Farm Manager
Kevin Marshall
Kevin.Marshall@education.wa.edu.au
As the days get longer and some warm conditions become more regular, pasture growth is improving. August rainfall of 203 mls certainly drowned things, causing some damage to crops due to water logging and erosion. Already September has delivered another 59 mls, however the ground seems to be drying up quite quickly. Some paddocks will be shut up next week to prepare for silage making.
Old Piggery Demolition
We have received the go ahead to demolish the old piggery so in recent weeks we have been cleaning out unwanted items and either disposing of it or selling it. It will be a benefit to the area for future development, possibly providing additional holding yards for sheep and cattle.
Cattle Yards
Finally, after a wet and challenging period the new yards are complete. We decided to complete the concreting ourselves and hired a large mixer. The experience the students gained during the entire period was very valuable with most enjoying the process from start to finish. We redesigned a little to suit the entry and exit points and have constructed three adjacent holding paddocks with water. Water supplies are still to be installed.
Purchased a tedder and late oats and barley crops.
We have ordered a Khun GF 6502 tedder from Ag Trust funding. We traded the smaller machine with the new machine to be available in two weeks.
We have recently cultivated and sown two paddocks with two types of barley and some Bannister oats. It is the intention to carry these crops through to late November early December for hay production.
Ewe Hoggets Purchase
Recently Mr Schulz and I travelled to North East Kojonup and purchased sixty merino ewe hoggets. We selected sheep with a plain body, moderate frame with a white and very well defined crimp with long staple length. They originated from Lukin Springs and Rangeview bloodlines. They will be added to the merino flock and utilised when training students in wool classing and handling.
Advertised positions
We have been recently advertising for the Training Officer Agricultural Instruction positions for our Dairy and Beef enterprises. I have been pleasantly surprised with the standard and qualifications of the enquiries I have had up until now. There has been several enquires for the beef role and one for the dairy. We look forward to filling these positions.
We wish Mrs Joanne Parsons all the very best as she departs us for six months to start a family.
Excess equipment stored in sheds
Due to the difficulty of having a clearing sale, I have been dispersing unwanted equipment by various methods. Equipment such as the old super spreader, pin wheel rake, silage grabs, off set discs and disused ploughs from the horticulture shed have been sold. Other equipment such as stainless steel vats and material has been sold for scrap.
Dairy Calving
After an initial couple of calving difficulties, calving of the dairy cows is now going well. We congratulate Mr Frankam-Eade on his attention to detail and a successful calving so far. There is approximately 30 calves now in the shed. The feed on hand through the dairy paddocks is improving every day and urea applications are following each grazing.
Mineral deficiency testing
We have performed random herd blood testing looking at mineral deficiencies in particular selenium and copper. Blood tests from three different management groups have been collected and we are awaiting the results.
Beef pregnancy testing
After a disappointing first round AI program we are pleased with recent pregnancy results across the commercial Angus and Simmental Studs. 91% of cows are in calf with only two cows empty in the Studs. We used Simmental bulls over the beef herd after four weeks to relieve the older Angus. The empty cows will be dried off and sold late in October.