Livestock farming at Rob's

Rob was building a chaff frame to deliver the ryegrass seeds in one place on his JD combines. Intergrated livestock enterprise in reliable country. Was trying new wheats with double any ear size i'd seen on any other Australian variety. You can blame Rob for this blog as he taught me how to do it. Rob kindly took me around his high standard farm and to kellie's which im grateful. Look forward to seeing you in the UK.

Combine Baler

I went to see Kellie shields at Gunwarrie who kindly hosted me with Rob Warburton 2010 Nuffield Scholar to see her operation and the combine Baler. This baler fitted behind a Lexion 480 with 12 metre header. This was exporting the ryegrass which is the australian Blackgrass equivalent. Excellent idea two jobs in one, would be interesting to see if it will work in the UK. They had a workshop i could only dream of. Good luck with Harvest Kellie.

I cant remember his name!

Dan hart ex Cambridgeshire farmer from my home county. Moved over to Australia for opportunity and higher standard of life. Currently planning for harvest and a wedding has a lot on his plate. Using a disc seeder and blue tooth technology for the controller. Good luck dan with your wedding.

Controlled Traffic Farming leader

Mark Wandel was mastering controlled traffic farming using John Deere Starfire. Working on a 9 metre system he was using an 18 metre seeder, 36 metre John Deere sprayer and had the first 36 metre weed seeker sprayer in WA which was some piece of kit. Used pre drilling it turns each nozzle on when it passes over a weed, saving vast amounts of chemical. Mark was using as seen in the picture a cyclone for the chaff, directly behind the wheel track. He was swathing barley when i arrived which i've never seen before. The swather honey bee header could deliver a swath in three places which helped with control traffic farming especially on headlands. Canola on the controlled traffic fields where doing 2.2 tonnes/ha but the headlands where doing 1.7 tonnes/ha, which shows the next step is headland controlled traffic. I would regard mark as a leader in controlled traffic farming.

Im no camera man

Phil Longmire, chief of Nuffield WA. I had a great day with Phil, he started combining while i was there and like all farmers on the first day when things go well he was on top form. Phil had the best chaser bin ive seen on my travels which doubles up as a seed filler. He had built a power pack to run his field bins, which could be controlled from the bin. Phils moto was don't spend money on things you can't use else where, which ruled out my Ferrari purchase. i tried to help to set up the ATU john deere steering on the combining. I could have stayed helping for harvest i enjoyed myself so much.

Large Block farming

Simon Tiller Nuffield Scholar has two large farming blocks of land, manages contractors to help with his harvest. Has identified which parts of the business earn money and how to utilise assets to there full potential. showed me his home made pit and blending facility. Is using a tine drill and a disc seeder with mutliple hoppers. Took me to a sheep feed lot, which buys in damaged grain, wheat straw and mixes in a keenan feeder. Had delivered while i was there a CBH sampling hut which comes with a member of staff to sample grain going to the store terminal which speeds up the turn around time. Only the larger farmers have this or ones who are happy for others to use as well. I wish Simon luck for the future.

Its not just europe that can go Big crops

Andrew Fowler Nuffield Scholar and wife Marie last farmer before the bush. Has a beach at the end of his farm with sand that squeeks. Well run farming business with a brother who loves livestock, perfect situation. Uses David Cox's N strips to determine nitrogen requirement if any and grazes crops to achieve a gross margin on livestock on par with Cropping. Diverse cropping with Wheat, Barley, canola and clover/ryegrass for cattle and sheep to graze. The clover is burnt off and allowed to regenerate three years later. Growing roundup ready canola. Uses his sprayers as swathers which was utilising assets. The sprayers where so big i could drive the car underneath. Canola was yielding over the bridge 2.2 tonnes to the ha. Andrew and Marie kindly put me up for two nights. Andrew took me to the local pub which had one of the largest burgers i've ever eaten. Im currently 1 stone heavier from meeting Andrew and David Cox. I thank Andrew and Marie for looking after me.