Warren McEwan and Karen Jarling demonstrate their cattle and pasture system on a cold clear westerly windy Widgee afternoon in June, just after the first hard frost for the year.
June Report – Warren McEwan and Karen Jarling, CGL Beef, Widgee.
A classic, clear crisp windy Widgee afternoon was well spent by the 25 or so visitors to Warren and Karen’s property on the 29th June. The pastures had just started dying off after the hard frost of the week before, but it was still possible to see the results of the grazing and pasture management systems that have been refined over the last decade or so, as they have moved to organic production methods.
It was an excellent afternoon, with plenty of lively focussed conversation on practical matters covering a huge range of topics. Fence planning and construction(electric and fixed), water points and camps, cattle breeding and genetics, calving management, yard design, parasite control, working dogs, horses, soil fertility, looking after creek areas, weeds, pasture cropping, seeding and cultivation equipment, haymaking – you name it, most relevant topics were aired and capably addressed. It was the first time I had looked at pasture cropping in a small farm context – in this case seeding winter oats, chicory and plantain into the tropical grass pastures with a Yeomans trash seeder. The effect of the extraordinary 2013 floods, (which put most of the property under very fast flowing water) was also a major topic of discussion.
The exchange of quite specific technical information between people seemed particularly useful at this field day, ranging from recipes for mineral licks and buffalo fly back-rub oil to tricks for flea control on working dogs. People working together and helping each other out in practical ways is what lies at the core of the co-operative model, and it was good to see this starting to happen through our co-op. Many thanks must be given to Warren and Karen for making the home and their time available to us.
Next farm walk 27th JULY – Walker Farm Foods – Cambroon
Kacey Walker and and a chook caravan
On the pasture systems theme – don’t miss the next farm walk. How does pastured poultry production fit into a busy dairy farm operation? Kacey Walker has offered to explain their operation at Walker Farm Foods, 2857 Maleny Kenilworth Road, CAMBROON (about 10km South of Kenilworth).
As with all the co-op farm walks, the afternoon starts at 2 pm, and visitors are asked to bring along some food to share for afterwards, and a gold coin donation for the farmer giving up their time to share their information.
Because these chooks move around a large farm, and we don’t yet know where they will be on the day, it is important to please confirm your attendance by email to maryvalleycountryharvest@gmail.com, or by contacting Elaine on 0459 225 399. We can then tell you where the meeting place will be.
