ALL EARS: The audience at the Alp Valleys Outlook Conference held in Myrtleford recently listens intently to presenters Rhonda and Peter Serpell of Serpells Berries in the Kiewa Valley.
Written by DON HEATH.
LUCERNE, Wagyu beef, dairy, walnuts and cherry growing were among a number of future land-use options presented to ex-tobacco farmers and other landholders in Myrtleford recently
Over 140 farmers from the King, Kiewa and Ovens Valleys, as well as representatives from numerous governmental agencies, flocked to the Alpine Valley’s Outlook Conference at the Savoy Club to hear and question a range of speakers.
The conference was organised by the Australian Alpine Valleys Agribusiness Forum (AAVAF), and was opened by Libby Price from the ABC’s Country Hour.
With many ex-tobacco growers still undecided what to do long-term, following the closure of their industry in Australia last October, the information presented was received with great interest.
Other future options presented included berries, hydroponic tomatoes, fresh vegetables and grapes.
Many of the speakers touched upon the difficulties faced by many former tobacco farmers, given their relatively small acreages.
A typical reaction to the options outlined came from Ali Hassan, tobacco grower of Myrtleford, who said he would love to stay in farming, but felt he was inhibited by his small holding.
"I only have 25 acres, but I have really fallen in love with the region since coming here from Lebanon four years ago," he said.
"I want to keep living here and would really love to continue farming, but my small farm will make it very difficult.
"I have looked at the possibility of vegetable crops and, after hearing the information today, I may consider planting 10 acres of cherries as well."
The conference was told viable options may include a lucerne cell of between 400ha and 600ha to satisfy the needs of lucerne giant FodderKing, a minimum of 100 breeding cows as a guide to supplying Wagyu beef to the proposed Security Foods abattoir complex in Wangaratta or a dairy farm of 100-400 milking cows.
However, FodderKing spokesperson, Paul McCardell, did provide farmers considering signing up with his lucerne company, with an ‘escape clause’.
"That area of lucerne does not necessarily need to be grown on the one property," he said.
"As long as the total area is within a 50km radius, then we would certainly be interested in talking to landholders.
"That would still allow economy of scale with machinery, storage and transport."
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