Hi everyone, I’m James, a 5th generation farmer and I work with my parents Sue and Andrew Russell who took over the operations from my mum’s parents around 27 years ago. Our family farm is located in North-East Victoria at Rutherglen, within a wine region that attracts tourists due to its proximity to the Murray River, mountains and of course the boundless wineries. Lilliput Ag is part of a wider family business that includes Baker Seed Co.
Together, we farm 2500 hectares of entirely dryland winter cropping, 2200 hectares that we dedicate to cereal and pulse seed production and 300 hectares where we utilise pasture for seed production and prime lamb grazing. On our cropping hectares we primarily grow wheat and canola as our soils are not conducive to barley varieties due to the acidic soil type.
Our soils are red/grey duplex over clay. The heavy acidic clay beneath a very small amount of topsoil serves as an unbelievably good moisture reservoir which in years such as this, whilst causing the plant to utilise more energy, has ensured all the moisture delivered in the growing season has been able to be accessed by the plants.
The 30-year average rainfall for our farm is 590mm per calendar year with around 400mm in growing season (March – November). To date we have received 220mm in the 2024 growing season. This year, we are very much teetering on a knifes edge. Two weeks ago, our property was affected by the widespread brazen frost. Whilst we budget for frost based on our historical experience, it’s disappointing and the full impact of this frost event is not yet known. The season has seen us constantly reviewing and adjusting our plans in terms of spray programs and fertiliser schedules due to the staggered germination of the crops. Our agronomists’ input has played a huge part in our decision-making process this year as we have negotiated the challenges presented by the season.
Due to the dry year, we have had an elevated requirement for supplementary sheep feed, so right now we have silage cut on the ground in preparation for baling in the next couple of days depending on the conditions. Strategic cutting for hay will continue over the next couple of weeks as we look to control areas of problem rye grass and take the opportunity to replenish our feed stocks with good quality hay the only issue being the increased requirement for seasonal labour. Lilliput Ag employ seasonal staff every harvest and have found that folks backpacking Australia have been the perfect fit for our business as it provides mutual benefits on many levels. We love welcoming backpackers to our farm as it gives our full-time employees an opportunity to meet new friends, experience different cultures and ideas but equally as important, it provides our staff with an opportunity to train staff and effectively become leaders. We have hosted backpackers from countries including France, Japan and Estonia.
This year we have found that increased fertiliser inputs have been required to replenish the nutrients depleted from the soil in recent heavy biomass production years however without the rain we’ve effectively got a below average crop against above average inputs meaning our ability to break even becomes even more difficult.
I’m a huge advocate for sustainability and I believe that as custodians of the Australian land we have an amazing opportunity to embrace soil health principles and continue to improve the profiles of our soils. Our farm management practices are ever improving and it’s important that we highlight what we are doing as an industry to the broader population.
This year I had the opportunity to be a part of GrainGrowers’ Australian Grain Leaders Program (AGLP). My project was based around giving young farmers the skillset and the knowledge to be able to buy into their own farm. The AGLP has given me the opportunity to have a bit of self-belief, understanding that you are on your own pathway, and that pathway is just as important as everyone else’s. I’d highly recommend anyone thinking about applying for the GrainGrowers program to do so next year.
I’m proud to be an Australian farmer as we farm in some of the most difficult conditions globally and collectively our persistence and integrity is boundless. We grow crops where it was once thought impossible to do so and we make our businesses profitable in volatile conditions year after year. We do the tough stuff really well, and against the odds, most times we make it work. Seasons like this can be tough on our mental health, so its important that while we can’t help each other financially or operationally, we can be there looking out for each other.