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FMD … It’s not what you think
Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is a highly contagious disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals.FMD is a virus that’s transported by live animals, dairy and meat products, bones, soil, untreated hides and vehicles/machinery used in conjunction with livestock.FMD should not be confused with Hand, Foot and Mouth disease that is commonly found in children. FMD is not…
Read MoreThe Benefits of Storing On-farm
Welcome back to the blog! Sowing is just around the corner, and before we know it, we will be ramping up for yet another harvest. Let’s hope it’s a record breaker. It goes without saying, that planning ahead is the ultimate key to success. As the phrase goes; “By failing to prepare, you are preparing…
Read MoreGrain Markets
Welcome back for yet another instalment of The Silologist™. Today I want to discuss the ever-changing grain markets and have a look into the variables affecting your return on investment. Wheat is still the dominant grain produced in Australia, with barley and canola our other two industry leaders. As you all know, the grain markets…
Read More2022 Predictions for Agriculture
Welcome back to the blog for 2022! Last year was an absolute rollercoaster for our agricultural community with floods, mice, labour shortages and a health pandemic, just to name a few. Today I’m having a look into what we can anticipate for 2022. The La Niῆa weather phenomenon is expected to continue until Autumn, resulting…
Read MoreA Year in Review: 2021
Many of us have mixed feelings about 2021 and regardless, it certainly won’t be a year forgotten any time soon. COVID-19 continued to wreak havoc across the globe, still putting a stopper in international and interstate travel. Many parts of the state suffered early at the hands of the mice plague, which continues to cause…
Read More2021 Harvest Projections
What a year 2021 has been so far. Coming off the back of the incredible 2020 season, most of the state was blessed with plenty of residual soil moisture and autumn rain which showed early promise for the season. The Australia Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) predict the NSW winter crop…
Read MoreGrowing Phosphine Resistance
Phosphine is the most widely used fumigant across Australia, making up about 80% of all chemical insect control in stored grain. It is affordable and simple to utilise when you have access to technologies designed with fumigation in mind. It isn’t, however, a fool proof chemical. User error is leading to a concerning increase in…
Read MorePreparing for the Winter Period
Welcome back once again! Today I want to talk about the sowing period and remind you all of those important jobs you may well forget. With the brilliant season 2020 gave us, residual soil moisture is giving a promising start to the year ahead. Considering the circumstances surrounding the current mouse plague in large parts…
Read MoreAeration: What You Need to Know
Forever, there has been confusion surrounding the differences between aeration cooling and drying. It can be difficult to know when they’re needed, as well as when to stop. What cannot be put up for debate is whether these systems are valuable or not. Undoubtedly, they are some of the most powerful non-chemical tools available within…
Read MoreWhy is Temperature so Important?
Welcome back to yet another entry on grain storage conditions. What makes grain and silo temperature so imperative to the vitality of your grain? To put it briefly, pretty much all bad things can fester in warmer temperatures; from pests to mould, to fungi, we’ve seen it all. Did you know that the germination of…
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