Welcome to the March 2020 Boundary Rider's Report Blog!

Snapshot:
Bald Blair Angus is located East of Guyra on the Northern Tablelands of NSW.
We have an elevation of between 1280 and 1420m above sea level.
Area: approx 2000 ha over 4 properties.
Enterprises: Angus Stud, commercial Angus herd, crossbred and merino sheep.

Seasonal Challenges:
Rainfall: Our average rainfall is between 750-1000mm.  2019 has been our most challenging year in business so far, with 270 mm of rain for the whole year recorded across our properties. Since Christmas 2019 to now we have received well over 400mm of rain; the turn around is amazing. 

The composition of pasture regrowth has included a lot of summer annuals and weeds, Cooch, Amaranth and Water Grass to name a few, with a reduced population of perennials in amongst it;  pretty well what we would expect after the 2019 Drought. 

The affects of this drought will be felt for quite a few years, as we recover our stock numbers and rejuvenate our pasture bases.
We also remain mindful of the many farming families still in drought and or damaged by fire, it is still tough.

Bald Blair Angus Bulls
The 2018 drop P bulls that will make up the 2020 bull sale team have been split into two groups and are being rotationally grazed at Bald Blair.  The sires of these bulls include HPCA Proceed, LD Capitalist , Musgrave Mediator, Rennylea L519, Clunie Range Legend L348, Boonaroo Gravity G13, Bald Blair Right Answer J94, Bald Blair Keegan K279 and Bald Blair General L67.  More information will be available on our website regarding these reference sires soon.  We have submitted their 400 day weights and continue to monitor their progress closely.

We have selected three new lead sire prospects out of this draft for our bull battery, we will be collecting semen from them shortly, some of which will be available for sale.  Keep an eye out on our website for further details. 

The 2019 drop Q bulls have been early weaned, and are doing well.  These bulls are gaining weight on a daily feed ration and grass at rate of 1.5 kg/hd/day.  More details will be available on these bulls as we get closer to our sale.  They are being run in one mob with some new outcross bloodlines included in this draft. 

Activities over the next month:
•    We have commenced pasture renovation and planted 65 ha of Sorghum & Millet for fodder storage , in addition to putting in a number of short term Rye Grass pastures to increase available feed for the forthcoming winter.  The great challenge at the moment is getting a few dry days so that we can bail this fodder, what a difference compared to 2019.

•    The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago – the next best time is now. The last trees we planted were in 2016 and despite the harsh season, these trees are surviving and thriving.  We have two tree guards ready to go and now we have excellent soil moisture the tree lines have been ripped and the trees ordered.  The trees planted in 2016 included Eucalyptus viminalis (Ribbon Gum), Eucalyptus stellulata (Black Sallee), Eucalyptus dalrympleana (Mountain Gum), cacia filicifolia (Fern-leaved Wattle), Acacia dealbata (Silver Wattle), Acacia melanoxylon (Blackwood).  We are aiming to use the same varieties again.

•    We are going to participate in the MLA Donor Company Producer Demonstration Site, Grazing system impact on livestock productivity, soil moisture and soil organic carbon project .  The aim of this project is to measure soil carbon and soil moisture with a view to building carbon in our soil and being more drought resistant in the future, establishing our carbon emission status and prepare to participate in the carbon market in the future with sequestration of carbon in the soil.

•    Bald Blair has received funding from the NSW Government under the Natural Resource Management on Farms – healthy rivers program .  Funding is for 2335m of fencing along both sides of the Bald Blair creek running through the middle of Bald Blair.  The fencing is in the Near Lower and Turnip paddocks.  Funding also includes a provision for tree planting.  This project will commence some time in 2020.

•    We have a lot of old gear, old sheds and now that we are not feeding all day every day we have the opportunity to clean up around the farm .  Something we are always aiming to do, but now we have made it a priority.  It does not take long to fill a skip bin and knock down an old shed once you get started!

•    Pilot carbon accounting workshop : Armidale, Tuesday 5 May 2020 MLA and Integrity Ag and Environment are holding a pilot carbon accounting workshop for red meat producers on 5 May 2020.  Producers who attend this workshop will be assisted in generating a carbon account for their grassfed beef, sheep, or mixed operation. Calculating baseline carbon emissions and stored carbon is an essential first step for producers wanting to consider low or zero carbon branding and sustainable productivity improvements. The pilot workshop is being used to inform design of a carbon accounting training manual for the industry to be released later in the year.  Participation in the focus groups is by invitation. Participants are required to meet certain criteria as part of the selection process.  Margaret Jewell MLA’s CN30 Manager  mjewell@mla.com.au  0436 476 312.  Lunch and refreshments will be provided

Media
Kirsty had a conversation with Lynne Strong from Picture You In Agriculture the other day.  Lynne has a big picture vision for agriculture in this country, “I want an innovative, dynamic, exciting, collaborative, cohesive and PROFITABLE agrifood sector. A sector that our next generation’s best and brightest see as the place they want to be.”

Check out her latest blog here: https://chdairiesdiary.wordpress.com/

Please feel free to contact us on Sam 0438 792 140 or Kirsty 0427 722 908.