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New Postings

CATTLE AND BEEF

For Sale

Certified 'In Conversion' (10941C) - 2 X Black Poll Angus Yearling Bulls (excellent breeding)
Enquiries, please Ph: Craig 0427 099 588
Location: near Echuca, Vic
(posted 2/11)

300 mixed sex cattle for sale
Santa-Shorthorn; 280kg
US and EU accredited
Enquiries Ph: John (07) 4654 5454
Location: Augathella, Qld
(posted 19/11)

GRAINS

WANTED TO BUY

Looking for Certified Organic grain.
Rye, triticale, and spelt required.
Enquiries, please Ph Wendy: 02 6742 3939/ 0429 423 939/ E: wendy@wholegrain.com.au
(posted 27/11)

For Sale

Quality ACO In-Conversion wheat (11032IC)
Enquiries please Ph: Warren Lobegeier 07 4995 1223
Location: Thangool, Qld
(posted 19/11)

Schooner Barley, 16% protein, good weight, clean and bright.
Certified Biodynamic 2232BD.
Enquiries, please Ph Ray Unger: (02) 6869 7635/ E: ray@ipstarmail.com.au
Location: Peak Hill, NSW
(posted 6/11)

Schooner Barley, malt, 11% - 12%protein, clean and bright.
Certified Biodynamic 2232BD.
Enquiries, please Ph Ray Unger: (02) 6869 7635/ E: ray@ipstarmail.com.au
Location: Peak Hill, NSW
(posted 6/11)

Milling wheat. Approx 1T. 15% protein. Machine dressed.
Suit baking, sprouts etc.
Cert no. 10414A
Enquiries, please Ph: (03) 5397 4242/ 0429 400 626
Location: Nhill, Vic
(posted 3/11)

REAL ESTATE

For Sale

Eastern New England certified grazing/fattening property
1350 ha, 900+ mm rainfall, carrying capacity 800 - 850 breeders
For more details please visit: www.doughboymountain.com; or ph: 0488 758 545
(posted 2/11)

Market Update

Lamb quality exceeds expectations during short supply

Organic lamb prices are sitting at 520c/kg (emergency deliveries) over the hook dressed weight (domestic).

Note: Cleavers Organic Meat are offering bonuses above the spot rate to growers who are able to deliver lambs at very short notice if the need arises.

Toby Scales, Senior Buyer for Cleavers Organic Meat, says the market has continued to improve, however livestock supply has tightened. ''This is mostly due to the recent hot conditions slowing growth rates and in many cases forcing growers to market earlier with lighter lambs.''

However, the quality of lamb is still fantastic. ''This is largely a result of better farm management practices and genetic selection.''

Sales wise, the festive season does traditionally see a reduction in terms of shelf space for lamb at leading supermarkets. ''Seasonal buying habits see a replacement of red meat shelf space to white meat (ham, turkey, chicken). It doesn't mean that demand has stopped; interest in organic lamb is still as strong as ever.''

US export market holds strong

Organic beef prices on the East Coast are at 380c/kg - 400c/kg for milk and two tooth domestic (220-260kg beast) and export (260kg and over).

Due to the poor seasonal conditions, finished cattle are in short supply. ''The land desperately needs rain. We have noticed our carcase weights are much lighter than this time last year and this is due to the dry conditions and the lack of USDA NOP feed around,'' says Peter Gall, Livestock Manager with The Organic Meat Company (subsidiary of Sanger Australia).

However, even with the dry conditions and lack of feed, quality remains high. ''It is a credit to our suppliers that they can still turn off a quality article under these poor weather conditions,'' says Peter.

The export market, especially that of the US is still strong. ''I have just come back from a business trip to the States. Demand for Australian organic beef is huge and still growing. Our only deterrence is the rising Australian dollar, which is giving us a hiding; otherwise the US market continues to accelerate.''

Verdict for vegetarians - zero cattle is not a 'healthy' option

In a recent article published by The Land newspaper, it was reported that livestock producers were under pressure from vegetarian lobbyists, as they appealed to people to make the shift to a plant-based diet following concerns that it would help ease food security and climate change issues.

The argument is - by making the switch to a vegetarian diet, the world will produce less greenhouse gas emissions and we will have more available land and water, as vegetables require less of both for production compared to livestock.

This vegetarian argument is one that many in the agriculture industry do not entirely agree with.

Greg Paynter, a soil health advisor from Gatton, says ''cattle are an important part of the carbon cycle. Cows eat grass which sloughs the roots into the soil - which adds to the organic matter in the soil - all leading to increases of carbon sequestered in the soil.

''I believe that just because we have the capacity to measure the amounts of methane or other green house gases emitted by various animals, we need to have a more comprehensive understanding of how they fit within the context of the whole carbon cycle.''

Backing up this viewpoint is research by Dr Christine Jones, an internationally renowned soil ecologist. Her study shows that the use of perennial grasses and grazing management techniques to sequester carbon in the soil, are ways of developing an understanding of animals' involvement with the carbon cycle and the level of their worth.

Organic farming, which follows holistic management practices and is supportive of both horticulture and livestock practices, is based on the principle that the key to healthy land is increasing the carbon content of soil - an overall benefit for both horticulture and livestock production.

Related to this is research by Professor Tim Flannery, an Australian mammalogist, palaeontologist, environmental and global warming action lobbyist, who also valuates the use of cell or holistic grazing methods and its virtues in relation to the Carbon Cycle. ''Holistic management is one of the key tools at our disposal. Where holistic management is practiced, increases of up to 3% in soil carbon are being achieved. This happens largely because the soil is protected from erosion and grass cover, allowing more root growth.''

Greg Paynter adds: ''Vegetarians have the right to choose whatever they believe is best for their own diet; however, using the fact that animals emit greenhouse gases to argue against animal production without taking into account the positive role they play in carbon sequestration, does not add to the credence of a vegetarian's position.''

Market Update

Farm gate prices
Kent Pumpkins $1.50 per kilo
Onions - $50-60 per 20kg bag
Broccoli - $38 per box (8kg)
Mangoes - $42 a tray

In Season

Summer is always a favourable time with consumers to savour the abundance of juicy seasonal fruit like; Queensland mangoes, cherries, nectarines, apricots and watermelons.

Ross Cowling, co-owner of Brisbane-based United Organics, says that, ''the quality of our fruit this season has been excellent. Unfortunately though, some of our salad lines from down south (Vic) and Queensland have suffered due to the heat waves.''

Out of the Farm Gate

Nick Miall, Sales Manager of The Organic Farm Gate says summer has finally hit, and in the next few weeks consumers can enjoy an abundance of sweet corn, carrots, tomatoes, watermelons and rockmelons.

Nick comments on how the current demand for produce has lifted since last season, ''I believe that the produce we have been putting out these last couple of months has been the best for at least 3 years.''

''We are also not carrying an oversupply of produce this season, which helps us in terms of achieving premium prices.''

Overall, Nick says that the weather is fickle, with the summer storm season threatening no rain or flood rain, depending on the location. However, currently farms are well positioned for consistent, high quality summer crops.

Organics fruitful at farmers markets

Farmers Markets are a global phenomena. Their growth is consumer driven and with the average shopper now more educated about their food source, there is an active quest to support sustainable agriculture.

Alasdair Smithson, owner of Munch Crunch Organics, has been selling his certified organic produce at the Bryon Bay and Bangalow farmers markets for the past three years.

Alasdair believes that the sudden emergence and popularity of farmers markets in the past couple of years has been due to growing concern with where our food comes from. ''I believe that many people are seeking fresh, local and seasonal food - farmers markets guarantee consumers all of this, along with the extra benefit of being able to choose organic.''

Alasdair points out that farmers markets help promote fewer food miles, which assists to reduce our greenhouse emissions - a growing concern, especially on the eve of the United Nations Climate Change conference in Copenhagen next month.

''As supermarkets become global food giants, consumers are becoming more distant from the food they are buying. In Australia, it can take up to 5000kms for fresh produce to reach supermarkets and once the produce goes on shelf, it is generally 7-10 days old,'' says Alasdair.

Summarised, proximity means freshness and also savings on many levels.

Alasdair agrees that consumers want to know more about their food's background. ''I believe this is why organics is so popular at farmers markets. Consumers seem to be more aware now of all the health benefits connected with organic food - they simply do not want their food laden with harmful pesticides and herbicides.''

With farmers markets seeming to have made this shift towards supporting more sustainable agricultural practices, it is no wonder that markets such as Northey St Farmers Markets in Brisbane hosts approximately 90 per cent certified organic stalls.

Les Nicholls from Sandy Creek Organics has managed a certified organic fruit and veg stall at the Northey St Farmers Markets for the past three and a half years.

''I believe that the shift towards more people seeking fresh produce, in particular organic, has been due to consumers seeking the healthiest food. Certified organic fruit and veg is extremely popular, with people lining up at the markets before the sun rises - they simply want the freshest organic produce.''

Les believes people are seeking to rebuild a connection with their food source. ''Supermarkets do not provide the freshest seasonal produce. Consumers seek that connection - they want to actually see the farmer - it helps build a sense of trust that their fruit and veg were grown in the cleanest and healthiest way possible.''

Are farmers markets the way of the future for local farmers?

Alasdair, who has an honours degree in Organic Agriculture, agrees. ''I predict that in the next two years oil prices will peak, creating sharp increases in fresh produce prices due to increased transport costs - forcing consumers to seek more local and seasonal produce. I believe that this will help continue the boom of farmers markets.''

Les agrees, saying that farmers (horticulture) in the future will only survive if they can attain more direct selling - farmers markets are a perfect avenue for this.

However, Les argues that if farmers markets are the way of the future, then the government will need to put more effort into ensuring there are enough farmers to support growing consumer demand.

''You have to remember that the majority of farmers markets are in urban areas, and if governments do not lift some of their regulations, then there simply will not be enough farmers to support the industry that is farmers markets,'' says Les.

Definitely food for thought...