Farm Manager

As half the 2022 season fades into the past we now analyse how things are looking. 

The crops were established early and with a kind start and warm mid season conditions the season really couldn’t get much better. Growth across all pastures has been optimum for the time of year and with only one big frost to date, pasture quality is excellent. All livestock are being strip grazed across the farm with a big demand on step-in posts and strip reels. 

Foot and Mouth Disease

As we all know FMD is on Australia’s doorstep and as a school and farm we need to prepare for the worst. The Department has advised us to take precautions when having staff or students returning from Bali after holidays and to separate them from livestock. Fortunately, we have no students in this category so we are proceeding with a normal program. I have recently reviewed the farms biosecurity plan and made some modifications to provide some extra security. Unfortunately, we are very vulnerable with the coming and going of students from home to farm and likewise, delivery trucks, technicians and tradesman. We will need to consider things very carefully in the coming months.

Due to the increased importance of Farm Biosecurity the farm will erect new signage in the coming weeks to raise awareness of the risks of visiting people and vehicles. 

The farm is very vulnerable to outside visitors such as tradesman, stock agents, technicians and dare I say it, parents. As part of the farm's increased biosecurity strategies visitors need permission to enter the farm site and complete a visitor register.

Equine quarantine yards

The College’s equine facility has required quarantine yards to separate horses coming onto the property for the first few days while having health checks. Previous quotes have been provided to the Finance Committee which were deemed to be very expensive for what they were. 

Farm staff suggested they complete the works in house and involve the students in the construction. The design is three yards, four meters by four meters in size, partially covered for some shade with swinging gates. 

The panels are made from K-Rail steel and the roof Colourbond iron. 

Staff and students prepared the steel posts and rails in the farm workshop and during the last week of term construction began. The site was pegged out with stringlines, holes were drilled to support posts and posts concreted in. K-Rail panels were attached and gates welded into position. The roofing was attached and safety chains attached to gates.

Thanks to Mr Jones for the majority of steel works. Thanks to Mr Seib, Mr Thomson and Mr Ward for the construction and concreting. After all materials were purchased and erected the project cost $5000:00 less than the earlier provided quote and we got the additional roof added in the process. 

Livestock growth

All calves and lambs have been marked and vaccinated and with pastures the way they are growth rates are high. 

In the commercial beef cows, the early AI calves to the Angus and Limousin bulls are exceptional and some pushing 250 kg at four months of age. Taking nothing away from the Angus Simmental cross progeny, which clearly demonstrate the vigour between the two breeds. 

The most disappointing aspect of the beef cattle are the calves from the ten first calving females purchased at the January heifer sale. The calves are small and lack muscling and growth. Obviously the breeder is focusing on calving ease in the first year and joining to that type of bull. If we decide to continue purchasing in beef females in this sale I feel we should look to another breeder for selection.

Simmental Stud

After another questionable AI program across the Simmental stud is a change in the approach to the Simmental breeding is needed. This could include changing companies, technicians, programs and most definitely sourcing semen from elsewhere. Another option is to simply buy a high quality sire and join naturally for three to four seasons and create one type of progeny. The farm has purchased a young Simmental bull from Narracoopa Stud in Denmark to use over the progeny of our stud sire. We would still require another sire for the 2023 joining. (Estimated value $20,000)

Recent Farm Activities:

• Farm road upgrades are really proving valuable and are holding up well to the winter.
• Large culvert installed through solid rock on the laneway by the erosion gully.
• Two new Kawasaki mules licenced and now operating well.
• Farm staff designed and erected a horse quarantine yard and shelter.
• Recent Farm Safety inspection by the department’s representatives completed and relevant actions undertaken.
• Trailer purchased and the cool room from the pasteurising room removed and fitted to it for milk transport.
• Completion of a food safety audit conducted by the Department of Health particularly concerning the pasteurising of the milk. The audit was successful with some recommendations we will need to complete before the next audit.