september 2013 fostering & supporting bureau networks e news · fostering & supporting...

Fostering & supporting Bureau Networks

E-News

In this Issue

September 2013

Latest News Celebrating Agriculture in Our State

Highlighting our 125th birthday and

showcasing our awards, this dinner is set to be an event of the season

READ MORE

AGM Regional Tour

Held in the breathtaking riverland, a tour

that boasted the regions great produce

READ MORE

Advisory Board Annual Dinner

With a variety of regional industry

guest-speakers to welcome in the newly

appointed Board

READ MORE

Rural Youth Bursary 2013 blog

Entries by Alex Milner-Smyth, winner of

last years Bursary updating us on her US

study tour

READ MORE

Westpac Bus Trip Reviews

Reviews from the Nelshaby & Laura Bureau

Branches of their trips, places they

travelled and things they learnt

READ MORE

Agriculture KI Conference

Well-attended KI event that presented

some interesting topics up for discussion

READ MORE

Freeling Ag Bureau Social

An annual event with speaker Dr. Tony

Rathjen of Adelaide University and trophy

presentations for branch members

READ MORE

Skills in the workplace program

Is this an opportunity for you?

READ MORE

LambEx

Lamb Industry conference update

READ MORE

Chairman’s Report

Welcome Ag Bureau Members This is our quarterly news service delivered to all Agricultural Bureau branches across the state, informing you about news, events and projects occurring across particular regions

Projects Improving Productivity &

Sustainability

Sponsors Corner Westpac

RSM Bird Cameron


E-News

September 2013

Mark Grossman

Changing seasons of the Ag Bureau

W elcome to the Spring 2013 edition of the Ag Bureau E-news. If timely rains come this spring, the opportunity and prospects for a good sea-

son are ahead of us. Whilst recent warm weather indicates changing seasons, you know as well as I do how much rains are required for successful crops. Late August, The Advisory Board held our AGM in the Riverland with the opportunity for our Board to see many aspects of rural production in this key region of the state, visiting a range of agricultural and associated enterprises. Board representative Tony Loffler and his wife Sandy did a great job in organising this event. The AGM brought in the change of Upper South East repre-sentative Janette Ridgway to Treasurer and Upper North representative Andrew Kitto to Execu-tive. Planning is well under way for the 125th celebration dinner in October, combined with our Spirit of Excellence Awards Ceremony, jointly funded by PIRSA as part of the Premium Food and Wine for our Clean Environment strategy. At this dinner the Peter Olsen fellowship, Rural Youth Bur-sary and Services to Primary Production awards will be announced. The Ag Bureau is recently undergoing changes with service requirements of the Advisory Board now administered by Rural Business Support (RBS). On behalf of all bureau members, I wish to thank Brenda Anderson, Ann Price and Michelle Arbon for the efforts they have provided as our contracted staff. RBS have a long connection with rural communities across South Australia and will open up many opportunities for us as an organisation. I hope that all our members and rural communities within the state have a successful ending to 2013. I encourage you to continue to use the bureau network for support and future opportuni-ties.

Mark Grossman

Chairman

Advisory Board of

Agriculture

Chairman’s Report

Back to contents page

Your Ag Bureau

2013/14 Advisory Board

Bottom left to right:

Janette Ridgway (Treasurer), Mark Grossman (Chairman), Geoff Page

(Deputy Chair)

Top left to right: Richard Murdoch, Andrew Kitto

(Executive), Tony Loffler (Executive), Yvonne Correll (Deputy

Treasurer), Peter Rose, Roger Farley

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E-News


T his year the Agricultural Bureau of South Australia is commemorating their 125th anniversary with a celebratory dinner to be held on Friday 11 October 2013 at The Venue, West Adelaide Football Club from 6.30 pm.

Guests will enjoy a three course meal with selected beverages with the evening’s formalities run by Ian Doyle, President, Rural Media SA. Joining the celebration, as guest speaker, will be Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Hon Gail Gago MLC. The Spirit of Excellence Awards will also be announced which comprise the following three honours. Peter Olsen Fellowship for Young Farmers $8000 bursary for a farmer (18-35) to pursue further study, a study tour or run a special project. Rural Youth Bursary $5000 grant for rural youth (18-30) in a variety of employment to learn more about their chosen career Service to Primary Production Award Recognises the achievements of those providing exceptional service to primary production The Agricultural Bureau of South Australia is a not-for-profit organisation run by farmers for farmers with regional Bureau membership open to anyone with an interest in farming, agricultural development and education. It is managed by The Advisory Board of Agricul-ture (ABA) who also provide advice and recommendations to the Government of South Aus-tralia. Proudly sponsored by The Advisory Board of Agriculture and PIRSA Invitations & details for attending available from website: 2013 Spirit of Excellence Awards & 125 years of the ABA Agricultural Bureau Celebratory Dinner

Latest News

September 2013

Celebrating Agriculture in our StateCelebrating Agriculture in our State


http://www.agbureau.com.au/about/125th_invitation_payment_details.pdf

http://www.agbureau.com.au/about/125th_invitation_payment_details.pdf

E-News


L ate last month the Advisory Board for the Ag Bureau took a trip to Loxton in the heart of the Riverland to experience the sheer diversity of what the region produces and has to offer.

Visiting orchards that produce everything from al-monds, citrus fruits and stone fruits through to wine grapes, it was easy to understand how one could easily fill a list from A to Z. The tour that visit-ed four different farming ventures within the region was never dull. The tour began at Century Orchards, managed by Anthony Wachtel where they have 541 hectares of almond trees and 100 hectares of vines. Bees are needed for pollination of the almond trees and kept onsite for two months of the year. Sharing a good relationship with the United States almond industry, Century Orchards source a lot of their information and machinery such as the Al-mond Shaker (to literally shake almonds from the trees) and the Jack Runner (used for carrying kernels ) from their California counterpart.

Century Orchards have minimal top soil to work with, pro-ducing smaller trees that are actually easier to maintain. Wildlife in the region such as Kangaroos, galahs and cocka-toos are a threat to the crop, with various measures used to keep them away. Along with other growers, Century Orchards has dealt with water restrictions over several seasons and has played a ma-jor part in the upgrade of the Loxton Irrigation system. Cen-tury Orchards also participated in the Irrigation Industry Im-provement Program (IIIP) which is aimed at supporting growers to optimise water use for greater business resilience and productivity. As part of the Central Irrigation Trust

(CIT), a pipeline supplies water to growers. Growers can order water as often as they choose from the system as part of their allocation, with the option of leasing unused water to other growers. Century Orchards operates partly on a drip irrigation system and leases in water from the water markets when needed.

September 2013

Latest News

Advisory Board of AgricultureAdvisory Board of Agriculture

AGM Regional TourAGM Regional Tour

Continued next page...

Century Orchard Almond Crop

Almond Shakers

E-News


Stop two was at Primary Industries and Regions of South Australia (PIRSA) Loxton Research Centre where we met with James Altmann of Biological Ser-vices. As part of the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) scheme, James breeds and supplies bio control agents, beneficial insects and mites, for growers to re-lease into cropping systems to parasitise harmful pests such as aphids. Parasites are sent out to growers at pupae stage in

small sachets and are seeded into crops before the aphids arrive. The wasps emerge & go in search of pest aphids to parasitise. It is a form of natural pest control, using less spraying measures and ensuring for better crop health in the long term. IPM has gained increased interest throughout Australia, with growers applying the system to their fruit & vegetable crops with good results. Tony and Sandy Loffler’s property at Pyap was representative of the Riverland's diversity, where they produce dried apricots, pears, peaches, sultanas and currants using traditional methods that focus on quality for a ‘boutique’ form of marketing. The fruit is hand cut then dried in the sun and the sultanas and cur-rants are hand-picked and rack dried for prod-ucts with optimal taste and colour. They also produce a limited range and amount of citrus. The final stop took the board to Barry, Ryan, Michael and Tim Arnold’s property where they have created an online business, ‘Fresh Citrus Direct.’ The Arnolds have consolidated into cit-rus, vines and horticulture. Their online busi-ness markets a range of citrus fruits including mandarins, oranges, tangelos, lemons and grape-fruits which are picked from the tree and packed into orders to be delivered all over Australia by

post. With their savvy business skills of generating an online presence, demand has recently picked up.

The tour gave a great insight into the region’s capabilities as home to some of our State’s major producers. We would like to thank Sandy and Tony Loffler for organising the comprehen-sive tour and providing a delicious lunch with a spread of local foods. Lindsay Dowley of CIT and suburban Riverland farmer Theo Kaesler also helped in providing their local knowledge to commentate the tour.

September 2013

Latest News


Pests: White flies (barely visible) on plant leaves, applying the same

theory as controlling aphids

The Arnold’s explaining their fresh pro-duce business & juicing some of their

blood navel oranges

Left: Tony explaining their Pyap farm production processes,

Above: Tony & Sandy's’ fruit

trees in the Summertime

E-News


H eld at the Barmera-Monash Football Club, this year’s Annual Dinner highlighted the work and achievements of the Ag Bureau and community of the Riverland and the district’s impact on the global community.

Secretary of the Lowbank Ag Bureau, Warren May, was a Guest speaker presenting the branches results from a cropping trial that brought them together in a joint effort generating media and international attention. With the help of a Natural Resource Management (NRM) Caring for Country grant, the Lowbank committee prepared a project that spread over six months, trialling nine different machines in-cluding disc and tined seeders to sow the same crop on the same day and later compare results in yield and profitability. Each grower brought their own machine and set it up, seeding wheat into a range of Mallee soils. Five months later, the Lowbank branch took a walk through the crops, noticing a difference be-tween what was sown with tines and discs. The density of the plants was greater in some areas compared to others. A month later, the grain was harvested, displaying significant differences in yield and profitability. Four of the tines had out-performed the discs, with an overall $61 a hec-tare advantage. The project is now into its second year, being continued with other crop types. Every machine

has been altered as a result of the trial. The results from the project have drawn international

attention.

Click on this link to access the full Landline story project, Landline: Pick of the Crop Gavin McMahon of the Central Irrigation Trust (CIT) took us on a historical journey through the irrigation systems set up over time across the region. An initiative named the Water Industry Al-liance River Murray Improvement Program has recently commenced under the oversight of An-drew Johnson, Group Executive Director of PIRSA, also an attendee of the night. The Common-wealth government has provided 240 million dollars to this program, which is aimed at optimis-ing the efficiency and productivity of water use and management along the river and will include investment in irrigation infrastructure and business sustainability (Water Industry Alliance, 2013). The final guest speaker of the night, Ashley Lipman of Rural Solutions SA spoke about the dis-trict’s alliance with Iraq, providing training and study tours for Iraqi farmers both in the Loxton region and Iraq. After troops were withdrawn, Australia created an alliance with Iraq to help with their reconstruction efforts. This involved technical assistance to

September 2013

Latest News

Advisory Board of AgricultureAdvisory Board of Agriculture

Annual DinnerAnnual Dinner


http://www.abc.net.au/landline/content/2013/s3687110.htm

E-News


help reform the agricultural sector. The On The Ground (OTG) Irrigated Horticulture program was created, with groups of people brought to Australia and put through an intensive training program in installation and operation of irrigation systems. Ashley spoke honestly of the challenges and scope of the program. Though generally Iraq is a pa-triarchal society a large number of Iraqi women participated in the study programme. Ashley was able to witness first-hand the effect of war on the Iraqi people and agriculture. Above all this, the Iraqi people displayed their amazing commitment to rebuild, with sheer passion and enthu-siasm to learn about agriculture. The district of Loxton played a vital part in supporting these efforts.

The night provided some interesting information into Loxton’s involvement in local and interna-tional projects and the Ag Bureau’s efforts as part of this. Everyone enjoyed in-depth conversa-tions and networking over an enjoyable meal provided by the Barmera-Monash Football Club Staff. It was an ideal way to end an informative day and usher in change of roles for the Advisory Board.

September 2013

Latest News

Guest-speakers & Representatives of the night

Bottom left: Warren May of Lowbank Ag Bureau, Ashley

Lipman of Rural Solutions SA and Gavin McMahon, Chief Executive of CIT in

Barmera

Top left: Tony Loffler, Riverland Advisory Board

Member, Mark Grossman as Chairman for Advisory

Board, Andrew Johnson, Group Executive Director of PIRSA


E-News


R ural Youth Bursary Winner Alex Milner-Smyth of SANTFA, has began her project study tour over in the Unit-ed States investigating the use of cover

crops in dry-land broad acre farming systems. Inspiration for the project was really driven from Gabe Brown, a North Dakota farmer who practises holistic management of farming and ranching by striving to ‘solve problems in a natural and sustainable way’ (http://brownsranch.us/). Gabe has travelled around the world presenting to farmers and ecologists about his farming system and how he’s improved the ecology and sustainability of his property using multi-species cover crops. The first stop to the Menoken Farm managed by the Soil Conservation District of North Dakota has proven very interesting for Alex who stated, ‘The Menoken Farm is a fabulous resource for local farmers and visitors from further afield. It’s multi func-tional allows research, trials and education to be un-dertaken on the same site, but involves a community approach which encourages farmers, government staff

and community groups to have a stake in better natural resource management. South Austral-ia needs a Menoken Farm! (Who’ll lend me 20 acres?!….)’ ‘If you have any questions, please comment, send me an email ([email protected]), tweet or send me a carrier pigeon. If you’re interested in applying cover crops to your system and have a question stemming from what’s written here, I would love to have the chance to answer your question, or ask the experts while I’m standing in their backyards.’ Keep up to date with Alex’s travels by visiting 2013 Rural Youth Bursary Blog

Source: Alex Milner-Smyth, Writing away with blog.com: 2013 Rural Youth Bursary

September 2013

Latest News

Alex standing in a sunflower and cover crop mix on The Menoken Farm,

North Dakota

Rural Youth Bursary 2013 blogRural Youth Bursary 2013 blog By Alex MilnerBy Alex Milner--SmythSmyth

Where will this award take you? Applications for this years Rural Youth Bursary

and Peter Olsen Fellowship are now open until Monday, 16th September. Please

visit our Ag Bureau: Awards website page for more details on how to apply or

phone 8165 3221. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to fund your ideas!


https://twitter.com/SANoTillAlex

http://ruralyouthbursary2013.blog.com/

http://www.agbureau.com.au/awards/

E-News


A t the end of July, the Laura & Nelshaby Bu-reau branches took a trip across the Mallee for a

firsthand look at various aspects of the farming industry. This in-cluded an insight into vineyard management, logistics, crop trials and demonstrations, engineering and corporate family farming. Bureaux members were able to mix and mingle and discuss their individual branch activities over well-catered for meals during the three days of the Mal-lee tour, with comments that it was a ‘fantastic trip for all involved.’ The tour officially began at the Ren-mark property of Angove family wines, where vineyard manager Nick Backam provided a tour of the vineyards and discussed new management techniques. Nick discussed the conversion over to drip irrigation with pump stations being installed to help manage fertilization and nutrient supplement. The vineyard has a split of 60/40 red and white varieties, with a couple of blocks certified organic. Copper and sulphates are used to assist in the fertilization and under vine knives are used to slash and mulch as opposed to using weed sprays. Lunch was provided at Renmark club and the tour continued to Chris Hunt’s property of a varia-ble rate farming enterprise in the Millewa area. Transitioning into this mixed farming of wheat, legumes, oaten hay and canola with his dad, Chris explained their successes of receiving value from their invested dollar per hectare. Dinner took place at the Mildura Brewery Restaurant, with guest-speakers Roger and Daryl Pick-ering who passionately spoke about their family established business and discussed the issue of bureaucracy of working in the transportation industry. They left a strong message about neces-sary succession planning for any business. The following day was Field Day at Speed, located 120 kilometres south of Mildura near Sealake. Commencing in 1979, the Field Day was created by the Speed Lions Group to put money back into the community. It was considered a ‘fantastic and well organised’ field day site by bureau members, with positive comments on circular plans of the site, and the layout of the farming equipment brands.

September 2013

Latest News

Bus Trip Review

In Speed for the Field Day: Laura & Nelshaby Bureau Members attending the trip


E-News


Later that day was a visit to Jacko Kileys property located 24kms east of Speed on the Sealake road. to see a no-till seeder demonstration driven by Dodgshun Medlin consulting company. Var-ious seeders were set up to sow Kord wheat on canola stubble, spraying Trifuluralin evenly across the site. There were obvious establishment variances between machines with all variances being consistent with seed depth accuracy and uniformity. After lengthy discussion on seeding depth, conclusions withdrew that it was unnecessary to rip too deep (past 100ml under the surface). This has been a fairly controversial trial amongst the agricultural community, with over 500 peo-ple that have visited and debated the results, with Dodgshun Medlin confident that funding for the demonstration site will continue. Over an Italian style tea of pizza and pasta at Mildura, Nelshaby and Laura members were in-formed about Agmasters international relations with China by Mike Glenn. The final day took the Westpac Bus tour onto Bulla Burra cooperative farm in the Mallee district. Bureau members were able to witness strategic corporate thinking and farming synergies in Rob-in Schaefer and John Gladigau’s wheat, barley and lupins crop of 9000 hectares. Qualified with a Nuffield Diploma for Corporate Family Farming, John merged with Robin in a business endeav-or four years ago to form a cell of 4000 hectares with the amount of equipment necessary for ef-ficient farming. 2010 was a successful year that helped consolidate the new merged family busi-ness arrangement. Bureau members found it to be ‘interesting,’ heading onto Eudunda for the final port of call. Members met with Jason Pfitzner of ‘Root Boot’ seeding system, born in 2011 out of necessity of new designs and trials form continual unsatisfactory crop emergence. Jason’s current design al-lows the seed to take root on the bed of the row and feritiliser 40ml below. Bureaux members described his innovation and initiative in transforming his farm as impressive, with Root Boot now gaining interest and momentum nationally. Sponsorship of Westpac helped to make this tour possible, with food, beverages and hosting pro-

vided by Crouch Pringles, Quality Wool, Elders, ANZ bank, Rabo Bank, Angoves, Crop Smart,

and all tour destinations.

If your branch is interested in applying for a Westpac funded bus trip tour, please see the Board to Branch section of this E-News for details

September 2013

Latest News


E-News


T he Advisory Board of Agricul-ture was a key sponsor of the Ag-riculture Kangaroo Island Con-ference, held on Thursday 22nd

August at Parndana Sports Club. Over 100 farmers attended, representing ap-proximately 30 per cent of all farmers on KI. The Conference included a line-up of informative industry guest-speakers. Wayne Smith of Agronomic Acumen, a well-known WA based cropping consultant, spoke on the huge lifts in productivity that can be achieved by addressing key constraints soil pH, trace ele-

ments, macro nutrients and the use of rotational grazing. He challenged farmers to broaden their scope by imagining what is possible, for exam-ple not thinking ‘yeah, but..’ to 4.5t barley on 155 mm of soil. Ken Solly, private consultant with a regular column in the Stock Jour-nal, spoke about the lack of profit in the ag industry usually being caused by a people problem as opposed to a production problem. His speech titled, ‘There’s no future in being average in Agriculture’ left a direct message in stating that change is not compulsory but neither is survival.

New Zealand based Dr Doug Edmeades of AgKnowledge provided some great questions to ask fertiliser representatives when dealing with ‘muck and mystery’ fertiliser products. Doug was ‘crowned’ NZ Agribusiness Personality of the year in 2012. He is a great advocate that ‘biology will look after itself if you get the fertiliser right,’ and of the fallacy of the ratio theory (Albrecht's BCSR) to determine fertilis-er requirements (both based on reviews of worldwide trial work ).

Mike McKeogh of the Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) gave a great presentation simplifying what the CFI is about and what’s in it for farm-ers, which given the election was basically a ‘watch this space!’ Nuffield Scholar and Date grower David Reilly from the Riverland gave a great after dinner speech on his experiences of establishing his business to becoming the only exporter of dates out of Australia. Feedback from participants showed that all speakers ‘hit the mark,’ with the conference generating a lot of discussion about key messages within

the community. Follow up activities will involve further work with Wayne Smith to set up a small focus farm on KI implementing some of his techniques. I’m sure a lot more islanders will be reading Kens’ column in the stock Journal more closely now! Article submitted by Lyn Dohle, Secretary of the KI Ag Bureau

September 2013


Latest News

Agriculture Kangaroo Island Conference

Attendees: Faye Stephenson and Ros Willson

Attendees from left: Tim Wendt, Damien Florance, Marcus Spicer

Attendees: Steve Morgan, Des Pratt

E-News


O n Tuesday, 6th August the Freeling Ag Bureau held their annual Social at the Freeling Community club rooms. President Damian Amery welcomed 90 people in attendance. A Special welcome was extended to guest speak-er Dr. Tony Rathjen.

President Damian Amery presented a concise report of the Bureaus activities over the last 12 months, stating that there are 38 members of the Freeling branch Bureau. Corbin Schuster introduced “high impact” University of Ade-laide Wheat Breeder Dr. Tony Rathjen. Recently retired Tony has been instrumental in establishing a strong Durum wheat industry and has released more than 20 wheat varieties in his career. Dr. Rathjen’s main achievements were the development of important wheat varieties Frame and Yitpi. He also led the way for sustainable farming in the Mallee. While Tony was a lecturer and Plant Breeder he led many primary Production tours in Australia and overseas. His talk this evening centred on a trip to India with a group of Agriculture University of Adelaide students. It was interesting to see slides of the primitive farming methods in India. Dr. Rathjen also spoke of the modern dilem-mas facing the farmers of India. Chris Butler thanked Dr. Rathjen for his interesting talk and mentioned that he is an icon in Wheat Breeding. Trophies were then presented to winners of the Bureaus Crop competition: Graham Hein represented Verner Seeds and presented Mark and Jeff Schuster with a trophy

for the best Wheat crop. The Malting Barley Trophy was won by EL Schuster and Son. Des Andriske from Omnia Liq-

uid Fertilisers represented Landmark and presented their trophy to Gavin Schuster. The Feed Barley Trophy was won by Phil Winchester from Shea Oak Log and donated by

Tremlett Grain and Fertilizer. Muster Farming won the best Faba Bean crop and Robyn Muster accepted the Roseworthy Rural supplies trophy from Chris Butler. The best Pea crop was jointly won by Muster Farming and N.K. and S Schuster. Jaimie Koch from Maitland pre-sented the Australian Grain Export Trophy to both parties. Incoming President Corbin Schuster thanked the sponsors for the evening Omnia Liquid Fertilizer, JT Johnson and Son and Ag Point Australia. The next Freeling bureau activity is a trip to the Hart Field day on 17th August sponsored by Westpac Bank. Please ad-vise the secretary Kevin Schild if you would like to attend.

Article submitted by Robyn Muster of the Freeling Ag Bureau, contact: 0407 828 894


September 2013

Latest News

Freeling Ag Bureau Social 2013

From left: Freeling Ag Bureau President Damian Amery,

Matthew Koch and Emma Amery

From Left: Gavin Schuster, Des Andriske (Omnia Liquid Fertilizer) and Michael Kennelly, Freeling

E-News


The Board is seeking interest from Branches and members interested in upgrading skills under the Skills in the Workplace program. The Board believes that there are opportunities to develop and sponsor skills development at the Branch level over the next 5 years, depending on interest. Benefits include: skills development of members based on need, encourage opportunities for younger members to obtain formal qualifi-cations more easily, improve engagement and communication. It is proposed to run a pilot a program in a region/Branch to run targeted, custom developed training to assist agricultural businesses. All courses are accredited and evaluated. Suggested four core areas include:

Business skills Financial management Workforce management Adoption of innovation

There are significant financial incentives for attendees in undertaking training under the Pro-gram. Groups of up 15 people are ideal. More information can be found at skills.sa.gov.au or email: [email protected] Please contact Mark Grossman, Chair, to register your interest in pursuing these opportunities. If there is enough interest the Board will develop an application with the Branch/region.


September 2013

Latest News

Opportunities for all under the

Skills in the Workplace Program

http://www.skills.sa.gov.au/

E-News


T he Australian sheep and lamb industry will gather in Ade-laide next July with the stag-ing of the third biennial

LambEx conference. LambEx 2014 takes place at the Adelaide Show-ground from July 9-11 and the team behind the event is now moving into full-scale program development mode.

With an objective of reaching far into the SA sheep sector, across all breeds and businesses – and then across state boundaries to all other major sheep producing regions - the LambEx program-ming committee has a significant task ahead to ensure the program hits the mark. “Our vision is to develop a program that will unite our industry and inspire all those involved in the sheep and lamb industry to come together,” said LambEx chairman Allan Piggott. Playing a key role in driving the diversity of the program is the inclusion of two state government agencies in PIRSA and DEWNR on the sponsorship and program development team. Both agencies offer considerable connections and their structure is such that it facilitates strong regional interaction with LambEx. “LambEx has had a history of partnering industry with government and this relationship is particularly strong here in South Australia,” Mr Piggott said. “That can only help broaden our appeal.” The LambEx programming committee meets next in Sep-tember to advance the initial capture of concepts and pri-orities fed in through the industry consultation phase. “In this information-hungry world our challenge is to put people and topics on the program that are new, challeng-ing and relevant to all sheep enterprises. I am very confi-dent we have the team to do that.” To sign up for continued Lambex information go to www.lambex.com.au


September 2013

Latest News

Lambex Update

LambEx Chairman, Allan Piggott

http://www.lambex.com.au

E-News


I mproving productivity whilst reducing the risk of erosion, was the key focus of a recently completed ABA/Caring for Our Country project. The project partnered with SheepConnect SA and established Focus Farms at Jamestown,

Kulpara, Burra and Angaston. A series of field days have been held in association with these farms over the last two years. Stocking rate is the key driver of profit in the sheep enterprise. There are many factors that de-termine optimum stocking rate for any one farm business. Grazing management will have a signifi-cant impact on this. Whilst grazing management and feed utilization are key factors in improving productivity they are also key factors that ensure higher stocking rates are sustainable. Ensuring adequate ground cover over the critical summer/autumn period is important to ensure erosion risk is minimized. Ruth Robinson at Jamestown has been looking at these factors and developed a property plan to as-sist in implementing a strategy. The plan identified new or revised paddock boundaries and sizes, and watering point locations. Larger paddocks were generally subdivided to help improve graz-ing management and efficiency. Over the last few years Ruth is already seeing improvements in ground cover. Michael Evans at Angaston has the benefit of a higher rainfall and generally erosion is not a sig-nificant issue. However, good grazing management is important to ensure a productive and envi-ronmentally sustainable business. Michael together with a group of other farmers has been mon-itoring the quantity and quality of feed being produced. ‘Pastures from Space’ has provided some insights into pasture growth rates and total dry matter production.

Through SheepConnect SA activities will continue on some of the Focus Farms. For further detail contact Ian McFarland, Rural Solutions SA Mob 0437 659 353. Pastures from Space is providing details on

pasture growth rates. This information can

then be used to assist in grazing management

decisions.


September 2013

Projects

Improving Productivity & Sustainability

Michael Evans & Ian Koch at the Eden Valley Pasture Walk, July 2012


E-News

At Westpac we’ve been supporting Australian Businesses for 196 years.

Our service is not a ‘one size fits all’ model’. We treat our customers as individ-uals and understand that our customers have different goals and aspirations. We will genuinely take the time to partner with your organisation working with you to ensure your banking operates seamlessly and your business is given the opportunity to grow. To see how our team of Relationship Managers can help improve your business call: Craig Watson 0429 449 082, Phillip Black 0478 491 731, Steve Krake 0418 495 314 or Marc Andersen 8621 2733.

Sponsors Corner

September 2013



E-News

A Secure Life After Farming BRENTON SCOTT Director of RSM Bird Cameron

The decision to retire from active farming usually takes place in one of three ways. It can mean handing over the management of the day to day operation to the next generation. It can involve the disposal of the livestock and plant

and leasing the farm to family or outsiders. Or simply it can mean selling the land at market value, holding a clearance sale and driving off into the sunset. Selling the farm at full value hopefully means any debts are well and truly cleared and there is enough leftover for a comfortable retirement. The amount required for a comfortable retire-ment, is roughly $50,000 per annum for a couple. If you decide to stay living on the farm then your housing costs hopefully will be less, but the question remains how can you guarantee that level of income if you lease the farm to a family member? At the same time, the younger generation would expect a tax deduction for support-ing their parents. Keep in mind a couple over the age of 65 can earn combined incomes of $50,000 a year tax free. Hence by making sure the land is held jointly, or possibly in a family trust and there is a legally binding lease then we achieve security and no tax for the older generation and a tax deduction for the younger generation. In addition, if the parents are over 65 then they would qualify for a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card. Where the older generation has significant other investment income or expects an annual pay-ment in excess of $50,000 then holding the land in a self managed superannuation fund would remove any tax liability and provide a tax deduction for the younger generation. On the other hand, the family may wish to explore aged pension eligibility via Centrelink. This could be very useful if paying say $50,000 a year in lease threatens the viability of the farm. There are numerous rules to be considered in the context of aged pensions. We know there is an assets test and an income test. We also know that the test that has greatest impact will be the test applied by Centrelink. In addition there are asset deprivation rules (gifting), there are deemed income rules and there are special rules for farming land titles that include the house and surrounding domestic land (curtilage). These are all topics for a deeper discussion over the next few months. For more information please contact Brenton Scott, Director RSM Bird Cameron Adelaide (08 8232 3000 / [email protected])or alternatively, Steven James, Director RSM Bird Cameron Port Lincoln (08 8682 2077 / [email protected]). Important: This is not advice. Items herein are general comments only and do not constitute or convey advice per se. Also,

changes in legislation may occur rapidly. We therefore recommend that our formal advice be sought before acting.

Sponsors Corner

September 2013

RSM Bird Cameron will be in the Oster Pavilion at the Yorke Peninsula

Field Days 24-26 September. All Bureau members are invited to call in and speak to staff


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