Farm

Pigs

The pigs are all travelling well in the cooler weather. We have lots of baconer pigs trucking out to the abattoir over the next few weeks, to make space for the many progeny pigs coming through. Our Cert III Year 12's will be ear tagging and vaccinating their gilts this week, ready for mating to our new boar 'Louis Vuitton'. They should farrow their first litter before the Year 12's graduate. We have been busy with seasonal jobs like resetting rodent baiting stations, fixing gates and pens and spraying weeds. With 84 new piglets born over the last few days, the Year 11's have been marking, vaccinating and caring for the newborns and sows.

Cattle    

We are almost halfway with calving at the moment, with 12 babies lazing around in the sun at the College and one away in foster care for a few months.  The girls have managed to pop out 3 sets of twins!!  All mums are doing well, and the calves are just adorable.

Sheep

Lambing season started at the College just before Easter, with the prime lamb mob of ewes almost at the end of this year drop. Many twins and few triplets are running around and playing in the paddock, much of the students and Technical Officer's (TO's) happiness. Our Poll Dorset's (PD) started lambing a couple of weeks ago. At the moment we have 8 PD lambs, 3 sets of twins and 2 singles, mostly ram lambs.

Cropping

The seeding program is happening with 329hec Canola, 148hec lupins, Oats 63hec and so far, 246hec Barley. Seeding has gone great so far with only a few minor breakdowns and the Year 12's have been working through the seeding roster well. We have fingers and toes crossed to receive some more rain, but very grateful for the 16mm in the month of May. Our canola has tapped into the moisture in the ground and is up and showing a lovely shade of green across the paddock. 

Short Courses

Forms have been sent to all Year 12 students and parents for an expression of interest. Mrs Corsini is still organising and confirming the Low Stress Stock Handling Course. If it is to go ahead, it will be in Term 3 at some stage. Mrs Corsini hasn't received all the forms back, so please check your emails this week, to check if your son/daughter is in the correct group for short courses. If missing, please email her at madison.davey@education.wa.edu.au. Check prices and dates for the loader/skid steer course and let Mrs Corsini know which one you would like to attend.  

Aus Chem:  

10-11 August 2023

17-18 August 2023

Skid Steer/Loader Course:  

26 June to 30 June 2023

17 July to 21 July 2023

24 July to 28 July 2023

9 October to 13 October 2023

White Card:

4 - 5 May 2023- Complete 

25 - 26 May 2023

Livestock Handling: TBC 

Third Party Reports 

Mrs Corsini has spoken to the Year 11 and 12 students in VET Theory Class in regard to third-party reports and will do so again throughout the Term. The third-party reports are evidence towards the students Certificate II in Agriculture or Certificate III in ​Agriculture practicals. Mrs Corsini will send out what the requirements are via email on request. We also need video evidence that supports the paperwork. Mrs Corsini recommends getting a USB and putting all evidence on the USB each night or week to bring back to the College on return.  If any students are interested in completing these reports, please see Mrs Corsini. 

Daniel de Beer

Farm Manager

Madison Corsini

Assistant Farm Manager