FARM 

Around the Farm this week

Horticulture/Viticulture

Table grapes have started to hit the kitchen table thanks to Mr Cruickshank and students involved. 

The hydroponic vegetables are looking great and assuming we can keep the power on and the water up to them we should see some greenery hitting the kitchen tables soon. Great work Mr Olde!

Dairy

A big shout out this week from Dairy management to a number of students for their positive, do anything attitudes. Keep it up, it is a great place to be when everyone’s working together and for each other.

A bunch of calves have hit the ground at the Dairy lately with more to come over the weekend. Increasing the calf rearing workload a little and bringing new heifers into production in the Dairy. 

Sheep

Students have worked with Mr Adams in the last two weeks to select Merino wethers and ewes in preparation for the Perth Royal Show. The selected ewes have moved into the shed for feeding through until the show, where they will be presented by students for judging. 

Beef

Students have weighed, selected and drafted a small mob of steers and have put them into a feedlot for the local supermarket trade. This is a feeding and education exercise to support Mrs Staker’s Animal Production class.

Students have worked with Mr Edwards, Mr Abel, and Mr Falkingham to establish a selection criteria for Angus bulls focusing on maternal strengths to build the quality of the Colleges Angus herd. They have attended a couple of sales with several more pencilled in, the next step is to establish the selection criteria and to find suitable bulls to be used in the cross bred program. 

Competition Training

Sheep judging training has started with Mr Adams, cattle judging with Mr Edwards and Cattle Club starts next Wednesday with Ms Quilty.  This is in preparation for the various shows and competitions which the students will participate in throughout the year. 

General Farm

Work continues on the Farm with plans being made to replace boundary fences, to relocate the old research farm cattle yards, to improve our current working and holding yards and to maintain water reticulation and irrigations systems over this extended dry period. 

The recent power outage that lasted over 30 hours presented a few challenges across the organisation. Staff and students came together to get generators in place to protect critical assets. We were not able to save everything, but we did manage to save the meat in the Butcher shop and the milk in the vat at the Dairy. 

Equine

The information and papers needed to arrange for student horses to come to College have been distributed with only 4 of 29 who expressed interest in bringing a horse completing everything so far. This is a gentle reminder to horse lovers to get it done soon because ‘No papers, mean No horse’! 

There is a positive horse vibe around the place with students and staff putting in a solid effort getting the facilities and equine area ready. So please get the papers in soon so we can schedule arrival of horses, plan rider assessments, allocate paddocks and have a great horse experience in 2024.

Events

The Wagin Woolorama is on the 9 March 2024 with students participating in a arrange of events including shearing, wool and cattle judging. It gives the students an opportunity to compete amongst their peers, build confidence in front of crowds and to experience new potential career opportunities in agriculture. 

Student Driving

Brief reminder to all staff and students that you must wear seat belts when in moving vehicles and that you must have the relevant licences to be driving on and around the Farm. Please keep your licence with you at all times when on the Farm.

Long Weekend

A big thanks to staff and students for your work on and around the Farm. It has been a solid start to the year with plenty of change and I thank you for your patience and efforts thus far. Wishing you all a safe long weekend!

Farm Manager 

Tony Abel