Meatworks Messenger Would Job but Was Getting a Bit Hard to Agriculture Tours We Are Subsidizing Will Normally Celebrate the Success of Handle and Too Heavy to Join”

BIGGEST Victorian BULL EVER Earlier this year we received and processed the biggest bull ever to come through the Tongala facility.

Weighing in at a whopping 854kg AUTUMN 2015 carcass weight, the 2½ year old Charolais came from one our long standing suppliers, Charles R King at FUNDS GOING TO WORTHY GREENHAM SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS Cohuna. According to Brock Fletcher CAUSES from Charles R King, “he was a great As you will read, our scholarship REDIRECTED funds have been redirected this year looking guy and had done a good The autumn edition of the however we feel that the two dairy and Meatworks Messenger would job but was getting a bit hard to agriculture tours we are subsidizing will normally celebrate the success of handle and too heavy to join”. His offer some great opportunities to young another recipient of the Greenham live weight would have been around people. We intend to run the Greenham Dairy Scholarship. This year 1,430kg and fortunately the plant Dairy Scholarship again in 2016 and however, we were not able to has the capacity to handle these big would encourage those aged between award a prize and have decided to 17-45 years to apply when it opens again bodies since the renovation in 1997. redirect the funds to not one but in December. The Tongala facility remains the go-to two study tours in Victoria in the processor for bulls in the Goulburn FOOTBALLERS DOING US PROUD second half of 2015. Valley and beyond. Tongala footy club is in uncharted HW Greenham & Sons, Joint This 2½ Year Old Charolais weighed in at a huge 854kg carcass weight. territory at the top of the table after Managing Director Grant Ryan winning the first six games of the says the company believes it is extremely GOTAFE is the trading name season. One of our players is leading the important to be contributing something the other recipient of Goulburn Ovens institute Meatworks Messenger had the chance league goal kicking and we have some back into dairy and agriculture. of educational of TAFE (RTO 3094) to sit down with staff at Tongala and find new younger recruits doing well I hear. “Even though the scholarship won’t be funding for 2015. STAFF PROFILES out about what makes them tick. Let’s get behind the team as they push awarded this year, we still wanted to In July this year, 30 dairy farmers from for ultimate success in 2015. My Western contribute to an educational endeavour and the Murray Dairy ‘Young Dairy Network’ Bulldogs are also looking strong with happily we found two suitable recipient will participate in an ‘Innovation and Sustainability Tour’ of the Northern KYLE TANYA a new coach and plenty of young guys organizations,” Mr Ryan said. Victorian dairy region. ACKROYD GREENSHIELDS pushing each other to succeed. Discover Agriculture, based in Launceston, is about inspiring young people (years 9-12 Ian Carkeek from GoTafe says the funding Where are you from Where are you from LACK OF RAIN IN THE VALLEY and VET students) to imagine a future for for the tour will expose participants to some originally? originally? AND BEYOND themselves in agriculture. Facilitator, Roger of the latest innovations and sustainability I grew up in Melbourne Originally from Geelong, Bad news is that it seems we haven’t Tyshing explains that he usually runs a practices within the dairy supply chain (South East suburbs) I have lived in Tongala for any back up rain in the valley. I drove up Victorian tour every year but with limited across northern Victoria. the last 26 years. How long have you been recently and was upset to see how dry it resources, it has been difficult recently. “With this generous funding from working at Greenham for? How long have you been was. Let’s hope something comes before “We are so pleased that Greenhams are Greenham, we can provide a wonderful I started 2 years ago. I working at Greenham for? it gets too cold. ½ contributing funds to the Victorian tour. It opportunity to share experiences of dairy was originally hired for a Kyle loves working in I’ve been working Everyday is different in the Greenham yards the QA dept It’s a real disappointment that 90cl Cow means we can offer our six-day program farmers and also understand opportunities spot on the kill floor but at Greenham for 13 meat, our staple export, is almost AUD to 20 students in September. Ultimately, that come from the early identification and got poached on my first day years – firstly on the $2kg under the USA domestic price for the aim is to introduce students to people implementation of future best practices”, for the yards and I’ve never When you’re not at slaughter floor and then Meatworks Messenger the same product. This has been caused who are positive and innovative in their Mr Carkeek said. looked back. work, what do you in the Quality Assurance is high on this point) by record tonnages from QLD and NZ – approach to their industry, by challenging Both groups will also have the opportunity like to do? Department. What’s the best thing about I really enjoy relaxing When you’re not at work, both which are experiencing dry times. their thinking, demonstrating the to visit the Tongala processing facility working in the yards? with mates and hanging What’s the best thing what do you like to do? The Kiwis should run out of cattle soon possibilities and opportunities and through where participants can understand the Being outside and the people out with my family. I’ve about working in QA? Hobbies are playing and if Queensland gets some rain, and I hands-on participation,” Mr Tyshing said. issues surrounding supply chain logistics, hope they do, this will cut back the kills I work with are good. Stu got three children – Every day is different netball for Girgarre and Participants in previous Discover Agriculture animal husbandry and industry best dramatically. Fleming is always good for 5 years, 2 years & and you encounter new riding my horses. tours include the winner of the 2015 practice in meat processing. a laugh. (he paid me to say 3 months – so life is challenges in different Favourite cut of beef? EMPLOYMENT RUNNING HIGH Greenham Tasmania AgriTas scholarship, The Greenham Dairy Scholarship will that!) pretty busy. areas of the plant. I don’t eat red meat but Ms Emily Jones. “Previous winners are again be offered for students studying or We are running at almost full What footy team do Your favourite cut of beef? What footy team do if I could the first cut I invited to attend and ‘lead’ the tours, intending to study for the 2016 calendar you follow? Scotch Fillet cooked you follow? would try would have to employment but always on the lookout providing valuable experience, advice and year. It is open to students 17-45 years. St Kilda. (a rebuilding phase medium rare – Cape Grim Collingwood is my team. be a piece of porterhouse for enthusiastic workers. Please go to enthusiasm for those looking to embark on in 2015?) of course. (Respect from cooked medium. our website www.greenham.com.au to careers in agriculture,” Mr Tyshing said. fill out the application form. For more information, please visit The National Centre of Dairy Educations www.greenham.com.au or call 03 96446514 Peter Greenham (NCDE) based at GoTafe (Shepparton) is

Prompt payment always at Greenham Tel: 5859 0912 www.greenham.com.au Whilst other operators might be calving up to five times per year, Gary is happy to keep things a bit simpler with drops in Spring & Autumn but also a smaller drop in December/January. “The China job like all other things was all about ‘seeing the opportunity’ and we always need to have our eyes open for them.

The only ongoing worry is for Anne – the engine room of the book keeping – to keep Gary from spending money on what he terms ‘projects’ which is code for equipment or automation. “He is always coming up with ideas” says Anne, “there’s The milking herd has plenty of shade and always a want list and I’m the one that puts only a short distance to the diary. the hammer on the want list - If I let him have it all, we’d be broke”!

One area where Gary reckons some comes the need for labour to operate “But I must admit - you can’t be an expert more automation would really make a these dairies efficiently. Gary and Anne’s at everything.., I know how to milk cows difference is in the irrigation. “We’ve four full time staff (including their son), but it’s been great get some outside help got a few Padman Stops but the time it are good team and they think they have from the agronomist with the crops so I can takes to maintain the current irrigation hit the right balance. concentrate on what I’m good at. Like all dairy takes me away from other things. The farmers, I can’t do anything about the milk The aptly named ‘Homeblock’ is the base backbone channels are great and there’s price, but what I can do is work to reduce the of the Budge’s operations which they never an issue with water but further costs coming in by growing our own feed”. have owned since 1998. Beginning with automation could let me ramp things up a modest holding of 120 cows, they have The milking herd is kept on 150 acres that a bit more”. built things up to 600 cows and have also sits next to the dairy. Gary explains acquired more land from neighbours to that the feed ration consists of bring the total land holding five hundred canola and wheat of approximately and fifty acres. eight kilos per head per day while Gary & Anne have been at ‘Homeblock’ for 16 years “It’s only now we can aim at using our land they receive supplemental feed of to create an almost fully self-sufficient Lucerne and Maize to reach 22kg dairy farm”, Gary says. “We grow 90% of of dry matter per head per day. “I the lucerne ourselves and produce 100% of want them to be looked after and the Maize which represents a cost saving of also maintain their energy levels $50 per tonne if we were to buy it in – and so everything is pretty close by PUSHING FOR SELF-SUFFICIENCY and there’s plenty of shade as when we produce 1,300 tonnes of Maize, every bit helps”. well”, Gary says. Some of the gems of the dairy a 50/50 deal later on. Twenty eight years on and Gary has seen changes Gary & Anne have been growing Maize Recently the milking shed has Milk-fed calves being world are at our doorstep prepared for export to China and Gary & Anne Budge to the model. for four years and through experience as received an upgrade from a 22 of Nanneella, 20kms from well as the help of an agronomist, have Swingover to a 44 Swingover “Whilst the share farming model improved yields substantially. “Growing and as a result, has cut milking time Tongala, are no exception. The On selling to Greenham, the Budges note was my opportunity, these days, maize is a no brainer - no other crop in half and also increased capacity to 320 Meatworks Messenger had the they send about 80 cull cows to Tongala younger guys will more likely do some can yield 20 tonne to the hectare in four cows per hour. “We were lucky to be able chance to catch up with them every year. “We love that the service is study, gain their experience on dairy months, it’s sensational, it just jumps out to purchase the second Swingover set from back in March. good and we receive the money quickly operations before possibly managing a of the ground”, Gary says. our neighbours - all we needed to do was farm but drawing a good salary at the – and you don’t have to pay extra fees With the average age of dairy farmers lengthen the existing shed and pour some same time.” to the saleyards”. They note Greenham’s about 60 years, it’s refreshing to see a new concrete - it couldn’t have been a Les Mitchell as a real character and younger and ambitious operator giving it smoother transition”, says Anne. “Now, it just wouldn’t work - we can’t always happy to help when the Budges a go in the sector. When he was 18, Gary offer up one third of the revenue - dairy The Budges are also active in selling calves have a few cows to send off to Tongala. Budge knew he wanted to work a dairy businesses are too heavily geared, but to the dairy market in China. Whilst it has farm. Coming from the 80 acre family we can afford to pay good wages to cooled off recently, the market has been As soon as the Meatworks Messenger farm and as the second of three boys, he our guys. For a similar cost to share strong for Friesian calves and they have drove up to the Budge property, the understood he would need to go his own farming, we’re able to employ more done some good business in this area. sense of a well-run operation was clear way if he wanted to get ahead. labour and keep productivity up.” Anne takes the time to milk feed them and spending some time Gary and Anne showed they are proud and very happy As was pretty common at the time, the and give them a good start before the The consolidation of dairies from with what they have achieved even young Gary Budge got his start share next calving begins. many smaller operations to scaled- The Budges have recently installed through some tough times. Gary agrees, farming with a one third share of 120 a second 22 Swingover to increase up versions has been a natural “if you love what you do, you never work cows for the first three years and cut production and reduce milking time. progression in the industry. Likewise Gary produces 1,300 tonnes of Maize per year a day in your life”. his teeth in dairying before moving to at Naneella, with more cows to milk and the operation is almost fully self-sufficient.

Prompt payment always at Greenham Tel: 5859 0912 www.greenham.com.au