The Farmers Club Newsletter

The “Club Notes” for Wednesday, the 6th of March, 2024.

By Dwain Duxson

Wheat cheque Wimmera

The Wimmera Machinery Field Days are on as we speak. I hope it all goes well. I can’t attend because I am in set-up mode for my 50th birthday party this weekend (I’m actually 54, but I had to postpone my 50th because of Covid). Many of you would remember the single desk, and I sometimes get replies from people saying how they miss it. I remember it, but I think it went roughly like this, you would deliver your Wheat, it would get pooled, and then you would get something like three payments with a larger amount at the start and a couple of instalments later on. Someone, please correct me if I am wrong. Anyway, it was around this time of year when one of the cheques would arrive in the mail, and it prompted Farmers to head off to the Wimmera Field Days, knowing they had money to buy things. The timing for the exhibitor was perfect. Now, I think the Mallee (Speed) Field Days are the perfect timeslot because you have some inclination by early August on how the Crop is tracking. Timing is everything. Back in the day, did you spend some of your single desk Wheat cheque at the Wimmera Field Days? Reply to [email protected]

He’s one of us

Jeremy Rothcliff, the premier of Tasmania, is one of us. I didn’t know he was a Farmer until yesterday. He’s a rarity these days where politicians are trained to be advisors for other politicians and then end up running themselves because they know how to manipulate the system. They are called career politicians now. But this guy brings with him a breath of fresh air being a Farmer. Watch this video here. It’s a completely different political ad. I love it; not too many words, but a strong message. And it also outlines that if you want to achieve something, you have to work for it. Why can’t politics have more of this……. Reply to [email protected]

Can we make the Merino great again?

Respected analyst and Merino Sheep advocate Robert Herrmann gave a talk last week at a Sheep Field Day, and the title of the talk was “How to Make the Merino Great Again”. Read the story here. It’s tough for an industry to claw back lost ground especially when it’s been losing acres for 30 years plus. I’m sure in Agriculture, there are industries that have clawed their way back, but I can’t think of any off the top of my head. You might know of one. The Merino is at the peak of its powers as far as production is concerned. Never before has it had the Lambing rate capabilities as it does now, and the same goes for the meat production side. Wool, it could be argued that they once grew more, but that is now a much lesser percentage of the overall income slice. And Merinos are more easy-care than ever before, so they don’t need as much looking after. All the best breeders use breeding values, so there is a high-tech element to the industry, and when Wool, Sheep and Lamb prices are good, the Merino is highly profitable. But why is the industry still losing ground? Do you think we will ever make the Merinos great again? Reply to [email protected]

Your replies

Below are snippets from some of the replies you sent in. All quotes will remain nameless. See a few current ones below:

• “Hi Dwain Great day in shearing shed. Congratulations 🙌”. - Someone who attended the FarmTender2024 event last Friday.

• “Surveying the VFF president's leadership abilities might be another way to go, as she won’t accept any resolutions showing a lack of support for her or the board”. - An unhappy VFF member.

• “Off to Wimmera Field Days - needs to be every 3 years” - I don’t think that would work, but a 2-day event might help.

• “They were calling it the Tasman, but it brought back memories of the Austin Tasman of the 70’s so let’s hope it has better form than that”. - In reply to our story on the release of the new Kia Ute.

• “Oh Dwain. Dont get too excited about a ute made by kia. My tip is a name that will reflect its likely reliability and hauling capability. Most likely will be something hyphenated with shitbox. First name may be 'bloody'“. - Someone who’s not that excited about the new Kia Ute.

• “Goldie Oat variety better than Echidna? Echidna had high yield and filled the Silos but had high lignin content and low digestibility”. - A Farmer outlining that the new Goldie Oat is better than the old Echidna Oat. The Echidna Oat was a great Oat in its day. Some say it still is….

End of message.

Dwain Duxson
0427 011 900

Random and associated Ag articles and images.