Stories in: Southern Farmer
New insights into the effects of drought and climate variability on Australian farms
AUSTRALIAN Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences’ (ABARES) latest Insights report provides analysis on the effects of climate variability on Australian cropping and…
Fruits of the labour
AT Koala Cherries in Yarck, the yield is down but the quality is up. It’s been a clean fruit year, and Simon Rouget, co-owner and…
When the smoke settles
AFTER the smoke has settled and the fires are extinguished, roads are reopened and communities begin to rebuild. Left to assess the scorched land and…
All about the breed at Black Diamond
“I’M farming through and through,” Murray Van der Drift of Black Diamond Speckle Parks and Macorna Limousins said with a laugh. “I can talk cows…
Black sheep in the Mangione family
MARILYN Mangione’s grandparents on both sides were farmers working the land in the Clyde and Cranbourne region. Marilyn’s mother as a child always had to…
These little piggies are going to market
Taggart’s Paddock Pork was initially a chat over a couple of drinks, sitting on the deck of Angelo Greco’s Taggerty-based property. “I knew this guy…
The donkeys of Hee Haw Farm
THE first donkey was a pet. “John said ‘one, just make sure you get only one’,” Deb Hanton remembered. “Alright,” Deb said. And within six…
Eggs from the embers
ON the day of Black Saturday, Diego Tuyol chose to stay and defend, a decision he feels he should not have made in retrospect. Old…
Everybody loves a winner, or two
DON Hamley of Port Phillip Bay Scallops has been entering the Australian Food Awards for a few years now. And for a company that has…
Sher Wagyu is a boutique operation
“HOW often do I eat Wagyu?” “Oh, not more than five times a week,” Nick Sher said with a laugh. And so Nick sums up…
Marketing the future
For small scale farmers who have employed more labour intensive models of farming focusing on best practice, it is often difficult to demand the prices…
A truffle obsession
“FROM early childhood I used to go out with my father and collect mushrooms for eating,” said Dr Peter Stahle, Victorian truffle farmer and president…
On the up and up
TEN years ago, goats were considered a pest in Australia – ranked alongside rabbits and foxes. Today, on a kilo for kilo basis, they are…
“Faulty and selective”
TWO of Australia’s biggest quad bike manufacturers, Honda and Yamaha, have confirmed they will pull out of the market if the ACCC’s safety recommendations are…
Season over
BRIAN Mobbs owns and operates High Spa Angus, a breeding operation focused on diverse genetics and quality progeny. Last month, Brian sent 80 weaners to…
Rain across region needed now
“IT’S dry as chips.” So said Elders stock and station agent Ryan Sergeant late last month. Mr Sergeant was repeating the phrase that farmers across…