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, have 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 nick name:

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.

If you liked reading about the life of farm dogs Kyah and Sena, make sure to catch up on what Mr Bojangles from Wauchope has been up to.

The post Farm Dogs: Kyah and Sena from Oberon appeared first on The Farmer Magazine.

“The tea tree industry is coming under pressure from competition from China, which typically offers adulterated and very impure oils,” says Phil, CEO of Downunder Enterprises and chairman of the Australian Tea Tree Oil Industry Association (ATTIA).  

Thanks to well-established testing, auditing and accreditation systems for tea tree producers and distilleries, the governance – and importantly, data to support it – were there. So a pilot commenced with agtech startup, Geora, to build a digital traceability and certification management tool. Blockchain, a secure and decentralised kind of digital ledger that records and verifies transactions across multiple computers, was once better known for its use in the world of cryptocurrency, but is now applied to a wide range of uses. In this case, it was chosen for its distributed database structure and consensus-based smart ledger approach, which sees transactions coded into immutable ‘blocks’. 

“We have a gatekeeper process, a check system of what quantities of oil can be placed on the blockchain, through to that distillery system verified via Code of Practice audits,” Phil says.

“We were confident as an industry we could implement blockchain once we got the right solution or right tools.”

Yet even as commercialisation progresses, the impetus for blockchain is shifting to validating sustainability credentials through the supply chain. 

“Use of blockchain is going to become a pull, as opposed to a push. It’s the mandate of all companies on their sustainability footprint that’s really going to drive this,” he says. “We’re exploring what types of inputs we’re going to need at an industry level to deliver traceability right through to the manufacturers, so they can meet their legislative requirements and reporting imperatives.”  

Proving green compliance for lending purposes using blockchain went into pilot this year. Queensland-based Leather Cattle Company is adopting blockchain to meet reporting covenants of its NAB Agri Green loan. The aim is a standardised record of environmental impact and steps to reduce emissions, creating a trustworthy record the organic farm can share with interested stakeholders in the beef supply chain. To help, it’s planting 1,200 hectares of the Leucaena legume, shown to reduce emissions intensity of livestock by 20 to 40 per cent across grazing spaces.

“Working with NAB and Geora to track this digitally means we can actually prove the impact of these green projects,” Leather Cattle Company owner, Melinee Leather says.

Like Melinee, Phil wants blockchain to substantiate what the tea tree industry is doing so it can compare with other industries plus competitors globally. 

“If you have the data and technology, then you’re going to have the operating model. But it has to be operated at both the farmer and manufacturer level,” Phil says. “We’ll then get the benefits on adulteration in the slipstream.” 

Making data actionable

Blockchain is one fast-evolving technology with mounting impact on farming. In the field, on water tanks or up in the air are an array of other data collecting technologies like smart sensors, electronic identification tags (eIDs), smart animal collars, drones, satellite mapping, smart spraying cameras and connected farming equipment. 

But while innovation is still occurring in the hardware, it’s software platforms, mobile-based apps, network connectivity, data analysis and modelling, machine learning, as well as sharing and aggregation tools finally making data actionable for farming use cases. These fit into a few buckets, albeit with nuances depending on geography and farming type: productivity; supply chain transparency and product traceability; sustainability/ESG; natural capital reporting; carbon sequestration; and operational management. 

Where Bralca owner and director, Ben Watts, has seen the big shift in the last 12 months is the processing, analysis and machine learning components of harnessing data for timely decision making. Western NSW-based Bralca is a grower and service provider around drone technology. 

“Drones are collecting data processed in a six to 12-hour turnaround, giving us individual plant detail in a cereal, winter or cotton crop. We can run that through analytics on our cloud servers and quickly get a picture of which plants within that paddock are performing and which aren’t,” Ben says.  

Farmers still need ground truth to ascertain whether an issue is moisture versus pests – for now, anyway. “But it means we can, on any given day and at the farmer’s choice, collect data and make an informed decision,” says Ben. “We can take that plan to inspect a paddock, run it through software and turn that into a treatment plan we can load back into an existing machine. That’s where I see technology empowering us as farmers. Data that only gives you more information just gives you a headache.” 

Having data at Broden Holland’s fingertips was the catalyst for an explosion of productivity gains at his family’s Koolpari Enterprises in Young. Yield monitoring in the hopes of spreading variable rates across its mixed crop farm had been underway, but complexity inhibited progress. 

“The thing is how much time and effort you want to spend on trying to map maps and layers,” Broden explains. “I believe everyone has a huge amount of data they could be using. The reason it’s not getting implemented is because the software is too hard and difficult – and not convenient. I want to drive through the paddock and if I’ve forgotten to make that protein map, quickly do it on my phone.” 

Broden began working with Australian-owned CropScanAG on nutrient management app, N-Gauge. “It enables me to make a contoured map with that protein layer. I convert that into a urea map, add strips, plus rates, within a couple of minutes. I can push a button, send it to my John Deere app and it’s in the tractor.” 

Tackling nitrogen has seen Koolpari go from six per cent variation rates to one per cent, generating approximately $1.2 million from better yield over the last three years. “Without that data… our average protein would have been the same, but average yield would have been a tonne less,” Broden says.  

Addressing nitrogen is being followed by incrementally solid gains from tackling sulfur and magnesium levels. It’s also necessary in fungicide trials. 

“In the last three years, we’ve done the same trials we did 20 years ago but have clear-cut decisions now. We know when we spray a fungicide, we’re going to get a good hectare and good year because of what we’ve done with nitrogen. We didn’t see that before because we couldn’t measure it,” Broden says. “You can have all the data in the world. But if it’s not in the palm of your hand when you’re looking at that crop, you go back to your computer and second-guess yourself.” 

Getting your data ducks in order

Most importantly, Broden has learnt the valuable lesson first-mover industry sectors had drilled into them through data and technology investment trial and error: Know your ‘why’ first. 

“The mentality of a lot of people is to grab all this data together, look at a map for 10 hours and still not know what to do. I’m saying let’s look at our issue, the best layer to fix the issue and use it,” says Broden. 

Koolpari’s yields are climbing higher as a result and it averaged a nine-tonne red wheat crop last year. “I’d love to grow a 10-tonne crop. Now I think it’s doable,” he says. “Never would I have thought in my wildest dreams we could grow that much wheat here.” 

Bralca is running workshops with NSW Farmers to help growers share thinking and up their data game. “We can have two successful farmers side by side using very different approaches. If they choose the profit drivers for their business they identify with, that’s obviously what’s keeping them awake at night or what they’re passionate about,” Ben says. 

“This is preferable to spending $20,000 on tech and waiting for it to change my business. It doesn’t work that way. Work the other way back: What is the pain point? What information do I need to help make that decision? What data processing will I need to turn that into something useful?” 

Similar pragmatism lies behind the Landcare Farming Program Benchmarking Soils Project, developed to help landholders establish benchmarks for soil carbon levels and greenhouse gas emissions. Nine participants explored ways to improve carbon sequestration through groundcover and pasture management, while increasing productivity. The project involved FarmLab, CSIRO, Soil Future Consulting and Optisoil. Growers were given an Environmental Farm Assessment tool and trained in remote sensing imagery. 

Participants John and Samantha Stokes, who run the Dorper prime land enterprise north of Tamworth, see better soil fertility and pasture production generating external income streams through ecological monitoring and soil biology consulting. There’s also the chance to add value to red meat products through sustainability accreditation and labelling. Tim and Courtney Skerrett at Mulla Creek, meanwhile, seek to produce sustainable quality beef while increasing soil health and biodiversity. They’re looking to earn income from Australian carbon credits by building carbon stores and biodiversity through a regenerative agriculture approach. 

Maturing data approaches

At WA-based Coolindown Farms, Belinda Lay is increasingly tapping data from Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, eIDs, sheep location devices and temperature collars for risk mitigation and performance enhancement. Paving the way was a co-funded research project with Meat and Livestock Australia using devices and data to generate ROI in a mixed farming enterprise. 

Belinda now runs her own data store to collate historical and current data sets to uncover new data insights and test management theories. Power BI helps visualise data, while a data scientist builds models against different parameters she can manipulate. 

“We compared animal movements with rainfall crop yield and soil moisture to gain insights into different areas. The correlation is only possible if your data is interoperable,” she comments. 

But it had to start somewhere and for Bralca and Coolindown Farms the obvious place was water. Coolindown fitted Waterwatch level sensors to tanks, connected to an app and AxisStream data platform. This resulted in a 70 per cent reduction in inputs and ROI in a year. 

For Belinda, data success is about consistency and context. “If one year you do fleece weight with bellies in and the next year you take the bellies out, you can’t compare your wool production year-on-year because 500g to 1kg of belly is out of your fleece weights. That’s consistency.”

Context requires farmers to start with the end in mind. “For me, it’s a 60kg sheep that’s cutting at least 4.5kg of wool, preferably giving birth to twins and doesn’t need mulesing,” she says. “If that’s what I’m wanting, I’m going to start recording pregnancy scanning data, recording fleece weights, and bodyweight.” 

What’s next?

Biosecurity is the next outcome Bralca is looking for, and Ben is harnessing electronic national vendor declaration (ENVD) using blockchain and the Bioplus application for compliance, easier administration and access to premium markets. 

“Consumers and customers increasingly want to know if there’s validity to the information the farmer signed off. That information we need to collect is the same information that helps us know whether we’re making the right decisions throughout the season,” Ben says. 

Camera spraying and drone technology are additionally giving farmers better tools to manage pests, from weeds to wild pigs. An advancement many look forward to is enhanced satellite imagery to ascertain soil moisture and carbon analysis virtually. 

At an industry level, multiple projects led by government, universities and R&D organisations are striving for ways to aggregate and benchmark data sets to better understand production, seasonal or regional trends, and support imperatives for carbon/ESG reporting and revenue streams. Just take the Federal Government’s Integrated Farm Management program, encompassing carbon and biodiversity through a circular agriculture approach. Or there’s the ‘Know & Show Your Carbon Footprint’ initiative to develop a cross-commodity platform for growers to better understand baseline carbon emissions and residual footprint across their entire enterprise from Agricultural Innovation Australia (AIA). All point to the growing value of data management, ownership and shareability for farmers. 

“The evidence has to be very sound, because we’re basically creating financial products on our farms with the development of soil carbon capture and biodiversity coming along,” adds Phil.

To read more about modern agricultural practices, click here.

The post Farming data: new tech delivers results appeared first on The Farmer Magazine.

NSW Premier Chris Minns this week requested that the Commission review the priority risks and impacts of invasive species in NSW, including the effectiveness of current management strategies.

This will help to inform the state government of key opportunities to better manage invasive species, supported by the best available evidence.

Pests and weeds cause over $25 billion in damage to agriculture and biodiversity each year nationally, of which NSW bears a large proportion. Over 70 percent of NSW’s threatened species and endangered ecological communities are also impacted by invasive species.

It’s an incredibly timely review as the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) recently released alarming figures highlighting the rising cost of pest control.

The ABARES survey of pests and weed management shows 85 percent of land holders spent an average of $21,950 in 2022 on pest and weed species management; an increase of more than $6000 on the previous year.

Executive Director of ABARES Dr Jared Greenville claims the results of the survey demonstrates that the level of commitment required by land managers to control pests and weeds is increasing.

“Land managers reported that feral animals continue to cause considerable impacts on their properties in 2022,” Dr Greenville says.

“The survey showed 89 percent of land managers reported problems due to feral animals in 2022, up from 85 percent in 2019. Foxes, rabbits, rats and mice were the most common species reported as causing problems.

“There have also been reports of feral animals that are new to properties or have increased in numbers, such as feral pigs and deer, that are causing damage.”

Craig Mitchell from the NSW Farmers Conservation and Resource Management committee said farmers need to be aware that the review is happening and act accordingly.

“It’s a significant opportunity for farmers to put the spotlight on their various challenges when it comes to invasive species. NSW Farmers will put together a submission but we want individual farmers to put in their own submissions too, so we have multiple submissions to contribute to the review,” Mr Mitchell says.

“The rising cost of pest control is directly attributable to the rising number of invasive species that farmers are dealing with. The reality is that, the worse the invasive species becomes, the more it will cost us to keep them under control. So we need to be working collaboratively with our neighbours in a bid to effectively reduce the number of these invasive species.”

Mr Mitchell advises farmers to begin crucial talks with neighbours about pest control.

“You need to talk to your neighbours and set up a community group if you haven’t done so already. In my area (east of Cooma) we organised a community group to help with fire issues and, through that group we’ll be talking about invasive species and coming up with a plan about how we can work together to reduce the impact,” Mr Mitchell says.

“You can set up a community group through your local fire brigade or other contact groups. It’s important to make contact with your neighbours, share what you are doing in regards to invasive species and ask what they are doing. It’s crucial that you’re all on the same page.”

“Fox control programs have been successful and it’s a matter of getting everyone to do the same thing at the same time.”

Public submissions will be open for a period of four weeks, closing 5pm 31 October 2023. Further details on the public submissions process are available here: https://www.nsw.gov.au/have-your-say/nsw-invasive-species-management-review

The report will be delivered to the NSW Government in May 2024.

The post Farmers should address pest control costs appeared first on The Farmer Magazine.

“Pete has built a strong team, modernised many aspects of NSW Farmers’ approach, developed and delivered a successful strategy, and helped secure multiple advocacy wins for our 6,700 members.” 

During Pete’s stewardship, NSW Farmers has successfully grown its full producer membership over the last three years, and its overall membership for the last six straight, reflecting both his leadership and the hard work of NSW Farmers’ elected reps, branches and professional team.

A familiar face has now taken the helm, with the appointment of policy and advocacy expert Annabel Johnson as interim CEO.

Xavier Martin says that Annabel has a lifelong connection with agriculture, having grown upon a cattle and sheep farm near Young, and had worked in the organisation as a Policy Director and most recently as Head of Policy and Advocacy.

“Annabel has a strong understanding of our industry, and more importantly a strong understanding of our organisation, its policies and processes,” he says. “This is a critical time for our industry on several fronts, and Annabel has been closely involved in our work on the issues.

“The Board and I are confident Annabel will be able to provide important continuity for these advocacy efforts, and we thank her for taking on this role.”

Outgoing CEO: Peter Arkle

In reflecting on his time, Pete said he was proud to have helped build “an unrivalled public profile for NSW Farmers, trusted relationships, strong commercial partnerships, and a compelling membership offer. 

“It has been really satisfying to lead and work with our professional team, Boards, EC and our members to stabilise the Association, put a clear strategy in place and to deliver sustained growth over recent years, including through COVID,” says Pete.

“Advocacy is our core business, and we’ve taken up the case for farming families confronted by devastating drought, severe bushfires, a mouse plague and then multiple damaging floods – it’s been a rollercoaster of a period for NSW agriculture and NSW Farmers has worked closely with governments to secure comprehensive recovery assistance for farmers hit by these major natural events.

“This has certainly helped NSW Farmers’ members to bounce back and to capture the opportunities the last year or two have presented, allowing NSW ag to take big steps towards our goal of 30 by 30.”

NSW Farmers has secured some transformative advocacy results in Pete’s time, including helping to remove the legislated barriers constraining the Port of Newcastle from developing a world-class container terminal, securing additional funding to modernise biosecurity capabilities and keeping governments focused on technology-led and incentive-based approaches to enable sustainable agriculture in our changing climate. 

“The commitment from the new NSW government to legislate the agriculture commissioner will also be critical in ensuring land use change across NSW doesn’t put at risk our State’s best farming land – the resource we depend on to feed us, put clothes on our back and to drive our State’s $10.9 billion agricultural export economy,” Pete says.

NSW Farmers’ strategy, developed under Pete’s leadership, has put a strong focus on building partnerships in a way that delivers genuine value to members and the Association. Commercial services revenue has grown by nearly 80 per cent over the last four years, allowing added investment in our advocacy.

Xavier Martin said, “the health of NSW Farmers’ political relationships, built under Pete’s leadership, was clear to see with the Premier, Opposition Leader, Leader of the Nationals, multiple key Ministers and shadows, and representatives of all political parties in the NSW Parliament actively contributing to our recent Annual Conference”. 

“It’s clear that our Association is seen as a formidable advocate, respected across the political divide for our dedicated focus on making a positive difference for our farming members”.

“The only certain thing in advocacy is that if you aren’t at the table, you won’t influence a thing,” says Pete. “I’m proud of the work we’ve done to build a strong reputation and trusted relationships – these have ultimately enabled us to secure some key advocacy results for farmers across NSW.”

“It has been a privilege to lead such a hard-working, capable and committed staff team. The last five years have asked a lot of our farm members, and our dedicated and talented staff have always been there, morning, noon, and night – striving to make a difference on the things that matter most to our members”.

Interim CEO: Annabel Johnson

As October began, so did Annabel Johnson’s role as interim CEO of NSW Farmers. “I want to thank Pete for all he has done over a challenging few years,” she says. “It is hard to believe, but even before COVID-19, we had drought and bushfires. After emerging from the pandemic, the state was hit with extensive floods, and let’s not forget throwing in a mouse plague for good measure. Pete has done a tremendous job ensuring that we deliver for members in the most trying circumstances.

“I’m honoured to be appointed to this role, and to have the opportunity to lead such a talented team of policy, service and operational professionals,” Annabel continues.

“Agriculture is critical to feeding and clothing our nation, and it makes a great economic contribution locally and nationally,” she says. “We will continue to progress our important advocacy work while delivering value and benefits to our members.”

If you enjoyed this feature, you might like our story on the State Budget.

The post Changing of the guard at NSW Farmers appeared first on The Farmer Magazine.

According to NSW Farmers Oyster Projects Manager Andy Myers, the state’s oyster farmers have good reason to feel positive.

“There’s no doubt the last few years have been very tough, with bushfires, floods, the Covid pandemic – all of these events knocked the oyster industry around. Water quality is everything to the industry, so coming out of those disturbance periods into a dry spell is very good news,” Mr Myers said.

Mr Myers says having stability in the estuaries provides a lot more certainty for oyster farmers, and more sales opportunities for the industry.

“When there’s a major rain event, automatically the estuaries close to harvest and the farmers can’t sell for a certain period, as they work out what the impact has been. So, normally, that’s about three weeks that the farmers are missing all their sales opportunities during that window.”

Mr Myers, NSW Farmers Oysters Project Manager

“But with a dry period, the water quality is more predictable and there are obviously more sales opportunities so those conditions have had a very positive impact.

“Our oyster farmers have seen a lot of stunted growth over the last two years, with some mortality in the stock, due to the compounding effect of all the disturbances they’ve faced. But with the dry weather, they’re definitely looking forward to a very positive summer.”

Oyster farmer Anna Simmonds, from Pambula Lake, says it’s a huge relief that conditions are improving, following a tough few years.

“There’s been compounding effects starting off with the fires, Covid lockdowns, significant flooding events and the devastating disease outbreak at Port Stephens. At my farm at Pambula Lake, we were hit with a devastating flood event in March, 2021 – entire leases were taken out into the ocean, and more than 20 silage bales from nearby farms came down the river with the floodwaters,” Ms Simmonds says.

“The bales are around a tonne dry so you can imagine what they’re like when they’re water logged, so that was a devastating event, causing extensive damage to oyster infrastructure. Following that was the compounding freshwater events that meant oysters weren’t growing during that time, so we were dealing with stunted growth, and high levels of mortality. So, it wasn’t a good time to be an oyster farmer.

But Ms Simmonds claims things are definitely looking up – the 2023 season has been very positive, with drier conditions, particularly down south.

“There was strong demand for Sydney rock oysters around Easter and then oyster farmers have enjoyed a decent winter, so it’s looking good for the oyster industry overall. Prices for Sydney rock oysters are good so we’ve got the supply and the good conditions there,” Ms Simmonds says.

“We’ve really changed our mindset from treading water and being in survival mode, to a position where people are starting to be more positive. So now we’re looking forward to making more strategic decisions again, which is wonderful to see.”

However, Ms Simmonds cautions that there are still challenges ahead for the oyster industry.

“It’s not all fantastic news because we’re already are seeing some bushfire activity close to Bermagui River and Wapengo Lake ( both oyster farming estuaries). So while we are positive and it’s looking to be a good season, the bushfire threat of this summer season is forefront in the farmers’ minds – especially as so many of us are not only oyster farmers but many of us have rural holdings,” Ms Simmonds says.

“Our homes are surrounded by bush, and we store most of our gear in the ushthere, so it’s positive but we are still very mindful of what Mother Nature might throw to us over the next three-six months.”

If you enjoyed this story, check out our article on managing Varroa mites.

The post The oyster industry’s future looks bright appeared first on The Farmer Magazine.

A leading message from the webinar was the importance, that everyone sprays safely and responsibly to ensure farmers maintain the use of important agricultural chemicals for crop protection against weed, pest and disease pressures.

Speakers included Scott Kidd and Jessica Creed from the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), and Gordon Cumming from Grains Research Development Corporation (GRDC) – who spoke about the significance of the WAND inversion towers.

WAND is a $5.5m investment rolled out by GRDC, the Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC) and Goanna Ag, to help farmers avoid the risk of spray drift.

Gordon Cumming of the GRDC said: “The WAND network is an inversion detection system designed to inform farmers and pesticide users when a hazardous inversion is occurring and therefore when not to spray. WAND offers free, real-time weather data, identifying and measuring potentially dangerous temperature inversions.

“Accessible via any smartphone, this invaluable resource currently involves 45 towers in the northern and southern regions of the state,”. 

In NSW it’s illegal to use agricultural chemicals in a way that could injure people or cause harm to animals, plants or properties that are not the target pest species.

Scott Kidd, NSW EPA Director of Operations, says the well-attended webinar was a great opportunity to broaden the reach of the EPA’s education program around the use of pesticides.

“Since the webinar, we have already received requests for further information, which goes to show how vital this outreach is to farmers.  Attendees were keen to know more about the the type of information the EPA needs when a spray drift event occurs, and how to keep records for reporting,” Mr Kidd says.

“The EPA will continue to work with other government agencies, industry groups and individuals to implement practical solutions to reduce the issue of spray drift. We’ll also continue to make compliance a priority and where people are doing the wrong thing, the EPA will take action.”

“We encourage people to report any concerns to our 24-hour Environment Line on 131 555, or by sending a confidential email to info@epa.nsw.gov.au.”

NSW Farmers Grains committee chair Justin Everrit says the webinar was very useful.

“We covered several topics and there were a lot of questions – people were asking about the WAND towers, how they will work and operate. There were also questions about aerial spraying with drones and how the new tech will be utilised and how it could affect spray drift,” Mr Everrit says.

“The webinar covered the topic very well and it was good to have that interaction with the EPA.”

“The key messages were; spray within the correct conditions, make sure you monitor conditions regularly, using the WAND towers as a guide. Always check your ground conditions when spraying. And always be mindful of your neighbours’ crops.”

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Ms Rankin says improved, innovative and equitable access to health services is vital when it comes to maintaining the physical and mental health of communities in isolated areas that are now missing out on adequate services.

The depleted services in urgent need of upgrading include inpatients’ and outpatients’ resources, allied health services covering mental health, paediatric and palliative care and aged care assessment, facilities and care.

Ms Rankin says many essential services are provided in larger regional cities and towns, however, for people who are not in those areas, it often means delayed access to high quality health services and specialised treatment, adding to the already significant challenge of managing ill health.

“It’s that outer ring we are most concerned about that are losing access to medical services, not densely populated areas, but places where there may be 10 patients – they need these services as much as anyone,” she says.

“NSW Farmers holds that regional, rural and remote communities deserve excellent healthcare through ensuring timely access to the full range of services to reduce the significant divide in health between metropolitan and city and regional NSW.”

Ms Rankin says there is ongoing concern across the farming community for a priority focus to fund and provide ongoing support for service delivery in regional and remote communities.

So how big is the health service discrepancy between remote residents Australian and city dwellers?

In 2019, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare noted that on average, Australians living in rural and remote areas have shorter lives, higher levels of disease and injury as well as poorer access to, and use of health services compared with people living in metropolitan areas.

Statistics from the Royal Flying Doctor Service ‘Best for the Bush’ report reveal females in very remote areas are likely to die 19 years earlier than city counterparts, with males 13.9 years earlier; what’s more, potentially preventable hospitalisation rates in very remote areas were 2.5 times as high as in the city.

Some of the key impacts in remote areas include barriers accessing GPs and specialists compared to major cities and staff shortages, which are responsible for the decline in services, some of which were never in place.

Five areas where improvements must be considered include the workforce, training, resources, services and health literacy, according to Ms Rankin.

“The financial cost of treatment and travel time to specialist health services must also be considered and subsidised for those in need,” she says. “While telehealth has been very a positive step, it should not be seen as a replacement for a person to person contact with a GP.”

Another area of concern is how difficult it has become attracting GPs and medical staff to these isolated areas. “We want to see more money in the system, less bureaucracy and patient services streamlined with the development of multi-service,” Ms Rankin says.

Currently, rural and remote Australians see doctors at half the rate of city residents, medical specialists and dentists at one third the rate, and mental health practitioners at one fifth. As a consequence, Australians living in rural and remote areas have up to three times the prevalence of avoidable chronic illness.

Data shows that 30 to 58 per cent of people living in outer regional and remote communities lack access to non-GP specialist services compared to six per cent of people living in metropolitan areas.

Chief Executive of the National Rural Health Alliance, Susanne Tegen says rural communities are missing essential healthcare and not receiving an equitable share of the health spending pie, despite their health needs and economic contribution to Australia’s wealth and wellbeing.

“Rural people have less healthcare access than they need, should have, and are eligible to receive,” she says. “A new report recently released by the Alliance provides data on the annual health spending deficit in rural Australia, showing $6.5 billion, which, quite frankly, is embarrassing at best, and appalling for a Western economy.”

New models of care, such as community paramedics and nurse-led clinics, should be considered to improve the sustainability of health care in rural areas. “Improving patient transport to healthcare services including outreach services is a way to improve health access and increased use of community transport and identification of patients who need transport may help,” she says.

Programs targeted at health professionals to promote the benefits of living in rural areas are needed to change the narrative around rural lifestyles from one of difficulties and stress to one of opportunities and work-life balance.

In a first for NSW, a Deputy Secretary for Regional Health, Luke Sloane (the former Coordinator General, Regional Health Division at NSW Health) has been appointed to tackle some of the key healthcare issues facing regional communities including prioritising the regional health workforce.

“I’m confident as we continue to implement the recommendations of the NSW Rural Health Inquiry, we will continue to see meaningful improvements in the provision of health care services to these important communities,” Mr Sloane says.

As well as the physical medical issues, mental health is a major concern in farming communities that face the vagaries of nature, natural disasters and a rollercoaster of financial stresses.

The National Centre for Farmers Health (NCFH) says compared to the general Australian population, rural farming communities face higher risk of suicide. The NCFH says access to mental health support is limited in rural areas, and providers may have poor understanding of the realities of a farming environment.

It has partnered with LYSN (pronounced as ‘listen’), an innovative online psychology practice, to improve access to mental health care to all farming regions through this unique online telehealth platform.

Ms Rankin classifies farming as one of the most dangerous professions due to the physicality of it, working with machinery and the unpredictability of livestock.

“If there’s an accident, the injured person needs quick access to medical help like city people have even though they may have to wait at an emergency department for some time,” she says. “It is critical for survival and people should have access to ambulance services quickly.”

The Royal Flying Doctor Service has more than 1,000 patient contacts daily and last year, 63,481 patients in rural and remote areas used telehealth services with 65 daily clinics Australia-wide.

The RFDS says on-farm death and injury is a major problem for rural and remote communities in Australia. The injury fatality rate for farmworkers is nine times higher than any other industry and they are often called to emergencies where people have been injured on the farm, whether it be while on a quad bike or using machinery.

The NSW Rural Doctors Network agreed rural communities need expanded services in mental health, oral health, drug and alcohol services and social support, plus more deliberate team-based care co-location of allied health services in GP practices nurse-led clinics.

Retired occupational therapist and NSW Farmers health spokesperson, Sarah Thompson says rural health is not something you can improve by simply throwing money at it – it needs a rethink and new models as well as commitment and focus to deliver the services that are needed.

“We recognise and appreciate the funding that has been invested in regional health, but we need an equal focus on building the number of health professionals working within these facilities and provide services across the community,” she says. “Ultimately, regional, rural and remote communities deserve excellent healthcare and that’s what we want to see achieved.”

The Royal Flying Doctor Service’s dental vans

There are few healthcare providers in the bush as iconic as the RFDS, but surprisingly, the service does more than just doctors on the books, and more than just flying. Dr Lyn Mayne, Rural and Remote Dental Manager and Senior Clinician for the RFDS’s South Eastern Section, talks us through the RFDS’s dental van program.

“The dental van rotates through more remote areas, providing access to dental care for patients who would otherwise have to travel long distances or would otherwise not receive dental care,” she says. “The van covers our network from both Broken Hill and Dubbo, extending into some communities in South Australia and Queensland, but mainly in NSW. As the dental van has full sterilisation facilities and an x-ray unit, a full range of treatment is possible.”

Treatment services include extractions, restorations, root canal treatments as well as ‘check and cleans’. “We also provide toothbrushing programs in schools, ‘Mums and Bubs’, and aged care programs where residential facilities exist,” says Dr Mayne. “Our trainee Indigenous dental assistants are key personnel in providing community-based care, and provide a point of contact for locals, and enable us to have a better understanding of community’s needs.”

Complex or multidisciplinary cases can present challenges in terms of timing and personnel, but because the RFDS employs a range of practitioners across the spectrum of healthcare provision, there are opportunities for collaboration, to solve problems in-house – but not always.

“The dental team works closely with the RFDS primary health teams, including GP services and mental health and drug and alcohol to provide a holistic approach to patient care,” says Dr Mayne, “but some more complex procedures such as surgical removal of impacted wisdom teeth, crown and bridge work, and dentures are referred to either the Area Health Service or private dentists.

Our team of dentists, oral health therapists and dental assistants monitor, order and stock both the dental van and outreach clinics. Radiology services such as OPG are referred to the nearest possible location. Unfortunately, this can delay treatments, and patients may have to travel long distances to access these services.”

The post A remote chance of care: the state of rural health appeared first on The Farmer Magazine.

The trucks are travelling a total of 77,660km, with the 1,200 bales of premium hay set to directly assist 125 farmers and their families.

The rapid return to drought conditions this season, along with the recent bushfires in the Upper Hunter, caused many in the region to reach out to the Aussie Hay Runners organisation, requesting assistance.

So with the support of the NSW Rural Assistance Authority, Scott Stevens and the Heyfield Lions Club, Ray Akers of Gippsland Hay Relief, Aberdeen Lions Club, and Steve Carton of Denman Lions Club, Aussie Hay Runners (AHR) are heading to the Upper Hunter area for the first time.

This will be AHR’s 11^th run, with hay donations coming from farms in Victoria and southern New South Wales, according to AHR’s founder Linda Widdup.

“It’s so dry up there,” says Linda. “I had people emailing me and it’s a heartbreak. I’m very lucky – I’m in the southwest of Victoria and we’re pretty drought proof there. We might get a little bit crispy on the grass, but not to the extent of the people doing it tough up in the Hunter.

“I’m just gobsmacked that we have such a great community of people, to have these 34 trucks loaded and on their way,” she says. “I’m getting goosebumps. I’m so proud of our volunteers and so thankful to all the help we’ve got from the RAA, [Gippsland] Hay Relief and the Lions Clubs.”

The trucks are heading to their meet-up point of Marulan NSW on Thursday 12 October. On Friday morning, the convoy of 34 trucks will set off via the Hume Highway travelling through Sydney via the M7 and M2 around 9:30am, onto the M1 with a rest stop at the Ampol Service Centre Wyong around 10:30am. They will continue up the M1 onto the Hunter Express Way around 11am to arrive in Merriwa early afternoon.

Friday night and Saturday morning, the hay-running volunteers and drivers will be looked after by Aberdeen Lions Club who will provide dinner and breakfast. Saturday will be spent delivering to drop-off locations, with help from Denman Lions Club.

Since AHR’s beginnings four years ago, the organisation’s large group of volunteers has delivered a staggering number of donated bales to NSW farmers. To date, 267 trucks have driven 10 runs over 683,380km, delivering 9,856 bales to the value of $936,320 and assisting more than 1,000 farmers. This year, another five runs are on the calendar.

“It’s not a hand out – it’s a hand up,” says Linda. “You’ve just got absolutely awesome, generous people helping us make this happen. I’m a farmer’s daughter and I’m off the land, and it’s hard to see people struggle. A lot of our guys have big acreage farms, and they cut what they need for their customers and then they simply say ‘We’re going to cut a 50-acre paddock for you too. It puts a smile on their dial to be able to help, and actually a lot of the guys that do cut it also come along on the runs with us. They love to get out there. Farmer to farmer, it lifts a lot of spirits.”

Follow the convoy on AHR’s Facebook page; if you see them on the road, Linda hopes other drivers show support with a toot and a wave!

The post 1,200 hay bales coming to the Upper Hunter appeared first on The Farmer Magazine.

“That’s how my mum got into donkeys,” she says, “because it was her job to look after them. When she married Dad and they bought a farm of their own, there was always a need for donkeys. Mum researched donkey welfare, and donkey care and conservation – now she’s quite knowledgeable and has written a few books.”

A need for donkeys? What roles do donkeys play on a farm? “They’re such useful animals,” says Sandy. “A lot of thoroughbred breeders will use a donkey by putting it in with their healing foals to help calm them down. Donkeys have a very calming nature about them. Of course, I’m not talking about a $50 wild donkey that’s probably never seen a fence before. We’re talking about a quieter animal that has been educated on this kind of work.

“At the Royal Easter Show, those big bulls walking in led by a five-year-old child into the arena to be judged… well, most of the time those bulls have been taught how to lead by a donkey. They put a calf collar on the bull calf and the donkey, put it in a round yard under watchful conditions, and let that donkey drag that calf around. Whatever that donkey will do, that calf will do the same.

“Train your donkey right,” she says, “and your donkey will train your bulls and calves.” Then there are guard donkeys. Being very territorial, donkeys like to get rid of dingoes and wild dogs in a similar vein to alpacas; being social creatures, they naturally bond with the herd they’re tasked with protecting.

“If you have two donkeys being a pair, those two donkeys will be over in one paddock, while your cattle are over elsewhere with the dogs. Donkeys won’t care because they’re together,” says Sandy. “But if you have one donkey, it’s lonely, so it’s going to stick with the herd.”

No wonder then that Good Samaritan Donkey Sanctuary has a long waiting list for farmers wanting one of her rehomed rescue donkeys – especially because she offers education, and helps farmers with understanding the particular knack needed to look after each animal she’s put so much effort and money into rescuing. And here’s where the logistics get tricky.

Sandy might travel to Tasmania one month, then up to the Northern Territory the next, organising road transport in each place to bring a donkey back to her operations in NSW. She has well-wishers all over the country giving paddock space to her donkeys-in-transit, but the costs of running it all are still a major roadblock.

“Mum started this in 1972, and it grew until it was a registered charity by 1990. But the government doesn’t help many animal charities – horse rescue, goat rescue, donkey rescue… we don’t get any assistance, and we rely on the general public to survive,” says Sandy.

“But the roadblock is also time, because I’ll only do this if I do it properly. I say if you want a donkey, you need to come and volunteer with me first. I’ll see how experienced you are and how capable you are of handling an animal.

“Then once I’ve seen people, I go and check their property to make sure it’s OK. At the moment my waiting list is more than 150 people, nearly all approved homes wanting donkeys.”

The post The rescue sanctuary that’s simply donkey business appeared first on The Farmer Magazine.

Set in one of NSW’s food production centres, HMFD is known to draw more than 60,000 attendees annually from the farming community, hailing from a 500km radius who attend the Field Days to purchase, learn, research future investments, network and socialise. The event offers a comprehensive display of farming machinery, outdoor and camping gear, farm produce, agronomy advancements, rural lifestyle trends, and services from government, health, agribusiness and finance sectors.

In its previous edition in 2022, the event attracted a record crowd of 70,000 over three days and showcased machinery and technology worth over $150 million from 750 exhibitors spread across the 105ha site.

Visitors are enjoying the unique atmosphere and easy-to-navigate layout of the location on the Buckingingah Creek – a feat, considering the site contains more than 3,500 businesses.

Highlights of the event include:

•          Henty Machine of the Year Award: This prestigious award is a major attraction at the field days.

•          Working Sheepdog Trials: These trials are a testament to the skill and training of the dogs and their handlers.

•          Country Lifestyle Pavilion: This area showcases fashion, jewellery, handcrafts, advisory services, schools, universities, food and house and garden products.

•          Farm Gate Produce Market: A showcase of regional produce ranging from bread, cheese and wine to preserves, smallgoods, fruit, vegetables and gourmet meats.

•          Baker Seeds Agronomy Trials: These trials present the latest in seed technology and farming practices.

•          Helicopter Joy Rides: These rides offer a unique perspective of the event and the surrounding area.

•          Live Entertainment: The field days also feature live entertainment for visitors to enjoy.

•          Outdoor Monster Fish Tank: This attraction provides an interesting diversion for visitors.

•          Natural Fibre Fashion Awards: These awards celebrate the use of natural fibres in fashion.

•          Vintage Farm Machinery Display: This display showcases the history and evolution of farm machinery.

The NSW Farmers shed is well kitted out for a big week at the event, particularly bringing together partners and farm safety advisors. This is because one of the key focuses of NSW Farmers at the event is farm safety, aiming to raise awareness about dangers associated with fatigue and how to mitigate these risks, especially considering the potential labour shortages that could cause farmers to work longer and harder.

In addition to this, the NSW Farmers shed is hosting President Xavier Martin, policy staff from the NSW Farmers environment team, the Young Farmer policy advisor, and a representative from the Farm Safety Advisory Program. Refreshments will also be served by the famous CWA volunteers.

For more information about the Farm Safety Advisory Program, you can visit their website or visit NSW Farmers at Block O, site 620 at Henty Machinery Field Days until tomorrow.

Don’t miss: the sheepdog trials

The Henty Working Sheepdog Trials, run by the NSW Sheepdog Workers Incorporated, is a prestigious event that draws the nation’s top competition dogs and their handlers. In 2022, around 100 elite dogs from various states competed for a prize pool of $4000, trophies, and ribbons.

The event is an open trial, where handlers can enter their best four dogs. The competition involves a three-sheep field trial where the dogs guide the sheep around a designated course. The dog starts by rounding up the sheep and bringing them back to the handler. Together, they navigate through obstacles including a race and bridge, aiming to pen the sheep within a 15-minute time limit.

Starting with 100 points, the judge deducts points for any faults. The event also coincides with the Murray Valley Yard Dog championships as part of the Henty Machinery Field Days, making the yard dog and three-sheep field trials some of Henty’s most popular attractions.

The post Meet us at the NSW Farmers shed at Henty appeared first on The Farmer Magazine.