The Farmers Club Newsletter

The “Club Notes” for Tuesday, the 26th of September 2023

By Dwain Duxson

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Are you in Ag but don't actually love it?

We love Agriculture and think it's a great industry to be involved in, but there are those who are in Ag and don't feel the same love. These people suffer in silence because they find it hard to tell how they feel. Stories like this one I heard on a podcast would be around. A Farmer and his son worked the Farm for 30 years together, but the son hated it and couldn't bring himself to tell the old man. The old man died, and the son couldn't have gotten out of there quickly enough. He knew what he was passionate about and did that, and yes, he lived happily ever after. But, he said he really wasted 30 years of his life. I have a mate who has fallen out of love with Ag and is transitioning out, but it's a slow process because he is making it that way. If you don't love what you do, find something else…. Reply to [email protected]

Roger - Farmers aren't buying

Roger Fletcher is a well-respected trailblazer in the Ag industry. In an interview with the Financial Review, Fletcher said, "Livestock producers hung on to Sheep and Cattle in the good season, and now the Farms are full. The processing side is one problem. But there are no Farmers in the market. They've all stopped buying. If you've got a Farm that can run 1000 Cattle or 1000 Sheep, you can't buy another 500 if they are cheap because you are fully stocked". There seems to be more Ag articles in the metro papers recently. I suspect it's because there are a few negative things going on in Ag, and these guys thrive on negative stories. See the full article below. Reply to [email protected]

When did Vetch take over from Lucerne?

Lucerne has always been the premium product in the Hay game, and some would say it still is. But along the way, Vetch Hay grabbed market share off Lucerne to become the most popular Protien Hay amongst Livestock Producers. But when did this happen? I am not sure, but at a guess, 15 to 20 years ago. Why? Because it has a softer stalk than Lucerne, and it's grown in the Cropping areas where you can access big tonnages. The Big Square Balers suited Vetch Hay production, whereas Lucerne was made using the Small Balers. After a few years of lesser quality, Vetch Hay will be back with a vengeance this year. We should see plenty of quality around. Reply to [email protected]

The Cocky Gate

Some call them Cocky Gates, others call them Mallee Gates, and I'm sure they're called something else in other spots. These Gates became popular when Machinery started to get bigger. They use the leverage system to strain the gate, so it's tight, and no stock can get through. Most are quite easy to open and close, but sometimes, if the wire or chain breaks, you might get a whack on the chops with a steel post or a bit of pipe. They are also low-cost to build and much quicker than hanging some swinging gates. Of course, swinging gates are a nice-to-have, but if you have plenty of gateways, then this is a very efficient way to go. I still remember maneuvering the Header (with the front on) through a couple of gates that we didn't make wide enough. See a photo of a Cocky Gate below. Reply to [email protected]

End of message.

Dwain Duxson

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