Australian native, the long-haired rat. Rattus villosissimus profusus picture credit score Kristian Bell, Shutterstock
THE ESTABLISHMENT of broadacre farming in north-west Queensland has hit its newest hurdle with with native rats decimating promising grain crops over the previous 12 months.
Rat injury comes on prime of different challenges, particularly excessive freight prices, lengthy distances to port, and restricted experience in storing grain and agronomy.
The area’s harvest ended two weeks in the past, and confirmed the influence rats have had on chickpeas, which flourish within the soils and local weather of components of north-west Qld.
On prime of beneficial costs, this yr noticed robust curiosity within the crop.
Nutrien Ag Options Cloncurry-based agronomist Angus Dalgliesh stated the rat injury considerably lower the yields throughout the area.
“The overall consensus was that it was a bit disappointing,” Mr Dalgliesh stated.
He stated the rats “got here in so onerous and quick on the finish” of the season, consuming the crops simply earlier than harvest.
“A tough estimate is there was something from 1000-3000 rats a hectare.”
He stated rats up to now yr have broken all crops planted within the area, from forage crops to cotton, grain sorghum, and mungbeans.
“There was one grower there who misplaced 1000ha of mungbeans that have been irrigated.
“He didn’t put a header in…as a result of there was nothing value harvesting.
“I’ve had some fairly onerous conversations with growers who’ve had crops impacted by rats.”
AgForce president-elect and north regional president Shane McCarthy stated the elevated uptake in rising sorghum and chickpeas has created a brand new meals supply for native rats.
“Now we have had the next variety of rats within the final 12 months versus regular,” Mr McCarthy stated.
“The rats began round Cloncurry and have slowly moved their manner additional and additional east.”
Mr Dalgliesh stated growers have been in a position to bait for the native rat after the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) issued an emergency allow for zinc phosphide baits.
In pressure from 22 Could 2024 to 31 Could 2025, the allow permits growers to make use of the bait to curb long-haired rat numbers in grain and forage sorghum, cotton, mungbeans, and chickpea crops.
Classes for subsequent season
Mr Dalgliesh stated growers will make modifications to their farming operations following the disappointing harvest.
“We will plan to have extra bait or be ready for it.
“All of the growers that I’m coping with are saying, ‘let’s have bait within the shed and let’s be ready as a result of it’s almost certainly going to occur once more’.”
He stated there was nonetheless optimism for cropping in north-west Qld, particularly for rising chickpeas.
“There’s nonetheless that optimism there; chickpeas are going to be one of many crops that most likely help the grain business and the event of northern agriculture as a result of they develop rather well.”
He stated chickpeas have been additionally at present extra worthwhile than different grain crops, comparable to sorghum.
“We’ve tried some grain sorghum however the worth per tonne and freight kills the margin.
“If we’re going to develop grain sorghum, we should be rising large tonnages.”
Regardless of the crop injury, the scale of the chickpea crop exported out the Port of Townsville was the biggest dealt with by transport and logistics firm Sizer & Cogill, which operates the one grain container-packing facility close to the Port of Townsville.
The Sizer & Cogill facility has supplied bulk-storage and container-packing providers since 2020.
In mid-2023 the corporate started setting up a facility close to the Port which features a weighbridge and silos in addition to a brand new storage shed and short-term storage pad.
Sizer & Cogill co-owner Jamie Sizer stated the crew completed packing the final of the crop in mid-September.
He stated elevated curiosity from districts areas comparable to Julia Creek and Richmond was driving bigger tonnages by means of the port.
“The chickpea crop is the most important we’ve had because it began as a result of there are much more acres grown in that western space,” Mr Sizer stated.
Freight challenges
Though Sizer & Cogill is filling one hole available in the market, northern Queensland grain growers proceed to face important challenges in transporting their crops to market.
At present grain can solely be exported in containers through the Port of Townsville, creating larger freight prices for growers.
Mr Sizer stated the corporate was working with the Port of Townsville to allow bulk grain exports.
He stated it was anticipated that bulk exports may begin this yr, however the regulatory course of was not finalised in time.
“We are going to hopefully be up and operating for April subsequent yr, all going effectively.”
Storages sought
North Qld’s up-country grain-storage choices are restricted, with Maxwelton Feed & Grain providing the one grain-handling facility within the area.
Situated south of the Townsville-Mt Isa railway line at Maxelton, between Richmond and Julia Creek, it was accomplished in late 2023.
Earlier this yr, the Qld Authorities supplied $2 million in funding for the Richmond Shire Council to assemble a common-use grain dealing with facility at Maxwelton.
Its proposed website is north of the railway line and, like the brand new cattle loading yards adjoining, will characteristic rail entry to the Port of Townsville, with highway entry through the Flinders Freeway an alternate.
Mr McCarthy stated AgForce welcomed any new funding within the northern agricultural business.
“The northern a part of Australia is the final bastion of improvement that hasn’t been accomplished.
“Any funding within the north is constructive.”
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