The Farmer March-April 2024

Brushing up on ESG

–The good, the bad and the confusing

Jumping junipers

–A fresh future for Aussie gin

The birds and the robo bees

–Drone swarm technology is here

Happy Birthday Primex

–Primex Field Days celebrates 40 years

Caught in the crossfire

Insurance when renewable projects are on your doorstep

THE MUSTER

NEWS AND EVENTS

Targeting feral pigs; The battle against the Red Fire Ant gains momentum; Can and should wool replace polyester?; Retired Farmers Meetings bring joy to many while keeping former farmers in touch with the industry 8

THE BIG ISSUE

REACHING NET ZERO FOR AUSTRALIAN NUCLEAR ENERGY

The nuclear debate continues� Is Australia missing out on a key solution to reaching net zero emission targets? 18

THE BIG PICTURE

SOLAR EXPOSES INSURANCE BLACKHOLE

Farmers neighbouring renewable energy developments struggle to obtain the insurance needed to cover them for hundreds of millions of dollars 24

BUSINESS

A SHUCKING GOOD TIME

Oyster farmer Sheridan Beaumont turned a fickle aquafarming venture into a popular tourist attraction on the Central Coast 36

TRADE

JUMPING JUNIPERS!

A not-so-common crop looks set to lead the way to a new industry, and a fresh future for Australian-made gin 38

CASE STUDY: WEATHER

FLEXIBLE FARMING IN THE FACE OF EL NIÑO

The recent unpredicted weather has played havoc with some farmer’s business plans� Being flexible seems to be the name of the game 42

ENVIRONMENT

ESG: THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE CONFUSING

How will ESG affect you, and what you can do to navigate the changes it will bring as it becomes a familiar part of farming? 46

INNOVATION

DRONING LIKE THE BIRDS & THE BEES Drone swarm technology that mimics birds and bees is coming to agriculture as part of the AI revolution 52

SPECIAL REPORT: WATER

Gaining and storing quality water is an intrinsic part of agriculture� How are farmers using agtech to make better decisions for themselves, and for the environment? 58

SPECIAL REPORT:

PRIMEX FIELD DAYS

Australia’s largest sustainable farming and primary industries expo celebrates 40 years since it first launched 62

SPECIAL REPORT: WEATHER TECHNOLOGY

Predicting, understanding and working with the weather can make all the difference as to whether a farming business fails or thrives 66

HISTORY

HERE’S TO THE TENTERFIELD SADDLER

The Tenterfield Saddler is a lasting reminder of familial love, Aussie spirit and an ode to the history and heritage of our land 72

COMMUNITY

NEW GENERATIONS

The Little Big Dairy Co� has never focussed on mass production� At this family-run dairy, every cow has a name, and every bottle of milk is produced with heart 76

MEET A MEMBER

Associate Member Dave Bird and his entrepreneurial kids from Port Macquarie have built a thriving tomato business 82

THE SALEYARDS

Top handmade Aussie products from clever and crafty designers and makers 84

FARM DOGS

Meet Sena and Kyah – lovable labradors from Oberon who spell double trouble 85

THE TAIL END

Three top Aussie inventions that changed daily life on the farm 86

JOIN US – SUBSCRIBE

Sign up and become a NSW Farmers member, and also receive The Farmer magazine 87

THE MAGAZINE

PUBLISHER James Wells

EDITOR Michelle Hespe

ART DIRECTOR Ryan Vizcarra

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EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES

Michelle Hespe

Email: mhespe@intermedia.com.au

ADVERTISING

SALES DIRECTOR

Ben Payne

Email: bpayne@intermedia.com.au

Phone : 0403 893 668

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CONTRIBUTORS

Michael Burt

Libby-Jane Charleston

Ian Neubauer

Matilda Meikle

Seamus Miles

Julie Miller

Jeanette Severs

Sue Wallace

Emily Riches

NSW FARMERS INTERIM CEO Annabel Johnson

HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS AND

Stephen Mudd

MAGAZINE CONTENT TEAM

Kathy Rankin – Head of Policy & Advocacy

CONTACT US

Level 4, 154 Pacific Highway, St Leonards, NSW 2065

Box 459, St Leonards, NSW 1590

Head Office: 02 9478 1000

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MEMBER SERVICE CENTRE

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THE INTERMEDIA GROUP

MANAGING DIRECTOR Simon Grover

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From the editor

Welcome to another issue of The Farmer, where we strive to bring you a range of articles from across New South Wales that are informative, inspiring, and sometimes even controversial Who doesn’t like a good debate, hey?

I always have favourite yarns in an issue, and in this one, that has plenty of serious subjects – Red Fire Ants, Nuclear Energy and ESG to name a few – we’ve also pulled together some inspiring business features, and stories of innovative farming practises�

As anyone involved in farming knows, innovation is one of the main pillars of the industry, and a means of moving forward in a world of ever-changing societal norms, landscapes affected by unpredictable weather patterns and the environment�

In this issue, I was inspired by drones that I didn’t know existed – RoboBees� Aka Autonomous Flying Robots� Developed by Harvard University, the tiny bee-like drones are half the size of a paperclip, and weigh less than one-tenth of a gram Amazingly, they have the ability to work in groups and will be used in in crop pollination, search and rescue missions, surveillance, as well as high-resolution weather, climate, and environmental monitoring� If you’d told a farmer that could happen 20 years ago, I think they would’ve fallen off their tractor What a brilliant way to combat a potential loss of (heaven help us) more bees due to Varroa mite or something just as threatening You can read the story starting on page 52�

Then there are those stories that are inspiring because they are focussed on a different type of innovation – for instance, pursuing a niche sector of agriculture and

making a crop work in a region where it was never supposed to thrive Enter a couple who have planted juniper berries and are now providing a local distillery with some of the few sustainable crops of juniper grown in Australia� Now other farmers have joined a group they created so that knowledge can be shared in order to help one another to succeed� Start reading on page 38�

On a similar note, on the sunny Central Coast, Sheridan Beaumont and her father have turned their oyster lease into a thriving tourism attraction, where guests can dine on freshly shucked oysters, a sparkling wine in hand while standing at a white-clothed table in the waist-deep water of the lease� Sounds like my next Sunday is planned folks!

Enjoy the read and drop us a line if you have any suggestions or simply something to say – we love hearing from our readers Until next time, cheers to you all

The Intermedia Group takes its corporate and social responsibilities seriously and is committed to reducing its impact on the environment. We continuously strive to improve our environmental performance and to initiate additional CSR based projects and activities.

As part of our company policy we ensure that the products and services used in the manufacture of this magazine are sourced from environmentally responsible suppliers.

This magazine has been printed on paper produced from sustainably sourced wood and pulp fibre and is accredited under PEFC chain of custody.

PEFC certified wood and paper products come from environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of forests.

The wrapping used in the delivery process of this magazine is 100% recyclable.

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ENABLING OUR LOCAL PRODUCERS TO DELIVER THE GOODS

Inland Rail is a nation-building project that has been in the making for a long time, with former Prime Minister John Howard first approving initial plans for the project back in 1998, although construction would not actually begin for another two decades.

Since construction was completed on the first Parkes to Narromine section in late 2020, farming communities along the Inland Rail route have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the rail line to help gain the huge benefits the project brings.

In late October 2023, primary producers in the Narrabri and Moree regions celebrated the arrival of Inland Rail, with the official completion of major construction on the second section of the project – the Narrabri to North Star (N2NS) Phase 1 section – comprising over 170 kilometres of track.

The completion of major works on N2NS Phase 1 improved efficiency and reliability on the main line, as well as boosting resilience to extreme weather events, with the newly laid track withstanding the worst flood in a decade to hit Moree in late 2022.

In total, the N2NS Phase 1 project comprised some seven bridges being upgraded, five new crossing loops being completed for trains to pass each other safely and some 57 level crossings being upgraded, with 10 of these being upgraded from passive to active.

“FUEL PRICES AND LABOUR PRICES ARE BECOMING OUR LARGER COSTS, SO HAVING THE ABILITY TO REDUCE THOSE COSTS BY SHIPPING MORE EFFICIENTLY BY RAIL IS ALWAYS A WIN FOR US.”

The completion of major construction of N2NS Phase 1 involved the usage of nearly 300,000 sleepers and 600,000 rail clips, all manufactured in Rocklea, Queensland, as well as nearly 5000 precast culverts manufactured in Tamworth and 176 kilometres of rail track manufactured in Whyalla, South Australia, weighing some 21,000 tonnes in total.

CELEBRATIONS IN MILGUY

To celebrate the completion of the major construction on the project, Inland Rail staff, contractors, civic leaders, local primary producers, First Nations representatives and other key stakeholders came together in Milguy – 50 kilometres northeast of Moree.

The day also marked the opening of the line between Camurra and North Star, the final stage to be handed back to the track operator, Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC). This section is now much safer and freight trains can run faster after servicing grain handling facilities at Milguy, Croppa Creek and North Star.

The delivery of N2NS Phase 1 has opened new opportunities for local producers on that part of the route. This includes Boolah Farms, which was established in 2002 by Lyndall and Stuart Tighe as a primary production, share and contract farming venture. Boolah has since grown its activities beyond the production of agricultural commodities to being a diversified service provider.

For Boolah Farms, the upgrades to N2NS Phase 1 delivered a new ramp near the mainline in Milguy, allowing grain loading directly from the farm and onto the train.

Stuart says the upgrade has brought huge benefits to his business. “It’s a very exciting time to be able to load these trains directly from the field and grain storages,” he says. “The efficiencies this brings to the supply chain, to be able to move large volumes safely, as well as the cost savings are significant. You can’t get more efficient than that.

“The re-opening of the rail line with longer and more efficient trains means a more efficient path down to port as well as to large domestic consumers in New South Wales and, eventually, in Queensland,” he says.

“Fuel prices and labour prices are becoming our larger costs, so having the ability to reduce those costs by shipping more efficiently by rail is always a win for us.”

NEW INDUSTRIES, BUSINESSES AND BETTER CONNECTIVITY

Although local primary producers deliver around $1 billion per year to the local economy, Susannah Pearce, Moree Plains Shire Council, Deputy Mayor, says that the arrival of Inland Rail and the Special Activation Precinct in Moree (a dedicated area identified by the NSW Government to become a thriving business hub) will help Moree diversify its industrial base.

“For a long time, Moree has been a bit of a boom-and-bust community as we are so dependent on agriculture, but the arrival of Inland Rail and the Special Activation Precinct in Moree gives us a huge opportunity to grow new industries and welcome new businesses to our town,” she says.

The completion of major construction on Phase 1 of N2NS is not the end of the story though. More benefits will be unlocked with Phase 2 of the N2NS project, which involves further upgrades and building 2 kilometres of new track north of Moree.

Phase 2 is currently in approvals, with Inland Rail now preparing a Preferred Infrastructure Report and a Response to Submissions Report for the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure.

Once completed the upgraded track between Narrabri and North Star will allow freight customers to transport heavier freight volumes at higher speeds through its access to the ARTC Hunter Valley Rail Network, boosting their productivity and efficiency.

The completion of major construction on N2NS Phase 1 did not just bring the benefits of better rail access for local producers, Inland Rail also built or upgraded mobile transmission equipment in four locations, delivering improved connectivity for trains using the rail line while also improving mobile coverage for residents and businesses.

The Muster

‘War on pigs’ intensifies

A $13 million feral pig control program has culled 33,277 feral pigs in just four months, according to NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty.

The program – announced at the 2023 NSW Farmers Annual Conference – was one of the largest feral pig efforts in the nation’s history But concerns remained about the sheer scale of the effort which was described in media as a “war on feral pigs”�

Three priority control zones along western NSW saw baiting, trapping, and shooting efforts expanded and intensified with more than 2000 property owners working with Local Land Services to target pest populations

Minister Moriarty said adequately

resourcing Local Land Services to get the job done properly had been a priority�

“We now have one of the largest coordinated feral pig control programs ever, supporting farmers on the ground to reduce the impacts of pest animals,” Ms Moriarty said

“Tackling the feral pig problem requires government and farmers to work

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side by side, and the government is making sure this program is doing exactly that�”

A critical part of the feral pig program was equipping farmers with the tools, education, and support needed to get on top of the problem

For more information visit https:// www.lls.nsw.gov.au/what-we-do/ our-major-projects/feral-pig-program

New scheme to help farmers fight fires

NSW Farmers has welcomed the launch of a new trial scheme to help first responders fight bushfires.

Under the trial, which ends on 31 March, nominated vehicles used to respond to an emergency bush fire incident may not need to be registered under the following conditions: •must have firefighting equipment permanently attached

• can only be used in connection with emergency bush fire incidents

• can only be used on road or road related areas within 100km radius of the storage address

• must be in a safe operating condition

NSW Farmers Rural Affairs Committee member Garry Grant said it was a win in the campaign for common sense on Farm Fire Units (FFU), and applauded Transport for NSW and the NSW Rural Fire Service for facilitating the trial, which would inform future options for these critical units

“Stopping fires as soon as we can is essential, and farmers play a key role in these firefighting efforts in rural communities,” Mr Grant said�

“It’s pleasing to see our calls for the legal use of FFUs heard, as these vehicles have proved critical for farmers during many recent bushfires ”

To nominate a farm fire fighting vehicle for the trial, contact Service NSW on 13 77 88 or visit your nearest Service NSW Centre.

Fire ants spreading in NSW

A fresh wave in the invasion of Red Imported Fire Ants into NSW raises more concerns, especially after they’ve been seen ‘rafting’ in Queensland floods.

On 19 January, the NSW Government reported that a Red Imported Fire Ant nest was spotted in Wardell, just south of Ballina While an incident response team from the National Fire Ant Eradication Program and the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) converged on the site to destroy the nest using liquid insecticide, the incident has raised concerns about the movements of these dangerous insects�

NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin says this is a major breach of NSW biosecurity controls and highlights the need for stronger eradication efforts

“This latest outbreak is a stark reminder of the failure to control and eradicate these insidious pests, the entry of Red Imported Fire Ants into NSW last year demonstrated again the urgent need for increased investment by all governments to support biosecurity,” Mr Martin said�

“NSW Farmers has called for greater focus on biosecurity for many years, but we’ve seen a failure at our borders and with the Queensland Government failing to take this problem seriously, we are now facing the spread of an incredibly dangerous pest into our state

“Red Imported Fire Ants are a threat to agricultural production and to the landscape of NSW – they can damage agricultural equipment, sting livestock, ruin the natural environment, and pose a serious risk to the health and wellbeing of all people in NSW ”

Fire Ants are known to feed on fauna that nests close to the ground, including spiders, lizards, frogs, birds and mammals They also damage seeds and directly impact more than 50 agricultural crops, which can have devastating consequences on ecosystems� These pests also impact everyday activities by building nests in parks, playgrounds and beaches

In fact, experts predict that the spread of fire ants could cause Australian agricultural output to decline by 40 per cent, while also costing the economy $2 billion every year

RED FIRE ANTS ‘RAFTING’

The sighting in Wardell comes just after red fire ants were spotted building rafts to travel along Queensland floodwaters

During long periods of flooding, fire ants build rafts by using all six of their legs to attach

themselves to other ants in their colony This means that each ant has up to 20 friends gripping onto its body, forming a mass similar to both a liquid and a solid� By connecting their legs, the ants can change the structure of the raft by simply bending or stretching

A CALL TO ARMS

Now, experts and farmers are calling on the government to increase their eradication efforts in order to stop the fire ants in their tracks�

According to Mr Martin, “It’s critical DPI, with the full support of other critical agencies, can act quickly to eradicate these pests as they did at Port Botany in 2014

“Red Imported Fire Ants should have been eradicated 20 years ago but successive Queensland governments have failed to act effectively; NSW must step up and show strong leadership on this issue

“We need to ensure the NSW Department of Primary Industries has every resource it needs to stamp out these ants quickly and decisively�” Communities are encouraged to help stop the spread by reporting any sightings of fire ants or their nests to the NSW Biosecurity Hotline at 1800 680 244 or online at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fire-ants. l

CAUGHT RED-HANDED

Above: Fire ant colonies have been spotted forming ‘rafts’ with their bodies to escape floodwaters in Queensland. These rafts can stay afloat for weeks, allowing greater movement.

The Muster

A woolly solution to plastic pollution

Can wool be a sustainable alternative to common plastics, or are we baa-rking up the wrong tree?

In an era marked by increasing environmental concerns and a growing commitment to sustainability, the quest for eco-friendly alternatives to plastic has become crucial� Wool, a natural fibre with a rich history in Australia, is emerging as a promising candidate to replace traditional plastic materials such as polystyrene and polyester

THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF PLASTIC

Plastic pollution has reached alarming levels globally, contributing to environmental degradation, marine pollution, and the release of harmful chemicals�

Polystyrene, a ubiquitous plastic material that has been mass manufactured since the 1960s, insulates heat, absorbs shock and isn’t water soluble, which makes it useful for transporting goods like food and pharmaceuticals However, it poses significant challenges due to its non-biodegradable nature and persistence in the environment In NSW alone, around 12,000 tonnes of polystyrene is sent to landfill every year�

This is something that troubled entrepreneur Joanne Howarth, who has worked in the food packaging industry for decades� Joanne says she was devastated by the amount of plastic waste the industry generated

“I’ve always been passionate about the planet,” she says, “and it was obvious that there was a need for a sustainable alternative to polystyrene ”

After several years of research and development, Joanne founded Planet Protector Packaging: a sustainable packaging start-up where wool is the hero.

When Joanne began researching polystyrene alternatives, she found that wool had many unique properties, such as its natural insulating capacity and cushioning ability, making it an attractive option for packaging materials Wool can be shorn annually without harm to the animal� Thermally, it outperforms polystyrene�

In contrast, plastic production relies heavily on fossil fuels, contributing to resource depletion and environmental pollution

It took Joanne and two textile physicists a year to find the right kind of wool that was needed

DYED IN THE WOOL

Above: Unlike synthetic materials such as polyester, wool doesn’t release microplastics into the environment and is biodegradable on land and in the ocean.

– coarse fibre, rather than fine merino – and a further three years to develop Woolpack: the wool packaging that is now the cornerstone of her business

“It’s deceptive People might think, ‘Oh, it’s just wool in a sleeve’ but it’s much more than that� And it’s made from a waste stream diverted from landfill�”

Planet Protector Packaging has since replaced 7 2 million polystyrene boxes with Woolpack, diverted 3500 tonnes of wool from landfill and increased income for farmers and processors

THE POLYESTER PREDICAMENT

Wool’s potential as a sustainable alternative extends beyond packaging�

Wool possesses natural fire-retardant properties, making it a safer choice in construction materials compared to synthetic alternatives It has even been used to clean up chemical spills, or as mulch or seed beds

Additionally, wool garments offer breathability, moisture-wicking properties and insulation, making them a sustainable choice in the fashion industry

When it comes to the main alternative to wool fabric, synthetic fabrics such as polyester or acrylic are usually the answer These fabrics are versatile, durable and cheap, and are made of plastics derived from crude oil�

However, through wash and wear they release thousands of tiny plastic fibres which are found everywhere in the environment It is estimated that 0 6-1 7 million tons of microfibres are released into the ocean every year, and around 35 per cent of microplastics in the ocean come from synthetic clothing

Wool, on the other hand, is biodegradable in both land and marine environments, meaning it has a long life as a garment yet breaks down relatively quickly in landfill�

BUT IS WOOL REALLY THAT SUSTAINABLE?

Wool remains a frontrunner in sustainable textiles Woolgrowers in Australia are pioneering eco-friendly farming methods, emphasising the recyclable nature of wool and sheep’s adaptability to challenging landscapes�

Unlike synthetic fabrics, wool doesn’t release microplastics, and its role in the circular economy

PACKAGING HERO

Above: Woolpack is a sustainable alternative to polysterene packaging, with natural insulating capacity and cushioning ability. Image: Planet Protector Packaging.

is gaining traction, with companies recognising its potential for creating long-lasting, highquality products while prioritising land and biodiversity health� Moreover, the wool industry is actively addressing greenhouse gas emissions, implementing techniques on individual farms to offset carbon footprints such as changing the types of pasture plants, improving soil management to increase carbon storage, and planting trees

Collaborative efforts, such as Greening Australia’s partnership with wool growers in Tasmania, has also had tangible results, restoring 1000 hectares of landscape by planting 250,000 native plants, and contributing to one of Australia’s largest revegetation projects

RIDING ON THE SHEEP’S BACK

Australia is a country with a long history of sheep farming, and is often referred to as “riding on the sheep’s back”� Today, woolgrowers are proud that Australia has the world’s most advanced wool industry, with innovative and sustainable farming practices being implemented to secure the industry’s future

“It’s deceptive. People might think, ‘Oh, it’s just wool in a sleeve’ but it’s much more than that. And it’s made from a waste stream diverted from landfill.”

–JOANNE HOWARTH

Founder, Planet Protector Packaging

New uses for wool as part of sustainable alternatives to plastic can also offer more opportunities for local producers

Educating consumers and industries about the environmental benefits of wool will also be crucial in fostering a shift towards more ecofriendly choices�

By re-evaluating perceptions, raising awareness and fostering a commitment to sustainable practices, wool can take centre stage as a valuable and sustainable alternative to plastic waste l

Fire Ants Red Imported

What are fire ants?

• Red imported fire ants are an invasive and destructive pest ant, native to South America.

• They are tiny (2-6mm) and dark reddish-brown with a darker brown-black abdomen.

• They swarm aggressively and sting repeatedly when disturbed.

The threat

• Fire ants are harmful to humans, causing painful stings and allergic reactions in some people

• They destroy native plants and animals, livestock, crops, environment and damage ecosystems beyond repair

• They restrict access to backyards and all outdoor area including parks and playgrounds.

What is being done

The $590 million+ National Fire Ant Eradication program, lead by the Australian Government is working to eradicate fire ants from Australia.

The NSW Government is working with the National Program, assisting with surveillance and conducting tracing, compliance and community information programs.

NSW has a Biosecurity Emergency Order is in place which restricts movement of fire ant carrier material from the infested area in South East Queensland, and movement control areas in NSW.

Fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) are tiny and dark reddish-brown with darker abdomens

What to do

CHECK:

sunny, open areas of lawn or pasture, areas of disturbed soil

gardens, backyards, parks, roadsides, paddocks, fence lines, cropped land where hay, turf, mulch, soil, potted plants, sand, gravel or agricultural machinery has been used or stored, especially if it came from southeast Queensland

LOOK FOR NESTS THAT ARE: flattish patches of soil or mounds up to 40 cm high, with no obvious entrance holes loose or crumbly looking, with a honeycomb appearance inside

aggressive and swarming out of the nest if gently poked with a stick

REPORT: If you suspect or are not sure

The Muster

Talk of the town

For retired and seasoned farmers in Tamworth and Inverell, monthly meetings have become a highlight of the year.

The two chapters of the Retired Farmers Group consist of retired and semi-retired farmers, carrying a combined farming experience of more than 2000 years The members meet once a month to discuss important local, state and national issues, and each meeting also features a guest speaker – usually a politician or representative with a unique perspective on the farming industry�

Mick Collins, North/North West regional service manager and Retired Farmers Group organiser, was inspired to begin the program after a conversation with a friend, who saw the value in bringing seasoned farmers together to share their knowledge and to have a yarn

“The Retired Farmers Group is an opportunity for farmers to make friends and meet people with similar interests, while also getting out and about,” Mick explains� “They may not be as physically fit as they used to be, but mentally they’re as sharp as ever� Staying in town can become quite frustrating, so here they can talk about what they’ve achieved and contributed to agriculture over their lives, and still feel connected to the industry ”

“The Retired Farmers Group is an opportunity for farmers to make friends and meet people with similar interests, while also getting out and about.”

–MICK COLLINS Regional service manager in North/North West and Retired Farmers Group organiser

The Muster

For Mick, organising the meetings has been personally rewarding as well

“Running the Retired Farmers Group is one of the best parts of my job at NSW Farmers It’s very rewarding to walk into this room of friends and know that it’s a highlight for them as well� We have a cup of tea and a great yarn, mostly just sharing what they’ve all seen and experienced�”

THE TALK OF TAMWORTH

Tamworth group member Ken Douglas has always been involved in farming As a young man, he left school to start working on the land, eventually buying his own property and expanding it by 600 acres� In 1989, he sold his farm and moved to Tamworth to oversee a major engineering company

“I still enjoy turning up and interacting with customers,” says Ken “They travel from all around for our services Just a few days ago, we had a guy ring up asking about new pieces for his egg sorting machine!”

For him, the Retired Farmers Group has led to plenty of new friends�

“It’s really a meeting of mates We turn up early for a cup of coffee, and often stay

“It’s really a meeting of mates. We turn up early for a cup of coffee, and often stay after the meeting to have lunch together.”

–KEN DOUGLAS Member of the Retired Farmers Group

after the meeting to have lunch together I’ve known them for years as locals, but I never had much interaction with them until I joined the group Now we sit around and talk about different things� It gives us all a reason to get out of bed and get moving�”

STEP INTO INVERELL

Andrew Fuller, a member from the Inverell group, explains why it’s so important to share opinions and experiences with the other members

“I grew up in marginal grazing and farming country,” he says� “I worked hard digging holes in granite and putting up fences to stop rabbits, roos and foxes� Eventually, I sat on committees and became chairman of the showground trust ”

Despite this long and successful career, Andrew is still being challenged and inspired by the monthly group meetings

“From a young age, my father emphasised the importance of enquiry� He was born in a mining community, he didn’t have the strongest education, but he did know how to listen and think for himself And that meant he was one of the first people in the community to accept contour banks or to have a sheep dip on his property

“That’s one of the things I love about the meetings� We might have different opinions, but we appreciate one another’s efforts� I enjoy chatting to the blokes about old times, and about academic and farming issues Everyone is welcome to join, and we all love it ” l

Net zero for Australian nuclear energy

The odds are stacked against nuclear power becoming part of the energy mix in Australia anytime soon. Australia’s inherent anti-nuclear sentiment is a hard one to shake and the Federal Government strongly supports keeping a ban on nuclear power generation. Is Australia missing out on this key solution to reaching net zero emission targets?

Solar photovoltaics farm and nuclear power plant with cooling towers in Europe. Britain, France, Poland, Finland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary want to keep nuclear power in their energy mix and plan to build new reactors.

John Kelly is not a nuclear scientist � He is third generation cropping and livestock farmer from Wongarbon (close to Dubbo) who is passionate about protecting land for food and fibre production

Like most farmers, John is pretty good at maths and believes the numbers stack up for nuclear power to be a viable ingredient in Australia’s energy mix�

“Nuclear power stations have a working life of over 60 years and can use up to 97 per cent of input uranium� Four hundred and forty-two nuclear power stations have been built in 31 countries around the world but none in Australia,” John says

“I think some of the billions of dollars of taxpayers’ money that has been spent on renewable energy projects should have been used to build a few small modular nuclear reactors�”

Small modular reactors or SMRs produce less than 300 MWe, in comparison to larger plants that can produce more than 700 MWe�

John began researching nuclear energy as an alternative to proposed large-scale solar projects on farming land in the Central West Renewable Energy Zone (REZ)

He put forward a policy motion to the 2023 NSW Farmers Annual Conference calling for the overturning of a ban on nuclear power generation in Australia� The motion was supported by John’s local NSW Farmers Dubbo branch and passed by conference delegates as policy

Prominent Coalition members have expressed the same view, and the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) says Australia’s march towards net zero is being restrained by a failure to see nuclear energy as a key solution to reducing emissions�

“If nuclear power is good for Canada, France, the US, South Korea, Sweden, Belgium, and Japan, then why isn’t it good enough for Australia?” says MCA CEO Tania Constable

A GLOBAL POLITICAL DIVIDE

Canada, France and South Korea are forging ahead with upgrading and constructing new nuclear reactors, but there are many nations that share the current Australian government’s opposition to nuclear power�

The political divide on nuclear energy is evident in the European Union� Germany stopped producing electricity from nuclear power plants in April last year and Italy, Belgium, Denmark, Portugal, Austria and Switzerland have pledged to be nuclear energy-free Britain, France, Poland, Finland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary want to keep nuclear power in their energy mix and plan to build new reactors

In Australia, The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Act 1998 and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 both prohibit nuclear power generation � Similar prohibitions exist under the laws of every state and territory

Our long-held anti-nuclear sentiment remains strong and is backed by Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen, who has firmly ruled out any moves to adopt nuclear energy in Australia

THE CASE AGAINST NUCLEAR ENERGY

Cost, development time and waste management are the key practical barriers to nuclear power ever becoming part of Australia’s energy mix

Last year, Minster Bowen put a $387 billion price tag on replacing retiring coal-fired power stations with nuclear reactors, which the Federal Coalition has espoused as the solution to a net zero energy transition�

This figure is based on the CSIRO’s 2023-34 GenCost draft consultation report, which concluded renewables have the lowest cost range of any new-build energy technology, even when considering additional integration costs such as storage and transmission GenCost is an annual collaboration between the CSIRO and the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO)

Nuclear SMRs emerged as the highest-cost technology explored in the report� Australia would need more than 70 of them to replace coal-fired power stations at an estimated capital cost of $18,167/kW (in 2030 dollars), compared to large-scale solar at $1058/kW and onshore wind at $1989/kW

“A review of the available evidence makes it clear that nuclear power does not currently provide an economically competitive solution in Australia – or that we have the relevant frameworks in place for its consideration and operation within the timeframe required,” the report concluded� >

“I think some of the billions of dollars of taxpayers’ money that has been spent on renewable energy projects should have been used to build a few small modular nuclear reactors.”

–JOHN KELLY Farmer

Chief Executive of the Smart Energy Council, John Grimes, agrees and says SMR technology promoted by nuclear power advocates has no proven commercial viability

“There is no evidence of their safe and consistent operation, or viability In November, the only SMR development in the US was terminated,” Mr Grimes said�

“There are no SMRs in operation outside of Russia and China, and none under construction in Europe�

“We need energy, decarbonisation and cost-ofliving solutions this decade As former Chief Scientist Dr Alan Finkel has noted, it is hard to imagine first operation of small modular reactor (SMR) technology before 2040

“Nuclear power is prohibited in Australia and to overturn these bans and establish the new regulatory and compliance regime would take years and would only be the start of the process of developing a nuclear industry ”

Mr Grimes said sites for reactors would need to be identified with rigorous approval processes and

securing a social licence in Australia would be difficult�

“All of this means nuclear would not be ready to deploy in a climate-necessary timeframe in Australia

“Therefore, we must continue to deploy the commercially viable and proven zero-emissions technologies of firmed solar and wind power as rapidly as possible

“Australia enjoys the global advantage of superabundant solar and wind resources, and unlike some economies where nuclear energy is established, Australia also has available landmass for renewables infrastructure and the opportunity to share the benefits with communities ”

The treatment of nuclear waste is also problematic

“Australia enjoys the global advantage of superabundant solar and wind resources, and unlike some economies where nuclear energy is established, Australia also has available landmass for renewables infrastructure and the opportunity to share the benefits with communities.”

–JOHN GRIMES Chief Executive, Smart Energy Council

NUCLEAR REVOLUTION

Clockwise from top left: Three-quarters of France’s electricity comes from nuclear power; Solar station producing alternative energy to nuclear power, Denmark; Federal member for Lyne, David Gillespe, joined Robert Parker for a tour of nuclear energy facilities in Ontario.

Identification of sites for consolidated disposal of Australia’s radioactive waste from medical and other uses has been difficult in the past due to environmental and cultural heritage concerns�

Environmental, community and farming groups have also raised an issue close to the hearts of many Australians – water scarcity Nuclear power plants require significant volumes of water from uranium mining and processing, through to reactor cooling

THE CASE FOR NUCLEAR ENERGY

Ultra-low emission credentials are the biggest tick for nuclear energy�

Nuclear fuels like uranium are not a renewable energy source, but only miniscule amounts are needed to generate the same electricity that a coal or gas power plant would Just one kilogram of uranium will produce the same energy as 2 7 million kilograms of coal�

According to the Canadian Nuclear Association, nuclear energy helps avoid 80 million tonnes of CO2 emissions per year in Canada� About 15 per cent of Canada’s electricity comes from nuclear power, with 19 reactors providing 13 6 GWe of power capacity

“Nuclear is the fastest way to decarbonise and it is in for the long term,” says Robert Parker from Nuclear for Climate Australia

>

Mr Parker is a construction and design civil engineer who a became a nuclear convert in 2007 while studying climate change science� He completed a master’s degree in Nuclear Science at the Australian National University and now spearheads Nuclear for Climate Australia

The lobby group has taken delegations to France and South Korea where nuclear power is king, but Mr Parker is most excited about a SMR project in Ontario, Canada�

“Ontario Power Generation are probably one of the world’s most knowledgeable nuclear operators, they have 50 years of experience in safely operating nuclear facilities

“They were building one SMR using the BWRX 300MW plant from General Electric when we were there in August 2022, and have subsequently decided to build four�”

Mr Parker said factory-built SMRs are not like vast and expensive first-generation nuclear power plants with infamous names like Three Mile Island, Chernobyl or Fukushima

“When it comes to grid scale for the general consumer to use, you need SMRs that are 300MW in size� SMRs are cut down versions of existing large nuclear plants that provide a simpler and safer way to make the technology work and only require 2�7 hectares of land

“Comments about small modular reactors not yet being available is irrelevant We have the reactors available now that can decarbonise our grid at a known cost ”

Mr Parker estimates it would cost around $2�5 billion to construct an SMR in Australia�

He said larger reactors like those being built in South Korea could replace retiring coal-powered stations in the Hunter Valley and the La Trobe Valley region in Victoria, while Wagga Wagga could be home to an SMR

“Wagga Wagga is sitting on the national grid and has a reliable water source from the Murrumbidgee�”

Mr Parker does agree set up costs for wind and solar projects are cheaper, but believes figures in the GenCost report do not represent a full system analysis of the grid

“Wind and solar plants do produce electricity cheaper than nuclear, but it becomes more expensive when you integrate it into the grid�

“The large cost issues for wind and solar are that they need large amounts and storage and long transmission lines which must be oversized to cope with peak outputs

“The short life span of wind, solar and batteries compared to 60 years for nuclear power is also a key cost driver�”

Nuclear for Climate Australia supports an energy model that has 17 per cent of electricity coming from solar, 10 per cent from wind, 69 per cent from nuclear and 4 per cent from hydro

“Results from our modelling show that a system that includes nuclear energy in the mix will provide consumers with electricity

at a cost nearly half that of a system totally dependent on wind and solar�”

Mr Parker said concerns about nuclear power’s high-water demands are valid, but new hybrid cooling technology in SMRs is cutting water use by up to 80 per cent

“A 300MW SMR with hybrid cooling would use 68 litres per second or about 2 million cubic metres of water per year This does require some additional energy from the plant to keep the cooling system going, resulting in about an 8 per cent loss�

“There is also the opportunity to use recycled water One of the largest reactors in the US in the Arizona desert, for example, uses recycled sewage water from Las Vegas ”

In relation to waste management, Mr Parker said deep geological repositories have proven to be a safe measure�

“A small nuclear plant will have about 8 tonnes of used nuclear fuel a year� This waste is very dense, and it is radioactive for 400 or 500 hundred years Finland has elected to put it about 500 metres underground in deep granite This type of system has had a ruler over it many times and experts agree it’s a sensible and safe method�

“However, 97 per cent of the energy is still sitting in that uranium� So, countries like China, Russia and Japan are looking to use fast neutron reactors that will burn up that energy and you are left with much less waste Companies such as Bill Gates’ TerraPower are investing in this technology ” l

Dubbo:

Wagga:

BACKED INTO A CORNER

Stephen Pumpa objected to the development application of the Culcairn Solar Farm project over the four-year consultation period, but now must accept his new neighbour, which will span 1000 hectares and border his farm on three sides.

SOLAR EXPOSES INSURANCE BLACKHOLE

Public liability insurance of up to $20 million is commonly sought by farmers, but those who neighbour renewable energy developments are concerned this will not cover the risk to solar and wind projects worth hundreds of millions.

–Words MICHAEL BURT Photography RACHAEL LENEHAN

Stephen Pumpa’s generational family farm is about to be surrounded by one of Australia’s largest solar energy developments� French renewables company Neoen has started construction of the Culcairn Solar Farm project, which will span 1000 hectares and border Stephen’s farm on three sides

The fourth-generation farmer objected to the development application over the four-year consultation period but has now accepted he must adapt to the glaring new neighbour�

“It’s a massive change in land use from agricultural to industrial

The land that they are leasing has been cropped for 15-plus years, and is probably 98 per cent arable,” Stephen said

Stephen runs a 720-hectare mixed farming enterprise encompassing meat, wool, grain and fodder production

“They have been granted to do whatever they are going do, so we are just going to have to work on protecting ourselves and our business� It’s a good spot with a good climate and the soil allows us to grow and produce all sorts of things ”

“I know that farm businesses can get up to $50 million in public liability insurance, but if fire gets away from our place and only damages 10 per cent of a $600 million investment, you are gone for at least $60 million. You could become insolvent overnight.”

–STEPHEN PUMPA

FROM RURAL TO INDUSTRIAL

Neoen says the 440 MWp solar plant, which will connect to the on-site 330 kV Transgrid transmission, will have the ability to provide power to 155,000 homes

“I will be treating them just like any other rural neighbour, notifying them when I am burning off or moving livestock,” Stephen says� “However, the public liability insurance issue has created a huge uncertainty for our business�

“I know that farm businesses can get up to $50 million in public liability insurance, but if fire gets away from our place and only damages 10 per cent of a $600 million investment, you are gone for at least $60 million You could become insolvent overnight

“My insurance company said I could insure for as much as I like, but once you go above that $50 million, the premium costs are prohibitive� It’s gone from a rural setting to an industrial setting and no insurance implications have been considered�”

Stephen said he voiced these concerns during the consultation process and has met with company representatives on several occasions to discuss buffer zones and right to farm implications like movement of machinery and livestock and cropping operations

“You are always talking to different people though, so not a lot gets resolved,” he says�

“With the exception of the Greater Hume Council, the government departments to this point have showed little to no understanding of farming businesses They had no answers to my questions and concerns raised during the consultation process

>

CONCERNS GO UNHEARD

Stephen voiced his concerns throughout the consultation process, but received few answers.

“I will be treating them like any other rural neighbour... however, the public liability insurance issue has created a huge uncertainty for our business,” he says.

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“Care for the environment is also lacking, given the proposed removal of ancient gum trees and the associated destruction of an entire ecosystem that comes about with the establishment of an industrial estate

“I support renewable energy and use it on my farm, but not large-scale projects in the wrong place on prime agricultural land ”

INSURANCE WOES WIDESPREAD

Stephen Pumpa’s public liability insurance woes are shared by fellow farmers in the Central West of NSW and in Victoria�

Bathurst-based Nationals MLC, Sam Faraway, told parliament that farmers with properties adjacent to solar farms in the Central West have been refused public liability insurance

The Nationals Member for Northern Victoria Region, Gaelle Broad, said farmers in her electorate have also raised concerns about skyrocketing insurance premiums�

Ms Broad said farmers could lose everything if found negligent of accidently starting a fire with a chainsaw, slasher or grinder and it spread and caused damage to solar infrastructure

“With current farm insurance anywhere between $10 million and $20 million, some farmers have been told they may need to look overseas to find higher levels of insurance,” Ms Broad said�

“It is clearly not enough when you consider developments such as the Meadow Creek Solar Farm near Wangaratta – with a proposed value of $750 million – or the Cooba Solar Project in Central Victoria, with a proposed development that includes 740,000 solar panels in Colbinabbin

“Some farmers have been told that to obtain the right level of insurance cover they will be facing a $50,000 rise in premiums each year�”

Farm insurance concerns were also highlighted in the 2022 NSW Ag Commissioner’s ‘Renewable energy generation and agriculture in NSW’s rural landscape and economy’ report

It states farmers provided evidence that their insurer would not increase public liability cover above $20 million

“In the absence of adequate insurance coverage, some neighbouring landholders may feel compelled to adjust their land use practices in order to mitigate fire risk such as changing from cropping to grazing and bear a loss of productivity and profitability of that land,” the report states

The report backed a recommendation from the NSW Farmers Billabong (Henty) branch that when suitable insurance cannot be obtained, the developer should indemnify neighbouring farm businesses for reasonable, uninsurable risks relating to typical public liability cover�

Stephen Pumpa said all farms within a fivekilometre radius of a ‘solar factory’ should have indemnity

“Direct neighbours such as me are not the only

SKYROCKETING PREMIUMS

Some farmers have been told to look overseas to find higher levels of insurance, while others may feel compelled to adjust their land use practices in order to mitigate risk of damage to solar infrastucture.

Stephen believes the answer lies in indemnity.

ones who could be impacted,” he says “A fire could start on a property 10 kilometres away and quickly spread� It’s certainly happened before�

“Drop a pin on the site and indemnify all farmers within a five-kilometre radius� It’s a simple solution that should be pursued�”

The Ag Commissioner also recommended that renewable project applicants should cover any additional public liability insurance costs incurred by neighbouring landholders, and the standard commercial agreement should include clauses to compensate for any land use constraints imposed by a lack of insurance�

NSW Farmers has consulted with The Insurance Council of Australia, who indicated that any additional cover sought would likely be available in the market but at a higher premium in line with the higher coverage limit provided l

Negotiating a future

Energy Minister, Penny Sharpe, said the Department of Planning and Environment’s Private Agreement Guidelines highlights the need for renewable energy developers to consider negotiating agreements with neighbouring landholders.

The guidelines, described as the ‘Energy Policy Framework’, went on public exhibition in November 2023, and will be officially released in early 2024.

The guidelines explain how the impacts of renewable energy projects and transmission infrastructure will be assessed and managed and are intended to promote transparency and clarity about where and how development occurs.

However, there is no mention of solutions to public liability insurance issues for neighbouring farms.

“Although the indemnification of liabilities is a commercial matter between developers and landholders, including those adjacent to renewable energy developments, my department will continue to engage with relevant stakeholders to monitor this issue,” Ms Sharpe said.

“I understand that the fire risk for renewable energy projects is very low. There are fire risks around transmission lines. The biggest fire risks are extreme weather events.”

Renewable project developers are required to conduct a Bushfire Risk Assessment as part of their Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). This Assessment includes consulting with the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS), ensuring access to fire fighters, water supply, understanding vegetation hazards and managing those with protection zones, and preparing a Bushfire Management Plan.

The NSW RFS has developed a draft Operational Protocol for incidents involving large scale solar arrays and battery storage systems.

Good People to Know.

The second season of WFI’s Good People to Know podcast is available now. Stay up to date on all the issues impacting Australian communities and listen to experts covering topics that concern locals.

Subscribe to the Good People to Know podcast season 2 on Spotify now.

A shucking good time

From an idea borne during the pandemic, entrepreneur and third-generation oyster farmer Sheridan Beaumont turned around a fickle aquafarming venture by introducing a successful tourism element.

The dress code for this dining experience is one I’ve never encountered before. As I join a boatload of people giggling and squawking as we don khaki chest waders attached to knee-high gumboots, the comical attire sets the ebullient tone as we step into the shallows of the Hawkesbury River, before wading awkwardly across to a row of submerged tables draped with white tablecloths and heaped with oysters and jumbo prawns on ice.

This classy ‘in-water restaurant’ is the setting for Sydney Oyster Farm Tours’ ‘Immerse Yourself’ activity, a half-day oyster dining experience that’s become popular with celebrating couples, as a gift for special occasions and amongst corporate groups, as well as one of the most Instagrammable moments for social media influencers.

For Sydney Oyster Farm co-owner Sheridan Beaumont, this new tourism venture – introduced just prior to Covid lockdowns but firmly established in the past two years – has totally transformed her family’s farming business, literally saving it from the brink and providing financial stability in a notoriously fickle aquaculture enterprise.

“I expected it to be just a little side hustle, I never expected it to get as big as it did – not that I’m complaining!” Sheridan says. “Now, the tourism is totally supporting the farm. It pays for all of the workers helping Dad [on the oyster leases], it pays for the fuel – it’s transformed everything.”

A FAMILY BUSINESS

With 17 leases on the Hawkesbury River, Sydney Oyster Farm has been supplying fresh oysters to the Sydney Market since 2006, with the love of oysters and life on the water running firmly through third-generation farmer Sheridan’s veins.

“My grandfather was a hobby farmer on the Hawkesbury in the 1950s, but it wasn’t a commercial business,” Sheridan says. “But because my dad grew up in that environment, he always had this romanticism attached to farming.”

When an opportunity arose in 2006 for the family to take over a struggling oyster farm impacted by QX disease (caused by a

single-cell parasite that attacks Sydney Rock Oysters), she and her brother Jason earned their share by working alongside their father, learning the aquafarming business from the water up.

Oysters are a sensitive crop, however, vulnerable to impacts of pollution, predators, disease and climate change. During a forced pause in trading in 2013 due to a fatal Pacific Oyster Mortality Syndrome (POMS) outbreak, Sheridan decided to follow her other dream of becoming a doctor, embarking on her third degree at medical school.

Then came children – three in rapid succession, with twins followed by another baby 15 months later, before a fourth born in December 2022. Juggling her family commitments and passions with the tenacity of a superhero, the young mother, medical student and oyster farmer had a lightbulb moment in 2019, deciding to add a tourism element to her already impressive portfolio.

“I hosted my first tour in second-year med school, a special event for Talisker Whisky,” Sheridan says. “They gave me all of their photos and videos after the event, and I literally that night went back and made a

website – it was so easy, it only took an hour or two and it looked really professional.”

INSPIRATION FROM ADVERSITY

But what started as a buffer to the variables of farming soon proved to have its own challenges, with a series of unrelated setbacks adding to Sheridan’s already overstretched workload.

“We were basically in ruins when this whole thing started,” she explains. “Our oyster shed had just burnt down, my brother had a massive heart attack and we’d had back-to-back floods that had almost decimated the entire farm – we’d lost hundreds of thousands of oysters.”

Then, just as bookings for the new boat tour began to take off, another disaster hit, with the pandemic grinding the fledgling enterprise to a halt.

But for Sheridan, the enforced slowdown provided an opportunity to fine-tune details of the tour, and to create the unique experience that sets it apart from other boatbased oyster tours.

“I was wondering how we were going to socially distance on the boat, then I came up with the idea of putting tables in the water,

WADE ON IN

to spread people out that way,” Sheridan says. “But it took me almost two years to get all the approvals, including a development application since council considered it an in-water restaurant.

“I was at home with three kids under 15 months, writing documentation, getting approvals and chasing my tail trying to get it across the line. I was obsessed, because I just knew it was going to be amazing – it just hadn’t been done like this. Honestly, if it hadn’t been for Covid, I’m not sure I would have done it.”

ON TOUR

Before the oyster dining experience, Sheridan – or one of her local guides – takes groups of up to 50 on a boat ride through one of Sydney Oyster Farm’s leases at Mooney Mooney, explaining the process of growing Sydney Rock and Pacific oysters and the threats they face from natural predators and diseases.

She also shares stories of trying to save the crop during the devastating rain events of 2021 and 2022, and the desperation she felt as she attempted to move vulnerable oyster trays to safer places on the river.

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“I was wondering how we were going to socially distance on the boat, then I came up with the idea of putting tables in the water, to spread people out that way.”

–SHERIDAN BEAUMONT Oyster farmer

“I remember the date so well: 19 March. That flood was the one that did the damage. The dam was already at capacity, so it had no buffering ability, and there was just so much water. And because it was fresh water for such a long period of time, we basically lost 100 per cent of our Pacifics. I’d say at least 600,000, probably a lot more.

“I was doing tours, and pulling out baskets of dead oysters and people were like, “oh coooool!” It was so embarrassing! Everything was dead everywhere. Empty shells. Oyster farmers are the only farmers that don’t like rain, I think.”

A SHUCKING GOOD TIME

For tour guests, these personal stories of the challenges and adversities of farming truly resonate, helping them to appreciate the hard work and heartbreak that goes into the delicious slurpy molluscs on their plate. But after pottering through the leases and learning about the oyster farming business, it’s time to put the product to the taste test.

The ‘restaurant’ is set up in a wide, sheltered bay – one of the only parts of the Hawkesbury with a sandy bottom. A formerly derelict oyster lease, Sheridan had to tender to reactivate this site – another time-consuming process during lockdowns which became an essential part of the operation’s success.

“When I first started the tours, I used Ikea tables set up on stilts,” she explains. “But as the tours became more popular, it got crazy setting them up each day. I’d be getting ready to pick up the guests in the boat, and I’d have three crew getting the tables ready. But getting to the site early didn’t work, due to the tides – they’d be putting the tables in, and they’d start floating away – it was just mayhem!”

Now the tables used on the tour are permanent fixtures, built from oyster infrastructure to meet zoning requirements. The sticks holding the tables in place are oyster racks, while the tabletops are upturned oyster trays, covered with a cloth.

“What guests don’t realise is the timing of this whole operation,” Sheridan says. “Depending on whether it’s a rising or falling tide, I’m picking up guests from the jetty at the same time as the permanent tables just uncover. During the time I do the tour, the water will drop a foot, until it becomes a great height for people to stand at the tables. If I take too long on a tour, it can drop too low – if I come in early, it can be too high.”

THE JOYS OF OYSTERS

Sydney Oyster Farm runs 10 tours a week with a team of locals operating the tours. Sheridan stepped back from her hands-on role as a tour guide at the end of 2023 to look after her three children and complete her medical degree.

Oblivious to all these details, however, guests have one thing on their mind: eating oysters. But such delights don’t come without effort – first they have to learn to shuck the bivalve molluscs, opening the shells to reveal the meat inside. Then, with an accompanying glass of champagne – or perhaps a shot of whisky to enhance the smoky flavour – the oyster is consumed, with each guest allocated 18 oysters, fresh from Sydney Oyster Farm leases.

With approximately 10 tours currently running a week – and with the demands of parenthood as well as finalising her medical degree in September 2023 – Sheridan has been forced to take a step back from the hands-on role as tour guide, training a team of locals to operate the tours. She is also planning an expansion of the tourism business, purchasing oyster leases in Cronulla (in the south of Sydney), Port Stephens and Queensland, which will be managed by members of her extended family.

Meanwhile, other oyster farmers on the Hawkesbury – who originally thought she was “crazy” for attempting the new enterprise – look upon the crowded boats of tourists with piqued interest, keenly observing the transformation of the farming business.

“Everyone was a bit shocked in the interest,” Sheridan says. “We know that people love oysters, but it’s more than that – we have people that don’t even like oysters coming on the tours.

“Really it’s about people wanting to connect and do something different and just step outside.”

sydneyoystertours.com l

Jumping junipers!

One couple’s venture into a not-socommon crop looks set to lead to a new industry, and a fresh future for Australian-made gin.

It was Lucy Vincent’s curiosity that led her and husband Bruce Campbell into the world of juniper farming at their Bombala property, which they hope will develop into one of Australia’s viable new industries.

Around a decade ago, they returned to Lucy’s parents’ cattle property Exeter – which has been in the family since 1903 – filled with new ideas and lots of enthusiasm.

“We were keen to introduce new farming techniques including regenerative practices to the 140-hectare farm, and diversify from just cattle grazing,” says Lucy, who is an agricultural scientist.

“We spent a lot of time looking at soil and water resources and researching different ideas and we started honey production as well as running about 30 Angus cattle, but we were also keen to consider other value-add crops and introduce something new to the farming operations.”

Lucy, who has always enjoyed a gin, was fascinated by the surge in Australia of gin production using various botanicals and the number of distilleries that had popped up.

“I thought a lot about gin production, and it seemed that nearly all juniper berries for Australian gin were imported. I started thinking – why doesn’t Australia grow its own juniper berries? And that was the start of our new venture back in 2016,” she says.

“People thought I was crazy at first, but the more research I did, the more I was convinced junipers should do well in our country.”

FROM LITTLE THINGS, BIG THINGS GROW

When Lucy ordered 300 plants from a Victorian nursery in 2016, she was told that they wouldn’t be ready until 2018. But the wait didn’t deter Lucy.

“It was a very long time to wait as the nursery had to strike the plants,” she explains. “I wanted 300 to start with, and it was the biggest order they had ever had. However, I just felt we had the right conditions here in the NSW Snowy Monaro region for juniper to thrive,” she says.

The more research Lucy did, the more fascinated she became, and the more convinced she was that the plants would do well on their property.

POWER OF IMA-GIN-ATION

Left to right: Lucy Vincent and Bruce Campbell growing juniper berries on their Bombala property; The berries are used in small-batch gin production.

“To start with, they love the cold, as well as hot and dry summers. They also don’t like a lot of water, so they suited the conditions we experience at Bombala,” she says.

ALLIANCES AND PARTNERSHIPS

The juniper plant produces dark purplish berries that grow on a small shrub that have a woody, pine-like aroma and a refreshing, spicy flavour. The juniper berry is the female seed cone of the juniper tree.

The species Juniperus communis is found growing in different areas across Europe, Asia, and North America and the hilly parts of northern India and most of the juniper berries for Australian gin are from Macedonia, Italy, Romania and Bulgaria.

Lucy was pleased to discover there were others growing small amounts of junipers in Australia and contacted them to form a grower’s group.

“There’s such little information about juniper in Australia, so I thought it would be useful if we formed a group and shared our experiences,” she says. “It is very much a trial-and-error case for us, and we have welcomed information from other growers.”

She also contacted Australian gin distillers to gauge their interest in using home grown juniper and received lots of encouragement, but many required large quantities.

“Most said they were curious and excited to think there could be an emerging Australian grown juniper berries, so that was encouraging,” she says.

But it was Gavin Hughes and Karen Touchie from North of Eden Distillery near Bega, that formed a milestone partnership with Lucy and Bruce, foreshadowing a change in the production of Australian gin.

Gavin and Karen moved to their thriving Bega Valley property in 2018 and began their successful distilling venture.

The multi-award-winning distillery on the Sapphire Coast of NSW, will transition its entire gin range to the locally grown Australian juniper grown less than 100 kilometres from the distillery.

Gavin, who is also the head distiller, says he is excited about the partnership and pleased the locally grown juniper will help the distillery reduce its carbon footprint, which is just one of the benefits of having a domestic juniper industry.

“Juniper is the single most important ingredient in gin, but unfortunately most juniper in Australian gins has to be flown in from Eastern Europe, which generates a massive carbon footprint,” Gavin says.

HERO INGREDIENT

Left to right: Lucy and Bruce had to learn on the job when it came to growing their produce; Juniper berries are vital to the gin-making process.

“To grow well, juniper requires a combination of altitude, cold winters, and hot summers, which has to date limited the growth of a juniper industry within Australia.

“To be able to source juniper from just up the road is a key initiative in reducing the distillery’s carbon footprint. We already make our Classic gin using Lucy’s juniper, but the plan is to move all our other gins to this more sustainable footing over the next 12 months.”

Lucy now has more than 600 juniper plants and plans to increase production.

“People thought I was crazy at first, but the more research I did, the more I was convinced junipers should do well in our country.”

–LUCY VINCENT

“We are very keen and passionate to think we are involved in what may be an emerging Australian farming industry.”

–LUCY VINCENT Juniper farmer

“They are individually sexed wind pollinators, and we plant a ratio of 10 females to one male,” she says. “They are extremely slow growing, so you don’t get a good commercial harvest until the plants are nine or 10 years old. However, we got a good harvest this year and next year is looking even better.”

Once harvested, the fresh juniper is processed and dried at the North of Eden Distillery, before being used to make gin.

Gavin adds, “We knew we needed to dehydrate the juniper before using it in the gin, so I came up with a design, built a couple of dehydrators, and slowly dried the juniper over a period of 12 weeks.”

The results of this ‘Farm-to-Glass’ partnership looks incredibly promising, with initial laboratory testing at the University of Tasmania indicating that Lucy and Bruce’s juniper is on par with overseas samples in terms of oil content and composition.

As for the all-important taste test, Gavin says, “Their juniper tastes better than the stuff we were importing. Our gin tasted incredible before, but now we’re using local juniper it tastes even better.”

Both couples share the curiosity and passion needed to support an emerging juniper industry.

While Lucy and Bruce don’t expect the juniper crops to be commercially viable for up 10 years, they are excited about the future.

“We are very keen and passionate to think we are involved in what may be an emerging Australian farming industry,” she says. “The challenges are unknown really and we are learning as we go, but we are willing to take risks.”

The juniper berries are handpicked and according to Lucy there is no mechanical way of doing it.

“At the moment I enlist the help of our girls –Phoebe, Heidi and Sophie, and it is very time consuming,” she says.

The juniper plants have two types of berries on the bush at the same time – the black berries which are ripe for picking and new green berries, so it can be tricky.

They are planted near the house and fenced off from kangaroos and wombats that thrive in the microclimate of the area.

“We’re excited to be on the cusp of an emerging industry and the report from a major thesis from the

AN EMERGING INDUSTRY

Above: Lucy and Bruce handpick the berries from more than 600 juniper plants on their property.

University of Tasmania showed the Australian grown juniper was as good as those imported,” Lucy says.

The big question is – what does the North of Eden Distillery gin made from Lucy and Bruce’s junipers taste like to them?

“I did a blind tasting, and it was a little nerve wracking, but I could taste the difference – our Australian junipers have a fresh aromatic taste that differs from the imported berries,” Lucy says with notable pride.

The couple has also been encouraged by the support and interest from the local community.

“There was lots of curiosity about what we are doing, and you can taste North of Eden Distillery gin made from the local junipers at the Imperial Hotel in Bombala. It’s great to know that customers are finally drinking all-Australian made gin,” she says. l

FLEXIBLE FARMING IN THE FACE OF EL NIÑO

The recent unpredicted weather has played havoc with some farmers’ business plans, while others have rejoiced in the outcomes. Matt Madden from Moree says it’s all about understanding your own circumstances and remaining flexible.

Matt Madden lives on a 1600-hectare property located east of Moree, with his wife Catherine and their son Alexander. The farm, which is steeped in a century of rich agricultural heritage, focuses on dryland farming. The Maddens range of crops include wheat, barley, chickpeas and sorghum.

When the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) announced the onset of an El Niño event in September 2023, farmers across NSW braced for a prolonged and arid summer. However, nature had other plans.

The unexpected arrival of significant rainfall led to a swift strategic shift for the Madden family. Capitalising on this unforeseen opportunity, they embarked on planting mung beans, a decision that exemplifies the adaptive nature of modern farming.

“We made a decision 12 months ago – even without the long-range forecast – that we would double-crop some sorghum last summer in lieu of planting it this summer, on the strength of indications that we’d be expecting a very dry summer,” Matt says.

“Many of us thought, if it’s going to be a hot and dry summer, we’d better make some decisions now. So, there was a bit of a sell-off, and I believe some people might have over-reacted. But, realistically, nobody is ever quite sure until after the event.”

A WET SEASON

Left to right: Matt Madden on his 1600-hectare property near Moree; Significant rainfall has forced many farmers to rethink their seasonal plans.

Matt says that they are not blaming the BOM for its predictions, but as the long-range forecast was for a hot, dry summer, that is what many farmers were expecting.

“We initially made the decision not to plant a summer crop,” he says. “The winter was very dry, and by November we were thinking that it probably was the right call, because it was still very dry and hadn’t rained.”

Then the rain arrived in Matt’s area after mid-November, and it’s been pretty good ever since. “Then we made the decision to plant mung beans,” he says. “It’s not as though we’ve lost anything – we’re just making decisions on the best available knowledge.

“I’m pretty confident it’ll be successful as there’s moisture in the ground, along with medium rainfalls, so we’re definitely hoping for a good outcome.”

–MATT MADDEN

Wheat and barley farmer from Moree

“And, of course, we can’t always believe everything we hear; we’ve got to be the masters of our own decisions. We had some areas where we harvested sorghum in March/April last year – and last winter we planted wheat, barley and chickpeas and grew a reasonable crop, mainly on stored moisture from the previous wet spring.”

Matt and Catherine believe that dealing with the recent unpredicted weather patterns comes down to being flexible farmers.

“We’ve had plenty of rain, plenty of moisture, and the outlook changed, so it made sense to use the moisture available to us now for mung beans, which we planted on January 16,” he says. “I’m pretty confident it’ll be successful as there’s moisture in the ground, along with medium rainfalls, so we’re definitely hoping for a good outcome.

“The thinking behind the decision to plant mung beans is that we’ve got that moisture and now we’re going to put some of it to use while we’re also accumulating moisture for a winter crop. It’s an opportunity to protect that moisture with a cash crop in the ground.”

Mung beans are a short duration crop, with just 90 days from planting until harvest, and Matt explains that the good price they can get also makes them very attractive.

“We can always get back into a winter crop, and the rain was actually a nice surprise. Even though we didn’t have a summer crop in, we’re still building moisture for our next winter crop, so it’s a win-win situation,” he says. “Our mung beans will be ready for harvest in April and most will be in the sprouting market in South East Asia.”

“Because while the BOM might say it will be a hot, dry summer, you need to also look at the finer detail, which might also mention that it doesn’t mean it won’t rain again.”

KEY TO SUCCESS

“Its important to dril down into the details of how the long-term forecasts will impact your business,” says Matt Madden.

Normally the couple would plant sorghum in September, but there wasn’t an opportunity to plant a summer crop until nearly mid-November in the north-west.

“There were many people thinking that they just weren’t going to get a crop in,” Matt says. “Many farmers were thinking – ‘We might just have to hold this moisture over until Autumn 2024.’ But then it rained, and then rained again… and there’s also been storms. So those who kept to their program will be thinking it’s been a very positive outcome. “

In order to come out on top in times like the ones we’ve had recently, Matt and Catherine say that it’s all about taking notice of longer-term forecasts, and always remaining flexible.

“Because while the BOM might say it will be a hot, dry summer, you need to also look at the finer detail, which might also mention that it doesn’t mean it won’t rain again,” he says. “It certainly was a dry winter, not only for the summer croppers but for the livestock operators too. In my view, it’s all about considering your own circumstances. It’s important to drill down into the details of how the long-term forecasts will impact your business, and then take everything into very careful consideration.” l

ESG: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE CONFUSING

If you are confused about what ESG means, and how its definition and applications apply to farming, you are not alone. However, it’s worth exploring how it will affect you, and what you can do to navigate the changes that ESG is creating by its arrival, and in its wake. –

Never before have so many people relied on so few to produce their food. This is especially true in Australia, where less than half of one per cent of the population work in agriculture to feed the remaining 99.5 per cent.

But some of those 99.5 per cent want to bite the hands that feed them, CropLife Australia CEO Matthew Cossey warned in a no-holdsbarred speech at a luncheon hosted by the Farm Writers Association of NSW in Orange in September 2023. They are doing so, Matthew warned, via the weaponisation of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) requirements designed to help reduce the negative environmental impacts of doing business and meet global sustainability goals like net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

“For ESG in agriculture to be a positive force, it is important that the best available science guides [the practices associated with] it, and that they mustn’t be allowed to be hijacked by any other ideological agenda, particularly those fundamentally opposed to modern agriculture,” Matthew says.

“This feels like an all too familiar battle, front lined by affluent activist groups funded by tax-deductible donations from those with full bellies and designer grocery bags that seek to define what good farming looks like on their terms.”

He also warned of the risk of a ‘green famine’ resulting from ESG agendas on steroids in places like the European Union, where the blanket reduction of pesticides and fertilisers – combined with a target of 25 per cent organic farmland by 2030 – is predicted to reduce food production on the continent by up to 12 per cent – and increase global food prices by a whopping 9 per cent.

But like it or not, ESG is increasingly becoming a daily factor in modern farming.

So, what does it actually mean for farmers? How is it different from ESG for other highly regulated industries such as banking? What will environmentally conscious farmers be required to do that they’re not already doing? And how will it affect your hip pocket?

We posed these questions to three ESG experts from different disciplinary backgrounds at the NSW Farmers. Here’s what they had to say.

THE POLICY DIRECTOR Nick Savage, environment policy director at NSW Farmers, is the first to admit how confusing ESG is.

“The thing about ESG,” he says, “is there’s no overall government checklist for business, and I understand that is where a lot of the confusion lies.

But I don’t think ESG should ever be presented as a checklist where you can say ‘I’ve done this, so now I’m compliant’.

“ESG,” he explains, “is more of a culture than anything else. And that culture is already a big part of the way our members, mostly family farmers, operate in this day and age. For example, if you’re examining a company’s emissions output and biodiversity on land, you are probably already meeting a lot of your ESG requirements simply by adapting it and recording it. But if you’re completely ignoring the importance of having some kind of social responsibility and not creating any data, you’re going to be behind the eight ball.”

Just about every farmer Nick speaks to about ESG feels it’s just extra work.

“Corporate farms do this very well. They have the resources to address ever-changing regulatory

MEETING THE MARK

Above, left to right: Small businesses can meet ESG requirements by monitoring emissions output and biodiversity; Family farms are struggling with the increased compliance workload.

“I think the government needs to help set things up in a way so that farmers are more capable of meeting ESG requirements while not losing out on production.”

–NICK SAVAGE Environment policy director at NSW Farmers

requirements,” he says. “But a family farm may have one or two employees and feel they’re already saddled with too much compliance work. The last thing they want is more.

“What I tell them is there’s no turning back. We’re already on this journey so the best thing you can do is ensure your data points are doubly useful for the management of your businesses. In saying that, I think the government needs to help set things up in a way so that farmers are more capable of meeting ESG requirements while not losing out on production. That’s the kind of lobbying we are doing at NSW Farmers.”

THE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST

A graduate of environmental science who was born and raised on a farm, NSW Farmers environmental policy advisor Rhiannon Heath is unequivocal in her belief that ESG is going to become ever more important in the day-to-day running of farming in our state.

“Farmers will have to adapt to global trends and there is nothing we can do to stop that from happening,” Rhiannon says. “My role is to talk to government and to farmers to try to make the transition as smooth as possible while protecting food security.” One of the biggest sticking points in Rhiannon’s opinion is confusion and even contempt from farmers for ESG.

“Talking about ESG is not always productive and one of the reasons for that Rhiannon Heath

is ESG doesn’t have a strict definition that applies to agriculture. The language is very confusing, and a lot of these policies tend to apply to big businesses. They cannot be applied to agriculture in a meaningful way,” she says.

“There are a million different metrics you can use to measure ESG, so when I talk to farmers, I try to break it down into sustainability frameworks because it’s a more practical way for farmers to wrap their heads around it. I also try to explain how many of the things that they are already doing to comply with regulations, and by participating in things such as carbon credit schemes, indicates a very high standard of ESG.”

Rhiannon is concerned about what is happening with ESG but thinks it is highly unlikely farmers in Australia will face the same extreme kinds of pressures here “because what’s happening in the EU is socially driven, and we don’t have the same kinds of social pressures”.

“But some industries,” she notes, “are already being affected by export restrictions in the EU, such as restrictions on meat production where it has resulted in deforestation. These conditions are likely to intensify in the future and are seriously affecting many producers.”

THE ECONOMIST

A graduate of agricultural economics at the University of New England, Brendan O’Keeffe admits ESG is a “really complex, immature market” full of “teething problems that need to get worked out”.

That said, he wants to share two important points about ESG and farming.

“A lot of these policies tend to apply to big businesses. They cannot be applied to agriculture in a meaningful way.”

–RHIANNON HEATH

NSW Farmers environmental policy advisor

SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY MOVEMENT

Consumers increasingly want to not only be environmentally sustainable but be seen to be sustainable. In the financial sector, this has led to the emergence of the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) movement.

According to Deloitte: “Investors, regulators, as well as consumers and employees are now increasingly demanding that companies should not only be good stewards of capital but also of natural and social capital and have the necessary governance framework in place to support this. More and more investors are incorporating ESG elements into their investment decision-making process, making ESG increasingly important from the perspective of securing capital, both debt and equity.”

While ESG is seen by some as a “tick the box” exercise, bankers are already reporting deals are being rejected because of the ESG risk, meaning there is a fresh financial risk for farmers. As global finance markets and the banking industry adopt ESG requirements, it will impact whether farmers can access or afford the capital they need to run or expand their businesses.

Businesses that pursue ESG – and make it known they pursue ESG –are attracting greater numbers of shareholders. There are more markets for sustainability outcomes, and the anticipation is that the focus on ESG will drive market signals and incentives that will reward measurable sustainability attributes.

If Australian agriculture wants to access capital in the future, it will need to position itself within the framework of ESG, by clearly identifying the markers it meets, and seeking ways to meet others. Whether we like it or not, our products will need to meet these targets, and this will only become more apparent over time, particularly in high value-add markets.

The long-term sustainability of agriculture – not just from an environmental sense but also from a business and economic sense – is crucial to feeding a growing global population, and this means that like it or not, we need to deal with ESG. While agribusinesses today de-risk by spreading themselves out, either across different geographic areas or diversifying into different commodities, they should also be making a concerted effort to claim the ESG standards they already meet and find ways to meet those other standards as quickly as possible.

Carbon neutrality and the circular economy are already things we’re learning to live with. Integration of ESG standards will be more and more important to mitigate risks not just to the environment but also to our agricultural businesses, meaning we need to shamelessly promote our credentials sooner rather than later.

“The first point is – as is the case with all new and complex market mechanisms such as insurance – the best way to navigate ESG is through brokers who visit farmers. They need to learn about a farmer’s insurance needs, buy the best product, and help them make claims,” he says.

“They’re ‘information fixers’, and the same thing will probably happen with ESG. But the problem is, that we still don’t have an accreditation system for ESG brokers, which means unscrupulous brokers can waltz in and fill the gap. I don’t know if that is already happening but without accreditation, there is a potential for things to go awry. So, I think there’s an option for local land services to fill that gap.”

“The second point,” he says, “is that supermarkets in Australia – or any buyers for that matter – are probably going to have ESG standards or goals of their own the same way they have their own aesthetic standards for fresh produce.

“If things turn out that way, farmers will have to choose one supermarket to supply, and if they change supermarkets, they’re going to have to change their ESG certification, which is going to take a whole lot of effort.

A STICKY SITUATION

“It also locks farmers into one buyer, or if they want to supply multiple buyers, they’re going to have to ensure their produce conforms to multiple ESG standards. It’s another potential way for supermarkets to gain Brendan O’Keeffe

Above, top to bottom: Participating in clean energy collection can help farmers to meet ESG requirements; Big businesses and supermarkets may impose their own ESG standards and goals.

more leverage over farmers than they already have,” he explains. “Eventually, this other space in ESG is where I think the government is going to have to play a role to ensure it is a force for good, and that farmers get compensated for the extra costs imposed upon them.”

He says that organic farming is the classic example of where that has already happened.

“You could say that environmental degradation from agriculture, for instance, occurs because farmers are being underpaid. The economic argument for that is very clear,” he says. l

DRONING LIKE THE BIRDS AND THE BEES

Drone swarm technology that mimics birds and bees is coming to agriculture as part of the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution. Advances in AI and drone components have made natureinspired swarms possible – and the applications for agriculture are seemingly endless.

–

Words MICHAEL BURT

Imagine swarms of insect-sized drones capable of pollinating flowers using simulated bee fur and artifical intelligence technology to avoid obstacles, or a flock of drones sent in to target a disease outbreak in an apple orchard.

Imagine no more. Drone swarm technology is becoming reality thanks to AI, and it is poised to revolutionise farming practices in ways that were once unthinkable.

Researchers are delving into advanced methods of drone control using ‘swarm intelligence’ based on the collective behaviours of insect colonies and flocks of birds, as well as AI techniques to teach drone swarms to respond to new or unexpected situations.

Inspired by the biology of a bee, researchers at Harvard University are developing RoboBees, which are about half the size of a paper clip and fly using “artificial muscles” to potentially pollinate crops. They have not been flown outside the lab yet but have demonstrated co-ordinated behaviour in large groups.

AI is also being used to mimic the natural world with swarms of larger drones. Canadian start-up Fast Forest announced plans last year to release a ‘flock’ of AI-directed drones armed with air pressurised cannons to plant tree seeds. The group estimates a single drone operator would be capable of planting 100,000 seed pods per day, with the goal of planting one billion trees for reforestation by 2028.

In simple terms, drone swarms are a collection of drones that communicate with each other to accomplish a task as one cohesive unit. The use of AI enables the swarms to autonomously navigate and avoid obstructions like trees and animals.

Agricultural drone expert and trainer, Ben Watts, said the future of farming with swarms of drones is a compelling vision that promises increased productivity and efficiency.

“I see real merit in this technology for high value horticultural crops for time-critical pest and disease management that could be quicker than using machinery,” Ben says.

“There are some absolutely amazing things happening that will be game-changers, but there are some obstacles to this technology in Australia.”

Ben is well versed in the regulatory, safety and farming aspects of drone technology after training thousands of farmers through the NSW Farmers Drones in Agriculture program, which is funded by AgSkilled.

“Advances in technology are outpacing legislation in Australia. There are safety and privacy concerns that do need to be considered with any use of a drone.”

Ben said commercial interest in adopting the technology in Australia is limited due to strict regulations, cost and a lack of research and development on its applications in agriculture.

Drone swarm technology was used last year as part of a human-machine team demonstration at Puckapunyal conducted by the Australian Army’s Robotic and Autonomous Systems Implementation & Coordination Office (RICO). The Australian Defence

FUTURE FARMING

Above: The Agras T30 drones preparing for takeoff. Credit: LyonAg Drone Solutions.

Force has also collaborated with their British and US counterparts on a military trial of AI-enabled drone swarms.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has approved the technology for use in the entertainment industry, with companies like the Central Coast’s Swarming Drones offering animated sky shows from up to 100 drones.

Farmers can use multiple drones or drone swarms for tasks such as spraying broadacre crop if they have a remote pilot licence (RePL), a remotely piloted aircraft operator’s certificate (ReOC) and gain CASA approval to operate more than one drone at a time.

“I see real merit in this technology for high value horticultural crops for time-critical pest and disease management that could be quicker than using machinery.”

–BEN WATTS Agricultural drone expert and trainer

Agricultural drone technology companies such as Tamworth-based LyonAg Drone Solutions are using multiple drones to spray up to 45 hectares per hour in broadacre crops. It is not classed as drone swarms as multiple operators are involved, but they are working in unison through ‘routing segment’ technology that gives each drone different sections of the paddock to cover.

Owner of LyonAg Drone Solutions, James Lyon, travels across eastern Australia in a truck that features a 40kVA generator to keep the energy up to his team of four hardworking DJI T40 drones.

BUZZING BEES

Above, top to bottom: Harvard University RoboBees fly using ‘artificial muscles’; The RoboBees are half the size of a paperclip or the same size as an American one cent piece.

“Each drone carries 40 litres of liquid and it pumps it out at 12 litres per minute. In ideal conditions, that can result in covering up to 15 hectares per hour, but in most cases we get 12.5 hectares per hour done,” James explained.

“The DJI drones we use don’t support the swarming feature at this stage. We have played around with it, but it’s still too problematic, for a number of reasons.”

James said AI advances will change that, as it has for using drones as a precise identifier and killer of agricultural and environmental weeds.

A small team of software engineers have helped James incorporate AI weed detection algorithms and software into his drones that can then interface with the DJI ecosystem and direct spray drones to just target weeds.

“The AI algorithms learn to identify the weeds based on colour, texture and contrast to surrounding plants, and we can also filter based on size and height of the plant,” says James.

“The drone does a mapping mission of an area to detect weeds. All those AI-detected weeds are then loaded via our software into the DJI spray drone system for spot spraying and variable spray programs.

“For example, we can also do that with the spot dropping of herbicide granules on woody weeds in grazing country. We did this on a station in North Queensland, using AI to detect exotics weeds like Chinese apple. We then 3D printed measuring devices >

“Our AI model has been trained on weed images captured by botanists who travelled the length and breadth of Australia, and then tested across Australia by a range of users such as farmers, community groups and agronomists.”

–

DR ALEXANDER SCHMIDT-LEBUHN CSIRO Senior Research Scientist

to add to the bottom of drones to precisely drop just 30 grams of Graslan granules on top of the tree.

“It is a very exciting space to be involved in. It’s also expensive because the technology moves so quickly that your investment can become obsolete in less than a year.”

CSIRO RELEASES AI-DRIVEN WEED APP

The CSIRO has used its AI identification model to develop an app to help farmers, land managers, local councils, and Landcare to manage local weed burdens.

Launched in December last year, the mobile and web-based app WeedScan is supported by the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, Australia’s national science agency CSIRO, the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and the South Australian, Queensland and Victorian Governments. It allows users to identify, report and map priority weeds simply by uploading a photo of the suspected weed.

Dr Alexander Schmidt-Lebuhn, Senior Research Scientist at CSIRO, says that WeedScan is a powerful and effective tool, driven by a world-class CSIRO AI identification model and training on more than 120,000 weed images.

PROS AND CONS

“There are some absolutely amazing things happening that will be game changers, but there are also some obstacles to this technology in Australia,” says Ben Watts.

“Our AI model has been trained on weed images captured by botanists who travelled the length and breadth of Australia, and then tested across Australia by a range of users such as farmers, community groups and agronomists,” he says.

“The AI has the smarts to identify hundreds of priority weeds, and other weeds to give us the edge we need in the fight to protect our natural environments and agricultural landscapes.

“Users simply take a photo of a suspected weed and upload it to the app. The AI model assesses the photo against verified images of weeds. Within seconds, WeedScan suggests possible plant identifications, with degrees of confidence for each suggestion.”l

NSW Farmers members can access exclusive DJI drone packages suited for farming businesses through partner Prisma Tech. Contact Prisma Tech on (02) 4258 3489 or info@prismatech.com.au.

WeedScan can be downloaded from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android). The tool can also be accessed via WeedScan’s website with supporting resources including user guides and an introductory ‘how-to’ video.

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THE WATER BALANCE

Farmers are using ag-tech to drive down the cost of storing and using water, with their eye on achieving a profitable and sustainable future for their businesses.

–Words JEANETTE SEVERS

READ IT ONLINE

Acquiring quality water, and storing it,

is

especially

important

in preparing and managing farm productivity. Today, farmers are using data-driven decision making to make the most of water storage in order to lower input costs and reduce risks.

NSW Farmers has identified climate variability and high input costs as key factors in growing farm productivity. Farm businesses need support to build resilience, adapt to change and sustainably manage the farm landscape.

“We know where abundant water is available when you know where to look, using each property’s unique characteristics to identify how far below the surface the groundwater is.”

–JIM CONLEY Sustainable Water

A BALANCING ACT

Acquiring quality water and storing it is paramount in preparing and managing farm productivity. Farmers must balance reliable access to water for food and fibre production with environmental needs.

According to NSW Farmers’ south-east regional service manager, Daniel Brear, when it comes to water, responsibility is shared between the environment and food and fibre production. “Farmers need reliable access to water to produce a crop year on year, to ensure animal health, and for fire safety,” he says.

The provisions for stock and domestic water are well known and immutable. These provisions also enable responses to fire on the property and in surrounding country.

But farmers need reliable access to water to support the growth and harvest of crops as diverse as citrus, grapes, rice and wheat.

“Irrigation crops need reliability of supply for the farmer to manage water across the year,” Daniel says. “One of the challenges we see is farmers stressed because they aren’t sure they will have enough water for their permanent crops – citrus and grapes and the like.

“Within the irrigation schemes in NSW, irrigators are at the whim of the regulators about what water they can access in any given year. The allocations are announced on 1 July and any change can occur during the year, depending on the season.”

Daniel said long term planning required consistency within that year and in following years, especially when crops need to be rotated and to forecast production.

HELPING AUSTRALIAN FARMERS – AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO GROUNDWATER LOCATION

Sustainable Water Pty. Ltd. was established by Jim Conley, and Ross Martiensen, who are passionate about giving back to the land and helping agricultural productivity. They knew abundant water is available when you know where to look, so they began their mission to help rural communities; those who turn water into food and jobs.

To help farms never run out of water again, they researched and activated modern methodologies in underground water exploration and bore-water production. Utilising proprietary geophysical technologies, they locate and pinpoint high-quality groundwater bore sites, helping hundreds of Australian farmers such as these:

“I totally recommend Sustainable Water’s firstclass service to anyone needing underground water to drought-proof their properties or just for a reliable water supply.” – Jim, Qld

“Sustainable Water predicted various water amounts and qualities at various depths using high tech and delivered. Their three NSW customers before me also found great water.” – Dave, NSW

The Sustainable Water team analyses each property’s unique characteristics: surfaces, existing water resources, deeper geological water bearing structures, and geophysical data.

Following water location, driller experience is then necessary. As they play a crucial role, Sustainable Water collaborates with qualified and reliable drillers also committed to sustainability. Their expertise aligned

with Sustainable Water’s data-driven technology maximises success.

Bringing scientific technology and good old-fashioned hard work to the table, Sustainable Water continues delivering genuine solutions Australia wide.

FARMBOT’S WAY FORWARD

You can’t be everywhere at once, and in today’s world of high fuel costs and labour shortages, you shouldn’t be, there are solutions that address these challenges. Farmbot is one solution, as a business they work with producers to understand operational costs and challenges. As the adoption of remote water management grows rapidly, so does the desire to incorporate additional elements of remote control. If you don’t need to drive to check the tank, why drive to turn on a pump.

Andrew Coppin, Farmbot’s CEO, said ‘the company is continuously evolving their product range to improve processes for consistent incremental productivity and financial gains’. With the launch of Farmbot’s Pump Control it marked a new era of autonomy and control for water management. By enabling the automation of pumps based on water level with a simple click

PRECISION

PUMPING

Technology such as Farmbot can help farmers with costeffective and efficient control of water by remotely controlling pumps and tracking water levels, allowing for a better understanding of water consumption.

from a phone. A change in management will result in multiple cost savings to a business including, the extended lifespan of pumps, reduced water waste and wear and tear on vehicles, and the obvious countless hours saved. By reducing the need for physical checks on water tanks and pumps, you can redirect resources to more of the 1% tasks. Farmbot’s Pump Control has been praised by customers and is becoming the popular choice for a completely connected water management ecosystem.

More importantly, primary producers can reap the benefits of these solutions, as the Australian Federal Government aims to support the industry through the On Farm Connectivity Program (OFCP). Eligible producers can access a 50% discount on connectivity and on-farm technology with Farmbot Water Level Monitors and Pump Controllers being popular products of choice. This program is on a first-come, first-served basis, don’t hold off and be the one to miss out.

For more information contact Farmbot at 02 9030 4760 or go to farmbot.com.au.

FINDING A BALANCE

Daniel Brear says that farmers are concerned about the balance between water for the environment and water usage for food and fibre production.

Challenges include finishing off a winter crop, ensuring sufficient water for permanent crops –grapes, nuts, citrus and other fruit – and being able to plant an irrigated crop, whether that is broadacre cereal or fibre or grown in a more intensive production system, such as peas or potatoes.

“Obviously on farm storage is a huge issue and provides an opportunity for farmers to hold water when they need it,” he says. “We’ve seen in seasons where the allocations were turned off, that the market price to purchase water creates a situation where it isn’t worthwhile to finish crops.

“A zero allocation in July 2019 for people with temporary water on the Murray and Murrumbidgee Rivers led irrigators to have to downgrade the potential of their crops to hay,” he says. “That downgrade is tough when farmers want to produce the best crop they can from the water they have available to them.”

Daniel said farmers are using precision agriculture to monitor their water use and to identify new efficiencies that will enable them to balance their productivity and environmental responsibilities.

One example of this was co-irrigating rice crops to benefit wildlife conservation. According to NSW Local Land Services data, up to

1000 Australasian Bitterns benefit from changed agronomic practices among farmers who now grow short season rice varieties.

The Bitterns preference rice crops grown with early permanent water which provides them with a stable breeding habitat and 12.5 times the food source of frogs and tadpoles that then support the adult birds and chicks. By the time the chicks are fledged and gone from the nest, it is time to harvest the rice.

“This is one example of how Australian farmers, as world leading irrigators, practice their responsibilities towards the environment, and produce a key food source for people within our country and overseas,” Daniel says.

“Australia’s farmers are focussed on balancing their need for water for production, and delivering benefits for the environment.” l

For more information contact Co-Founder Jim Conley, Mobile: 0401 218 879 or email jim@ sustainablewatersolutions.com.au

WATER BORE SITES LOCATED BY SCIENTIFIC METHODS

Every Property is Unique. We analyse your properties unique characteristics; it’s surfaces, existing water resources, and its deeper geological water bearing structures and geophysical data.

STAGE ONE: Maps are created from airborne, satellite and on-the-ground data sets using advanced analytical technologies. Fracture trace analysis locates potential water bore sites over potential deep fractured-rock groundwater resources coming up near the surface.

STAGE TWO: Our team does on-site ground surveying deploying special instruments calibrated for water search to verify and hone the results of the first stage mapping and analysis.You get precise drilling locations physically staked on your property, and a complete Final Report with 2D and 3D data on expected drilling depths accompanying your property’s maps and bore site coordinates.

DRILLING: We can arrange a fully qualified prover driller, or you can give the Final Report to your own driller. Pricing Affordability is aided by our ability to do desktop analysis. We can usually respond with a same-day or next-day quotation depending on your water requirements, property size and property location details.

CONTACT US NOW FOR A FREE HIGH-LEVEL ASSESSMENT:

Mr. Jim Conley

Sustainable Water Pty Ltd

E Jim@sustainablewatersolutions.com.au

M 0401 218 879

W www.sustainablewatersolutions.com.au

PRIMEX CELEBRATES 40TH BIRTHDAY

The 40th Norco Primex Field Day at Casino this year is a major milestone for the Wright family, agribusiness and communities across north-eastern New South Wales and south-east Queensland.

The three-day milestone event will be held at the Richmond Events Centre from 16 to 18 May, and will be broader, more inclusive and more extensive than ever, says Primex Director Bruce Wright.

“It’s the culmination of four decades in the business of showcasing agricultural machinery and ideas to this corner of the country,” Bruce says.

“This year will be the biggest ever and, even if someone’s been every year for the past two decades, there’ll be something fresh for everyone. Everything from exhibits to entertainment, has been enhanced.”

Bruce sees Norco Primex Field Day as the ‘Yellow Pages of the Paddock’ – bringing leading brands together at the same time and place. This year, it encompasses all manner of exhibits, including traditional farm machinery and farming innovations, while supporting a number of associated community interests from health-care authorities to affordable housing experts, from breweries to beef producers.

“All elements in a farmer’s life are reflected,” Bruce said. “The core of the field day is obviously the machinery and equipment, but it’s also about how farmers live, the quality of life they have. From that comes innovation, efficiency, and also connection with the wider community.”

This year’s exhibitors include leading Australian tractor, truck, earthmoving and 4WD brands, sharing the stage with international exhibitors attending for the first time, with a combined estimated $67 million in sales generated in 2023.

Attendees will enjoy major new features such as the national Forestry and Timber event, supported by a range of key industry stakeholders including Timber NSW, NE NSW Forestry Hub, Timber Qld, Australian Forest Contractors Association and NSW DPI (Forestry).

Bruce Wright believes this event hub will offer the most comprehensive forestry and timber showcase in 2024, nationwide. “Primex is ideally situated on the east coast, making it an accessible resource for trade, industry and networking events, plantation visits and working demonstrations to both a national and international, audience,” he said.

North-eastern NSW’s hardwood industry contributes $700 million annually to GDP and employs 5700 people. Timber NSW chairman Andrew Hurford says that the Primex Forestry event will cover a number of elements, from harvesting machinery to information for landholders about growing or managing forests.

“I think we’ve really got, for the first time, a diversity of suppliers and information for all aspects of the industry, from growing and managing forestry to harvesting and processing the timber. It’s the largest forest industry trade exhibition in Australia this year that I’m aware of,” Andrew says.

The Northern Rivers based field day was originally conceived by Bruce’s father, John Wright, as one of

“As the only family-owned agricultural field day in Australia, we’re proud of more than 40 years servicing the needs of our farming and rural communities throughout one of the most diverse primary industry and food production sectors in the world.”

–BRUCE WRIGHT Primex Director

CELEBRATING PRIMEX

The milestone 2024 event includes 10 specific hubs such as the popular livestock feature, new Agtech Alley, and an education, training and careers feature with over a dozen providers. “Primex has always been a hub for innovation, industry and community collaboration,” says Director Bruce Wright.

a series of 1980s events to help fill down times for an equipment hire company based in the region and on the Gold Coast. With help from Casino stock and station agent Thomas George and local authorities, John took over 32 hectares of horse paddock on the eastern edge of town. In 1985, he held the inaugural Eastern Coast Rural Trade Expo with 40 exhibitors and 3000 visitors.

In 1988 John sold the hire company and the site, still owned by the Wright family, was further improved with earthworks and infrastructure. Today, it accommodates more than 400 exhibitors, 800 different companies and more than 30,000 visitors across three days.

Almost half the visitors to Norco Primex are primary producers, according to Bruce. The Northern Rivers is a diverse agricultural region with industries from beef and dairy cattle to timber to niche crops such as berries.

Bruce also sees value for metropolitan visitors from areas such as Brisbane and the Gold Coast, who may be looking to connect with, and better understand, agriculture and rural lifestyles. “Primex is far more than a rural ag show,” Bruce adds.

The milestone 2024 event includes 10 specific hubs such as the popular livestock feature, new Agtech Alley, and an education, training and careers feature with over a dozen providers. Attendees will also enjoy the highly anticipated forestry exhibition, a health and well-being hub, affordable housing and a Nourish Food and Drink program which aims to connect farmers and foodies through produce, food and live music.

This year, the field day will also feature an entertainment program to suit families of all ages, with a range of music and live events plus a wide selection of food outlets.

“Primex has always been a hub for innovation, industry and community collaboration,” Bruce said. “As the only family-owned agricultural field day in Australia, we’re proud of more than 40 years servicing the needs of our farming and rural communities throughout one of the most diverse primary industry and food production sectors in the world.” l primex.net.au

A FORECAST OF AI

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is causing a big seasonal change in the world of weather forecasting. Machine learning-based systems can now make accurate 10-day forecasts in minutes and could soon play a role in the all-important predictions of El Niño and La Niña events.

CALM BEFORE THE STORM

An AI storm is brewing in the weather forecasting industry with tech giants like Google and Huawei releasing machine learning-based systems that can provide 10-day forecasts in less than a minute.

Artificial Intelligence may not have had the ability to predict what many farmers across NSW would describe as the state’s wettest drought in recent months, but it is fast becoming a new advisor for weather forecasters.

The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) is embracing the technology and tech giants such as Google and Huawei have been jostling to release the fastest and most accurate machine-based systems.

The ECMWF, which is regarded as the world’s top forecasting agency, began to generate its own experimental AI forecasts last year and countries across Europe are intensifying the development and implementation of AI across their weather forecasting chains.

“Machine learning has a huge potential to improve our forecasts and services and will allow us to better protect all citizens from the impact of severe weather,” says Roar Skalin, Director General of Norway’s public meteorological service Met Norway.

“From the recent and very promising results we are seeing now from our own experiments and ECMWF on a global scale, it is clear that this is a direction we must forcefully invest in.”

Traditionally, weather forecasts are worked out using the laws of physics and powerful supercomputers making complex calculations based on observations from weather stations, satellites and buoys. >

“Machine learning has a huge potential to improve our forecasts and services and will allow us to better protect all citizens from the impact of severe weather.”

–ROAR SKALIN Director General of Norway’s public meteorological service Met Norway

AI technology issues a weather forecast based on historical data and has the advantage of being inexpensive to run on desktop computers.

Researchers from Google’s DeepMind AI project claim to have developed a machine-learning model that predicts hundreds of weather variables for a 10-day forecast in under a minute.

Google’s AI model, called GraphCast, is trained directly on the reanalysis of historical weather data. Experimental results were recently published in the journal Science, with researchers stating it “predicts weather conditions up to 10 days in advance more accurately and much faster than the industry goldstandard weather simulation system”.

GraphCast significantly outperformed the most accurate traditional forecasting systems on 90 per cent of 1380 verification targets, and its forecasts support better severe event prediction, including tropical cyclone tracking and extreme temperatures. It can also take in the current state of the Earth’s weather and the state six hours earlier, then outputs how the weather will be in six hours’ time.

Fellow tech giant Huawei also launched its own AI forecasting system called Pangu-Weather last year. It is built on a deep neural network trained on 39 years of reanalysis data, which combines historical weather observations with modern models.

Researchers tested Pangu-Weather against the ECMWF’s operational integrated forecasting system

LIGHTNING-FAST PREDICTIONS

Above and right: A lot of modern equipment can be monitored from your phone; Schedule-It Irrigation owner Brett Orwin out in the field testing the soil ‘weather’ as part of an advanced system for scheduling irrigation programs that are down to the millimetre.

and found that it produced similar accuracy in mere seconds. Pangu-Weather was also able to accurately track the path of a tropical cyclone, despite not having been trained with data on tropical cyclones.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) says it has been proactively engaging with research on AI capabilities for weather forecasting.

“This area of research is one of many initiatives the bureau actively pursues to improve its services to government, emergency management partners and the community,” A BoM spokesperson said.

The results on short term weather predictions from AI models are promising, but they are unlikely to replace conventional weather prediction models anytime soon.

“Knowing the water status of your paddocks is essential to define the water needs of your crops according to the phenological stage and your crop management.”

–BRETT ORWIN Schedule-It Irrigation

AI-powered forecasting models are trained on historical weather data that goes back decades, which means they are great at predicting events that are similar to the weather of the past. As farmers would know, we are working in an era of increasingly unpredictable seasonal conditions.

SOIL WEATHER CRITICAL TO IRRIGATION EFFICIENCY

The weather tech revolution is also driving improvements in irrigation efficiency with businesses like Finley-based Schedule-It Irrigation able to generate seven-day crop watering programs that are down to the millimetre.

Schedule-It Irrigation uses the latest in soil moisture probe technology to combine soil ‘weather’ measurements with data from the monitoring of crop water usage, canopy temperature sensors, crop phenological models and weather forecasts.

Farmers can then adopt real-time irrigation recommendations using a cloud-based platform that can also provide season reports, in-field warnings, and monitoring of crop and water usage data by skilled irrigation scheduling specialists.

“Knowing the water status of your paddocks is essential to define the water needs of your crops according to the phenological stage and your crop management,” says owner Brett Orwin. >

On Farm Connectivity Rebate Program

The Australian Government has put up a total of $30 million for the On Farm Connectivity Rebate Program over two years. Round 1 made $15 million available in 2023-24, with applications closing on 31 May 2024 or until funding is exhausted, whichever occurs first.

The grant (rebate) amount will be up to 50 per cent of the cost of eligible equipment items.

Eligible Primary Producers can only access the program (and rebate) through an eligible Equipment Supplier like Schedule-It Irrigation.

Contact Schedule-It Irrigation on 0456 579 171 or email admin@schedule-it.com.au

“This combined with your soil type, irrigation system parameters, soil moisture monitoring and weather factors are all used to set up an irrigation schedule that sets out the frequency and volume of water necessary to optimize water usage and crop health.”

“This forecast is most useful if it includes at least a seven-day forecast in mm for broad acre cropping and hours for orchards and vineyard to irrigate. Irrigation forecasts giving exact values in mm or hour saves time and ensures accuracy and efficiency.”

Brett and wife Marcelle established the business in 2021 with partner Peter Brunt after moving from South Africa to the Riverina region to work in the agriculture sector.

The former dairy farmer and agronomist spent almost a decade working with irrigation scheduling technology in South Africa and decided to transfer those skills to the food bowl of NSW.

“It’s about eliminating the guesswork from irrigation to conserve water, save time, and reduce costs,” Brett says.

Marcelle said they are proud to be a Program Partner in the federal government’s On Farm Connectivity Program, which provides eligible suppliers with up to a $30,000 rebate for sales of digital farming technology to eligible Primary Producers to help improve their connectivity and productivity.

“Eligible farmers can use the grant for something that will make a real difference on their farm, like adopting an agtech solution that tells you what to irrigate in millimetres or hours in real time to your phone or PC,” Marcelle says.

“One of the grant program’s objectives is to get farmers to take advantage of advanced farming technology like we do to improve productivity.” l

Here’s to the Tenterfield Saddler

The Tenterfield Saddler is so much more than a charming historical building. It’s a reminder of familial love, Aussie spirit and the history of our land.

Listed with the National Trust of Australia in 1972, The Tenterfield Saddler site has a long history including hit singles, bank vault mysteries, and famous customers. And although the Saddler has passed through many hands, it remains largely unchanged from its original condition, thanks to the work of dedicated volunteers and passionate historians.

A HISTORY OF AUSTRALIAN SADDLERS

Saddlery is a trade that has spanned decades, with origins dating back to the 13th Century. Originally, saddlers were known as ‘bourreliers’ – experts who made equipment for farmers, producers and knights during the Middle Ages.

Eventually, the growing use of horses in society for transport, agricultural work and leisure led to the professionalisation of the saddler craft.

In Australia, saddlers drew inspiration from the English style all-purpose saddles to develop the Australian stock saddle, which is known for its support

and security. It was designed for use in stock work such as mustering and droving, dating back around 150 years.

One of the earliest known saddlers in Australia was John Jones, who established a business in Sydney and began producing stock saddles in 1833. Jones is credited with naming the suburb of Stanmore when he established his property on the present-day site of Newington College and named it Stanmore Estate.

While saddlery is a male-dominated field, there is evidence of female saddlers in early 19th Century Australia. Records from the State Library of Queensland identify Rose Harris as the only woman saddler during her time. She worked in Clermont from around 1918 until 1948, when her shop burnt down. Incredibly, during the 1916 Clermont floods, she saved six lives by using leather reins to throw to people being swept up in the floodwater and pulling them onto the balcony of a local hotel.

HALL OF FAME

The Tenterfield Saddler was first introduced into Aussie consciousness back in 1972 when singersongwriter Peter Allen released his hit single of the same name.

Allen dedicated the song to his late grandfather, George Woolnough, who bought the High Street building in 1908 and kept it running smoothly until his retirement in 1960.

The saddlery was known as a place for men to gather and share stories. Sometimes they would even bring their children, to play with leather offcuts while they worked and chatted. George often sat and listened to his visitors, enjoying the sense of community and keeping up with the local town gossip.

During this period, iconic Aussie stars were known to grace the saddlery halls. These included singers such as Banjo Patterson, who would also visit other friends in the Tenterfield region such as W.H.Walker (the manager of Tenterfield Station) and the Hurtz family.

Banjo enjoyed spending time with the Hurtz’s daughter, Matilda, who would sit on his knee while he played the piano. He would go on to compose Waltzing Matilda in her honour – one of Australia’s most iconic songs.

George Woolnough was often visited by Peter Allen too, who is now celebrated in Tenterfield during the annual Peter Allen festival. Peter is known for producing several hit songs including I Go to Rio, I Still Call Australia Home, and Arthur’s Theme for the film Arthur, for which he won an Academy Award.

PASSING HANDS

The land upon which Tenterfield Saddlery now sits was originally purchased by Sir Stuart Alexander Donaldson for 32 pounds and 10 shillings back in 1858. Sir Stuart was already the owner of Tenterfield Station, named after his aunt’s home near Haddington in Scotland. The station would go on to inspire the name of Tenterfield town, while Stuart became the first Premier of New South Wales.

TIME IS A TRAVELLER

The two-room building was constructed using hand-cut local blue granite and North Coast cedar. For many years it operated as a saddlery, until it was eventually sold to the Australian Joint Stock Bank in 1874. Due to the thick granite walls, which were more than 20 inches wide, Tenterfield Saddlery was seen as the perfect place to establish a bank.

The building would go on to have several other lives, including as a private home, before eventually returning to its original purpose as a workshop for saddles, bridles and other horse equipment when it was sold to the town saddler, Dan Egan. George Woolnough took over in 1908, with two more saddlers following him after his retirement; E.C. Daly and T.D. Gibson.

A BUILDING OUT OF TIME

These days, the National Trust of Australia owns and operates the building. The saddlery remains in its original condition, and visitors are invited to explore the memorabilia housed all around the property, as well as purchasing handcrafted leather goods and Tenterfield Saddler merchandise.

Bronwyn Petrie, Mayor of Tenterfield Shire, says the saddler remains deeply important to the people of Tenterfield.

“Tenterfield is still very much a horse shire because of our mountainous terrain,” she explains. “While we go to different places for our gear nowadays, lots of us still have memories of taking our gear to the saddlery to get it fixed.”

Apart from a few restorations, the saddler has been preserved in its original condition. When wandering the rooms, it’s easy to spot 130-year-old tobacco stains

A PIECE OF HISTORY

Above, clockwise: A classic saddle made by a Tenterfield saddler; the two-room building has a welcoming facade; Volunteers are passionate about the history of the saddlery and the town.

on the roof and wooden floors patched with leather. Here, it really is like stepping back in time.

“The front step is so worn that it’s got a dip in it from all the foot traffic,” adds Mrs Petrie.

In April 2023, the Tenterfield Saddler was put up for sale after being owned and managed by the Meldon family for 28 years. They originally bought the building in 1995, when it was still a working saddlery.

Dianne Reynolds, sales manager from Lloyds Corporate Brokers, emphasised the importance of the Tenterfield Saddler as an iconic Aussie landmark when discussing the decision to sell.

“This is an opportunity to save an iconic Australian brand and rebuild a business that is even older than R.M. Williams, and has a deep heritage,” she explained.

It has since passed hands to equestrian equipment supplies business WeatherBeeta but the original spirit and design endures.

The Tenterfield Saddler remains an Aussie landmark with a rich history in Australia’s farming culture. This importance is perhaps best expressed by Peter Allen, whose words still ring true all these years later.

“The late George Woolnough

Worked on High Street

And lived on Manners

52 years he sat on his veranda

And made his saddles.

“And if you had questions

About sheep or flowers or dogs

You just ask the saddler

He lived without sin

They’re building a library for him.

“Time is a traveller

Tenterfield saddler turn your head

Ride again Jackaroo

Think I see kangaroo up ahead.”

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Straight from the heart

On a lush green dairy farm on the banks of the Macquarie River, two generations work hard to bring their unique milk to customers’ doors. Forget mass production – at this dairy, every cow has a name, and every bottle has heart.

–

When The Little Big Dairy Co launched its first milk range in 2013, the pitch to consumers was simple: to deliver the best tasting, single source milk to as many people as possible. But as every farmer knows, there’s no such thing as simple when it comes to primary production.

This not-so-simple idea was dreamed up by Emma Elliott, who started Little Big Dairy Co. with her husband, Jim, and her family. Its modern milk was born from an old-school idea – one cow, one bottle. What started out as a stand at a local farmers’ markets has grown to 100,000 litres of milk distributed throughout NSW and the ACT each week, all while maintaining that commitment to single source bottling. It’s a remarkable story that proves it’s possible to succeed and stay true to your values.

THE FAMILY FARM

feeding calves with mum, hosing out the dairy and washing buckets. When my younger brother Duncan and I were 10 and 12 we were actually rostered on for milkings!”

After owning and leasing properties around the state, her parents purchased Glen Isla in 2004. The 971-hectare property sits 17 kilometres west of Dubbo on the banks of the Macquarie River and would eventually become the home of The Little Big Dairy Co.

“As a dairy farmer’s daughter, I was raised on political turmoil. I recall the heartache of quota redistributions and the Kerin plans,” says Erika. “As a dairy farmer’s wife, I have lived through deregulation, increasing regulation in all facets of the farming business, and shrinking returns over time.”

When Emma finished university and returned to the farm in 2012, it was to face a new set of challenges.

UDDERLY ORIGINAL

Below, clockwise: Dairy farming runs in the family for the Elliotts; The Little Big Dairy Co produces only single-source milk; The company distributes 100,000 litres of milk each week.

“It was such a depressing time for the industry,” she says. “It was a time when any milk produced over your contracted volume was only worth about 10 cents per litre.”

Emma comes from a long line of dairy farmers. Her parents, Erika and Steve Chesworth, bought their first farm in the 1990s and from the start it was a family affair. “Dairy farming is all encompassing,” says Emma. “As children my brothers and I would be part of the action every day: on the back of a motor bike with Dad, >

It didn’t matter. “The thing I love the most is to be with my family. Even though I don’t possess the ‘cow brain’ that my Dad and brother do (the ability to recognise cows by sight and recite their pedigree) I do love working alongside them,” Emma says.

“As a dairy farmer’s wife, I have lived through deregulation, increasing regulation in all facets of the farming business, and shrinking returns over time.”

Erika Chesworth

“To be at home making plans to find room to stay in the family business was really what my heart desired.”

So, Emma got to work. “My school friends will tell you that I spoke of bottling our family’s milk,” she laughs. “But I don’t remember.” The timing was right for a big idea. Her brother Duncan was approaching the end of his trade apprenticeship and had also always dreamed of returning to the family farm. Emma’s partner (and soonto-be-husband) Jim was a builder. The plan for an on-farm milk processing factory was born.

Her parents were on board right away. “Both Steve and I are beneficiaries of dairy families, committed to supporting each other no matter how the next generation

does it or where they do it. Our children always knew we were holding on for them,” says Erika. “We were always conscious of being in a position to make the same opportunities available to our children that we had. Therefore, when the conversation started about establishing The Little Big Dairy Co, we were open and ready.”

MILK THAT MATTERS

Little Big’s state-of-the-art dairy is a 28-aside Boumatic rapid exit equipped with electronic milk metering and full herd health monitoring through real time technologies. It’s this technology that allows the team to trace each bottle of milk back to an individual cow, something that had never been done before on such a scale. Every

drop comes from their herd of 800 Holsteins, born and raised on the farm. The bottling factory is just one kilometre down the road, so the first time milk leaves the farm, it’s in a Little Big bottle and bound for a supermarket or café.

The health and welfare of the cows is at the centre of everything. Regenerative farming practices and scientifically proven methods ensure the cows live longer, have more lactations and achieve higher milk production. Three herds are rotated with different milking schedules to protect udder health and provide constant supervision. Sustainability is built into the brand, with effluent wastewater re-used in paddocks, solar panels, landscape regeneration and much more.

“The absolute best part – and the absolute privilege – has been to grow a team and a company with Jim. He was always very passionate about company culture and his beloved systems.”

Emma Elliott

And Emma’s not done yet. “We also have some big dreams for on-farm infrastructure,” she says, “enabling our cows to have improved living conditions out of the harsh weather extremes, with better access to high quality nutrition, reduced stress and improved cow comfort.”

INTEGRITY IN EVERY BOTTLE

“At one time we were laughed at for trying to build value in the dairy industry,” says Emma. “So I’m really proud that we have succeeded in leading the value proposition for premium Australian milk. It’s our belief that single source milk shouldn’t be reserved for the lucky few, but readily available supporting the local economy in which it was made.”

Emma credits her strong Christian faith for helping her overcome difficulties and giving her the strength to hold on to the dream. “The prayer is always to keep working towards something until we are given a roadblock,” she says. “There were plenty of roadblocks, but they were overcome in miraculous ways. It was meant to be.” Following Jim’s death, Emma’s youngest brother Campbell returned home to work alongside the family. He wears all kinds of hats, from production and distribution to sustainability, as well as supporting his sister and nephews.

Over the past decade, the team has worked hard to ensure they sell for a price that is fair and sustainable. That means finding the right partners and customers for their milk. “But even now 10 years on, it’s a weekly challenge,” Emma says. “People tell us our product is too expensive, that milk is milk, and that people don’t want to pay for milk. We know this isn’t true for everyone. We say that we don’t compete on quality so we can’t compete on price. We are committed to our customers and our high quality, high value products.”

Today, the award-winning Little Big Dairy Co range includes five types of milk plus three flavoured milks and cream. Next up is butter, launching this year. There are two other exciting milk products in the works: a lactose-free and gluten-free flavoured milk line and a milk suitable for making coffee that has a focus on immune support.

LITTLE BIG LOVE

When asked about the best part of building Little Big from the ground up, Emma doesn’t hesitate. “The absolute best part – and the absolute privilege – has been to grow a team and a company with Jim. He was always very passionate about company culture and his beloved systems,” she says. “My boarding school friends would tease me by saying that all I wanted to do was to marry a farmer and be a wife. But to me that means being part of a team that works together to achieve a dream – preferably outside some of the time. I was blessed to see that be a reality when I married my husband Jim, although a builder not a farmer.” (Tragically, Jim passed away following an accident in late 2021.)

The next generation of Little Big is already part of the family business. Emma and Jim’s sons Xavier, 8, and Wilfred, 5, both want to be dairy farmers when they grow up. Xavier enjoys riding on the tractor, feeding the calves and going out with Poppo (grandfather Steve). Wilfred likes to do jobs for his mum.

“I do hope the boys will continue with it,” says Emma. “I think somewhere along the way we learned that we should make our kids try to choose a more professional job and turn away from agriculture because it’s such a hard slog. But then I see the way Xavier and Wilfred play farmers, pretending to chase cows on their pushbikes, putting up fences made of bailing twine in the house yard, and studying the tractor magazines. I really want to encourage them to pursue this love of farm life they have and work as hard as I can with what’s in front of me to ensure it’s an option for them.”

Erika has no expectations for any of her five grandchildren to continue on at Glen Isla. But if they do, she hopes they’ve learned lessons from those who have come before. “I would expect once the decision to commit has been made, they would stick with it and ride the highs and the lows,” she says. “It is important to know the longterm objectives both personally and professionally, and understand the trajectory to achieving the goals isn’t a straight line upward!”

Ten years on, Emma still feels a thrill every time she sees someone drinking a coffee made from Little Big milk, or spots a bottle in a stranger’s trolley. The Little Big Dairy Co remains firmly a family-owned business, supported by a passionate team, and continues to grow each year.

“There have been so many lessons,” Emma says. “But I’ll never stop learning. Nor do I want to.” l

Keeping it in the family: the story of Chester’s Tomatoes

Meet Associate Member Dave Bird and his entrepreneurial kids from Port Macquarie, whose family venture has blossomed into a thriving tomato business.

The Bird siblings, Chester, Milla and Sam, are doing business a little bit differently. When Chester, the eldest at 17, initiated a homegrown tomato venture, he set the stage for a unique family legacy centred around Chester’s Tomatoes.

The very beginnings of the business can be traced back to a conversation between Dave and his brother-in-law. The idea was

simple – teach the kids to run a business and they’ll gain a diverse skill set not found in conventional jobs. As a business consultant himself, Dave challenged his children to find their own source of income, strategically cutting off their pocket money after primary school.

Chester first came up with the idea of cultivating and selling vegetables

when he was only in grade four, but soon narrowed down the focus to tomatoes due to their popularity. The journey began with two years’ of research into growing tomatoes, designing logos and purchasing punnets, prior to the family’s move to Port Macquarie.

Dave and Chester then spent countless hours constructing garden beds and

cultivating a vast veggie garden. Chester diligently planted heirloom tomato seeds in a greenhouse, nurturing them into thriving plants. The first harvest marked a milestone, and Chester, armed with business cards and a trolley of punnets, embarked on door-to-door sales, kickstarting Chester’s Tomatoes.

The business model proved highly successful, with demand quickly outpacing their ability to grow tomatoes. However, challenges like the Covid19 lockdowns, relocation and adverse weather conditions prompted a strategic shift. Chester reached out to Ricardoes Tomatoes, a local farm, and established a partnership that ensured a consistent supply of quality tomatoes.

As Chester says, “If you buy quality from the start, people see that you do things properly and in the long run it saves you money. And that’s been the case with the tomatoes.”

CHANGING HANDS

As Chester transitioned to other endeavours, the business was sold to then 13 year-old Milla (under Dave’s careful supervision). Milla kept up the momentum, knocking on doors and keeping the community engaged with Chester’s Tomatoes. Her year of owning the business served as an invaluable learning experience.

“The fact that some of the customers have been buying from them for four and a half years – and keep buying – is testament to the fact that they’re providing something which is commercially viable.”

–DAVE BIRD NSW Farmers Associate Member

BUSINESS IS BOOMING

Opposite page: Brothers Chester (17) and Sam Bird (12) have taken their business beyond Port Macquarie.

“It definitely helped me with my people skills because I had to knock on people’s doors, which at first was extremely confronting, and I was really nervous to do that,” she says. “But by the end, I thought the worst that they can do is say no.”

This experience has helped Milla enhance communication and entrepreneurial skills, which she takes with her as she pursues a keen interest in fashion.

Today, the reins of Chester’s Tomatoes are in the hands of Sam, the youngest sibling at 12 years old. Sam continues the family legacy, and is considering future diversification into oranges. He has also introduced a loyalty program, fostering customer engagement and environmental responsibility by offering rewards for recycling.

Dave has seen a huge leap in confidence in all the kids since starting the business.

“Door-to-door cold calling is the hardest form of selling,” he says. “So, they were going in the deep end straight away. But if you can get confident in that, you can pretty much do anything in sales. Now it’s just second nature.”

A JUICY SUCCESS STORY

The feedback from customers has been overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing joy at the sight (and sound) of Sam’s familiar trolley squeaking through the neighbourhood.

As Dave says, “The fact that some of the customers have been buying from them for four and a half years – and keep buying – is testament to the fact that they’re providing something which is commercially viable.”

One of the business’s biggest supporters is neighbour and NSW Farmers Regional Service Manager for North Coast & Tablelands Mark Bulley, who has offered both encouragement and practical assistance to Chester’s Tomatoes over the years.

Chester’s Tomatoes continues to go from strength to strength. And, as the business’s youngest proprietor, what golden piece of advice would Sam give to someone looking to start their own business?

“Don’t be afraid to try new things.” l

The Saleyards

We’ve rounded up the best handmade Aussie products from local designers and makers.

MAKE YOUR MARK

This stunning ceramic vase can house a bunch of your favourite flowers or just sit as a standalone art piece. Hand-thrown, painted and etched by Melbourne artist Christina McLean, each piece is utterly unique and a perfect addition to your mantelpiece.

$110

tradethemark.com

SCENTS-ATIONAL

The Field Notes perfume by Rewild Co is a love letter to the Australian bush. Made from 100 per cent Australian botanicals by perfumer Amanda on the Limestone Coast, enjoy the delicate aroma of lemon-scented gum, gentle wildflowers and sandalwood.

From $34.50 rewildco.com.au

A REAL PEARLER

This beautiful pair of Stella earrings from Peggy & Twig feature a keshi pearl drop on 14 carat yellow gold hoops. Stylish and elegant, they add a touch of luxury to any outfit, and each pair of earrings is handmade to order. $70 peggyandtwig.com.au

NEVER BE BOARD

Take your charcuterie board to the next level with these large round boards by Kate Small. Each 500mm diameter board is handmade in her studio in Deniliquin and finished with a food grade mineral oil. Choose from a variety of timbers to suit your home.

$150 katesmall.com.au

BELT IT OUT

Bring some classic style to work with the Saddler & Co leather ring belt. Made from strong and supple saddler’s bridle leather with quality stitching, this belt is designed to last. The solid brass ring, buckle and keeper have been burnished by hand for a polished finish. $295 addlerandco.com.au

THIRST QUENCHER

Riverina Gin’s signature blend of traditional botanicals and local oranges produces a wonderfully refreshing citrusforward dry gin, proudly handmade in The Riverina. It’s perfect in a G&T after a long day in the paddock.

$85

riverinagin.com

Best mates

Kyah and Sena from Oberon are best mates, and on the farm that spells double trouble

REAL NAME AND NICKNAME:

Kyah, but everyone calls me Waggles because when I’m happy because I wag from nose to tail!

FAVOURITE THING TO DO ON THE FARM?

I like to get wet, so the big dam we have is my favourite spot. I also like talking to Wednesday, our Black Angus poddy calf. We like to lick each other’s noses.

HAVE YOU EVER DONE SOMETHING REALLY NAUGHTY?

The other day I ate my bed, and my sister’s bed. All the stuffing came out and it looked like someone had shaved their head and left it all over the backyard.

WHAT IS YOUR WORST HABIT?

Eating cow poo, chicken poo, sheep poo and alpaca poo. It’s such a freely available treat.

IS THERE SOMETHING THAT DRIVES YOUR PARENTS MAD?

I steal shoes. I have also worked out how to get through the gate and love, love, LOVE to race into the house and dive onto their beds…especially the one with the white quilt cover.

IF YOU COULD HAVE ANOTHER ANIMAL AS A FRIEND, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

I tried to make friends with a Copperhead snake, but that didn’t end well. So Wednesday, the poddy calf. She loves to run and always dribbles milk for me to lap up!

ANY LAST WORDS?

The humans are cooking. There might be scraps! Gotta run!

REAL NAME AND NICKNAME:

Sena, but I also get called ‘Big Girl’ now that Kyah the puppy is in the house.

FAVOURITE THING TO DO ON THE FARM?

Swim in the dam, eat the sheep poo and sleep on my humans’ outdoor armchair.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE FOOD?

Cheese. I love cheese soooooo much. I don’t even chew it when it gets popped in my mouth – it’s far too exciting for that!

IF YOU COULD HAVE ANOTHER ANIMAL AS A FRIEND, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

I should say Kyah, but she’s an annoying puppy. Something that was big and cuddly as I love to snuggle. Maybe Kyah when she grows up.

FAVOURITE TOY OR THING TO PLAY WITH?

Sticks. It doesn’t matter if it is so tiny you can hardly see it, or metres long. I love sticks and love to show my humans that I’ve found one!

WHAT DOES EVERYONE LOVE ABOUT YOU?

That my eyebrows are really animated – I can wiggle them around.

Three clever Aussie inventions

These Aussie inventions revolutionised practices in the farming, mining and export industries. Without them, our world may look very different today.

STUMP JUMP PLOUGH

The Stump Jump Plough was a groundbreaking machine conceived by brothers Richard and Clarence Smith from South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula. The machine enabled farmers to cultivate their land without needing to remove all rocks and stumps beforehand.

During the late 1800s, mass land clearing was disrupted by large mallee stumps in the ground making it difficult for farmers to plough their land. Noticing an issue, the Smith brothers designed their Stump Jump Plough in 1876, using several hinged blades which lifted out of the ground when they hit an obstruction. This allowed the machine to ‘jump’ over roots and rocks.

AMAZING INVENTIONS

Below, left to right:

While both brothers invented the plough together, it was Clarence Smith who would continue to improve the original design. Initially working under his brother as a blacksmith’s apprentice, he was eventually able to open a factory in Ardrossan in 1880, where he began widespread manufacturing of this vital machine.

ELECTRIC DRILL

Nowadays, the electric drill is a staple in every homeowner’s toolbox. But this handy contraption actually owes its invention to Australia’s mining industry.

In 1891, Scottish-born engineer Arthur James Arnot became the first-ever electrical engineer on the Melbourne City Council. However, he is better known for his earlier work patenting the electric drill in 1889 alongside his Melbourne-based colleague William Blanch Brain. The two were inspired to develop a tool capable of drilling rock and coal for use in the mines.

Five years later, German brothers Wilhelm and Carl Fein created the first portable electric drill, however it was much heavier and larger than modern iterations of the device and needed two hands to hold. It wasn’t until the early 1900s that the portable hand-held drills we know today were finally produced.

REFRIGERATION

In the 1850s, ships travelling between Europe and Australia

would carry fresh meat and vegetables. However, with no way to keep these goods cold, they would spoil before reaching land.

James Harrison, a printer from Melbourne, accidentally discovered the process of refrigeration when he was cleaning his printing press with ether, a colourless liquid often used as a solvent. He noticed that when the liquid evaporated, the metal on the press cooled. Inspired to continue his research, Harrison developed a machine that pumped ether through metal coils to cool them down. In 1850, he opened an ice factory in Geelong, where he produced roughly 3 tonnes of ice every day.

In 1873, Harrison attempted to ship 20 tonnes of beef from Australia to England using his cooling system. While the experiment failed, Harrison remained determined to develop a commercially viable product. He moved to England to partner with the engineering firm Siebe & Co, where he sold his first refrigeration machine to a London brewery. It wasn’t long before more improvements and sales followed. l

Feeding the Future

A stronger outlook for farmers and the state

Australian farmers are facing uncertainty and tough economic times. However, this situation presents an opportunity to focus on what’s important, such as our families, our communities, and where our food and clothes come from.

NSW Farmers has found five areas where our advocacy efforts can deliver positive outcomes for the agricultural sector. These include road and rail infrastructure, biosecurity, competition, workforce and farm productivity, and land use pressures.

ROAD AND RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE

To improve road and rail infrastructure, local governments should receive better funding to repair and rebuild. Additionally, supply chains, especially port access and container handling, should be improved for efficient delivery of products from paddocks.

BIOSECURITY

Biosecurity should focus on preventing incursions and providing practical traceability. Collaboration with the state’s new Biosecurity Commissioner is essential. Furthermore, public land management, particularly pest animals and weeds, should be improved.

COMPETITION

There’s been a lot of anger about supermarket super profits over the past six months. Securing meaningful competition reform for farmers and families is crucial. Transparency and trust throughout supply chains must be improved to ensure farmers receive a fair deal.

PRODUCTIVITY AND WORKFORCE

Farm resilience and innovation, particularly in extreme weather and natural disasters, must be the priority for workforce and farm productivity. Protecting productive water from waste and industrialisation is also necessary. Attraction, retention, and skill development for workers, along with more housing options, should be considered.

LAND USE PRESSURES

An independent, legislated Agriculture Commissioner should be appointed to defend productive land within the government’s machinery. Balance in the energy transition with food and fibre production is necessary so that farmers and communities can benefit. Additionally, the Just Terms Compensation Act should be reformed to better suit rural landholders.

Want to get involved? Call the NSW Farmers Member Service Centre on 1300 794 000 to join today!