Below is the transcript of the interview that took place with Jessica Kirkpatrick our young farming champion.
Year 9 students involved in the interview:
Melanie, Emily, Eliesha, Olivia.
Questions:
1. What is your daily routine for work? From getting up in the morning to going to sleep at night.
At 6 – 7.30 am I get ready for work. Then I test grain trucks to see the quality of the grain. I usually test 500 grain trucks per day with 3 other girls, for 70 hours a week during the harvest period.
2. Why did you want to become a wheat farmer?
I was always keen on helping farmers improve crop production, it very exciting as technology is changing all the time.
3. How long does it take for wheat to be produced?
It takes 5 – 9 months to grow wheat, but Winter wheat needs a cold period and it takes longer to be ready to harvest.
4. Do you only just farm wheat or do you also grow other grains or vegetables?
We only grow oats, barley and wheat. We are traditionally sheep farmers, so crops are part of the crop rotation, to help improve our pasture and grains.
5. What major companies do you sell your wheat to?
We get $290 per tonne for the wheat and a truck holds 16 tonnes. We usually sell it to companies which have the highest price. this might be places like Grain Corp, Viterra or Broadbent Grain.
6. Have you always wanted to be a wheat farmer? If not, what else did you want to do?
I have always been involved in operations on the family farmer. The thing that got me interested in Agriculture was doing a year 9 elective when I was at school.
7. Can you please outline a profile of your farm/your work in the agriculture sector?
I test grain from October to February, then I study for my agriculture degree and visit other farms.
8. What do you like most about living in rural Australia?
I love the animals, space and picturesque scenery. We have a good community where we know everyone..
9. What do you think are the biggest challenges facing agriculture in this country?
Some of the challenges we face are the rail transport from port to port around Australia.
There are ageing farmers, however there are more young people seeking employment opportunities in the sector.
10. Why did you want to become a Young Farming Champions
It is important to have agricultural education, to have the connection between farm and food. I love showing consumers how their food comes from paddock to plate.
11. Why do you think it’s important for urban and rural communities to work together?
Its important rural communities showcase what they have to offer to those from an urban background. I think people from urban areas have in invested interest in food and fibre- you can see this with community gardens.
12. How do you stop vermin getting into the grain when it is being stored on the ground in the bunkers?
To avoid the vermin eating the grain we spray insecticide in the bunker where the grain is stored. We put a tarp on the ground with the concrete barriers and it is tied up every day.
Year 9 students involved in the interview:
Melanie, Emily, Eliesha, Olivia.
Questions:
1. What is your daily routine for work? From getting up in the morning to going to sleep at night.
At 6 – 7.30 am I get ready for work. Then I test grain trucks to see the quality of the grain. I usually test 500 grain trucks per day with 3 other girls, for 70 hours a week during the harvest period.
2. Why did you want to become a wheat farmer?
I was always keen on helping farmers improve crop production, it very exciting as technology is changing all the time.
3. How long does it take for wheat to be produced?
It takes 5 – 9 months to grow wheat, but Winter wheat needs a cold period and it takes longer to be ready to harvest.
4. Do you only just farm wheat or do you also grow other grains or vegetables?
We only grow oats, barley and wheat. We are traditionally sheep farmers, so crops are part of the crop rotation, to help improve our pasture and grains.
5. What major companies do you sell your wheat to?
We get $290 per tonne for the wheat and a truck holds 16 tonnes. We usually sell it to companies which have the highest price. this might be places like Grain Corp, Viterra or Broadbent Grain.
6. Have you always wanted to be a wheat farmer? If not, what else did you want to do?
I have always been involved in operations on the family farmer. The thing that got me interested in Agriculture was doing a year 9 elective when I was at school.
7. Can you please outline a profile of your farm/your work in the agriculture sector?
I test grain from October to February, then I study for my agriculture degree and visit other farms.
8. What do you like most about living in rural Australia?
I love the animals, space and picturesque scenery. We have a good community where we know everyone..
9. What do you think are the biggest challenges facing agriculture in this country?
Some of the challenges we face are the rail transport from port to port around Australia.
There are ageing farmers, however there are more young people seeking employment opportunities in the sector.
10. Why did you want to become a Young Farming Champions
It is important to have agricultural education, to have the connection between farm and food. I love showing consumers how their food comes from paddock to plate.
11. Why do you think it’s important for urban and rural communities to work together?
Its important rural communities showcase what they have to offer to those from an urban background. I think people from urban areas have in invested interest in food and fibre- you can see this with community gardens.
12. How do you stop vermin getting into the grain when it is being stored on the ground in the bunkers?
To avoid the vermin eating the grain we spray insecticide in the bunker where the grain is stored. We put a tarp on the ground with the concrete barriers and it is tied up every day.