EPARF Member Day 2006
The ‘Eyre Peninsula Grain and Graze’ field day held at the Minnipa Agricultural Centre involved a mix of expert speaker presentations and field trial demonstrations.
Rowan Ramsey, EPARF and EP Grain and Graze Chairperson welcomed everyone and introduced Brian Wibberley, Wibberley Chartered Accounts to present information on whole farm financial assessment of mixed farming enterprises. Brian concluded his extensive presentation pointing out there is no clear right or wrong way to farm, it’s all about balance and adapting with the times.
San Jolly, consultant Productive Nutrition addressed precision nutrition principles for sheep and cattle, nutrition factors, hazards and opportunities.
Group sessions:
- Matching feedbase to demand with focus on weaner lambs with Emma McInerney, SARDI and San Jolly;
- Pasture options, early feed and winter production with grazing strategies by Tim Prance, Rural Solutions and Nick Lienert, farmer Buckleboo;
- Sheep condition for production, guidelines and condition scoring presented by Brian Ashton, Rural Solutions; and
- Hay production for farm use with Peter Vandeleur, farmer Clare.
A lunch time demonstration on sheep handling run by Craig Rule and Ben Hughes, local western Eyre Peninsula farmers created a lot of interest!
Lamb production options for Eyre Peninsula was presented by Gerald Martin, MLA, followed by Jules Dorian, AWI addressing mulesing alternatives.
More group demonstrations followed:
- Pregnancy scanning and management with Paul Cousins, Cousins Merino Services;
- Grazing strategies by Tim Prance, Rural Solutions and Tom Mugford, Gallagher;
- Sheep genetics with Anne Ramsey, AWI; and
- E-sheep technology by Daryl Smith, Turretfield.
The day concluded with Ed Hunt, consultant Wharminda summing up information on livestock and cropping options for mixed farming enterprises.
