Call 1300 VANDER from those areas to find out about our ..... Seaforth Pines, an outdoor education and conference centre
Summer 2017
As this is our last magazine for 2016 it is a great opportunity to say thank you for your business throughout the year, it has been our pleasure serving you. We hope you enjoy this edition of “The Field”. We endeavour to feature articles about you, our customers and what you are doing in your business. It is very satisfying for us to provide machines and services that contribute to your success. This past year we have increased our focus on providing precision planting tools for the vast range of farming systems we support from the Kimberley in the West to
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Gympie in the East. We have aligned ourselves with key manufacturers to enable us to tailor the right planters for your system. The most recent addition to our range is the Monosem range of precision planters. We are convinced that your planter is the most important piece of equipment you can own. From all of us at Vanderfield, thank you and we wish you and yours a very happy and Holy Christmas and an outstanding New Year.
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Conditions apply. Finance available through John Deere Financial Limited to approved commercial applicants only. Repayments based on price of $20,471 for 1023E with H120 loader and $21,539 for 2025R with 54D deck. Calculated on a 60 month term at an annual percentage rate of 2.49% with 30% deposit and GST back. Fees and charges apply. If not amended or withdrawn earlier, the promotion expires on 15 January 2017. Offer only applies when bundled as a VLQJOHSXUFKDVH,IVWRFNLVQRWLPPHGLDWHO\DYDLODEOHIRUZDUGRUGHUVDWWKHTXRWHGSULFHDQGƟQDQFHUDWHZLOOEHKRQRXUHG # SURYLGHGWKHRUGHULVFRQƟUPHGSULRUWRWKHRIIHUH[SLULQJ3ULFHGRHVQRWLQFOXGHSUHGHOLYHU\IUHLJKWDVVHPEO\RUGHDOHU FKDUJHV3URGXFWVVSHFLƟFDWLRQVDQGDYDLODELOLW\DUHVXEMHFWWRFKDQJHZLWKRXWQRWLFH
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Conditions apply. Finance available through John Deere Financial Limited to approved commercial applicants only. Repayments based on price of $20,471 for 1023E with H120 loader and $21,539 for 2025R with 54D deck. Calculated on a 60 month term at an annual percentage rate of 2.49% with 30% deposit and GST back. Fees and charges apply.
Bruce and Sue Vandersee with Sam Allen
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Samuel R Allen @ VANDERFIELD Early in June, Australia received a three-day visit by a team of six members of the Deere & Company executive, including its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Samuel R Allen, accompanied by James M Field, John Lagemann, Randal Sergesketter, J.B. Penn and Malcolm Rhodes. The team were on a tight schedule, visiting Brisbane and Melbourne, but they found time to spend half a day at the Vanderfield dealership in Toowoomba. Vanderfield was established by Gordon Vandersee in 1963, and it became the Toowoomba John Deere dealer in 1970. Sam Allen has held his current position with John Deere since February 2010 and is only the 9th CEO the company has had since its foundation in 1837. His association with Vanderfield started during his 1999-2001 term as Vice President, Region I (Latin America, Australia and Asia) of the Worldwide Agricultural Equipment Division. Speaking to an interested audience comprised of visitors from John Deere in Brisbane and over 80 Vanderfield staff, Mr Allen’s message had a strong focus on the importance of building relationships so that each party can contribute to making the others stronger and better. He reflected on the central role played by customers as ‘the reason of our being’, and pointed out how the best product available would not be enough to retain customers unless it was backed by a dealership offering great service, prompt access to parts, and the technical expertise to diagnose and fix issues on the first opportunity. On this note, Mr Allen congratulated Vanderfield for being the #1 dealer in Australia and New Zealand for two years in a row and thanked the staff for doing such a great job of representing John Deere. One key reason for Mr Allen’s visit is the opportunity to meet with regional farmers, as Australian farming groups, together with those from Argentina and Canada, can be considered world leaders in terms of innovation and productivity. Having meetings with customers, like the two Mr Allen had at Vanderfield Toowoomba, allows John Deere to find ways to better support customers’ current needs and understand future trends so the best service possible can continue to be offered in the future. The commitment to continue to produce the finest of products for dealers to offer customers is matched by Vanderfield’s commitment, expressed by its Managing Director, Bruce Vandersee, to continue to do the best job they can to represent those products. At the end of the visit, Mr Allen was presented with a Queensland State of Origin jersey, much to the delight of the vast majority of the audience.
Bruce Vandersee presenting the facts
Vanderfield showcases sugarcane industry to
ASIAN DELEGATION
The Bundaberg and Mackay branches of Vanderfield, in conjunction with John Deere Australia, hosted a group of about fifteen John Deere Asian dealers at the beginning of September. The delegates came from Vietnam, Cambodia, the Philippines and Indonesia and were able to visit a number of local farms and businesses during their four-day visit. ‘We wanted to give them a feel for the way we conduct our sugar cane farming practices and the use of technology in local operations’, explains Vanderfield Bundaberg manager, Allan Cooper. The delegation spent three days in Bundaberg. ‘On day one, we focused on farm design, levelling and drip irrigation. The delegates were able to visit Peter Greensill and Jason Loeskow’s operations, where they witnessed the use of large John Deere tractors and earth moving equipment and the applications of technology in farm design, and Francis, Jason and Anna Attard’s farm, where Marcus Ashley from Rivulis Irrigation joined us’. ‘On the second day, we had two tours in the morning: of a Bundaberg Sugar branch, where we talked about
guidance, multi row equipment, planting and harvesting, and of the Bundaberg Foundry, and then in the afternoon we went to Desmond-John Loeskow’s farm for a look at a John Deere 4030 self-propelled sprayer with Cane Droppers. ‘The last day in this area ended with a tour of local engineering company Bundaberg Walkers in the morning followed in the afternoon by a visit to Petersen Farming, in the Hervey Bay area, for aspects of field design and harvesting. A multi-row cane harvester was seen in use’. Vanderfield Mackay manager Stephen Emmert explains what happened next. ‘The delegates viewed both planting and sugarcane machinery. It was a very informative and enjoyable day’. Allan and Stephen agree that feedback from the delegates was very positive. ‘They were very appreciative of the chance to see local farmers in action and learn about machinery and other aspects of sugar production in this part of the world. We also had a great time getting to know the delegates and teaming up with customers and other business, without whom we could not have offered this experience’.
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STAY ON TRACK OUTBACK Strip Till and Deep P Fertiliser Testing with Orthman 1tRIPr VNET Precision Farming have established a Strip Till trial in cooperation with Paul Dieckmann, who manages Brookstead property “Trifel” for Brazil Farming Co. ‘We have seen responses to both Phosphorous and Zinc treatments on the property’s soil types for many years in a range of crops’, says Mr Dieckmann. The trial was set to study side by side responses of both strip till and deep phosphorus treatments to sorghum in a dryland farming system that has been under long term zero tillage. Vanderfield’s Precision Farming Manager Stephen Hegarty explains: ‘In May 2016, Vanderfield Toowoomba provided a custom 3 row x 40” demo Orthman 1tRIPr which was used to apply strip till treatments into existing 9 row x 40” controlled traffic rows. Varying rates of Supreme Z starter fertiliser were applied through the 1tRIPr at a depth of approximately 150mm’. The trial was established as a simple commercial side-by-side comparison, with various treatment strips of zero till, strip till, strip till with low rate deep fertiliser and strip till with high rate deep fertiliser. On 30th September, the field was planted with grain sorghum hybrid MR Buster at a target plant population of 60,000 seeds per hectare.
‘We’ve had cooler spring temperatures so far this year, and this has tested the seedling vigour and survival of many crops. Predictably, these conditions resulted in lower than normal established plant population in our trial also’, says Stephen. Randomised plant stand counts were taken at 20 days after sowing and show some considerable variation in established plant population between the zero till and strip till treatments. ‘These early assessments show the average zero till population to be 39,000/ha (65% of target) and the average strip till population to be 50,400/ha (84% of target)’. VNET Precision Farming will be continuing plant assessments throughout the season, including through high resolution multi-spectral imagery, as the crop responds to the P fertiliser applied at depth. ‘At the end of the season, yield maps from the harvester will be used to calculate gross margin per ha both in the treatments and the rest of the field'. If you would like to be kept up to date with the trial, including potential field day date, please talk to the VNET Team.
Isuzu UTE Australia has continued its partnership with the award winning “Stay on Track Outback” road safety project. Targeting nomads around the nation, ‘Stay on Track Outback’ is an awareness program designed to educate tourists unfamiliar with outback traffic hazards, as well as the risks associated with driving at night and fatigue from driving long distances. Police say there has been a surge in accidents on outback roads, the majority caused by the inexperience of new nomads – whose years of urban driving does not necessarily equip them for long journeys on the nation's outback highways. Senior Constable Sarah Grayson, Project Manager, said “Being prepared for a trip in the outback should be the number one priority and this includes drivers educating themselves about all the unique hazards they may encounter. Some of these include wildlife, livestock, changing road conditions, unpredictable weather events, road trains and wide loads.” The project has been created with driving on outback roads in mind however the lessons are applicable across the country. “We hope that people will look at our website and plan their trip before they leave for some helpful road safety advice,” Senior Constable Grayson said. It is the aim of the project to continue implementing further strategies to assist motorists well into the future, not only in Queensland but across the country. For more information visit www.stayontrackoutback.qld.gov.au
HINO HYBRID CELEBRATES
Chris Robinson
10 YEARS AT THE TOP The Hino 300 Series Hybrid has maintained its reign as the best-selling diesel-electric light duty commercial vehicle platform in Australia as it enters its tenth year of sales.The Hino Hybrid pioneered diesel-electric trucks in Australia and has been a sales market leader for hybrid trucks since its launch in 2007, selling 481 units to date.
Growing fresh produce in the Kimberleys Oria Orchards and Flowers is a Kununurra business run by husband and wife team Chris and Diane Robinson. ‘Our aim is to provide the freshest local produce and beautiful flowers grown when possible right here -from the Kimberley to the Kimberley!’, explains Chris. ‘I arrived in Kununurra in 1988. I come from the wheatbelt region in the South West of Western Australia, where I grew up in a dairy farm. My parents also ran some cattle and they were into horticulture’. ‘Work brought us here and Diane, who is a biological scientist, and I looked for a block of land where we could farm. We found the perfect spot to grow our produce and tropical flowers in Packsaddle Road and have the retail outlet in town, 15 minutes away. We developed our business from scratch’. ‘You’ll find that things change on a regular basis here in Kununurra, and we’ve had a go at growing all sort of crops over the years. We are very flexible in the way we operate, and I think you have to be’. ‘At the moment, we grow mangoes, which we export to the Perth market throughout the October-November
season, paw-paws, which have to be replanted every 2 to 3 years, and dry season produce, including lettuce, tomatoes, melons, herbs and other vegetables and fruits. We also supply frozen mango, dried fruit, and grapefruit juice. Apart from the flower shop and Perth, we supply the local markets and sell directly to local restaurants’. ‘With the flowers, we specialise in heliconias and gingers, which are tropical, but we also offer a variety of dry season annuals grown right here’. ‘When we were looking for a new vehicle, we turned to the local Toyota dealer, Vanderfield Kununurra. We’d had a very good experience with our original Toyota Hilux, and the Fortuner we chose suited our specifications very well’. ‘Vanderfield also supply us with the agricultural machinery and parts we need for our business. We are really happy with the service we get from Lloyd Morley and his team; they are always helpful, and made the car purchase very easy’. Vanderfield are the Katherine and Kununurra Toyota dealers. Call 1300 VANDER from those areas to find out about our current Toyota end of year specials.
Hino Australia has launched a marketing campaign highlighting the economic and environmental advantages of the Hybrid. Hino Australia chairman and chief executive officer Steve Lotter attributed the robust Hino Hybrid sales to a growing demand for fuel-saving and environmentally-friendly options in the trucking industry. "Global demand for a low greenhouse gas emission truck gave us the perfect opportunity to provide our proven hybrid solution to Australian businesses," Mr Lotter said. "We stepped into a truck market unfamiliar with diesel-electric technology and implemented the world's best hybrid system thanks to our Toyota Group connection. "The research and development by Toyota and our global Hino counterparts ensured our product delivered on our promise of quality, durability and reliability. "For our local customers, recognising that the Hino Hybrid helps save fuel and increase the bottom line has made it the preferred choice for fleets of all sizes," Mr Lotter said. The electric motor in the Hino 300 Series Hybrid is derived from the Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive system featured in the Toyota Prius and other hybrid variants such as the Camry Hybrid and newly-revealed Corolla Hybrid. Independent testing of hybrid commercial vehicles in 2012 showed a 21 per cent average saving in fuel, CO2 emissions and costs for a pick-up and delivery operation in the Sydney metropolitan area. The average savings over a conventional diesel vehicle were calculated to be approximately 6.66 litres of fuel and 179.35 grams of CO2 emissions per 100 kilometres. The Hino Hybrid is available in eight variants and is suitable for a range of applications. The latest Hino Hybrid combines a 4.0-litre 110kW/420Nm diesel engine with a 36kW electric motor which run in parallel and are mated to a Hino ProShift 5 Automated Manual Transmission. DARWIN 08 8932 4200 TOOWOOMBA 07 4631 4800
Chris Robinson with Lloyd Morley
PLANTER SERVICE
“Hitting your desired plant population does not mean much if you’ve got skips and doubles in the mix.” We test your row units.
(using your seed and vacuum settings if available)
Before and after maintenance, to highlight the gains available of a correctly adjusted and maintained planter.
$
We document Seed Singulation, Coefficient of Variation (CV), Average Seed Spacing, Doubles, Skips and Vacuum Levels.
90 nit plus gst per row u ed excludes parts us
Maintenance items include: Seals, brushes, bearings, plastic mouldings, seed disk wear, scrapers, knocker wheels and seed sensors.
CONTACT YOUR BRANCH FOR MORE INFORMATION
1300 VANDER
vanderfield.com.au
Nathan McCartin
SLASHER Nathan McCartin was born in the Sunshine Coast town of Nambour but work took him to Western Australia, first Kalgoorlie and then Port Hedland. As he explains: ‘I’ve been doing earth moving for many years, in different mines, and have also worked in desalination plants’.
Ashley, David, Nathan and Leyton Petersen
SIX GENERATIONS OF IMPROVEMENTS IN SUGARCANE GROWING
‘I was made redundant in 2013 when the iron ore fell, so I came to Gympie. I’ve got family not far away, and this is a fantastic area to live in: it offers a great lifestyle and people are really friendly’. With many years’ experience in soil and earth moving, Nathan decided to start up a slashing business, A1 Slashing Gympie. ‘I got busier and busier and can now employ another person regularly, plus casual help if needed on top of that’. A1 Slashing’s equipment allows them to do a variety of jobs. ‘We obviously do slashing, also mowing, and can handle banks. We do tree removal and mulching up to 4 inches’ diameter’. ‘In addition, A1 Slashing offers an earthmoving service, weed spraying, tipper hire and rubbish removal. We can also protect our clients’ properties by creating firebreaks, and we do land clearing. We have a wide range of residential and commercial customers and any size block. Slopes are not an issue, as we have machinery that can handle steep blocks’. A1 Slashing Gympie are fully equipped with John Deere 4WD tractors and mowers, as well as an 8-tonne tipper and 4-tonne excavator, levelling bar, weed-spraying units, offset disc plows and 8ft chisel tynes. ‘We use these for plowing the ground up so we can cater for customers looking to aerate the soil for improved pasture’. ‘I’ve recently purchased a new 6105M John Deere tractor. It’s important for me to have a good relationship with my dealer, and to receive good service. I’ve been a customer of Vanderfield Gympie for a while and am very happy with how they look after me, and you could say I look after them too: I’ve managed to sell a few John Deere 758 4WD ride on mowers’. ‘I use a 758 4WD because they are really good for steep hills. My customers see me operating them on their slopes, ask me questions, I show them and they end up at the dealer’s. I find John Deere machinery to be great quality and very reliable’. A1 Slashing Mowing and Excavation take all the hard work out of block maintenance and earthmoving, and no job is too big or small for them. If you are in the Gympie Shire, including Noosa Shire, through to Eumundi and Tin Can Bay, and want a no obligation quote, call Nathan on 0407 451 603.
Austin, 7th generation Petersen farmer
James Cook is the first recorded European to have sighted the area he named Hervey Bay in 1770, although he did not set foot on it, being, according to his ship’s log, about 11 kilometres off the land. Not quite a century later, Hervey Bay was part of the Toogoom Run, a cattle station settled in 1854, and records show that it became a dairy farming area in the 1870s before the introduction of sugarcane in the next decade. Local farmer David Petersen reckons that it was about that time that his ancestors arrived in the area. ‘We’ve been here for six generations now, with my son Nathan, brother Ashley and nephew Leyton and myself all currently in the family operation’. ‘We have little parcels of land that the family has been buying over the generations, all fragmented. We grow sugar cane and pineapples, with soy beans in our fallow ground, and have some cattle, and we also do contract cane harvesting’. ‘Our harvesting is a 20-24 hr operation doing approximately 2,000 engine hours over 16-20 weeks. We anticipate to harvest between 120 and 150 thousand tonnes of sugar cane per season, including 30 to 40 thousand of our own, depending on the weather because we are not 100% irrigated’.
industry, there is a bit of diversity in the way we plant; for us, it is a dual row system on 2 metre beds. We used to have 1.5m beds, but changing to 2m meant a one-third reduction in the distance travelled and turn arounds. Significant time (and, therefore, money) is saved. We have found this to be the most efficient way to operate’. ‘My father and his father always had pineapples as far as I can remember. We now have about 120 acres planted and they’ll yield approximately 2,000 tonnes per year. They don’t need irrigation and their cycles work well with the sugar cane.’ ‘We don’t breed cattle, but we run about 400 head of male cattle for the meatworks or feedlots.’ ‘We get excellent support from Vanderfield Bundaberg, and almost 100% of our machinery is John Deere now. We’ve recently got a new cane harvester, a CH570, but we also have Deere tractors and a sprayer. We know we’ll get great results.’
‘We used to have little supplement dams for our irrigation, but 16 or 17 years ago we set up a reliable system with decent water storage from Hervey Bay City Council using treated effluent water for our central pivots’.
‘We’ve been able to go on overseas trips with John Deere, to America and Brazil. The size of the Brazilian operations was amazing, and it was good to see how controlled traffic and other practices are also used to an advantage elsewhere in the world. I enjoyed visiting the John Deere factories and seeing how tractors are made, and their newest harvesters and innovations.’ ‘Similarly, when Vanderfield hosted an Asian dealers’ delegation earlier this year, we were proud to be one of the local producers involved, showing them how we harvest sugar cane. These are great experiences’.
‘In 2000 we introduced controlled traffic, perhaps a bit of a novelty in this area back then. In the sugar cane
Call Vanderfield on 1300 VANDER to learn more about how our range of products and services can suit you.
Ross Uebergang of Uebergang Agriculture, along with his wife, Ingrid, and his parents, David and Margot, are the recipients of the 2016 Vanderfield Grower of the Year award from the Darling Downs Cotton Growers Association. ‘I honestly was not expecting the award, but it is an encouragement and serves as an incentive to keep trying to get better at what we do’, says Ross. Their property, Tinobah, lies 30 kilometres outside of Miles. It is about 2200ha all up, with about half of that set aside for farming, including 600ha of irrigated cropping and pasture. It was first settled by Ross’s grandfather, John, in 1949. He cleared the land and grew wheat, and some oats for his cattle. Ross and Ingrid Uebergang
Luke Bradley
Luke Bradley The Nuffield Foundation owes its name to William Morris, Lord Nuffield, who founded it in 1943 with substantial funds from his Morris Motors company. Shortly after the end of World War II, it began awarding scholarships for farmers wanting to study overseas. The idea was to reward those who had made efforts in food production during the war and to learn about agricultural developments in other parts of the world. A parallel scheme started in Australia in 1950, and Australian resources have funded it since 1976. One of the 2017 awardees, Luke Bradley who is funded by the GRDC, is the third generation operating Wool-a-Roo Pty Ltd with his wife Sophie and parents, Peter and Kerrie Bradley. Luke spent 7 years as an electrician before deciding to return to agriculture. The family is now based at Lindley Downs, a 5300ha leased farm in the Springsure area, and they also undertake some contract farming. ‘We mostly grow dryland sorghum and chickpeas, and we run a 350-head breeder herd. We have a holistic plan to improve the property, and have already taken effective steps to manage precipitation and minimise erosion.’ The plan involved investing in precision agricultural equipment. ‘We accessed funds through the FBA after undertaking BMP workshops to help co-fund investment into upgrading our GPS guidance, section control and software systems, including installing TerraCutta and iGrade. Contour redevelopment and adjusting our control traffic tram lines utilizing elevation layer data is helping us to farm water better’. ‘I’ve always been big on rate controllers. With 425ha of
Simplifying and adapting technology in Springsure headlands on Lindley, precision planting and row control translates into significant savings and, to a greater, extent higher gross margins. I believe it is part of my stewardship as an operator of this land to ensure what I put on my paddocks stays there.’ Luke sees managing costs as a key way to increase profit, and he plans to use his Nuffield scholarship ‘to study where farmers will be investing in agricultural technology into the future. Different scale operations have differing requirements; it is vital that we continue to adopt technology relevant to our operations to maintain profitability. I’m interested in simplifying the use of this technology and exploring the possibilities that data sharing amongst growers can bring through benchmarking’. Bruce Vandersee with student
Luke relies on Vanderfield Emerald for the supply of agricultural equipment. ‘Dad started dealing with Vanderfield at St George, and when Bruce took over from Centracks we didn’t hesitate. We value the expertise, service and support provided by Mark Tosswill’s team, and love our John Deere equipment’. The scholarship will take Luke to the USA, Argentina, Brazil, the Netherlands, Italy, China and New Zealand, and he’s looking forward to sharing his findings with others when he returns. ‘This is a great opportunity; for instance, in the Netherlands I will see some of the world leaders in Horticulture and learn about their integrated pest management systems. It is important to be researching these types of practices now so that when it’s cost effective we can adopt them quickly’. Let your local Vanderfield team help you reach your goals. Call us on 1300 VANDER.
‘We started growing cotton in 1991, and we now have 350 irrigated ha. We also grow sorghum, and a bit of corn in the summer. We run some cattle on the property, the progeny of breeders we have out West.’ Ross always wanted to be a farmer. After completing a three-year farm business manager course, he returned to Tinobah in 2008 and began to work on diversifying their operations. ‘We got into irrigation, and we now have a centre pivot system that works well for us.’
Darling Downs Cotton Grower of the Year ‘We’ve focused on doing simple things properly: good nutrition and the best water and fertiliser use that we possibly can. Having the pivot system is great because they allow us to fine-tune their application.’ The Uebergangs use John Deere agricultural machinery for their operations, with Ross admitting having liked Deere products since he was little. ‘We like to keep our gear properly turned over so it is always in top shape. We have recently bought an R4023 self-propelled sprayer and have ordered an 8320R tractor from Vanderfield Chinchilla. We do our own maintenance, but know that the guys are there to get us out of any sticky issues if they ever came up’. Vanderfield specialised staff can help you find solutions too. Ring your closer dealer on 1300 VANDER to find out how.
Showcasing the ag industry
TO MACKAY STUDENTS At Vanderfield, we know how important a healthy and vibrant community is and we have a long history of supporting local communities through 50 years of successful business. On the 16th of September, Shane Madeley, from our Mackay branch, teamed up with other local businesses and organisations to give a group of 17 high school students and some of their teachers information and experience on Ag Management. ‘I hosted the high school group and Ali Briggs, from the unique AgForce’s School to Industry Partnership Program, in conjuction with the Bowen Gumly Growers Association (BGGA)’, explains Shane. With the assistance of Paul Rogers from Farm HQ and two of his workers, Russell and Jahn, the event was held on a Proserpine farm off Glen Isla Road. ‘Our goal was to help show and explain Ag Management and the part it plays in the agricultural industry as well as to give the students some hands-on experience’. To begin with, Paul gave an introduction talk, and gave examples of how he utilises Ag Management in his Business Farm HQ and on the farm he manages. ‘We discussed the importance of cost control, recording chemical use, section control, and basic guidance before splitting the group into two smaller ones to see some machinery in operation’. Some of the students went through the John Deere 4630 Sprayer and saw the way the screen assists the application of chemicals while the second group got to go for a ride in a John Deere 6930 with RTK Guidance to see how the tractor could drive itself in an actual ground working situation. After half an hour, the two groups switched over. ‘The students and teachers enjoyed their time and were given some information handouts and Vanderfield merchandise, which went down a treat, but our hope is that the experience will ignite some interest in these students and get them to see the agricultural industry as a long-term and forward-thinking industry with plenty of opportunities for employment’. Shane would like to thank everyone involved for their contribution. ‘Without the time and effort they invested, the event would not have had so much success’.
Paul Rogers
The Queensland seafront town of Seaforth lies about 30 minutes north of Mackay. A very popular fishing destination, its all-tides boat ramp at Victor Creek also serves as starting point for exploring the beautiful Newry Islands. It was while fishing in those sparkling turquoise waters a couple of years ago that Don Griffin’s brother suggested he should have a look at Seaforth Pines, an outdoor education and conference centre the Queensland Government had for sale. Having been born in Mackay, where his two brothers still reside, Don loves the area and decided to take the plunge. His offer was accepted, and the centre is already an extremely popular option for schools and all sorts of community groups to hold events. Don, his wife Trish and their five children are all qualified accountants and directly involved in the family accounting businesses Etax Accountants and Etax Local. Don’s vision for these businesses was ‘to deliver kind, calm and professional service while striving for the highest levels of accounting excellence, independence and confidentially’, and that is what the large team at Etax has been doing for almost 35 years. But Seaforth Pines was a completely new business venture. ‘The Centre had been closed for four years, and there had been talk of changing it to a motel/hotel type of venue. However, I wanted to keep it as an outdoor education and conference centre and to run it as a not for profit organisation so that children and community members from all walks of life could have the opportunity to access our services.’ The Centre came with 21 acres of land, and Don has recently acquired an additional 1000 acres. While the centre already offers excellent facilities for indoor sports and numerous outdoor activities, this expansion will allow Seaforth Pines to offer abseiling, orienteering
and trekking activities. There are also plans in place for a water slide and a rock-climbing wall. ‘We are here for the long haul, and we want to do things right’, says Don. ‘I’ve had to learn about many new things in order to have the Centre where I wanted it to be, from getting approval for compliances and risk management to managing the maintenance of buildings and grounds, but I have had the support of some great people. The Centre’s manager, Katie, and her team of six local women do a fabulous, enthusiastic job and keep acquiring new skills, the most recent being abseiling instructor qualifications. And the local community, from the local police and fire brigade to the Seaforth Progress Association, has helped greatly. Even the local Bowls Club allowed us to use some of their catering facilities when we needed them in the early days.’ Don has also received support from Vanderfield Mackay. ‘We purchased a John Deere 5055E tractor with a slasher and have recently added a front loader to it. We chose Vanderfield because they are a local business offering great products and service; any issue, they are right there to fix it. The tractor is just fantastic for our landscaping and maintenance needs, and David Pace has been great’. Seaforth Pines is an excellent choice for your group event, from extended family reunions to school, church or community group gatherings. Find out more on their website, www.seaforthpines.com.au/, or by emailing
[email protected]. If you are looking for a secure and convenient way of lodging your, or your business’, tax return through a fully-accredited accounting firm qualified to give high-level tax advice, check out www.etax.com.au. And talk to your local Vanderfield team on 1300 VANDER about options available for your grounds maintenance.
SEAFORTH PINES
Group getaway venue at the gateway to the Witsundays
Don Griffin
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3800 m, XtraNet 2800 m, XtraNet 4200 m or B-Wrap for your John Deere netwraps reduce baling time and help chancethetonutritional win a John service package* valued at preserve value ofDeere every bale. $5,000. Wefour have 5 torolls give away! 3800 m, Simply purchase or more of CoverEdge XtraNet 2800 m, XtraNet 4200 m or B-Wrap for your 9LVLWXVWRGD\IRUPRUHGHWDLOV chance to win a John Deere service package* valued at $5,000. We have 5 to give away! 9LVLWXVWRGD\IRUPRUHGHWDLOV
*This offer applies to purchases made from 1 September 2016 through to 10 February 2017. Conditions apply. See us for more details or visit JohnDeere.com.au/NetwrapOffer.
Making light work of grounds
maintenance on 4WD
Aaron and Carly Kiely Meghan and Griffyn on top
Simon Rooks
SEIZING OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH IN EMERALD Simon and Leonie Rooks and their three children live in the beautiful Cooloola Cove area of the Wide Bay-Burnett region of Queensland. ‘I’ve lived in the Cooloola Cove / Tin Can Bay area my whole life, and I love it. Apart from its beauty, it’s got the best weather all year round’. Simon is a ship engineer who used to work as a fisherman. ‘I’ve been doing my current job for 1 year, and was based in Gladstone and Mackay for quite a few years before that’. ‘I’ve always wanted to have a little bit of land, so we got our 30-acre block and the whole family loves hanging out together and also doing our own things. The kids have plenty of space for their motorbikes and whatever else they want to do and I get to do a bit of grounds maintenance’. Simon’s experience with John Deere led him to purchase a 1025R tractor earlier this year. ‘I’ve had a John Deere ride-on mower for 14 years and it’s been absolutely great. Never missed a beat, apart from the usual wearing out of a few bits, so choosing a Deere tractor was easy. I also got a Howard loader and 4-in-1 bucket, a 60D mid-mount mowing deck and a FieldQuip Sabre 1200 slasher’. ‘The main thing for me with the tractor is that it’s 4WD. Our block has a slope, and the ride-on used to struggle a bit at times going up and down because it does not have the same traction. My 1025R, though, goes up that hill like it’s not even there.’ Simon does all the maintenance of his machines, but gets John Deere parts from Vanderfield Gympie when needed. ‘I’ve always found Tod Fleming and the team to be great to deal with. The tractor was delivered on time and I was given a good run-down on how it operates and how things work. They do a great job’. Vanderfield staff can offer you great ground maintenance options. Call us on 1300 VANDER.
Emerald cotton grower Aaron Kiely moved to Emerald from St George in 1987. His parents, Denis and Liz, saw potential and bought into the area when he was six years old. ‘I studied primary at St Patrick’s Catholic School in Emerald and then secondary at St Brendan’s College in Yeppoon. I’ve got a Certificate III in Rural Operations and have been farming since I left school.’ Aaron started in his parents’ family business. ‘My parents own Deneliza Downs, where we grow a cotton/corn rotation, plus purple wheat, mungbeans, chickpeas and peanuts. The farm is predominantly flood irrigated, with the addition of two Centre Pivots. My parents purchased Emerald Cabin and Caravan Village in early 2005, and my wife Carly and I took on the challenge of managing the park for two years’. Aaron and Carly have two children. ‘Carly moved to Emerald with her family from Bundaberg in 1995 when her parents, Bob and Gail, opened Lindsay Rural, a business that supplies the agricultural industry with fertilizers, chemicals, irrigation and transport. Carly and I now operate two centre pivots, focusing on peanuts and other crops’. ‘Having the right machinery and good back up is very important to our operations. We have always relied on John Deere for their quality, and we get excellent service from Vanderfield Emerald. Branch manager Mark Tosswill and his team, including parts and operations manager David Sheridan, service coordinator Bronwyn Tanzer and receptionist Gayle Kruger, are all great people to deal with, and they know their business well’. Aaron and his family support their community in different ways, including being a member of the Central Highlands Cotton Growers and Irrigators Association and serving as past treasurer and current vice president. ‘I’d tell everyone in the primary industries, and especially young people, to go out and grab with both
hands any opportunity they are given: to serve, to lead, to learn or whatever it may be. I am currently part of The Australian Future Cotton Leaders Program, an initiative of Cotton Australia in partnership with the Cotton Research Development Corporation. It has taught me self-awareness, how to deal with different personalities and to develop my leadership skills. It has also been very valuable for gaining industry connections through networking; I definitely recommend it’. ‘I’ve also participated in the inaugural GrowAg Summit, supported by the Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation, the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources and several businesses. One hundred delegates from all sectors of the agricultural industry met for three days and learned about global opportunities, technology, innovation, entrepreneurship, education and leadership. Again, fantastic for professional development and networking’. ‘Going through any application process takes a bit of time and effort, but I’d definitely like to encourage young people in agriculture to go for it; the results are well worth the effort’. Aaron is committed to the land and has a vision for the future. ‘I’d like to keep on learning so I can improve our family business to the best of its potential and hopefully develop my own agricultural enterprise’. To find out how Vanderfield can take part in your operation, call us on 1300 VANDER.
Aaron Kiely
Staff at Vanderfield have been offered the opportunity to participate in Stepathlon, a program aimed at increasing fitness levels and healthy lifestyles through an innovative approach. ‘This is a 100-day ‘race’ where participating employees form groups of five. The employer then registers them into the program, and it is a kind of virtual competition where your team races against teams in your own and other participating companies’, explains Vanderfield Human Resources Manager, Jackie Doyle. Participants track their daily steps as counted on their own wearable device or a hired device through Stepathlon, and those steps are entered into the Stephatlon website and converted into kilometres as teams engage in an online race around a ‘virtual world’. ‘Actually, a variety of activities count towards acquiring points for your team, including walking, running, cycling, swimming, karate, yoga, workouts at the gym, rowing, surfing, roller skating, rock climbing, and even snow skiing!’. The race started September 7th, and it lasts 100 days. ‘It takes 66 days for a new habit to become automatic. We thought of participating because many of us have very sedentary jobs, and this is a fun way to find the motivation to increase your activity level. You track your own progress, but also, for those interested, there is a race leader board and a race map showing how far your team has travelled’. Other motivational tools include daily emails, weekly newsletters, contests and prizes and challenges and a website with continuously updated contact, including expert advice and expert articles. Many participants report benefits like improved quality of sleep, reduced stress levels, increased energy levels and frequency and duration of exercise, and weight loss. ‘We are over half-way into the race and I’m already noticing some of the benefits. The main thing is that I’ve become more aware of opportunities for movement, and I’m taking advantage of many of them. I look forward to these new habits becoming automatic so I can enjoy the long-term effect of my participation in the race’. www.stepathlon.com
OUTFIT YOUR WORKSHOP Loctite® Graphite Lubricant Spray
Classic Glass Cleaner
Ag & Turf Green Paint
Brake and Parts Cleaner
Great offers available on essential items for your workshop. Visit us today to see the complete range of John Deere paints, chemicals and maintenance products, as well as the Loctite® range of adhesives and sealants.
The precision Planter specialist
Vanderfield are pleased to announce a dealer agreement to supply and service Monosem planters to Vanderfield Customers. This is a significant addition, complimenting our existing planter products, offering Horticulture farmers the latest technology in seed placement and flexibility in row configuration. Several months ago John Deere purchased Monosem, no doubt seeing the company and products in an industry leading position. Pneumatic planter for market gardening crops With the MONOSEM experience in precision planters, the MS range has been specially designed for sowing small seeds. Simplicity, reliability, precision, robustness and versatility have, for over nearly 20 years, made the reputation of the MS range. This quality of manufacture, together with the advice from the MONOSEM specialists and the wide choice of equipment, will enable you to plant with a planter which meets perfectly with your requirements.
An application that can be downloaded FREE
NOW SELLING
AND SERVICING
MONOSEM
This application, that can be downloaded free of charge and is available for Android Tablet/Smartphone, enables you to rapidly know the gearbox adjustment according to the required seed population. Once the adjustment is made and the planter characteristics are given (model of planter and gearbox, inter row spacing and number of holes on the discs), the user has to just indicate the required seed population (population/ha or distance between seeds) to know the appropriate gearbox ratio. The application proposes the ratio corresponding exactly to the required adjustment or the upper or lower ratios nearest to the required adjustment. Then the user just has to adjust the planter. All the data will be kept in memory for future use and it is also possible to save several adjustments. This application proposes, in the same way, the adjustment of the fertilizer and the Microsem. With this application, MONOSEM offers customers a user-friendly tool for the majority of MONOSEM planters in service. The app can be downloaded on Google Play and the AppStore. The display, available in 5 languages (French, English, German, Russian and Polish), can be used by the majority of MONOSEM customers regardless of how recent their planter is.
Your true harvest partner
Your true harvest partner
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AVAILABLE
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FINANCE
AVAILABLE
on MY17 Combines and Plus Parts Package
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* Conditions apply. Finance available through John Deere Financial Limited to approved commercial applicants only. 2IIHULVEDVHGRQGHSRVLW*67EDFNDQG\HDUWHUPZLWKDQQXDOUHSD\PHQWV)HHVDQGFKDUJHVDSSO\,IQRW DPHQGHGRUZLWKGUDZQHDUOLHUWKHSURPRWLRQH[SLUHVRQ2WKHUWHUPVDQGUDWHVDUHDYDLODEOH)RU3OXV 3DUWV3DFNDJHDPRXQWPXVWEHEHWZHHQDQG LQFOXGLQJ*67 6SHDNWRXVIRUIXOOGHWDLOV
