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.

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. 

Aussie Country Town Tour – A Country Man’s Guide Through Mildura

G’day everyone, Uncle Garry from Global Rotomoulding here. Welcome to my first post of Gazz’s Aussie Country Town Tour, where I’ll take you through some of my favourite rural towns and show you the best things to do there. 

This week I was sitting on my porch, looking out onto the pink skies at sunset. My mind started to wander, and I recalled a trip I took to the beautiful Mildura pink salt lakes some time ago (back when it was still pink). 

It’s hard to forget the red earth and mighty river of Mildura. This Victorian town revolves around the Murray River. There are always people fishing, boating and skiing on the water. 

Bursting with history and fresh agricultural produce, this vibrant town is a refreshing oasis surrounded by desert landscapes. There’s so much to see and do. Mildura is famous for its oranges, grapes and wines. It’s a perfect spot to stop for some fresh citrus-based foods and sip on fruity beverages.

It’s honestly one of the most colourful natural landscapes in the country and a fantastic holiday destination. So if you’re stopping for a day or a week, make sure you check out some of these fantastic places. 

Much To Do On The Murray River

Mildura is positioned beside Australia’s longest river. The Murray River is a huge attraction all-year-round. You can partake in or spectate things like the 100 Ski Race, the Malibu & Axis Boats Wakeboard State of Origins, or the Mildura 24-hour Mega Swim.

If you want a truly unique rural town visit, I recommend hiring a houseboat and spending a week cruising the river. It’s a great way to wind down and live in a way that few other towns can offer. 

If a day trip is more your style hop onboard one of three vintage paddle steamers and cruise your way on one of the available tours.

Places To Eat In Mildura 

Food makes the world go round, and Mildura knows how to cook up a good feed. Here is my go-to food tour. 

Breakfast 

If you want a simple, but trendy breakfast and some of the best coffee in the town, you’ve gotta stop by Nash Lane. They make mouth-watering breakfast and the staff are as polite as can be. Uncle Gaz’s fave is their Eggs Benedict. 

Lunch

Stop by The Wooden Door for lunch and enjoy some hearty Australian classics. They put a mean spin on the classic chicken parmy. 

The Brass Monkey makes a great feed too. It’s funky and brings street-food inspired dishes and city laneway culture to the rural town. 

Dinner 

I had a few great dinners on my Mildura trip, but when I stopped by Stefano’s I forgot about every other meal I had. Head Chef Stefano de Pieri’s food resembles art. Stefano uses fresh, in-season ingredients to prepare his simple but flavoursome dishes. Trust me on this one – wow. 

Farm Fresh Produce (And Wines) 

Mildura is famous for oranges! Even if you’ve never heard of the town before, you would have heard the name because of the Mildura Fruit Company, Australia’s largest fresh citrus exporter. It’s like Bundaberg and the rum! Swing by Orange World  and take a tour of 20-hectares of citrus farm. It will be the freshest orange you’ve ever bitten into.

Visit the region on the first or third Sunday of the month and access all the fresh produce the region has to offer in one easy spot. The Sunraysia Farmers Market brings rows and rows of stalls run by local farmers and producers. Set up along the main street, you’ll find everything you need here from fresh meat to pistachios, fruits, asparagus, Murray River salt and more.

If you love wine, the Mildura region is ripe (pun intended) with grape vineyards and local wineries. My recommendations are the Trentham Estate if you don’t mind a drive to the Trentham Hills. Alternatively, the Sunraysia Cellar Door is easily accessible along the main street of Mildura. Here, you can sample wines from dozens of local producers that operate along the Murray River.

Rich History 

Rev heads, you have to check out the Mildura Holden Museum. A collection of 28-35 Holden vehicles which date from the first model made to the recent additions. The whole museum is the effort of Mr Ron Morello’s passion for the car brand. It’s a pit stop I’ve made several times to ogle at the original 1948 FX Holden sedan.

If you love the Holden Museum, you’ll be interested to see the massive prime mover, Big Lizzie, which paved the way for settlement in the Red Cliffs. She now proudly stands in Barclay Square Red Cliffs. You can find history at every turn in Mildura; you just need to look. 

Explore The Most Colourful Desert Landscapes

The Victorian town is an explorer’s dream. To the south-west is the famous Pink Lakes in the Murray Sunset National Parks. The unusual coloured water source has a pink hue. While it has lost most of its vibrancy in the past decade, it’s still a massively popular stop. 

Mildura is surrounded by vast deserts and rockscapes. Just 30 minutes drive from the town will take you to the Perry Sand Hills where you can admire the looming dunes and maybe spot an emu or two. On the edge of town is the Australian Inland Botanic Garden which is a pleasant splash of colour and greenery. Just 16km south is the Red Cliffs, a town named fittingly after the mighty red rocks surrounding it. 

Alright, that’s it for Mildura, and I’ve only just scratched the surface. I’d love to hear about your favourite parts of Mildura, so be sure to leave a comment on our Facebook. Working for Global Rotomoulding has allowed me to travel across the country. I’ve made plenty of stops in plenty of towns. Where should I write about next?

How Global Helps Customers Fertigate Efficiently on the Farm

Are you looking to achieve more with less on your farm? A fertigation system may be something that can help massively improve crop productivity and significantly lower the chemicals you need to achieve those results. 

Fertigation is the combination of irrigation and fertilisation, but it’s capabilities are much more beneficial than just multitasking. Fertigation allows farmers to increase nitrogen efficiency and in turn, apply less fertiliser while getting better growth results. 

Global Rotomoulding has been called to assist in several fertigation systems with our custom Polyethylene parts and tanks that are cheaper to produce than metal or rubber parts and unreactive to the chemicals you will be using. 

Fertigation – The Basics 

Fertigation supplies crops with dissolved fertiliser through an irrigation system. It takes a fair amount of research and preparation. Still, this technique allows farmers to customise and alter nutrient and water levels to obtain the crop’s maximum production yield.

Broadcasting fertiliser onto the surface comes with many variables. Things like rainfall or heat can influence how much of the fertiliser gets absorbed into the soil. This method leaves a considerable amount of fertiliser on the soil surface that never makes it into the root zone. This means the nutrients are inaccessible for the crop and doesn’t promote growth at all. 

Fertigation has proven to be a more effective and consistent application method and takes less time and man-power once a system is installed. But the initial cost, need for a quality irrigation system and labour cost to mix and measure solutions is the main deterrent for farmers. 

Broadcasting fertiliser onto the surface is the most common means of application. The Australian Bureau Of Statistics showed that nine Australian Agricultural Environments broadcasted fertiliser, while drilling below the surface was the most common method in eight. Only agricultural businesses in the Arid region category used the fertigation method as the primary fertiliser application.

Regular applications of soluble nutrients is a proven way to dismiss the main issues tied to surface broadcast fertilisation. Fertigation places nutrients around the plant roots and allows for rapid intake. It also saves labour time, application time and lowers field compaction. 

To capitalise on these benefits, extra care should be taken when selecting fertilisers and injection equipment as well as in the management and maintenance of the system.

How It Works 

A dissolvable fertiliser solution is mixed into a suitable container and combined into an irrigation system. 

Popular Irrigation Systems With Fertigation: 

  • Sprinkler system – Applies solution evenly across plant and soil. 
  • Drip irrigation – Precisely targets roots and stem area of plants. More efficient for fertilisation, but does not provide water to leaves. Can be subsurface or above ground. 
  • Surface Irrigation – Most popular irrigation system used by farmers worldwide. Less even distribution of nutrients compared to the other two.

Once an irrigation system is found, the fertiliser is applied by different methods. 

The following are generally used: 

  • Continuous application – Fertiliser is applied at a constant rate from beginning to end. 
  • Three-stage – Irrigation without fertiliser starts. The fertiliser is injected once the ground is wet. Irrigation process ends without fertiliser solution. 
  • Proportional – Injection rate is proportional to water discharge (1ltr of solution per 1000ltrs). 
  • Quantitative – Solution is calculated depending on the size and demand of each irrigation block. (20ltrs to Block-A, 50ltrs to Block-B)

What You Need To Know 

Fertigation is a great farm practice that will ensure plants optimal crop nutrition and boost the crop yield while minimising environmental pollution. But you must understand the requirements of your crop and land before taking on the project.

Make sure you: 

Consult the experts for the right equipment.

Global Can Help 

Fertigation receives a great deal of interest because of the potential to save water and nutrients, while at the same time increasing agricultural productivity. Global has partnered with plenty of farmers and Agri experts in their efforts to conduct efficient fertigation. 

Your system will need a range of chemical supply tanks and pressure differential tanks to inject your fertiliser solution into your irrigation systems. According to the NSW Department of Primary Industries, your fertigation system will consist of

  • “One or more tanks to dissolve dry fertiliser into water or store pre-made liquid fertiliser mixes.”  
  • “A means of injecting the dissolved fertiliser into the irrigation line.” 

How you choose to inject fertiliser into your irrigation line heavily depends on the variables of your farm. But the tanks can be a simple fix once you figure out how much solution you need. 

We have a range of tanks suitable for fertigation mixing and can create custom Polyethylene parts to fit your needs perfectly. Building an irrigation system is different for each farm, so if you need bespoke fittings on your tanks, our expert team can help from design to construction. 

Global Rotomoulding is proud to supply Australian farmers with rainwater tanks, fertigation tanks and spray tanks. We work with over 30 OEM’s making critical components to supply the agricultural industry.