FROM hand stooking hay and blade shears, wagons and horse drawn ploughs to raised boards, electric presses and hand pieces, and computerised tractors with satellite navigation. Has there ever been a period of greater change in farming?

RISK management is second nature to farmers. We mitigate risks every day; we slash fire breaks to prevent or contain fires, we vaccinate our stock to avoid disease, we fix the boundary fence to prevent stock getting on the road.

THERE has been a livestock saleyard in Warrnambool since 1883, with the current site in Caramut Road established in 1970.

RACHEL McGrath has taken on many challenges in her farming life, but returning to study has inspired her to do even more.

CUTTING edge dairy technology has come to western Victoria, with Paul and Marsha Smith installing a new robotic rotary dairy on their family farm at Mepunga.

WHAT a year it’s been. The challenges to the south-west Victorian region have been enormous.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE VALUES VOTES
RECENTLY a district reader proffered the view that you wouldn’t give a raw 18-year-old free rein to run the family farm and that the country would be in better shape if the voting age started at 50.
Interesting comment but obviously tongue-in cheek.

Was saleyard too expensive to compete?
HARD not to feel sorry for councillors who made the decision (4-3) that continued support for the Warrnambool saleyards made no long-term economic sense.

MANY Victorians have faced a spring like no other, with record breaking amounts of rain in many regions. This has led to extensive flooding, which has had significant impacts on many primary producers.

HAVING trouble with your internet? Mobile phone service?
Welcome to the growing community of those affected by poor internet and mobile phone services.
As a farming community we are ever more reliant on our internet for our businesses.