Information and Articles

 John Deere’s 1023E and 1026R Subcompact Utility Tractors give the acreage and hobby farm owner the power and performance needed to easily  attach and remove implements, work with greater comfort and safety, and mow large volumes of grass with a high quality of cut.

Permaculture is a design science for sustainable agricultural environments. Through the observation of natural function, it seeks to integrate and arrange  various elements within a farm enterprise (e.g. plants, animals, buildings and infrastructures) in such a way that they support and benefit each other while  performing multiple functions (e.g. harvesting water, providing shelter, feeding farm stock).

Grazing herbs are plant species that are often mistaken by many farmers as weeds in their pasture. An ideal pasture contains a large proportion of vigorous  grasses and to a lesser extent companion species such as clover and herbs.

Grazing herbs include both Chicory (Cichorium intybus) and Plantain (Plantago lanceolata). These are perennial plants that in some harsh environments  behave as free seeding annuals, that is, they grow for one year or less, set seed and die.

Hand rearing calves is a popular business for small farmers. The initial investment required for calf rearing is relatively low while labour can generally be  easily worked around off-farm commitments.

Here are some tips on raising calves on a small or hobby farm – focusing on how and what to feed them.

Who contributes more to the local economy: hobby or conventional farmers? A groundbreaking study delivered the first findings this week.

Hearing the clucks and murmurs of a contented hen happily scratching for grubs and insects in the leaf litter under a tree or hedgerow can be one of the more satisfying moments of small farm living.

Being able to collect an egg from her each day is surely the icing on the cake.

Alpaca breeding is becoming a serious business among small landholders in Western Australia and they are set to celebrate during National Alpaca Week on 12 -20 May.

Farm machinery, especially tractors, can be expensive to purchase and a questionable use of capital, particularly if only used occasionally during the year – as is the case on many small farms. The cost factor is one of the most compelling reasons to look at alternatives to outright ownership. This article will explore some of these alternatives and compare them to ownership.

Co-operatives have a lot of potential for modern farmers wanting to build relationships with consumers and attract premium prices. This will be the message from a seminar on 3 May in South Perth run by the Department of Agriculture and Food and Fruit West.

A new booklet is now available which focuses on practical actions that farm businesses can take now to improve their emissions performance. In many cases, actions to reduce emissions or increase carbon on farms have multiple benefits for farm businesses, such as increasing farm health and profitability.