• Home
  • Articles
    • Front Page
    • General Interest
    • Snippets
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Council Comments
  • Competitions
  • Our Community
    • Our People
    • Question of the Week
    • Jobs in the Central West
    • Be Seen
    • What’s On
  • Features
    • Rural Round Up
    • My Place
    • Loving Local Living
    • Wellness Wise
    • Just a Short Drive
    • Real Estate
  • Sports
    • Bowls
    • Cricket
    • Equestrian
    • Footy Tips
    • Golf
    • Netball
    • Rugby League
    • Rugby Union
    • Soccer
    • Touch Football
  • Contact Us
    • Contact Page
    • Advertise with us
    • Testimonials
    • Submit an Article
    • Subscribe to the Forbes Phoenix

Forbes Phoenix

Central West Livestock Exchange Receives Drought Stimulus Funding For Shade Sails

December 18, 2020 By editor

The CWLE. Image Credit: https://www.forbes.nsw.gov.au/

Forbes Shire Council has received $85,000 for shading at the Central West Livestock Exchange (CWLE) sheep yards from the NSW Government Local Drought Stimulus Program. The much-needed sails have recently been installed.

“This installation is all part of the plan for the extension of the CWLE, with a further $3.4 million spent on expanding the yards to include a multi-species yards undercover early this year,” says Forbes Shire Council General Manager, Steve Loane. “This area was in need of shade given the extreme heat we experience here on sale days during summer.”

“Animal welfare is always front of mind for Council and the shade makes a considerable difference to not only the animals but the people on the ground as well. The shade sails will ensure stock is kept in a stable condition, ensuring they are fit for transport and fit for consumption,” said Steve.

Forbes Shire Council are the current holders of the ALMA Animal Welfare Award which they received in 2019, for their commitment to best practice in animal welfare at the Central West Livestock Exchange.

“The sails amongst all the other improvements taken place at the CWLE, are simply amazing,” says Forbes Shire Council Mayor, Phyllis Miller. “With over 1.4 million sheep traded annually at this site, we needed to make sure animal and human safety was a key driver. We are very grateful to the State Government for the grant funding to enable us to do this incredible work. These farmers are the backbone of our community, we need to look after them.”

The CWLE is a state of the art facility which was purpose-built for the selling of quality cattle, sheep and pigs. The facility was built in 2005 and is a key economic driver for the Forbes Shire.

Stay On Label And Know Your Market Before Using Desiccants

November 6, 2020 By editor

Cereal, pulse and oilseed growers are being reminded to adhere to label directions for herbicides used as a desiccant and understand their target market requirements this harvest to avoid issues with chemical residues.

It is critical growers are aware that maximum residue limits (MRLs) in Australia could differ from MRLs in international grain markets such as the European Union, according to Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) Manager Chemical Regulation, Gordon Cumming.

“Late season rain has created harvest issues across areas of Australia, and growers are now carefully considering their options when it comes to managing their crop and maximising yield, weed control and grain quality to achieve the best profit margins,” Gordon said.

“However, where chemical desiccants, used to speed up the crop ripening process, are being considered there is the potential for chemical residues to arise that may exceed certain market requirements, even when used in accordance with the label directions.”

“For example, for durum, the Australian MRL for diquat is 2 milligrams/kilogram, whereas in a major potential market for Australian durum, the European Union, there is a significantly lower MRL of 0.02mg/kg.”

Chair of the National Working Party on Grain Protection (NWPGP), Gerard McMullen, said all markets had strict limits for chemical residues and growers and marketers needed to work together to ensure grain was compliant with market requirements.

“Marketers need to closely monitor market requirements and provide advice to growers. Non-compliance can lead to the rejection of shipments in export markets and create ongoing market access issues,” Gerard said.

Differences in regulations make grain exporters wary and many were reluctant to consider buying grain from crops treated with certain chemicals, such as diquat on durum.

Growers have a legal obligation to follow label directions and understand the needs of their buyers. Exporters also have a role to play. Grain should not be exported unless the residue status is known and complies with market requirements.

The GRDC has produced fact sheets on desiccants for use by crop type. For more information go to https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/all-publications/factsheets/2020/preharvest-herbicide-use-fact-sheet.

Keeping Roads Safe This Harvest

November 6, 2020 By editor

Melanie Suitor and Peter Nixon, Manager of Forbes Machinery Centre, with an auger.

Agricultural machinery owners and operators are invited to get road ready ahead of the 2020 harvest season, by picking up a free Moving Harvest Machinery USB from all agricultural machinery retailers and rural supply stores in the Parkes, Forbes, and Lachlan Shire areas. The USBs are also available at the Councils Administration Offices.

The ‘Moving Harvest Machinery’ USBs contain all of the relevant notices for safely and legally moving agricultural machinery and combinations on the road along with other useful harvest safety information.

Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, says it is imperative that all operators be aware of their responsibilities whilst operating over dimensional vehicles this harvest.

“For the first time in a few years it is looking like it’s going to be a great harvest, which means lots of extra truck movements and agricultural machinery will be using local roads.”

“Safety and compliance during harvest is very important. Operators need to be aware of their responsibilities and ensure that all warning devices and travel requirements are adhered to,” Melanie said.

Regulations do change and this USB will help to ensure that people have up to date information.

“We provide these handy credit card style USBs every harvest. It has been updated with the most current notices and provides other relevant information such as load restraint, chain of responsibility and the Harvesting Fire Safety Guide, to name a few. There is also a live link document, which provides the web address for the attachments on the USB. It is advisable to regularly check the National Heavy Vehicle Regulators website www.nhvr.gov.au for updated notices and/or changes to operating conditions,” Melanie said.

This year there are 1,000 USB devices available.

Be Harvest Ready

October 23, 2020 By editor

The recent Be Road Ready For Harvest Virtual Field Day, held via Zoom, was a sellout. More than 90 people registered for the event with a further 20 people signing up to the waitlist.

Attendees were a mixture of farmers, contract harvesters, transport companies, agricultural machinery retailers, government agencies, council staff and relevant associations.

The event was supported by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, Transport for NSW, NSW Police, NSW Farmers, WFI and Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils.

It provided information about the current regulations for safely and legally moving agricultural vehicles and combinations on the road.

Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, said it was great to see strong numbers for the Virtual Field Day, especially as the region is expecting a good harvest for the first time in a number of years.

“Unfortunately due to the current COVID restrictions we weren’t able to hold our face to face event at the Central West Livestock Exchange at Forbes, but it was very pleasing to see many of the regulars join us for the online event. There were also a large number of first-time attendees from right across the Central West.”

“Safety and compliance during harvest is very important. Operators need to be aware of their responsibilities and ensure that during harvest all warning devices and travel requirements are adhered to.”

“Regulations are constantly changing and events like this are important to ensure people are up to date on what’s required before the upcoming harvest period,” Melanie said.

The Virtual Field Day was recorded and can be accessed on the Forbes Shire Council’s YouTube channel.

Farmers Urged To Vaccinate Against Q Fever

October 16, 2020 By editor

There have already been 51 confirmed cases of Q Fever in the Central West in 2020. Image Credit: Kateryna Kon/ Shutterstock

Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD), Manager Communicable Diseases and Immunisation Susan Turcato, is strongly urging farmers and people who work with livestock to get vaccinated against Q Fever to guard against being unable to work due to prolonged illness.

Q Fever is a bacterial infection carried by livestock that can lead to chronic lethargy that may last for several months. Susan said a single dose vaccine is recommended for people who work in high-risk occupations, as well as for people aged 15 years and over who could be exposed to Q Fever.

There have been an alarming 51 confirmed cases of Q Fever reported in WNSWLHD so far this year, the symptoms of which, mainly chronic fatigue, can affect individuals and families, as well as impact their ability to work.

“With all the pressure on farmers and livestock handlers with the recent drought and the COVID-19 pandemic, the last thing we want is for them to be needlessly drained of energy for months on end after being struck down by Q Fever,” Susan said.

People become infected when they breathe in dust particles contaminated by infected animal secretions, which can lead to high fevers and chills, sweating, severe headaches, muscle and joint pains and extreme fatigue.

Susan is urging anyone who might be at risk to consult a GP who can screen for Q Fever and vaccinate them, if needed. “We want people to proactively talk to their doctor about Q Fever,” she said.

The NSW Government is investing around $1 million between 2018 and 2022 to help protect farmers and other people in rural areas who work with animals from Q Fever.

NSW Health is currently delivering an education campaign targeting people in occupations and locations at higher risk of Q Fever.

Be Road Ready For Harvest Field Day

September 18, 2020 By editor

Updated information for harvesters, farmers, machinery retailers and transporters will ensure all are road ready for harvest.

Farmers, contract harvesters, transport companies and agricultural machinery retailers are invited to attend the Be Road Ready For Harvest Virtual Field Day via Zoom on Thursday, 24 September from 8am.

Forbes, Parkes, and Lachlan Shire Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, said that while the usual face to face Field Day at the Central West Livestock Exchange wasn’t possible due to the current COVID-19 restrictions, the online delivery will hopefully make it more easily accessible for participants to attend.

“For the first time in about three years it is looking like we are going to have a good harvest. Despite the COVID-19 restrictions, the organising committee realise it is important to refresh people’s knowledge about the new and current rules and regulations for legally and safely moving harvest equipment on the road.”

“Safety during harvest is very important, meaning operators need to be aware of their responsibilities and ensure that during harvest all warning devices and travel requirements are adhered to,” Melanie said.

Regulations have changed since last harvest and access arrangements have been replaced and it is important to understand these changes.

Topics which will be discussed include how to apply for permits, the new National Agricultural Machinery Notice, load restraint, pilots, the Grain Harvest Management Scheme, COVID-19 Safety Plan for silos, border restrictions and much more.

“The first 20 people to register will receive a free cuppa! And by taking part in a short road safety quiz you could win one of threeEngel car fridges valued at $190,” Melanie said.

Registration is free and can be completed via the Parkes, Forbes, or Lachlan Shire Councils’ Facebook pages.

Attendees will all receive a Moving Harvest Machinery 2020 USB, which contains most of the relevant notices and information about moving agricultural machinery on the road.

The Be Road Ready For Harvest Field Day has been running since 2010 and usually attracts about 60 attendees. Organisers are hoping for similar numbers to this year’s virtual event.

Return Of A Beautiful Curse

September 11, 2020 By editor

Beautiful but deadly Paterson’s Curse has exploded around the Ski Dam in Forbes.

Residents and regular Ski Dam walkers in Forbes will have no doubt noticed the beautiful sprawling weed around the Ski Dam and around paddocks in the Shire, the beautiful purple hue reminiscent of the picturesque lavender fields of Provence, France. However, this local version must not be mistaken for such.

Echium Plantagineum, more commonly known as Paterson’s Curse, Riverina Bluebell and Purple Viper’s-Bugloss is an invasive weed which is extremely harmful to livestock. Rumoured to have been named after the Paterson family of Cumberoona, NSW who planted it in their garden in the 1880’s, only to watch in horror as it spread across pastoral and agricultural land. Paterson’s Curse’s poisoning symptoms range from loss of appetite, abdominal swelling, weight loss, diarrhea, constipation, and sleepiness, to more severe symptoms that can result in death due to liver damage.

While livestock tend to ignore Paterson’s Curse, contaminated hay bales or feed is more often to blame for the consumption of this toxic weed. In 1988 and 1994, the CSIRO released moth, root weevils, flea beetles and two more types of beetles in South Australia which is said to have significantly contributed to the decline in the abundance of the weed as both the moth and beetle species can kill the plant before it flowers. In human’s the plant can cause skin irritation so please give this smiling assassin a wide-berth if and when you might come across it.

Ridgehaven Ram Sale Offers Top Quality Animals

August 21, 2020 By editor

Ridgehaven Poll Dorsets will offer 10 Stud Rams, 20 Stud Ewes and 130 Flock Rams.

Ever since Ridgehaven Poll Dorset stud was started in 1965, it has always been run with a focus on producing top quality, commercially focused animals. Structural correctness, fertility, ease of lambing, growth rates, muscle and fat cover and the wool type have been a basis for selection from the start. In the last four years, the stud has worked with meat processors and UNE to accurately identify genetic lines with superior lean meat yield, intramuscular fat (IMF) and eating quality. Ridgehaven has seen the benefits of carcass measurement and how this can be used for genetic gain and it is now an important annual aspect of their breeding program.

To maximise the opportunity for all their clients to be able to get the rams they want, the Ridgehaven ram sale will not only be held in person on property on Thursday, 10 September, but will also be interfaced on AuctionsPlus.

On Thursday, 27 August, there will be an open day where the rams and ewes can be viewed. For the safety of all attending, on the open day and on sale day, COVID-safe measures will be in place. For more information contact Ruth Klingner 0438642113, Isabele Roberts 0405098335 or Floyd Legge 0402185727.

Felix Rams 22nd Annual On-Property Sale

August 21, 2020 By editor

Felix Rams focuses on producing efficient and profitable prime lambs by breeding high performance, structurally sound rams for efficient prime lamb enterprises. Their commitment to collecting good accurate performance data is in the DNA and is embedded as the fundamental approach to the way they breed sheep.

In the world of big data, 27,000 lambs weighed within 12 hours of birth, 22,000 weaning weights, almost 18,500 scans with weights for postweaning fat and muscle and 4,400 individual worm egg counts is a lot of data. This is the performance data that influences the ram selection and the accuracy of the Sheep Genetics Lambplan asbvs on the rams you buy.

Felix Rams are selected for quick early growth and maturity, not maximum adult ram size. Most of the selection is done at 6.5 to 7 months, reflecting the age most lambs are sold. At Felix it is all about the lambs. Felix Rams selects for early maturity to efficiently produce a 22-28 kg lamb. Early maturity also means your suckers have the best chance of hitting the target year in year out, while attention to the “right” amount of fat means that you will almost always have finish on your lambs at market weights.

Despite the tough start, the 2019 drop rams have transformed with the improved season. Felix Rams selection are for rams that perform on pasture and under commercial conditions. This year’s sale rams are paddock grown and finished and are not pumped up or grown out on a grain feeder.

Felix Rams will offer around 140 Poll Dorset and 50 White Suffolk rams at their 22nd annual on-property sale at Greenethorpe on 1 September at 1pm. Catalogues are available at www.felixrams.com.au. Email felixrams@gmail.com or call Rodney 0417 499 204, Isaac 0437 493 407 or the selling agents, Allan Gray and Co Cowra 02 6342 2377.

National Approach To Managing Wild Dog Scourge

July 3, 2020 By editor

Image credit: https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/

Australia’s new blueprint for humane, best practice wild dog management officially took effect from 1 July.

Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management Minister David Littleproud praised the way government and industry stakeholders collaborated on the new National Wild Dog Action Plan.

“Wild dogs are terribly destructive pests, costing farmers conservatively upwards of $89 million a year in lost production and control costs,” David said. “They can decimate livestock, tearing down sheep and goats at will, and in doing so, can hurt rural and regional economies because of the destruction they wreak and anxiety they cause.”

Having a clear, coordinated and borderless national plan to guide farmers and other stakeholders on the best strategies and safest tools for livestock and biodiversity protection is critical for rural and regional communities as they recover from COVID-19, bushfires and drought.

David applauded the way producers, peak farming bodies, governments and research and development corporations came together to ensure control measures are evidence-based and best practice. “Wild dog management is an Australian Government priority, with over $54 million invested in wild dog management since 2014-15, including recent wild dog fencing commitments in South Australia and Western Australia,” he said.

“The National Wild Dog Action Plan has already proved an exemplar in the way we should be approaching Australian predator management.”

The National Biosecurity Committee endorsed the National Wild Dog Action Plan 2020-2030 as the national plan for the co-ordinated management of wild dogs on 11 March 2020.

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 15
  • Next Page »

Latest Print Editions

Click here to download the recent issue (270) of The Forbes Phoenix (2.3MB) – 18th December 2020 

STAY CONNECTED

The Forbes Phoenix would like to thank you, our Facebook friends, for your continued support and readership!

Central West Rural Round Up Booklet

Click here to download the Central West Rural Round Up Booklet

SEARCH THE PHOENIX

Recent Articles

  • The Countdown Is On December 18, 2020
  • A Santa Surprise December 18, 2020
  • WNSWLHD Celebrates Nurse Practitioner Week December 18, 2020
  • The Book Dispensary; Forbes’ Newest Local Now Open December 18, 2020
  • Be Seen December 18, 2020

CONTACT THE PHOENIX

Postal Address
PO Box 203

Canowindra NSW 2804

Editorial
editor@forbesphoenix.com.au

Sales Phone – 02 6344 1846 or 0477 309 807
sales@forbesphoenix.com.au

phone: (02) 6344 1846

View our Privacy Policy.
View our Conflict Resolution Process.
View our Ethics and Complaints Policy.
Want to advertise with us?
Information on our Community Promotions.

Submit an Article

We are always looking for new articles of interest to the local community.

Please feel free to submit an article for possible inclusion in a future issue.

To submit an article, click here to use our online article submission form.

RECEIVE THE PHOENIX VIA EMAIL

* = required field

Copyright © 2021 · Website setup by WebSysMan