BARLEY Grass is one of those annual grasses that inevitably attracts a bitter-sweet reaction from Monaro landholders.

In good years when there is an abundance of winter feed then Barley Grass is more often than not regarded with a high level of negativity.

However in those lean, tight years when every blade of grass counts, the capacity of barley grass to grow and provide high quality feed in the very heart of winter can be a blessing.

Indeed the legendary Bruce Haslingden from Kelton Plain used to surmise that most Monaro sheep wouldn’t survive the winter if it weren’t for the presence of Barley Grass.

FARM automation is an increasing trend. As labour becomes more expensive and harder to find, and technology becomes better and cheaper, the return on investment for replacing manual, time-consuming tasks with technology, such as remote monitoring, is a no-brainer. 

Water is a constant priority and concern, especially with a summer forecasted to be long and hot, adding to the worries. We all know that if livestock don’t have water, their growth rate substantially decreases. 

Driving to check water at tanks and troughs can take hours each week, resulting in wasted time on the road, increased labour, and fuel costs. 

That’s where Farmbot Remote Monitoring comes in - a proven technology that provides a solution for checking water across your farm from anywhere, in near real-time.

THE lead up to the holiday season is a frantic time for Vele Civijovski of Garlic Kingdom, with orders constantly coming in from customers wanting only the best quality garlic for their festive season gatherings fare, but the busy season really begins for Vele around mid September. 

“Some people say, just put the cloves in and they will grow themselves. If only it was that easy,” Vele sighed. 

It is in September that garlic growers need to begin to make adjustments to their fertiliser mixes, reducing some components and maintaining others if they want to ensure higher levels of trace elements for the plants for optimum bulb development. 

SOUTH East Rural and Campbell Petroleum Distributors have engaged in a partnership program to promote and distribute lubricants and oils in the Snowy Monaro region.

November saw the official launch to the public and we are proud to have Campbell’s on board with their back up service and supply chain as we now have oils available locally for our end users who are predominantly local famers, but also local enterprise, as well as the public, James Waugh General Manager of Rural Operation at South East Rural said.

 “We pride our selves on being a one stop shop for farmers and this is yet another addition to our group that offers everything they need in one easy place,” Mr Waugh said.

 “We concentrate on providing high quality products at the right price making Mobil products a good fit for us.”