FARM

The year has started with a bang on Farm following what has been a very busy holiday period. The Farm operated with a skeleton crew over the holidays with everybody needing to get some time away to celebrate the festive season and refresh for the next school year. This year was a little more difficult than normal with several staff members ill or injured so those left had a lot to get through. 

So firstly, I’d like to thank all Farm staff for their efforts and on-going commitment to the College over the holidays. Big effort, BIG THANKS to you all!

Staffing

We've had a few changes to the team for the start 2025 with Ms Tarlisha O’Donnell joining us in Parks and Gardens.

Mr Geoff Howell (the previous Farm Manager) has joined us for a day or two a week in Term One. It's awesome to have Geoff around with his knowledge and experience across the Farm and in the administration of the College. 

Mr Shaun Lawrence has taken on Beef for Term One, working closely with Mr Falkingham as the Livestock Manager. 

We are currently looking for Technical Officers in Beef, Crops and Horticulture and Workshop. If you know anyone that may fit the bill and may be interested, feel free to direct them to me at the College. 

Farm Machinery

We’d like to thank Mr Ray Gerrard and company BURU REHAB for their exceptional generosity and support. Over the holidays BURU collected a 750 dozer and a 22t excavator from Narrogin Ag College and delivered them to Harvey, at no cost to us. It took two trips to get both machines here which would have been a significant cost to the College. Their generosity is greatly appreciated, and we thank Ray and his partners for their support!

Special thanks also to BURU driver, Gregg who did the job on Boxing Day. Also, to the Narrogin Ag College and Farm Manager Stephen Madson for lending us their machines. We promise to take care of them for as long as we can. 

This week we took delivery of our own small excavator, a Yanmar Vi030-7. It’s a small machine that will be used for the many small jobs around the farm. It’s been here two days and hasn’t stopped working. 

Between the three machines, we will be able to complete improvement and maintenance tasks across the Farm; including installation of our solar pump reticulation systems, establishing a gravel pit, fixing roads, installing water troughs, developing soak systems, clearing water ways and much more. 

Communication around the Farm

The communications tower is up and it works! Over Christmas and once the rain stopped, Earth 2 Ocean was able to finish installation of the ‘working alone’ radio system. This included the installation of a 25-meter tower near the top of the Sheep section, which you can see from the highway. The tower was generously sponsored by Earth 2 Ocean. 

The new system allows admin and Farm staff and students to maintain contact across the Farm. This will improve our ability to supervise and train students and whilst improving farm efficiency generally. It also aligns us with what students will find on farms and in industrial work places once they leave the College. It wasn’t cheap so we’ve started with three base stations, three vehicle radios and nine handheld radios with the option of adding radio units as we go.

Transportation of Cattle

Thanks to Mitchell's Transport for carting our cattle free of charge to Willunya Feedlot for the Gate 2 Plate competition. Mitchell's Transports ongoing support for the event and the College is much appreciated. 

On the 24th – 26th March several College teams will travel to Willlunya to see how the cattle performed and to compete in the Gate 2 Plate School Challenge. 

New Student Induction

As Week 2 draws to a close we’ve completed inductions for new Year 10 and 11s, with Year 12s to be completed in Week 3. 

Around the Farm

• Week 3 will see the arrival of our first weaner pigs and 2 sows from Westpork for 2025.  Student tractor inductions will be completed.  Our export beef heifers will depart and we will weigh cattle in preparation for the upcoming feedlot trial. 

• Our chooks haven’t missed a beat over Christmas and are currently putting 170 eggs a day into the kitchen. 

• Our vegies are a little behind schedule as we replace and expand the hydroponic footprint, but Mr Olde and his team, along with students will get that back on-line in the near future. 

• Our show ewes will be selected and preparation will commence shortly for the Perth Royal Show. 

• The Dairy is ticking along nicely with excellent conception rates and replacement heifers coming in 2025.

Weekend Stock Roster