Hello,

Does anyone know where I can get typical carrying capacity variability for coastal, northern NSW month by month? I've seen the DPI website and they give average carry capacity per hectare, but I'm interested in getting a rough idea of how variable the average is. We are looking at a couple of farms, potentially around Gloucester, or more coastal between Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour.

Based on the DPI site we are guessing an average ~8DSE/Ha, but how would that vary month by month throughout the year? For example would it range from 6 to 10?

Hi, I'm not a farmer yet but hopefully soon I will be. I like all things agriculture and like to learn everything there is about where my food comes from.
I live in WA with sandy soils and now that it's seeding time I was wondering if anyone can tell me if farmers stop seeding when the rain starts or do they plant through the rain? How much rain does it take before they stop seeding? I know that in heavy clay soils it takes a few days to dry off before they can continue seeding. Also, how many months does it take for wheat to reach maturity?

Apologies if this is a basic query, but my wife and I are planning a move to the country in the next 1-2 years and need to know how to qualify as primary producers in NSW.

Grateful in advance if someone can point out the basics such as minimum land size and other requirements to gain Primary Producer status in NSW.

Thanks,
Steve

We recently bought 20 acres and are also managing 30 next door in Tas. One boundary is Crown Land along a hwy. Before we order some new fencing materials just thought I should check whether people know of any possibilities for us to split the cost of this - state growth or anything doesn't put in anything for that do they? And also there must be some kind of grants for fencing off bushland? (Don't know if they'd all be cancelled at this time?).
Thanks a lot

Hi

Hi all, we have a big issue with black headed cockchafers this year which have eaten parts of our paddocks bare. We've an unseasonally dry summer here in NW Tasmania which l have been told will have exarcerbated the problem. An oldtimer mentioned that we should be running chain harrows over the pasture before the beetles emerge in a month or so's time. I was thinking of doing a few passes with an S tyne cultivator that we have as we don't have harrows yet, just to expose the grubs to the birds. What do you think? Would the S tyne cultivator do the job?

Hi
Im thinking of getting a couple of bobby calves. One for the freezer and one for sale.
I can't keep more than 3 at a time. My place is too small. I have a pic number.
Can you sell just one steer at the sales yard ? Or where would you send it ? I don't want to use gumtree or private sales. What would be best option?

Alternatively, Would it be better to buy a jersey house cow and use the milk to raise a bobby calf for the freezer. Meaning that only the jersey would be on the property permanently and the calves would be destined for the freezer.

I grew up on a dairy farm but have lived in Melbourne for 35 years. We have now found ourselves the lucky owners of 17 steepish, partly bush acres in South Gippsland. Spending time there, thoroughly digging out ragwort, spraying blackberries and slashing ferns (often in the rain), is heaven, to me! We are currently planning a 200 meter road into the property and hope to build an eco sustainable home at the end of it, in a year or two. This is our first summer and the grass is getting long. Is this a fire hazard? (There is a nervy neighbour down the hill from us).

Hi all, we are on 40 acres and new to having land. We are looking to cut a couple of acres of grass hay for our horses. Wanting to find out as much information as possible about what we should do leading up to cutting... We have native grasses... How long should the grass be before it's cut? Does it matter if there is old horse poo and some small rocks in the paddock? What is the average cost for a contractor to cut and bale? What time of year should we look at cutting (we are in SW Victoria)? Anything else we should be asking or thinking about?

Lots of newbie questions here. Stuff i cant find in books/www.
1.Wanting to contain animals with electric fence. But would the zap required for a cow harm a pig or goat?
2. Want to keep piglets in a paddock but there is a dam in paddock. Is this safe? Can they swim? Get stuck in mud? Will it need fencing off?
3. Teeth trimming piglets. Is this really necessary for raising piglets. Sounds barbaric to me. ?