Latest News

How do I really know if my farm is profitable?

Mon, 21 May 2012 12:17:00 GMT

On Wednesday 13 June Riverine Plains Inc, National Australia Bank (NAB) Agribusiness and RSM Bird Cameron will hold a farm business management seminar – How do I really know if my farm is profitable? – at Corowa RSL Club from 8.55am to 3.00pm. Four sessions will be presented, followed by a question and answer panel discussion. In addition, attendees will have the opportunity to consult with leading financial, banking and accounting experts on any individual issues.

Well known and respected in the agricultural industry, David Griffin from the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) will speak about the Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI). For many farmers there is confusion around how the CFI will work in practice, but they need to be aware that there is also opportunity for them to take advantage of.

RSM Bird Cameron, in conjunction with the NAB, will work through the components that make up the financial result of a farming business with a view to enabling producers to look at practical ways of improving their profitability.

“By looking at each separate area such as income, direct farm operating costs and drawings, and then comparing these to some rules of thumb, we can quickly diagnose where action needs to be taken”, said Gerard O’Brien, Director of RSM Bird Cameron.

NAB Markets Specialist Tim Glass will provide an update on commodity price trends and the outlook for the season ahead. Tim will also help producers focus on how their costs of production can have a direct impact on their marketing strategy.

Evan Tsipas of RSM Bird Cameron Financial Services will speak about the importance of building an asset base outside the farming business and how this can be achieved in practice.

“We understand the importance of business management in agricultural enterprises. This seminar will provide farmers with insight from high-profile agribusiness professionals at a local venue,” said Riverine Plains Inc Chairman, Evan Ryan.

Pre-registration by 6 June is important for catering purposes. Registration fee $35 (payable on the day) includes catering. Riverine Plains Inc Members $25. To register please email info@riverineplains.com.au or download a copy of the registration form.

2012 Budget Review: Small surplus: smaller tax reforms

Wed, 09 May 2012 02:05:00 GMT

As a service to members, Platinum Sponsor, RSM Bird Cameron, have made available to Riverine Plains members their 2012 Budget Review.

Should any members have any questions regarding the information contained please do not hesitate to contact Jason Croker at RSM Bird Cameron on 02 6041 3700.

New 15 per cent tax offset available

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 11:30:00 GMT

A 15 per cent refundable tax offset will be available from 1 July 2012 for farmers who purchase eligible no-till seeder machinery. For details of the initiative please refer to the attached Update for Farmers, prepared by RSM Bird Cameron Chartered Accountants. {module_literature,i,112560}

Fleabane or Flaxleaf Fleabane (Conyza bonariensis)

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 02:42:00 GMT

By Lisa Castleman, District Agronomist, NSW DPI (Lockhart) Ph: 0427 201 963

This weed is fairly appropriately named, as pesky as a flea and the bane of last summer and more to come.

What do we know about it?
It is a hairy and dull green plant known to be a prolific seeder as one plant can produce as much as a 110,000 seeds. It often reaches a height of 1 metre, while other species such as Canadian Fleabane will grow to a height of 1.5m and Tall Fleabane can reach 2 metres high.

About 80% of those seeds are very likely to come up. Those seeds sitting on the surface or buried less than 2cm deep are more likely to germinate. Fleabane can germinate in a range of conditions which include good soil moisture and temperatures less than 35 degrees Celcius. This puts the odds in its favour because it can germinate in any of our four seasons. Peak emergence is in late winter and throughout spring. It has certainly shown itself capable of growing through 2010 and 2011 with a wet summer in between.

The plant itself has a number of buds or growing points at its base. This is why you can spray, slash or graze it off once, and it will recover. While it might lose green leaf, such as when dessicated by a herbicide, the next bud will contain enough energy reserves, to shoot up and grow new leaves.

The weed has been problematic in Northern NSW over the last few seasons. Fleabane utilises valuable moisture and soil nutrients in any season. The need to find the best method of control has prompted interest from farmers, agronomists and researchers alike.

In our own backyard we have Dr Hanwen Wu based at Wagga Wagga (WWAI), who was previously working on the biology and management of Fleabane in Northern NSW and Queensland. He spoke recently at the NVT Field Day this Spring at Lockhart on the weed to a very interested audience of growers. He said there has been an ‘increased incidence of the weed with minimum and zero-till farming systems’.

Fleabane flourishes in bare fallow, on firebreaks or in poorly competitive crops.

Dr Hanwen Wu said “it is very important to spray Fleabane at the seedling stage”.

Some tips for control of Fleabane:
Don’t ignore it as a serious and problematic weed.

Don’t rely on one herbicide application of any herbicide achieving a 100% kill.

Spraying when the plant is more mature than a seedling or past the rosette stage is not ideal, however, it can’t be ignored.

Achieving even 90-97% control from one herbicide application is not regarded as a success due to surviving plants being able to reshoot and continue growing.

Barry Haskins, the District Agronomist at Hillston with NSW DPI has just put out a new You Tube video on Fleabane in Fallows on the NSW DPI website on the 5 December.

One of Barry’s take-home messages from a number of trials is their increased success from adding an oil instead of LI700 to the tank mix (which includes Glyphosate) for control. With Fleabane being a hairy plant it’s probably not surprising. Some previous trial work in Queensland hinted that more work needed to be done on finding the right surfactant or oil to be added for control of this plant. His caution is to be aware that an oil in the tank-mix may reduce or affect the efficacy of Glyphosate on some grass weeds in fallow.

Barry’s observations from his trials in the Hillston District were that you can’t rely solely on a single knockdown herbicide such as Glyphosate in the first herbicide application to achieve a satisfactory result.

In research trials across Northern and Southern NSW Dr Hanwen Wu concluded that Glyphosate alone was not very effective unless the seedlings were very small and less than 2cm in diameter, regardless of the rate, spray volume or adjuvant.

In a fallow situation post harvest there are often a number of weeds present. Growers will look to a tank-mix to control a number of weeds that are present and all using precious moisture and nutrients. It has been observed that adding a herbicide registered for other fallow weeds such as melons can increase the control of the Fleabane. For example, Surpass® or Amicide® containing 2,4-D amine may be important additions and required for the control of melons over summer. Likewise the tank-mix could include a herbicide such as Ally® where it is required for the control of sowthistle or wireweed in the same paddock as the Fleabane.

Alliance® is a registered option for Fleabane Control at Fallow commencement and/or maintenance, as per Table 5 on page 32 in the 2011 Weed Control in Winter Crops. Alliance is a combination of Amitrole at 250g/L and Paraquat at 125g/L. Alliance was included in Barry Haskin’s trials and its performance on fleabane was mentioned in the You Tube video.

The most important Take-Home message when planning Fleabane control is to use a ‘Double-knock strategy’.

Barry Haskins also reinforces the importance of using water rates greater than 80 litres/hectare for your double-knock strategy. Again, previous work by DPI & Fisheries in Queensland reinforces this finding.

The second or follow-up application should be not closer than seven days apart. Ideally it will be about 10 days after the first but could be between 7-21 days after the first application. If conditions at spraying were dusty or plants were moisture stressed and slow to take up the herbicide then there may be cause to wait longer between the two sprays.

Other non-herbicide methods such as grazing, slashing or cultivation will help run the plant’s energy reserves down but are unlikely to achieve control on their own and will mean many more paddock passes.

The earlier you begin control the more likely you are to stop the plant seeding and start running the seed-bank down.

The You Tube Video can be viewed at
http://www.youtube.com/user/NSWAgriculture?feature=mhee#p/u/0/YYgZKzNeOIc

Even if you are not that computer savvy I think you will enjoy it. It is nearly as good as going to a live field Day and seeing the results for yourself. The video takes just 5 minutes to watch. There are lots of results discussed so have a pen and paper handy.

Acknowledgements:
Dr Hanwen Wu, NSW DPI, Wagga Wagga
Barry Haskins, NSW DPI, Hillston.

Winter forage trials inspected

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 21:33:00 GMT

On 21 September farmers looked at grain and graze trials as part of a project researching crops that can produce dry matter for grazing and still have good grain yields.

Through the national ‘Grain & Graze 2’ program, trials are underway in these areas to provide farmers with practical information about future crop options.

The group visited McKellar grazed by sheep at Nathalia, followed by looking at grazing Naparoo wheat with sheep at Tungamah. The final farm visit was to Wilby to look at the grazing of Wedgetail wheat by cattle and a demonstration of canola grazing.

These trials are examining what happens to a crop when grazing occurs, how long it can be grazed for, and which type and variety of crops perform best in grazing recovery to grain.

The trial sites are managed by farmers providing a good opportunity to talk to people who are trying to make this concept work by varying sowing and irrigation timing, fertiliser regimes, crop selection, and length and timing of grazing to get better results.

Farmers were able to see for themselves the difference between grazed and ungrazed crops – the difference is quite amazing.

New Zealand researcher welcomed back at Spring Field Day

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 21:37:00 GMT

90 local grain farmers heard from renowned New Zealand researcher, Dr Nick Poole, at the Riverine Plains Inc Spring Field Day held at Coreen on Tuesday 6 September.

“This was the third time that Nick has attended our spring field day and each visit has allowed local farmers to gain invaluable insights about how to best manage the cropping season at hand” said event organizer and Riverine Plains Inc Extension sub-committee chair, Ingrid Inchbold.

Dr Poole showed farmers through the Riverine Plains Inc project site, which is investigating how different drill openers and row spacings can affect the establishment, development and ultimate performance of wheat and canola.

“This research is important to local farmers because the decisions made at sowing can have a large bearing on final yield, particularly in a difficult season and seeing the trials will allow farmers to see first hand any differences between treatments” said Ingrid.

Dr Poole is well known for his work in disease management and nutrition and he updated farmers with the latest thinking in this area as well as the the role of ‘strobe’ fungicides under Australian conditions.

IK Caldwell agronomist Andrew Bell expanded on the seeding, establishment and crop growth discussions by presenting on seed bed utilization and the implications for modern seeding systems.

“Wider row spacings tend to increase plant densities within seeding rows, and this has been linked to yield decline in some crops so Andrews perspective was especially valuable” said Ingrid.

Farmers will also be able to look at a new trial investigating the differences in disease burden and nitrogen uptake between wheat grown on a retained stubble compared to burned stubble.

An extended question and answer conducted by Nick Poole, John Seidel, John Sykes and Andrew Bell took place.

“The opportunity to ask questions of experts is part of what makes this annual field day valuable and provided farmers with an opportunity to tap into this extensive local and international experience” concluded Ingrid.

Building carbon in the paddock

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 02:29:00 GMT

Farmers from across the Riverine Plains cropping belt were challenged by the practicalities of building soil carbon at a workshop and farm visits sponsored by the Murray Catchment Management Authority and GRDC, which was held in Mulwala on 31 August 2011.

Thirty farmers from the Riverine Plains group heard Dr Clive Kirkby from CSIRO explain the concept of growing soil humus as a “crop” to increase their economic productivity under cereals and in a mixed cropping/pasture rotation.

Dr Kirkby has conducted trials investigating ways to accelerate the breakdown of stubble for many years and advised that his research has shown that some incorporation of the stubble to give greater contact with the soil and soil organisms, builds up the level of organic matter in the soil, which sequesters carbon.

He also pointed out that nutrients and microbes drive carbon sequestration, so the levels of nitrogen, phosphorous and sulphur in the soil are critical and sulphur levels in cropping paddocks may well be a limiting factor.

The group then visited two farms to see first hand the issues of putting the theory into practice. At Lake Rowan they looked at a trial conducted in conjunction with Broken Landcare Network, using pasture cropping to build groundcover and root penetration in a heavy soil with clay subsoil.

At Youanmite, the group saw the effect of converting to biological farming and incorporation of stubbles in crops of wheat and field peas, using a Lemken multi-disc, and discussed the need to take a more long term view of building productivity under this system.

Some members of the Riverine Plains group are hoping to begin field trials using nutrients and tillage methods to increase organic matter by increasing the effectiveness of stubble breakdown.

Central West NSW Agri-Study Tour

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 03:35:00 GMT

20 farmers attended a Riverine Plains Inc Agri-Study Tour to Central West NSW from 8 - 12 August 2011.

The farmers were exposed to the latest in agronomic research, farming systems and innovation and visited areas such as Griffith, Darlington Point, Whitton, Rankin Springs, Lake Cargelligo, Condobolin, Warren, Nyngan and Peak Hill.

The trip provided a refreshing and exciting insight into agriculture from a central west NSW perspective.

Tax Update - Carbon Tax July 2011

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 07:18:00 GMT

As a service to members, Platinum Sponsor, RSM Bird Cameron, have made available to Riverine Plains members a Carbon Tax Update.

Should any members have any questions regarding the information contained please do not hesitate to contact Jason Croker at RSM Bird Cameron on 02 6041 3700. {module_literature,i,96957}

thinkBIG 2011

Fri, 03 Jun 2011 01:39:00 GMT

As a service to members, Platinum Sponsor, RSM Bird Cameron, have made available to Riverine Plains members a comprehensive set of results from their 2011 thinkBIG survey.

Since 2005, RSM Bird Cameron have been conducting thinkBIG, a study of small to medium enterprises (SMEs) across Australia, to gain insights into what drives success in these businesses.

Should any members have any questions regarding the information contained please do not hesitate to contact Jason Croker at RSM Bird Cameron on 02 6041 3700. {module_literature,i,92825}

Farmers reminded to monitor locust activity

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 05:18:00 GMT

Farmers are reminded to be vigilantly looking for second generation locust egg laying.

Due to the earliness of this egg laying some of these eggs are likely to be dormant over winter and some will hatch in late autumn.

The DPI is interested in marking egg beds for future monitoring of egg development in preparation for the spring hatchings.

Victorian farmers can contact the locust hotline on 1300 135 559 or alternately Dale Grey at Cobram DPI on 0409 213 335. NSW land holders can contact their local LHPA.

Care urged when saving weather-damaged grain for seed

Thu, 06 Jan 2011 02:51:00 GMT

GRDC Media Release

Growers planning to retain grain from the 2010 weather-affected harvest for sowing next season are urged to select, store and manage their seed with particular care and attention.

Heavy rain and flooding during harvest throughout parts of the southern cropping region have heightened the need for extra precautions when retaining seed for 2011’s cropping programs, according to industry authorities.

Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) southern panel member and grains industry consultant, Dr Allan Mayfield, says it is vital that growers closely scrutinise the grain they intend to retain for sowing and keep a close eye on it over the coming months.

“Weather-damaged grain – that which has been subjected to wetting at harvest – is more susceptible to poor germination, low vigour and degradation during storage and handling,” Dr Mayfield said.

“For establishment of healthy crops next season, it is therefore important that growers implement a seed management strategy that begins at harvest and continues through storage, handling and seeding.”

To assist growers in determining whether grain is viable for sowing and what is an appropriate and effective seed management program, the GRDC has published a detailed Retaining Seed fact sheet.

The fact sheet will be distributed in the January/February edition of Ground Cover magazine, is accessible via www.grdc.com.au/GRDC_FS_Retainingseed
and is also available free (plus postage and handling) through GRDC’s Ground Cover Direct – freecall 1800 110044 or email ground-cover-direct@canprint.com.au.

Dr Mayfield, who collaborated with other industry experts in developing the fact sheet, said all crops were susceptible to deterioration in seed quality during wet harvests.

“Mild symptoms can be a loose and wrinkled seed coat in some pulses, while more advanced symptoms can be seed staining, fungal mould and visible signs of germination,” he said.

“It is essential to recognise whether the damage is cosmetic or the symptom of a seedborne disease and if it will impact on germination.”

Dr Mayfield said that due to the vulnerability of canola’s small seed it was recommended that unless it was harvested before any weather damage it should not be retained for sowing. Irrespective of availability, hybrid canola seed should not be retained for seed as the crop will not be true to the original first generation (F1) seed.

Any retained seed should be graded and tested for germination and vigour. Testing for seed-borne disease is also recommended, especially with saved pulse seed.

Dr Mayfield said that knowing the germination percentage at harvest would help determine how much extra seed may be required for sowing.

“Assessing germination during storage will indicate potential problems, while a germination test prior to seeding will allow sowing rates to be adjusted.”

Other key points contained in the GRDC fact sheet that growers should consider when retaining grain for seed include:

• While a laboratory seed test should be used to establish the germination percentage of on-farm retained seed before sowing, especially if it has been weather damaged, a simple on-farm germination test can be done in soil. This will give a good indication of emergence and seedling vigour as at germination.

• Seed-borne disease generally cannot be identified from visual inspection so requires laboratory testing.

• Achieving and maintaining low temperature, humidity and grain moisture content for stored grain is even more critical if grain has been weather damaged. As weather damaged seed deteriorates faster than sound seed it should not be stored for more than 12 months.

• With many weedy pulse and cereal crops in a wet season, desiccation or crop topping often becomes necessary. Depending on timing and chemicals used, this could affect seed quality for sowing.

• Grain must not be retained for seed when glyphosate has been used in pre-harvest applications.

• Seedling emergence can be affected by sowing too deeply, cold or wet soil, some seed dressings and herbicides, and hard-setting soil.

For more information contact Allan Mayfield on 0418 818 569 or grain storage expert Peter Botta from PCB Consulting on 0417 501 890.

Weather damaged cereal seed - use for sowing next years crop

Tue, 04 Jan 2011 05:50:00 GMT

Written by Barry Haskins
Hillston District Agronomist - Primary Industries Industry & Investment NSW

The question to keep weather damaged seed for sowing next years crop is common. In general, all seed I have seen that is being harvested at present is not ideal for next years seed supply. Close inspection shows many grains that have started to shoot, and falling numbers confirm this.

There are some examples of samples where this has not occurred, but they are rare.

The issue is that grain of this description has already started converting starch into sugar. This grain is then more likely to be damaged in storage, will have lower germination, and most importantly will be lower in vigour. This poses issues if the seedling is faced with any stress at sowing such as crusting, herbicide damage, seed depth variability, locusts etc.

Easy story, if you can, do not use this seed for sowing next years crop. There is heaps of undamaged seed around, and some of this is from varieties that are not under PBR. Remember if sowing at 35kg/ha, and buying seed at $500/t, you will only be paying $17.50/ha for good seed. That is cheap insurance to eliminate a large risk at that time of the season.

If you have to use the poor quality seed, do the following

Get a germination and vigour test done. Note that this may vary slightly between lab tests and paddock conditions, and should be a guide only. This is especially the case with vigour tests, and I have not had many good experiences with this test and how it relates to field conditions.
Use 'softer' seed dressings.
Use 'softer' pre emergent herbicides, or none at all.
Minimise grain movement between silo's, augers etc.
Sow only into well prepared paddocks that will give it every opportunity to establish without stress.

The NSW DPI Primefact on weather damaged cereal seed (updated December 2010) is good reading to further describe this.

For further information contact:
Nigel Phillips, NSW I&I Wagga Wagga on 0427 102 707 or
Barry Haskins, NSW I&I Griffith on 02 6960 1320.

Wheat seed supplies could be tight this coming season

Tue, 04 Jan 2011 04:42:00 GMT

Written by Dale Grey, DPI Cobram

The germination process certainly started early on some varieties; some with better weather tolerance have maybe faired OK. Factors effecting quality so far include sowing date, variety, aspect, elevation, rainfall received and region. Finding quality seed could be a difficult task for some.

Initially seed is “sprung” when the germ swells and then dries off leaving a crack in the germ. Seed is termed “shot’ if it has any part of a root visible from the germ. Weather damaged grain has reduced vigour and may have poor germination depending on the proportion of shot grains. Locally derived seed lots would do well to have germination tests and/or vigour tests. Generally seed with under 70% germination will have poor vigour and preferably shouldn’t be used. Seed with a high germination may not necessarily have high vigour.

The driest areas so far are around Cobram-Tocumwal and Picola and the greenest areas were south and east of Dookie where the first heavy rains weren’t harmful. Failing that, the Eyre Peninsula and WA are “dry spots”. If you’re thinking of importing wheat into Victoria for seed it will need a plant health certificate verifying freedom of annual ryegrass toxicity seed galls. Contact the DPI for the process. Cereal seed import into NSW has no restrictions from I&I. Both states send up the red flag if it’s lupins you are importing, contact you DPI if you are considering this. Irrespective of where your seed comes from, specifications as to freedom of weeds, diseases, genetic purity and herbicide resistance status will be buyer beware.

The NSW DPI PrimeFact on weather damaged cereal seed, updated December 2010, provides further information.

For further information contact:
Nigel Phillips, NSW I&I Wagga Wagga on 0427 102 707 or
Lisa Castleman, Lockhart District Agronomist, NSW I&I on 0427 201 963.
Dale Grey, Cobram DPI on 03 5871 0600

Assistance for flood affected farmers - NSW

Thu, 23 Dec 2010 21:03:00 GMT

If you are located in a NSW Local Government area that has a Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Assistance declaration in place and have been affected by the storms and/or subsequent flooding and wish to enquire about any assistance that may be available, please contact one of the following:

Don Burrowes, Rural Support Worker Corowa
0427 324 033 for initial contact for information and/or referral to the relevant organisation.

Industry and Investment Hotline 1800 814 647 to report damage or seek information about assistance or livestock/crop issues.

NSW Rural Assistance Authority 1800 678 593 to enquire about financial assistance.

Rural Financial Counsellors: for help with discussing and/or applying for financial assistance:

Carl Scroope Wagga Wagga 02 6927 6622
David Sheather Albury/Wodonga   1300 834 775
Tony Shirley Albury Wodonga 1300 834 775
Graeme Christie Coleambally 02 6954 4179
Murray Freshwater Deniliquin    03 5881 5766

Centrelink Social Workers: 131794

Lifeline:                                         13 11 14

The NSW DPI website provides some very useful information about relief arrangements available, grants, ATO assistance: http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/emergency/flood