25th april 2006 charles sturt university wagga...

2005 Summer Bulletin No 27

Section 6 supported by:

^ Billabong High School • Stephen Trickett

^ Scots School Albury • Ian Bishop

^ E.H.Graham Centre for

Agricultural Innovation [an alliance between Charles Sturt University &

NSW Department of Primary Industries]

• Open Day: October 2005

6

What’s Hap’ning in my

Paddock!

2006 Conference

25th – 29th

April 2006

Charles Sturt

University

Wagga Wagga

^ Monsanto’s US chief scientist has predicted that by 2010 a drought-tolerant genetically modified (GM) corn could be growing in Australian paddocks. ^ Also a more water-use efficient cotton & soybeans will soon follow. ^ This will depend on Australia’s policy towards GM s


Agriculture at Billabong High School

# Billabong High School commenced educational services to the communities and surrounding areas of Culcairn, Henty, Holbrook, Pleasant Hills, Walbundrie, Walla Walla, Yerong Creek in1978. Prior to the establishment of Billabong students studied in central schools to Year 10 or traveled to Wagga, Albury or city schools to complete their secondary studies. # Today Billabong has a student population of 380 students who are educated in modern well equipped brick buildings based in Culcairn. Most travel by bus to school as many country kids do.

History of Agriculture at Billabong High School

# The school was established in 1978 with Agriculture as one of the foundation subjects. The school farm consisted of a brick shed and a security fence area 80m.by 50m. The foundation teacher of Agriculture was Daryl Finch who today is the deputy principal of the school. # Others to have taught Agriculture based subjects include Stephen Trickett, Donna Parker, Naomi Toogood, Mark Doyle, Alex Koch and Paul Robey.

6.1

Where is Billabong High School?

^ Culcairn (population 1400) is a small and attractivetownship, which is located 527 km south-west of Sydney via the Olympic Highway. It is 215 metres above sea level. ^ Culcairn has been known as the 'Oasis of the Riverina' due to its unlimited underground water supply and today is a high-yield agricultural producing region with wheat being the primary production. ^ The importance of the town is also a result of the greatest single contribution to the grain industry worldwide, the invention in 1914 of the famous Headlie Taylor Header.

2005 Summer Bulletin No 27 Agriculture Resources at Billabong High School

# The school farm expanded in 1979 by fencing off school land to cover approximately 1 Ha. Several housing blocks were used for a number of years to run the school sheep, often of mixed breeds including Merino, Tukidale, South Suffolk, Poll Dorset and cross breeds. # Today the farm consists of a council block of 2.5 Ha, a modern sheltered cattle complex able to house up to 12 steers, a sheep and feed shed and 1Ha of land fenced off around the school oval complex for running sheep and a small garden area within the security fence.

Billabong High Ventures into South Suffolk Breed.

# In 1992 a decision was made to change direction and develop a sheep stud based on the South Suffolk breed. A former student at the forefront of the breed was able to supply animals of high quality as foundation animals for the stud. The same year students began showing animals at Albury Sheep Show (now folded and replaced by the Holbrook Sheep and Wool Fair). It was not long before we began showing at Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra Royals as well as numerous local shows and Hamilton Sheepvention. # Several broad ribbons have been awarded to the stud over time. Stephen Trickett took on the management and stud mastership of the sheep program soon after its establishment. # In 2004 an upgrading program commenced using “Sonning” genetics. This last year also saw the stud loose its MN2 status when the flock was diagnosed with the Johne’s disease. Much publicity followed and as a result of the condition the showing of our own livestock ceased. Rule changes have allowed us to retain some breeding stock, begin vaccinating and develop a new flock based on the new genetics on a new block of land thanks to Greater Hume Shire Council.

Strong Community Support

# The school sheep program has involved students working in their lunch times and after school, parents assisting in transporting students and livestock, assisting at shows, providing feed and grain. # Presently the showing of sheep at shows is supported by the “Retallack” stud at Ariah Park. The Grinter family allows our students to show their Border Liecester sheep to great success. 6.2

Proud Billabong High students at the

2005 Canberra Royal Show


# The school’s cattle program commenced soon after the sheep program. Our first show, Melbourne Royal, was a great success with Murray Grey cattle proved by staff member Donna Parker and her husband gaining several ribbons. Since then we have had support from many Shorthorn breeders in southern NSW, ex-students with Angus and other community minded supporters in sourcing cattle for show preparation. # Cattle showing has become very popular with at present thirteen steers being prepared for 2005 Melbourne Royal. Local feedlots have supported the program providing feed and some steers from their breeding program. # Billabong was showing Shaver Beef Blends soon after their introduction to Australia. Recent sponsorship from Ridley’s has assisted with the provision of feed for both sheep and cattle programs. The cattle program and many showing excursions have been organized by Daryl Finch.

Beef Cattle at Billabong High

Success of Agriculture at Billabong High # The small school farm is dominated by the animal programs all centred on expanding the students commitment, confidence, public speaking, grooming and showing skills. # The success of the show program at Billabong has been based on the organization skills and commitment of Daryl Finch. # The keen group of parents who for years have been prepared to travel with their sons and daughters to shows and even continue after their child has graduated. # School principals have supported the program and even attended shows to renew their rivalry with other keen principals. # Breeders have been willing to supply show and breeding livestock. # Farmers, feedlots and companies have been able to supply quality feed. # Students are keen to be committed, work hard and are prepared to be involved in decision making and managing their animals. # The school is prepared to risk investing money in their agriculture programs, with skilled and keen farm assistants, and staff who are prepared to put in long hours after school, at weekends and at shows.

Senior Agriculture & Primary Industries at Billabong High # Like many small high schools senior Agriculture is giving way to the more practical subject of Primary Industries. On most occasions we have maintained an agriculture class in each year. # Our teaching programs are based on the industries of the local area. # Key themes in Year 9; are sheep and wheat while in Year 10, cattle is the focus. # Students participating in the HSC have studied either the project or electives. This makes for some interesting management of time.

Tertiary Students access Billabong High # Billabong has been a popular school for university interns to hone their skills. Students have come from CSU, Wagga and UNE Armidale. # Stephen Trickett has taken a number of our present teachers of Agriculture through their paces. It is always refreshing as a teacher to watch others in action with your classes and learn from them as they learn from you. 6.3


6.4

- Courses & Agriculture Staff - ^ Agriculture is offered as an elective subject in Years 9, 10, 11 and 12. We currently have two year nine classes and one each in the other years with a total of 54 students.

^ We have two Agriculture teachers; Ian Bishop and Roger Barrows who both teach Science as well.

- Ag Plot - ^ We run our Agriculture using the equivalent of three suburban house blocks – about 1900 m2 all up. The plot area is across a street from the main school site. It is in the middle of a residential area; in one of the older urban areas of Albury, but within walking distance of the CBD.

^ This brings it challenges, with the local Council imposing limits on the number of poultry (specifically layers) we can keep and prohibiting the keeping of cattle over 5 months of age, and pigs.

- Sheep -

^ Sheep may be kept so long as they “do not constitute a nuisance”. Our main sheep area is electric fenced, as much to keep town dogs out as to keep the sheep in. This proved cheaper to establish than a conventional high chain mesh fence, and has proved to be as effective.

^ On our area we have a 10m x 5m enclosed shed, which serves for storage and contains a set of portable sheep yards and our scales. It’s very useful to still be able to do sheep work when it’s wet!

Senior Ag students

& their cereal trials


6.5

- Poll Dorset Stud - ^ We have a small Poll Dorset stud (15 ewes at the moment), which we run in conjunction with Roger Barrows. We keep most of the sheep off the area. The weaners are kept at school and from these we select a team of both ewes and rams for showing.

^ We also join the ewes here at school, using a combination of AI and paddock mating with a very good Rene Poll Dorset Stud ram up to this date. For next season, we are fortunate in having a keen parent who has purchased another young Rene Stud ram for us to show and to join with our ewes, before using him themselves. We sell our young rams

annually, just in time to bring in the new lot of weaners. We also rely on parental support for donations of hay and grain (kept in four, one tonne silos) to run our show sheep team.

^ As a boarding school, we also have interested students involved in Agriculture after normal school hours, especially the sheep we are preparing for showing.

- Poultry -

^ We also have a poultry shed, which contains five pens and runs with one set up as a brooder pen.

^ There is a small egg incubator so we are able to breed and rear our own poultry.

- Year 10 Ag - ^ Year 10 students are the main students involved in poultry rearing and husbandry and the sale of eggs, cockerels and point-of-lay pullets we breed.

^ In addition, Year 10 cultivate small plots (about 2m2/student) where they grow examples of the major winter crops. They are also heavily involved with the sheep, especially the weaner ewes and the few wether weaners we sell as prime lambs.

^ Year 9 are also involved with the sheep, especially the breeding and lambing phases and all are involved in at least one local show.

Learning to lead, hold & show.

All green waste & cuttings from around the school are composted

Hard work reflected in these show

animals


6.6

- Year 9 Ag -

^ Year 9 are mainly involved with vegetable growing. They share plots and grow most of the commonly available vegetables. These are meant to be sold, but most end up being taken home, or consumed at the plots.

^ It’s amazing the parental interest that is shown when the vegetables are about ready.

^ We also have a small orchard, with citrus trees in one area and deciduous fruit trees, mainly stone fruits, in another area.

^ Year 9 are also involved with the sheep, especially the breeding and lambing phases and all are involved in at least one local show.

- Show Team - ^ Interested students are then invited to apply in writing to join our show team. They have to go through a selection process, involving both staff and two senior students.

^ These students are then expected to contribute to the show team by doing after school hours preparing the sheep and attending at least one show every year.

^ All show team members must also enter junior judging competitions and, as they gain confidence, they enter handling competitions.

Success after many hours of committed

work

Students actively involved in the dissection of a sheep digestive system.

Proud students from Scots displaying their Poll Dorset stud rams

Ian Bishop. Ag. Teacher: The Scots School MacAuley St Albury 2640 Ph: 60213233 Fax: 60413210

Enquiries: Contact


Vision ^ The EH Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation is a new alliance between Charles Sturt University and NSW Department of Primary Industries to drive profitable and resilient future agricultural systems. Market-driven, collaborative and integrated research, education, extension and training will deliver new technologies to meet current and future challenges.

History ^ For over 110 years, agricultural research and education have been conducted at the site now occupied by NSW Department of Primary Industries and Charles Sturt University. Initially known as the Wagga Wagga ExperimentalResearch Farm in 1893, the Farm was later developed into the Wagga Agricultural College (1948) and the Agricultural Research Institute (1954) ^ In 1976, the education and research functions of the Agricultural College became part of the Riverina College of Advanced Education, which later became the Riverina-Murray Institute of Higher Education and finally, Charles Sturt University (CSU) in 1989. ^ In 1996, the NSW Agricultural Research Institute became a centre of Excellence for Southern Farming Systems and Viticulture and today is known as the Wagga Wagga Agricultural Research Institute. DPI and CSU have over 150 scientists at Wagga Wagga. ^ The EH Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation is named after Edgar Hugh Graham, affectionately known as Eddie. He held the regional seat of Wagga Wagga as its Labor Party member from 1941 until his sudden death in office in 1957. At the same time, he set a record as the longest serving NSW Minister for Agriculture and is still respected for his pioneering role in developing rural policies. He opened the Department of Agriculture Wheat Research Institute in 1950 and the Agricultural Research Institute in 1954.

an alliance between Charles Sturt University and NSW Department Primary Industries

“Agricultural Innovation – Creating Rural Opportunities”

www.csu.edu.au/research/grahamcentreOctober 2005

6.7

2005 Summer Bulletin No 27 6.8

# Many primary & secondary schools took the opportunity to participate in the open day at the EH Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation held in October ‘05. # A great atmosphere with various static displays mixed with demonstrations and field trips to new plant varieties were part of the varied proceedings for the day.

New Lupin varieties named Launch of “Rainfall in the Riverina” Producer, Industry & Community information Bus tours of Field trials National variety testing Static & interactive displays Science program for schools Career information for High school students

‘Woody the Weed’ entertained the younger students

Ag Extension students assisted in proceedings


6.9

Scope of the Graham Centre The Centre has:

• about 150 dedicated scientists • quality facilities & equipment to service all

research areas • undergraduate to PhD opportunities in agriculture• research teams & facilities in:

o crop & pasture agronomy o farming systems o plant improvement & biotechnology o plant pathology, pest & disease management o plant water use & irrigation o animal health, production & nutrition o soil chemistry & plant nutrition o biometry, bioinformatics & spatial science o plant & animal genetics o weed ecology & herbicide resistance o cereals, pulses, oilseeds & olives o food science & quality control

# The EH Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation will be showcasing some of the research teams & facilities at the NSWAAT conference in April 2006. # The NSWAAT is grateful to the EH Graham Centrefor Agricultural Innovation; & its Director, Professor Deirdre Lemerle; for supporting the AgricultureTeachers conference. # NSWAAT thanks CSU for supporting the conferencefrom 25th to 29th April 2006.

25th april 2006 charles sturt university wagga...

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