newsletter - Roberts Limited

1
NEWSLETTER
21 OCTOBER 2015
Roberts 150 Newsletter
NEWS FLASH
In This Issue
Headlines taken from the Roberts Facebook, Twitter and Blog
Newsfeed
*** “Farmers face tough summer without rain” (The Advocate)

News flash

Grow better forage
brassica crops

Importance of
replacing milk liners

Roberts Dairy
Solutions team

Mecardo—How are
mutton prices faring
this season?

Breeding Merinos into
the future invitation

Twitter out & about

Clearing sales–
Kettering, Wynyard

Grab a bargain

Feature rural property
for sale

Store contacts
*** “Funding for Landcare high on conference agenda” (ABC)
*** “Tasmania offers program to convert farming ideas into
successful business ventures” (International Business Times)
*** “2016 Trans-Tasman FBM scholarship program is open for
applications! “ (Dairy Australia)
*** “The Waste Biz: Are Consumers Ready To Buy Ugly
Fruit?” (Sustainablog)
*** “To cope with stress, plants need to chill, scientists have found
gene that helps them do that” (ABC)
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www.robertsltd.com.au
2
Roberts Blog
Snippet
ForageMax works best
on small rosette staged
weeds, at 2 to 6 leaf
growth stage (5-15 cm
across).
Treating small-sized
weeds will give better
weed control and greater
brassica feed
production. Apply at 100
mL/ha and always mix
with Uptake Spraying Oil
at 1% v/v (1 L/100 L
spray mix) to maximise
activity against
weeds. ForageMax is
registered for ground
application and should be
applied at a water rate of
80-200 L/ha using a
coarse spray.
ForageMax may also be
tank mixed with a host of
other agricultural
products, particularly
Success NEO Insecticide
which provides
exceptional control of
diamondback moth. In
one spray, you can
eliminate the two biggest
threats to your feed,
fat-hen and diamondback
moth.
Grow Better Forage Brassica Crops
Tasmanian Farmer Alert.
In case you haven’t yet heard, you can now grow even better
forage brassica crops!
ForageMax Herbicide Arylex Active from Dow AgroSciences was
recently launched to offer farmers the opportunity to more successfully
grow rape and turnips, providing high quality, low cost feed for their
stock.
ForageMax is registered to control weeds such as capeweed, cleavers,
deadnettle, fat-hen, fleabane, fumitory, milk thistle, sowthistle and
prickly lettuce. Field trials have also shown excellent control of a host
of other economical weeds, such as amaranthas, cat’s ear, chickweed,
cut-leaf geranium, docks, poppies, plantain, shepherd’s purse, mallow,
stinging nettle and thornapple. Suppression is also achieved against
black nightshade.
Click here to read more
www.robertsltd.com.au
3
Roberts Blog
Snippet
Here’s how to do the
math, divide 2500 by
the number of milkings
each set of cups is
doing every day.
For example, take a 300
cow herd, milked twice a
day in a 24 aside swing
over dairy. In this case
each cluster is milking 25
cows per day. Divide
2500 by 25 and the
answer is 100 days, so
this farmer would need to
change his liners
approximately every 3
months.
Farmers who continue
milking with over used
liners often don’t realise
what they’re missing out
on potentially significant
gains, through milking
efficiency, hygiene and
cow comfort.
The Importance of Changing Milk
Liners
If you can’t remember the last time you changed your milking
liners you’re probably missing out on both milk and money.
Old worn or ill-fitting liners can waste energy, cause grades and
damage your greatest asset- the cows. They are one of the single
biggest factors influencing milk production. They are also one of the
most economical things to replace.
Cracks and splits cause poor milk out and harbor bacteria. Cups with
worn out liners are more likely to fall off during milking and cows teats
can be permanently damaged.
On average dairy farmers currently expect their liners to last for
4800-5000 milkings, or twice their effective lifetime. But that’s way past
their actual use by date! After 2500 milkings and roughly 2 million
pulsations, liners inevitably start to deteriorate
Click here to read more
www.robertsltd.com.au
4
ROBERTS DAIRY SOLUTIONS
A TRUSTED PARTNER YOU CAN RELY ON
For over 150 years Roberts has been partnering with clients to ensure on-farm success is the platform
on which relationships are earned and respected. As agriculture in Tasmania continues to evolve, so
too does the suite of value adding services that Roberts offer.
Roberts Dairy Solutions is now available to assist dairy farmers across Tasmania with whole farm
planning to improve productivity and provide effective solutions.
Livestock Production * Agistment Solutions * Animal Health Programs
* Shed Hygiene * Agronomy Solutions * Irrigation Solutions * Pasture
Improvements and Utilisation * Fertiliser Management and Budgeting
To find out how we can assist you in taking your business forward, please speak with Ryan or Tim for
an introduction to your local industry solutions team member.
Ryan Ashby – Dairy Business Development Manager M: 0408 012 621
Tim Smith – Dairy Livestock Manager M: 0438 363 003
Click here to meet the rest of the team
www.robertsltd.com.au
5
How are mutton prices faring this season?
Author: Andrew Woods, ICS writing for Mecardo
Seasonal price patterns are useful as guides to price levels within seasons. They can be over
ridden by stronger cycles, one of which stems from the effects of major drought. This article
looks at the seasonal price pattern of mutton during the past decade, the pattern during major
eastern Australian droughts and the current season.
Figure 1 shows the seasonal price pattern for a NSW mutton price (as an indicator of general
mutton prices) series for the past decade, with the May price set to zero. Prices tend to rise
mid-year and then decline through the spring, reaching a low in October before stabilising.
The price then tends to pick up during the autumn. The price effect is substantial, pushing
values around by +/-20%.
What about the effect of a major eastern
Australian drought? The years used to
examine this were 1994, 2002 and 2006,
with the median price shown in orange in
figure 1. As seasonal conditions deteriorate
during a major drought, the mutton price
continues to fall.
Click here to read more
Try Mecardo – it’s free
Roberts Limited clients can subscribe to
Mecardo for free, including one month
premium access.
Visit www.mecardo.com.au/roberts
to access your free trial.
www.robertsltd.com.au
6
7
ROBERTS TWITTER ~ out and about in the field
Planting Roberts potato trials at Branxholm, NE
Tasmania. (Stuart Millwood)
Trellising laid out, ends in, wire started on new
11 ha planting, Meadowbank Vineyard Derwent
Valley (Brenden Green)
One pass ripper/hoe cultivation the best way
to retain soil moisture prior to potatoes. Nile,
Tas. (Stuart Millwood)
With the warm October weather amazing
growth on Chardonnay Riversdale Vineyard
Coal Valley Tasmania (Brenden Green)
www.robertsltd.com.au
8
ROBERTS TWITTER ~ out and about in the field
Never dull, Tasmanian Midlands irrigated
cereal crop stages everything from 1 leaf thru
to flag. (Brenden Green)
Murnong Farms, Inverleigh Vic farm tour, with Tas Growers on
route SFS AgriFocus (Terry Horan)
Maximizing irrigated area with Zimmatic Field
Plus (Rob Jones)
Bees hard at work pollinating cherries, at
Reids Fruits, Derwent Valley, Tasmania
(Brenden Green)
www.robertsltd.com.au
9
CLEARING SALE - Thursday 29 October at 11am
83 Saddle Road, Kettering
Fordson 3000 tractor, Toro mower, slasher, carryall, posthole digger, rotary hoe, ripper, pipe layer,
generator set, Toyota forklift, Datsun ute, truck sides (traytop), Mitsubishi Magna (1992, reg December,
KLC), Mitsubishi Magna (1994, 4 cyl, unregistered), 4 wheel drive rims (new), PTO drive for Massey
Ferguson tractor, PTO drive shaft, PTO pulley drive, 240V & 415V electric motors, fridge motor
compressor, fire pump, 415V exhaust fan blower (commercial), 2 x 1000ltr black water drum, 1000ltr
galvanised water drum, extension ladder, 3 x Davis trusses, assorted shovels, Armco guard rail, pavers,
possum traps, mixed boxes nuts/bolts/screws/nails etc, s/s kitchen flue, chaff cutter, mangle (old), horse
drawn plough, assorted timbers, garden trolley, cast iron bath tubs, oil bottles & tins (old), tressels, cross
cut saws, chains & dogs, compressors, Makita drop saw, McCulloch 550 chain saws, display cabinet
w/ lights, fridge, hospital chairs, covered lounge chairs, A Frame ladders, planks, upright commercial deep
freeze (needs gassing), work bench, block splitter, tools, 40 ft shipping container
Boat & Equipment
Commander Volero boat (6m, ½ cal, fiberglass, registered, 80hp, 2 x Yamaha motors, 5 seats) includes:
life jackets, Bogie boat trailer (as new), s/s 250ltr fuel tank, eski, depth finder etc
Horse Equipment
Saddles, blankets, mixed harness equipment, horse rugs
NO BUYERS PREMIUM – GST may apply
Enquiries: Rob Shoobridge 0428 567 679 rshoobridge@robertsltd.com.au
www.robertsltd.com.au
10
CLEARING SALE—Tuesday 10th November at 11am 237 Calder Rd,
Wynyard Account: D & M Viney
Izeki 6000 4WD tractor (3800hrs) with Burder FEL with 3rd hyd function, Massey Ferguson 35X tractor,
1950 Massey Harris 744D tractor (3PL,going order), Polaris 500 4x4 quad bike (1264hrs), Suzuki 185 trail
bike (5436 kms), Yamaha DT200R trail bike (3755kms), Yamaha AG100 farm bike, Suzuki 50 quad bike,
3PL elec pump set (30KW,Ajax 2L2 pump), Trailco T250 traveler, 20 x 4”x 7metre irrig pipes, irrig trailer,
Krone 5 disc mower, Sitrex V8 hay rake, Lely 300 tedder rake, Massey Harris Sunlifter bale loader, Burder
soft hands, Howard 84” rotary hoe with spike rotor, Berends tiller, 3 sect harrows, Inter toolbar tiller,
Howard 6’ HD slasher, 3PL Lucas grab, Hardie 400ltr spray unit, 50ltr elec spray unit, trailing weed wiper,
2 x carryall, 3PL grader blade, 3PL Vicon spreader, 3PL Morhouse crane, Ajax A2 water pump, 2 x fixed
irrig sprinklers, Lister LD1 diesel engine, firefighter pump, 2 KVA generator, welder, pipe benders, power
tools, Tru Test cattle scales, calf puller, hoof trimmers, Homelite XL660 chainsaw, Homelite XL12 chain
saw, Pioneer chain saw, ladders, fencing wire, elec fence posts & reels bridge decking, cement post
moulds.
Click here for more photos and to read full listing
Enquiries: Kevin Matkovich 0417 325 936
kmatkovich@robertsltd.com.au
www.robertsltd.com.au
11
Grab a bargain
and save
Click the graphic for these sale items and more
Only while current stock lasts
www.robertsltd.com.au
12
1014 Glen Esk Road
Conara, TAS, 7211
Tenders close 4:30pm,
6th November 2015
"Brambletye" A Diverse Agricultural
Enterprise
Brambletye comprises approximately 4,158 hectares or 10,275 acres of
diverse farmland 45 minutes from the Launceston CBD. Ranging from
fertile river flats and productive alluvial cropping land to magnificent
dolerite open run country (suitable for growing some of Tasmania's best
superfine wool). The property is currently a mixed farming operation
including sheep, cattle, dryland and irrigated cropping. The cropping
land is all under centre pivot irrigation (all 3 phase). The stately 8
bedroom homestead (circa 1830 and 1900) is privately located on a rise
overlooking the South Esk River and farmlands. A feature of this
homestead includes the Billiard Room with full sized antique billiard
table in excellent condition (included in chattels). The sweeping lawns
create a sense of space and privacy. Currently the Brambletye
Homestead is operating as luxury accommodation for trout anglers and
those wanting to escape the city. There are 3 farm cottages, a 4 stand
shearing shed (capacity: 1,000 wool sheep), shearers quarters and
machinery sheds with 3 phase power. Sheep and cattle yards and 200
tonnes of standing grain storage compliment the property. 200 hectares
are currently under centre pivot irrigation with an additional 180
hectares of irrigation potential. The property holds a historic 112ML
summer take water license (surety 5) and a 337ML bore license from 3
bores positioned across the property. A Property Management Plan and
Farm Water Access Plan have been completed and are available to
interested parties upon inspection. A further 841ML of water storage in
the Milford dam is available for lease. This surety 6 winter take water is
stored for summer delivery between the 1st November and the 30th
April on an annual basis. A full information memorandum is available to
clients upon inspection. Livestock and machinery will be available for
purchase. The sale of adjoining Glen Esk & Avon Park presents a rare
and blue-chip opportunity to secure almost 15,000 acres and a
combined South Esk River frontage of approximately 11km, along with
huge flexibility for transfer of water between properties and the
convenience of a location easily commuted to Launceston and nearby
regional centre's for schools and services. Inspections are strictly by
appointment only.
www.robertsltd.com.au
Click here to view more
information about this property