A WORD FROM THE CHAIR

I hope this newsletter finds you well rested and ready to ramp up for the sowing season. 

It has been a far more effective transition from harvest to cropping at Redbank this year. We were fortunate to finish harvest before Christmas and enjoy a well-earned rest before planning and preparing for the 2024 cropping season. We held a production meeting several weeks ago and have been busy working through our preparation lists with the whole team on board and safety front of mind.

Reports from across the Riverine Plains membership area largely indicated better than expected harvest yields. Quality was good, but not exceptional, despite rain events during the harvest period. The quality standout was canola, with reports of up to 52% oil. 

There is always so much to learn from reflecting on the season just gone, while preparing for the season to come. There were some excellent discussions at Sykesy’s Day at Buraja, along with the Riverine Plains Harvest Wrap Up events held at Rand, Katamatite and Murchison. Most participants were happy with their harvest and enthusiastic about the upcoming season, with good soil moisture to carry us forward.

Predicting weather for autumn in our region is ridiculously difficult but the current outlook for rain is neutral (so plan for anything!), with likely warmer temperatures for the next three months. 

It is an interesting time to be a sheep farmer with unpredictable, fluctuating prices. It has been a difficult month with a long hot spell as we prepare our ewes for lambing. Hopefully with the hard work of shearing, scanning, crutching and vaccinating behind us, we can look forward to some more forgiving weather for an uneventful lambing.

The new Riverine Plains Board has settled in nicely and we will be doing some strategic planning in the coming months. Please contact Pip Grant, or any of our staff or Board members, if you have any feedback, ideas, events or topics you would like to see included in Riverine Plains’ activities. This is particularly important now we have broadened the scope of our offerings to include the whole farming system, including livestock, and a targeted business skills program.

On a personal note I am delighted and honoured to have been awarded a place in the Rural Australian Leadership Program sponsored by the GRDC. This is a 15 month experiential learning program which will enhance my leadership skills and bring enormous personal growth. I look forward to reporting on my progress as I work through the course. 

Fiona Marshall 
Chair, Riverine Plains