmer days of springwearepleased to see theendless chill and frostsbehindusduringwhathasbeenacoldandenduringwinter.

ThisissuetakesonthewiderexpanseofAACo’scattleoperation,through to thewildsideofmotocrossstunt ridingwithJacksonStrongfromLockhart–aworldrecognisedrider.Wovenamongstourstoriesisafocusonsafety,bothwiththe“physical”inrelationtoquadbikes,andwithourwellbeingandstateofmind.Bothofthesesafetyissuesareimportanttopicssowetrustthefocusinthisissuewillnotbemissed.

Aswe forge through the seasonmost regions are currently inastateofnervousanticipationfortheirfarmingprograms.Grainpriceshave remainedstrong throughwinter,withwheathavingsecuredmajorgainsoverrecentmonthsfollowingonfromtheflatpricesthatexistedthroughautumn.Croppotentialisstillstrongformostareas,butthechallengesitswithwhatthespringwilldeliver.Mostregionshaveenjoyedgoodfeedscenariosthroughoutthewinter,anddespitethefallinsheepmeatvaluesweareheadingintospringinexcellentconditionsandstrongcattlevalues.

TheDeltaGratitude’srewardprogramcontinuestogrowrapidly,andwewould like tosaya large thankyou for yourcontinuedsupportofthisandtheconstantpositivefeedbackonthisprogram.Manyofyouhavealreadytakenuptherewardsoftheprogramandbyitsdesign...itisGratitudeforyourcontinuedsupportoftheDeltagroupofbusinesses.

Customerservicewasaverystrongfocusatourgroup’srecentannual management meeting. Customer service and value isinherentinthecultureofhowDeltaoperatesandthereisafocusfrom all staff on “continuous improvement”. The managementgroup fromeach locationhascontinuedwith ideasonhowwecanimprovethevaluetoyou,ourvaluedclients,overthecomingseason.

Wewouldliketowishyoualltheverybestforthefinalmonthsoftheseason.Forallfarmerswehopethatspringrainfallensuresagoodendofseasonforbothlivestockandharvest,and2012livesuptoitsearlypotential!

Chris Duff DeltaAgExecutiveDirector

Weinviteyourideas,commentsandfeedbacktoeditorRosieO’[email protected]

Prospect|Welcome

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OUTLOOK 5 Hot Topics Newsfromacrosstheagriculturallandscape

6 In Focus 10QuestionswithAustralianAgriculture CompanyManagingDirector/CEODavidFarley

FARMING FEATURES 8 Cover Story Special Report Ruralmentalhealthandwellbeing: thestrategiessavingourfarmers

18 Master Farmer Blueisthenewblack:Cowra’snewlineofcattle

21 Farming’s Future Howproposedlegislativechangestowheat exportmarketingwillaffectourgrowers

24 Interest AthomeonthefarmwithLockhartdaredevil JacksonStrong

DELTA DIRECT

28 On the Rail Bill Frew DeltaAgLivestockManager,Yass

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ProspectFOR FARMERS IN THE KNOW

Prospect|Contents

VIEWPOINT 30 Product Watch Kevin Holt DeltaAgProcurementManager

30 Property Report Jock Snodgrass RayWhiteRural,RuralPropertySales

31 Livestock Health Dr Paul Cusack AustralianLivestockProductionServices

31 Taking Stock Adam Randall DeltaAgLivestockSales,Cootamundra

32 Landscape David Crowley DeltaAgAgronomist/Consultant,Young

32 Grain Watch Lucy Watson DeltaGrainMarketing,Trangie

TECHNO TALK

33 New Technology Howtoexpandyournetwork

DELTA DIARY

36 Around the Traps Socialsnaps

39 On the radar EventsontheagriculturalcalendarPublisherNeonMediaGroup

General ManagerDeanKinlysideEditorRosieO’KeeffeProofreaderMeganGibsonArt DirectorDeanKinlysideContributors AngusWaddell,JustineMcGregor,Kerry-LeeFergusonandPamelaLawson

Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthispublicationmaybereproducedinwholeorpartwithoutpriorwrittenpermissionofthepublisher.Noresponsibilitytakenforunsolicitedmaterial.

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News“QuadWatch” for safety The NSW Government has announced $1 million for researchintovehiclesafetyandtheimprovementofprotectivedevicesandaccessoriestoreducethenumberofquadbikedeaths.

AccordingtoFarmsafeAustralia,morethan150peoplehavediedinquadbikeincidentsinthelast10years,withalmost9outof10rolloverdeathsoccurringonfarms.AgHealthfoundthat23peopledied last year alone, andmedia reports have stated quad bikefatalitiesoutranktractordeathsonfarmsbyalmost2to1.

The NSWMinister for Finance and ServicesGreg Pearce saidexpertsinvehiclesafetyattheUniversityofNSW’sTransportandRoadSafetyresearchfacilitywillconductaseriesofcrashteststo identify engineering and design enhancements which couldimprovequadbikesafety.

“Most fatalities are the result of head injuries or from beingtrappedunderoverturnedvehiclesandforthefirsttimeanywherein theworld, the role of protective systems in the prevention ofasphyxiaandseriouschest injurieswhenaquadbike rollsoverwillbetested,”MrPearcesaid.“Theprojectwillalsoconsidertherecommendation of a national safety standard for all quad bikemanufacturersandsuppliers.”

Quad bikes are used extensively on farms for weed control,mustering,propertyinspectionsandmaintenancework.

Training for quad bike operators is available from a range ofsources includingpublicandprivate trainingproviders,andfarmmachinerydistributorsandsupplierscanhelpwithinformationonsuitableandavailablesafetydevices.

TheAustralianGovernmentalsorecentlyannouncedacommitmenttoraisingawarenessofquadbikesafetyandtoprovidefarmerswith stronger support networks following a roundtable meetingbetween farmingorganisations,unions, industry,andcommunitygroups.

“QuadWatch” isanetworkbringing together farmers,communitygroups, emergency services and local government.A webpagemaintained by Safe Work Australia has also been establishedto provide information and links on how to reduce quad bikeincidents,quadbikesafetyresearch,aswellasworkhealthandsafetyinformation.

ThelinktotheQuadWatchwebpageis:www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/swa/QuadWatch

Farming techniques on trial Various landholdersare takingpart incoordinatedon-farm trialstoprovideinformationonthebenefitsandcostsofstubbleuseincarbonfarming.

The EH Graham Centre, an alliance between Charles SturtUniversity and the Department of Primary Industries, has beengranted$500,000aspartoftheAustralianGovernment’s Carbon Farming Futures – Action on the Ground program, tocoordinateand improve communication between growers, advisors andresearchers on stubble management and soil carbon in south-easternAustralia.

AccordingtotheGrahamCentre,retainingcropstubblefollowingtheharvestofcropscansignificantlyincreasecarbon,howeveritsadoption isconstrained,withmany farmersstillburningstubble,thusreducingsoilcarbon, increasinggreenhousegasemissionsanddegradingsoil,airandwaterquality.

New research shows stubble incorporated with addednutrientsincreasescarbonsequestrationby3to10timesinthetop30cmofsoil.

“The optimal combination of stubble techniques dependson local conditions, landholders’ knowledge, preferencesandequipment,”GrahamCentreDirector,ProfessorDeirdreLemerlesaid.

TheGrahamCentreprojectaimstoexploretherelationshipsbetweendifferentstubble/nutrientpractices,fromburnttofullyincorporated,withnutrientsandsoilcarbon.Between1500and1800landholderscoveringanestimated1million hectares in the high rainfall zone in southern andcentralNSWandtheVictoriandrylandandirrigatedareaswilltakepart,butitisexpectedtheresearchwillalsoberelevantinotherAustralianregions.

“Informationandinnovationswillbesharedamongstgrowers,advisors and researchers and the latest research will bedemonstrated, providing knowledge, confidence, the desireandcapacitytochangeon-farmpractices,”ProfessorLemerlesaid.

Native vegetation management under microscope The NSW Farmers’ Association has called on the NSWGovernment to make a commitment to amend the Native Vegetation Actinasubmissionaspartofthecurrentregulationreview.

NSWFarmers’iscallingforthreechangestobemadetotheAct:-changingthedefinitionofbroadscaleclearingandremovingreferencestogroundcover;-abolishingpropertyvegetationplansandimplementingregionalplanswhichsetboundariesforenvironmentalmanagement;-balancingprotectionoftheenvironmentagainstthesocialandeconomicbenefitsofproductiveagriculture.

NSW Farmers’ native vegetation spokesperson, CameronRowntree, believes the current Act is the “product of anideological debate about tree clearing not about the activemanagementofournatural resources”,andsays there isalongwaytogobeforeanynewregulationscanbesuccessfullydelivered.

“We need urgent legislative changes to refocus the nativevegetationframeworkonachievingenvironmentaloutcomes,minimising costs to the NSW economy and easing thepressureonfarmingcommunities,”MrRowntreesaid.Thereviewofregulationswasannouncedlastyearwiththeaim to allow farmers tomanage their landwhile protectingthenaturalresourcesandenvironment inwhichsustainableagricultureandforestryarebased.Thereviewhasincludedan extensive consultation process and according to theNSWGovernment,focusesonthesustainablemanagementof farms, cutting red tape, improvement of servicedelivery,clarifying and removing ambiguity, increasing transparencyandmaintainingtheenvironmentalstandardsetbytheNative Vegetation Act 2003.

Moreinformationcanbefoundat:www.environment.nsw.gov.au/vegetation/nvmanagement

Prospect|Hot Topics

5www.deltaag.com.au


You were appointed Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Australian Agricultural Company (AACo) in 2009 and prior to that your agricultural background extended to various

key industry roles for a number of regionally focused companies. How did you initially become involved in agriculture and where did your affiliation with the land stem from?Agricultureismylife.MyfamilyownedandoperatedafarmservicebusinessintheRiverinaregionofNSWandfromanearlyageIwasinspectingcropswithmyfather,listeningtohisdealingswithfarmersandtraders,watchingcommoditypricesandobservingseasons.Duringmyschoolholidays,Ioftenworkedonthesurroundingfarmsandstationswithintheimmediateregion.My professional career started under Bob Sefton, theGeneralManagerofFSFalkiner&Sons,inConargoNSW.Iquicklyprogressedthroughthejackerooingexperienceintooverseerroles,thenontopropertymanagement.

Why does your passion for our agricultural sector remain so strong and why do you feel it is such an important industry to be involved in?Agricultureisanindustrywithapurpose.Peopleneedtoeatandthereisnothingbetterthanknowingthatyourdailyworkhasarealandmeaningfulpurpose–feedingtheworld.WorkingdirectlyalongsidemenandwomenwhosharethesamepassionofagricultureasIdomakesmyworkinglifeveryenjoyable.Growing crops, managing livestock and developing thelandwithintheindustry’sseasonality,forademand-drivenmarketplace,provideasenseofpurpose.

Tell us about how AACo has come to be at the forefront of world’s best practices through developed operating systems including the advanced breeding system. Innovation,motivation,technologyanddisciplineare,whencombined, a perfect partnership for today’s agriculturalenvironment. By adopting a positive attitude towardsperformance and productivity measurement, you quicklyfind yourself at the forefront of an industry. The cost ofmotivationandpositive thinking isminimal.Without theseelements,productivitydeclinesfasterthanproductioncostsrise.

What sets apart AACo’s composite breeding programs in performance measurements, vigorous monitoring of traits, statistics and evaluations?Constantreview,athirstforproductionknowledge,andtheabilitytoquicklyleveragethisknowledgeoutcomebackintoourbusinessmodels.

Prospect|In Focus

David FarleyManaging Director/Chief Executive OfficerAustralian Agriculture Company

10QQ&A| Rosie O’Keeffe

There is increasing concern for the future of agriculture with takeovers from foreign investors of prime farming land. How do you see the issue affecting the future?Ourknowledgeof thedemographics, in termsofsizeandwealth of our emerging global societies, quickly definesagrifood demand, which becomes the basis of futureproduction.Newproductionareas,technologiesandproductivitygainswillallcomeatacost.Equitablyfinancingthefutureshouldnot be limited to the available financing models withinAustralia.Australian global capital has always and will continue toplayavitalroleinprogressingAustralianagribusiness.Access to foreign capital under the correct terms andconditionswillaccelerateAustralianagribusinessfasterandmoreefficientlythandependenceondomesticinterestandthedesireofthelocalcapitalbase.

As the largest beef cattle company in Australia, I believe AACo now operates 19 cattle stations, 2 feedlots and 3 farms, and runs almost half a million beef cattle and the company maintains a strong focus on animal welfare. There has been a spotlight put on Australia’s live export industry – what are your views on the reforms introduced by the Federal Government last year in relation to the Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System?

I’m still amazed that our new urban democracy and thefrightofaminoritygovernmentstoleawayfromfamiliesandcorporates their years’work, their livelihood,wasted theirworkingcapitalanddepreciatedtheirassetbase.

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AACo is the custodian of over 7.2 million hectares (about 1.1% of Australia’s land mass)… As a leader in environmental management, how important do you believe it is to embrace conservation and sustainable management techniques and how have you identified the company’s own carbon footprint?AACohasbeenoperatingpastoralandfarminglandsfor188years.Oursustainabilityisatestamenttoourstewardshipandmanagementofourenvironments.Ourfuturedependsuponourcommitmenttoensurebestpracticeisobservedacrossallourholdings.

AACo has beenmeasuring its carbon emissions now foroverfiveyears,bothinregardtooutputandsequestrationopportunitieswithinouroperations.Developingcommercialcarbon strategies is difficult in a constantlymovingpolicyenvironment.

Despite its ongoing challenges, how strong do you believe our agricultural industry is, and do you believe a bright future lies ahead?Food isnot fashion.Populations require sustenance,anddemandforqualitysafesustainablefoodisglobalcatchcry.Demographers around theworld have predicted the next40 years of agrifood demand. There is an undisputablerequirement and increasing demand for better foodproductionglobally.

The Australian agricultural industry and agriculture ingeneralhasaverybigjobathandtoprepareitselftomeetdemand.

ThefutureofAustralianagricultureisburningbright.

Government and industry have been working hand in handanddollarfordollarinaddressingtheanimalwelfareissuesinIndonesiaovermanyyears.TheAustralianGovernmentwasthe industry’s partner – unfortunately a silent and defaultingpartner–whentheurbanpressureofdisgustwasairedacrosstheloungeroomsofAustralia.

Industrywasequallyaghastatwhatflashedacrosstelevisionscreensandquicklywentaboutrightingthewrong.Without the domestic power of Indonesian law or actualownershipofcattleandabattoirs, it isamassivetaskfor theAustralianpastoralistwithinaforeigncountrytoredirectIslamicand traditional slaughter practices into acceptableAustralianstandards.

This is a task critically achieved by a well-focused andmotivatedteamofrepresentatives.Ourcountry’srelationshipwithourlargestandnearestneighbourhasbeenwoundedandthehealingprocesswillbelong.Unfortunately,thememoriesofthoseaffectedwillremainforsometime,onbothsidesofthetradingpartnership.

What other frameworks and changes do you believe are needed to ensure prosperity for live exports and the broader future of the livestock industry in Australia?AstudyofEuropeanliveanimaltrade,knowledgeofthepowerofsocialmediaandthereactionaryresponsesofuninformedgovernmentministers,allrequirescarefulconsiderationbeforeforecastingthefutureoftheliveanimaltradeoutofAustralia.Thefuturewillliewithintheequitabledebatebetweentraders,animal welfare movement, animal rights protesters, and theability to invest process and capital into what is a closelyscrutinisedindustry.

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Prospect|Cover Story


Itisnowreported1in5peopleexperiencedepressionatsomestageintheirlives.It’smorethanjustalowmood;it’saprolongedfeelingofnotbeingabletocopeandanoverwhelmingsenseofhopelessness.Inlightofstudiescontinuingtoshowmentalillnessismorecommonamongstfarmers,thiseditionofProspectcontainsaspecialreportontheissueincludingapowerfulstoryofsurvival,aninsightintohowaStockinbingalfarmer’sideascontinuetoconnectmates,commentsfromaspecialisthealthprofessional,andacomprehensiveguidetoassistinfindinginformationwhetheryoumaybeexperiencingissuespersonally,orfeelafamilymemberorfriendmayneedahelpinghand.WealsolearnhowtheruraldistrictofTrangiehastakenownershipofanewtransportservicetobringtogethermembersofitstight-knitcommunitytoreducefeelingsofisolation.

SpecialReport |Rosie O’Keeffe Photography|Angus Waddell

TherealityisthatIfeelisolationinfarmingisactuallyincreasing,notonlywiththedriftawaytothetownsandcities,buttechnologyisisolatingusaswellandthisisonlygoingtocontinueaswemoveforward.

John Harper, Stockinbingal farmer and creator of the Mate helping Mate program

“

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Mate helping mateThe simple concept saving our farmers

JohnHarperwantstomakeitclear,firstandforemost,he’safarmerandproudofit.

Hestillmaynotrealiseit(albeitadmittoit),butforthousandsofothers,hehasbecomesomuchmore,allbecauseherelishesthechanceforagoodchinwag.

Assoonas ImetJohnashearrived inhisdustyredute,athisfamily’sproperty“Baltimore”atStockinbingal,insouthernNSW,Iknewfromhiseagernesstohaveachatandhisabilitytogathertogetherafewmatesatshortnotice,hisaffinitywiththosearoundhimgoesdeeperthanjustafewbeersandlaughsatsocialevents.

The farmerand formershearerhasbeendevoting justasmuchtimeoverthepastsixyearstohisMate helping Mateprogramashehasbeencommittingtomanaginghis360-hectareproperty.

Hehasnowproduced twoself-helpDVDsandaCD,organisedarangeoflocalsocialevents,andaddressesgroupsthroughoutAustralia about his experiences coping with mental illness andstrategiestohelpothersovercomedifficulttimes.

Hehasdevelopedavisualmethodofdeliveringandpresentinghisinformationtoappealtoabroadaudienceincludingaslipperydip analogy to explain the slide into depression, and a broom,showinghowimportanteachindividualstrawisandhowtheylinktogetherlikeacommunity.Now,onaverageheconductsatleastonepresentationeachweektoaudiencesofbetweenadozenand1000people,andreceivesuptosixphonecallseachweekfromthoseseekingadvicepersonallyortryingtohelpafamilymemberorfriend.

He remembers vividly a phone call from the local publicanof avillageof200peoplewherehehadrecentlygivenatalk,concernedaboutsomeonewhohadcomeinandhadshakeneveryone’shandandsaid “goodbye”. Johnobtained familydetailsandcontactedLifelineseekinghelp for theman.At thesame time,onanotherphone,Johncontactedmatesandtheman’sfamilyencouragingthemtoalsoconnectwithLifelineandthelocalpolice.

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Allthisactivityfrommates,thefamily,andJohn,resultedinthepolice interveningandamentalhealth teambeingactivated–the positive actions all contributing to theman surviving andbeingalivetoday.

“I think that really tells the story ofwhat I’m trying to do– tomotivate families, communities, mates, to look out for eachother,toactontheirgutfeeling,andiftheythinksomeone’snottravellingverywelltoactuallydosomething,”Johnsays.

ItcanperhapsbeattributedtohiswillingnesstosharehisownstorythatJohn’sprogramshaveprovensosuccessful.HehasbeenawardedaPrideofAustraliaMedalandgainedrecognitionas a finalist in the NSWAustralian of the Year (Local Herocategory) in2009andRotaryhasacknowledgedhiswork forthecommunitybymakinghimaPaulHarrisFelloweventhoughheisnotaRotarian.

A southern Riverina man in his 20s seeking assistance forhis battle with depression says he felt at ease seeking helpfromJohn,andtheman’srelativesrevealedhehadfoundhisencouragement and advicemore powerful than that of somehealthprofessionals.

“John’s got a push that some doctors don’t have. It helpsbecausehe’sbeenthroughit,somepeopleareonlyreadingitthroughabookandtoushetalksaboutwhathe’sbeenthroughsowereallylistentohim.”

AclosefriendofJohn’s,TonyCobleofStockinbingal,agrees.“There are certain times of the yearwhen things slow down,after cropping, and that is when people start thinking…Afterthe drought there were the floods then pressures with croppricesandwoolprices,there’salwaysongoingissues.Certainlycountrylifeisalotdifferenttocitylifebecauseyou’vegotalotofmoneytiedupandyou’renotgettinga lotofreturnonthatmoneyforsomanymonths…It’salwaysonyourmind,areyoueventuallygoingtogetthatreturn?AsafarmerJohnknowsallthat.”u

StevenWicks,TonyCoble,TomMatthews&JohnHarper


Itwasinthemidstoftherecentdrought,oneofthebiggestinAustralia’shistory,whenJohninitiallystartedbehavingdifferentlyand didn’t feel like himself, something he sayswas due to awholehostof issues includingstrugglingwith thefacthiswifewas themajor breadwinner and a health concern forcing hisretirement fromshearing.Thefinalstrawwas thatJohncametobelieve thathewasn’t livingup tohis imageofabig toughAussiefarmer,“whocouldshearalldayanddriveatractorallnight”.Johnsoughthelpfromhislocaldoctorhoweverhedidn’timmediatelyacceptthediagnosisofdepression.“Hetriedtotellmemybrainwaslikeamatewhocouldneveradmit he was wrong,” John says, also adding that he finallylistenedafter 12months andbegan takingmedication, unlikemanymenwhohesaysstillstrugglewithbeingtoldtheyhaveanillnessneedingtobetreated.

“We saw a lot of similar stories during the drought. Blokesweren’t achieving what they thought they should as farmers,women were working off-farm and blokes also had to takejobsoff-farmand that’snotwhat theirvisionwas– theywerefarmers,”Johnrecalls.

“I was sitting on the verandah for 6 to 8 hours a day doingnothing,ultimatelydying,becausethat’swhatIthoughtadyingmanwoulddo.Itgraduallybuiltupandmybusiness,myfarm,my family, was dying. You can’t run a business sitting on averandah.IhadnoenergybutwhenIdidworkIwoulddoalrightforthedayespeciallywhenmymateswerearound.”

Tonywasoneofthesemates.“IfhehadsheepworktodoorhaytobringinIwouldhelphimsohewasn’tdoingitalone.Ididn’trealisewhatwaswrong,Iwasjustcomingouttogivehimahand.Ididn’tknowIwasdoingany

servicetohimreally,”Tonysays.“I’vealwayshelpedJohnasfarasIknow,andIalwayswill,that’swhatyoudotohavethebackofamateandhe’shelpedmetoo,that’sthewholeideaofmatehelpingmate.”

ItwaswhenthewifeofagoodfriendofJohn’sapproachedhimaboutherhusband’swithdrawal fromfarmwork that theMate helping Mateconceptwasborn.Herhusbandwasspendingalldayinfrontofacomputer,asituationofisolationandwithdrawalJohnsecretlyidentifiedwith,makingitallthemoreconcerning.John toiledaway longdaysandnights in themidstofsowingpaddocks in2005thinkingaboutwhathecoulddotohelphisfriend overcome his issues. Then when he started enlistingotherstoassist,hefoundthereweremorelocalsgoingthroughtoughtimesandfeelingdown.Heorganisedtotakeabusloadof 47people to thenearby townshipofArdlethan for a socialgatheringatthelocalclub.

“TherealityisthatIfeelisolationinfarmingisactuallyincreasing,notonlywiththedriftawaytothetownsandcities,buttechnologyisisolatingusaswellandthisisonlygoingtocontinueaswemoveforward.Forinstance,yearsago,ifwecuthayonthisfarmwe’dprobablyhavefourtosixblokesworkinghere.We’dhavemorningteaandafternoontea,andwecouldhaveachataboutanything,butnowIcandothehaymakingonmyown,andI’misolated,andthat’sreality,”Johnsays.

“WhoamIgoing to talk toduring theday?WhocanIhaveawhingeaboutfarming,mymissus,orthekids,andfindoutthattheotherperson isdealingwith thesamesortof issues?Wehavetofindwaysandstrategiesofdealingwithnotbeingabletodothat,becauseisolationandwithdrawalisthefirstsymptomofpoormentalwellbeing.”

JohnHarperwithhisbroomtoshowthetiesneededwithinacommunitytohelpaddressmentalhealthissues

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“For a simple bloke like me, if we can get people to cometogethersocially,tobeapartofthecommunityandtobeactivewithintheirfamilythenthat’sgottoreducetheriskofdepressionandsuicide.Gettingoutandsocialisingmightnotjustbewithmates, itmaybewith professional people dependingon theissues you are facing – drug and alcohol abuse, finance,relationships–thereisalwaysroomtospendwithyourmates.Amatemaybeanyone,maybeyour localdoctor,as longasthereistrustandconfidencethere.Myjob,orhowIseewhatIdo,istopreventpeoplehavingcrisisintheirlifebybeingtheconduitbetweenthemandprofessionalservices.

“IstillactuallyfinditdifficultformywifetocometothetalksIdo,Ifindthatreallyhard,becauseIamrelivingsomereallycraptimesandIdon’twanttoputsomebodyIlove,andsomebodywhostoodbymeatmyworstthroughthosetimesagain.WhenI am talking to strangers, it doesn’t seem so bad and I amaimingforabetterlifeforall.Itisnotnegative,itisaboutbeingpositive.

“JustbecauseI’mout therespruiking it thoughdoesn’tmeanI’mnothaving thesame issuesaseveryoneelse.Therearestillthingsthatgetyoudown,butmyrelationshipshavegrownstrongerhavinggonethroughthosetoughtimes.

“Theserelationshipshavegivenmetheenergyandmotivationtoenjoyliferegardlessofthechallenges.”

Hismotivationtoassistothersisasstrongasithaseverbeen.“It’sjustoneofthetraitsofbeingaruralbloke,anAustralian,youtryanddothebestyoucaninthecommunityandtobeactiveinthecommunity,”hesays.

“Asa farmer I know if I seeananimalout thereon itsown Igenerally know it’s crook and will go and fix it up and get itbacktotheflockassoonaspossible.Ialsoknowthatwhenananimal isunderstressor in trouble theyflock together. Ican’tunderstandwhywehumansdon’talwaysdothatwiththosewhoarestruggling.Wecandealwithdepressionbycomingtogether.

“Wecandoallwelikethoughtohelppeoplebutultimatelytheindividualwho’ssufferinghasgot tomakeadecisionwhetherthey’re going tomove forward or they’re just going towallowandthat’sjustreality.I’vebeeninvolvedwithsomepeoplewhohaveeventually died by suicideand I’d like to get to a stagewherehopefullypeopledon’tgetthatlow…TalkingandlisteningtosomebodyIthinkisareallysmallandsimpledemonstrationthatyoucareaboutthemandhowtheyfeelandasfarasIcanseethat’sacornerstoneofsuicideprevention.”

To obtain a copy of the Mate helping Mate CD, contact the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) on (02) 6881 1266.

TonyCoble,StevenWicks&TomMatthewshaveachat

TonyCoble&JohnHarper


There’salwaysalightattheendofthetunnelandifyoucanacceptmistakesareapartoflifeit’sastepforward.Communicating with people always gives a differentperspective,talkingreallyunleashesafire,youcan’tlet

yourproblemssmoulderinside,you’vegottoletthembreathe.”

These sentiments belong to a 25-year-old farmmanagerwhowe’ll call Peter. Despite a passion for his former role in theagricultural industry, continual longhoursand thepressureheplacedonhimselftostriveforperfectionledtotroublesleepingandhomesickness,allofwhichbecamefactorsinhisincreasingwithdrawalfromsocialactivities,andgenerallyfeelingunwell.Ultimately, although approaching various local medicalprofessionals, it tookanattempt to takehisown lifebeforeheunderwentrehabilitationandwasprescribedmedicationforhisanxiousness–eventuallydiagnosedasdepression.

“The chemicals in your brain can imbalance and you becomeverynegativeandwithdrawn.You reallyneedsupport tokeephealthyandthatwasaproblemIhad,totryandstandalonetoomuchandtryanddoitallmyself,”Petersays.

Peter’smothersaystheimpactofherson’smentalillnesstookitstollonthewiderfamily.

“Iwasonedgeallthetime,Ialwayshadmycarfullofpetrolandalwayshadmyphoneonme,that’sjustthefeelingIhad,Ididn’tknowwhattodo,”sherecalls.

“Yourmindmustjustgetinsuchahole…Ijustdidn’tknowwhentheballoonmightbust,itdidn’tmatterwherehewasIwouldjustdrivetohimtobringfood,cleanclothes,whereverhewasliving.“Iknewtherewassomethingwrong,weweretryingtogethelpbutweren’t gettinganywhereand it really shouldn’t get to thestagewegottobeforewegothelp.AndthenIfeltembarrassedtoaskforhelp…IthoughttheywouldthinkIwasqueer,andwhenIspoketoanambulanceofficer,hereassuredmetheydealwithitallthetime.Itreallyhelpedtoknowwearen’ttheonlyones.Weweresoluckytofinallygethimintoagoodpsychiatrist...Iwouldbeurgingpeopletoringthehelplines,ringgoodfriends,orcontactyourlocalhospital’smentalhealthteam.Keepmakingphonecallsuntilsomeonewilllisten.”

Peterfeelsbothluckyandgratefulhehadtheopportunitytogetbackontrack.

“I could have been dead, awaste of life, but I have learnt tobettermanagemylifesinceworkingoutwhatwastriggeringmymood, it’sall in themanagementofmydaily routines tomakesureIdon’tslipbackdownintothatdarkpit.It’ssuchanindepththing…afewpeoplesaidtometocheerupbutIneededtherapyandtalking,Ihadbecomesounwell.

“It’s all just about taking a few steps forward and takingaction.You’vegottobeagoodmanagerinallaspectsoflife–finances,household,job,friendshipsandmentalhealth–andmymainmessagetopeopleistonotallowyourselftogettooalone.Becomeinvolvedinsocialgroups,volunteerifyoucan…Helpingsomeoneelsegivesaninstantrewardoffeelinggood.

“We get so focused on treading water and trying to keepourselvesafloat,justdoinglittlethingsforotherpeopleinyoursparetimecaninspirethemandgivethemalift,andhopefullythatenergywillspreadfurther.

“Lookatthebiggerpicture,don’tgettooclosedintoyourownworld. If thingsaren’tgoingrighton the farm, tryandchangesomething or do something different, it could have greatbenefits.”For Peter a change in jobs, living with relatives again, andtravel, has given him a thirst for life, a positive attitude andoutlookwhichhasnowalsomeantadecrease inmedication.“Aneworganisationandnewresponsibilitieshasreallymademe feelgoodandbeingable towatch thingsgrowoutof theground–watchingcropsgrow–hasbeenaprogression,ashasbecomingmorecommunityinvolvedinafewsocialgroups.It’sgivenmeanewvibeforlife,IlovethecountryandtheopenlandscapeandIthinktheenvironmentarounduscanhelptoo,noticingthenicethingsaroundyou.”

Peter’smumnowsleepscomfortablyatnightandisnolongerapprehensiveaboutthefuture.

“To see where (he) is today is just amazing. He’s just soconfidentandhewill talk topeople…It’ssogoodhecan tellhisstory.Therearesomefriendswhohavelostkidsandtheynevertalkedaboutitorgothelp.It’sverysadthekidsaregoneandtheycan’ttelltheirstory.Suicideisawful,whentheythinkthere’snowayoutandthereis,ifonlytheywouldmakethatonephonecalltogethelp.”

Peter also encourages “having a yarn to the neighbour” andformingclosebondswithmates.

“It’simportanttohavein-depthconversationswithpeopleabouthowyou’rereallygoing,thingsthatblokesdon’treallydoissitbackandtalkabouthowthey’rereallyfeeling,there’sastigmaattached,but tohavea few reallygoodmatesand talking topeople,itmightmakeyoufeelbetter.

“And,strivetowardsyourdream,forme,owningmyownlandone day. I have set goals and I am working towards them.FarmingisconnectedtomydreamandeachdayI’msteppingintothat…Iamlivingmydreamnowactually.”

Don’t let theblack dog bite you A survivor’s story

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Ifthingsaren’tgoingrightonthefarm,tryandchangesomethingordosomethingdifferent,itcouldhavegreatbenefits.Peter, a southern NSW farm manager, and survivor

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New suicide study has farming focus

The Australian Institute for Suicide Research andPrevention (AISRAP) has begun a three-year studyintothereasonswhytherateofsuicideamongfarmersoutstripsmostotheroccupations.

A teamof researchers basedatGriffithUniversity’sMtGravattcampus will use the Queensland Suicide Register, NationalCoronersInformationSystem,seektointerviewfamilymembersof people who have committed suicide in rural areas, and willhost a series of focus groups in farming communities, to talkspecificallyaboutthealarmingstatistics.

“We’ve certainly done a lot of background research and theinterestingpartisalthoughthere’salotofspeculationabouttheinfluences on farmers who commit suicide, there’s not a greatdealofreallyrobustevidenceorknowledgeaboutwhattherealriskandprotectivefactorsare,”AISRAPSeniorResearchFellowDrSamaraMcPhedransays.

“We’reverykeentostartlookingatthoseprotectivefactorsandlooking at ways to translate what we know into good practicalpoliciesandprograms.We’llbereportingessentiallythroughouttheperiodofthestudy.”

Previous research conducted by the AISRAP into theCommunication of Suicidal Intent by Men in Rural Australiashowedthatforruralmenwhocommittedsuicide,whilstcontactwith mental health professionals was less likely in the threemonthspriortodeath,two-thirdsofruralmenwhodiedbysuicidehadinthe12monthspriortotheirdeath,communicatedsuicidalintent.

“I’malready finding frommy research that a sizableproportionoffarmersandruralmenhave,priortosuicide,hadsomelevelofcontactwithmentalhealthservicessothatdoesn’tfitwiththe

view that ruralmengenerallydon’tseekhelp. It seemsquitealotofthemdo,soreallythatthenbegsthequestionofwhathelptheywereabletoaccess,wasitadequate,whethertheirspecificneedsandcharacteristicsweretakenintoaccount,andthesearesomeof thequestionswearehoping toseekout in this three-year-study,”DrMcPhedransays.

The Institute’s previous studies have also concluded that ruralmen who commit suicide are older at the time of death thanthose inurbanareas, ruralmenare less likely tobe livingwithfriendsor insharedaccommodation,and theyare less likely tobeunemployed.

“Speakinggenerally,a lackofservices foroldermenseems tobeofconcern,andwehavetoaskthequestion:isagentlemaninhis60swhohasbeenonthelandallhislifereallygoingtobecomfortabletalkingtoa23-year-oldfemalementalhealthnursewhohasjustmovedtotheirlocalarea?

“Given the aging demographic in the farming population oldermenaredefinitelyagroupwhohaven’tbeenwellacknowledgedintermsofprogramsandpoliciesthatarespecificallydesignedforthem,”DrMcPhedransays.

It ishoped thenew researchconducted inpartnershipwith theNSW Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health, which isalignedwiththeUniversityofNewcastle,willinformgovernmentandnon-governmentorganisations’servicedeliveryinarangeofareas.

“Iwouldalsoimaginethefindingscouldbequiteusefulingenerallyimprovingcommunityknowledgeandprovideinformationthatwilllead to well-targeted strategies for better suicide prevention inruralareas,”DrMcPhedranconcludes.

“You could lose 50% of your production due to the impact of worms. To combat against resistance, you have to rotate your drenches. I will be using ZOLVIX in my rotation with confidence.

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References1. Kills >99.9% of barbers pole, small brown stomach and black scour worms. A pooled analysis of the efficacy of monepantel, an amino-acetonitrile derivative against gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep. Hosking et al., Parasitol Res (2010), 106: 529-532. 2. Minimising the development of anthelmintic resistance, and optimising the use of the novel anthelmintic monepantel, for the sustainable control of nematode parasites in Australian sheep grazing systems. R.J. Dobson et al., AVJ (2011), Vol. 89, No 5. 3. The production costs of anthelmintic resistance in sheep managed within a monthly preventive drench programme. Sutherland et al., Vet Para(2010), 171:300-304. ZOLVIX contains 25 g/L monepantel, a member of the Amino-Acetonitrile Derivative (AAD) class of anthelmintics. ZOLVIX® is a registered trademark and OPTIMUM™ is a trademark of Novartis AG, Basel, Switzerland. For full product details contact NOVARTIS CUSTOMER ADVISORY LINE on 1800 633 768 TOLL FREE between 8.30am and 5.30pm E.S.T. Monday to Friday. Novartis Animal Health Australasia Pty Limited, ACN 076 745 198, 54 Waterloo Road, North Ryde NSW 2113.


Help is available:•RuralSupportLineph:1800201123•beyondblueinfolineph:1300224636•Lifelineph:131114•Lifeline’s“JustAsk”(ruralmentalhealthinformation)1300131114•MenslineAustraliaph:1300789978•RuralWomen’sTelephoneCounsellingServiceph:1800182098•KidsHelpLineph:1800551800•ParentHelpLine(childandyouthhealth)1300364100•NSWFarmers’RuralMentalHealthNetworkph:1300794000•Orcontactyourlocaldoctor,hospitaloremergencyservices

•TheSalvationArmyhasnowlaunchedaNationalHopeLinetosupportpeoplewhohavebeenbereavedthroughsuicide.Ifyouhavelostalovedonetosuicide,calltheNationalHopeLineon1300467354.•beyondblue has produced an iPad/iPhone-friendly version of its online e-learning program aimed atraisingawarenessofsignsandsymptomsofdepressionandanxietyandwhere togethelp.Formoreinformationgotowww.beyondblue.org.au.

STRESS BUSTERS (Helpful Hints)

•Avoidisolation–spendtimewithfriendsandfamilyortalktoaprofessionalforadvice.•Findpositivewaysto“letoffsteam”.Don’tbottleupfeelings.•Trytoeatwellandgetenoughrest.•Reducecaffeine,nicotine,alcoholanddrugs.•Exerciseeveryday,itimproveswellbeing.•Identifywhatisimportantandprioritise.

DEPRESSION INDICATORS:•Persistentfeelingsofsadness•Feelingsoffailure,worthlessness,guilt•Feelingoverwhelmed•Lossofinterest/pleasureinactivities•Withdrawalfromfamilyandfriends•Frequentangerorfrustration•Lackofconfidence•Poorconcentrationorindecisiveness•Tiredness•Sleepingproblems•Feelingsickandrun-down•Changesinappetite•Overuseorrelianceonalcohol,prescribedorillicitdrugs

SOURCE: beyondblue – www.beyondblue.org.au

AccordingtotheNational

RuralHealthAllianceInc.

website,studiesshowthat

atleasttwo-thirdsofall

farmersuicidesoccurin

olderagegroups,mainly

thoseovertheageof55.

The rise and rise of the Men’s Shed

Banterabout the latest footyandcricket resultsovercupsof teaandcoffee, furniture restoration,woodwork,metalwork,andcharityprojects,arejustsomeoftheactivitieshappeninginshedsacrossAustralia.

BlokeshaveembracedtheMen’sShedconceptwithmorethan800separategroupsnowregisteredthroughtheAustralianMen’sShedAssociationinjustfiveyears.

ThemodernMen’sShedisanupdatedversionoftheshedinthebackyardwhichhaslongbeenapartofAustralianculture.MembersofMen’sShedscomefromallwalksoflifeandallages.Thereismorethanlikelyashednearyou–findoutmoreatwww.mensshed.org.

Anonlinevirtualshedhasalsobeencreatedatwww.theshedonline.org.auwherethereisnotonlyinformationonDIYprojects,hobbiesandhealth,menareabletotalkaboutdepressionandanxietyinasafespace,andconnectwithlike-mindedpeople.


TrangieLionsClubmembersJohnO’Donnell&DavidDuganwithFederalMemberforParkesMarkCoulton(centre)attherecentlaunchofthelocalcommunitybus.Picture courtesy: Narromine NewsAnewcommunitytransportservicehasbeenlaunchedinthecentralNSWruraltownshipofTrangieafteralackof

taxisandtheincreasedenforcementofdrinkdrivinglaws meantaconcerningdecrease inattendanceatsocial

activitiesthroughoutthedistrict.

Local Lions Club member and branch manager at DeltaAgribusiness/JJATrangie,DavidDugan,hasfinallybeenabletogetacommunitybusrunninginthetownship,predominantlyforuse intransporting localstoandfromsocialeventsorcatchupwithfriendsatlocallicensedvenues.

“Littletownsreallyneedthesesortsoftaxis...ittakesthesupportofthistoshowhowmuch,”Davidcomments.

Thesupporthe refers to isnot just thatof theLionsClub,withmembersvolunteeringasbusdriversfromThursdaytoSaturdayevenings and when required by other local organisationsthroughout the week, but includes countless donations andsponsorshipbythewidercommunity.

Thereare10majorsponsorsofthe12-seaterbus,includingDeltaAgribusiness,andmorethan30familiescommittedtheirsupportthroughdonationsofbetween$150and$500.ThebusstartedoperatinginMayandwasofficiallylaunchedbyFederalMemberforParkes,MarkCoulton,inJuly.Davidhopeshavingthedonors’namesdisplayedonthebusisanotherwayofensuringtheentire800-strongpopulationwillmaintainownershipofthebusandwillcontinuetoinvestinitsservices.

“Thirty years ago there were three taxis servicing Trangie butwe got down to zero taxis and the pubs have been strugglingbecausenooneiscomingintotownforfearoflosingtheirlicenseiftheyhaveafewdrinks,”Davidtellsme.

“Peoplearebecomingisolatedontheirfarms,whichIdon’tthinkisahealthythingespeciallywhensocietyisdemandingweworksomuchhardernow–sevendaysaweek–alotoftheyoungerfarmersfeeltheyhavetoworkhardertogetinfront.

“Theycannowgetintotownandgettogetherwithmatestogetanissuetheymaybethinkingaboutofftheirchests.Itseemstobelessofaproblemwhenyoutalkaboutit,Iguesstakingthatnotion,aproblemsharedisaproblemhalved.”

Trangiementalhealthworkerandmanagerofthelocalhospital,SandyGordon,says thatwhilstshe isstill learningmoreaboutthe community bus, shebelieves the initiative is a vital step inalleviatingmentalhealthcrisesinruralandregionalareas.

“Mendobecomeverysociallyisolated,anddon’tgetintotalktotheirbuddiessothey’renotawarethereareotherswithissues,”Sandysays.

“Therehasbeenalotofactivityinthedistricttopromotementalhealthawarenessinthecommunity,butunfortunatelyitisstill

familymemberswhoaretalking,notthemen.

“Itseemstobethefamilyofthemenwhoreachout,theysay‘weknowhe’ssufferingbuthewon’tgethelp,sowe’rehere togethelpforhim’,”Sandyexplains.

“Therearecriticalsituationsstilloccurringamongst the farmingcommunity.Ithasbeentodowiththelifestyleofbeingafarmer,whetherit’stheoldermenandsuccessionplanningissues,conflictwithinthefamily,andconcernsthereisnotenoughtogoaroundintermsoffinances,andthenyoungerpeopletryingtogetlaunchedontheland…Outsideofdroughttimesmentalhealthissuesseemto bemore common because during dry periods farmers don’thavethesameexpectations.Menoftendenyitbecauseitisseentobeweakandgutlesstofeeldepressed.

“Ifthefamilycanringtheaccesslinesorgettheirlovedonetothedoctor, there are somany resourcesavailable, andmedicationisnottheonlyanswereither,counsellinghelps,andestablishingthereisastrongsupportnetworkaroundthem.”

Davidsayspeoplehavebeenusingthecommunitybuswhethertheylive60metresfromthelocallicensedvenuesor30kmawayonfarmingproperties.

“WearehappyforotherlocalcommunitygroupstohirethebusexceptonThursday,FridayandSaturdaynights,andtheMen’sShedhasaskedifitcanbeusedtotraveltootherMen’sShedstoenablememberstoconnectwithothers.”

According to David, the Lions Club hopes to add wheelchairaccess to service the hospital and expansions are planned toincludearolloutoftheserviceinTottenham(70kmfromTrangie).

SandyGordon is concernedat the rateof suicides in the localarea,andsaysithasadevastatingimpactonfamiliesandfriends.

“Therearebigfallouts,anditdoesn’treallybringfamiliestogether,itmoreoften thannot separates them.There’s somuch ‘why’,‘whatif’,‘Icouldhave’…”Sandycomments.

DavidhopesthecommunitybuswillcontinuetohaveapositiveimpactontheTrangiedistrict.

“It’sa reallyproactive thing tominimisedepression in thebushandtoencouragemorepeopletocometotownwhileincreasingaccesstolocalservices,”hesays.

“Ifit’sonegesturetotryandstopthisthenit’sworthit.Thiswholeareaissoconsciousoflookingoutforthenextguyandwearegivingthecommunitysomethingtohelpthemdothat.It’sexcitingtobeinvolvedinsuchasuccessfulthing.”

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Prospect|Master Farmer

“Blue is the new Black”How a Cowra seed stock producer is putting a new breed through its paces

Wesellourbullsasgrass-fedbulls,andweputalotofemphasisonfertilityintheherd,alongsideourfeedconversiontesting. Jon Wright Cowra seed stock producer”

“

His family has been farming at“CootaPark”atWoodstocknearCowra in central NSW formorethan 115 years, and breedingcattle since 1979. Fourthgeneration farmer Jon Wrightshares the reasons behind thefamily’s progression from mixedfarmersintoseedstockproducersand how his own agriculturalexperienceshave influenced thedecision to breed “Blue-E’s”, a50percentAngusandShorthorncomposite.

Article |Rosie O’Keeffe Photography|Justine McGregor

It’s theonly stud inAustralia to haveanefficiency testingfacilityon-farm to record thedaily feed intakeof itsbulls,andthetraitsofBlue-Ecattleat“CootaPark”showithasfastbecomeacompetitiveandpracticalbreedinavariety

ofenvironments.

Itwasduringafive-yearstintworkingascattlemanagerofaresearchstationintheNSWcentralwesttownshipofTrangieduring the implementationofanumberofgeneticsprograms,includingthevalueoffeedconversiontothebeefindustry,thatfourthgenerationfarmerJonWrightinitiallyconsideredcrossingalineofAngusandShorthorncattleandbreedingthemathisfamily’sproperty15kmfromCowra.

“There had been closed herds at Trangie for 25 years so itwasmyjobtoopenthe350-cowherdupandmakeitindustryrelevant with artificial insemination of all the cows and alsopurchasebulls fromindustryherds.Whilstobservingthefeedconversionresearch Igot theconfidenceandhadfaith in thetraittogoandstarttestingforitmyself,”Jonrecalls.

JonpaystributetotheconfidenceofhisparentsHarveyandthelateBarbaraWrightinhisplanstodevelopthenewcompositelineofcattle,andtheinclusioninthemanagementteamoflong-standingemployeeMatthewTarrant.

The existing Poll Hereford stud cattle on the property weregradually dispersed and in 2003 the seed stock producersbeganconcentratingsolelyontheBlue-E’swhichareallgrass-fed,efficiencytested,performancerecorded,fertilityguaranteedand ready towork,andnowattract interestandsalesacrossNewSouthWales,Queensland,Victoria,withsemenrecentlysenttoNorfolkIsland.

ThefirstpartofthenameBlue-EhasbeentakenfromthemostcommonlyusedtermfortheAngusShorthorncross(theBlues)withsomeofthecattleresemblingablueroancolour.The“E”denotes the importanceof efficiency (feedconversion) in theselectionofgeneticsandqualitybloodlinesintheprogram.

TheBlue-E’sareprovingstrong in theareasofmeatquality,growth,maternal traits, fertilityandstructuralsoundness,andJonsays550Blue-Ecowshavenowcalvedatthe1200-hectarepropertywithafurther150agistmentcowsjoinedthisyeartofillagapinbreedingnumbers.

“Werunourcattleunderstrictcommercialconditions.Wesellourbullsasgrass-fedbulls,andweputalotofemphasisonfertilityin the herd, alongside our feed conversion testing.We haveintroducedrotationalgrazing,andcellshavebeenestablishedinsimpleformaroundtheproperty.Weareensuringrestinourpasturesandruncattleinbignumbers,”Jonenthuses.

“That’s been a real challenge when you’ve got a cattle studthat’sdevelopeddifferentpractices,andI’velearnttospendasmuchtimelookingatmypasturesandmysoilasIdolookingatmycattle.”

TheWrightfamilywassocommittedtoitsnewlineofcattle,anon-farmfacilitywith48 individualpenshasnowbeenbuilt, toenabletherecordingofintakestopickupanyvariationsinthefeedconversionwithintheherdandmakegeneticgainsfromdatacollected.

Results have now been collated from 30 individual testsinvolvingmorethan1000animalsthroughtheon-farmefficiencysystemovera90-dayperiod.ThedatacollectedthroughoutthebreedingprogramfortheBlue-E’sincludestheweighingofallcalves,200and400dayweights,eyemuscleareascanning(EMA),marbling,fatcover,andallnetfeedintakes.Thebullsaretestedpostweaningafterashortadjustmentperiod.u


Jon Wright’s top priced Blue-E bull which sold at his on-property sale recently.

A sweeping view of “Coota Park” as you descend the driveway.

“Feed conversion testing requirements and guidelines havebeendevelopedand set by the government sowehad to fitthose,andtheanimalsareadjustedtotheirdietsandthefacilitybefore we start recording. We then have to actually recordthe intakes of the animals every day andweigh the animalsfortnightlythroughoutthetestperiod,”Jonexplains.

“Certainly the industry over the past 20 to 30 years hasprogressed into a lot more objective rather than subjectivemeasurements.Withtheincreasedrecognitionofthevalueofsireprogenytestingwe’vedevelopedourfacilityandprogramswiththoseprinciplesinmind.Therealwaytospeedupgeneticgain isbyquickgeneration turnover,accuratedatacollectionand consistent data recording over a period of time. It takestimetocollectdataandit takesdedicationtocollectaccuratedata.”

TheBlue-Ecalvesare recordedon theAngusSociety’sMultiBreedRegister,giving fullestimatedbreedingvalues (EBV’s)includingnetfeedintakeEBV’s(feedconversion).

“Totestthesuccessofourbreedingprogramwehaveenteredsteersinsteertrialsaroundthecountry–in2011winningthe

BeefSpectacularSteerTrial,in2012gainingthirdplace,andinbothyearshavingtheequaltopprofitabilityteams,”Jonsays.

Morethan100cowshavebeenfedthroughRockdaleFeedlotand Jindalee Feedlot (Teys Australia). Compared with othercattlebreeds,theBlue-Elineofsteerswhichtookpartreturned$70aheadmorethanothersteersfedatthesametime.“IjustwantedtodevelopalinethatwasascompetitiveandasprofitableasanyotherbreedoranyotherstudinAustralia,”Jonexplains.

“Iwant tokeepconvincingpeopleof thevalueof theproductand the value of the information we’ve created. I think whatstandsusalonefromalotofstudsiswehavethededicationtodoperformancerecordingandselectingforthetraitsthatmakepeoplemoney.At this particular stagewe’re just focusing onproducingageneticproductandIwouldlovetoseeusstartingtoexpandournumbersbyencouragingclientstodeveloptheirownBlue-Elinesordevelopsatelliteherds.

“I’mvery lucky, I’vegotabeautiful farmandabeautifulplacetolive,andtobeabletocontinuemypassionandmydream,whichisdevelopingthislineofcattle.”


Jon Wright with the bulls that were recently sold at his on-property sale.


Prospect|Farming’s future

Proposed changes to wheat export marketing

yield debateArticle|Kerry-Lee Ferguson

…itisourfirmviewthatthemajorityofindustrywouldliketoretaintheexistingarrangements…

Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, John Cobb

”“

Photograph:PamelaLawson


The future of Australia’s wheat export marketingarrangementremainsuncertain,asdebatecontinuesoverwhetherfurtherderegulationofthemarket,undertheWheat Export Marketing Amendment Bill 2012,

willbenefitindustry.

Debateconcerning theWheat Export Marketing Amendment Bill 2012 began in the House of Representatives on 10September, this year. Politicians, industry representativesandgrowershavebeenweighinginontheissue,whichcouldsee furtherderegulationof thewheatexportmarketand theabolitionoftheAccreditationScheme,WheatExportsAustralia(WEA)andtheWheatExportCharge(WEC).

WhiletheAustralianGovernment’sDepartmentofAgriculture,Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), led byMinister Joe Ludwig,believesprogression to fullmarketderegulationwillbuildonthe2008reformsbyfurtherincreasingcompetitionwithinthewheatmarketingindustryandreducingcostsassociatedwithexport,opposition to theamendmentbill feels thereremainssome barriers to maximising industry performance andachievingthefullopportunitiesofderegulation.

A DAFF spokesperson explained that the legislation cameaboutfollowingaProductivityCommissioninquiryintowheatexport marketing arrangements in 2010, which found theabolitionof thesingledeskhad led to improvedproductivityandcreatednewglobalexportmarketsforAustraliangrowers.

InSeptemberlastyear,theAustralianGovernmentannouncedits response to the report, agreeing in-principle with theCommission’s recommendations, but decided to introduceastagedapproachtoimplementthechangestoprovideamoreefficienttransitiontofullmarketderegulation.

“The Wheat Export Marketing Act 2012 will give effectto the Commission’s recommendations and ensure thefull advantages of the 2008 changes are realised,” thespokespersonsaid.

“There will be more buyers competing for wheat, helpinggrowersgetpricesthatreflectmarketforces.Thiscompetitionbetweenbuyerswill forcemarketers to improve theservicesthey provide to secure suppliers of wheat, encourage thedevelopmentofnewproducts,andopennewmarkets.

“Astheydonow,growerswillneedtoundertakeduediligenceprocessesindecidingwhotheydealwithaspartoftheirowngoodbusinesspracticesaftertheschemeisabolished,asisthecasewhenmarketingotheragriculturalcommodities.

“ThebillwillabolishtheWheatExportChargefrom1October,2012. Thismeans growers will not incur the cost of the 22centspertonnechargeonbulkandcontainerwheatexportsfromAustralia thatwasput inplace to fund theoperationofWEAandispassedontothembyexporters.

“Theretentionofaccessundertakingsuntil1October,2014,followedby the implementationofavoluntary industryCodeofConductforportterminaloperatorsfromthatdate,willalsoprovidegrowerswiththeconfidencetoselltoexportersotherthanportterminaloperators,knowingtheirproductwillstillgetportaccess.”

The spokesperson said discussions about the performanceof thewheat exportmarketingarrangementshadbeenheldbetween industry and government since the Commission’sreview and believed industry was largely supportive of theproposed new marketing arrangements under the Wheat Export Marketing Amendment Bill 2012 and the benefits ofderegulation.

An industry cultivated

Australiaconsumesaround5milliontonnesofwheatannually, with the remainder of production beingexported.Approximately 2.5 million tonnes are used annuallyin the production of flour,whole grain products, andbeerforhumanconsumption,andintheproductionofglutenandstarchforindustrialuses.A further2 to2.5million tonnes isusedannuallyasstockfeed.Inaddition,around500,000 tonnesofwheat isusedforseedeachyear.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)

Photograph:Kerry-LeeFerguson



However,ShadowMinister forAgricultureandFoodSecurity,JohnCobb,believesindustryhasidentifiedissuesthatwillneedtoberesolvedbeforefurtherderegulationisconsidered.

MrCobbsaidqualityassurance,portaccess forallexportersand transparency of stock information so all grain exporterscould bid for growers’ grain with confidence, and the role ofthe Code of Conduct and whether it should be voluntary ormandatory,neededtoberesolved.

“Thisisacomplexissueandtherearemanyviews,”hesaid.“TheCoalitionhasconsultedheavilywithindustryanditisourfirmview that themajorityof industrywould like to retain theexisting arrangements until the issues identified have beenaddressed.

“Evenmostgrainexporterswhosupportthebillrecognisetherearestillmanyissueswiththeindustrythatneedtobeaddressed.TheAustralianGrainExportersAssociation,initssubmissiontotheSenateStandingCommitteesonRuralAffairsandTransportinquiryintotheWheat Export Marketing Amendment Bill 2012 madethefollowingpoints:

“Deregulation has been successful; grain exports haveincreased,thenumberofbuyershasincreased,thereismorechoiceforgrowersandincreasedinvestmentacrossthesupplychain. However, there remain some barriers to maximisingindustry performance and achieving the full opportunities ofderegulationfrombeingcaptured.Stipulatingstockqualityandquantity informationheldwithincommercialstorageprovidersacrossAustralia will assist in creating a more informed andcompetitivemarket.

“Future port access protocols need further definition and theimplementationofchangesshouldbeoverseenbytheACCC(Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) untilproven to be sufficiently robust to create necessary robustcompetitive environment that maximises the opportunity forAustralian grain growers to achieve sustainable returns fromexportmarkets.”

Member for New England, Independent Tony Windsor, saidalternative recommendations were currently in front of theMinisterforAgriculture,FisheriesandForestry.

“Somehavebeensuggestingthatwereinstatethesingledesk,butthatisnotinmymind,”MrWindsorsaid.

“Nowisthetimetodosomething-wedon’twanttodeferit.”

AlsobelievingthereisstillaseriesofkeyissuesthatneedtoberesolvedisGrainProducersAustralia(GPA)chairmanPeteMailler.“Thebill,asproposed,failstoaddresstheneedsofgrowersinthewheatmarketandwehaveopposeditonthatbasisalone,”MrMaillersaidinarecentmediarelease.

He said port access, stocks reporting and cargo integritywerekeyissuesthathadnotyetbeenaddressedadequately,operationally by themarket.GPA has also identified that theanomalybetweenoversightofbulkandnon-bulkexportsmustalsobeaddressed.

“Thestartingpointforassessingtheimpactofthebillmustbepremisedonunderstandingfunctionallywhatisnotworkinginthemarketandthenseeingifthebillfixesthoseissueswithoutcreatingnewones,”MrMaillersaid.

“We have asked sensible and relevant questions about theproposedbillandassessed its impacton thatobjectivebasisandsubsequentlydeterminedthat itdoesnotsubstantiallyfixtheoldproblemsandalsocreatesnewones.”

GrainGrowershasalsoprovidedinputtothedebatethroughamediarelease issued,withchairmanJohnEastburnbelievingtheAustraliangrainindustryisinaperiodoftransition.

“Thewheat supply chain, in particular, has been undergoingenormous change and adjustment since deregulation of thebulkwheatexportmarketin2008,”MrEastburnsaid.

“BecausetheAustraliangrainindustryisinitsfourthyearofbeingaderegulatedmarket,GrainGrowersbelievesitisessentialthatindustryandgovernmentcontinuetoworktogetherifAustraliaistotrulyrealiseaprofitableandsustainableindustry.

“Itwouldbeconstructiveandpracticalforgovernmenttosupportanindependentassessmentoftherole,function,structureandbenefitsofWEAbeforeafinaldecisionismadeaboutitsfuture.“This will give growers confidence that the groundwork hasbeendoneandtheoutcome-whateveritmaybe-isinthebestinterestofthegrainindustry.

“GrainGrowerswillcontinuetoseekoutopportunitiestofurtherdevelopthisvitalsector.”



Prospect| Interest

Strong ties give farming edgeArticleandPhotography |Rosie O’Keeffe

Itjustdoesn’texcitemeasmuchtogetonaplaneandtravel20hoursforthreedaysasmuchasitusedtoandthere’ssomethingaboutbeingathomeonthefarm,it’salotbetterthanbeinganywhereelse.

Daredevil freestyle motocross rider Jackson Strong ”

“

JacksonStrongperformsoneofhistricks

TobyStrongat“MeadowLea”BoreeCreek


Situatedat theendof thedustyandwindingStrongsLanejusteastoftheRiverinatownshipofLockhartinsouthernNSWisafamilyfarmwithadifference.

Evenonapproachofthe1000-hectareproperty“Wargam”,youcantellthere’ssomethingjustthatlittlebitunconventionalaboutsomeofthepaddockswhicharefilledwithseveraldirtmoundsandrampswhichishometointernationallyrenowneddaredevilfreestylemotocrossriderJacksonStrongandhisfamily.

The compound is a far cry from the large overseas arenasholding up to 80,000 spectators Jackson has becomeaccustomedtoperformingin,butIsoonlearnthatthefacilitieshehasonthefamilyfarmhavebeenspeciallydesignedoverseveralyears,andnowattractmanyotherridersfromacrossAustraliaforregulartrainingopportunities.

“Alotofpeoplecomeherefromthecitywheretheyfindtherecanbealwayspeoplemakingcomplaintsbecausetheydon’tlikethenoise,butouthereit’speaceful.IlikehavingmyownspaceandIjustlikethefarmandthecountrylifestyleandI’veprettymuchbuilteverythinghereonsomelandthat’snotusedforfarmingoverthepastsixtoeightyearswithmyfatherandgrandfather.I’vegoteverythingIneedtopracticeforevents–I’vegotafoampit,I’vegotfreestylecourses,andthere’sabout15rampsherenowsoit’sreallygood,”JacksontellsmeashegiveskelpieJetapatwhilecalfBuddywandersslowlyaroundtherevvingmotocrossbikesasotherriderspracticetheirtricks.

Jackson reveals he actually has recollections of riding pushbikesanddirt bikes fromasyoungasfiveyearsofageandstarted jumpingdambanks,evenbuildingupmoundsofdirtwith a bulldozer which had been purchased for farm work.Jackson, who is the son of Lynton and Mandy Strong andbrother to Elissa (29), Toby (27), and Madeline (19), theneventually savedup tobuyhisfirstmotocrossbikewhenhewas11yearsofage.

“Backwhen I first started, I was just a kid who rode a bikearoundthefarmforfun,IneverenjoyedplayingfootballontheweekendssomuchbutthiswassomethingIwantedtodo.DadandIkindofwingedbuildingthejumpsfromwhatwethoughtlookedrightfrompicturesandmoviesbutIguessit’ssomethingthatprogresses,whenIwasyounger Ihadmotocross tracksandthingslikethatandeverythingjustgotbiggerandbiggerand bigger and herewe are today,” Jackson, now aged 20,reminisces.

Jackson’s rise to famewascatapultedashebecameoneofthe leading riders of Crusty Demons, which he has been apartofsincehewas13yearsofageafterhis idolandfriendRobbieMaddisoninvitedhimtojointhemontour.TheCrustyDemonsareagroupofdaredevilmotorcyclistsfromtheUnitedStates,Australia,NewZealand andEuropewhich formed in1994andnowhaveacultfollowingwith10-12riderstypicallytakingpartintheirshows.In2007at15yearsofage,Jacksonaccomplished aworld record for being the youngest rider inhistorytobackflipafullsizedirtbike.

When I visited Jackson at the farm he was in the midst ofdevising,developingandperfectinghisnewtrickinpreparationfortheX-GamesinLosAngeles,achallengewhichhadbeenorchestrated during countless hours of training over severalmonths (including a week at a circus school). Jackson hassince become the first Australian to win back-to-back goldmedals in theMoto BestTrick category at the annual eventwhichbrings together thebestof thebest inextremesports.LastyearJacksonwasawardedthegoldmedalforlandingafront flip on his dirt bike, this year hewas again named thebestafterhecompletedaneverbeforeseenbodyvarial–“TheJack”.

“It’sjustagoodfeelingtotryanddosomethingnewthatnoone’sdoneandtryingtokeeppushingthesportforwards,”Jackson,who rides a standard Yamaha YZ 250 two-stroke motocrossbike,explains.

“I’ve got a lot of big structures that are built to helpme justpracticefortheX-Gamesandit’ssomethingIdon’tmindsittingintheshedweldingforaweekbuildingnewrampsandthingslike that, I try tobreak itup fromjust ridingeveryday,whenIcan.”

Jacksonrevealshe recentlypurchasedahouse in theUnitedStatesasabaseforwhenheperformsthere,eventhoughheadmitsjetsettingoverseasisnolongertheepitomeofitall.

“ThelastcoupleofyearsIspentalotoftimetravellingaroundtheworlddoingshowsbutnowIenjoybeingathome…I justdidthelastfewstopsoftheNitroCircustourinAustraliawhichIenjoyed.Itjustdoesn’texcitemeasmuchtogetonaplaneandtravel20hoursforthreedaysasmuchasitusedtoandthere’ssomethingaboutbeingathomeonthefarm,it’salotbetterthanbeinganywhereelse,”hesays.

DespiteJackson’sdaysbeingfilledwithworkingonbuildingnewjumps,ridingandfitnesstraining,thereisstill farmworktobedone.

Whilst Jackson’s father Lynton still has an active role at allthreeofthefamily’sproperties,it’shisothersonTobywhonowpredominantly oversees the operations which encompasses7200hectaresofland.


At“MeadowLea”atBoreeCreeklocatednorthwestofLockhart,TobyStrongisbusyfixingfarmmachineryafterfinishingsowingwintercrops.Hehasalreadyhelpedloadthreetruckswithgrainfrom last year’s crops which totalled around 25,000 tonnesandhadbeenstoredinsheds,silosandsilobags,whilefatherLyntonspraysthenewlyplantedcropvarietiesoverat“Karola”atGalore.

“It’s really a 50/50 division time-wise for the three of us (theStrongsalsohaveoneemployee)managing the current cropandgettingridoflastyear’sgrain,”Tobyexplains.

The family’s farming land is all used for crops on the samerotations consisting of wheat, barley, canola and vegetablepeas, which is a crop sprayed out each year to kill weeds.Everythingisnowplantedusingadiscseeder,andasystemofcontrolledtraffichasbeenusedfor12years.

WhilstJacksonmaybetravellingaroundtheglobedoingajobheloves,Tobybelieveshehasfoundhisnicheonthefamilyfarmafterashortstintstudyingandthenworkingasanaccountant.Hesayshealwaysknewhewasdestinedtoreturntothefarmandactuallyspentayearwhenhewas18workingona50,000broadacrepropertyjusteastofWalgettinthestate’snorth.It’sa job he finds rewarding especially when a good harvest isachieved.

“IhadabikeandusedtogoforabitofaridewithJacksonbutIwasnever interested incompeting, Ihaven’tbeen fora ridein years. Itwassomethinghewasalwaysmore interested inthan Iwas.Every farmkidwouldhavehadamotorbikeasayoungkidbutmanyofthemwouldgrowoutofit,whileforothersit becomes their whole life,” Toby who is a fourth generationfarmer at “Wargam” and fifth generation farmer at the BoreeCreekproperties,recalls.

While a life on the land is for Toby, he concedes it is not foreveryone,and there isdiminishing interest in farmingamongsthisagegroup.

“I thinkall thefarmsaroundherewillbemassive,notsomuchbecauseofeconomiesofscaleandpeopleneedingtogetbigger,itwillbecomeasupplything,morefarmsupforsalebecausetheboysdon’twanttocomehome.Peoplewillbesellingupbecausethey’vegotnoonetorunit,”hesays.

Itwouldseem thatToby isn’t theonly familymemberpursuinga career in agriculture though, sister Elissa is an agronomistwithDeltaAgribusiness,andJacksonrevealsit’sbeenalifelongdreamforhimtoworkonthefarminthefuture–butonlyafterapossiblestintincarracing.

Andheevensayshecouldseethedirtmoundsandrampsbeingflattenedtomakewayforaracetrackat“Wargam”.

“I’dliketothinkIcouldridedirtbikesforanotherfiveyearsorso,dependingonhowIgowithinjuries,Idon’twanttodoitforever.Youseesomepeoplewhoridefora littlebit too longandtheircareerdwindlesand I think it’sa sadway togoout, I’d ratherbeatmypeakandthenretireandmoveintosomethinglikecarracingforacoupleofyearsbeforecomingbackonthefarm,”hetellsme.

“IhavegrownuponthefarmandworkedonthefarmwhenIwasyounger. Idon’tget toomuchtimeanymore,but it’ssomethingI knowhoweverythingworks and I think I have a pretty goodunderstandingofhowtorunafarm.

“I’velivedheremywholelifeandthat’ssomethingthatwillneverchange,I’llalwaysliveintheoneplace,andonedayI’llhaveallmytimededicatedtofarming.”

TobyStrongJacksonStrong

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Ibelieve you actually grew up on a farm at Taumarunui in New Zealand… Tell us about the property and what insights into the livestock industry you gained through

this upbringing. When did you move to Australia and what influenced the relocation?Igrewuponamixedfarmwhereweactuallymilkedthecows.Myfatherhad100dairycowsandheran1500sheep.Wedidn’thaveTV,sowespentalotoftimeworkingalongsideourparentsaschildren.IthinkthiswaswhereIdevelopedmypassionforagriculture.Iwasanagentinmyearly20sandIwastalkedintogoingonatriparoundtheworldandIgot toaplacecalledAustralia…That’swhere Istartedandfinished the tripand that’swhere ImetmywifeDebbieandgotmarried. I tookherback toNewZealandfor5yearsas Iwasona leaveofabsencefromthecompanyIstartedworkwith.WereturnedtoAustraliawithourdaughter Jodieandbought amixedbusinessdelicatessen inSydneyandIworkedtherefor12monthsbeforejoiningEldersatHomebush.IthenwentontoworkatBoorowa,Cootamundra,Dubbo,Goulburn,backtoDubbo,andnowatYass.

Was agriculture, and in particular livestock, a career you always aspired to? MyfathersoldthefarmwhenIwas13or14sotheclosestIcouldgettoworkingintheruralindustryandbuyingmyownfarmwasbeingalivestockagent.Ican’tbelieveIstartedoffonthebooksandprogressed to livestockagentandauctioneerandendedupwhereIdid.Iwasmanagingabillion-dollarsalesbusinessincluding products, wool, livestock,merchandise, real estate,financeandinsurance,and400staff.Icouldn’thavedonethiswithout the help ofmy chairman andmentor LeoRyan,whoalwaysgavemegoodadviceandguidance.So,fromahumblecareersellingcattleandlambsatHomebushtodoingallofthatwasquitehumbling.

Prospect|Delta Direct

ONTHERAILWITH

Bill Frew DeltaAgLivestockManager,Yass

QuestionsI

Ros

ie O

’Kee

ffe

PhotographyI

Pam

ela

Law

son


You have more than 30 years’ experience in livestock, as manager of various regional branches with Elders, as mentioned above, and later as State General Manager based at Dubbo. What attracted you to Yass and what do you like about living in the community today? Yasswas in-betweenGoulburn,CootamundraandBoorowa,districtswherewehadpreviouslylivedandworked,that’swherewehavealotoffriends,andourdaughterandgrandchildrenwereinCanberra.Wefoundalittlefarmtobuy.Wehadalwaysaspired to own a farm, and it just happened thatYasswaswhereittickedmostoftheboxes.

Tell us about your property at Yass and the livestock you personally run. Weruncattle–80HerefordandAngusbreedingcows–wejustbreedafewcalvesandgrowthemouttoyearlings.Wejustrunasimpleoperation.

What have been the major developments or significant changes in the livestock industry since you started?Earlieroninourcareers,thingsweresoldatauctionthroughmajor selling centres and saleyards where guessing andestimatingweightswerethenorm,butnowmostprimesheep,lambsandcattleareeithersoldoverthehooksortofeedlots,wheretheproducerispaidforexactlywhatheproduces.StorestockisbeingofferedonAuctionsPlus(awebsiteshowcasingarangeofagriculturalauctionsorresults)orinthetraditionalsaleyardsystem.Studstocksaleshavechangedastheindustryhasmovedawayfrommulti-vendorsalestoon-propertysales.It’smeantthatweasagentsandproducershavebecomemoreawareofindustryspecificationsandclassesoflivestocktofitthesespecssowecanmaximisereturnsfortheproducerandminimisepenalties.Wehavehad togetmoreeducatedandassesslivestockmoreaccurately,onthehoofaswellason

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To find out more, call Harold Bolitho, Senior Agribusiness Manager for the Riverina on 0427 244 398.

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thehook,sonowmost livestock isweighedon-farmbefore it’smarketed. Previously, when the livestock was ready for sale,producerswouldonlysellthemwhentheywantedsomemoneyortheywereshortoffeed…nowtheindustryhasspecificationsand that’s why over the hooks has flourished as industry hasparticular requirements and different markets want certainweights,andageintheanimals,that’samajorchange.Anotherchangehasbeen thegrowthofAuctionsPlus,anothermediumweuseatDelta,becauseitopensuptothevastareaofAustraliaratherthanjustyourownlittlesaleyard,regionorstate,andgivesmoreexposureforbuyerstohunt.

What do you enjoy the most about your role with Delta Ag?We’reworkingwithqualitypeopleinaqualitybusiness.BasicallyatYasswestartedwithacleansheet,asanewbusinessintown.Wehadnoclients, noshop,nostock.Nowwith thehelpofagreatstaff,GerardandthemanagementteamofDelta,wehaveaverystrongvibrantbusiness. Ienjoy the face-to-facecontactwithproducersIhavenowthatIprobablylostwhenIwasinmyadministrativeroleinmypreviouslife,andthefreedomofgettingoutandabout,andbeinghomeinmyownbedeverynightratherthanatairportsandhotelrooms,Iwouldhavespent3to4nightsaweekawayinmypreviousrole.

What are your interests and hobbies outside work? Isupportrugbyunion–theAllBlacksandtheBrumbiesofcourse,butworkonthefarmgetsverybusyandtakesupalotoftime.Idoenjoytheoddhitofgolfeverynowandagain,redwinewithgood company, and spending time withmy two grandchildrenMollyandJack.

How do you see the future of the livestock industry?Whatwe’vebeen through the last fewyearswithseasonsandlivestockpricesisthebesteverinmy30oddyears.Ithinkyou’llprobably see prices ease back, 20 or 30 per cent from thosehighs.I’mnotsureifthisissustainable,asseasonalconditions,productsupplyanddemand,andtheabilityforoverseasmarketsbeing able to afford our goods, are the controlling factors weneedtowrestlewithinourindustry.WhatIcansayistheworlddemandforfoodfibreandproteiniseverincreasing,andtheothermajorworldfoodsource–thesea–isbeingoverfished,sotheoutlookforAustralialooksverybrightforitsagriculturalproducts.Wemustrememberthemarkethasbeenathistorichighsthelasttwoyearsandit’sprobablygoingtocomebackandsettle. Itwilldependonseason– ifwecancontinuetohaveafewwetonesIthinkthepriceswillhold.Newmarketingoptions for producers, increasedmarket knowledge,increasedanimalhealthandnutritionalknowledge,workingandplanning your business tomeet specificationsand targets,willhelpproducers tobecomemoreprofessional andsubstantiallyincreasereturns.


Product WatchKevinHoltDeltaAgProcurementManager

No Melons Left Alive! GarlonFallowMaster is here to take control…

Garlon FallowMaster has arrived and is coming to a fieldnear you. This triclopyr product is a completely NEW

formulation developed with a patented emulsification packagethatconsistentlydeliversabetterexperienceinthepaddock.

AgronomistsandgrowershavebeendeliveringpositivefeedbackonGarlonFallowMasteralsoconsistentwithfeedbackprovidedfrom around the world during the product development andlaunch.Local Temora grower, Brenton Steinhardt, trialled GarlonFallowMaster in 2011and simply said, “it smashed ‘em”whentalkingaboutmeloncontrol.

Garlon FallowMaster is a high load triclopyr formulationwhichoffers the highest active ingredient (AI) loading available.ThisincreasedAI loadingmeanslessdrumsarerequired,thereareless drums to move, less drums to store and less drums todispose. This means less hassle. However, less packaging isjustthebeginning–thisnewproductdeliversmanymorevalueaddedattributes,suchas:

•Fasterbrownoutofmelons• Advanced emulsification system that leads to faster weeduptake•Improvedcompatibilitywithcommontankmixingpartners•Enhancedenvironmentalprofile

Garlon FallowMaster is available exclusively from DowAgroSciencesAustralia.FormoreinformationcontactyourlocalDowAgroSciencesrepresentativeonTOLLFREE1800700096orvisitwww.dowagro.com/au/

CLiKZiN – flystrike control that fits sheep producers’ needs Novartis Animal Health has now developed CLiKZiN, a newformulationofdicyclanilwithshortwithholdingperiodsforsheepandwoolandashortexportslaughterinterval.

Whilst CLiK Spray-On has been themainstay of fly control inAustralian sheep production systems providing long-term,season-longprotectionfor18to24weeks,andisstillconsideredthebestpreventionavailable,incertainsituationsitcouldnotbeusedduetothewithholdingperiod.

CLiKZiNisaready-to-usespray-onflystrikepreventativewhichcontains12.5g/Lofdicyclanilandhas:•Ashortmeatwithholdingperiodofsevendays•Ashortexportslaughterintervalof21days•Ashortwoolwithholdingperiodofonemonth

Prospect|Viewpoint

Itwillprotecttreatedsheepfromflystrikeforupto11weeksfollowingapplication,and isregisteredfor thepreventionofflystrike inmarking (butnotmulesing)wounds forup to11weeks.Thisisparticularlyusefulfortreatinglambstobesoldpre-weaningasitavoidsissueswithexportslaughterintervalinthisclassofstock.

CLiKZiN can be applied from three weeks after shearingup until onemonth before shearing giving farmers a largeapplicationwindowandgreaterflexibilityinflycontroloptions.

Formoreinformationvisitwww.novartis.com.auorphone:1800633768.

Property ReportJockSnodgrassRuralPropertySales,RayWhiteRural

Where do buyers come from?

Onceupona time…whensellingruralproperty itwasamatterofgetthelisting,ringtheneighbour,negotiatefor

severaldays–maybeweeks–andthedealwasdone.

In the last generation the market has seen rural propertypricesriseconsiderablywhichinnotall,butmanycaseshasput the neighbour’s place beyond the financial reaches ofexistingfarmers.With the solid performance of agricultural land in terms ofcapital growthwe have seen a flow of corporate investorseyeingagriculturalland.Someoftheseinvestorsareexistingagricultural companies and others are brand new start-upfundswithaneyeforkeyagriculturalassets.

WeareallreadingeverydayaboutChineseinvestorsbuyingthisandthat.Toagreeordisagreewithwhobuysourprimeagricultural land is an individual opinion and one that cancreateinterestingconversationaroundthedinnertable.Whatcorporate presence in the rural propertymarketplace doesdo is give themarket somecertainty in termsof priceandmost importantly a result for the vendor. Inmany cases inrecent years if a farming area did not have some level ofcorporateinterestthenthevendormayhavestruggledtosellandstruggledtoachievethepricetheyreceived.Themarketisseeingarevivalofthewell-heeledcity/overseasinvestorwhohasaninterestinfarmingandischasinganassetthat’svaluedoesnotriseandfallonspeculationthatGreecewillgetbailedoutagain.Inmostofthesecircumstancesthebuyerisrepresentedbyathirdpartyofsomesortwhoinmostcaseswillunderstandvaluesandproductioncapabilitiesorwillhaveaccesstopeoplewhocanadviseonthesethings.

Withthecurrentseasonsastheyareandmostcommoditiesholdingsomesortofpattern,thereisplentyofconfidenceinagricultural land.Ifyouarethinkingofselling it is importanttomakesureyoucastyourmarketingnetasfarasyoucantoensureMrBuyerknowsyourpropertyisforsale.Enquiryfor rural property is very good and this enquiry leads tocompetitionwhichcanmeanahighersaleresultforyou.

Taking StockAdamRandall,LivestockSales,DeltaAgCootamundra

Improve sire selection this spring

Springhassprungandthestudsellingseasonisinfullswing. Ram and bull buyers are out in force looking

to secure reasonably priced sires that will fit into theirenterprise.

As numbers rebuild after years of drought, and with thedominance of supermarkets in our domesticmarket, youneedtomakesurethatyourselectionsoframsandbullswillbebeneficialtoyourenterprise.Asthebigtworelymoreon livestockbeingsentdirectover thehooks, this leavesless processors competing for the increased numbers oflivestockinsaleyards.

Theseprocessorsthenensurethattheysecurethebetterdraftsoflambsandvealers.Thisleadstotheseconddraftsreceiving lesscompetitionanda lesserprice.Thisbringsdowntheaveragepriceanditisthisaveragepriceyouwillgetoverthehook.

Improved sire selection will ensure that the quality ofthe progeny will be better, therefore resulting in extracompetition for your stock in the saleyards and a betterprice.The extramoney youwill pay for a better sirewillmean that youwill getmore back for your outlay as theprogenywillfinishquicker,yieldbetter,presentbetterandoverall,sellbetter.Ram and bull purchases need to be thought of as aninvestmentratherthananexpense.

Aswithboth lambsandcalves,producersneed toweighuptheirenterpriseanddecidehowtheywanttomaketheirmoney.Youcanconcentrateoneithergrowingyourstockout toheavyweightsandget thebigdollarsperhead,oryou can produce livestock thatwill sell at an earlier ageatabettercentsperkilo,runmorenumbersandgetmoredollarsperhectare.

On another note, grass seeds were a big problem forproducerslastyear.Headingintothelatespringperiod,youneedtomakesurethatthepaddocksyourlambsareinarefreeofseed.Earlyseedinfestationhadgotintothecarcassanddidn’tfalloutatshearing.

Wefoundthatsomelambswerenotdoingaswellastheyshould have been during autumn and when they werehungup, theyhad largeamountsofseed throughout thecarcasswhichhadslowed theirgrowth.Theseproducersalsothenreceivedadiscountonthevalueoftheirmeatastheprocessorshadtodoafairbitoftrimmingwhichaffectsitspresentationinthebutchershop.


Livestock HealthDrPaulCusack(BSc.BVSc.(hons)MVSt.MACVSc.PhD)AustralianLivestockProductionServices

How to manage pesky parasitesduring the warmer months

Thenextfewweekswilldetermineourlivestockmanagementuntilthemythicalautumnbreak.Twowetsummershave resulted in

asubstantialbuild-upofbarber’spolewormthroughouttheregionsserviced by Delta, and the distribution of liver fluke has beendramatically increasedby thespreadof the intermediatehostsnailin floodwaters.Whilst the record runof frostswould have reducedthepasturebarber’spolelarvalload,itisexpectedthecontaminationduring last summer will mean significant larval loads are likely topersistwithlarvaldevelopmentacceleratingwiththewarmerweather.Let’sconsider the twoseasonalscenariosbeforeus. Ifwehaveatleastaverage rainfall during spring therewill be sufficientmoistureforincreasedparasitelarvalsurvival,but,theinitiallarvalintakewillbe reduced by the dilution effect of greater pasture herbagemassand stock will be in better condition and will therefore havemoreeffectiveimmunesystems.Thustheproblemofthewormburdenwillbe lessseverebutmoreprolonged. Inaddition, therewillbebetterflukesurvivalinthoseareaswithnovelflukeinfestations.Thepasturefeedbasewillproducemuchmoredrymatterandwillmorerapidlybecomerankandmoveintothereproductivephasewithareductioninnutrientdensity.Thiseffectwillbeexacerbatedbyourinabilitytoexertsufficientgrazingpressurewith theavailablestock toprolongthemorenutrientdensevegetativephasebykeepingpasturesshort.Themanagementtoolstobestrespondtothisscenarioare:

• Ifyouhaven’talready,doanFEC(faecaleggcount)witha larvalculturetodeterminetheextentofthewormburdenanditscomposition.•Takebloodsfrom10to20headforaflukeantigentestifyoususpectflukemighthavemovedintoyourarea.• Prolonging the period pasture can be maintained in the mid-vegetative phase with a combination of rotational grazing andremovalofpaddocksforsilageorhayproduction(whichisalsoatoolforcreatingparasitesafepasturesforyoungstock).•Preparefortheutilisationofdryresiduesbyprovidingstockwithanitrogenandenergysupplementinthesummer(leavethehaystackinthepaddock).•Usealongactinganthelminticeffectiveagainstbarber’spoleinitially,withtheoptionofanadditionallongactingdrenchaftertheexpirationoftheeffectiveperiodofthefirstdrenchiftheraincontinues.Ifwehavebelowaveragerainfall,parasitelarvalsurvivalwillbereducedoncethepasturesdry,buttheinitialintakeoflarvaewillbeincreasedthroughgrazinglowerherbagemassesclosertotheground.Further,stockmightbe inpoorercondition resulting in reduced immunity toparasites.Theparasitechallengewillthereforebeshorterindurationbutmore severe. Pasture nutrient density will remain highwhile itisgreen,butherbagemasswillbereduced.Underseveremoisturedeprivationthenutrientdensitywillquicklydropasplantsracetothereproductivephasebefore theysenesce.Themanagementoptionsavailabletoustorespondtothismuchmorechallengingscenarioare:•FEC,bloodsforflukeantigentestandflukedrenchasforwetseasonifflukepresent.• Use a long acting anthelmintic effective against barber’s pole assoon as the weather warms (i.e. a substantial proportion of thedaytimetemperatures>10°Candnofrost)tokillparasitesastheyareingestedoffthepasture.DependingontheFEC,whentheeffectivedurationofthelongactingdrenchexpires,followupwithashortactingdrenchtoavoidselectingforresistanceinwormsduringadryperiodwhenthevastmajorityofliveparasitesexistwithinthehostanimal.•Reducestockingpressurebyweaningearlyandbringing forwardthe sale of any non-pregnant or cull animals based on pregnancydiagnosis.• If supplementary feeding is required, feed for high productionand turn stock off as quickly as possible to achieve the best feedconversionefficiency.


LandscapeDavidCrowley,Agronomist/ConsultantDeltaAgYoungbranch

Optimise next year’s crops withsummer paddock preparation

Asthe2012croppingseasonnearscompletion,itistimetoplan towardsmaking themost of 2013. Careful paddock

preparation, resourceallocation,andwhole-farmplanningwillinevitably prove the difference between cropswhich impressandthosewhichdisappointrelativetoseasonalconditions.

Thepost-harvestperiodprovidesagreatopportunitytocollectsoilteststoassessnutrientremovalbythisyear’scrops.Asthesayinggoes“youcan’tmanagewhatyoudon’tmeasure”andwithfertilizerpricesasvolatileasever,understandingthestatusofindividualpaddockfertilitywillproveinvaluableinmanaginginputcosts,andallocatingresourcesefficiently.

Next year, levels of phosphorous andnitrogen at sowingwillbecriticalbecause inmanycases the2012harvestwillhaveremovedmore nutrient than was applied during the season.Therefore,toavoiddepletingsoilfertilityanumberofsimplesoiltestswillprovideacomprehensiveguideastowherefertilizerresourcesshouldbeallocatedacrossthefarm.

Therehavebeenseveral lategerminationsofproblemweedssuch as ryegrass and wild oats this winter, as some pre-emergentherbicidesranoutofresidual.Aswellascroprotationnextyear,harvestinglowtomakesureweedseedsarepickedupby theheaderandthenburningwindrowsprovidesaveryeffective, non-herbicidal method of reducing the weed seedbank. This is also a very good technique to ensure that noweedsescapeinbreakcropssuchascanola.Itisimportanttoparticularlytargetthepaddockswhichcontinuallycauseweedcontrolheadaches.

Giventhetendencytowardssummerstormsinrecentseasons,carefulfallowmanagementislikelytoprovideastrongprofileofmoisturetohelpunderpinyieldpotentialandreducerisk.GRDCtrialsfrom2008–2011indicatethatcompletecontrolofsummerweedswillprovideanaveragereturnof$6.07foreverydollaroutlaid.Summerweedsdonotefficientlyconvertmoistureandnutrient to feedandareoften low inquality.Moreover,whereweeds are allowed to grow for stock feed, a small increasein meat and wool production and a potential decrease insupplementary feeding cost is offset by a large decrease insubsequentcropyields.Asaresult,weedsshouldbecontrolledearly,withconsiderationgiventotheuseofresidualherbicides.

Stubblemanagementisanotherimportantissueoversummer.By retaining stubble, erosion can be reduced and infiltrationofintensesummerstormsimproved.However,followinglargecrops, sowing through this stubble next year canbeamajorhassle,delayingtheseedingprocess.

Thereisnoclearcutanswerofhowbesttomanagestubbletosuiteveryfarmandthemanagementundertakenwillhingeonseveralfactorsfrommachinerytypeandconfigurationthroughto disease and weed pressure. However, contemplating themanagementoflargestubblesassoonaspossiblewillminimiseissuesduringsowingandcropestablishmentnextyear.

Itisimportanttorememberthesummermonthswillallowtimeforpreparation,planningandreview,tooptimiseproductionin2013.

Grain WatchLucyWatsonDeltaGrainMarketing,Trangie

Are you ready for harvest?

Nowisthetimetomakesureyouarereadyforthebusyharvestperiodahead.Here’safewtipstomaketheprocesseasier.

1.Cleanouton-farmstorageandharvestingequipment– If leftalone, uncleaned machinery can lead to contaminated grainandinsectproblemswhichcanbeverycostly.Allgrainhandlingequipment(headers,chaserbins,fieldbins,augers,trucks)andstorage(silos,bunkers)willneedtobesprayedwithachemicaltoensureanyinsecteggsaredestroyed.

2.Haveyourcontractor’sdetailsready–Makesureyourharvestingandtransportcontractor/sareawareofyourrequirementsandaroughestimateonwhenyourcropwillbeready.

3.Knowwhereyourgrainwillbegoing–Ifyouplanondeliveringyour grain to your local bulk handling facility, find outwhat theopening hours will be prior to delivering. Also check what thecurrent GTA Location Differential is for that site as they canchangefromyeartoyear.Ifyouhaveforwardcontractsinplacethat requiredelivery toaparticular siteorenduser,makesurethattheyarefilledanddeliveredfirstsotheyarenotforgottenintherush.

4.Knowwhathasleftyourfarm–Bykeepinganaccuraterecordof the truck loads leaving your farm, reconciling your deliverysummary isawhole loteasier.Turna receiptbook intoa truckdeliverybookandrecordtheregistrationnumber,driver’sname,date,time,NGR,commodityandvariety.

5.Keepregularrunningsamplesofon-farmstorage–Ifyouplanonstoringanygrainon-farm,keepingrunningsamplesofthegrainwillmake selling itmucheasierwhen the time comes.Youwillthenhaveanaccuratesamplewhichyoucanthentestatalaterdate to reference.Plastic sandwich bags from the supermarketlabelledwithapermanentmarkerareasimplesolution.Ensurethatoncetheyarecollectedandlabelled,thebagsarestoredinanairtighttrunkorbox.

6.MakesureyourNGRdetailsareuptodate–Quiteoftenpeopleforgetthattheyhavechangedtheir tradingname,bankaccountdetails,addressorphonenumberthroughouttheyearandhaven’tupdatedtheirdetailswithNGR.ThemajorityofbuyersuseNGRasamethodofobtainingyourdetailsonceacontracthasbeennegotiated and use the details attached to pay the funds. Theobvious riskhere is that if youhave thewrongdetailsattachedtoyourNGR,youwon’treceivethemoneyowedtoyouontime.NGRcanbecontactedon1800556630.

7. Check your forward contract details – File all your forwardcontracts together and make sure you are aware of therequirements,suchasthenominateddeliverytimeframe,deliverypoint,gradeandanyspecialconditions.DeltaGrainstaffwillbehappytomanagetitletransfersonyourbehalf,justgiveyourlocalbranchacall.

8. Register online with your bulk handling facility – Most bulkhandlersnoweitherhaveanonlinewebfacilityorasmartphoneapplicationfromwhichyoucancheckyourdeliveriesortransfergrain.Byregisteringpriortoharvest,youcanreconciledeliveriesdailyagainstloadsthathaveleftyourfarm.

Prospect|Techno TalkJonathanTuckfieldOperationsManager,YoungtelSolutions

How to expand your network

Recent developments in outdoor wireless technology havemeantaccesstoyournetworkdevicesandtheinternetcan

bedeliveredmoreeffectively.AustraliancompanyNetcommWireless(www.netcommwireless.com)hasjustreleasedtheNTC-30seriesOutdoor+Wi-FiRouter,andYoungtelwasprovidedwithoneduringthecustomertestingphase.

This device incorporates the NextG Modem and wirelessrouter insidean IP67Outdoor ratedenclosurealongwithdual3Gexternalantennas,and itusesaTelstraMobileBroadbandaccountforinternetaccess.

Traditionallyasuitableantennahasbeenmountedexternallyonabuildinganda longcoaxialcable run to theofficewhere themodemisplaced.Signalislostduetothelengthofcableandthepointsofconnectionincludingapatchleadifrequired.ThisnewdeviceovercomesthislossbyplacingthemodemrightwherethebestsignalisandthenusingaCat6Ethernetcabletoconnectittoyournetworkwhichwithsupportcablerunsupto100metreswithoutloss.

Theotherdevelopmentiswithpoint-to-pointwirelesslinkswhichused to be prohibitively expensive but are now much moreaffordable.Withsomanydeviceslikecamerasandphonesnowbeing“network” ready, there isaneed toprovideaconnectiontoabusinessnetworkorshareaninternetconnectionbetweenbuildings or locations on farms. These devices can link up to8kmormorelineofsightandprovidesuperfastspeed.Insteadof layinganundergroundcableorinstallingaseparateinternetconnection at the remote location, the point-to-point wirelessdevicesprovidethelink.

Formoreinformationvisitusonlineatwww.youngtel.com.au.


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“CootaPark”Blue-EBeefFieldDay

Cowra

8 August 2012Photography:JustineMcGregor

Around the Traps

TrudiRefshauge,John&KylieWood ScottyHickman&JonWright

BruceWeir,BobFazzari,&StephenRutledge SusanReeves,NickDavison&GrantPiper CliffWorkman,JonWright,DeanCoghlan&KevinSiegert

HarveyWright,PattyMitchell-Skuse&MurielAbraham

KenHaylan&GusHickman WaynePitchford,JenniferCook&TonyStreet

MarkOosterveen&AlisonOsborne JessGough&TrudiRefshauge AlisonRutledge&SharonGroves


DeltaAgribusinessStoreSale

Cootamundra

21 September 2012 Photography:PamelaLawson

ThomasMcGrath,AnnaBewley&StuartBewley Harry&HughBowman ClintMcInnes&hischildrenLawson&Siena

KevinDuff,MickRaleigh&NevillePaton DavidBooth,GeoffMoore&SamMoore ChrisMcMurtrie&DougTozer

LenHoey&BobBirch VendoroftheSteerPenoftheDayThomasMcGrathwithDeltaAgagentDavidCorcoran

CudgellCreekBullSale

Young

28 August 2012Photography:DeanKinlyside

Felicity,Harriett&LucySnodgrass DaveCorcoran&JohnSnodgrass TheDeltaHLBteam

DesMakeham-DeltaHLB LeanneSnow,John&AnnieSnodgrass,AndrewSnow

AaronMackay-DeltaHLB

Call toll free 1800 700 096www.dowagro.com.au

22 – 23 October National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) National Congress 2012 Canberra TheNFFCongressprovidestheopportunityfortheagriculturalsectortocometogethertodiscusstheconceptsoffuturefoodandfibresecurityandtheroleofAustralianagricultureinfeedingandclothingtheworldfromagrassrootsleveltoagloballevel.www.congress.nff.org.au/

26 October A Breakfast Meet and Greet – Pulse Breeding and Agronomy Wagga Wagga Centralandsouthernfarmers,advisorsandpulseindustryrepresentativeswillinteractandmeetthefacesbehindPBA(PulseBreedingAustralia),includingchickpea,fieldpea,lupin,lentilandfababeanbreedersandresearchagronomistsfromacrossAustralia.TherewillbetheopportunitytodiscussthefutureadoptionandexpansionofpulsesacrossAustralia,especiallysouthernNSW.www.grdc.com.au/pba

30 November, 1 – 2 December The National Cherry Festival Young TheNationalCherryFestivaliscelebratingits63rdyearin2012andwillincludeastreetparade,CelticTattoo,carnival,bushpoets,andmanymarketstalls.www.visityoung.com.au

6 – 9 December Australian Year of the Farmer Innovation and Technology Expo Melbourne TheexpowillshowcasehowAustralianfarmersareleadingtheworldinfarmingtechniques,researchanddesign,throughmorethan17,000squaremetresofexhibitionsdisplayingcuttingedgetechnologyandinnovation.Theeventwillincludeafoodoforiginextravaganza,alivingfarmdisplayandconferencesandindustryseminars.www.yearofthefarmer.com.au/events


On the Radar

Prospect|DELTA DIARY

Note: While Flame™ has taken great care in preparing this artwork responsibility for the printed artwork and copy accuracy lies with the client. The printer is responsible for checking artwork before plates are made, accuracy in measurements, plates tolerance requirements, registration and construction detailing. Any questions please contact flame before proceeding with the job. Copyright 2012 Flame.

Luigi Pagnozzi (account service) | [email protected]

+61 2 9887 8500 | flame.com.au

Name: FLAME_SYCR391 Cereals Range Project

Date: 21.09.12 | Round: FSize: 210Hmm x 148Wmm

everything under the Cereal Suneverything under the Cereal Sun

der

For further information please call the Syngenta Technical Product Advice Line on 1800 067 108 or visit our website at www.syngenta.com.au.

The information contained in this brochure is believed to be accurate. No responsibility is accepted in respect of this information, save those non-excludable conditions implied by any Federal or State legislation or law of a Territory. ® Registered trademark of a Syngenta Group Company. *Trademark. Cruiser Opti, Vibrance, Cogito and Moddus Evo are not currently registered. Registration is pending from the APVMA. AD12/522

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Prospect Spring 2012