I did say Pete was in his element travelling through the rural areas of Victoria!! I kept saying to him "He needed to make some comments for the blog"!  Well this morning he got up early and wrote this down......Not hard to guess who now has the job of typing! We certainly had a very interesting few days meandering through farming land in South Australia and Victoria.  Starting with the fertile volcanic flat soiled farms on the way to Kingston SE.  Then to Naracoorte where they have not had much rain as yet for this season.  They are still hand feeding stock. They appear to be very heavily stocked with sheep and cattle running together.  A lot of the country has been serviced by the drains, which were started in the 1800's and completed in 1970's.  These drains were dug to drain the very flat, fertile, low lying land through to the sea.As we travelled on towards Horsham they also had not had a lot of rain, but the stubble was heavy from last year and farming gets a bit more broad acre.  This land was serviced with channels and the water for the irrigqation came from the Grampians.   The original channels have been replaced with pipe to the towns and very little irrigation is still used.We were then into the rich black soils of the Wimmera as we headed for St Arnauds.  Some farmers had good early rains and on top of a good season last year, things were well advanced, particularly up through Charlton and onto Wycheproof where the land changed into Mallee.  The red soil had been seeded and some crops were up in the 3 - 5 leaf stage.  The paddocks got bigger and redder as we headed towards Swan Hill.  It is still generally mixed farming, but not the same stocking rates as the Horsham end.  And you could see the last two seasons have been good and the machinery dealers in Swan Hill have big new facilities, so there must have been plenty of new machinery bought.  Coming off 10 years of drought through these areas obviously their confidence is up and I would guess a change in farming practices has seen very good results.  Typical farmers having bad seasons from 2001 - 2011 make a few bob - spend a few bob!At Swan Hill the saleyards were full of sheep as there had been a sale that day.   The truckie reckoned the prices were really hot and an old retired butcher said the prices were around $200 for a score 4  - 40 kg lamb.  The stock report on Friday, although not for Swan Hill, said "The price had come off a bit and was around $150.00".  Ewes are also fetching around $100 per head.  As we headed to Mildura the land use changed along the Murray River.  Veges, fruit and nuts being grown on both sides of the road.  When we crossed the river and were in NSW...."Guess what?   We were in 'Bloody Bush' again Sambo"!  There is certainly a lot of uncleared land in the State and in my opinion it is time they learned to profit from their timber, as Victoria has done!   The country towns are looking weary as farming has no longer got the ability and profit to sustain everyone.  Road building particularly in the country areas and forestry products would employ a lot of people.  There was a great poem about 'The Man Behind the Plough' that was in the 'Plough Heaven' at the Swan Hill Pioneer Settlement.   Pete said he would change it a bit......So this is his version!                                                             Ode of a CockyI'm not so good at speaking as those high faluting chaps, My voice - it may be husky and sometimes proud perhaps,For long I've been aploughin' and turning over the spoilBut now there's little reward for all that bloody toil.But if you'll pay attention, I have just a word to sayAbout a great mistake you make, and do it every day,In dealing out your praises, and go with cap in handThat far too often you forget the blokes who work the land.You talk about your learned men, their wit and wisdom rareYour painters and your poets gain praises everywhere'Tis well enough to make a show, it's time we took a standThe world can never do without the blokes who work the land.I like your new inventions, and I'm glad we're getting smartI like the country music, it really stirs the heart,But they will never reach the stomach of a really hungry man,And I will call your attention to the kind of thing that can.So boys don't be too anxious to leave the good old farm,Your father's strength may be failing, he'll need your youthful arm.If you're honest in your purpose, the world will clap their handFor the greatest of the great men is the one that works the land.

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