Opportunities in wool classing
Demand for wool classers is matching a significant shortage of shearers across Australia, opening fresh opportunities for highly paid work across southwest Victoria.
South West TAFE is starting new wool-classing courses at the end of February in Hamilton, Mortlake and Winchelsea and expects demand to be strong as the wool industry seeks skilled workers.
Australian Wool Innovation Wool Harvesting Training and Development program manager Craig French said wool classing was one of the great in-demand jobs in the wool industry.
“It is a highly sought-after role that is an essential part of the industry,” he said.
Mr French added there would be opportunities for new graduates.
“The Australian wool industry is the lifeblood of many rural towns and communities and has a bright future,” he said.
South West TAFE wool-classing teacher Stuart Macpherson said the entire wool industry was in need of workers, which was opening great opportunities for trained people.
“There has been a lot of focus on the shortage of shearers, but it’s the same for wool handlers and wool classers,” he said.
“Because of the shortages, many farms have had to pay higher than award rates to attract people.”
Wool classing is listed as a Job Trainer course, meaning eligible people can study at low cost.
Certificate IV in Wool Classing graduates can register with the Australian Wool Exchange to receive an Australian classer registration, allowing them to work as registered classers in shearing sheds anywhere in Australia.
Mr Macpherson said the course focused on practical skills, with students working with wool to learn about its characteristics and the requirements for classing following the Australian Wool Exchange code of practice for how the wool clip is to be prepared.
“Another important part of being a wool classer is supervising the other wool handlers in the shed and the management of contamination,” he said.
“It is very much leading a team environment and they take on responsibility to manage and instruct the team so they need a well-rounded knowledge of the tasks of a wool handler as well as classing.”
Woolproducers Australia chief executive Jo Hall said parts of Australia were experiencing a significant shortage in shearers, which had led to above-award rates being paid.
She said Woolproducers was coordinating efforts with relevant industry stakeholders at a national level and had been working on medium and longer-term plans to address attraction and retention issues in the wool-harvesting sector.
Bogballe is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of fertiliser spreaders. This is because it constantly works on developing better techniques for spreading fertiliser.
With a concentrated focus on a single product line, Bogballe can ensure its customers that they are investing in the best technology that is backed by a true specialist in the field.
Bogballe has just released some new innovations. One of them is the Calibrator Totz, a new controller with a touch panel that uses direct-option keys.
The exceptional design of the Calibrator Totz provides an easy-to-use logical and intuitive interface. This controller will mostly be used in cases where the tractor does not have ISOBUS capabilities.
The two main ranges of Bogballe spreaders are the high-volume M-line Series and the mid-sized L-line Series.
The latest Bogballe M-line spreaders are packed with features that will meet the needs of larger farmers and contractors. They provide higher capacities, greater efficiency and more GPS technology to make spreading easier.
Bogballe has considered every detail when it designed the M-line spreaders. They have an attractive look with LED lights integrated into the reflector board and lots of other smart features.
The three models in the range are the M35W, M45W and M60W, with carry capacities of 3500kg, 4500kg
and 6000kg respectively. A range of expandable sides is available so all models can be sized-up to suit the requirements of a farming or contracting business.
For M-line spreaders Bogballe has a designed a flexible outlet that provides application rates up to 650kg/min. They can also work a micro outlet that can spread seeds from 3kg/ha.
Changing between different settings
has now also been made easier with a specially designed tool that rotates the flow-outlet above each spinner.
The outlet controls the exact rate in conjunction with the fully automated weighing technique and the double shutter on each side of the hopper. The shutters open asymmetrically to ensure that the drop point stays correct regardless of the forward speed and application rate setting.
L-line models offer carrying capacities of 500-2050 litres. Like the M-line, L-line spreaders deliver reliability and impressive accuracy.
With their advanced features, Bogballe spreaders can help reduce excess nitrogen application on fields and into waterways.
Firstly, all Bogballe spreaders are fitted with a simple border control mechanism. When activated, it changes the spread pattern to place the fertiliser only up to the border.
Secondly, Bogballe electronic controllers with section control. All have GPS compatibility and can be integrated with most GPS systems.
With GPS guidance, the spreader can control the placement of the fertiliser by adjusting the application rate or shutting the spreader off automatically when driving over previously spread areas. It also provides automatic off-on when driving into and out of the headlands. These controllers also help monitor and measure the amount of fertiliser spread in the field with proof of placement.
Thirdly, weigh scales continuously measure the actual fertiliser in the hopper and adjusts the flow rate in relation to any changes in ground speed or the flow of the fertiliser in order to maintain the target quantity – kg/ha.
This system provides more accuracy, and it is easier to operate because the spreader is fully automatic, which includes calibration.
Lastly, Bogballe spreaders use the ‘in-centre’ spreading principle, whereby the spreading discs turn into the centre. With this system, each disc spreads fertiliser a full 180 degrees and the spread patterns overlap each other to create a double overlap in one pass.
The result is in a highly accurate and precise spreading pattern.
The benefits are lower environmental impacts and higher on farm profits, so it is a win-win situation.
Bogballe spreaders are imported to Australia by Techgrow. For more information call (08) 8842 1384.
Member for Ripon Louise Staley believes plans to classify animal manure as industrial waste represents a blow for farmers in her electorate.
Ms Staley said news the State Government was proceeding with the plans would impose significant restrictions on where farmers could store, transport and use animal manure.
She said the Environment Protection Authority had decided that from July 1, manure would come under an industrial-waste classification.
“This is extremely disappointing and a massive blow to farmers right across Ripon,” she said.
“This move will whack farmers with another lot of red tape they don’t need, at a time when the burden of red tape needs to ease on farmers.
“Animal manure clearly is not industrial waste. The EPA has been told this time and again by farmers, but from their offices in the middle of Melbourne, the EPA has completely ignored them.
“The re-use of animal manure has been part of farming for centuries and has been done without risk to farmers, communities and consumers.”
Many Wimmera-mallee agricultural businesses have been reaping the rewards of strong harvests in the region throughout the past few years.
This is particularly the case for shed manufacturers and businesses offering a range of storage solutions for grain, hay and machinery.
Brad and Vicki Mcdonald started Mcdonald Steel in Horsham in 1998, predominantly selling steel to the public.
Since then, the family business has expanded to two locations and employs 16 people.
Mrs Mcdonald said the past couple of years had been great for the region’s agricultural sector.
“This in turn has seen an increase in people wanting coverage of their hay and machinery,” she said.
“Mcdonald Steel is a very progressive company and has always been busy servicing the local region and interstate, which is a testament to the quality and reliability of our sheds.
“If you are requiring a shed for hay season we always recommend to get in early and beat the rush.”
Mrs Mcdonald said the business’s ability to manufacture its own iron and ‘C’ purlins, which go into the sheds, allowed it to keep jobs and money in the region. She said Mcdonald Steel was the only shed fabricator in regional Victoria that rolled its own iron and ‘C’ purlins.
“This means we can make sure all products are freshly rolled and ready to go for the clients,” she said.
“Clients also benefit from us being able to somewhat control the pricing of iron and purlins in an unstable market, where most companies would see bigger-than-normal price increases upon them.”
Mrs Mcdonald said the business serviced the Wimmera, Mallee and Grampians as well as further afield.
“We service both South Australia and New South Wales, along with the odd shed in Queensland,” she said.
“If we can freight it, we can and will service those areas.”
Mrs Mcdonald said the Mcdonald Steel team prided itself on the quality of its work.
“We essentially have more steel in our sheds than our competitors,” she said.
“You can see the difference in a Mcdonald Steel shed – give us a call to find out more.”