Farm Manager

With May delivering a pleasant 109mm of rain the season has been kind to us so far. In comparison to 2021 where May drenched us with over 200mm which did cause water logging and paddock damage. 

The sown rye grass and oats crops are booming with great growing conditions and are being grazed with sheep and cattle. 

Feed supply is starting to become tighter now and supplementary feed supplies are being added to boost livestock nutrition.

Highlights over the recent months:

• Completion of gravel roadways constructed on the Harris and East blocks. This project was in planning for two years and is a huge improvement to the movement of vehicles around the property. Now the roads have been constructed through Harris block, we will selectively fell a proportion of the radiate pine plantation to improve the quality of timber left standing.
   
• Artificial insemination of Dairy and Beef herds. This task sounds quite easy but does take an enormous effort to synchronise the herds to cycle at the same time. The process takes ten days beginning with an injection and progesterone implant, followed seven days later with another injection then removal of implant, scratchy stickers stuck onto the animal’s tail-head and followed with the insemination on day ten. Angus, Limousin and black Gelbveih bulls were used on the commercial cattle. 
   
• The new Case 110 HP tractor finally arrived after months of co-ordination. The Farm has purchased this tractor with funds allocated through the Machinery Trust Fund and it will make a valuable contribution to the farm’s plant. It will predominately be used to perform the spraying tasks and is fitted with a trainer’s seat. We also invested an additional $14000.00 on a Trimble auto steer steering column and GFX 350 screen and auto steer controller. Several hours were spent in the paddock calibrating the tractor and it is now operating with full auto steer capability.

• Also adding to the new equipment are two Kawasaki dual cab side by side All-Terrain Vehicles. These machines are 4WD and can seat six people. They are very valuable to access wet areas where farm utilities cannot during the wet winter months. They are currently being licenced and will be ready to use early next term.
   
• The design, construction and the erection of a colourful sign has been placed in the front paddock and has been the talk of the town. The sign advertises the College’s beef and sheep studs, Inlet Views Simmental, and Corriedale. With the success at recent sheep and cattle sales the sign is an opportunity to catch the eye of the many visitors Denmark has during its holiday and weekend periods. Connecting bolts have been welded to prevent anyone taking it as a WACOA Denmark souvenir.
   
• Dairy calves are nearly all out in the paddock and off their milk diet. They are not too pleased about this but do adjust after a couple of days. A large shelter has been transported to the paddock and cladded with iron to protect the youngsters from the cooler southerly winds.

• Some dairy cows are now in their rotation to dry off (cease being milked) and have a break from milking. They spend some time adding some condition in preparation for another round of calving later in the year.
   
• During the colder months, Horticulture concentrates on planting and harvesting vegetables suited to the conditions. At the moment the brassicas are predominant such as broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage. The tomatoes are nearing the end after huge yields during the season. Mr Thomas is also developing a hydroponic growing environment in the shade house. This consists of storm water piping suspended on racking where the water is pumped to the top and gravity allows it to drain to the bottom feeding the plants root systems. We look forward to seeing the finished produce.
   
• Cattle Club is now in full swing with cattle being on full feed rations and growing quickly. The club has twenty-five steers on feed and the purchasing of them completely blew the led steer budget due to current beef prices. Let’s hope the end results will pay for themselves and the Cattle Club students will get to experience the whole process from purchasing animals in store condition, introducing them to a grain ration, feeding as required to gain weight and condition, handle and break in the animals then finally take them to the shows and compete on the big stage striving for that ribbon and success.