Winter 2022 Newsletter

10 July 2026 by

Tim & Amber Scott Admin

THE BUBBLE

There are many people more qualified to speak on economic vagrancies than I, however it seems from here that the writing is on the wall in the long winter of 2022.

After such a staggering period of growth in everything from commodities to real estate & shares, the handbrake has definitely been jerked on with the RBA now expecting 7% inflation in the near future and adjusting interest rates accordingly. “Bubble” is a word that comes to mind.

We think we have no control over spiraling costs and crashing markets; but by sticking to the fundamentals, I reckon we can do more than we think.

When it comes down to it, Food and Energy are the only things essential for life. Everything else is fluff you can do without. Warm fluff, but fluff all the same.

Agriculture is at the forefront and Figure 1 above shows the effect of the last financial crisis on the international Agri-food trade (not much); highlighting the resilience of the food sector in times of adversity.

So as farmers, we of course want customers to buy our Australian grown produce over imported product. Most of us see the damage supermarkets and multinational food processors do in depleting the value and quality of our produce and blocking transparency from paddock to plate.

Ironically however, we often don’t see the same issues in our farm INPUT supply chains.

In the same way that consumers buying smallgoods from Europe, canned vegetables from China or seafood from S.E. Asia destroys local producers’ businesses; buying farm gates & steel from China, wire from Indonesia and fertiliser from Canada does the same thing to our local supply businesses. Our actions makes other Australian owned businesses less resilient.

We expect farm produce customers to ask the hard questions of their food suppliers- “where is this from”, “how was it produced”, but then take the “she’ll be right” attitude in purchasing farm inputs.

It’s no secret that agriculture has been on the receiving end of declining terms of trade for many decades. An anomaly like 2021 where commodity price increases exceeded input cost rises has quickly been bought back to the status quo in 2022. But what isn’t said is that the exporting of money for increasing farm input costs largely goes to a small number of (overseas) mega corporations.

It’s time to fix this mess and holistic thinking is the first step. Does your farm business have a purchase policy for Australian inputs? Do you know if the shop, the distributor and the manufacturer that’s supported by your purchases is Australian owned? If not, do they pay tax in Australia or do they export profits?

Keeping money circulating in OUR system may be considered Nationalistic, but it isn’t against the law and is the only way to stem the tide of wealth exportation.

500g / Steer / Day extra gain from Oats in 3 weeks.

In human, animal or soil health, the role of microbes still isn’t well understood. When a trial result of 60% extra growth is recorded on a Certified Organic (NOP if required) probiotic liquid feed input, it’s worth taking notice of – in any language.

The Big Rebrand!

The Kandanga Farm Store has been the physical home of Bos Rural for the past few years.

For some, this dual brand has been confusing.

So, with our WA Bos Vet & Rural sister store now changing direction slightly, we think it’s time to consolidate brands. The Bos Rural name will gradually be phased out with Kandanga Farm Store (KFS) branding replacing it!

What that means for you? Not much really. Web addresses will be re-directed to the Farm Store online shop and those receiving monthly accounts will notice some branding changes, but bank accounts and all other details stay the same. We currently maintain social media pages for both Bos Rural and Kandanga Farm Store and over the coming months the two Facebook pages will be integrated so all your updates will be in the one place!

“Bos”, for those who didn’t know, is the genus of Cattle. Bos Taurus & Bos Indicus are derived from this. There are however a lot of Bos businesses around, so we are just keeping our Wholesale division under the Bos banner and switching the rest.

Thanks to all those (hundreds) who completed our customer survey. With your help, KFS will now further grow it’s footprint as Australia’s first Regenerative Agriculture Superstore. We are already noticing changes with multinational competitors cherry picking profitable parts of the business and adding this to their (mostly) degenerative product range; however everyone actually operating in this space knows knowledge is the key ingredient in moving away from “conventional” ways not products.

On that note, what a great lineup of events coming up through July, August and September and WE’VE NOW GOT A YOUTUBE CHANNEL! Regenerative Ag, tips and product news. Have a look and Subscribe for updates.

Events Calendar

2022 Events:

July 30: Flatten your Hydrograph – The Creek Doctor Peter McAdam.

August 16-19: HRM Courses 1 & 2 Finalised (Fully booked for 2022- express interest in 2023 now!)

September 2: Agvention “Regen Ag Instore Day”.

September 10-12: Regenerative Syntropics 3-Day Course – Scott Hall

The game-changer for regenerative ag. Scott has a broad-scale cropping and share trading background but sees the future for agriculture in Regenerative Syntropics. One not to miss!

For more information on Events or to use our great facility for yours- [CONTACT US]]and follow our social media pages.

FHE can be included in water or liquid feeds at 50ml/hd/day (at 20l drum price this is 45c/day or 19c in IBC size). For steers on crop this is a return of 14X!

Weaners on FHE are quieter and adjust faster and breeders handle stress (eg calving) better. More information on our website for this great new product!.

Cover Crop VS Synthetic Fertiliser

Bos multi-species BARE cover crop & pasture seed mixes now have a well-earned reputation for land regeneration with tens of thousands of hectares planted down. Our CC mixes are all germination tested and designed to build soil microbial populations and add nutrients naturally and slowly (including N).

In a recent Kandanga Farm trial it was estimated that the N equivalent of 200kg/ha was fixed (Urea would have to be applied at 600kg/ha to match this). In addition, in one of the worst paddocks on the farm, the mix yielded over 6500kg dry matter across 3 grazings (around double the control paddock). Soil carbon levels are to be measured next month.

200kg/ha of a TFF custom blend was applied prior with the only other input a spray of Soil Life and Micronised Lime at $20/ha. The mix was planted with a fertiliser spreader and mulched over meaning all input costs were about half the Urea equivalent cost with the extra grazing a bonus- and an integral part of the system.

Summer mixes are now formulated so [CONTACT US] now for pre-order details.

Agvention 2.0- It’s Back!

Big News- September 2nd the Regen Ag Field Day is finally back after a Covid & Mandate induced coma.

Luckily for us Nic, as a National Finalist in the AIRR group’s Young Guns awards, has taken on the challenge of running Agvention 2.0.

An instore day with a fantastic line-up of guest speakers and displays on all things Regenerative.

If you missed it last time, don’t this time! Rarely is so much information so readily accessible on the topics that matter.

Everyone is invited along to support Nic and the many suppliers who see a future in regenerative agriculture.

The Creek Dr. Peter McAdam!

Learning how to read and rehabilitate your farm water system is invaluable. In the good times our creeks and rivers are taken for granted and in the bad times, often abused. During the past 3 years we’ve seen hydrographs fluctuating wildly. What can we do on farm to get prepared now for the next drought or flood (both are coming)? Landscape hydration through moisture retention is key to not only productivity but also fire prevention and biodiversity. We can learn the expensive way through trial and error, or spend a day with the Creek Doctor and come up with a plan to manage our waterways for better environmental and production outcomes.

New Products.

A better way to stay! Stay kits using our NEW concrete stay plate, 40 or 50NB steel pipe stays and adaptors for any type of strainer post, this is faster, longer lasting and more versatile than any other solution. From Electric Fencing through to Exclusion fencing, do it yourself by choosing the combination of accessories from our easy choice table.

Watch here our first YouTube clip to DIY your next fencing job using these Aussie Made STAY KITS combined with (Steel Tuff Aussie posts) for a great electric fence end stay.

The REGEN REGION!