Farm Manager

As another year begins we look forward to all the things that make farming great. The Angus cows are calving slipping out little black offspring who shake their heads and ears in disbelief that they are now living in Denmark, then within hours their first drink off mum and a quick frolic around their paddock. The Friesian females also dropping their young to be quickly snapped up by farm staff and ushered into the nice warm calf shed.

Wagin Woolorama

Show cattle are being prepared for Wagin Woolarama with constant work to break them in and teach them to walk and lead. Many hours of patient work to ensure a slow and calm approach to achieve well behaved animals.

Pastures

We look forward to the break of season and rainfall where grass and life explodes on the farm, however with fifty millimetres of rain in February the place is quite green now. More herbicides required to prepare our paddocks for the planting season, then we proceed with seeding and fertilizer spreading. Recent soil analysis reveals that all the hard work applying lime to the pastures to address low ph levels is now catching up and beginning to maintain consistent levels above 5.5.  A moderate application across the farm will proceed in March.

You may notice some cultivation happening around the farm. One of the biggest challenges in pasture renovation and crop establishment is the old and dominant Kikuyu thatch which covers the soil. This thatch, if not dealt with creates a non-wetting topsoil and when the seeding equipment goes through it cannot put the seed into suitable grow sites and depths. Last year we purchased a speed tiller cultivator implement which aggressively tears apart the thatch and turns over the soil. This process may need to be repeated several times to break up the dominant plant material however when complete can be rolled and then seeded directly into. The seed to soil contact is increased greatly and early crop establishment is accelerated. 

AWI Future Breeders Challenge

Mr Schulz travelled to Barloo Merino Stud in Gnowangerup, where he selected and collected twelve wethers to compete in the AWI Future Breeders Challenge. Ten Year 10 students were invited to attend and enjoyed the trip and exposure to the real farm environment out in the southern wheatbelt. The wethers are fed and managed for the next six months and then taken to Perth Royal Show for evaluation. The wool is shorn , tested for micron and quality and also valued. The wethers are weighed and valued and the overall results are tallied. Last year Denmark won both competitions with their two teams.

Harris Block Development.

2021 brings another set of challenges and goals for Farm Staff with the development of the one-hundred-hectare property on the South of the South Coast Highway. Similar to what has occurred over to the East the block shows great potential to be modified and farmed more intensively. 

In association with the Wilson Inlet Catchment Group the block will have some major development. The primary reason for initial works is to fence off the dam and water course and prevent our livestock from causing environmental damage to the system. WICC has provided funding for a solar powered pump and tank which will provide an alternative water supply for livestock. The wetland areas will be planted to hundreds of native trees and allowed to absorb excess runoff water. A laneway will be constructed running North-South which in turn will provide access to the Radiata Pine Plantation which will be harvested in the near future. A gravel road will have to be installed with various culverts and water redirection areas for drainage. 

The fencing will subdivide the larger block and allow more grazing management going forward into the growing season. Hay and silage will be produced late in the season. A livestock holding area will be constructed near the South Coast Highway to enable safe and reliable livestock movement across the road when necessary.

On Farm

As the new year begins we also welcome all present and new students to our worksite. What a fantastic opportunity to work on this farm in the wide variety of work areas and develop skills which can develop into careers in the industry.

When we travel around to various events where past students are working and employed it is always pleasing to hear that Denmark graduates are well trained and ready for the real world work environment.