User Profile

McPharlins’ love affair with hay

The McPharlin family at Balaklava have been growing Oaten hay since the early 1990s. I spoke with Todd McPharlin, who tells me they originally started out baling 10-12,000 small square bales. More than 30 years later they now grow 400 hectares of...

Andrew Parker

28 Aug 2023

Rural

Why farmers grow hay

The 2023 hay season is rapidly approaching and after the last couple of years of rather stressful hay production I thought it was time we dug down to see what makes a hay grower tick. High quality hay provides an excellent gross margin, but it comes...

Andrew Parker

21 Aug 2023

Rural

Over the fence: A rave on about crows

The Pride of South Australia with Paul Taylor Crows are a familiar sight in the countryside. They are widespread all over Australia, and it would be easy to regard them as all the same kind of bird. However, the reality is rather involved. A close...

Andrew Parker

13 Aug 2023

Rural

OVER THE FENCE: Urea in short supply

After last season’s bumper yields and a good start to this year’s cropping program, demand for urea has been strong. Growers that decided to wait out their final orders are now finding it hard to source supply with shipping slots tight and no...

Andrew Parker

22 Jul 2023

Rural

Over the Fence on the road

In case you are wondering, this week’s Over the Fence is coming to you from Darwin. I am Doing a bucket list item with my wife and friends, a trip from Darwin to Adelaide on the Ghan. Good rainfall continues to keep crops ticking along at home...

Andrew Parker

17 Jul 2023

Rural

OVER THE FENCE: Blooming good shots

agCommander Farm Photo Competition Keep sending in your entries, you don’t need to be a farmer to enter and we will print your photographic efforts. Send to parks5461@gmail. com or 0407 619 070. Thanks to the team at agCommander and Vater Machinery...

Andrew Parker

08 Jul 2023