July 2011

Big month for mallees

July has been a big month for mallees, as this issue of FFI CRC E-news reflects. Early in the month, details were announced of a new alliance between Future Farm Industries CRC, Virgin Australia, Renewable Oil Corporation and Dynamotive Australia. GE, manufacturer of jet engines, is also keen to join. The alliance will work together to create an industry that brings mallee biomass from trees on farms to biofuel for the aviation industry. This alliance is good news for farmers with mallees in the ground, promising a much needed, and potentially lucrative, market for mallee biomass.

And throughout July, harvesting trials of the new prototype mallee harvester have continued and returned stunning results. The mallee harvester has been greatly anticipated by farmers with trees in the ground and others in the industry. Recent trials indicate there is every reason for excitement to be building around this new innovation.

Kevin Goss CEO

Mallee harvester marching on

The prototype mallee harvester, launched in Narrogin, Western Australia, April 2010, has just completed major trials in New South Wales and Victoria. It processed more than 200 tonnes of biomass with minimal hitches, and handled trees up to 10m tall and over 150mm trunk diameter.

New alliance brightens mallee future

An alliance between the Future Farm Industries CRC, Virgin Australia, the Renewable Oil Corporation and Dynamotive Australia is set to turn mallees into a sustainable fuel source for the aviation industry. The agreement between the organisations was announced in July and should provide the impetus needed for expanding the mallee industry. The partnership aims to develop a full scale commercial plant in Western Australia.

EverGraze leadership changes hands

Angela Avery's recent resignation from EverGraze created gaps in the leadership team that will be filled by Kate Sargeant, Department of Primary Industries Victoria and Paul Sanford, Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia.

Soil carbon under perennials

The question of soil carbon under permanent perennial pastures was made all the more relevant by the recently legislated Carbon Farming Initiative and the Australian Government Climate Change Plan’s commitment to purchasing carbon credits from farmers. In this article, Kevin Goss, CEO of Future Farm Industries, explores the issue.

New on Future Farm Online

New information is always being uploaded onto www.futurefarmonline.com.au. Check out the following:

A fact sheet on encouraging recruitment of native perennial grasses: www.futurefarmonline.com.au/research/future-livestock-production/perennial-pasture-establishment.htm

A series of 10 fact sheets on establishing tropical perennial grasses:

www.futurefarmonline.com.au/research/future-livestock-production/tropical-grasses.htm

For coming events, go to the calendar: www.futurefarmonline.com.au/calendar.htm

DISCLAIMER: The information in this document has been published in good faith by Future Farm Industries CRC Limited to promote public discussion and to help improve farm profitability and natural resource management. It is general information and you should obtain specialist advice on the applicability or otherwise of the information in this document.

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