The Tractors That Founded Queensland and Where To Find Them

As the days of horse-pulled ploughs and teams of men working the fields came to an end, it was the tractor that launched Australia into the next wave of agricultural development. 

Australia has dedicated a huge amount of its landmass to agriculture. At some point in time, those fields were likely created by the first agrarian machines we introduced to the country. But, it wasn’t straightforward transporting heavy machinery to the land down under. 

Because of Australia’s large distance from other countries, it took a significant amount of effort to mechanise this process. Transporting heavy vehicles overseas was difficult or was seen as not important enough to warrant the long journey. Because of this, Australians became proficient and led their own engineering pursuits in the agriculture industry. 

Tractors were one of those inventions, and while they had existed elsewhere, Australian’s made them their own to better suit the conditions.

Australia’s Earliest Tractors 

The first Australian tractor Manufacturer is credited to A.H McDonald, who made the Imperial Oil Tractor in 1908. The first tractor to be used on Australian soil is believed to be an Ivel tractor from England, which worked on Australian soil in 1903. 

Two years before McDonald’s tractor became available to the public, the Caldwell brothers began work on their revolutionary four-wheel-drive tractors, which were released around 1910 after joint support from Henry Vale to create Caldwell-Vale Motors. It is believed that their creation was one of the first tractors with four-wheel power steering in the world. 

Three tractors led the way for farming on a massive scale in Queensland. Under the direction of the Queensland British Food Corporation, the Central Highlands prepared to launch into a new agricultural boom after the closure of WWII. Ploughing started May 22, 1948. Three local contractors used heavy diesel tractors, which pulled custom hitched ploughs that the contractors designed themselves. The project was designed to grow crops and produce livestock to transport back to England, which was desperate for resources after the Second World War.

Australia’s most famous post-war tractor, The Chamberlin, was produced in 1949 and introduced to the Sunshine state in 1950 when the mass-produced tractors arrived on December 19 to Dalby, Meandarra, Biloela, Kingaroy, Wondai, Millmerran and Toowoomba districts.

The Melbourne brand continued to trailblaze for Australian agricultural engineers when the Chamberlain 60-D was coined the biggest wheeled tractor in the world at the time.

Unfortunately, Australians are now totally reliant on international tractor imports, with the last local manufacturer (International Harvester Co. Australia Ltd) cloning its doors in 1986. Still, without the effort of our early engineers, our understanding of technology and ability to modify existing technology to suit our needs wouldn’t be as diligent as it is today.

See Them In Person 

If you’re used to working with the most current agricultural machinery, it can be refreshing to look at the old workhorses that paved the way for modern agricultural machinery. 

Check out these places in Queensland to see these vintage machines up close. 

The Great Machinery Mile – Ilfracombe 

You can’t help but marvel at the rows of historic machinery which spans more than 1km along the highway. The museum hosts a range of equipment from standing engines to earthmoving machinery and you guessed it, tractors! One such example is the 1917 Ruston Proctor Tractor which is believed to be one of three models left in the world. 

Old Wheels In Motion Rally – Queensland Heritage Park 

Turn back the clock to see the old vehicles that paved the way for modern transport. Expert hobbyists gather each year to show their collection of vintage vehicles and share their stories. 

Sugar Heritage Centre – Mourilyan

Learn about the people who founded Queensland’s sugar industry and see firsthand the technology they utilised to turn it into the backbone of the Queensland economy that it is today. 

TADOMS – Toowoomba 

The Toowoomba and District Old Machinery Society organises several rallies and shows to display their collection of working vintage machinery.  Each year, on the last weekend of October, the committee gathers at Oakey Showgrounds to run their annual rally. This year they are eager to return from a COVID hiatus stronger than ever.

Maintaining Livestock Welfare – Is Your Livestock Fit For The Journey?

The trade of transporting and exporting livestock comes with numerous regulations and requirements which legally must be followed or else breaches could result in drastic consequences. 

If you load livestock that isn’t fit for the trip, you may be subject to severe fines or convictions. Those in the industry of trading livestock, such as contractors, transport operators or receivers, who are in charge of maintaining welfare before, during and after transport, must follow set guidelines to ensure all livestock are being handled correctly and humanely. 

This guide has been developed to help you decide if an animal is fit to be loaded for transport to any destination within Australia. 

An animal is not fit for the journey if it is: 

  • Not strong enough to undertake the journey 
  • Unable to walk normally or bear its weight on all legs 
  • Severely emaciated or dehydrated
  • Suffering from severe visible injury/distress
  • In a condition that could cause increased pain or distress during transport 
  • Blind in both eyes 
  • In late pregnancy or gave birth within the last 72 hours 
  • Showing ingrown horns or significant injuries

Regulations are in place to protect Australian livestock during transport. It is an offence to transport an animal in a manner that may cause it physical or intense psychological harm. 

If you’re unsure if an animal meets the requirements, it’s safe practice to exclude it from travel. 

Failure To Define Unfit Livestock Consequences 

Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) created a free pictorial guide available to help assess if livestock is fit for its intended journey. This resource dives into the ethics and best practice of animal welfare when preparing, loading and delivering Australia’s main livestock products like cattle, sheep and goats. 

In this source, MLA General Manager, Michael Crowley, stated that if the person in charge of the animal’s wellbeing, at any point of transport, causes it harm or forces it into a harmful situation, they commit an act of cruelty and are liable to prosecution “under state or territory legislation”. 

“As such, it is also unacceptable for any party to coerce or intimidate the ‘person in charge’ into loading an animal that is not fit for the journey,” he said. 

“Knowing who the ‘person in charge’ of animals is at different stages of the journey and the scope of those responsibilities is important for many reasons.” 

The maximum penalty for an individual convicted of animal cruelty is $266,900 or 3 years imprisonment under the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001. 

Why Is Animal Welfare Important? 

Animal welfare refers to the quality of life experienced by an animal. It also encompasses how the animal copes with its situations and surroundings. Unnecessary cruelty and unfair treatment of animals have co-existed with the livestock industry for generations. But, current laws aim to improve the overall quality of life for domestic animals and livestock. 

The Australian Government holds all citizens responsible for the well being and protection of any animals in their care; this includes those who work in industries with regular animal interaction. 

Australians have an enduring obligation to seek expert assistance where necessary to ensure the welfare of animals. 

Good Transport Preparation Habits

Meat & Livestock Australia, as well as Australian Pork, have established correct transportation habits which minimise stress before, during and after transit: 

  • Competently select livestock before loading 
  • Implement correct animal handling practices 
  • Implement protection from injury and disease 
  • Plan the most appropriate route with adequate rest and inspection times
  • Avoid severe weather systems which could affect the livestock and aim to transport in the earlier or later stages of the day to avoid transit in the hottest part of the day
  • Ensure all loading/unloading areas and vehicles are “fit for the purpose” and pose no risk of injuring animals or malfunctioning

Under the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001, livestock animals are entitled to get access to drinkable water within a set amount of hours depending on their species. Failure to comply with the above processes could prevent an animal from being fit for the next stages of transport. 

Our team at Global Tanks, want to help improve the well-being of Australian livestock. We create a range of agricultural products that benefit all kinds of livestock. Whether it’s a Molasses Lick, feeder or a trough, get in contact today to find the perfect solution for your animals.

Australian Wool Industry & Why Queensland Is ‘Built on a Sheep’s Back’

Australia is one of the largest producers of wool in the world. We produce around 25 percent of greasy wool sold on the market. The value of our 2016-2017 wool exports was $3.615 billion. Considering Australia’s wool is recognised among the world’s best, these figures reflect the strong global demand for our wool. 

Wool production takes place in Australia across all states excluding the Northern Territory. New South Wales produces the largest volume of wool, followed by Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia. While the state of Queensland is no longer among Australia’s highest wool producers, at one time, Longreach was known as the ‘Wool Capital of the World’ and ‘Centre of the Golden Fleece’. 

Queensland, and Australia as a nation, has frequently been said to be ‘Built on a Sheep’s Back’, due to the significant economic benefits brought about by our wool industry. In this blog, we look back on the rich history of Australia’s wool industry, and unpack how our nation was ‘Built on a Sheep’s Back’. 

Sheep in Australia

Sheep first arrived in Australia with the First Fleet in 1788. Governor Phillip brought a small flock of Merino sheep from the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. These sheep were purchased en route to Australia as food supplies. Although, with the arrival of new settlers and the opening up of expansive tracts of land, sheep quickly became a valuable commodity. 

Beginnings of the Australian Wool Industry

When early European settlers brought sheep into Australia, they were reared primarily for meat. Australia’s wool industry started in 1796, when John Macarthur in New South Wales bought his first merino sheep from a flock of Spanish merino sheep reared in South Africa. Soon, Macarthur and the Reverend Samuel Marsden started selective breeding. With selective breeding of Merino sheep and other stock breeds, sheep were crossbred to suit Australian conditions. 

Governor George King was the first to identify the market potential of establishing a textile mill in Parramatta. The first auction of Australian wool took place in London at Garraway’s coffee house and brought in $2.27 per kilogram. 

In 1814, anticipating the potential wool had to build the Australian economy, Reverend Samuel Marsden notably stated,

“We must have an export or the settlement will never prosper and this (wool) promises to be the first.”

Half of the total national production (30 tonnes) of wool was used by the Parramatta mill, while the balance was exported to England. During the 1820s, the grazing industry was pushed over to the Blue Mountains, destroying Aboriginal hunting grounds. 

Managing the global wool production market

Eventually, deterioration of English wool quality and import duties on German wool saw a major increase in demand from the Yorkshire mills. To manage this, the English government started the development of fine wool in Australia. A duty of only 1 penny per pound was imposed – in comparison to 5 pennies per pound for foreign wools. 

Unfortunately for the Australian wool industry, this advantage was reversed in 1825. This saw Germany’s imports into England increase dramatically, from 7 per cent to 66 per cent of their total wool imports. This abrupt increase threatened to destroy the Australian wool industry. Consequently, the Australian wool industry responded by concentrating on very fine wool. 

1840s: wool auctions & the start of Queensland’s sheep industry

Wool auctions began during the 1840s. However, the bulk was sold on the London market throughout the 19th century.

Queensland’s sheep industry was started in 1840 when pioneer and grazier Patrick Leslie and his brothers drove a flock of 1,700 rams as well as 4,000 ewes and lambs to the Darling

Downs. With Queensland’s hot and frequently dry conditions, sheep breeders in the southern colonies doubted Queensland’s potential as a high-grade wool producer. Strangely, some even speculated sheep would produce hair instead of wool. However, these speculations were quickly dispelled as pastoralists prospered from the rich grazing land throughout the western regions and established one of the most successful industries for the state.

By the mid-1860s, 25,000 sheep were transported to Bowen Downs Station. Soon enough the station was equipped with its own shearing sheds, scouring sheds and a washpool. Scouring the wool, or washing the wool in hot water and detergent, enabled the wool to achieve a better price at market. 

1870: Australia is the world’s largest wool producer

By 1870, Australia became the world’s largest producer of wool. In 1872 wool trade between Australia and Europe was well established. In 1874, Australian wool was shipped to Japan. During the following year, a wool shipment was sent to Shanghai. 

By the time of 1880, Queensland’s wool industry was booming and the Longreach district was building their reputation as being amongst the best wool growing districts in the colony of Queensland. 

Opening mills in China was considered, and a Use More Wool campaign was introduced in 1885 following intense competition from cotton. As a forerunner to the Australian Workers Union and the Australian Labor Party, a Shearers’ Union was formed in 1885. 

Shearers Unite

Naturally, shearers had grown to become an important part of the wool industry. However, they felt their wages did not fairly compensate them for the brutally hard work they put in. 

In Queensland, tensions ran high. By 1891, the unions formed by the shearers held one of the first May Day marches in the world, in Barcaldine. This had significant impacts on Australia’s political landscape – with the event setting the scene for the rise of the Australian Labour Party. 

1925: Australian wool continues to make its mark on a global scale

By 1925, Britain was the largest buyer of Australian wool, taking up 44% of our wool market. Japan and the United States each bought around 10%. Other major markets for Australian wool includes France, Germany, Italy and Belgium.  

In 1931, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa came together to fund an international promotion. It took a long five years for all countries to agree to the funding, based on a tax of 6 pennies a bale. 

1936 saw the formation of the International Wool Secretariat (IWS). This organisation was created to represent wool growers in the main exporting countries. Members included Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and later Uruguay. 

In 1974, a price floor was established for wool prices under a Reserve Price Scheme (RPS). However, this price floor collapsed in 1991. Since the collapse of the reserve price scheme, the wool industry has shrunk to a third of the size that it used to be.

Looking back

For a century, Australia’s prosperous wool industry afforded us one of the highest living standards in the world. Our economy was thriving off our primary exports of wool. By the time the 1950s rolled around, ‘wool’ was synonymous with the Australian way of life. However, by the 1990s, the gap between city and country folk was increasing. 

Australia’s Wool Industry Today

Today, wool remains one of Australia’s most important exports; our wool industry is worth $3 billion. On average, our wool farms are 3,100ha with 3000 sheep. Our sheep population is incredibly high – at 73 million sheep in Australia with 50,000 wool growers. Impressively, 90% of the world’s fine wool for clothing is from Australia. Looking at our exports today, a whopping 80% of Australia’s wool is exported to China.

It’s safe to say our sheep farmers work tirelessly, providing our country with competitive wool exports and boosting our economy. At Global Rotomoulding, we understand the tools and equipment needed to effectively manage an agricultural lifestyle and business. We stock a huge range of products servicing the agricultural industry, from troughs and feeders to fertiliser tanks. If you have any questions about our range and how it can benefit you, chat with our friendly team for more information. 

Advertising For Agricultural Seasonal Workers? Here Are Some Tips!

Thousands of Australian agri-business or farms rely on seasonal workers to handle the surge of labour needed each harvest. Previously, a large portion of this workforce was sourced from the international tourism industry. However, with global travel still restricted,  the farming industry is limited to the local national work pool.  

With this shortage of international operatives, it’s more important than ever to be proactive when hiring for the seasonal work spike. If you plan on advertising for seasonal workers, follow these tips to improve your chances of attracting the best options available.

Start Early 

Don’t wait until the busy season is just around the corner before you start putting feelers out. People will be looking for their next seasonal work stint months in advance, so make sure your farm’s name is on that list early on. Reach out to job seeker websites that your target audience may be using to find seasonal job leads. 

You’ll need time to find, screen and train these workers, so the sooner they can arrive at your farm, the sooner you can make them productive workers. 

Create A Social Media Page

You can’t go past free advertising, and that’s exactly what social media is. We recommend you make a page or an event for your farm to bring your seasonal worker search to the public’s attention. 

Don’t expect hundreds of requests to come your way as soon as you build your page. You will need to share it with your friends and local community groups to get the word out. The more work you put into fleshing out your account, the more likely it is to convert viewers into prospects. Make regular posts about your farm, showcasing the scenery, the lifestyle, the living conditions, etc., so people get a good idea of where they’ll be staying before they sign up. 

When done correctly and continuously, a social media page could bring attention to your farm all year round and help promote other business ventures (such as farm stays, farm attractions, tourism, etc).

Appeal To Aussies (or even Kiwis)! 

Aussies and Kiwis always have each other’s backs in dire times! 

In the past, seasonal workers have primarily been sourced from the tourism industry, with many people travelling internationally to experience the Australian way of life while still having an income. With international travel heavily restricted, farmers across the country were left scratching their heads as to where to find new seasonal workers. Luckily, the NZ travel bubble has opened in time for some of the winter harvest dates.

When you word your ads, keep in mind that this year’s audience will likely want different things than the regular international workers. You may usually say something like ‘Visit Australia And Get The Farm Experience’, well that won’t work, because most of your workers this year probably live here already, or have been here for some time. Play to their sense of adventure and make your farm seem like a trip of a lifetime. For example, ‘Explore Your State Like Never Before,’ or ‘Be Part Of The Process That Feeds Millions Of Aussies’. 

Get The Kids & Retirees Involved 

Two age groups with the most time on their hands are retirees or freshly graduated teenagers. Advertise your seasonal work position as a great way to contribute to the national economy while earning some extra money, with no lock-in commitments. 

Retirees make great seasonal workers as many enjoy the chance to make some money without a full-time work commitment. Plus, this group is often knowledgeable about work requirements and will better understand your expectations. On the opposite end of the stick, recent school graduates on a gap year may be looking to build up some work experience or make some cash while they travel the country. 

Check The Trends 

See what the industry and your competition are capitalizing on. You don’t need to be a marketing whizz; someone else can do that. All you need to do is see what’s working and implement that yourself. 

Google Trends is a great tool to help you understand what Australians are searching for right now. Using this, you can make educated decisions on ways your business can answer some highly sought-after questions. 

Include Your Work Incentives 

If you’re advertising for seasonal workers, don’t forget to include details of the incentives that are now available. You’ll want to make sure your prospective workers have all the latest information, particularly if they’re new to the agricultural industry and keen to give it a go.

Show You Have COVID-19 Prevention Measures 

New government requirements state that you must have plans in place to manage and prevent the transmission of COVID-19 at your worksite and in the community. Your seasonal workers will feel much safer if you make it clear that safety measures are in place at your farm. 

Get Involved With The Australian Government’s Seasonal Worker Programme

If you plan to hire several seasonal workers, you’ve likely already completed this step. Seasonal workers will be in short supply this year, with dwindling tourism numbers still affecting the country. This program sets out to assist employers in agriculture and accommodation industries to fill employment gaps that the Australian workforce cannot meet.

At Global Rotomoulding we are dedicated to helping Australian farmers and rural workers. We value education and strive to give farmers the best information available. Our tanks, products and custom rotomoulding services can help boost your agricultural business. Find out how by browsing our website, or by contacting us!

Case Study: AquaPro

aquapro

From concept design to product prototyping and testing, Global Rotomoulding are passionate about developing innovative products and moulding plastic in a creative way.

In this case study, we take a look at the development process of one of our most unique product collaborations, the AquaPro, and walk you through the benefits of using rotational moulding for custom projects.

What is the AquaPro?

The AquaPro is a commercial, underground water storage system with a large capacity (over 1 million litres), and was developed in collaboration with Vinidex and Trymak. Due to its large size, it is primarily installed under places like shopping centres, office blocks and car parks. However, unlike most large underground water storage solutions — such as concrete tanks and injection moulded structures — the AquaPro was designed to be cost-effective, versatile, and modular.

The design

Similar to a puzzle, the AquaPro was designed to have rotomoulded components which seamlessly fit together and can be arranged in multiple configurations. The main advantage of having a composite structure (i.e. made up of several parts and elements) is that the tooling expenses are minimised and the system can be easily installed by regular drainage plumbers in areas that are usually difficult to access (e.g. heritage listed sites). With custom-designed rotomoulded joiners, the AquaPro was meticulously engineered to meet structural codes, resist external pressures, maximise water volume, and prevent leaking.

Rotomoulding technology

Moulding consistently accurate parts with dimensional stability can be challenging. However, with the latest rotomoulding technology and machinery, we were able to produce high quality, stress-free components with surface finishes comparable to those of injection moulding. Some of the benefits of using rotational moulding technology for the Aquapro include: low lead times for the moulds (2-4 weeks), the ability to run different moulds simultaneously on the same equipment, the ability to mould intricate components easily, and lower costs.

Global Rotomoulding are experts at producing custom moulds and products with complex shapes. If you’re interested in producing rotomoulded components, send us an enquiry or give us a call today: 1800 666 333.

Photo Credit: Vinidex Aquapro

6 Aussie Agriculture Facts You Might Not Know

Curious about the agriculture industry? Australia has a thriving agricultural scene – from small hobby farms to sprawling acres of crop, there is so much variation within the industry. When about half of the continent’s landmass is utilised for cultivating crop and livestock, it’s safe to say pretty much every Australian has had some exposure to farm life. 

If you want to know more about the industry, we’ve put together 6 Aussie agriculture facts that you may find interesting: 

Australian farmers are among the most independent producers in the world. 

Australian farmers are some of the most self-sufficient and rely significantly less on government funding compared to other countries. Australian farmers are subsidised for just 3% of their farming income. In comparison, Norway’s agricultural industry receives support which equals about 61% of its annual revenue. Korea gets 52%, China 21% and the United States 9%. 

Farmland takes up 58% of the Australian landmass, and 2.2% of the population are employed in the industry. 

Land used for agriculture takes up 427 million hectares of the continent. According to research by the ABS in 2016, 99% of that land is owned and operated by Australian families. 

In 2016, 228,372 people were directly employed in the industry, from that, the median age of agriculture industry workers was 49. 

Agriculture uses more than half of Australia’s annual water consumption – but the industry is one of the most resourceful with water use. 

Irrigation systems cover 5% of tiled agricultural land and produce 30% of all harvest. The Australian agriculture industry uses 50-70% of Australia’s annual water consumption.  About 8 million megalitres of water are used in agricultural production annually. 

Still, Australian farmers are experts at water management. Australian cotton and grain growers have improved their water efficiency by about 50% in the past three decades. Cotton has improved water efficiency by 48% and grain by up to 100%.

77% of Australia’s agriculture profit comes from exports.

From the $58.1 billion worth of food produced by Australian farmers in 2015-16, $44.8 billion was exported. 

Australian Farmers are trailblazing to be carbon neutral by 2050 

Australia’s red meat industry aims to be carbon neutral by 2030, which will be world-leading if achieved. 

The agricultural industry as a whole is targeting a net-zero greenhouse gas emission by 2050.

Wheat is Australia’s king crop, and Cattle is the leading livestock 

In the 2018-19 year, wheat produced $6 billion, followed by fruit and nuts with $5 billion and vegetables for $4 billion. 

Cattle was the most profitable livestock, producing $3 billion, followed by sheep with $1.1 billion and poultry on $735 million. 

It takes a lot of hardwork and dedication to run an Aussie farm, but the end result is well worth it. We hope these Aussie agriculture facts helped you learn something. When it comes to managing an agricultural lifestyle and business, Global Rotomoulding has extensive experience. Our huge range of products; from water storage tanks to fertiliser tanks, help you get the job done, even if you’re investing your time in more obscure crops. Be sure to have a chat with our friendly team for more information.

Megatrends Shaping Australian Agriculture

Research conducted by the ABARES and CSIRO has revealed five key ‘megatrends’ that are set to shape Australia’s food and fibre industries in the coming decades. These megatrends are predicted to pose influential opportunities and challenges for farmers, the government and the economy.  

The five megatrends have been identified as:

  1. Growth juggernaut: Three billion empowered consumers
  2. Fractal politics: Beware the dance of giants
  3. More from less: The permanent race for advantage
  4. Cascading planetary risks: Coming, ready or not
  5. Disruptive technologies: Opportunities for the brave.

Read on to understand the impact these megatrends are set to have on the Australian agricultural industry. 

1. Growth juggernaut: Three billion empowered consumers

Accelerated growth in emerging economies is expected to elevate incomes and economic capacity. With the rise in income, expectations are set to rise too. Now empowered and broadened middle class will demand high quality and a greater volume of food and fibre; emphasising more diverse diets and more protein. Greater emphasis is being placed on health, ethics and sustainability. 

This rising income is occurring primarily in emerging Asian economies: China, India and Indonesia are primary drivers of this accelerated growth. 

Empowered consumers will shape markets

The volume of people in high-income countries is expected to triple by early 2050. Average incomes across emerging Asia are projected to increase by about 150%, or 2.5 times 2015 levels by 2050. This will significantly contribute to global economic growth. However, shifts leaning towards greater protectionism appears likely in agriculture markets. This will risk slowing the rate of global growth. For Australian agriculture specifically, this megatrend risks reducing the extent of new trade opportunities for local exporters.  

Demand for high quality food will continue grow strongly

With rising incomes, comes rising expectations. Rising incomes in emerging economies will result in shifts in food demand. Instead of grains, rice and other starchy staples, emphasis will be placed on protein rich animal products, plant-based food products, fruits and vegetables. 

Consumer attitudes and expectations will continue to evolve

Emphasis will also be placed on foods that are perceived to be healthy, convenient, ethical and sustainable for the environment. While these shifts present opportunities for Australian agriculture, they also pose challenges. If Australian regulations and expectations do not align with those found in our key export markets, this may harm the Australian agricultural industry’s competitiveness and brand positioning.  

Key implications on Australian Agriculture

  • Rising incomes in Asia is expected to have a greater impact on export demand compared to increased global population. 
  • Potential environmental concerns concerning greenhouse gas emissions pose challenges for Australia’s livestock exports. These sustainability concerns have motivated Australia’s livestock industry to set a carbon neutral target for 2030.
  • Australia’s geography, institutions and natural endowments have us well-positioned to supply to international markets and capitalise on these changes. 

2. Fractal politics: Beware the dance of giants

The rise in multiple global powers will see changes in economic, military and cultural powers across the world. As nations place greater emphasis on their sovereignty, global trade and international relationships, as well as food and fibre markets and supply chains, will become more complex. 

Seven giants will pursue their individual interests

In the coming decades, geopolitics will continue to reflect the ‘dance of the giants’. 7 nations/regions account for between half to two-thirds of the world’s food production, energy, economic activity and extractions. 

This shift to a more multi-polar world may result in unstable geopolitics and economics. This will likely strain international cooperation.  

Volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity require improved cooperation, but make it more difficult

Volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity are anticipated to become more evident in future decades. Implications of this trend will occur across multiple domains. One particular implication is that cooperation between different groups across nations and the globe will likely become more difficult. 

Declining trust in evidence and institutions could amplify threats and weaken cooperation

Distrust in institutions, science and evidence are expected to worsen global cooperation efforts. The wide-ranging experiences that have taken place across the world as a result of COVID-19 illustrate the risk for political and cultural divides, but also the opportunity to foster bipartisan support for evidence-based approaches by government and business. 

Key implications for agriculture

  • Efficient market access and a committed effort to discourage protectionist policies will help  Australian agricultural exporters to realise the benefits of increasing global trade volumes.   
  • Australian exporters are set to face greater risks concerning consumer attitudes and market access in importing nations. 
  • Our local reputation for supplying high-quality, ethical, sustainable and nutritious products is likely to become more important in the coming decades. 

3. More from less: The permanent race for advantage

A commitment to ongoing innovation is crucial to ensuring profitable, sustainable and competitive food and fibre enterprises for Australian agriculture. Ongoing innovation will be the vehicle for better productivity and smarter use of energy, water, land, labour and materials. 

Despite the importance of innovation, the benefits will not be shared evenly. Often, innovation can worsen existing pressures placed on rural industries and regional communities.

Outputs up, inputs down

The Australian agricultural industry is heavily dependent on exports – around 70% of our production is exported, with fairly low levels of government support.  While net farm income has increased faster than output value, on-farm employment (which includes labour completed by farm owners) has dropped by 25% over the last thirty years. Gross value of agricultural production has increased by 26% and value-added by 74%. 

This spike in productivity can be largely attributed to increases in farm scale, improved genetics, and continuous innovation in management practices.

Improved yields will increase output volumes, but consumers may benefit more than producers

Consumer access to food supply has dramatically improved over the last 70 years. This trend is set to continue with improved management practices and continuous technological innovations.  

Social concerns will shape competitiveness

Reflecting increasing household incomes, many markets and countries are set to limit potentially certain technologies. For example, GMO food corps or certain livestock management practices will eventually be considered prohibited. While this may initially constrain productivity growth it will likely bring about greater environmental outcomes and new producer opportunities. 

Key implications for agriculture

  • Innovative farm management practices, technology and greater economic policy settings will play an important role in advancing agricultural productivity. 
  • The trend of fewer, larger farms is set to continue. This will facilitate greater productivity and support farm incomes. It will also contribute to a declining share of regional employment.  
  • Developing access to high value consumers will rely on industry and government efforts to ensure agricultural management practices stay aligned with consumer expectations. This can be illustrated from paddock to plate at relevant scales. 

4. Cascading planetary risks: Coming, ready or not

Advancements to earth systems at all scales are creating risks, challenges and opportunities. Already, agriculture has been impacted by this, and has started adapting. In future, client and commodity prices are expedited to become more volatile. On the other hand, emerging markets for carbon and ecosystem services may have the potential to transform business models.

Science suggests major challenges ahead

Evidence continues to show that current agricultural practices are causing multiple environmental problems. Despite large-scale shifts towards renewable energy sources, global greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise. However, ABARES modelling has explored potential scenarios for irrigated agriculture in the Murray Darling Basin. Plus, the ABARES is working on developing capabilities to assess potential future climate scenarios across various broadacre farms in Australia.   

Interactions and feedbacks often amplify risks

Greenhouse gas emissions across the globe are bringing the world closer to climate thresholds, which contributes to accelerated climate change, including rising sea levels and temperatures. These rising temperatures also risk longer and more destructive bushfire seasons. 

Reducing net emissions and protecting natural assets could benefit landholders

Regional communities and consumers will increasingly demand producers protect natural assets. This includes a commitment to maintaining healthy ecosystems, water quality and protecting species’ habitats. 

Key implications for agriculture

  • Profitable farming needs to merge with a sustainability-focused approach to maintain access to premium consumers. 
  • As a result of climate change, catastrophic events including fires, floods and droughts will become more severe. This will cause agricultural commodity prices and market access to become more volatile. 
  • Expected hotter and drier conditions will affect the profitability of agriculture. 

5. Disruptive technologies: Opportunities for the brave

Technological advancements are set to disrupt and influence how food and fibre products are manufactured, marketed and delivered. New skills and partnerships will be required as supply chains and customer engagements become more agile and interconnected.

Information-rich production systems will provide new levels of control, and accountability

The emergence of new technologies will significantly influence Australian agriculture. Connectivity across billions of devices, often referred to as the ‘Internet of Things (IoT)’, will transform supply chains in the future.  

Revolutionary connectivity will enable new types and levels of customer engagement

Supply chain management in agriculture will see real-time tracking of quantity, quality and unique characteristics of food and fibre products. 

Unlocking these opportunities will require new data sharing and governance

To ensure the benefits of digitisation are realised,  Australian agriculture needs to establish a new operating model focused on collaboration and information sharing.  

Key implications for agriculture

  • Strategic decision making and informed approaches to risk management will be essential tools for Australian farmers. 
  • Managing volatility in the future will rely on integrated and interconnected systems. 
  • Efficient use of data will influence access to capital, including equity investments in family farms.
  • Taking advantage of disruptive technologies will rely on new approaches to managing data and information. This will see new roles emerge in the private sector and in government, to facilitate a shared ecosystem. 

Global Rotomoulding has a strong relationship with Australia’s agricultural industry. These key trends identified by the ABARES and CSIRO are set to offer both positive and challenging outcomes for Australian farmers. Global Rotomoulding has been supporting the Australian agricultural industry through our extensive supply of leading agricultural equipment. Contact our friendly team to learn more today.  

5 Australian Women in Agriculture You Should Know

The stereotype that your typical Aussie farmer is a blokey man who wears a straw hat is outdated. In fact, according to the Department of Agriculture’s Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARES), women are estimated to take up around 32 percent of agricultural workers. Leading industry body AgriFutures suggests this figure is likely higher, as many women are not adequately recognised for their contributions.  

With new generations coming through, a gender balance in the agricultural industry is slowly forming. Of all students studying agricultural science at university, 55% are women. Beyond traditional farming, careers in agriculture have extended to a range of professions, including finance, food innovation, engineering and programming, and entrepreneurialism.

Women in agriculture are also among Australia’s hardest workers. They work tiresome, long hours on properties. On top of this, they do even more domestic work that city women – 75% complete five or more hours of domestic work every week, 16% higher than the national average. Women in agriculture also complete more volunteer work and earn a substantial 75% of their income from work completed outside the farm. This provides necessary financial support during harsh economic times for their families. 

In celebration of International Women’s Day, here we uncover five Australian women in agriculture you need to know about. 

Karin Stark 

Karin Stark has long been acutely aware of climate change. She completed a degree in Environmental Science and Sustainable Development, but noticed the brutal effects of climate change for herself when she moved with her partner to his NSW farm, “Waverleigh”.  

Over the years, “Waverleigh” has been exposed to harsh floods, unforgiving droughts and sweltering summers. Karin has taken action to operate in an environmentally friendly way since she started opening the farm with her partner. She had a 500kW solar diesel hybrid irrigation pump, the largest in the country, installed. This has reduced their CO2 emissions by 500 tonnes annually. Plus, it saved them $170,000 a year in energy costs. It will likely be paying for itself within five years. 

Karin believes using these large scale solar pumping applications will be a gamechanger for irrigated agriculture. Keen to share her story so that others can benefit from the use of renewables on their farms, Karin founded the National Renewables in Agriculture Conference and Expo. She is also the Director of Farm Renewables Consulting.

Darrylin Gordon

Darrylin Gordon is a Jaru woman and pastoralist from Halls Creek in Western Australia. She works on the Ngunjiwirri Aboriginal Corporation-owned Lamboo Station, located in the Kimberley region. Passionate about developing the life-skills of Indigenous Australians, Darrylin runs three-month-long camps to help them to find sustainable work in agriculture, mining and tourism.    

In 2018, Darrylin achieved runner-up at the WA AgriFutures Rural Women’s Awards. Her two bursaries she received, worth $15,000, were poured right back into her program. 

Darrylin is passionate about breaking down cultural and social barriers that prevent Indigenous Australians from accessing opportunities for work and training.

Allison Mudford

Allison works on her family’s 2,500 acre farm. She performs rigorous physical work on the farm, as well as managing the accounting and marketing of the business. Allison sits on the board of the Hunter Land Services and the National Parks and Wildlife Services’ regional advisory panel, northern inland. On top of this, the mother of three manages to work part-time for the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal. Here, she works on projects with rural communities to help them combat burnout. 

Allison studied Agricultural Science at Melbourne University. By the age of 21, she had bought her own farm, after having worked at Landcare. After eventually meeting husband Daniel, who also had a farm, they purchased their own farm in the Macedon Ranges, Victoria. While they continued to work their corporate jobs while farming, they eventually took on farming full time.

www.mudgeeguardian.com.au/story/4921786/scholarship-honour-for-farming-achiever/

Fleur McDonald

Fleur McDonald has managed to sell over 600,000 copies of her books. She is one of Australia’s leading rural literature authors. Fleur’s work has been inspired by her life on farms. She grew up on her parent’s property in regional South Australia and now resides on her 8000-acre property in regional Western Australia.  

When Fleur started working on farms in the 1990s, it was uncommon for women to identify themselves as agricultural workers. Often Fleur was ridiculed for her choices. She also experienced sexual harassment at the hands of an overseer. 

Fleur is now the Company Secretary and a board member for the industry body, Women in Agriculture. She also runs a not-for-profit organisation, Breaking the Silence, which assists women and children escaping domestic violence.

 

Chris Ferguson

Chris Ferguson is a goat grazer who works between far north-west and central New South Wales. She runs the popular social media blog, Life in the Mulga. She’s a passionate advocate for rural Australia, and has amassed almost 9k followers on her Instagram and Facebook blogs. Chris utilises her platform to raise awareness of the challenges impacting life in regional Australia.  

Having worked on farms since she was young, when Chris was 30, she and her then-husband purchased land for a farm. Years later after her separation, Chris bought out her ex-husband’s share in the property and farmed as a single woman for several years. She later re-partnered with another farmer, who she later purchased a large farm with. 

Chris strives to show the real face of agriculture in Australia, and the important role women play in agriculture, through her social media. Noting the lack of people and businesses located in regional areas, Chris hopes to see more people choose to live in regional and rural areas, and believes this will have a critical impact on the growth of the Australian agricultural industry. 

Global Rotomoulding is proud to have a strong connection with Australia’s agricultural industry. Women play a vital role in agriculture and are key to the future developments of the industry. To learn more about Global Rotomoulding’s agricultural products and services, explore our website or chat with our helpful team.

A Tour Though Broken Hill – Movies, Mining, Drag & More

G’day everyone, your favourite well-travelled delivery driver is back. It’s Uncle Garry’s Aussie Country Town Tour part 2! 

Last week I shared my tour through the Agricultural mecca, Mildura. Check it out here if you haven’t yet. This week while watching Mad Max Fury Road on a Netflix binge I was driven back (ahhh get it?) to the time I spent at Broken Hill. 

The far-west New South Wales outback town was the filming location for the 1981 classic, ‘Mad Max 2’. But, this film is just one of many feathers in the ‘Silver City’s’ cap. 

Broken Hill has a cluster of identities which are all so different, yet united. The town is Australia’s longest-lived mining town and is bespeckled with memorabilia and artefacts of the industry. It’s a town where men can comfortably wear dirt or makeup on their faces. Broken Hill reinvented itself as a hotspot for the LGBTQ community after the 1994 hit film ‘Priscilla Queen of The Desert’ made a stop in the city. 

And that’s still just touching the surface. The town has a rich art culture and deep history – when you combine all the features, you get a country town like no other. 

A Must See For Movie Buffs

Broken Hill has featured in a whopping 35 movies! I mentioned ‘Mad Max 2’ and ‘Priscilla Queen of the Desert’ earlier, but films like ‘Mission Impossible II’, ‘Last Cab To Darwin’, ‘Strangerland’, ‘A Town Like Alice’ and many more have filmed scenes in the desert town. The seemingly endless desert looks like it’s miles from civilisation and filmmakers love using the sprawling sandscapes to their advantage. 

Visit the Silverton Hotel, just 30 minutes drive from the Broken Hill centre, which was also a filming location for several movies. If you’re a Mel Gibson fan, you need to check out the Mad Max Museum.

Where To Stay In Broken Hill

Enjoy your outback adventure in true-blue Aussie comfort. Get classic country hospitality with a twist by staying in the Palace Hotel, located in the heart of Broken Hill. The mural clad walls of the hotel are iconic and a must-see stop. Most murals include a water feature so that the hotel feels like an oasis in the outback. The hotel regulars are the tough local workers and flamboyant drag-queens who journey to the former stage of ‘Priscilla Queen of The Desert’. Each September the hotel and the Broken Heel Festival join forces to celebrate the birthday of Queen Priscilla. 

If you’re looking for a more standard hotel experience, I recommend relaxing at the ibis Styles Broken Hill hotel or the Lodge Outback Inn. Both are cozy stays and offer great ways to cool off from the desert climate. 

Living Desert Sculptures 

Feel like you’re looking at artifacts from a bygone era by checking out the Living Desert Sculptures. If you want to have a laugh, you could probably convince the kids they actually are, even though they were erected in 1993. These beautiful sandstone sculptures are a quick 9km drive north and make for fantastic photos at sunset. The sandstone sculptures overlook vast desert and they glow brilliantly when touched by the setting sun. 

Dig For Gems 

The Broken Hill region is renowned among mineral collectors because of the wealthy gem deposits across the land. Thousands of small mineral deposits still surround the area and are widely popular spots for fossickers. If you’re an aspiring treasure hunter, this region is a perfect spot to try your luck, given you get permission. 

If you’re interested in geology swing by the Albert Kersten Mining & Minerals Museum (GeoCentre). The museum tells the story of how Broken Hill formed the biggest deposit of silver, lead and zinc in the world. It also displays a famous collection of minerals extracted from the region. 

Art and History

Now I don’t have much of an eye for art, but there was something about the true-blue atmosphere surrounding Broken Hill that made me want to visit as many galleries as I could. You’ll be spoiled for choice in this outback town as art flows through the very veins of the region. 

If you had to condense your sightseeing to one gallery, it has to be the famous Pro Hart gallery. Celebrating one of Australia’s most affluent outback painters, the gallery includes original paintings and honour pieces dedicated to Hart. If you’re not immediately moved by his colourful portrayals of the Australian ecosystem, listen to his personal story, it’s a perfect Aussie underdog tale.  

Where To Eat 

Foodies will want to make a stop at S-Que, a poolside restaurant that uses great seasonal produce to create delectable, simple meals. The staff were super friendly and made the whole experience fantastic.

Even if you don’t decide to stay at the Palace Hotel, still visit the downstairs restaurant. Gaze at the artistic murals while sipping on a beer/cocktail and enjoying a pub feed. Blast to the past by having a milkshake at the 50s themed Bell’s Milk Bar. 

 

Once again that’s all I have time for this week. I hope you found something of use for your next trip to Broken Hill. There is so much history and depth in this town that the best way to experience it all is go and explore yourself. The locals are the best tour guides and will be more than willing to point you in the right direction. Have fun, explore and delve deep into the kaleidoscope of culture that is Broken Hill. 

Why Plastic Parts Are Rapidly Overtaking Metal

Plastic vs metal – it’s a long-debated topic in agricultural, mechanical, automotive and several other industries. While metal parts and assets have been king since the first machines were created, new science has made a new (better suited) successor. Enter plastic. 

Traditionally plastics struggled to compete with the strength and durability of metals. However, current plastic technologies have allowed this substance to perform as well as, and, in some cases better than, metal. 

So when both substances can perform the same job at the same level, it boils down to cost, weight and efficiency – to which plastic is the clear victor. 

If you haven’t already, it’s time to start rethinking where you’re using metal parts and consider if you could benefit from a cheaper and better tool. 

Plastic – Stronger Than You’d Think

Plastics excel at having a high strength-to-weight ratio. It can withstand more stress before failure while weighing less than a metal part. Combine this with better tensile strength and a higher ability to resist being deformed under mass density and plastic makes a good argument against metal enthusiasts. 

The below diagram shows a broad performance range of several plastics (categorised in Polymer and Composite categories) and how they compare to metal options. While the strongest metals rank higher than plastics, the plastic options aren’t far behind and have a lower density. 

Better Chemical Resistances 

Plastics are generally less susceptible to damage from chemicals or chemical reactions. Metal water storage tanks can cause zinc to leak through your water supply, leaving an unpleasant metallic taste. 

Worse, a study by the Public and Environmental Health Service in Tasmania found harmful lead levels in some stainless steel tanks. Steel tanks are used commonly in the mining industry to store sulfuric acid. At a high concentration (98% or above) steel can handle the acidic qualities of the acid for years. However, once the solution is diluted (Lower than 93%) the formula becomes highly corrosive. Poly liquid storage tanks, which we specialise in, can dependably store this acid at most concentrations. 

Poly Plastics, The Lightweight Champion 

More weight means more power is needed to move it. One of the best reasons to replace your heavy steel products with lightweight plastic products is you significantly lower your load. 

Our poly agricultural equipment is easy to roll, lift and reposition. Very rarely do we rely on heavy machinery when it comes to installing even our largest products. If you’re looking to replace a vehicle-mounted item with a plastic one, you’ll have improved fuel efficiency and no problem lifting them on or off your ute.

Faster Fabrication Times To Meet Strict Deadlines

Time equals money! When you’re in a pinch and need a replacement part fast, utilising plastic manufacturing will have you back on your feet long before a metal replacement can be created. 

Plastic’s design flexibility allows for designs to be created in one part, whereas metal parts often require assembly or welding to create one piece. Because of a more simplistic design process, you save time, labour and cost compared to what metal manufacturing would take. 

Heat Resistance

The biggest argument against plastics is it’s lower melting point than popular metals like steel or iron. However new high-performance thermoplastics technology has a melting point of 3593.333°C where carbon steel melts between 1425 – 1540°C. Still, most common plastics will melt somewhere in the 200°C range.

Know When It’s Right To Use 

Your safety and wellbeing is our priority at Global. While we love the benefits plastics offer, sometimes metal is the right material for the job. Consider these cons when planning your replacements.

Limited Wear Resistance

Plastic’s low resistance threshold means it may be affected by high temperatures, acidity and other corrosive elements. However, there are higher-resistance plastic options better suited for handling chemicals. For example, our rotomoulded cartage tanks are suitable for transporting diesel and a range of other substances. 

Lower Structural Strength

Plastics are unsuited for supporting structures and replacing high-weight bearing parts of heavy machinery.  

If you feel that lightweight plastic will benefit you, the team at Global Rotomoulding can help out. We create a range of tanks, parts and other agricultural equipment. If you want a custom plastic piece to help you out, call us today to see how we can help.