delve 2010
DESCRIPTION
Welcome to Delve 2010Where do our everyday essentials come from? Some would say the kitchen, local supermarket or China - think again. New South Wales produces delicious food, top quality fibres and beautiful timber and is fortunate to have rich resources such as coal to supply our energy needs. All this right on our doorstep.Our second edition of Delve takes readers on a virtual trip around New South Wales visiting producers, profiling products and highlighting the role Industry and Investment NSW plays in growing NSW. We hope you enjoy delving into issues of production and sustainability.TRANSCRIPT
www.industry.nsw.gov.au
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T his is the second annual edition of delve, a publication developed by Industry & Investment NSW to provide an insight into local producers and their produce, as well as the
role our Department plays in supporting them and the important industries which they are a part of.
This year, our focus is the diversity of products and some of the towns where they come from. We are fortunate to have such a range of fresh and healthy food, fibre crops and timber grown right here in our own backyard, while we are alsorich in resources such as coal to supply our energy needs.
I hope you enjoy delving into issues of productionand sustainability. You can visit our websitewww.industry.nsw.gov.au for more information.
Richard SheldrakeDirector-GeneralIndustry & Investment NSW
With the world’s finest fruit and vegetables, tasty meat and fresh fish a ubiquitous part of our modern lifestyle, we don’t often pause to reflect on the hard working producers who deliver
these products to our corner shops and supermarkets. We are truly fortunate to have sustainable and innovative industries to meet our demands.
The fantastic lifestyle we enjoy in NSW is in great part underpinned by our primary producers—our farmers and fishermen—and the products they deliver. Our primary industries provide jobs across NSW, contribute to our State’s economy and are critical to our food supply.
Supported by the NSW Government through a range of programs and services delivered by Industry & Investment NSW,it certainly is a case of NSW producing the goods.
The Hon. Steve Whan, MPMinister for Primary IndustriesMinister for Rural Affairs
© State of New South Wales through Department of Industry and Investment (Industry & Investment NSW) 2010.
You may copy, distribute, display, download and otherwise freely deal with this publication for any purpose, provided that you attribute the department as the owner. However, you must obtain permission if you wish to: charge others for access to the publication (other than at cost); include the publication in advertising or a product for sale; modify the publication; or re-publish the publication on a website.
You may freely link to the publication on the Industry & Investment NSW website (or the former Primary Industries website).
The information contained in this publication is based on knowledge and understanding at the time of writing (January 2010). However, because of advances in knowledge, users are reminded of the need to ensure that information upon which they rely is up to date and to check currency of the information with the appropriate officer of Industry & Investment NSW or the users independent adviser. Recognising that some of the information in this document is provided by third parties, the State of New South Wales, the author and the publisher take no responsibility for the accuracy, currency, reliability and correctness of any information included in the document provided by third parties.
Production team:Leah Flint, Kellie Lobb, Carmen Perry, Graeme Last, Alan Hancock
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Industry & Investment NSWCorporate Strategy & Communications
516 High Street, MAITLAND NSW 2320t: 1300 736 122 or 02 4931 6666
www.industry.nsw.gov.au
New south wales is fortunate to have more than 650 state forests, which cover an area of more than 2.4 million hectares. Our forests provide the resources to build our homes, schools and other important infrastructure for our state.
Forests NSW is a government trading enterprise that returns a dividend to the government and people of NSW each year. The forest industry supports more than 12,000 jobs across our state.
Likewise, the mining industry also provides important jobs to rural and regional communities. Coal mining directly supports 17,000 jobs in NSW. Coal keeps thelights on, it keeps our computers going, it helps keep us cool in summer andwarm in winter. In fact, 90% of the total electricity needs of NSW are met with locally mined thermal coal.
The abundant forest and mineral resources across NSW provides significant infrastructure that benefit each of us in some way every day of our lives.
The Hon. Ian Macdonald, MLCMinister for State & Regional DevelopmentMinister for Mineral & Forest Resources
Steve Whan, Minister
Richard Sheldrake, Director-General
Ian Macdonald, Minister
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18 Munchable macadamias—Nambucca18 Beaut’ bacon—Forbes19 Plentiful prawns—Yamba20 Delectable dairy—Kiama20 Wonderful wheat—Tamworth21 Productive pulp—Tumut22 Flourishing fish—Swansea22 Delicious dining—Orange 23 Perfect pies recipe23 Reliable rice—Deniliquin24 Coal conversations—Singleton25 Tantalising tomatoes—Rossmore25 Biting barra’—Bobs Farm26 Lively licorice—Junee26 Chompable cherries—Young27 Pecan promises—Moree27 Fabulous floorboards—Wauchope28 Tasty trout, and recipe—Jindabyne 29 Essential eggs—Robertson29 Homely honey—Goulburn30 Industry & Investment NSW information
6 Sensational seafood, and recipe—Sydney 7 Windy woollies—Armidale 7 Outback opals—Lightning Ridge 8 Whirly wind—Blayney 8 Blazing blueberries—Corindi 9 Blooming business—Kempsey 9 Brewing barley—Cameron Park10 Perfect potatoes—Griffith10 Luscious lamb—Cowra11 Cabernet calling—Mudgee11 Opulent oysters—Batemans Bay12 Practical pine—Bathurst12 Nutritious natives—The Far West13 Crucial Camden—Camden13 Sensational silver—Boken Hill14 Awesome apples—Batlow14 Backyard basket—The Hawkesbury15 Beneficial beef, and recipe—Casino16 Wonderous wool—Walcha16 Earthy education—Tocal17 Cool cotton—Narrabri17 Scented citrus—Dareton
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Broken Hill
Dareton
Bobs FarmSwansea
Nambucca
Kempsey
Wauchope
Lightning Ridge Moree
The far west
NarrabriArmidale
Walcha
Mudgee
Cameron Park
Tamworth
Orange Tocal
BathurstBlayney The Hawkesbury
Camden
RobertsonKiamaGoulburn
Cowra
Forbes
GriffithYoung
Junee
Batemans Bay
SYDNEY
DeniliquinTumut
Jindabyne
Batlow
Corindi
Yamba
Casino
Rossmore
AN
D
our quality of life
Feature story areas
enhancing
Serves 4. Allow 1 hour standing time.
snapper, whole 1.8-2 kg, scaled, gutted, rinsed
completely clean*
olive oil, extra virgin
lemon, thinly sliced
medium carrot, finely shredded
coriander, chopped
small Spanish onion, thinly sliced
lime, cut into wedges
Combine in a bowl:
dry white wine
lemon, juice of
garlic clove, finely chopped
ginger piece, finely chopped
French mustard
sweet chilli sauce, to taste
soy sauce
Score fish diagonally at 2-3 cm intervals along each side
to help cook evenly. Place in a shallow dish, pour over
marinade and let stand for 1 hour, turning once.
Heat barbecue grill on medium heat. Place three layers
of aluminium foil on workbench. Brush the inner foil face
with olive oil to prevent sticking. Place fish in centre and
arrange lemon slices in body cavity.
Cover fish with foil and fold over sides to form a sealed
parcel. Place parcel on grill and cook for 10 minutes, turn
and cook a further 6-8 minutes.
Carefully unwrap fish and test with a fork (flesh will flake
easily once cooked.) Move to a plate and let stand for a
few minutes.
Combine carrot, onion and coriander and spread over
top of fish. Serve immediately with lime wedges.
*ask your fishmonger to do this for you.
1
2 tbs1 1
3 tbs11
Marinade1 cup
1/21
5 cm2 tsp
1-2 tsp1 tsp
Method
Sydney Fish Market trades over 13,000 tonnes of
seafood each year. Top five sellers by volume are
snapper, tiger flathead, ocean leatherjacket, sea
mullet and blue swimmer crab.
SYDNEY, NSW
There is one supreme place to experience the
ultimate seafood market atmosphere combined
with the city’s vibrant lifestyle—Sydney Fish Market.
This working fishing port with its berthed trawlers,
wholesale and retail fish markets, retail fruit and vegetables,
deli goods, flowers, food and beverage outlets along with a
seafood cooking school is well worth any visit to Blackwattle
Bay on the foreshore of Sydney Harbour.
The market, which is the largest of its kind in the Southern
Hemisphere, has more species of seafood on offer than
any other market in the world except Japan. With over 100
species of familiar and exotic fish available on any day it
satisfies all tastes and requirements of Sydney’s cultural and
culinary diversity.
I&I NSW is a key partner in current campaigns to increase
consumer awareness of the role commercial fishers and
market outlets play in bringing us healthy, fresh, abundant
and sustainable supplies of seafood.
SENSATIONAL
SEAFOODBARBECUED SNAPPER
Sheep burps contain methane! Stomach microbes digest plant fibres and emit methane in the process.
ARMIDALE, 526 KM NORTH WEST OF SYDNEYWe’ve heard about low emission cars, but what about low emission livestock? A quest for low methane emitting sheep is underway in Armidale, with I&I NSW and Sheep Cooperative Research Centre researchers evaluating the methane output of hundreds of sheep.
Sheep and other livestock like cows release the greenhouse gas methane during digestion. These emissions account for 66% of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions.
The Armidale study aims to identify genetic characteristics that set apart lower-methane producing sheep. First, the variability of methane outputs in a sheep population must be established. The research team has developed a world-first polycarbonate booth to allow rapid screening of sheep. These high-tech booths are positioned in a standard sheep pen—sheep walk into the booth, their methane output is measured for one hour, and then they walk back out to the paddock.
PARDON ME!
Seven hundred sheep have been measured so far, spanning 20
different genetic lines. The data from the first screening will be complemented by further investigations on a selected 200 sheep to determine whether low methane traits are inherited. Other associations such as weight gain and wool growth are measured, as
well as the role of nutrition in methane production.
With over a decade of climate change research, I&I NSW is committed to helping the state’s farmers reduce their greenhouse footprint, as well as sequester carbon to offset emissions from agriculture and other sectors.
OUTBACK OPALSA fossicking holiday in Outback NSW is perfect for people wanting a family holiday with a difference. Fossicking is enjoyed by tens of thousands of people across the state each year, offering a golden opportunity to discover the beauty and diversity of the earth’s mineral wealth.
Amateur fossicking can be legally carried out throughout NSW, combining leisure, pleasure and ‘treasure’ all in one, as fossickers seek rocks, minerals, crystals and fossils. Although no licence is required, certain rules apply (such as seeking landholder’s consent).
Lightning Ridge, home to the state’s opal industry, has a world-wide reputation for being fascinating, friendly and a whole lot of fun for fossickers. Join some of the 80,000 visitors each year trying one of the many ‘car door’ opal tours, or relax in one of the naturally heated ‘bore baths’.
Could you strike it rich? For more details about fossicking guidelines and Lightning Ridge go to
LIGHTNING RIDGE, 770 KM NORTH WEST OF SYDNEY
The black opal, the world’s most valuable opal, is the official gemstone of NSW.
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/minerals/lightning-ridge/fossicking
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Teachers have long known that time spent outdoors on a windy day turns small children into whirligigs full of mischief. The good news is that the natural power of wind can now be used to generate electricity— not just stir up the kids.
Wind turbines work in much the same way as the more familiar windmills of old. A propeller-like rotor and generator sit atop a tower and when the wind is strong enough, the rotational energy in the rotor is converted to electrical energy within the generator.
NSW has an excellent wind resource. Here background wind speeds are comparable to northern Europe, where a large portion of international wind power generation occurs. Many good sites are due to the hills and ridges of the Great Dividing Range interacting with the calmer background winds blowing from west to east across the vast NSW inland.
Blayney Wind Farm’s 15 turbines have been supplying thousands of homes with clean energy—without any greenhouse gas emissions—for ten years. Each tower has a rotor diameter of about 47 metres and is capable of generating 660 kW of power. The wind farm is on two properties whose families continue to graze livestock right up to the tower bases.
BLAYNEY, 247 KM WEST OF SYDNEY
The Capital Wind Farm, near Bungendore was opened last year and includes 67 turbines supplying enough electricity to power 60,000 homes.
whirl
Bursting with flavour and all the health benefits of antioxidants, sweet little blueberries are becoming increasingly available. Around the world, this diminutive fruit is packing a punch with claims it can enhance memory, improve night vision, reduce cholesterol and fight heart disease.
It wasn’t until the late 1970s that blueberry orchards were successfully established in NSW, particularly on the north coast. Blueberries are native to North and South America, Asia and Europe, with the NSW industry based on commercial cultivars of wild plants.
Today, the major growing areas around Lismore and Corindi produce 80% of Australia’s total blueberry crop under subtropical conditions, available from June, peaking in October/November and continuing into December/January.
With health benefits becoming more widely known, demand for the tasty, tiny fruits is set to rise. I&I NSW has horticulturalists working with producers to ensure competitive and profitable blueberry farming. For example, in countries with a longer history of production the fruit is harvested mechanically, while here hand-picking is common.This may soon change, resulting in lower production costs and lower prices for consumers.
blazingBLUEBERRIESCORINDI, 600 KM NORTH OF SYDNEY
Blueberries were first grown commercially in the USA in 1916.
KEMPSEY, 420 KM NORTH OF SYDNEYGiving blooms can say a whole lot of things—from a single red rose that says ‘I love you’ to a bunch of sunflowers saying ‘cheer up’. Givingflowers is a tradition extending back thousands of years.
In NSW, the main area for flower growing is along coastal regionsnot too far from Sydney, and west to the Blue Mountains. The mildclimate allows for year-round growing, while proximity ensuresflowers arrive fresh each day to the Sydney Flower Market.
Most fresh cut flowers supplied are exotics like lilies,carnations and roses but the last ten years has seen arapid expansion of the native flower industry, with anumber of new growers producing Australian native wild flowers. Today, up to 95% of Australia’s flower exports are Australian native flowers and proteas.
I&I NSW assists the industry by providing advice and diagnostic services.Organisations such as Kempsey-based Golden Geko Flowers have also been assisted by the department to group together local growers to share marketing and transport costs.
Over 50% of Australia’s flower exports are to Japan where Australian native flowers are sought after due to their uniqueness.
BR
EWING BARLE
YBeer is one of the world’s oldest prepared beverages, possibly dating back to9000 BC. Beer is recorded in the written history of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia.
CAMERON PARK,146 KM NORTHOF SYDNEY
While traditionally Australian beer brewing has been dominated by large companies and major brands, over recent years a
number of new local beers have started to attract the attention of discerning drinkers.
Locally grown ingredients are being used in beer by companies such as Bluetongue Brewery in Cameron Park, near Newcastle. This brewery has increased production to over five million litres of beer per annum and will soon be moving to a larger site on the central coast with an initial capacity of fifty million litres of beer per annum.
Australian beers are primarily made of local ingredients such as malted Australian barley. NSW produces 2.5 million tonnes of barley for malting and feedstock each year. Malted barley is a significant export product for Australia with the sale of malted products locally and internationally worth over $2 billion dollars a year.
I&I NSW is working with Bluetongue Brewery to develop their new site and establish it as a future tourist destination for the central coast. I&I NSW evaluates barley varieties from the national breeding program for suitability in NSW, and also works with growers to ensure barley produced meets malt quality.
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While for some people wine is an acquired taste, those in the know say cabernet sauvignon from Mudgee is some of the most drinkable in the world. The small central west town has been home to vines since the 1850s, when German immigrants established the first vineyards.
Today, the state’s third largest grape growing region produces a range of robust and deeply coloured reds including cabernet sauvignon, shiraz and merlot, complemented by whites like chardonnay, semillon and riesling.
According to aficionados, cabernet sauvignon is a bold and assertive wine that should be served with strong flavoured foods like steak, lamb and
kangaroo—or even dark chocolate. The taste and aroma of ‘cab savs’ is often described as blackcurrant and peppery, but in some varieties red currant, blackberry, plum and even mint or eucalypt can be tasted!
With over 40 winemakers, Mudgee’s viticulture industry is worth around $45 million annually, while NSW as a whole represents 34 per cent of the $5 billion Australian wine industry, turning over more than $1.5 billion annually.
I&I NSW has viticulturists working with the NSW wine industry in areas like water use efficiency and vineyard management—all aimed at increasing sustainability, efficiency and taste. Cheers!
Cabernet sauvignon is the world’s best known wine
variety. Grown around the world, it was first cultivated
in Bordeaux, France.
MUDGEE, 261 KM NORTH WEST OF SYDNEY
Fried, baked, mashed, chipped or crisped, sauteed or scalloped—the versatile potato is the nation’s most popular vegetable. In fact, potato consumption is estimated to be over 60 kg per Aussie each year, with growers digging up potatoes all year round to keep supermarkets and greengrocers with a ready supply.
Griffith is situated in the heart of the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area in the south west of the state, and is part of the area that produces over two thirds of the NSW potato crop. The district has a dry, temperate climate with three crops a year grown for the fresh, crisping and frozen chips potato markets.
In NSW, a number of potato varieties are grown including coliban (cream coloured skin and flesh), sebago (white skin and white flesh), red pontiac (red skin and white flesh) and desiree (pink/red skin with yellow flesh).
I&I NSW researchers are working with growers on a range of projects to ensure high quality, healthy and disease-free vegetables are available all year round.
GRIFFITH, 568 KM SOUTH WEST OF SYDNEY
PERFECT POTATOES
Looking at a tray of chops in the supermarket chiller, it’s hard to tell just how tender and delicious they will be. But the latest research into
this juicy area may soon unlock the secrets to breeding tastier lamb.
Cowra is the place to be for good looking, great tasting sheep with the local I&I NSW research station home to an ‘information
nucleus’ flock of sheep. The 2000 sheep in the flock provide measurements of tenderness, meat yield and eating quality.
Iron, zinc and omega-3 levels are also monitored, with the potential to improve the health benefits of eating lamb.
Genetic relationships can be established between muscling, toughness and intramuscular fat—factors
which affect tenderness and eating quality. Colour can also be linked to genetics, with many shoppers using colour to conclude freshness. I&I NSW’s research focus on tender and tastier lamb will help Australian lamb maintains its prime market position.
Potatoes are part of the same vegetable family as tomatoes and eggplants.
COWRA, 234 KM WEST OF SYDNEY
calling
lamb
LUSC
IOUS
The area operated by farms with lambs and sheep is around 134 million
hectares, or 17% of Australia’s land mass.
CABERNET
Sydney rock oysters are endemic to Australia, inhabiting sheltered estuaries and bays, from Hervey Bay in
Queensland to Wingan Inlet in Victoria.
BATEMANS BAY, 273 KM SOUTH OF SYDNEY
opulentOYSTERS
From the first arrivals of timber cutters and fishermen in the early 1800s to the present day prime tourist destination, Batemans Bay on the NSW south coast has relied heavily on the Clyde River estuary for economic growth. Wide and deep, this estuary is navigable by large craft along its lower 35 kms.
For much of its 125 km length, the Clyde runs through uninhabited lands (primarily national parks) and as a result, its water is amongst the cleanest of any major river on the east coast. This makes the Clyde River estuary home to some of the best of the best oysters in the world—the Sydney rock oyster, generally regarded by connoisseurs as the ultimate in oysters.
Oysters are excellent sources of several minerals including zinc and selenium, which are often low in the modern diet, and they tend to be excellent real food sources of vitamin D, as well as being rich in iron, calcium and vitamin A. Oysters are also low in food energy with one dozen oysters equal to around 110 calories (460 kJ).
High quality seafood is one of the state’s valuable natural resources. I&I NSW research and development helps ensure our fisheries are using good practices to secure fish stocks as well as protecting the marine environment while ensuring the seafood we eat comes from well-managed and sustainable sources.
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You may not realise it, but just 50 km from the city there is a team of lab-coated scientists busily defending the nation against animal and plant disease.
The Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute is a world-class facility at Camden with over 100 I&I NSW staff on site working on animal and plant health. The institute’s highly responsive team of experts is focused on developing and applying cutting-edge bioscience to the diagnosis and control of serious diseases and pests.
Situated on 1600 hectares, the centre is internationally recognised for work in research, diagnostic and advisory services which include viruses and microbes of veterinary importance such as rabbit calicivirus; bacteria carried by animals which cause human disease such as anthrax and leptospirosis; food safety organisms such as enteropathogenic E.coli; and major animal parasites such as liver fluke and sheep blowfly.
Should exotic diseases like foot and mouth or bird ‘flu make their way into Australia, the centre would be on the frontline performing thousands of diagnostic tests as part of the NSW Government’s response in any future disease outbreak.
The Institute was at the forefront of the recent successful battle to clear the state of horse ‘flu. During the outbreak, the centre’s scientists diagnosed the disease and then conducted thousands of tests per day in order to monitor its progress and develop effective control strategies.
CAMDEN, 50 KM WEST OF SYDNEY
crucial
THE FAR WEST, 1000 KM WEST OF SYDNEY
Kanga’ meat is a top choice—organically grown and sustainably harvested.
Did you know kangaroo meat is ideal for maintaining a healthy diet? It contains very little saturated fat (relative to other meats) and is high in protein, zinc and iron. Dished up in restaurants since 1993, over the past few years the meat has become increasingly visible—readily available at supermarkets in fillets and sausages, plain and in marinades.
In NSW, much of our kangaroo meat is harvested in the far west of the state. Only a small percentage of the population is taken by licensed, professional harvesters. Kangaroos are then processed locally for transport to market, with the meat sold in 55 countries and generating $270 million dollars for rural communities.
While the industry suffered a setback with the Russian government banning ‘roo meat imports in 2009, companies like Origin Game Meats in Broken Hill are fighting back through the development of new export markets in Europe.
I&I NSW has staff working across a range of industry sectors to help businesses boost their export and domestic markets.
Environmental considerations are increasingly important to people building or renovating their homes. And as many are finding, making
the ‘best’ choice can be a mine field, with significant decisions to be made from construction materials right through to interior design.
There’s much to consider, not only from what is the most environmentally-friendly choice for construction, but also the best choice for the environment over the lifespan of the home.
Forests NSW manage 210,000 hectares of pine plantations, grown over a period of 30 to 35 years. The area around Bathurst has a large number of plantations growing high quality timber destined for use in buildings around Australia. These plantations not only absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as they grow (so important in addressing climate change), but retain the carbon in finished products like house frames and furniture.
Using timber in construction is also a sound choice in terms of energy, as it uses comparatively less non-renewable energy to extract and manufacture, compared to alternatives like steel, concrete and masonry.
Forests NSW is committed to supplying timber to meet community needs. Timber from our home-grown pine plantations is both practical and renewable, supporting local jobs and helping to address climate change.
BATHURST, 210 KM WEST OF SYDNEY
BROKEN HILL, 1100 KM WEST OF SYDNEYSilver prevents bacterial growth! Silver interrupts a bacteria cell’s ability to form chemical bonds essential to its survival.
While many people haven’t made the road trip, each and everyone of us has a connection to Broken Hill—home to the world’s richest silver-lead-zinc deposit.
These natural resources are used in many every day conveniences. Cars are coated with zinc to prevent rusting, along with components in mobile phones
and batteries. Silver is used in electronics and for jewellery, table settings and medical applications. Lead is used in car batteries and in weights.
While the ore deposit helped establish both the town and the iconic Broken Hill Propriety Company (now known as BHP Billiton), one of the latest developments
has been the reopening of the Rasp Mine to process 750,000 tonnes of ore producing 32,000 tonnes of zinc, 25,000 tonnes of lead, and 500,000 ounces of
silver each year.
I&I NSW works with the minerals industry in a range of ways. Geologists map the state’s mineral resources, environmental officers oversee rehabilitation
following mine closures, safety officers assist mines in providing safe working environments and investment officers assist in minerals export development.
‘Biosecurity’ is the protection of the economy, environment and the community
from negative impacts associated with pests, diseases and weeds.
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More than 2.9 million pine trees harvested in NSW each year are used in houseframes.
How far did your breakfast travel to get to you this morning? Did your cereal come from local wheat fields? The juice from our orange orchards? Or did
it all come from the other side of the world?
Sydney’s backyard is a productive food bowl. With around 2000 hectares and more than 1000 individual vegetable farms in the Liverpool, Penrith, Camden, Fairfield, Hawkesbury and Wollondilly government areas. This productive food bowl is a major production centre for leafy green vegetables, capsicums, chilli, celery, mushrooms, herbs, poultry, eggs, meat, nursery plants, seedlings, cut flowers and cultivated turf.
Serves 4.
Preparation time 15 minutes. Cooking time 8 minutes.
sirloin steaks, brushed lightly with oil and seasoned
with salt and pepper
orange, grated rind and juice
orange, sliced
seeded mustard
honeysalad leaves, to serve
1. Brush each sirloin steak lightly with oil and season
with salt and pepper. Combine the orange rind and
juice, mustard and honey and rub over steaks.
2. Preheat the barbecue flat-plate or char-grill plate to
hot before adding the steaks. Cook on one side until
the first sign of moisture appears. Turn steaks once
only. Barbecue orange slices for a few minutes on
each side while the steaks cook.
3. Test the steaks for degree of doneness with tongs.
Rare is soft, medium feels springy and well done is
very firm.
4. Remove steaks from heat, loosely cover with foil and
rest steaks for 5 minutes. Pile salad leaves, steak and
barbecued orange slices on plates to serve.
Best beef steaks for barbecuing are fillet/tenderloin,
rib eye/scotch fillet, sirloin/porterhouse/New York,
T-bone, rump, round, blade, and oyster blade.
4
11
1 tbs 1 tbs
1 bunch
Method
Tip
ORANGE MUSTARD
BARBECUED STEAKS
Recipe courtesy www.themainmeal.com.au
CASIN
O, 73
3 KM
NORT
H OF S
YDNE
Y
Australia produces 4% of the world’s beef supply, and is the second largest beef exporter in the world (after Brazil).
Sydney’s intensive agricultural industry produces less than 3% of the country’s vegetables. In fact Australia is a net importer of vegetables, importing more vegetables than we export. NSW does however produce sufficient grains, meat and fibre for our own needs and enjoys a healthy export trade.
Predictions of increasing population growth of an additional one million people in Sydney by 2031 means increasing competition for land and water. In some areas, land is being converted from agricultural uses to residential uses—just as global demand for food is increasing.
I&I NSW works with other government agencies to seek a balance between urban, agricultural and environmental land use. I&I NSW is developing technologies to improve productivity and ensure the nutritional value of food is maintained.
In the early 1800s, produce from the Hawkesbury travelled to Sydney by boat down the Hawkesbury River and then into Sydney Harbour.
THE HAWKESBURY, 60 KM WEST OF SYDNEY
Apples roll around in lunchboxes, bump about in handbags and get munched on public transport by thousands of us every day. The ultimate take anywhere snack, apples are quite
the nutritional package, full of fibre, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, and antioxidants.
Over 2.6 billion apples are grown in Australia each year. Next to black tea, apples are the second highest contributor of the immune boosting antioxidant quercetin in our diet,
lending truth to the adage ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’!
So where do these appetising gems grow in NSW? Find the Big Apple on the outskirts of Batlow and you’ll be among some of our best apple orchards. First established by a school
teacher, Batlow’s orchards have produced crisp, sweet apples for over a century.
NSW is Australia’s second largest producer of apples with nine varieties grown including Bonza, Braeburn, Delicious, Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Cripps Pink (Pink
Lady™) and Cripps Red (Sundowner™).
Granny Smith apples originated in Australia, first grown by Maria Anne Smith in Sydney in 1867.
BATLOW, 459 KM SOUTH WEST OF SYDNEY
APPLES
‘A piece of the good health puzzle’ is how the Australian Government describes lean red meat. Besides being a valuable source of protein, red meat is the best source of bioavailable iron in the Australian diet and contains substantial amounts of zinc and vitamin B12.It will come as no surprise that Aussies love beef. For the last 15 years we have eaten around 35 kg of beef and veal per person, per year. Hardly a weekend goes by without beef sizzling on a barbie somewhere in your street!Beef is big in NSW, with almost as many
cattle as people—in fact there are 5.9 million head of cattle growing beef for our consumption and export. Being such a major industry, you’d expect a celebration and Casino delivers this each May with Beef Week. Overseen by the Beef Week Queen, thousands celebrate with parades, good food and competitions.I&I NSW researchers are working on reducing methane emissions (burped up as a by product of digestion) from livestock by investigating the effect of dietary changes and additives and improved breeding and productivity.
14 15
DARETON, 1035 KM SOUTH WEST OF SYDNEY
NARRABRI, 611 KMNORTH WEST OF SYDNEY
Take a peek inside your wardrobe or cupboard and you’re sure to find something made of cotton. We wear cotton t-shirts, wrap babies in cotton blankets and dry off with cotton towels. Soft, cool and comfortable, cotton is the most widely used natural fibre fabric in the world.
Cotton found its way to Australia aboard the First Fleet in 1788, and by 1830 the yield was enough to export three bags to England. Today most of the cotton harvested in Australia is grown in central and north west NSW, with this high quality fibre highly sought after by buyers in Indonesia, China, Korea and Japan.
Towns such as Narrabri, halfway between Sydney and Brisbane, are home to cotton. The most common type of cotton grown in Australia is Gossypium hirsutum, more commonly known as American Upland. A leafy, green shrub that ever so briefly has cream and pink flowers that become the ‘fruit’ or cotton bolls. Cotton requires regular water supplies to grow well.
Finding new ways to grow an old crop is the job of I&I NSW researchers at Narrabri’s Australian Cotton Research Institute who work in partnership with many organisations. Getting more crop per drop of water is high on the agenda, along with managing pests and reducing the use of chemicals.
Oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruits and mandarins are delicious and juicy citrus fruits all grown right here in NSW. Citrus is one of the state’s most important horticultural industries, with fruit growing on around 13,000 hectares. The Australian citrus industry is the largest fresh fruit exporter in the country, worth in excess of A$200 million each year.
The largest and most important production areas in NSW are in the Riverina and Murray Valley regions, with I&I NSW having the largest citrus research and extension team in Australia playing a leading role in supporting the citrus industry with substantial research, extension and information.
Much of this work centres at the Dareton Agricultural Research and Advisory Station, where activities have focused on improving citrus fruit size and quality to assist export development, and also on the development of new varieties and rootstocks.
Work is also directed at gaining a better understanding of the impacts of seasonal conditions on fruit development and identification of key growth stages for manipulating crop load and enhancing fruit size, quality and post-harvest shelf life. It’s all aimed at ensuring profitable and sustainable production well into the future.
NSW produces around 250,000 tonnes of citrus annually—40% of Australian production and 36% of citrus exports.
Cotton becomes stronger when wet and can hold up to 27 times its own weight when wet.
SCENTED
Prepare to be amazed! Wool is not all it seems. We know it’s natural, warm and soft but did we know that it is also flame, dirt, water and wrinkle resistant? Australian wool fibre is world famous, and here in NSW we just happen to be great at producing it.
The crisp mountain climate of Walcha in the New England Tablelands is ideal for producing fine wools, and with around one million sheep you’re sure to come across a stunning merino or two. Merinos produce the finest wool of all breeds, the finer the fibre, the softer the wool. In fact, merino wool fibres are softer and finer than human hair and are used to make anything from fabric to footwear.
Just when you thought wool couldn’t get any better, I&I NSW researchers continue to find ways to improve productivity, profitability and sustainability of wool, so that it can continue casting its luxurious spell over us for centuries to come.
WALCHA, 425 KM NORTH WEST OF SYDNEYWONDEROUS
A very good shearer called a ‘gun’ can shear 200 sheep a day. The wool off 200 sheep can weigh as much as a small car!
Where do you start if you want to work on the land? A good education is the key and Tocal College is just the place for it. Imagine living on a working farm while studying, surrounded by horses, beef and dairy cattle, sheep and chickens—even a few bison.
Renowned for producing enthusiastic, hard working graduates with plenty of practical skills, Tocal is a leader in agricultural and conservation land management education, and offers full and part-time courses, short courses and distance education.
With campuses in the Hunter Valley and the Riverina, Tocal continues to fill full-time courses to capacity—bucking the trend away from agricultural careers. Agriculture remains an important part of the Australian economy and well-trained people are in demand.
And there’s plenty of work to be done. NSW has over 40,000 farms—with cattle, wool and wheat our top commodities valued at more than 3 billion dollars a year. Eighty-two thousand people currently work on farms in NSW in a wide range of careers. Despite the worst drought on record, farm exports continue to earn billions of dollars.
EARTHY EDUCATION
Australian farmers produce almost 93% of Australia’s domestic food supply. Yet, Australia
exports a massive 60% (in volume) of total agricultural production.
Take a look at Tocal’s website for more information http://www.tocal.nsw.edu.au
TOCAL, 180 KM NORTH OF SYDNEY
16 17
Bursting with flavour, a great texture and healthy oils, macadamias are the iconic Australian nut. And while the macadamia is a genus of the plant family Proteaceae native to eastern Australia, New Caledonia and Sulawesi, the only edible species originate from Australia.
The Nambucca Valley, halfway between Sydney and Brisbane, is the southern point of sub-tropical Australia. It’s here that new cultivars of the nut tree grow alongside the same rainforests in which the indigenous species grew over millions of years. Most of the valley’s nut production comes from over 60 specialist orchards.
With rich, well balanced soils and perfect climate, it is claimed that Nambucca macadamias are the most delectable in the world—the
standard to which all others are compared. That’s a bold claim, but why not put it to your own taste test?
NSW produces around 65% of Australia’s annual 33,000 tonnes of nuts in shell production. I&I NSW supports the industry through services such as extension officers, research scientists, advisory publications and regulatory activities.
NAMBUCCA, 500 KM NORTH OF SYDNEY
MACADAMIASmunchable
Macadamias are named after John Macadam, a nineteenth century Scottish-born Australian chemist, medical teacher and politician.
YAMBA, 680 KM NORTH OF SYDNEY
PLENTIFULLocated on the big Clarence River estuary and with one of the largest commercial fishing fleets in NSW, a little lighthouse, great surfing beaches, a marina, spectacular scenery as well as some fabulous restaurants and cafes, Yamba manages to combine just about everything people look for in a desirably quiet seaside town with great fishing.
This popular fishing and holiday destination on the far north coast is sustained economically by both tourist activity attracted by Yamba’s reputation for having the ‘world’s best climate’ and its fishing fleet. In fact, fish are what Yamba is really about, starting with the fishing industry which dates back to the early days of settlement and still plays a major role in the town.
From Lighthouse Hill in the early evening, the fleet can be seen setting out through the heads. At night their running lights can often be glimpsed on the horizon while the crews work to provide seafood fanciers with a wide variety of top quality fish, including the famous Yamba prawns, when they return at dawn with their catch.
In preparing management strategies for the state’s commercial fisheries, I&I NSW aims to ensure the strategies in place will provide sustainable fisheries into the future. It is often a complex process requiring stakeholder and public input but the intention is for fishing activities in NSW to be accredited as sustainable under both state and commonwealth legislation.
PRAWNS
FORBES, 386 KM WEST OF SYDNEY
It’s official—NSW is home to plenty of pigs—the tasty kind of course. Our state is one of Australia’s largest producers and exporters of pork and pork products.
Pigs are keen on their tucker so to keep production costs down, piggeries tend to be found near grain growing regions such as Forbes in the central west.
Most of Australia’s pork production is consumed domestically with approximately 40% going to the fresh pork market, and the remaining 60% contributing to processed pork products such as fresh ham, deli bacon, deli ham, pre-packed rashers and pre-packed ham loaf. The alluring, mouth-watering smell
of sizzling bacon may help explain why we consume around 23 kg of pig meat per person each year.
But how do you know you’re getting the best? Pigs in NSW can’t be sent to an abattoir without meeting quality standards demanded by the NSW Food Authority. This ensures an excellent, wholesome product.
I&I NSW extension officers provide general advisory services and information for the industry across NSW.
Domestic pigs were brought to Australiaon the First Fleet to provide food.
By 1880, enough pigs had escaped and become feral to be a problem for farmers.
Serves 4 as an entréeraw school, tiger or king prawns, peeled, de-veined
mango, halved, peeled, cut into cubes
macadamias, unsalted, halved
lettuce, torn into small pieces
small cucumber, peeled and sliced into fine strips
carrot, medium size, peeled and sliced into fine strips
coriander, finely choppedolive oiljuice of a limeCombine coriander with 3 tbs olive oil and lime juice.
Place lettuce in salad bowl. Scatter cucumber and carrot
over lettuce. Add mango and macadamias to salad bowl.
Add remaining olive oil to pre-heated frying pan, cook
prawns for approx 2 minutes each side on medium heat
(or until they turn pink).Scatter prawns over salad, drizzle dressing, toss salad
and serve immediately.
150 g 1
50 g½ 1
13 tbs
4 tbs½
Dressing
Method
PRAWN, MANGO AND MACADAMIA SALAD
While adult prawns are found in the open ocean, juvenile school prawns cling to the seagrass areas of estuaries.
18 19
Their efforts to improve energy and water efficiency, the natural environment and productivity saw them awarded 2009 NSW Landcare Primary Producer of the Year.
This sort of drive and determination has a long history in the region. Dairying began in Kiama around 1842, with the first co-operative butter and cheese factory opened in 1884 by farmers keen to embrace new technology and prove their product could compete with European producers.
I&I NSW is looking at the diet of dairy cows in order to improve productivity and lower methane emissions.
Picture the opening scene from The Sound of Music and you’ll get a feel for the Kiama countryside. Lush green hills make prime dairying country for some of the state’s 200,000 dairy cows, but nature alone does not make for marvellous milk.
Dairy cows eat around 100 kg of grass per day—and they like it short and sweet. Grass planted in paddocks is grown to just the right height before cows are left to munch. Classy grass makes for quality milk.
Seventh generation dairy farmers near Kiama, the Strongs, run a thriving 100 hectare farm. Owner Lynne Strong says a healthy environment makes for healthy cows, people and products.
KIAMA, 120 KM SOUTH OF SYDNEY
Australians consume around 104 litres of milk
per person each year.
Wheat research is flourishing in the north west of the state, with NSW-developed grains becoming increasingly sought after around the world.
Pasta manufactured by brands like Heinz, Vetta, and SanRemo use durum semolina wheat varieties developed by Industry & Investment NSW researchers in Tamworth.
Hot, dry growing conditions lead to a high-quality durum grain known for its hardness, protein, intense yellow colour, nutty flavour and excellent cooking qualities.
Different varieties provide characteristics that allow increased productivity under different growing conditions. Launched September 2009, Caparoi is a high yielding variety under irrigation, with excellent disease resistance. Traditionally grown in northern NSW, the crop’s expansion to irrigated southern areas makes way for producers to aim for one million tonnes of durum annually over the next five years, to provide consistent quantities for international and domestic markets.
Wheat research at Tamworth is doing big things to help feed the world.
DAIRYDAIRY
TAMWORTH, 416 KM NORTH WEST OF SYDNEY
Paper. It’s a ubiquitous part of life in homes, shops and offices. It’s used in newspapers, books, packaging and a multitude of other products. And while from a young age we learn that paper comes from trees, not much
discussion is had on where these trees are, or how they’re grown and turned into paper.
In New South Wales, State forests are managed by Forests NSW (on behalf of the Government) to produce timber. While the primary focus is on growing and harvesting trees to meet building and construction needs, some logs are simply not the quality required by sawmills to manufacture into products like structural timber, landscape materials and furniture. It’s these logs that are badged ‘pulp’ and used for paper.
Forests NSW has both native forests and plantations under its management for timber production. Pine plantations are typically thinned twice before final harvest at around 33 years of age. By thinning out the plantation, the growth of the better trees is encouraged and a greater proportion of high quality sawlogs is achieved in the final crop. The smaller or defective logs obtained through thinnings are used for pulp.
On the south west slopes of NSW, timber is the lifeblood of the bustling town of Tumut. The major plantation grower in the region is Forests NSW, with around 90,000 hectares of plantation softwood, with privately-owned pine in the region approaching 40,000 hectares. This critical mass of plantation resource has attracted a number of timber and pulp processors to the region.
Visy has recently undertaken a $450 million expansion of its Tumut pulp and paper mill. The expansion more than doubled the mill’s output of kraft packaging paper to almost 700,000 tonnes a year. The project created an extra 50 jobs on site,plus an additional 300 indirect jobs in the region.
Most of the mill’s increased production is headed for export markets, supplying paper customers in Europe, North America, Asia and Africa. The balance supplies Visy’s Australasian corrugated box factories. To meet Visy’s needs, additional softwood plantation pulpwood is sourced from state-owned plantations located in the Bathurst and Bombala areas.
The timber industry in the south west slopes generates more than $1billion for the local economy and is one of the leading plantation forestry areas in Australia.
Forests NSW is part of I&I NSW with their forest management certified by the internationally recognised Australian Forestry Standard, an independent indicator of sustainable forest management.
Wheat crops cover more of the Earth’s surface than any other crop.
20 21
Timber products store carbon dioxide absorbed from the atmosphere for its lifetime—up to 250 kg/m3.
TUMUT, 411 KM SOUTH WEST OF SYDNEY
The refreshing high altitude and crisp climate of Orange is just a few hours drive
from Sydney, making the region the perfect destination for a weekend getaway for ‘foodies’.
Bountiful local produce can be sampled at Orange farmers’ market, with over 50 stallholders selling fresh produce at this monthly event. Many producers also sell at the farm gate, with apples, pears, berries and nuts available direct from growers when in season.
There are 2000 hectares of grapes under vine and local wine tours cover 30 cellar doors
from 60 vineyards. There’s also renowned fine dining restaurants and high profile chefs, a range of accommodation options and gorgeous heritage buildings.
The rich food culture has lead to FOOD (Food of Orange District), a voluntary group coordinating FOOD Week, an annual festival featuring more than 100 food-related events including tasting trails and classes. Usually held in April, the festival is just another great excuse to visit.
I&I NSW head office is in Orange, with over 400 staff working and living in this vibrant community in the central west.
Along with wheat and corn, rice is a diet staple for
millions of people around the world. Rice is recognised
as a source of starch and is generally consumed as a
whole grain or as a flour ingredient.
Over recent years, types of rice grown in areas of NSW
like Deniliquin have expanded to meet changing
consumer demands. Examples include the chalky rice
variety Illabong for risotto, the soft cooking Opus for
sushi, or the long grain, fragrant variety Kyeema for
Asian meals. There are also specific health benefits—
for example, the variety Doongara is known for its
low glycemic index.
Rice grain qualities are becoming more and
more important. Physical grain qualities can
include shape, translucency and whiteness,
and cooking qualities include texture when
hot and cold, cooking time and digestibility.
While grain qualities are genetically inherited,
environmental conditions, growing practices,
grain handling and storage all affect grain
quality.
To survive the harsh Australian environment
and the ever-developing demands of
consumers, it is essential to deliver new
and improved varieties for Australian
rice growers. To do this I&I NSW supports
a rice breeding and quality evaluation
program to ensure released varieties are of
superior agronomic and grain quality and
commercially viable.
SWAN
SEA,
131 K
M NO
RTH O
F SYD
NEY Reef balls mimic
natural reefs in form and function, quickly increasing fish numbers and diversity as well as being rapidly colonised by corals, algae and sponges.
DENILIQUIN, 725 KM
SOUTH WEST OF SYDNEY
The Australian rice industry
estimates Aussie-grown rice feeds
up to 40 million people every day!
P
ERFECT
Makes 12 mini pies.
puff pastry, thawed, ready-rolled, cut into quarters
bacon, diced
sour cream
herbs e.g. chives, parsley, chopped
eggs
1. Preheat oven to 200°C. Lightly grease 12 x ¾-cup
capacity muffin pans.
2. Press a square of pastry into each muffin pan.
3. Cook bacon in a small frying pan over medium-high
heat for 3 to 4 minutes or until lightly golden.
Drain excess fat and allow to cool.
4. Take three-quarters of the bacon, and sprinkle over
the base of each pastry shell.
5. Whisk sour cream, herbs, salt and pepper until well
combined. Spoon mixture over bacon. Crack an egg
on top of sour cream. Top with remaining bacon.
6. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until pastry is golden
and filling is cooked. Allow to stand for 5 minutes
before removing from pan.
7. Serve hot with a dash of tomato sauce.
Sprinkle with grated cheddar cheese, top with a cherry
tomato or add some onion to the bacon before frying.
3 sheets 500 g
1 ½ cups ½ cup
12
Method
Variations
Take the classic partners of bacon and eggs for this tasty
breakfast treat! Or enjoy any time with a salad.
BREKKY BACON & EGG PIE
Orange was the birthplace of poets Banjo Paterson and Kenneth Slessor.
With around four times the volume of Sydney Harbour, Lake Macquarie is a massive water body less than two hours drive north of Sydney, and is Australia’s largest coastal lake. It is dotted by numerous small towns and some larger centres, such as Swansea on the eastern side, where the lake empties into
the Tasman Sea, offering pleasant lakeside and coastal recreation.
It has been several years since the lake was included among 30 recreational fishing havens—coastal areas largely free of commercial fishing, created to provide better angling opportunities for recreational fishers.
As part of the ongoing commitment to aquatic research, I&I NSW is undertaking a pilot artificial reefs evaluation program in selected recreational
fishing havens. The Lake Macquarie reefs are constructed from special concrete ball modules which enhance marine growth while withstanding saltwater corrosion. When combined they create habitat for fish, algae and crustaceans in reefs of varying sizes. Reef effectiveness will be monitored by a combination of underwater videos, diver surveys and angler catch information.
ORANGE, 257 KM WEST OF SYDNEY
22 23
The NSW coal story started millions of years ago when vegetation was laid down, compressed and
transformed between layers of rock to become coal. NSW has some of the oldest black coal deposits
in Australia, formed between 225 and 180 million years ago.
First uncovered by a convict at the mouth of the Hunter River in Newcastle in 1791, today coal is the
state’s most valuable primary product with production valued at more than $10 billion a year. A record
177 million tonnes of raw coal was produced in 2007-08, with coal production on the rise. Recoverable
coal reserves in NSW total approximately 11.5 billion tonnes, with the coalfields of the Sydney-Gunnedah
Basin in the Hunter Valley containing almost all of this resource.
Surrounded by rich deposits of coal and a raft
of mines, the town of Singleton was built on
coal and is the place to visit if you want to see
coal mining. The community run Coal Industry
Centre can organise on-site tours for those
wanting to see mining up close.
Coal is used to produce more than 90% of all
electricity in NSW. Power stations burn coal to
create steam, driving turbines and generating
electricity. When coal is burnt, a gas linked to
climate change, carbon dioxide (CO2), is released.
Climate change refers to changes in our weather
patterns because of an increase in the earth’s
temperature caused by increasing greenhouse
gases in the atmosphere. Coal-fired power
generation is the largest single contributor to
NSW greenhouse gas emissions.
Cutting emissions, while continuing to generate electricity, is the challenge. Renewable energy, such as
solar or wind cannot currently supply enough electricity to meet demand. Technologies that will allow
us to continue using our large coal supply, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, are required.
I&I NSW scientists have undertaken climate-related research for more than a decade, and are currently
working in partnership to develop low emission coal technologies to reduce emissions from power
stations. Post-combustion carbon capture and storage, as a possible mitigation measure is also under
investigation.
Bring up the topic of coal at a party and you’re guaranteed to get chins wagging. Everyone has an
opinion, but like it or loathe it, we use coal everyday and it’s a big part of our state’s economy.
nBuy energy efficient appliances, even
something as simple as keeping your fridge
set to between 3 and 4 degrees celsius helps.
Every degree lower requires five per cent more
energy.
nImprove heating and cooling by insulating.
nBe a clever cook—cook in bulk and freeze.
Reheating in the microwave cuts emissions.
WHAT CAN
YOU DO?
Australia has
extensive
underground basins
with the potential
for carbon dioxide
storage equivalent
to many hundreds of
years of emissions at
the current rate.
Walking into a hydroponic greenhouse for the first time is like venturing into a whole new world. It’s vast, humid and full of vibrant plants growing in a way that is totally unexpected—without dirt!
Controlled environment horticulture (combining greenhouses and hydroponics) is a high productivity, high efficiency method of growing vegetables, fruit and flowers. Fast and productive, growing crops using environmentally controlled, soil-less production systems allows growers to sustainably harvest more premium products—more efficiently by carefully controlling the growing environment as well as the water and nutrient supply.
On the outskirts of Sydney, in suburbs like Rossmore, greenhouse growers are turning out flavoursome tomatoes
An iconic Australian fish, barramundi is famous for its firm, flaky flesh and delicate flavour.
Fortunately for consumers, a fishing trip to northern Australia is not the only way to experience this ‘good eating’ fish, with a NSW company developing an innovative land-based barramundi farm.
Located near Port Stephens, Tailor Made Fish Farmsbreeds, grows and supplies 75 tonnes of live fish totop Sydney restaurants.
The technology used has other benefits, with wastewater used to grow hydroponic vegetables—minimisingwater use and eliminating discharge into the environment.
With consumption of seafood rising by 240% since 1960, the aquaculture (or fish farming) industry will play a vital role in meeting future demand.
I&I NSW assisted this company to set up via grants and technical advice, with staff committed to working with producers to further develop NSW aquaculture. Look out for NSW farm-grown fish, yabbies and crayfish at shops and restaurants.
The Australian farmed barramundi industry startedin the mid 1980s.
BITING BARRA
including roma, heirloom, grape and cherry tomato varieties for local and interstate consumers.
I&I NSW works with greenhouse and hydroponic growers to help them produce safe, high quality fresh produce with less land, less water and less wastage. The department is home to the National Centre for Greenhouse Horticulture, with a team including an industry specialist extension officer, horticultural researchers and education officers working to further develop the capacity of greenhouses and hydroponics in NSW—a key part of securing food supplies into the future.
BOBS FARM, 191 KM NORTH OF SYDNEY
energy/customers/saving-energy
www.industry.nsw.gov.au/
Almost any plant can be grown hydroponically, with the first recorded efforts to grow plants without soil dating back to the hanging gardens of Babylon, the floating gardensof Kashmir and the floating gardens of the Aztec Indians.
CONVERSATIONSCOAL
SINGLETON,
209 KM
NORTH WEST
OF SYDNEY
24 25
TOMATOESROSSMORE, 45 KM SOUTH WEST OF SYDNEY
LIVELY
LICORICEJU
NEE,
348 K
M SO
UTH W
EST O
F SYD
NEY
As candy connoisseurs would know, there’s licorice but then there’s real
licorice. The history of this sweet treat stretches back over 4000 years,
with extracts of the licorice plant used in ancient medicine.
While most of the licorice lollies on supermarket shelves today use
a blend of herbs and/or synthetic chemicals to replicate the original
flavour of true licorice, a few manufacturers are taking this old plant into
a new era.
At Junee, near Wagga Wagga, the town’s old flour mill has been converted
into an organic licorice and chocolate factory, using the root of the
licorice plant to turn out a delicious range of treats. I&I NSW assisted the
company with a development grant.
And no need to feel guilty when you indulge. Licorice
is purported to boost the immune system, fight tooth
decay, aid endurance, cure ulcers, freshens the breath
and much more!
The root of the licorice
plant contains glycyrrhizin,
a substance 50 times sweeter
than sugar cane.
CHOMPABLE
CHERRIES
YOUNG, 372 KM WEST OF SYDNEY
November to
December is NSW
cherry time and
when the juicy, red
fruits first hit the shops you
know summer is just around
the corner.
Feasting on a bowl of cherries
is a delicious treat and the
health benefits are an added
bonus. Cherries contain
vitamins and minerals, fibre
and antioxidants—all in one
sweet, bite-sized fruit.
Around 41% of Australia’s
cherries are grown in NSW,
mainly around Young and
Orange.
Young is known as the cherry
capital of Australia, for good
reason. Grown in the
region since 1847, the first
commercial cherry orchard
was planted in 1878.
If you’ve ever wanted to be
Australia’s cherry pip spitting
champion or even cherry
queen then head to the
National Cherry Festival in
Young. Held in December
each year, the festival has
been running for 60 years and
visitors can pick their own
cherries fresh from the tree.
I&I NSW researchers are looking
at ways to ensure cherries
bound for export are free of
Queensland fruit fly. This will
open up new markets for NSW
producers.
The fountain of youth can be found in NSW. That’s just nuts. Or is it?
Moree’s mineral rich thermal pools attract hundreds of thousands of people to bathe in warmartesian waters—the H2O some claim is the elixir of life!
But the real nuts of Moree are pecans. The district has the perfect climate for pecans and is home to the largest pecan farm in the southern hemisphere with 70,000 trees producing around 95% of the nation’s crop. Pecan popularity is on the rise with their health benefits now recognised. Full of ‘good fats’ needed to maintain healthy blood vessels and heart, pecans were all but unknown in the Australian marketplace before the 1980s.
The Moree district is known for more than spas and nuts. Cotton, oilseed, cereal, olive and pulses like chickpeas all grow in the area, making a rich agricultural backdrop for the thriving tourism district.
Australia produces about 2% of the world’s pecan crop while the USA, where pecan trees are natives, produces 80%.
MORE
E, 64
0 KM
NORT
H WES
T OF S
YDNE
YPECAN PROMISES
North coast sawmills produce a range of flooring products. These range from traditional tongue and groove boards to parquetry and engineered boards—a relatively new product that uses veneer over plywood, ready to lay over subfloors like concrete, tiles or plywood. The new engineered products are especially popular in apartments.
One tip for buyers is to look for ‘certified’ timber products. Independent certification gives assurance of the sustainable forest management practices employed to get the timber from the forest to the buyer. Look out for certification symbols when you next buy timber products.
FLOORBOARDSJust like a little black dress, it seems a good hardwood
floor is never out of style. Native Australian timbers are a popular contemporary choice for their appearance, longevity and practicality, while many homes in our
older suburbs have floorboards looking as good today as when they were laid over 100 years ago.
Forests NSW is the government trading enterprise charged with the management of our state’s timber producing forests. Different areas are renowned for different timbers and products, with forests around Wauchope (location of the famed ‘Timbertown’) producing high quality blackbutt, Sydney blue gum and flooded gum sawlogs, that are milled into premium floorboards.
Native forests near Wauchope have been supplying building timbers since the 1830s when cedargetters set out from the penal settlement of Port Macquarie.
WAUC
HOPE
, 406
KM NO
RTH O
F SYD
NEY
Last season, the first box of cherries sold
in NSW raised $25,000 for charity—the
buyer paying around $62 per cherry!
26 27
ROBERTSON, 128 KM SOUTH OF SYDNEY
Production is based on the shell or table egg from hens and is primarily for domestic consumption. Other bird species such as ducks, quails, pigeon and guinea fowl form a very minor section. Only around 10% of eggs are sold for use in other processed food products.
Animal welfare issues and market opportunities are increasingly seeing consumer preference shift to free range and barn laid eggs. However, while we are buying fewer cage produced eggs they still account for around 75% of total supermarket sales followed by free range (20%) and barn laid (5%).
I&I NSW provides industry support through extension officers, research scientists, diagnostic laboratories, publications, poultry keeping courses and regulatory services.
NSW is Australia’s largest egg producer with around 37% of national production. Over 64 million dozen eggs worth around $123 million are produced each year—now that’s one big, pricey omelette!
The industry is widely spread throughout the state, with farms located from city’s outskirts, to Young in the south, (including Robertson in the southern highlands), Tamworth in the north and the rusty coloured plains of West Wyalong in the central west.
EGGS EGGS EGGS
GOULBURN, 197 KM WEST OF SYDNEY
Eggs are one of the few foods that contain vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin. In fact a 100 g serve can provide up to half your daily requirement.
So sticky and sweet, there’s nothing better than honey drizzled across thick toast on a cold morning. As you lick your fingers, spare a thought for the fascinating insects that have
brought this natural product to people for many thousands of years.
Honey bees live in hives, where up to 40,000 bees perform their own special tasks. There’s the single queen bee, some male drones for her to mate with and then tens of thousands of female worker bees charged with a variety of tasks from collecting pollen and nectar to building honeycomb.
While a queen been might live for four years, worker bees usually live for about six weeks.
These busy bees don’t just give us honey and beeswax—they also play an essential role in bringing us food by pollinating a vast number of crops. Beekeepers place hives near seasonal flowering plants to ensure production continues year round.
I&I NSW supports beekeepers with specialist advisory staff in towns like Goulburn, research and diagnostic services, and education courses.
homely honey
Someone who knows the finer points of trout, is manager of the Gaden Trout Hatchery, Sam Crocker who has worked at Gaden since 1970. Sam sharesone of his favourite trout recipes, which he recommends be finished off with a nice cold beer!
SAM’S
SMOKED TROUT SALAD
Serves 4.
smoked trout, flaked, skin and bones removed
goat’s cheese, crumbled
canned chickpeas, rinsed and drained
red capsicum, halved, seeds removed
bunch rocket salad leaves
bunch curly endive, leaves separated
red onion, sliced
basil, chopped
Honey lime dressing
natural yoghurt
honey
lime juice
mint, chopped
cumin, ground
1. Preheat grill to high heat.
2. Cook capsicum skin side up until charred and
blistered, then set aside. Once cool enough to
handle, remove skin and cut into strips.
3. Arrange endive and rocket on a serving
platter. Follow with onion, cheese, chickpeas,
trout, and finish with capsicum.
4. Combine yoghurt, mint, cumin, honey and
lime juice in bowl. Drizzle over salad
immediately prior to serving.
250 g125 g400 g
1 111
2 tbs
½ cup1 tbs1 tbs1 tbs1 tbs
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Did you know modern day Jindabyne and its inhabitants were relocated to the town’s present site in the 1960s when the Snowy River was dammed? It occurred during the construction of the Snowy Mountains Scheme, with the remains of the old town now below
Lake Jindabyne, occasionally visible when water levels are low.
Jindabyne today is a cosmopolitan, year round, holiday resort with a mix of new residents and original pioneer families. In winter Jindabyne is a base for skiers bound for major resorts in Kosciuszko National Park and for the rest of the year it’s a great place for bushwalking, mountain biking, whitewater rafting, canoeing, horse riding and kayaking. Lake Jindabyne provides great opportunities for water sports and superb trout fishing.
The NSW Government’s Gaden Trout Hatchery, on the Thredbo River near Jindabyne, is one of Australia’s main centres for breeding and rearing cold water sport fish. Four species, rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout and Atlantic salmon are produced by I&I NSW and stocked into the dams and river systems of our trout fisheries in the Snowy Mountains, Southern Highlands, the central tablelands and New England areas.
The department’s fish stocking activities provide many benefits and are recognised for their importance to the community in terms of quality recreational fishing, conservation activities, employment opportunities and subsequent economic benefits in regional areas that have grown in response to the activity over many years.
Tour the hatchery and learn abouttrout breeding. School groups welcome.Phone the hatchery on 02 6451 3400.
Visitors welcome!JINDABYNE, 402 KM SOUTH OF SYDNEY
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PRINCIPAL NSW PRODUCTS BYVALUE 2007–08 $24.7 BILLION
Forestry (logs supplied) $379m (2%)
Copper $1,260m (5%)Coal $10,300m (41%)
Other minerals $2,410m (10%)
Beef cattle $1,585m (6%)Wheat $889m (4%)
Wine $1,643m (7%)Fruit $478m (2%)
Other agriculture $4,824m (19%)Wool $725m (3%)
Fish and seafood $690m (3%)
COMPOSITION OF NSW MINERALS ANDMETAL EXPORTS 2007–08 $13.4 BILLION
COMMERCIAL FISHING & AQUACULTUREStrict environmental controls underpin the harvesting and farming of fin-fish and shellfish in NSW waters. I&I NSW regulates the commercial fishing and aquaculture industries, as well as approximately one million recreational fishers across the state.
NATIVE FOREST & PLANTATION MANAGEMENTForests NSW, operating within I&I NSW, manages 2.54 million hectares of forests, managed under the principles of ecologically sustainable forest management to provide timber and other products—both now and into the future.
INDUSTRY & INVESTMENT NSWis the State Government agency focused on the development of innovative and sustainable industries.
Our 4,000 people deliver cutting-edge science and research, innovative technology, adaptive policy, contemporary vocational education, best practice regulation and engaging training programs.
Coal $8,200m (61.12%)Aluminium $2,092m (15.62%)Other $1,636m (12.22%)
Iron and steel $883m (6.59%)Copper $589m (4.40%)Zinc $7m (0.05%)
GROSS VALUE OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS IN NSW ($M)2007–08 $8.590 BILLION
Cattle and calves $1,5 85m (18%)Wheat for grain $889m (10%)
Fruit & nuts (incl grapes) $820m (10%)Wool $814m (9%)
Cotton $148m (2%)Sheep and lambs $442m (5%)
Milk $509m (6%)Poultry $568m (7%)
Vegetables $424m (5%)Barley $277m (3%)Canola $44m (%)Other $2,063m (24%)
Rice $7m (0%)
FOSTERING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
I&I NSW plays a vital role in the economic development of the state. In the primary industries sector, the department works in partnership with the mining, forestry, agriculture and commercial fishing industries to support and develop the profitable, sustainable and adaptive businesses that underpin much of the economic activity in regional NSW.
AGRICULTURE & HORTICULTURE
NSW is renowned for its clean, healthy and safe food supplies—much of this due to research and extension services provided by I&I NSW. Our staff work with farmers in addressing issues like climate change, salinity, pests and diseases, and reduces water availability.
MINERALS EXPLORATION & MINING
Our staff work to supply valuable data to explorers and actively seek international investors. The resulting minerals production underpins much of the state’s economic activity, with minerals production in 07/08 valued at $14 billion and employing more than 29,000 people.
Call us:AGRICULTURE 1800 808 095
FISHERIES 1300 550 474
FORESTS NSW 1300 655 687
MINERALS & ENERGY 1300 736 122
NSW FOOD AUTHORITY 1300 552 406
SCREEN NSW 02 8222 4844
STATE & REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
1800 777 022
TOURISM NSW 02 9931 1111
OUR HEAD OFFICE 02 6391 3100
Have you gone to a field day? Some of these events attract over 100,000 people to see the latest in agricultural machinery, view demonstrations, seek information, trial new products or just get a taste of country living.
Sydney Royal Easter Show 1-14 Apr www.eastershow.com.au
Food Week Orange 9-18 Apr www.orangefoodweek.com.au
Caravan, Camping, 4WD & Holiday Supershow 17-25 Apr www.supershow.com.au
Tocal Field Days (Paterson) 30 Apr–2 May www.tocalfielddays.com
Primex Field Days (Casino) 17-19 June www.primex.net.au
Timber & Working With Wood Show (Sydney) 18-20 June www.workingwithwood.com.au
Mudgee Small Farm Field Days 16-17 July www.arec.com.au
Sydney International Boat Show 29 July–2 Aug www.sydneyboatshow.com.au
Agquip Field Days (Gunnedah) 17-19 Aug www.farmonline.com.au
Small Business Month Sept www.smallbusinessmonth.nsw.gov.au
Henty Machinery Field Days (near Wagga Wagga) 21-23 Sept www.hmfd.com.au
Cumberland Forest Fair, Sydney 10 Oct www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/forests
Australian National Field Days (Orange) 19-21 Oct www.anfd.com.au
Farming Small Areas Expo (Richmond) 12-13 Nov www.farmonline.com.au
NSW
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What’s happening
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Industry & Investment NSW participates at a range of events across the State each year. Here are just a few where you can visit us:
www.industry.nsw.gov.au
WE WORK WITH LOCAL PRODUCERS AND BUSINESSES TO GROW INNOVATIVE AND SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRIESINNOVATIVE SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRIES
To find out more about us and how youcan support our local producers andbusinesses phone our head office on
02 6391 3100 or visit