Herald 20180123
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Soil is essential to<br />
life. However, much of<br />
the land used for crops,<br />
pastures and orchards<br />
survives at a level well<br />
below optimum.<br />
At a feedlot at<br />
Jondaryan, work has<br />
started to produce a<br />
compost material that is<br />
expected to breathe new<br />
life into farming soil.<br />
Long term compost<br />
researcher Chris Cameron<br />
is working with Cam<br />
Hart of Hart Farming<br />
Composting Operation,<br />
associated with Kerwee<br />
Feedlot.<br />
Before the first batch<br />
is ready for sale, orders<br />
have already been<br />
received from farmers at<br />
Bundaberg and Hampton<br />
. Mr Cameron has<br />
developed a composting<br />
process that converts<br />
feedlot manure into a<br />
desirable soil and plant<br />
enhancer in just 28 days,<br />
compared to the five to<br />
seven months generally<br />
taken.<br />
Mr Cameron says tests<br />
are done on the soil on<br />
which the compost is to<br />
be applied, and custom<br />
minerals added toward<br />
the end of the 28-day<br />
production process.<br />
These minerals are<br />
ready to go to work<br />
immediately they are<br />
applied to the soil, as<br />
are soil biology species<br />
which are added when<br />
the compost is applied to<br />
the soil, and together they<br />
ensure the plants get the<br />
maximum benefit.<br />
HIGH COUNTRY<br />
FARMING<br />
New compost blend set to enhance soil and crops<br />
So much so that trials<br />
in vegetable crops show<br />
there is no set back for<br />
seedlings after they have<br />
been transplanted.<br />
Kerwee is a pioneering<br />
Australian feedlot which<br />
now concentrates on<br />
producing Wagyu and<br />
Wagyu cross beef.<br />
It has organic certification<br />
and produces<br />
30,000 to 40,000 tonnes<br />
of manure each year,<br />
all of which will be<br />
converted to compost.<br />
Chris Cameron said his<br />
composting method and<br />
the cooking and digesting<br />
process in the windrows,<br />
destroys antibiotics and<br />
growth promotants in<br />
manure from non-organic<br />
feedlots.<br />
The turning process<br />
in the windrow helps to<br />
produce fine particles,<br />
essential for the best<br />
microbial activity in the<br />
soil.<br />
Mr Cameron has<br />
trialled his compost on<br />
bananas in Innisfail,<br />
vegetables in Bowen, and<br />
sugar in the Burdekin, all<br />
successfully.<br />
Indeed, at Bowen he<br />
trebled the output of a<br />
farm within a year, and<br />
given that he was told that<br />
the farm’s average annual<br />
gross was $14 million<br />
then the increase could<br />
well have been worth an<br />
extra $20 million.<br />
Mr Cameron said there<br />
have been suggestions<br />
the future for this new<br />
compost could be huge.<br />
CATTLE EQUIPMENT<br />
Race Hoop ................................................... $60 + GST<br />
Man Gate 2210x800w (40 x 40 Box) ............ $120 + GST<br />
Slide Gate / Oval or 50 x 50 .......................... $275 + GST<br />
6 Rail Oval Panels ......................................... $85 + GST<br />
6 Rail 40 x 40 Panels / Med Wall ........................ $65 + GST<br />
Mesh Gates 10/12/14ft ................. $65 / $70 / $85 + GST<br />
N Stay Mesh Gate 10/12/14ft ......... $75 / $80 / $85 + GST<br />
Cattle Ramp ............................................. $1650 + GST<br />
Cattle Crush ............................................. $3950 + GST<br />
Gate Frames 2210 x 2100w (40 x 40 Box) ..... $170 + GST<br />
Man Gate + Frame (40 x 40 Box) ................... $190 + GST<br />
7 Rocla Court Toowoomba<br />
Pick-up / Deliver<br />
Call Pat Dunne 0413 18 20 22<br />
www.toowoombaauctioncentre.com.au<br />
for photos<br />
reporting on Toowoomba Cattle Sale<br />
Sale Date: Mon, January 15, 2018<br />
Sale Date: Monday, January 25, 2016<br />
Total Combined Yarding of 650 head<br />
Market Quotes: A few more numbers came for for the<br />
2nd sale of the year. Most of the regular buyers were<br />
in attendance while a couple still enjoying their Xmas<br />
break. Only a handful of Export cattle were yarded<br />
with most of the yarding being made up of Feeder and<br />
yearling Cattle.<br />
205kg Speckled Park steers a/c Trevor & Debbie<br />
Stephens sold for 890c/kg – great result.<br />
Remember your sale bookings for Dalby<br />
Dalby Cattle Sale Report<br />
Sale Date: 17th January Yarded<br />
Numbers increased this week with more Export cattle<br />
being on offer, there was a fair variety of young cattle<br />
yarded with some lines drawn from far west. Again a<br />
few drought effected cattle were yarded all finding new<br />
homes. Cows, Bullocks and Heavy heifers all eased<br />
in price, heavy feeders remained close to last week<br />
while trade feeder cattle sold to firm rates depending<br />
on condition & type ..PTIC Cows sold to 238.2c/kg<br />
David O’Sullivan 0412 501 116<br />
Paul O’Sullivan .... 0400 910 088<br />
osullivanauctions@bigpond.com.au<br />
Vegetable production<br />
in the Lockyer Valley<br />
and crops on the Darling<br />
Downs will be important<br />
markets. The new Kerwee<br />
product improves soil<br />
organic matter, increases<br />
soil carbon content,<br />
and addresses mineral<br />
shortages and soil<br />
biological life.<br />
Compost increases the<br />
humus content of soils,<br />
improving soil structure<br />
and water holding<br />
capacity, and the added<br />
fertility reduces disease<br />
pressure.<br />
Chris Cameron and his<br />
daughter Catriona Dale<br />
started their Platinum<br />
Compost project three<br />
years ago.<br />
Catriona is an<br />
agribusiness specialist<br />
and in late 2016, the two<br />
of them were entered into<br />
the inaugural Australian<br />
competition of the Future<br />
Agro Challenge.<br />
The Challenge is<br />
based in Greece and 150<br />
countries are involved<br />
in seeking the most<br />
innovative agricultural<br />
practices.<br />
Chris and Catriona<br />
won the Australian<br />
competition from eight<br />
projects which advanced<br />
to the final. Last year they<br />
represented Australia in<br />
the world final held in<br />
South Africa. - Miles<br />
Noller reporting.<br />
Monday, January 15, 2018<br />
CATTLE: A total yarding of 597 yarded at Elders<br />
Harristown Saleyards today Monday 15th January<br />
2018, Elders share 369 head. One major processor<br />
not operating saw export prices remain soft, however<br />
trade prices remain firm while quality stores were<br />
dearer. Best bull’s ex Chinchilla sold to a top of<br />
249.2c/kg with a heavy bull returning $2643. Best of<br />
the bullocks a/c Kuhl Farming sold to a top of 275.2c/<br />
kg while a heavy bullocks a/c K & P Burgess returned<br />
$2107. Heavy heifers also a/c Kuhl Farming weighting<br />
531kgs topped 293.2c/kg to return $1558. Heavy<br />
feeder steers a/c Robert Farrell, Pittsworth weighing<br />
469kgs sold for 297. 2c/kg in pen lots to return $1395.<br />
Best cows a/c Patricia Shannon, Plainby topped at<br />
$216.2c/kg weighing 675kg to return $1459. Trade<br />
heifers a/c KJ & KA Jones sold to 318.2c/kg while<br />
heifers a/c Graeme & Wendy Motley, Plainby sold<br />
for $1256. Light weight store steers a/c MF & LF<br />
Voll, Kilburnie weighed 227.8kg topped at 379.2c/kg<br />
with Charolais X steers, a/c A & J Johnstone, Oakey<br />
selling to $1058.<br />
Next week’s bookings include 140 calves a/c Henry<br />
Family, Wandoan.<br />
PIGS: 121 pigs sold at Harristown Saleyards today<br />
Monday 15th January 2018. Pork & bacon sold on<br />
par to last week, store pigs in large numbers sold a<br />
little cheaper with one operator out of the market, sow<br />
sold a little dearer with one young boar finding a new<br />
home.<br />
Prime pork $250, prime light bacon $240, prime<br />
bacon $230, sows to $245, stores $120, weaners<br />
$100 and suckers $80<br />
NEXT SALE: Monday, January 29<br />
FOR BOOKINGS<br />
Contact Darren Hartwig 0428 736 470<br />
By MILES NOLLER<br />
Turning compost windrows at the Hart Farming Company’s operation<br />
associated with Kerwee Feedlot. The steam coming off the disturbed<br />
material is indicative of the heat produced by the process.<br />
Loading compost at Kerwee Feedlot.<br />
Ray White<br />
Cattle Sale<br />
January 27– 11am<br />
– Canteen Operating –<br />
Cattle at hand:<br />
Charbray strs 14-16mths<br />
Charbray Bulls 16mths<br />
Brangus steers 12-14 mths<br />
Droughtmaster steers 12-14mths<br />
Charolais x steers 12mths<br />
Ang and angusx weaner steers<br />
Murray grey steers<br />
Hereford & Hereford/Santa Feeders<br />
Other cattle to be confirmed.<br />
Phone for details<br />
Geoff Trost 0418 182 296<br />
Mal Berlin 0437 247 020<br />
Livestock<br />
CROWS NEST<br />
Selling on each Monday at<br />
Harristown Saleyards at 7.30am<br />
Full buying panel covering export, feeders,<br />
trade and store descriptions.<br />
Please note:- All livestock payments<br />
in 10 days<br />
For best results consign your<br />
livestock to<br />
LANDMARK TOOWOOMBA<br />
Toowoomba Office Phone 07 4637 3000<br />
Fax 07 4637 3022<br />
Branch Manager: Guy Pitman 0428 740 151<br />
Livestock/Auctions Plus: Andrew Costello 0429 485 191<br />
Livestock/Auctions Plus: Simon Booth 0438 756 245<br />
Stud Stock: Colby Ede 0417 265 980<br />
Merchandise: Rob Wiemers 0407 736 198<br />
Livestock Finance: Rob Moncrieff 0408 296 952<br />
Insurance: Ceri Martin 0429 685 847<br />
Insurance: Jolean Danneberg 0409 036 799<br />
Livestock Administration: Jenny Radke 07 4637 3013<br />
Chris Cameron takes temperature readings<br />
regularly during production.<br />
CROWS NEST CATTLE SALE<br />
Rocky Creek Dip<br />
Saturday, January 27<br />
10am<br />
Early bookings:<br />
30 Santa and Santa x weaners,<br />
acc Groves family, Ravensbourne<br />
50 light Angus weaners,<br />
acc McDonald family<br />
10 Euro x steers, 15 mths<br />
20 mixed cattle, to be drafted<br />
Horse and Saddlery Sale<br />
Saturday, February 17, 9.30am<br />
Please book early for advertising<br />
Horses must be at yards by 8.30am<br />
Don’t forget we sell in Dalby<br />
every Wednesday<br />
For bookings & info, please<br />
phone Rick 0428 879 531<br />
Real Estate<br />
Caroline 0427 134 636<br />
BUYING ALL TYPES OF CATTLE<br />
Fax: 4698 2580<br />
E: rick@zlp.net.au<br />
Your local agent<br />
To advertise phone 4615 4416<br />
HIGH COUNTRY HERALD - JANUARY 23, 2018 - 13
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