Category: Blog

Manildra Group’s stockfeed division specialists are excited to re-launch our dedicated horse feed as Manildra Equine, established in 1962 as Winning Post.

The first product launched in the much-anticipated Manildra Equine brand, Performance Horse has been expertly crafted to support high-performing working horses towards champion status.

Formulated and recommended by leading equine vets and nutritionists, Manildra Equine Performance Horse feed guarantees endurance, speed and rapid recovery.

As a superior feed solution, the wide-ranging benefits of this high-performance feed include:

LOW SUGAR AND STARCH
For high energy yet less than 15 per cent sugar and starch, preventing common health issues in horses.

PRE-COOKED GRAIN
Processed with high heat and steam to provide an optimum ingredient for repeated fast sprints.

A COMPLETE HARD FEED
Heavily fortified with essential nutrients, designed to enhance and improve horse performance, hoof health, physical appearance and overall health.

IMMUNE-BOOSTING
Full of minerals such as copper, zinc, manganese, selenium, iodine and chromium, plus many antioxidants, to protect hard-working muscles.

BIOTIN ADDED
For improved hoof condition.

MUSCLE-BUILDING
Containing many essential amino acids necessary for proper muscle-building, and high levels of chromium proven to prevent muscle breakdown.

FEED LESS
A complete feed option with a superior quality, nutrient-dense profile, high energy content and digestibility.

Manildra Equine Performance Horse feed has already been adopted by established equine enterprises including industry leader Anto White’s Belltrees, in the NSW Hunter Valley.

“We are feeding about 1kg of Performance Horse pellets per horse per day, alongside hay, and the feed has been a phenomenal success,” said Mr White.

“Despite the drought conditions, the horses are in great condition, showing a good topline and strong hindquarters with shiny and healthy coats – so we are extremely happy with the feed.”

Manildra Group National Stockfeed Manager Tim Wirth said those results were consistent with the feedback being received on Performance Horse.

“Our premium-quality ingredients, coupled with a unique and innovative production process with a set recipe, have allowed breeders and owners to be confident in our Manildra Equine performance pellet,” said Mr Wirth.

“Already we have seen equine enterprises choose our pellet as their preferred feed option for better horse health and competitive advantage.”

With success looking different on every horse – from polocrosse ponies to campdrafting horses – give your horse a head start and organise your delivery of Manildra Equine Performance Horse today.

Performance Feed On Track To Winning Post

Get in touch with our specialised stockfeed team on 02 4423 8300 or at stockfeed@manildra.com.au

Beyond the Black Stump at Merriwagga – an iconic area of Australian pioneering history on the Kidman Way in the NSW northern Riverina – lies the 7000ha Belmore dryland cropping enterprise.

Operated by the Shaw family since 1967, with husband and wife Allana and Mitch at the helm, Belmore has been supplying high-protein wheat to the all-Australian, family-owned Manildra Group for more than a decade.

With average rainfall of 350mm, the Shaws are well-versed at dealing with dry spells.

“Last year was very tight,” Mr Shaw told The Cultivator.

“Unfortunately we had very little rain right through the growing season until late September and October, which was too late.

“When it came to harvest, we harvested everything we had – with yields ranging from one tonne a hectare down to 200kg.”

But while last year’s yield was disappointing, Mr Shaw acknowledged that supply and demand in the dry conditions had also pushed grain prices up.

So the lower harvest “went a pretty long way” and – if the dry weather continues – the Belmore enterprise could be a similar situation this season.

This year, Mr Shaw has planted about 4600ha into largely wheat combined with barley, lupins and vetch.

“Our rainfall for this year is only marginally down,” Mr Shaw said.

“To the end of August, we had about 187mm for the year and last year, we totalled only 164.5mm.

“We have been in a lucky area, with the crops in the ground at the right time, receiving good sowing rains.

“Our biggest management practice is moisture conservation and fallow farming so we can try and save every drop of rain we are fortunate to receive” – Mitch Shaw, northern Riverina farmer

“So we will have to wait and see how spring treats us but it’s looking quite good at the moment.”

At the mercy of variable rainfall patterns, Mr Shaw’s 20 years of on-farm experience – 15 of those alongside his accomplished father Ian Shaw – have been instrumental in navigating the seasons.

“Our biggest management practice is moisture conservation and fallow farming so we can try  and save every drop of rain we are fortunate to receive,” he said.

“I try to have about 35 per cent of the farm left out to fallow and it gets sprayed and kept clean for nearly 18 months.”

While the optimistic Mr Shaw believes it’s unclear what lays ahead for both Belmore and the agricultural industry in the next five years, he remains confident their family enterprise is well-placed to respond to whatever is thrown their way.

“Who knows, when you are relying on such variable weather conditions and the grain market?”

Meanwhile, he continues to look to improve yields and cut costs across the enterprise.

“The main thing we have done here is building on-farm grain storage, and it has really paid off,” he said.

“As well as being incredibly convenient at harvest time, it allows us to have greater control over planning and transport.”

They also invested in a WEED-IT sprayer last year, which Mr Shaw said was “great over summer” and currently in use again on the fallows.

“It allows us to be accurate, using elimination technology to detect weeds,” he said.

“By only spraying weeds, we have cut chemical use by around 40 per cent, significantly cutting down on the input costs as well.”

Mr Shaw described Manildra Group as also “a very important figure in my business for marketing any of our high-protein wheat”.

The partnership has proved mutually valuable, said Manildra Group Grain Buyer Peter Sloan, who has purchased wheat from the Shaw family since starting at Manildra more than 12 years ago.

“It’s been great seeing a young farmer such as Mitch establish himself in the region and make a real go of it” – Peter Sloan, Manildra Group Grain Buyer

“Mitch does a great job storing the wheat and taking care of it until we call for delivery – he even delivers the grain when required,” said Mr Sloan.

“This region is a stable wheat-producing area and a key drawing zone for the Manildra Group Narrandera Mill.”

“Typically, we see the area produce H2/APW1 quality but they also reach the higher protein grades.”

“It’s been great seeing a young farmer such as Mitch establish himself in the region and make a real go of it.”

While rain was Mr Shaw’s initial response when asked what made him happy, he quickly spoke of his thriving family as his real driving force.

“Watching my children Jewel, 10, and Austin, 8, grow up on the land is incredibly rewarding,” said Mr Shaw.

“My wife Allana is originally from Canberra and has certainly embraced the rural lifestyle.”

“As an active mum, she is president of the Goolgowi Public School Parents and Citizens Association and fill-in teacher’s aid when required.”

Being an active participant in local regional communities is important for landholders across Australia – including the Shaw family, whose nearest major centre is 75km away at Griffith.

There, both children participate in swimming – along with dancing for Jewel and football for Austin – most afternoons under the coordination of Mrs Shaw.

The couple also helped organise the Drought Breakers Classic golf day – attracting more than 100 local golfers and Griffith businesses – which Mr Shaw said was among important fundraising events for the local recreational grounds.

Family at Heart of Farm Life on Belmore

The scents in Distillery Botanica spirits evoke reminders of another place in time, at the moment of first sip.

On the NSW Central Coast, master distiller and herbalist Philip Moore is inspired by the botanicals hand-picked from his distillery garden. Located 90 minutes from Sydney in Erina, the distillery sits on a property renowned for more than 50 years as The Fragrant Garden centre.

“The garden has been our muse – we see what is growing and take inspiration from that,” Mr Moore told The Cultivator.

After 20 years as founding manager of leading Australian wholesale herb nursery Renaissance Herbs, which grew close to one million plants a year, the keen wine collector and “analytical and hedonistic consumer of all things alcohol” said creating his own range of top-quality drops held strong appeal.

“In 2006, there were about 2500 wineries in Australia and possibly 15 distilleries,” said Mr Moore. “I liked the sound of being one in 16 distilleries, rather than one in 2500 wineries.”

Purchasing a tiny still in 2007, he initiated himself in the ancient art and science of distilling, guided by two books and the internet.

With Mr Moore’s passion for plants, flavours, and aromas, Distillery Botanica is home to an array of award-winning tipples, including Roots and Leaves Dry Gin, Lemon Myrtle Liqueur, and the best-selling Mr Black Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur.

“Our Moore’s Roots and Leaves Gin (with a little wombat on the label) boasts eight out of the nine plants from our garden – and the Lemon Myrtle Liqueur is made entirely of the leaves of the lemon myrtles which grow very, very well in what would be challenging soil for most plants,” said Mr Moore.

“Another gin we make has the flowers of murraya, rose and chamomile, as well as the leaves of berggarten sage also from our garden.”

When not distilling delicious drops, Mr Moore can be found tending to the property’s gardens, planting the fresh herbs, fragrant botanicals and flowering plants that feature in the Distillery Botanica range.

“Given the long history of herb and fragrant plant cultivation at The Fragrant Garden – which was closed for a number of years and had become a perfect movie scene location for Tarzan, King of the Jungle – we resurrected the garden with a strong accent on fragrance and herbs,” he said.

“One of our guiding principles is that all Distillery Botanica drinks are made from plants. So if climatic limitations mean they can’t be grown in our garden, they are made from the highest quality botanicals sourced preferably from Australian growers.”

Another of Distillery Botanica’s policies is to use nothing artificial.

“We often hear at our cellar door, ‘it tastes like raspberries’ to the pleasant surprise of our distillery guests on tasting our raspberry liqueur,” said
Mr Moore.

“This indicates how consumers have grown accustomed to tasting artificially flavoured and coloured drinks that bear no resemblance to the real thing.”

Distillery Botanica’s award-winning top-seller Mr Black is the result of a partnership that began with a chance meeting between Mr Moore and “coffee-nerd designer” Tom Baker.

Having created more than 240 variations of Mr Black before he was satisfied, Mr Moore and Mr Baker founded Mr Black Roasters & Distillers in 2013, with a mission to take Australia’s coffee culture into the night.

More recently, they have celebrated the opening of Bar Botanica by Julia and Dan ‘Mr Goaty Gelato’ Hughes. The café-bar has brought The Fragrant Garden to the menu with simple garden-to-plate dishes, freshly roasted coffee, and Mr Goaty’s gelato and sorbet.

Next for Mr Moore is the new garden of gin botanicals. From this garden, visitors will pick herbs and distil them onsite, creating a gin to their own design in one hour. A new building will also be erected to facilitate the bespoke gin, master classes, cocktail classes, tours, tastings and sales.

“To create gins and liqueurs that have the scents of Australian gardens, the base spirit must be absolutely pristinely clean,” said Mr Moore.

“In these types of more elegant and refined drinks, if the base spirit has an off-flavour, it is immediately obvious to even the layperson.

“To guarantee the success of gin products, it is essential that there is a totally reliable Australian manufacturer of quality spirits – and Manildra Group has been fulfilling this role marvellously well for the past decade for Distillery Botanica.”

Manildra Group Head of Ethanol Debbie Forster said Distillery Botanica was one of Manildra Group’s founding grain-neutral spirit clients, with domestic distilling having expanded significantly in the past two decades.

“It’s been exciting to watch Distillery Botanica’s growth, to produce globally acclaimed spirits that highlight our dynamic and distinctive Australian botanicals,” said Ms Forster.

Mr Moore said Distillery Botanica looked forward to continuing to partner with Manildra Group – “and using their supremely clean grain-neutral spirit”.

“As a young industry, we have already had successes both in Australia and internationally, and this will only increase as the spirits industry matures,” said Mr Moore.

“As time goes on, the reservoir of distilling knowledge will grow and with education, higher quality spirits will be produced in Australia – just as we did decades ago in the wine industry.”

In the picturesque South Coast of NSW, overlooking the Pacific Ocean at Gerroa, prize Holstein cattle are bred by dairy farmers Frank and Carol Condon to produce premium quality milk.

Founded by the couple in 1960, Sea Breeze Holsteins is run with on-farm support from their son Paul, a fifth-generation dairy farmer, and wife Maxine.

“One of the most important parts of our operation at Sea Breeze is family,” said Mr Condon Jr, one of the couple’s seven adult children who all still take great interest in the farm.

“With their partners plus 22 grandchildren, it makes for a full household when all come home to the farm,” said Mrs Condon of their family enterprise.

Totalling more than 250ha over three blocks, their highly productive dairying operation is largely dryland pasture-based.

With enviable rainfall and fertile volcanic soils, they milk 120 registered Holsteins year-round, utilising their modern DeLaval eight-aside double-up (herringbone) dairy to full capacity.

Alongside their rye pasture during winter and kikuyu as a dominant summer grass, the Condons’ feed mix includes Manildra Stockfeed DDGS Wheat Pellets rationed at eight kilograms per day. Depending on the winter season, the herd may also be offered rye silage made on-farm or hay.

The DDGS Wheat Pellets – an excellent source of protein and energy in the herd’s diet – are specifically formulated to maximise milk production and enhance calf growth and wellbeing.

Mr Condon said their prize animals found the pellets “very palatable”.

“And we’ve always been happy with the quality,” he told The Cultivator.

“We introduce the pellets to our calves, with a small ration offered from their first week of life, gradually increasing with their age.”

Consistently producing premium milk is core to the Condon family’s operation, an achievement they have been acknowledged for nationwide.

“Along with my father’s Holstein Australia Master Breeder Award in 2002, we’ve been placed in Dairy Australia’s Quality Milk Awards top 100 dairy farms for the past 12 years – something we are really proud of,” said Mr Condon.

“Top quality every time is our end goal, and the pellets assist the consistency of our feed offering, supporting the milk production of the cows.”

Manildra Group National Stockfeed Manager Tim Wirth said the DDGS Wheat Pellets provided a uniquely balanced source of fermentable proteins and non-fibre carbohydrates, beneficial to rumen stability and milk fat production.

Strong foundations are also essential to top quality and getting the breeding right is a major focus at Sea Breeze Holsteins.

“Genetics are integral and our breeding goals are at the front of our operation,” said Mr Condon.

“Attributes such as udder structure, teat placement, and a good set of feet and legs ensure longevity, strength, and positive milk production.”

“We’ve been breeding polled Holsteins on the property for about five years now, with 60 per cent of our herd now polled.”

“We sell our stud heifers to domestic markets as well as the international dairy heifer export market, with consignments in the past 12 months going to Vietnam and Thailand.”

Breed and Feed Deliver Cream of Crop

Where do you live?
Woodford Island in the Clarence Valley in northern NSW.

What’s the name of the property you’re at?
I work on Yakaloo, owned by Alister and Helen McFarlane.

What is your role there?
I’m Yakaloo Farm Manager.

How would you describe yourself in five points?
Growing up in a small town just across the river from where I now work, Lawrence, was fantastic.

I guess I was an average student but absolutely loved going to school and still cop a bit of stick for not missing a day of high school in six years.

After school, we’d usually end up riding our bikes around the local cane farms, looking for the farmers to see what they were up to and hoping there was a job we could help them with, or just to ride on the tractor.

I’ve always been interested in growing things and loved helping my best mate’s dad – who had one of the best gardens in the area – and learning about all the vegetables he grew. The cane industry has always been a part of my life – my uncles work cane farms and my father owns a small cane farm, having worked in the local industry for 40 years.

What is your favourite aspect of farming and why?
Planting time is a very busy time of year but that’s also where it all starts – and you have to get it right, otherwise you can be behind the game before you even start, with the hope of that planting staying in the ground for the next six to eight years.

Who do you consider a role model and why?
My boss Alister has been through many changes in the industry over a lot of years but still has the drive to look to the future and set the industry up for the following generation.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given from the previous farming generations?
Do not let weather or uncontrollable factors get you down because “the sun will come up tomorrow and we will work through this”.

What advice do you think you would give to someone young?
Do not let anyone tell you not to get into farming – sure, there are ups and downs but it’s a great way of life and if you’re willing to put in the hard work, it will pay off.

Personally, what do you think is the biggest problem in agriculture in your area?
The price and availability of large parcels of cane land makes it hard to live solely off the farm, with many people having off-farm jobs.

If you were Prime Minister for a day, what would you do or change?
I would definitely give more assistance to farmers – not just after natural disasters but to help future generations be able to afford to stay on the farm and keep the industry alive.

Do you think there’s a divide between agriculturalists and non-agriculturalists in your area?
A lot of people moving here from the cities do not understand the industry and what it provides for the local area.

What was your biggest challenge as a younger farmer taking over the reins of an enterprise?
It was probably the decision to pursue farming as a career, which I made after doing a few other things following school and then starting uni before working out what I really wanted to do.

In a perfect world (and unfortunately agriculture is perfectly imperfect), what would the future look like for your business?

A run of favourable seasons!

If you are facing an on-farm problem, do you openly seek support from others or manage it yourself?

It’s a bit of both – we fix what we can ourselves and are also pretty lucky to have a bunch of good neighbours who are always willing to help out and work together.

What is one thing everyday Australians would not know about sugarcane that you wish they did?
Apart from people always asking me if the cane is full of snakes (which it’s not), I’d like people to understand how good cane is as an agricultural industry – it’s a plant that absorbs carbon and buries it in the ground and it can be used for so many different things, besides just sugar.

Is there something in the sugar cane industry you are excited about?
The industry is always looking to do things better – including our new varieties of cane being developed for growers and mills branching out into new products such as bottled water.

Would you say you are willing to try new things on the farm or try to stick with what has worked before?
We are always trying new things and adjusting farming systems. Over the last off-season, we built our own fertiliser box, which was purpose-designed to fit in with our zonal tillage system.

If farming wasn’t an option, what would be your next dream job?
A chef – I love to cook and always enjoyed helping Mum in the kitchen, with my favourite dish being my sticky date pudding in a camp oven.

Emigrating from “the motherland to the promised land” in 1979, Quoc Lim Lam left Vietnam with a plan to supply Australia with quality Asian food.

Forty years on, the company Mr Lam founded in 1984 has become Australia’s leading supplier of Asian food essentials.

Bearing the same name as his father’s company in Vietnam, Ettason is today an established domestic and international business – importing, exporting, manufacturing and distributing Asian food brands known worldwide in Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong.

With a goal to provide the quality ingredients and products required to make every bite authentic, Ettason has grown to employ more than 240 people, with six branches and three global distribution centres across almost every Australian state.

Mr Lam continues to lead Ettason as Managing Director alongside his dedicated and accomplished family, including Group General Manager Stephanie Lam, Hong Kong General Manager Diana Lam, Head of Marketing Vivian Lam, and Director Lancy Lam.

Their intense focus on “we are what we eat” drives their work to provide top-quality Asian food through a diverse supply chain – from beer and snacks to condiments and noodles – in line with market demands and client expectations.

“Our business is conducted with integrity,” Stephanie Lam told The Cultivator.

“We ensure our vendor partners are advocates for best-practice and achieve relevant industry standards so that we can guarantee consumers the best quality products – and we only partner with suppliers and manufacturers who are category and market leaders in their country of origin.

“It is very important Ettason supports local farmers and Australian-made – about 40 per cent of our products are sourced from local Australian manufacturers.”

This includes Manildra Group’s 100 per cent Australian flour and oils, which go into making Ettason top-sellers such as Amoy sauces, Imei Foods and Non Shim Noodles.

Ms Lam said that Manildra Group had been an important strategic supplier to Ettason for more than two decades, as well as a key business partner for brand and product development – working closely with clients to bring to life new premium products.

“It is very important Ettason supports local farmers and Australian-made – about 40 per cent of our products are sourced from local Australian manufacturers” – Stephanie Lam, Ettason Group General Manager

“Our wide expertise across Asian food markets allows us to understand and pre-empt consumer demand, ensuring we are a one-stop-shop for all Asian grocery products,” she said.

As one of few importers of Asian foods with a national footprint, Ettason’s market-leading distribution capacity and expertise have been key to success.

“Our distribution centres and sales force in most Australian states is attractive to major brands and partners,” said Ms Lam.

“The scale we have been able to achieve sets us apart from our competitors.”

“Our team can achieve 24 to 48-hour delivery turnaround, catering to all customer requirements.”

Ms Lam said Australia’s increasingly multicultural demographic in the past 30 years had put it on the world map as a destination for culinary delights.

“Australians love to travel and explore different cuisines,” she said.

“As a result, we have been quick at Ettason to adopt various flavour profiles, and developed a palate to try new foods.”

“We work on adding to our consumers’ life with flavour and spice, ensuring cultural and authentic culinary experiences in the comfort of every kitchen and household.”

“We also recognise that even in Asian goods, certain dietary trends have become increasingly prevalent – such as vegetarian, gluten-free and vegan options.”

Ms Lam said consumer preference in the Asian market was further diversifying Ettason’s cuisine offering.

“The population in Asian countries has grown increasingly mobile, notably from countries such as China, Korea, India and Indonesia,” she said.

“These tastes, preferences and flavour profiles are expanding, so we now include a wide variety of cuisines in our range, rather than moving from one preference to another. And we are placed to support this.”

Ettason’s catalogue – carrying more than 3000 stock units from more than 45 reputable brands – is growing in line with these developing trends, to service clients of every size, from wholesalers to Asian supermarkets.

Ms Lam said brand development in Asia and beyond had placed Ettason as distributor of choice for popular and up-and-coming Asian food brands.

With an eye to expanding Ettason’s presence in China through Hong Kong, as well as Europe, she said there was still “a lot of ground in Australian supermarkets we have yet to exhaust”.

“For a long time, it was challenging trying to open doors for Asian foods within the Australian duopoly landscape.”

“The introduction of international discount retailers here has opened Australia up to expanding their international foods.”

“We will be focused on further developing the Asian foods category with retailers including online E-commerce retailers.”

For years, Manildra Group has been proud to help the Starlight Children’s Foundation brighten the lives of seriously ill and hospitalised young Australians.

Our long-running support for children and families in need through Manildra Foundation’s partnership with Starlight has been acknowledged with a star in the new Starlight Express Room at Sydney Children’s Hospital.

In presenting the star recently to Manildra Group Director Caroline Honan, Starlight CEO Louise Baxter said the “generous support of our programs has helped thousands of sick kids in pain and fear of hospitalisation to rediscover the fun, joy and laughter of childhood – because happiness matters”.

“Manildra Foundation’s support of the Starlight Express Room continues to transform the experience of hospitalisation and treatment for thousands of these children and their families each year – now and into the future – and for making this possible, we cannot thank you enough,” said Mrs Baxter.

Ms Honan said the Starlight Express Room provided a treatment-free space that received more than 2000 visits monthly, “bringing many smiles to a family who, for the most part, are pushed to the limit”.

“This bright, medical-free haven filled with fun, music, face-painting, theatre and games feels a world away from the reality of hospital, and is a place where kids can forget about being sick,” she said.

Starlight Children’s Foundation also provides a range of in-hospital and out-of-hospital programs, including an online community connecting teens and young people, wish-granting, and the Healthier Future Initiatives program in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island communities.

More information on Manildra Foundation’s support for Australian charitable and community initiatives is at manildra.com.au/manildra-foundation. More information on the Starlight Children’s Foundation programs is at starlight.org.au.

With 98.6 per cent of NSW declared in drought, regions such as the New England – normally one of our most productive and high rainfall areas – are devastatingly dry.

For the Manildra Stockfeed team, it means a daily routine of being on-the-ground to work with producers and tailor advice specific to enterprise.

Working with the government-coordinated Local Land Services (LLS) has been integral to ensuring farmers are aware of their options and understand the feed recommendations.

LLS Northern Tablelands Livestock Officer Brent McLeod – who has been on the frontline with Manildra Group National Stockfeed Manager Tim Wirth – said for the majority of New England producers, the current season had been the most difficult experienced.

“Water is a major concern and available paddock feed is non-existent, with hay and grain also in short supply,” said Mr McLeod.

“The DDGS Wheat Pellets have been essential to provide adequate nutrition to cattle and sheep. “The flexibility of the product and competitive pricing make it an economical source of protein, at 20 per cent, to use in a feedlot mix or for lamb producers looking to lift their protein levels in their feed mix.”

With a high regard for Mr McLeod’s technical ability, Mr Wirth has also appreciated his detailed advice on the nutritional requirement of each unique enterprise.

“Brent has been working with several cattle producers in the region, who are feeding out three to five kilograms of DDGS Wheat Pellets per day to supplement the roughage source,” said Mr Wirth.

“Low-quality paddock feed through the season has meant that supplementing with DDGS allows the fat scores of cows to be maintained.”

With ideal climate conditions, the New England region is home to some of the most prestigious and first-class merino wool enterprises – including Carnie, in Walcha.

Operated by Warwick Fletcher and his fifth-generation farmer sons, Jock and Ross, the merino wool and lamb enterprise has had challenges with the lack of rain in the past 12 months.

“We normally would see an average of 30 inches, and this year we’ve received six to eight inches,” said Ross Fletcher, who also distributes stockfeed and practical advice through The Fruit Shop, established with his partner Sophie Henley in early 2018 with a strong emphasis on locally grown.

“In the past, under similar dry conditions, we have had to destock to account for the limited pasture available.

“However, we have adopted a well-balanced complementary food program containing DDGS Wheat Pellets, barley and hay – allowing us to maintain stock numbers.

“Our sheep are either trail-fed in sacrificed paddocks or fed through Advantage lick feeders to control their daily intake. “We feed a 70-30 mix of barely and pellets prior to feeding, while the hay is offered in racks or cradles.”

Benefits of the DDGS Wheat Pellets have gone beyond maintaining the herd, with the heavier lambs, and the first and second-year ewes, showing a greater mature body weight.

Mr Wirth said it was great to see all sheep in excellent condition. “And I will be in contact with the Fletchers come shearing to see how they yield, with a recent test clip indicating the clip will be up on last year, without compromising microns, staple length or position break.”

Turning hundreds of tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) into food-grade products for local industries every week, a strategic partnership between family-owned Manildra Group and Supagas Australia is closing the loop on sustainable manufacturing.

Adding even more value to gas byproducts, a state-of-the-art CO2 plant is being installed by Supagas at our integrated Shoalhaven Starches manufacturing facility in Nowra, NSW, to produce Australian-made, food-quality CO2 for domestic food, beverage and hospitality markets.

Designed and installed by industry leaders in CO2 construction, the Australian-owned GLP (Gas Liquid Processing), the plant will produce food-grade CO2 to create dry ice for frozen food transport, put the sparkle in carbonated drinks, or improve the shelf life of foods, among other uses.

“This facility will substantially reduce our waste stream from the plant by removing hundreds of tonnes of CO2 a week from the atmosphere, and then value-adding to create products for local industries,” said Manildra Group Managing Director John Honan.

Supagas Australia Project Engineer Ben Vocale said using leftover CO2 instead of starting from scratch multiplied the environmental benefits.

“Supagas currently burns natural gas to produce CO2, so the recovery of CO2 from Shoalhaven Starches, will enable these other operations to be phased out, further reducing greenhouse gases and other emissions to the atmosphere,” Mr Vocale said.

The CO2 plant forms part of Manildra Group’s ongoing commitment to innovation at our Nowra facility, which continues to set the global standard for sustainable manufacturing.

CO2 Plant To Create Food and Beverage Products

Despite digital disruption, the paper industry continues to grow globally – putting Manildra Group in pole position as a premier supplier of starch to South East Asia’s biggest economy.

For more than 30 years, we have grown to become one of Indonesia’s biggest suppliers of industrial wheat starches for the paper and pulp industry, one of the world’s leading paper producers.

With demand for paper tipped to stay strong in South East Asian nations (as well as the United States), the Indonesian government aims to expand the country’s annual production capacity by about one-third – from 7.93 million tonnes to 10.53 million tonnes.

Already a major foreign exchange earner (about US$3.78 billion in 2016), paper and pulp accounts for about 6.7 per cent of the Indonesian processing sector’s gross domestic product.

“Manildra Group’s network of on-the-ground logistics and transport staff is unrivalled by other starch manufacturers, ensuring our products are delivered on time, every time, to non-metropolitan Indonesian regions” – Peter Simpson, Manildra Group General Manager

The national industry also supports about 260,000 direct jobs and 1.1 million indirect workers in what is the world’s fourth-most populous country, home to more than 254 million people.

As the world’s largest agricultural producer and 16th largest economy – projected to become the world’s seventh-largest economy by 2030 – in nominal gross domestic product, Indonesia remains an important market for Australia, including a substantial portion of Australia’s AU$2.3 billion of agricultural commodity exports in 2015.

It was some three decades ago when Manildra Group Chairman Dick Honan and General Manager Peter Simpson saw an opportunity to introduce Australian-owned, grown and made vital wheat gluten, flours, wheat starches, glucose and sugars to the Indonesian market.

Today, a significant volume of our domestic starch production is exported to Indonesia.

Mr Simpson said the family-owned company had strong relationships with all leading Indonesian paper mills – supplying a range of “premium Australian industrial-grade starches”.

“As a company, we have grown with the paper and packaging industries globally to expand our range of wheat starches – including size-press starch, wet-end starch, corrugating starch, and starches for carbonless paper and coating,” Mr Simpson said.

“Manildra Group’s network of on-the-ground logistics and transport staff is unrivalled by other starch manufacturers, ensuring our products are delivered on time, every time, to non-metropolitan Indonesian regions.

“With staff based in Manildra Group offices in Jakarta and Surabaya, we ensure the most efficient and cost-effective solutions for paper packaging and industrial paper products – including linerboards (the basic material for making cardboard paper boxes), corrugated mediums (also used in cardboard boxes and packaging), corrugating shipping containers, boxboards, and specialty coloured paper.

“Our specialised technical team, led by our International Business Manager (Industrial) Adam Cox, includes seven staff dedicated to value-adding to the paper and packaging industry. They can advise customers on the ideal wheat starch solution for individual functionality and production requirements.”

Manildra Group produces Australian-grown and made wheat-based starches at our state-of-theart Shoalhaven Starches manufacturing plant in Nowra, NSW.

“We have significantly increased dry starch production capacity at Nowra to meet the requirements of our customers, including the paper and packaging industries in Japan and Indonesia,” said Mr Simpson.

Manildra Group also supplies Indonesia’s food industry with Australian-made starches, vital wheat gluten, glucose and maltodextrin.

Starch Strengthens Bonds With Indonesia