Farmers to discover mustard’s bite

Farmers can learn more about this drought-tolerant GM-free oilseed crop at the free ‘Yandilla Mustard Growers Roadshow’ at Soul Food Cafe on February 20.

Yandilla Mustard co-op is expecting more than 100 farmers to discover the power of mustard with support from a highly successful Australian Government program called Farming Together.

Wheatbelt farmers can learn about this high-value, boutique crop at the free workshops covering topics such as growing the crop, the processing investment opportunity and the structure of the Yandilla Mustard Co-Op.

Yandilla Mustard started about 30 years ago in Wallendbeen by the Wetherall family and has grown to produce 200 to 300 tonnes of mustard seed annually.

Reaching farm succession, the Weatheralls got support from the Farming Together program.

Yandilla was assigned an expert, David Ward, a Dubbo agronomist, who helped with the 2016 crop at Gilgandra and Inverell.

“It was a great crop and we had two new growers that were very enthusiastic and want to grow more,” he said.

With the owners now retiring, Mr Ward with the Wetherall family thought of ways to keep Yandilla Mustard’s legacy going, which was how the idea of moving Yandilla to the central west came about.

“Why not have it based in the Dubbo, Narromine, Gilgandra type areas which is on the road and rail links and close to growing areas for the crop?” he said.

Mr Ward said mustard is very suitable for growing in the central-west and western wheatbelt regions of NSW.

“It is important for farmers to spread risk and for rotational purposes, let alone the reliable profitability that the mustard crop can deliver,” he said.

“Farmers have heard, understood and signed up. It spreads their production risk and offers them new growing and marketing options.

“Enthusiasm and commitment by farmers will give Yandilla Mustard a good platform in terms of productivity capacity. They can then take that to customers to match demand.”

Farming Together program director Lorraine Gordon said Yandilla offers options for an Asian-centric marketplace based on robust Australian agronomy.

“We endorse the work of Yandilla for the benefit of central-west NSW fellow farmers,” Ms Gordon said.

Farming Together has assembled around 200 of Australia’s leading agri-consultants who are providing specialist help to 730 groups, involving almost 20,000 primary producers nationally – and all within 16 months.

The Farm Co-operative and Collaboration Program (known as Farming Together) is a two-year, $13.8 million initiative from the Australian Government designed to help agricultural groups value-add, secure premium pricing, scale-up production, attract capital investment, earn new markets or secure lower input costs.

The free workshops are:

 Soul Food Cafe, Danadloo Street – Narromine 7:30am, February 20.

 Armatree Hotel, Merrigal Street – Armatree 12:30pm, February 20.

 Railway Hotel, Molong Street – Condobolin 7:30am, February 21.

 Nyngan RSL and Civic Club, Pangee Street – Nyngan 7:30am, March 7.

To find out more visit www.farmingtogether.com.au

To register your interest in the workshop visit www.yandillamustard.com