You need a propertY...
Transcript of You need a propertY...
noteworthy Small landholder SerieSnW 24 2010
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Do you want your small property to be a profit-making rural business, or maybe create a dream lifestyle enhancing asset? A property plan is the key.
So, you’ve just bought your small farm or you’ve had it a while and you’ve got a bunch of jobs to do but you’re not sure where to start. You may wonder ‘how many animals can i have?’ or ‘where’s the best place to put the orchard?’ developing a ‘property plan’ helps you with the decisions that you need to make to create the property that you want. Using smart planning principles, you can maximise the positive features of your property, fix any problems and develop a staged plan to make it all happen.
The department of agriculture and Food has developed a state-of-the-art property planning package tailored especially for small landholders. it consists of a participative workshop, a detailed manual, ongoing support and reference materials plus a laminated aerial photograph. Participant discussions in the workshops have led to innovative solutions as well as the formation of local networks that provide support long after the workshop is over.
The workshop provides time out to think about the property; how to manage it and to ‘bounce’ ideas off experts.
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DIY property plan if a workshop doesn’t suit, it is possible to develop a plan on your own. The manual is available for sale as a guide to the process for property planning. however, it is no substitute for the discussions and tailored advice in the workshop. a property plan is a tool that describes the main features of your property then incorporates and records your plans. it should also form part of your farm business plan.
Beginning the plan
The first step is often the hardest. It helps to develop a clear vision of what you want to achieve, you may frame this as a series of goals. Think about why you wanted to buy the property and what you want to do with it? identify the good, the bad and the ugly, and how to get the best out of your property. You can use a SWoT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) to guide you through the process. don’t forget to include, for example your ‘bad back’ as one of the potential problems. it is amazing how clearly the rest of the plan falls into place once this initial step of the plan is made.
Birds-eye view
The hub of your property plan usually involves three overlays on an aerial photograph. Clear overlays are used so that the physical attributes of the property can be seen and the notes made on each layer can be compared with the next. The first overlay is a map of all those features on your farm that cannot be easily changed. it includes boundary fences, buildings, yards and sheds, drainage lines, ridges, areas of remnant vegetation, water sources and earthworks.
developing a ‘property plan’ helps to sort the way through the decisions that you need to make to create
the property that you want.
Got a small property?You need a propertY plan!
When developing a property plan you will need:
• A laminated aerial photograph of the property showing; boundaries, north point; scale; contours (if available).
• Clear acetate sheeting — to fit photograph.
• Permanent markers fine tip — six colours.
• Small Landholder Information Service property planning manual — to order call (08) 9733 7777.
• To order aerial photographs email [email protected] or call (08) 9368 3925. Alternatively Landgate also offer a range of customised maps at https://www.landgate.wa.gov.au. A charge applies for both.
Property plan supplies
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The second layer records the land management units (lmUs). lmUs are areas on your property that respond to management practices in a similar way; or can be managed in the same way. Usually a lmU is a map of a soil type, although some landholders will group two or more soil types into one lmU based on factors such as water logging, remnant vegetation or slope. a leisurely walk around your property is a great way to identify the lmUs.
The third layer records what you plan to do, such as:
• Protect remnant vegetation
• Site new crops
• Erect fencing
• Create fuel free zones to reduce bushfire risk
• Create windbreaks
• Establish quarantine paddocks.
Some ideas for your proposed works
Quarantine paddocks
if you currently run livestock, or intend to, you will need to quarantine newly aquired animals until they have been transfered to your worming/vacination regime. This time in quarantine will ensure that any weed seed they have brought from their previous home will have dropped or been defecated into a controlled area. The paddock should have, or be close to, livestock handling equipment.
Biosecurity facilities
a wash down bay with a high-powered hose and a drain that feeds into a bucket or container is a great way to prevent visitors or contractors bringing weeds or diseases on to your property. Consider restricting visitor’s vehicles to your quarantine areas and get them to use your farm vehicle instead.
Windbreaks
in the right position windbreaks can reduce erosion and increase production through their sheltering effects. They can also be useful as a new crop and/or animal refuge. on boundaries, windbreaks intercept dust and airborne weed seed.
Fencing
Where possible, limit the amount of fence that runs straight down a hill as this can cause erosion. Try to place fences ‘on the contour’ or at the boundaries of lmU’s. To facilitate stock movement consider a system of double fenced laneways. This allows one person to move animals from one end of the property to another. It is very useful during bushfire periods. The recommended place for gates is in the most appropriate corners of your paddocks relative to stock handling equipment.
This will reduce the need for additional strainers and make it easier to manage animals during movement.
Paddock design
The more paddocks you have the more opportunities you have to control grazing. You can use rotational grazing to prevent overgrazing, manage weeds, reduce fuel load and maximise production. Winter-wet paddocks may be unsafe, while during summer they can provide good feed and a possible bush fire refuge.
Water harvesting
roofs, dams, roaded catchments, contour banks and firebreaks may become sources of water. Any feature on your property that causes water run-off should be considered as an opportunity to collect and save water. These opportunities will need to be managed carefully to prevent erosion.
Getting more information The Small landholder information Services’ property planning manual includes a guide to common agricultural practices; however you may need more specific information. Try www.agric.wa.gov.au and www.farmingahead.org.au for a wide range of references. We also recommend your local library and the publications pages of the CSiro website www.csiro.org.au. meat and livestock australia’s website has references on a wide range of stock information at www.mla.com.au.
many agricultural industry groups, including the horse industry, have guides on best practices for their industry and it’s worth looking for them on their websites.
Insurance: are you covered?
Got a small property?You need a propertY plan!
You may identify some problems that require earthworks such as a drain, a dam or a contour bank. any project that involves earthworks needs to be surveyed, designed and sited by a professional to ensure that the structure will not fail. many of these professionals can manage installation for you as well. in some locations permission from your local government or the relevant state government department is needed before such works can be carried out.
You will also need to develop a maintenance plan for these structures. When earthworks fail the damage caused can be devastating and, the repair bill large; professional advice will reduce the risk of this happening.
Earthworks alert
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ConTaCT deTailSdaFWa www.agric.wa.gov.au/small_landholder (08) 9733 7777 or (08) 9368 3807Kondinin Group www.farmingahead.com.aulandmark [email protected] (08) 9318 8260
imPorTanT diSClaimer The Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Agriculture and Food and the State of Western australia and Kondinin information Services accept no liability whatsoever by reason of negligence or otherwise arising from the use or release of this information or any part of it. © Western australian agriculture authority, 2010.
Got a small property?You need a propertY plan!
Looking into the future a property plan should not be static or unchanging; refer to it often, take it into the paddock and to information events. it’s a tool to communicate to contractors about the work you hired them to do and to record your progress. You can add a bushfire layer that maps the locations of fire fighting equipment, gates, water resources, high risk and low risk areas. Photocopies of this layer can be left in clearly marked containers at the gate to assist fire fighters, you may even want to lodge that plan with your local fire brigade.
a weed mapping layer allows you to document infestations when visible, and then return to the site at the appropriate time for control.
We also recommend that you mark the location of soil testing and other monitoring sites on your plan. This means that when you soil test in the future, you will be able to compare the results with earlier ones. You may want to set up monitoring stations (photo points) for recording progress of different projects, including revegetation, fencing and pasture improvement.
There is no such thing as a perfect property plan — only the best fit plan for you and it will change.
For more InFormATIonThe Small Landholder Information Service and Kondinin Group have developed a series of noteworthy factsheets. For copies of the Noteworthy factsheets or more information go to www.agric.wa.gov.au/small_landholder or contact the Small Landholder Information Service on 9733 7777.
You are nearly there! This is what a plan (overlay 3) might look like.
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Notes
The Noteworthy collection continues to grow as new factsheets filled with farming tips and techniques are added each month.
Check-out the entire stable of noteworthy factsheets at the Department of Agriculture and Food’s Small Landholder Information Service
website www.agric.wa.gov.au/small_landholder or at Kondinin Group’s web site www.farmingahead.com.au
topics include:• Spray safe — stay safe• First time fencing unravelled• handle handy aTVs with respect• Chainsaws for the small landholder• Cattle ownership is a serious step — no bull• Blue-green algae• Water quality — critical for livestock• Water — sufficient summer supply saves lives• Soil testing accurate samples yield better results• Supplementary feeding — keeping livestock healthy during summer
and more...
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Department ofAgriculture and Food
SMALL LANDHOLDER SERIESNW 01 2008noteworthy
Spray safeS TAY S A F E
The use of spray technology to control
weeds, pests and diseases is widespread
and is often heralded as the easiest
option. However, safe and effective
spraying is about more than random
chemical warfare.
Before leaping into attack with a fi st full of
chemicals, fi rst correctly identify the pest, weed
or disease you want to control. A wide range of
publications, web sites and local landcare or land
management experts can assist you with this
fi rst step. Weeds are probably the most common
thing sprayed by small landholders.
The Weeds CRC has an excellent site,
www.weeds.crc.org.au, with an extensive range
of publications that can help you identify weeds
and decide upon the best control options.
While the most popular control option for pests,
weeds and diseases often is to use a spray, this is
neither the only nor always the best option.
Get advice before loading the spray tank.
If spraying is the best option, select a chemical
that is registered for control of the pest, weed or
disease you have correctly identifi ed. In addition
to the information available through DAFWA,
there are excellent commercial databases such
as Infopest (available for purchase through
Queensland Department of Primary Industries)
and HerbiGuide (a WA-specifi c program that
also includes an excellent weed identifi cation
component, purchasable through www.
herbiguide.com.au). In the public domain, the
Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines
Authority (APVMA) has a comprehensive
database of all currently registered products and
permits, which enables you to view or download
product labels, at www.apvma.gov.au. A less
comprehensive database which also brings up the
labels and MSDSs (material safety data sheets), is
Pestgenie, at www.pestgenie.com.au
Read the labelAfter selecting a suitable product read and follow
the label directions. This is a legal requirement.
Most people only look up how much to mix. Just
as important is the timing. Weeds need to be
controlled when they are small and actively
growing. It is near impossible to kill mature
weeds, irrespective of how much spray you
use. It is also a waste of time and herbicide to
attempt to kill weeds when they are under stress
because the weather is too hot, too cold or too
dry. The weed shuts down in these conditions and
the herbicide is not taken up by the plant.
Similarly, insects need to be sprayed when they
are small and there are not too many of them.
Caterpillars larger than 8mm are just as hard
to kill as big weeds. And, if the bugs arrive in
numbers, you will experience severe damage and
losses before the spray takes effect.
Like weeds and insects, plant pathogens have to
be detected early and a spray applied before the
number of spores increases dramatically.
Check the label to see if an adjuvant has to be
added to the spray mix; what spray equipment
can be used; how to mix the pesticide in the
tank; if there is a minimum water volume
recommended; what personal protective
equipment (PPE) to wear to protect your health;
when crops or pastures can be harvested or fed
to livestock after spraying (the withholding period
or WHP); and what environmental precautions
need to observed – like not spraying when bees
are foraging.
Some chemicals can be rendered inactive by
poor water quality. Always check the label
to determine how water quality may affect a
particular chemical. Ensure you have your water
tested and are aware of any quality issues —
wetter and adjuvants are available to ameliorate
quality issues if necessary.
Select your weapon
For spot spraying, (spraying individual weeds)
a knapsack sprayer is adequate. However, if
you need to spray woody weeds or vines, such
as blackberries or lantana, a powered wand is
required. A knapsack is incapable of putting out
the volumes necessary to wet big blackberry
bushes, for example. Small boom sprays
mounted on ATVs or tractor three-point
linkages (3PLs) usually have the option of
a hand gun running off the pump.
Safe and effective spraying is
about more than random chemical
warfare
There is a variety of tools
available for chemical
application including the
knapsack sprayer and small
boom sprays mounted on ATVs.
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noteworthy SMALL LANDHOLDER SERIESNW 03 2008
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Department ofAgriculture and Food
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ATVs are far more than just a recreational four-wheel motorbike. They are capable of carrying small loads such as a hay bale, herding animals, towing trailers, operating small spray units or simply providing transport around your property. ATVs are also popular for recreational riding, the purpose for which they were originally designed, but must be operated with signifi cant care to avoid serious injury or death.Decrease rollover riskAs opposed to a motorbike, where the rider
and bike often go in different directions, ATV accidents often involve the vehicle rolling onto the rider. These accidents are unfortunately all too common, with ATVs the cause of more deaths across Australia than tractors, up to last year.
An ATV can weigh up to 300 kilograms and if the bike rolls over serious head or chest injury is a likely outcome. For this reason it is essential riders wear helmets at all times. In addition, it is unlikely you could lift an ATV off
yourself in the event of such an accident.The main causes of ATV rollover are cornering too fast without adequate weight shifting, travelling on steep slopes, overloading the carry racks and hitting obstacles, such as rocks.Shifting weight for safe corneringA motorbike rider can lean the entire bike into a
turn when cornering, counteracting forces that keep the bike upright. This is not possible in an ATV as all four wheels must stay on the ground for stability. An ATV rider has to rely on shifting his or her weight to counteract cornering forces, leaning into the turn to help prevent the vehicle from tipping over. The sharper the turn and the faster the speed, the higher the risk of tipping the ATV.Anyone riding an ATV must be able to quickly shift
their weight across the seat and forward into a turn when cornering. A fi rm grip on the handle bars and the foot pegs will help riders shift quickly, as will gripping the fuel tank fi rmly with your knees.When cornering, transfer your weight forward and into the direction you want to turn, your backside must actually move across the seat (not just your upper body) to get maximum stability while turning.
Lean forward when driving up a slope to prevent the ATV tipping backwards. If the slope feels too steep, avoid it and fi nd another safer route.
Take extra care when driving across a slope; shift your body so that weight is applied on the uphill side of the ATV as shown.
Check the load rating sticker and never exceed rated mass.
Handle handy ATVsW I T H R E S P E C T
ATVs are popular but must be operated with signifi cant care to avoid serious injury
or death
popular but must popular but must popular but must
serious injury
Whether farming 10 or 10,000 hectares, there are few handier, all-purpose farm vehicles than an (all-terrain vehicle) ATV.
✔ Always wear an Australian standards-approved helmet when operating an ATV. ✖ Never carry a passenger unless operating an ATV designed for two people.✔ Read the owner’s manual from cover to cover.✖ Take heed of safety warning labels on the ATV: Don’t operate if under the infl uence of drugs and alcohol, or if under the age of 16.
✔ Lean into corners and lean forward when travelling up slopes.✔ Brake evenly and fi rmly, and slow down when driving in unknown terrain.✖ Don’t ride on the roads; paved surfaces affect bike handling, especially when going from dirt to tar or vice versa.
Safety checklist
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noteworthy SMALL LANDHOLDER SERIESNW 02 2008
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Department ofAgriculture and Food
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What you will need
• A helper
• Pliers
• Posts (strainers and drop posts)
• Wire
• Post hole-digger
• Gripples and applicator or wire-strainers
• Crow bar
• Safety glasses
• Gloves
fencing tool kit
Landholders have a legal obligation to fence
their property.
Local councils can provide some basic guidelines
and minimum fencing requirements.
Generally the cost of a boundary fence between
private land is shared equally between both
parties. Boundary fences between private land
and the Crown are the responsibility of the
landholder.
Creating boundaries
Whether replacing an existing fence or erecting
a new one the fi rst step is to decide on the most
appropriate fence for the job. Fences can be
divided into two broad categories — conventional
and electric.
Conventional fences use prefabricated rolls, plain
wires or barbed wire to create a physical stock
proof barrier.
Electric fences rely on a psychological barrier
created by an electric shock to prevent stock
crossing the fence.
The most appropriate fence design will
depend on a number of factors:
1. The type of animal needing to be kept in or
out: Different animals have different fencing
requirements — cattle for instance place much
higher pressures on fences than sheep.
2. Whether the fence is an internal fence or
boundary fence: Boundary fences may need to
be sturdier than internal fences. Barbed wire
may be recommended for boundary fences.
3. The topography of the site: Does the
fence pass through gullies or up
steep slopes and other issues such
as whether the fence will have to
withstand fl oods or fi re.
Other landholders and local fencing
suppliers can help determine the most
suitable fence for your application.
The make-up of a fence
A fence consists of three main
elements; strainer assembly at either
end; intermediate posts, droppers and
wire stretched tight between
the strainers.
Strainer assemblies
These are the most important part of any fence.
Their job is to transfer the tension in the wires
to the ground. There are two main strainer
assembly designs —the diagonal stay and the box.
(See Figure 1 on page 2.)
The diagonal stay assembly is most suited to
heavy, dense soil conditions. Where more
strength is required, for example in sandy or
boggy conditions, a box assembly would be best.
Intermediate posts and droppers
Intermediate posts perform two functions; to
guide the line wires off the ground at the correct
spacings and, to some extent, provide
lateral resistance to pressure by
transferring it into the ground.
A well-designed fence will be
cost-effective, require little
maintenance and last a lifetime.
First time fencing U N R AV E L L E D
The fi rst step is to decide on the most appropriate fence design for
the chosen purpose.
The fi rst step The fi rst step
Well-designed and constructed fences are essential
infrastructure on any property. Without quality fencing
maintaining livestock can be a real headache. Straying
stock are not only a danger to themselves and passing
motorists but also a sure-fi re way to get the neighbours off
side. Luckily smart investment in the right fencing material
and a little fencing know-how can go a long way to managing
both four- and two-legged creatures. Phot
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Kond
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