Farming ChampionsAfter a very dry start to the season farmers across the southern Wheatbelt were blessed with abundant rain at the end of May and the crops which had been sewn in good faith and optimism, often in dust, emerged from the ground.
Over the next several months the crops will continue to grow and develop (although the current very cold weather is slowing their growth). The life of grain farmers calls on commitment and faith. We have no control over the weather needing enough rain but not too much and at the right time. Hundreds of thousands of dollars are invested in planting the crops. Too much rain can result in water-logged paddocks, too little rain in poor growth and yields whilst frosts as the crops are maturing can be devastating causing dramatic loss in yields overnight.
It is understandable that we are often seen as ‘whinging farmers’ as we complain about the weather of which we are not in control!
Farmers grow a wide variety of crops. Rotation of crops is important for the health of the soils so many farmers include legumes in their rotations that provide a natural source of nitrogen for future crops. The wheat pictured in these photographs has been grown on land that was sewn to field peas (a legume) last year. The density of roots is indicative of healthy well-fed soils and will help sequester carbon to build and improve the soil whilst supporting the growth and quality of the grain.
We are delighted to have launched our new website this month. It has already attracted new business. You can find these stunning Blue Ornamental Yabbies in stock! Check out the new website here. These captivating creatures, also known as Cherax Albidus, originate from Victoria and boast a mesmerising blue hue due to their unique genetic makeup, much like blue-eyed individuals. While their striking colouration makes them a stunning addition to any aquarium or ornamental water feature. Despite their vibrant appearance, Blue Ornamental Yabbies share the same delectable taste as their non-blue counterparts, making them a truly fascinating blend of beauty and flavour.
The last three years have been the toughest in our 32 years of business due to the preceding extremely dry years where much of the area where we source our yabbies from across the Wheatbelt and Great Southern was declared ‘Water Deficient’ resulting in massive loss of water in dams which were cleaned out of their mud and once full had to be restocked. The continuous loss of farmers in the regions has also contributed to the drop in production as without people we cannot maximise production. The loss of people is also challenging for our communities. As they shrink in population the football clubs are having to pay players to come from the city to fill their teams. I recently suggested on the radio that we need to have a program of ’not national service but agricultural service’ where our youth have to serve several months or even a year working on farms in regional Australia so that they build connections to the land and learn the importance of the regions and their relevance to the city.
Another great way to support our hardworking WA family farmers who provide the food that nourishes us all is to come to Farmer On Your Plate. It’s a celebration of supporting local and understanding the journey of our food from farm to our plate. Mark your calendars for this free event on Saturday the 4th of November 10am to 4pm at Esplanade Reserve Fremantle.
