AgLife – Malle Machinery Field Days Lift Out, July 2026 edition

Shared journey

Collab Ag’s Jordan Lee, right, has a flexible and individualised business approach, stemming from a varied career path. Mr Lee uses the Henty Highway as the backbone to service his clients in the Horsham, Berriwillock, Birchip, Hopetoun and Sea Lake areas. “My uncle still has the farm at Sea Lake, and he was unknowingly instrumental in the development of my consultative business,” he said. “The conversations and what I’ve worked on with him over the years is really what a lot of growers are looking for, so that was a pretty nice way to cut my teeth.” Story, page 9. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

SPECIAL FEATURE, pages 1-20

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We look forward to seeing you there! July 29, 2026

• Free water refill station

• Phone charging station

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New exhibitors join expanding site

BY BRONWYN HASTINGS

Mallee Machinery Field

Days sites have long been booked, making for an informative and memorable event on the agricultural calendar.

Field days secretary Matt Brady said the event’s organisers – the Speed Lions Club – were excited.

“It’s looking really good. I think it’ll be one of the better field days we’ve had with numbers and exhibits. All the sites are full, so that’s good,” he said.

“We’ve spent a bit of money this year on infrastructure. We’ve spent it on the kitchen and we’re about to put in a new cool room for the catering shed as well.

“Everything’s nice and green, a little bit wet at the bottom end of the site, but hopefully this dries out a little bit, otherwise I’ll have to do a bit of shuffling.

“It’s probably the best outlook we’ve seen for a long time.”

Mr Brady said the interest from both prospective and potential exhibitors had increased.

“In the lead-up to the field days we normally have a few exhibitors drop off, say 20 or so, but we always get 20 new ones,” he said.

“This year I feel like we’ve had 15 or 20 drop off, but we’ve had 30 to 50 wanting to come in, which has made it a bit hard.

“I can’t accept them all, just because we don’t have room to put them.

“I think the people who used to have

the smaller sites are trying to get bigger sites too, which is making it more complicated.

“But it’s really good – we can’t complain – we’re going to have a completely full site this year.”

Attractions

Mallee Machinery Field Days features new and established businesses of all sizes, who offer information and expert advice across a range of agribusiness areas.

Sites include agricultural sales and machinery, banking and financial services, grain brokering and marketing, information technology, web and marketing, logistics and transport, petroleum, lifestyle, and retail.

This year, new products include header fronts, side-by-side vehicles, augers, ventilation systems, camping gear, loaders, mother bins and autonomous machinery.

Mr Brady said for the first time, the event would also feature working dogs.

“We’re really looking forward to that, it’s something different to see at the field days this year,” he said.

“I think we have a couple of locals entering, so that’ll be good.

“We’ve also got some new releases coming this year, and we are getting a lot more financial businesses coming in, as well as legal firms, different banks, grain buyers, and stuff like that.

“Our regular exhibitors are bringing bigger things every year, they’re not just bringing one truck, they’re bringing three or four, and I think that’s why they want bigger sites.”

Mr Brady said he had joked to a couple of committee members about buying a few more acres and making the site bigger.

“They just looked at me and said,

‘I think it’s big enough now for 25 blokes’,” he said.

“It could get bigger if we wanted, but we’ve got to cap it. We don’t have the manpower to keep pushing – but there are 38 new sites this year.”

All hands on deck

More than 20 volunteer groups con-

tribute to the running of the field days, headed by Speed Lions Club.

“We’ve normally got about 20 to 25 volunteer groups, including sporting clubs, halls and schools, and they are from anywhere from Patchewollock, Hopetoun, Tempy and Sea Lake,” Mr Brady said.

“They do the catering, car-parking, and lots of things that we then don’t have to worry about – all up, I reckon there would be about 250 volunteers.”

The Lions club, contrary to most similar groups across country towns, has enjoyed an influx of new members.

“We’ve got another five or six young blokes who we’re hoping to sign up, which is really good for our numbers – we have about 23 at the moment,” Mr Brady said.

“We’ve got Sea Lake Lions down the road from us, they were going to close last year, and they were down to about four or five members, and just a couple of weeks ago they had a meeting and a bit of a revamp, and now they’ve got 25 members.

“I reckon they went to a CFA meeting one night and picked them all out of there, but you have to cross groups over a little bit.

“Their members are really good, they’re keen to help us – they’re building a few things for us at the moment, they’re doing a great job.

“They’ve done really well to achieve what they have, that’s a credit to them.”

August 5 & 6, 2026 at Speed

FARMERS

TRUCK TALK

Welcome back to TRUCK TALK

Thanks for joining us for the second edition of Truck Talk.

Last month, we introduced the series and our commitment to helping local truck owners, farmers, contractors and transport operators keep moving. This month, we’re focusing on one of the most important jobs leading into harvest: making sure your truck is ready for the busiest time of the year.

A little preparation now can save you valuable time, money and unnecessary stress when every hour on the road counts.

PRE-HARVEST CHECKS

When harvest arrives, every hour your truck spends off the road is money out of your pocket.

Too often, small issues that could have been fixed in the workshop turn into major breakdowns in the paddock or on the highway when you’re under pressure.

Now is the ideal time to inspect your truck before the season begins and avoid costly downtime when you need your vehicle most.

WHY PRE-HARVEST CHECKS

MATTER

A thorough inspection before harvest can help identify worn or damaged components before they become expensive repairs.

Areas worth checking include brakes, tyres,

The Heliodor is a true all-rounder: it is ideally suited not only for shallow stubble culti-vation of light and medium soils, but o ers outstanding performance even in seedbed preparation for mulch seeding and after ploughing!

The Heliodor is a true all-rounder: it is ideally suited not only for shallow stubble culti-vation of light and medium soils, but o ers outstanding performance even in seedbed preparation for mulch seeding and after ploughing!

Bene t from its numerous other advantages:

Bene t from its numerous other advantages:

The Heliodor is a true all-rounder: it is ideally suited not only for shallow stubble culti-vation of light and medium soils, but o ers outstanding performance even in seedbed preparation for mulch seeding and after ploughing!

Bene t from its numerous other advantages:

■ The optimum angle adjustment of the discs ensures good penetration and intensive mixing

■ The optimum angle adjustment of the discs ensures good penetration and intensive mixing

■ Maximum clearance to prevent clogging

■ Maximum clearance to prevent clogging

■ The optimum angle adjustment of the discs ensures good penetration and intensive mixing

■ Maximum clearance to prevent clogging

■ Low lifting power requirement due to low weight

■ Low lifting power requirement due to low weight

■ Flexible uses for both soil cultivation and tillage

■ Flexible uses for both soil cultivation and tillage

■ Low lifting power requirement due to low weight

■ Flexible uses for both soil cultivation and tillage

■ Hydraulically adjustable levelling tines for optimum levelling

■ Hydraulically adjustable levelling tines for optimum levelling

■ Hydraulically adjustable levelling tines for optimum levelling

See you at Speed

BY ANDREW McLEAN, YARRIAMBIACK SHIRE MAYOR

Join Yarriambiack Shire Council at this year’s Mallee Machinery Field Days.

The town of Speed is hosting the twoday event in the north of Yarriambiack Shire.

The event is a celebration of our region’s agricultural industry and community.

It provides an opportunity to showcase new agricultural technology.

This important regional occasion attracts more than 8500 attendees and 350 exhibitors, some travelling from across Australia.

The event is organised by the Speed Lions Club, who do an excellent job to co-ordinate and grow the annual experience.

From humble beginnings in 1979, the Mallee Machinery Fields Days is now one of the biggest and most respected field days in the state.

It is a great example of our region’s volunteerism and our agricultural industry working hand in hand as the combined lifeblood of our economy and community.

On behalf of Yarriambiack Shire Council, I’d like to congratulate and thank the Speed Lions Club for their ongoing commitment to facilitating the two-day event that exhibits our region’s agricultural industry and provides an opportunity for social togetherness to both exhibitors and attendees alike.

Yarriambiack Shire council staff, including chief executive Tammy Smith and myself, will be in attendance to

engage with patrons. Visitors to our marquee site will be able to get further information on our council plan, council budget, and other strategies, as well as current and completed projects, raise concerns or requests, and also share feedback on issues available for public comment.

Council’s engagement van will also be in attendance to host fun children’s activities, new release books, as well as provide information on how to use Yarriambiack Libraries’ mobile service.

Council acknowledges the tremendous hard work and volunteer hours that are undertaken to deliver these events and wish the event committee, exhibitors and patrons a wonderful Mallee Machinery Field Days.

Ramping up for annual showcase

Mallee Machinery Field Days and Speed Lions Club president Chris Monaghan is welcoming people to the annual event, which will feature a host of new attractions and products among the traditional.

Mr Monaghan said the sites were getting bigger, and he was excited to see what was new in the field.

“Even for us, it’s good to see what’s gone ahead with technology. It’s a chance for us to see it too, we don’t really know until we get there exactly what is coming,” he said.

Mr Monaghan said planning was a year-round task with activity ramping up in the weeks before the event.

“We have had working bees to mow and mark out sites and started taking delivery of machines last week,” he said.

“It really ramps up that week before, we’re just flat out.

“People donate their time and loaders and telehandlers to unload the machinery, which is a pretty big job, but we’re all farmers, we know how it works with truck drivers and things.

“But what the exhibitors go through to get the gear here, they’re the ones who put in the most effort, I reckon.”

Mr Monaghan said the thousands of dollars generated by the event went to community groups and charities.

“We give away about $100,000 each year to the support groups that help us out – like football clubs, Lions clubs, schools, preschool group, emergency services – a lot of different organisations

“Preparation takes a fair while; people have to take time off from the farm – we’re spraying at the moment – so it’s a fair commitment.

around this area help us with things like cooking, parking and gates,” he said.

“We also give to hospitals, the Heart Foundation, the Stroke Foundation, the Royal Children’s Hospital – the money goes far and wide.

“Once upon a time, we did it without any of their help, but it’s just too big now and we rely on their help.”

Mr Monaghan said the club’s money-raising efforts set them apart from other Lions clubs, and exhibitors always gave good feedback.

“Now we just need the support of the public to come and finish it off,” he said.

“It works pretty well for everyone, and hopefully we can keep it going for a few more years.”

Grain Brokerage

Site,

technology, it has to justify itself and genuinely improve the way we operate.”

By 2024, the Beddison family had invested heavily in John Deere machinery and knew there was valuable information available through their precision agriculture systems. The challenge wasn’t a lack of technology—it was making everything work together.

“We’re

investing in

“We had mapping issues and were getting frustrated trying to access the information that was already available to us,” Karl explained. “Everything seemed disconnected. We really wanted

all of our machinery operating on the same platform so everything could collaborate together.”

Looking for someone who could help simplify the technology and unlock the full potential of the equipment they already owned, Karl turned to Collab Ag Director Jordan Lee.

“What started as a conversation over coffee quickly became a partnership built on practical advice, shared goals and a genuine understanding of how a family farming business operates.”

READY TO GET MORE FROM YOUR

Let’s talk about how we can help you work smarter, not harder.

Off the farm...

talk a lot about resilience in farming. And we talk a lot about community. In an age where we are increasingly reliant on technology, I don’t think you can ever underestimate the benefits of being face-to-face.

In agriculture, there’s never a shortage of reasons to stay home. Livestock need feeding, crops need monitoring, machinery needs repairing and there always seems to be one more job before you can head through the gate.

But sometimes the most productive thing you can do for your farm is leave it for a day.

That is why events like the Mallee Machinery Field Days at Speed are so important. They aren’t simply exhibitions of the latest machinery or technology – they are gathering places for a community that too often works in isolation.

Agriculture has always been built on relationships. Long before social media, farmers shared ideas over fences, at saleyards, local football clubs and field days. Those conversations remain just as valuable today.

When you spend time with others in the industry, you quickly realise that you’re rarely facing challenges alone. Whether it’s dry seasonal conditions, labour shortages, succession planning, rising input costs or adopting new technology, someone else has probably wrestled with the same issue and may have discovered a solution worth sharing.

That’s the power of community.

Stepping away from the farm also creates space to think differently. Away from the daily pressures, it’s easier to see opportunities rather than simply managing problems.

A conversation with another producer, an equipment supplier, an agronomist or a service provider might spark an idea that saves time,

AgVocate

with Paula Doran

improves productivity or opens the door to an entirely new way of operating.

There is another benefit that deserves equal attention.

Farming can be an incredibly rewarding profession, but it can also be isolating.

Many producers spend long hours working alone, carrying the weight of business decisions, weather events and financial pressures.

Taking time to connect face-to-face with others isn’t just good for business – it’s good for wellbeing.

With the growing focus on psychosocial welfare on our farms, we have the opportunity to stop and assess what we need to thrive on all levels.

A simple conversation over a coffee can provide perspective, encouragement or reassurance that cannot be replicated through emails or phone calls.

At Partners in Ag, building stronger and more connected farming communities sits at the heart of what we do.

We know that resilient farms are built by resilient people, and resilient people are supported by strong networks. We’re currently looking at the value we provide the farm sector and how best we can support the industry and community to build capability, resilience and community.

Watch this space!

In the meantime, for all those attending the Mallee field days, enjoy the time off farm.

Kenworth Legend special guest

Riordan Group managing director and 2025 Kenworth Legend Jim Riordan will officially open this year’s Mallee Machinery Field Days.

Also the event’s guest speaker, Mr Riordan was named Kenworth Legend for his outstanding contribution to the industry across about three decades.

He started his business Riordan in 1996 in Geelong with one tipper-truck, transporting grain and fertiliser to customers.

He has since diversified and expanded to include a suite of grain marketing, transport, storage, bulk commodity handling and packing services to both Australian and international clients.

Last year, the 60-yearold Riordan Fuels combined with Riordan Grain Services to form the Riordan Group, a family-owned Australian agribusiness with more than 60 years of experience in the fuel and grain supply chains.

The business has grown to deliver fully integrated fuel and grain services across regional Victoria, southern New South Wales, and international export markets.

Key information

Date: Wednesday, August 5 and Thursday, August 6.

Time: 8.30am to 5pm.

Location: 2574 Sunraysia Highway, Speed, Victoria 3488 – two kilometres south of Speed.

Admission: $15 and children under 15 years no cost.

Facilities: On-site parking and toilets, food and refreshment stalls, first-aid and Victoria Police, phone and mobile phone service and EFTPOS facilities.

Accommodation: No camping on site. Accommodation at Lascelles, Patchewollock, Woomelang, Sea Lake, Ouyen and Hopetoun. Camping facilities at Tempy, Lascelles, Woomelang, Ouyen, Sea Lake, Hopetoun and Nandaly.

More information: www.mmfd.com.au

Beyond sheds Collaborate, integrate, educate

Exhibitor profile

Action Steel

Action Steel, The Big Shed People, has been building farm sheds for cropping and livestock enterprises across Australia for more than three generations, and will showcase a new system at Mallee Machinery Field Days.

Now, the family business has moved beyond the shed itself with the launch of FumoFlow, a patent-pending grain shed and fumigation system with recirculation and ventilation.

The Mallee Machinery Field Days at Speed will be one of the first opportunities for growers to hear directly from the Action Steel team about how it works.

FumoFlow is a grain shed with a built-in fumigation system, designed to give growers more control over every stage of the fumigation process.

Recirculation technology moves fumigant through the full grain mass from the point of introduction.

Once the fumigation period is complete, the system switches to ventilation mode, clearing the shed to safe re-entry levels faster than passive methods and without requiring staff to enter the shed to start the process.

In March, Action Steel ran its first full-scale commercial phosphine fumigation trial using FumoFlow, on a shed storing 5420 tonnes of wheat.

Twelve independent monitoring probes were placed at both surface and floor level to capture readings across every part of the shed over 15 days.

Action Steel general manager Vince Grace

said two thresholds were commonly referenced across the industry as targets for effective phosphine fumigation.

“Five-hundred-and-fifty parts per million maintained for seven days is the benchmark for addressing phosphine-resistant insect strains, and 200ppm maintained for 10 days covers susceptible populations at all life stages,” he said.

“FumoFlow met both, across every probe location. Concentration peaked at an average of 1068ppm within 49 hours of introduction. Not one probe dropped below either threshold during the required exposure window.

“Probes at floor level and furthest from the fumigation boxes returned concentrations consistent with readings near the source, confirming uniform distribution across the full grain stack.”

Once fumigation was complete, the FumoFlow fans switched to ventilation mode and the shed reached safe re-entry levels in four days.

The entire cycle is managed from outside the shed, reducing operator exposure at every stage.

“With tighter phosphine workplace exposure limits coming into effect in December, that speed and control matters. It is a compliance advantage, not just an efficiency one,” Mr Grace said.

“We are proud to bring something genuinely new to grain growers.

“We built FumoFlow to solve a real problem – the trial gave us the data to show it works.”

People heading to the Mallee Machinery Field Days at Speed are invited to speak to the Action Steel team at site 98, where building consultants will be on hand to talk through FumoFlow and the full range of farm sheds.

To find out more about FumoFlow, a product of Action Steel, people can visit fumoflow.au or call 1800 68 78 88.

Exhibitor profile

Working as a diesel mechanic before gaining a diploma of agriculture and agronomy at Longerenong College, Collab Ag’s Jordan Lee has predominately worked in the John Deere dealer world, with experience with Elders, Nutrien and the like.

“That whole career has now come together for Collab Ag, a digital consultancy business,” Mr Lee said.

“I like to think that what I offer people is what they want – I don’t necessarily have a menu that I can show that I’ll come in and do X, Y, Z.

“It’s really sitting down, talking with the grower, and asking what they are trying to achieve, what is stopping them, and how we are going to go about achieving it.”

Mr Lee said there was a lot of ag tech for farmers to decipher and apply to their various businesses.

“The needs of the people I work with are very broad – they are all at different stages and levels of their businesses,” he said.

“They might want to know what they can do with data, or how to set up their farm so the machines will best run.

“Time is generally an issue for a lot of people – I can come in, make it happen, and let them grow. That’s when we start to really get on that journey. Once we have got the foundation right, I ask ‘what’s next, what’s next, what’s next?’ and really look at constant improvement.”

Mr Lee said three pillars were at the core of his business – collaborate and integrate and educate.

“I make sure that it’s not me doing everything for someone; teaching is a big part of the picture,” he said.

“On the integrate side of things, there are a lot of things that now plug together to get data flow – you don’t know what you don’t know.

“Then collaborate – growers have so many people in their businesses, so it’s asking who needs what data, and who needs to see what so we can start to streamline some of the processes and work efficiently to grow smarter together.”

After 20 years in the making, Mr Lee said Collab Ag started last year, when a former employer and mentor encouraged him to go out on his own.

“I was working for Lou Hausler, and he was chatting to me and said he thought I needed to go and do something for myself,” he said.

“I appreciate what Lou saw in me – he gave me a lot of personal and professional growth.”

Mr Lee welcomes people to visit him at Mallee Machinery Field Days.

Boost for Mallee farmers

Exhibitor profile

GWMWater

Cleaner, more reliable water is giving Mallee farmers a much-needed confidence boost as GWMWater rolls out its clean water project to more rural areas.

Rural pipeline customers across the region rely on water from the Murray River, where quality can vary due to natural turbidity, bluegreen algae and blackwater events – issues that can disrupt supply and create challenges on farm.

The clean water project addresses these problems by treating raw river water before it reaches customers, using processes including coagulation, flocculation and dissolved air flotation.

A pilot program in the Ouyen district, including upgrades at the Ouyen water treatment plant, supplied from Wemen, is already delivering strong results.

For many Mallee farms, pipeline water is primarily used for spraying broadacre crops, where poor water quality can block equipment and cost valuable time and money.

Ouyen district farmer Deane Munro, who crops 10,000 hectares of pulses, lentils, barley and wheat each year just west of the Ouyen township, said the water quality was noticeably better.

“Our meters and filters aren’t getting blocked anywhere near as

much, and the system is working much better,” he said.

“At the moment there’s two-and-ahalf sprayers going flat out, putting lots of tanks out a day.

“Having good quality water is really important for the quality of the spray job, and treating to reduce the impact of algae so our supply isn’t affected makes a big difference.”

Following the success of the pilot, stage two of the clean water project will be delivered through a joint investment of $13.56-million, including $5-million from the National Water Grid Fund and $8.56-million from GWMWater.

The next stage will expand water treatment to improve water quality

for rural customers supplied by the Nyah, Piangil and Waranga channel systems.

Once complete, the upgraded system is expected to treat about 1.8gigalitres of water each year.

GWMWater managing director Mark Williams said the benefits extend well beyond cleaner water.

“By treating water before it enters the system, we’re reducing disruptions caused by algae and turbidity and giving customers greater confidence the water will be there when they need it most,” he said.

“This isn’t just about cleaner water – it’s about giving farmers and families confidence in their future.”

For Mr Munro, that certainty is

“Knowing the water quality is there makes a big difference when you’re planning for the future”

– Deane Munro, left

already influencing future plans, including a potential return to more intensive sheep farming.

“Knowing the quality is there makes a big difference when you’re making those decisions,” he said.

The treatment process uses several key steps to clean river water before it enters the pipeline: coagulation involves adding compounds to help fine dirt, silt and algae particles clump together; during flocculation, gentle mixing forms larger particles that are easier to remove; and finally, dissolved air flotation introduces tiny air bubbles that lift the clumps to the surface so they can be skimmed off.

Crop Smart Exhibitor profile

Celebrating

20 years

Crop Smart will showcase its crop and protection products at this year’s Mallee Machinery Field Days, while celebrating 20 years of making a difference in farming communities.

Chief executive Sam Hole said Crop Smart was one of the few Australian-owned and independently operated agricultural businesses left in the market, and serviced a large part of southern Australia.

“We have a formulation plant in Melbourne, as well as a network of 16 stores across South Australia, Victoria and Southern New South Wales,” he said.

“We stock fertiliser, crop nutrition, seed, and crop protection, including fungicides, herbicides and insecticides.”

Mr Hole said the experienced and dedicated team offered expert advice and in-field support to deliver solutions to optimise farm productivity and profitability.

“Our local team, agronomists, and a crop nutrition expert will be at the Mallee Machinery Field Days to answer questions people may have about the season ahead,” he said.

“We are thankful of the farming community for all their support over the past 20 years and we look forward to supporting the community for another 20 years.”

People who visit Crop Smart’s site at the field days can enter the draw for the chance to win a barbecue.

Working widths from10 m to 36 m

Spreading system made completely from stainless steel

Spreading system made completely from stainless steel

Perfect double shutter control system for rate

Hopper volumes from 1000 L to 3000 L Simple toolless adjustments

Precise spread patterns even at working widths of up to 45 m

Precise spread patterns at working widths up

Monitoring and control of the application rate via the weighing system

AutoTS integrated boundary spreading system

ZA-V Special for simple and precise operation with hydraulic control

Smooth flowing hopper with capacities from 1400 L to 4200 L

Limiter V and V+ border spreading attachment for left or right side

GPS switch technology for up to 132 sections with ISOBUS Section Control

3200-5000 litre hopper capacity

Precise spread patterns even at working widths of up to 54 m

Monitoring and control of the application rate via the weighing system

AutoTS integrated boundary spreading system

Hopper volumes from 1400 L to 4200 L

GPS switch technology for up to 132 sections with ISOBUS Section Control

Designed for the long haul

and grain-storage operators to inspect their tarps before one of the busiest periods of the year begins.

A leaking tarp, or no tarp at all, during harvest can result in costly downtime, unexpected repairs and grain losses when every tonne counts.

For grain-carriers, the last thing they want to worry about is replacing a damaged tarp or fitting a new one on their trailer in the middle of the season, making it important to ensure their cover requirements are ready before harvest gets underway.

For growers storing grain on farm, now is the time to assess their storage protection and ensure existing bunker covers and ground sheets are still in good condition before harvest begins.

A quality tarp not only protects valuable grain from the weather, but also reduces the risk of contamination, minimises downtime and can provide many years of reliable service when properly maintained.

Australian agricultural tarp manufacturer, Ellis and Sons Group, know investing in high-quality, Australian-made tarps can help operators avoid unnecessary losses and down-

time, protect valuable produce and loads, and keep grain protected and trucks moving throughout the busy harvest period.

Ellis and Sons is a family-run business that has been operating in the textiles industry for 113 years, and during that time have developed industry-leading expertise and innovation in manufacturing tarpaulins for the agriculture and transport industries.

Under its brand Tail-Wind Tarps, the company manufactures both rollover and retractable tarp covers for trucks and trailers, and grain-bunker covers and ground sheets from its state-of-the art factory in Cowra, central western NSW.

They also supply all roll-over and retractable hardware, hay covers and field-bin covers among other products.

The company’s central location allows it to efficiently supply customers throughout eastern Australia.

Tarpaulin department manager Sarah Ellis said, like its longevity in business, the company’s tarps were designed for the ‘long haul’.

“We understand the tight timeframes our customers face during harvest, and our production capacity allows us to respond quickly during the busiest times of the year,” she said.

Miss Ellis said the company was committed to using premium-quality

materials while remaining competitively priced.

“Continued investment in modern manufacturing equipment has enabled us to produce large volumes efficiently, helping keep costs competitive without compromising quality,” she said.

To find out more about Ellis and Sons Group’s tarpaulin products, people can pay the team a visit at site 48 at the Mallee Machinery Field Days.

People can also call the team on 1800 808 769, email sales@ellisand sonsgroup.com.au or check the business out online at www.ellisandsons group.com.au.

The Lee’s Working Dogs

Exhibitor profile Dog trials new to schedule

In a Mallee Machinery Field Days-first, working dogs will be trialled across five sections, but in a casual environment.

Edenhope dog-trainer of family-run The Lee’s Working Dogs, Dave Lee, is running the event.

He said the emphasis was on bringing local people together.

“We do a lot of dog training in that area, so there’s a lot of potential with a lot of locals around who are excited about the trial,” he said.

“We thought it was a great opportunity to bring everyone together.

“We’re putting an emphasis on the local and encouraging sections, so new people and people who live on a farm who just want to come in and have a go in a relaxed setting can.”

The Lee family trials consistently throughout Australia – in the past fortnight, Mr Lee was at championships in both South Australia and New South Wales – and in 2021 sold a kelpie for a recordbreaking $35,200.

“We’ve got about 50 entries for the field days so far across the maidens, novice, improver, improver rover, and a local legend,” Mr Lee said.

“A lot of us – we love our dogs, it brings like-minded people together, and it’s something different to the machinery up there.

“In this day and age, there are a lot of enterprises run with livestock and cropping, and it’s a way that we get to demonstrate some quality stockmanship.”

BUILT FOR HARD WORK

With up to 10,000-litre capacity, ISOBUS, AutoSection, precise rate control, and many more features, COMMANDER delivers unbeatable performance and productivity.

BOOM WIDTH: 30-48.5m TANK CAPACITY: 6,500 / 8,500 / 10,000L

• Heavy duty chassis

• Petrol powered

• 400L integrated polyethylene tank

• Smooth ride tandem axle suspension

• Low pressure, high flotation 22 x 11.0 tyres

• External suction filter

• Flojet diaphragm pump

• Pressure regulation, gauge

• 3-way boom distribution

• Terrain following drawbar

• Choice of 6 or 8m booms

• 60S handgun with 6m hose

With its range of tank capacities and booms, the NAVIGATOR is a highly capable mid-size sprayer.

BOOM WIDTH: 18-36m TANK CAPACITY: 3,000 / 4,000 / 5,000 / 6,000L Hardi or Isobus control

FEATURING

Patent-pending fumigated grain sheds with recirculation and ventilation.

‘Universe first’

Exhibitor profile

Schinckel Hayrakes

Naracoorte-based Schinckel Hayrakes will showcase its latest innovation at the Mallee Machinery Field Days in Speed, with the launch of the 2 Row Turner – another innovative machine designed and manufactured in South Australia.

Schinckel Hayrakes owner Simon Schinckel said the new hayrake, a ‘universe first’, was the result of years of feedback from farmers looking for a more efficient way to manage wet hay.

“After receiving ongoing enquiries about developing a machine capable of turning multiple rows at once, I began designing a solution to improve productivity during one of the most time-consuming stages of hay production,” he said.

“The result is the Schinckel 2 Row Turner, a machine that does exactly what its name suggests – turning two rows of hay simultaneously while maintaining parallel rows ready for the next stage of the baling process.”

Mr Schinckel said turning wet hay could be a slow and costly operation when machinery was limited to handling one row at a time.

“The 2 Row Turner has been developed to help farmers cover more ground, reduce time spent in the paddock, and improve the efficiency of the haymaking process,” he said.

“The first model is a 16-reel machine, capable of turning rows between two and four metres wide. An 18-reel version is already on the drawing board, with further interest from farmers looking for increased capacity and versatility.

“The new design has also created opportunities for further development, including adapting

the 18-reel model into a conventional V rake configuration and incorporating an additional rake arm system.

“This will provide operators with a highly versatile machine capable of performing multiple haymaking functions.”

Visitors to the Mallee Machinery Field Days will also be able to see Schinckel Hayrakes’ other popular models, including the heavy-duty 15-reel One Line Rake, the Opener Series Rake, and the V Rake featuring the company’s ‘Simpler, Smarter, Safer, Sexier’ design philosophy.

Also on display will be the 18-reel dual backend rake, featuring rear steering, dual castors, and individual lift capability for each raking arm.

Mr Schinckel said the machine highlighted Schinckel Hayrakes’ ongoing commitment to innovation, flexibility and improving ease of operation for farmers.

“All Schinckel Hayrakes are designed and manufactured with practical farming needs in mind, focusing on reliability, ease of operation, and improved paddock performance,” he said.

“With every rake incorporating innovative features designed to make haymaking easier and more efficient, we have earnt a reputation for creating machinery that is ‘First in the Universe’ – a reflection of our commitment to challenging traditional design and delivering practical solutions for farmers.”

Visitors are invited to call in and see the Schinckel Hayrakes range at the Mallee Machinery Field Days and discover the latest innovations designed to make haymaking simpler, smarter and more efficient.

For more information regarding the rakes that Mr Schinckel will be displaying, people can call him on 0428 838 524.

Problem-solving on the spot

“They’ll come to us and say they’ve had a hell of an issue, a machine keeps blocking or they don’t have enough air, and we’ll sit down, we’ll problem solve with them.

Smallaire staff are looking forward to offering their services to farmers at ‘one of the best’ field days, at Speed next week.

With a focus on their air-seeder components and grain aeration products, Smallaire agricultural sales consultant Brett Luy said staff would be on-hand to offer expert advice.

“We encourage everyone to call in and say hello to us, particularly people who are having problems with machines,” he said.

“It’s the time of year when we do a lot of problem-solving – we’ll talk with farmers who have planted their crops.

“They just tell us some brief information, and nine times out of 10, we’ll know exactly what’s going on with them.”

Smallaire staff go to field days at places including New Zealand, Elmore, Henty, Longerenong and Gunnedah, and rate Speed’s event highly.

“Being Mallee, it’s not a huge field day, but it’s still one of our best field days we go to,” Mr Luy said.

“It’s one where we’re talking directly to a lot of the farmers, dealing directly with them – it’s always good.”

Preparing the next generation

Exhibitor profile

Longerenong College

As the world’s population continues to grow, agriculture is facing one of its biggest challenges, while presenting opportunities to Longerenong College students.

College marketing and business development

co-ordinator Brad Barber said a report by the World Resources Institute found global food production would need to increase by between 50 and 70 per cent by 2050 to meet demand from a population expected to reach nearly 10-billion people, up from about eight billion today.

“Meeting this challenge is driving significant growth across the agricultural sector and creating exciting opportunities for the next generation of industry professionals,” he said.

“Agriculture today looks very different to what it did even a decade ago.

“Technology, data and innovation are playing an increasingly important role in the way farms operate, from precision agriculture and digital mapping to advanced machinery, data analytics and improved workplace safety practices.”

Mr Barber said as a result, there was growing demand for skilled and qualified workers who could help the industry continue to be productive, sustainable and competitive.

“People entering agriculture need more than just an understanding of traditional farming practices – they also need the skills and knowledge to work with emerging technologies, meet industry standards and adapt to an industry that continues to evolve,” he said.

“Longerenong College is helping prepare the next generation of agricultural professionals through a range of industry-focused courses that combine practical learning with the skills employers are looking for.

“Importantly, agriculture offers far more op-

“Agriculture today looks very different to what it did even a decade ago. Technology, data and innovation are playing an increasingly important role in the way farms operate, from precision agriculture and digital mapping to advanced machinery, data analytics and improved workplace safety practices”

– Brad Barber

portunities than many people realise. While farming remains at the heart of the industry, only about 30 per cent of agricultural jobs are on-farm roles.

“Career pathways also exist in agronomy, finance, agribusiness, research, technology, data analysis and supply chain management.”

Longerenong College graduates can pursue careers across a wide range of agricultural sectors, reflecting the diversity and growth of the industry.

The college currently offers these qualifications: Certificate IV in Agriculture, available as a traineeship or on-campus program; Certificate IV in Wool Classing, delivered on campus; Diploma of Applied Agronomy, available on campus or online; and Advanced Diploma of Agribusiness Management, delivered on campus.

Prospective students, employers and industry representatives are encouraged to learn more about these pathways by visiting Longerenong College at the Mallee Machinery Field Days.

Annual open day

Longerenong College will also host its annual Open Day on Sunday, August 9, from 9am to 3pm, providing an opportunity to explore the campus, meet staff and students, and learn more about the many career opportunities available in agriculture.

For more information or to register for Open Day, people can visit longy.com.au.

Month puts safety under spotlight

Farming advocacy groups used this month’s Farm Safety Week to remind producers across Australia to prioritise personal and collective safety practices.

An initiative of Farmsafe Australia, Farm Safety Week is a national awareness campaign dedicated to promoting safe farming practices and preventing injuries and fatalities.

This year’s Farm Safety Week was from July 19 to 25, with a tagline of ‘Set the Standard: Show ’em how it’s done’.

To coincide with the campaign, Farmsafe Australia launched its annual Safer Farms Report, containing the latest national farm-injury and fatality data, emerging issues, practical resources and reports of farmers leading change across Australian agriculture.

The report revealed 53 people died and a further 182 were seriously injured on Australian farms in 2025, bringing the nation’s farm-death toll

to 427 since 2019 – an average of more than one person every week.

Farmsafe Australia chair Felicity Richards said while the report highlighted challenges facing Australian agriculture, it also provided reason for optimism.

“Most incidents don’t happen because people don’t care about safety. They happen during routine jobs, busy periods and moments of pressure when shortcuts begin to creep in,” she said.

“Whether we realise it or not, those moments matter because they become the standards we set and the standards others follow.

“Every day on Australian farms, people are watching. They watch how we approach a task, how we respond under pressure, what we walk past, what we accept and what we choose to challenge.”

The report shows tractors, side-bysides and quad bikes continued as the leading causes of fatalities on Austral-

McLellan takes lead

A passion for people and a decadeslong career in farming and agriculture has led Denise McLellan to her appointment as Longerenong College general manager.

Working across Australia in extension, industry development for plant breeding programs, marketing, communications and consultation, Ms McLellan has also worked with farm businesses in managing people and safety.

“That was really about helping farm businesses get the people side right –employing staff, supporting them and creating a positive culture,” she said.

“Through my work with the Victorian Farmers Federation, GrainGrowers and the National Farmers’ Federation, I spent a lot of time working in the advocacy space, particularly around workforce development and building the capability of people in farming and agriculture.

“I see coming to Longerenong College as a natural transition because I’m still working in farming and agriculture, but now I’m helping develop the emerging workforce and connecting students with the industries and businesses that need skilled people.”

Ms McLellan said nurturing independent, foundational thinking was

a priority, to ensure students in all courses at all levels would thrive in their chosen areas.

She said the college’s range of courses served about 500 students each year, from short courses to online learning, to on-campus study.

“If students want to go and work on a farm, they can go and work on a farm. If they want to work their way up to be a farm manager, they can do that, or they can go and work in industry,” she said.

“Our role is to give students the skills, confidence, practical experience and industry connections to pursue whichever pathway they choose.

“We want to develop the minds of young people so they can make good critical decisions, improve businesses and contribute positively to the future of agriculture.

“My core belief is that anything you want to do, you can do in ag – if you want to be a teacher or work in finance or mechanics or comms or genetics, anything you want to do, you can do in ag.”

ian farms. Ms Richards called for the industry to focus on small behaviours that could help build a stronger safety culture.

“It’s simple things like wearing a helmet, putting on a seatbelt, reducing speed and using rollover protection that can make a real difference,” she said.

The Victorian Farmers Federation, VFF, used Farm Safety Week to urge families to prioritise child safety following a series of recent on-farm accidents involving children.

VFF president Ryan Milgate said the incidents were a reminder that on-farm safety should always be a top priority.

“I can’t stress enough the importance of maintaining the highest possible safety standards on farm,” he said.

“Every farm accident is shocking, but when it involves a child there’s nothing worse.

“During school holidays we tragically see more accidents involving

kids and we need to do something about it.”

Mr Milgate encouraged farming families to use the VFF’s Making Our Farms Safer, MOFS, project – an initiative providing free resources to help identify hazards and improve safety on farms.

“Farmers can book a free farmsafety visit and download the Child Safety on Farms Guide to help create a safer environment for children living on or visiting farms,” he said.

“The MOFS farm-safety visits encourage everyone on farm, including children, to be aware of the dangers that exist and can tailor safety advice to suit everyone’s situation.”

The VFF launched MOFS this month ahead of update to dangerousgoods regulations on July 25.

Mr Milgate said while the regulations were updated to improve clarity, readability and regulatory intent, existing obligations for farmers and agricultural businesses managing

high-consequence dangerous goods remained unchanged.

He said the update was a reminder for farmers to revisit safety responsibilities and identify opportunities to improve workplace safety.

“Farm safety is about more than ticking boxes, it’s about creating practical systems that protect farmers, workers, families and everyone who visits a farm,” he said.

“Whether it’s reviewing chemical storage, machinery safety, workplace systems or preparing for changing regulatory requirements, our team can work alongside farmers to identify improvements that are realistic and achievable in person and on your farm.”

People can book a free farm-safety visit or access the Child Safety on Farms Guide by emailing mofs@vff. org.au or visiting makingourfarms safer.org.au.

1889, and I am passionate about reconnecting with our alumni,” she said.

“Our alumni have incredible knowledge, experience and networks, and there is a real opportunity for them to stay connected with the college, support current students and continue contributing to the future of agriculture.

and I really want to nurture that.”

Ms McLellan said the college’s annual open day – this year on August 9 – was an opportunity to showcase its features to all people, not just courses for prospective students and their families.

Longerenong College general manager Denise McLellan invites people to the college’s open day next month.

dents are learning in a real industry environment and building connections with the people and organisations they’ll work alongside throughout their careers.

“Our open day is the perfect opportunity to come and have a good look at everything we offer.

Ms McLellan said she would also like to see a reconnection with the college’s alumni.

“Longerenong College has been educating people in agriculture since

“There are so many passionate people who spent an important part of their lives at Longerenong College and have gone on to make significant contributions to agriculture.

“It could be in their community or it could be nationally, but they are looking to maintain and strengthen those relationships with the college

“There’s so much happening here, we have so many partnerships and relationships,” she said.

“We’ve got three plant breeding companies on site, Agriculture Victoria, the CFA, Stay Upright motorbike training, and we have lots of partnerships with a range of industry groups that are doing trials here.

“Those partnerships are incredibly important because they ensure stu-

“People can explore our facilities, learn about our courses and see firsthand the role the college plays in developing the next generation of agricultural professionals.”

For more information on Longerenong College and its open day, people can visit website longy.com.au.

– Bronwyn Hastings