Farmer in focus: Pete Forrest

Pete Forrest (facing camera in red cap) with colleagues at his Tintaldra property.

This month's farmer in focus is Pete Forrest, born in Corryong and a career farmer based in Tintaldra, on the Cudgewa Valley-Tintaldra Road.

Pete works in cattle production on the family farm with his father and uncle on approx­imately 400ha. He has been involved in landcare for several years and is a member of the Tintaldra Landcare Group.

Pete has been an active member of the UMAG-Pastures Group since its inception and is currently on the Grazing the Hills (GTH) project steering committee which overseas the project.

Pete's involvement in the pasture group is due to his keen interest in learning new ways and methods that he can put into practice in his own enterprise.

We wish Pete well with his GTH demonstration site and look forward to watching progress on the site.

Farm Walks and Pasture Discussion Group Meetings

Discussion group participants at the Corryong Farm Walk.

Two farm walks and discussion group meetings were held on Tuesday June 16 in the Tallangatta area and Wednesday June 17 in the Corryong area.

The farm walks introduced interested farmers to their local GTH demonstration sites with facilitator and project Agronomist Tim Paramore discussing the pasture establishment and management strategies being put in place as well as the overall objectives of the GTH project.

Both farm walks were well attended and participants had the opportunity to compare the progress between the sites.

The Tallangatta area bus tour proved very scenic with many miles travelled between locations and great variation between rainfall and therefore pasture growth.

The Corryong area tour, while shorter in distance, showed no less diversity in topics for discussion with various weed control and insect issues emerging with crop development.

A new variety of grazing wheat sown at Patons, Naparoo, was very impressive. Sown in late March into cultivated ground it has a large amount of tillers and is producing plenty of feed.

Two varieties of triticale, Endeavour and Tobruk, both grazing and grain are clearly very different. Tobruk producing little winter feed when compared with Endeavour. Tobruk is not as long in its growing season and should show a good grain yield.

Last year Endeavour yielded well in the Holbrook area because of the late rains. Oats still compare well for autumn winter grazing but not for flexibility in herbicide use and valuable grain.

As part of the GTH project Tim currently runs regular discussion group meetings in Corryong and following the farm walks hs commenced planning for the formation of a group in the Tallangatta area.

For further information or general enquiries on the GTH project please call project coordinator Brooke McKimmie on 0411 415 671.

UMAG Youth Scholarship

UMAG chairman Bruce Saxton congratulates Corryong College Student
Will Nankervis with Cr Debi Gadd on right.

Tallangatta College vice-principal Con Madden with Angus Butler.

The 2009 UMAG youth scholarships this year have been awarded to Will Nankervis of Corryong College and Angus Butler of Tallangatta Secondary College.

Both recipients are well deserving with both having great interest in the farming sector. Both are based in the Towong Shire and participate widely in local activities such as fire brigade and landcare.

The UMAG wishes them well this year and for the future and looks forward to working with them over the coming year.