Information and Articles

With concrete being one of the most useful building materials, there are countless applications for its use on-farm. The most common uses of concrete are for shed floors and footings, bunkers, post footings and stockyards. 

While the process of laying concrete can be expensive, there are several options for those wishing to carry out the work themselves and save money.

While there are many brands of stationary engine on the market, troubleshooting tips will apply to most models.
 
This article explains how to fault-find in an engine that refuses to start and outlines some of the more unusual problems that might be difficult to determine.

Air-cooled stationary engines power a range of farm equipment and are often called into duty after sitting idle for long periods.

Farmers including those that manage small areas can overcome the frustrating job of loosening a nut or bolt in a tight spot with a range of specialist hand tools.

Sometimes it seems manufacturers fail to consider service access when designing machinery. Difficult-to-access areas are often too tight to fit a hand, let alone a spanner as well.

Specialist hand tools may seem expensive but they can prove invaluable of a wide range of servicing tasks. In some cases, manufacturers may even supply specialist service tools for their particular machinery.

High on the list of priorities for many small farmers who don't already own one is the purchase of a suitable tractor. A tractor is the ultimate piece of machinery, its versatility means it can be applied to a wide range of jobs, irrespective of farming venture. Some small farmers may not even need the services of a tractor; contracting out any work may be the cheaper option compared to the purchase and maintenance of a tractor and implements.

IPM involves the use of biological, cultural and chemical techniques to manage pests. It offers farmers an alternative to conventional practices where chemicals are often used exclusively. While chemical control is a component of IPM strategies, it is not the primary control option, but instead a support tool. Chemicals are only used if the biological and cultural options are not sufficient to manage the pest and avoid economic loss.

The components of IPM
Biological

What Information Is Contained On A Chemical Label?

A chemical label contains detailed information regarding the product. The label itself is a legal document, which under legislation, must be adhered to at all times. Operating outside the instructions on the chemical label is illegal, and can result in hefty penalties, including imprisonment.

NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI), National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and the Mid Coast Livestock Health and Pest Authority (LHPA) will be conducting meetings on Monday, July 20 at Crescent Head and Tuesday, July 21 at Gladstone.

NSW DPI researcher, Guy Ballard, said the chemical para-aminopropriophenone (PAPP) had been chosen by the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre to address animal welfare issues.

Weeds are just one of the many challenges that small farmers face.

The cheapest weed control option is obviously prevention.  There are many practices that we can adopt to ensure we do not introduce weeds onto our property.  There are 6 principles of weed management:

The NSW Government will spend more than $8.5 million to fight the spread of noxious weeds across the State this financial year, Minister for Primary Industries, Ian Macdonald, announced today.

Minister Macdonald said the noxious weeds grants would be allocated to local councils and other weed control authorities to enable them to carry out specific activities above and beyond their normal weed control programs.

“Noxious weeds are an important and costly issue for the State’s agricultural sector and our economy as a whole,” Mr Macdonald said.