The $1 million funding received in April last year has been used for ten projects in the Parkes Shire to support communities, local businesses and farmers.

The funding came from the Federal Gov-ernment as part of their Drought Communities Program.

Parkes Shire Council advised Federal Member for Riverina Michael McCormack of the completion of the projects when he was in town on Monday.

Michael said the $1 million investment had employed local tradespeople, apprentices, specialist tradies and general helpers, and provided a vital economic stimulus during the tough times of drought.

The construction projects were identified through strategic planning, drought forum meetings and direct contact with local representatives from each township.

The projects included a drought response officer position, Parkes Library refurbishment, Bogan Gate Hall maintenance, Cookamidgera Hall upgrades, Pola Park amenities in Tullamore, portable stage for the Cooke Park Pavilion, Berryman Oval in Trundle changerooms upgrade, shade shelters at Memorial Park in Peak Hill, bollards in Cooke Park for markets and events and the completion of the local Adverse Event Plan for the shire.

For 66 years the Roylance name has been synonymous with the automotive and agricultural industries in Forbes, but more recently their focus has been on farming with the development of their Tractor Replacements business in Sam Street.

Now regional distributors for such iconic names as Kubota and Krone, they also added the globally recognised JCB brand to their list of products in 2020. Renowned for their earthmoving equipment – the iconic yellow and black backhoe, and their great selection of skid steers – JCB’s range of
agricultural equipment is also well recognised around the world: the Fastrac range of tractors, the fastest on the market, and the Agri Telehandler range providing farmers with immense flexibility across a range of applications.

Of importance for Roylances – who pride themselves on customer service – was to ensure that they had complete customer support for all their products.
From initial contact with Justin Roylance (grandson of company founders Jim and Nea Roylance) and Sales Manager Barry Cusack, to their after-sales service department and team of service technicians that can provide not just first-class service at their Forbes work-shops, but also valuable on-site service in case of setbacks on the farm.

For anyone looking to upgrade their existing machines, or looking to take advantage of the various financial support packages on offer from the Federal Government and JCB, call Roylances Tractor Replacements in Forbes on 6852 2020, drop into Unit 10, 42-46 Sam Street, Forbes or email enquiry@roylances.com.au

Parkes has placed itself firmly on the map as a model others can look to following a forum hosted by the Parkes Shire Council recently on the global move towards a circular economy.

The 20 speakers at the Activating the Low Carbon Economy in Regional Australia forum held over 150 attendees, who joined in online, captivated for the whole day.

“It is exciting to be part of the solution and to know Parkes is heading in the right direction,” said Cr Neil Westcott, who was a main driver behind the forum.

He said the purpose of the forum was to build a platform for knowledge sharing and innovation. There were many fantastic ideas shared that could be relevant to not only Parkes and regional NSW, but all of regional Australia.

“The key drivers for the day were urgency, empathy and opportunity. It is a very unique time in our history as there are some enormous problems, however a fantastic opportunity to make better use of the resources we have available to us and to set a mode of operation built around the circular economy.”

Topics covered included the role and impact of renewable energy in the regions, the nature and benefits of a circular economy and what this means for business and government, the importance of a low carbon economy to regional and rural Australia, and how all of these will combine to embrace new industries and create local employment in Parkes, accelerating a transition to a prosperous low carbon future.

Multiple speakers applauded Parkes Shire Council for its strategic vision in hosting the forum and the work that Council is doing to champion a low carbon and circular economy to boost regional productivity and opportunities.

Beyond the forum, Council plans to develop a white paper to guide future projects, opportunities and embrace new industries and create local employment in the Parkes Special Activation Precinct.

Neil said the forum had also led to many spin-off meetings between the speakers that would hopefully lead to many more great outcomes.

Farmers, contract harvesters, transport companies and agricultural machinery retailers are invited to attend the Be Road Ready for Harvest Virtual Field Day via Zoom on Wednesday, 15th September from 8am (and not Tuesday as reported in last week’s paper).

The event will be held online for the second year in a row due to the current COVID-19 restrictions.

“It’s looking like we are going to have a good harvest again this year, and it is important to refresh people’s knowledge about the current rules and regulations for legally and safely moving harvest equipment and trucks on the road,” said Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor.

“Safety and compliance during harvest is very important. Opera-tors need to be aware of their responsibilities and ensure that all warning devices and travel requirements are adhered to.”

Topics to be discussed include access, permits, fire safety, fatigue, load restraint and more.

Registration is free but spaces are limited. Register online at www.eventbrite.com and search ‘Be Road Ready for Harvest Virtual Field Day’. All attendees will receive an information pack.

If you have a specific question that you would like answered, contact Melanie on 6861 2364 or Melanie.Suitor@parkes.nsw.gov.au so that it can be covered in the presentations.

The NSW Government has announced a $50 million package for households, local businesses and farmers to help combat the mice plague currently impacting regional NSW.

NSW Upper House MP, Sam Farraway said communities right across the Central West and Western NSW had done it tough off the back of drought, bushfires and floods. “This mice plague is devastating communities who are already suffering.

“I have received a lot of feedback from communities that we needed to act on this mice plague as this infestation runs deep through the community.”

Households will be able to apply for rebates of up to $500 and small businesses will be eligible to claim up to $1,000 through Service NSW.

Deputy Premier John Barilaro said these rebates would help small businesses and households meet the cost of purchasing baits, and grain treatment would be available for impacted farmers free of charge.

“We know the financial pressure this mice plague is putting on farmers and household budgets. We have heard the concerns and we are acting on them,” said the deputy premier.

“The NSW Government will establish grain treatment facilities at specified locations across rural and regional NSW for farmers to have their grain treated free of charge and we will provide rebates to small businesses and households through Service NSW to help meet the cost of buying bait.

“I am also forming an advisory committee to ensure everyone has access to expert advice, including the latest hot spots, health and food safety advice, information for vets and guidance for keeping children and animals safe.”

Other steps include a rapid move by the NSW Government to seek the necessary approvals for the use of bromadiolone in NSW and expanded workshops on the best eradication strategies. For more information go to www.nsw.gov.au/mice.

The NSW Farmers’ Association has launched a program to get school kids learning more about life on the farm. The Kids to Farms: 2 by 12 Program aims to enable every child in NSW to have two educational interactions with the agricultural sector before they are 12.

NSW Farmers’ President James Jackson said that the program was a combination of digital programs and on-farm experience. “We’re aiming for kids to increase their understanding of where and how their food and fibre is produced, and the role and importance of agriculture to Australia’s way of life, regional communities and the economy.

“We know that 59% of students learn what they know about food and fibre production from their teachers. We cannot underestimate the importance of our primary teachers in supporting our kids to engage with the agricultural industry.”

NSW Farmers Association was awarded $822,000 over three years as part of the Australian Government’s $5 million Educating Kids About Agriculture: Kids to Farms initiative.

For more details on Kids to Farms visit www.visitmyfarm.com.au/kids-to-farms

NSW Farmers is an association representing rural and regional communities and working to secure a sustainable food and fibre future.

Team work over three generations of the Hood family saw the trophy of this year’s Doug Bicket Memorial Maiden Ewe Competition return to their farming enterprise.

Andew Hood was thrilled to be able to share the win with his father, Roger and son, Colby. “Dad has always been passionate about his sheep and since Colby joined our operation, we have endeavoured to really push the livestock side of the business and maximize the returns we can achieve.”

The family is extremely positive about the future of their flock after strong markets and an amazing season – an optimism that was plain for all to see when the team received the trophy in the shadows of a recently erected, state of the art shearing shed.

The Overland blood ewes carry a 20.5 micron fleece and are classed by Andy McLeod of Dubbo. The flock presented in top condition, reflecting the amazing 12 months of seasonal conditions, in stark contrast to the harsh drought the ewes were born into.

Despite well above average rainfall in the past three months and a severe fly wave that has ravaged the district, Andrew said the ewes had not been treated with any chemicals with minimal fly strike, attributing this to the Overland genetics the family has been using for a number of years.

The judges, Drew Chapman of Hinesville and West Plains Poll Studs, Delegate and Angus Munro, Stud Breeding Manager for Poll Boonoke and Wanganella Studs, were impressed with the ewes from the moment they set foot in the yards.

“This is a great commercial mob of ewes that have been well managed and classed with a clear direction,” said Drew. “They are a very uniform mob and are going to cut a lot of white, soft handling wool as well as being large bodied and structurally correct.”

Angus picked up on the flocks’ impressive lambing percentage adding, “To achieve a lambing percentage of 130% in the middle of one of the worst droughts on record is an amazing result and a credit to the management the Hood family are implementing over their animals.”

Second place went to the “Allambie” flock of the Watt family at Alectown. The Darriwell blood team are classed by Russell Jones, carry a 19.5 micron fleece and achieved a lambing percentage of 112%.

The encouragement award was taken home by the Witherow family of “Ranfurlie”, Parkes. It is the first time the flock has been entered in the competition and the team made quite an impression.

The largest crowd of spectators ever seen at the Parkes competition, organised by the Parkes PA & H Association is perhaps a reflection of the optimism around the turnaround in the season and the strong market conditions as the district moves to recover from the drought it had endured up until 12 months prior.

By Garry O’Brien

The worsening mouse situation in some of Australia’s key cropping regions will be addressed at a specially convened online forum organised by the Grains Research Development Corporation (GRDC) this morning.

With mice ravaging freshly planted summer crops in parts of northern NSW and Queensland and in large numbers elsewhere across eastern and southern states, concern is mounting about further impact to summer crops ahead of grain fill and harvest and the potential threat to the 2021 winter grain crop.

The live-streamed Grains Research Update will enable growers to hear directly from GRDC-supported experts from CSIRO, who will provide the latest insights into the extent of the issue and practical mouse management advice for now and in the lead up to summer crop harvest and the sowing of winter crops.

GRDC Manager Pests, Leigh Nelson, says the Mouse Update has been convened in response to the escalation in rodent numbers and the damage being caused. The interactive Update will feature GRDC-supported lead mouse researcher Steve Henry from CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, who will deliver an assessment of the current situation in all states. He will also discuss:
• Critical mouse control considerations ahead of the summer crop harvest and in the lead up to autumn sowing of winter crops
• Maximising the effectiveness of control using zinc phosphide
• The latest research on baits
• Monitoring, including the development of remote systems
• Ecology – the impact of farming systems on mice.

The Mouse Update will begin at 9am. To register, go to http://bit. ly/2KQRTY1. For further information, contact John Cameron or Erica McKay at ICAN on 02 9482 4930 or erica@icanrural.com.au.

More details about control options are available via the GRDC Mouse Control website at https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/resources/mouse-control.