Analytical Review

While learning about Australian Agriculture I have noticed they have adapted many things from American Agriculture but also have many ways of their own. Each farm we attended and learned about talked about how they wanted/were progressive in trying to make their operation functional, profitable, and at the top in their area. While this should be every farm goals Australians seem to do this by learning about operations in different countries to adapted their ideas in ways that will be good for their operation. To me it seemed that each farmer we visited was well traveled and this gave them the experience to excel in their work. I believe this is a major asset to Australian Agriculture.
If American farmers took the same opportunity to become well traveled, I believe that they could be more efficient and discover great things to help their operation. By doing this they could help American Agriculture as a whole in being able to be even more effective and efficient in production. Sometime you have to follow the lead of other people to help progress your own ideas.

Overall Impression on Australia

Overall, our trip to Australia was amazing! We had the opportunity to learn about many different aspects of their Agriculture industry which I enjoyed. In addition to this we had the opportunity to experience many new things including food, culture, and activities. Getting to scuba dive at the Great Barrier Reef was certainly a chance of a lifetime.

If I was to do this trip again their would be a few little things to change. First of all I would add more days to the trip especially in Sydney. This would give us the opportunity to experience more of the town and see some of their famous sights. Also I would have added another day or two in Cairns to get the full experience. The last thing would be to possibly to take the trip in our fall so we would be more likely to have better weather during our trip.

Day 9: The Great Barrier Reef

We are off to the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) today! Even though it was a cool and rainy morning we hopped on a boat headed for Green Island. The boat rides were honestly a horrible experience. Granted it was a rough day at sea which did not bother me, it was the vocals of the other passengers that were sea sick. It was awful!

Things started to look up once we dock in the island because we were off to complete our scuba diving education course so after the next boat ride we would be able to dive at the GBR. After we were done we wondered around the island before our boat left. When lunch time arrived we were boarding the boat again. From Green Island we rode the boat for an hour before we arrived at a pontoon where we would spend the afternoon.

As soon as our feet stepped off the boat we were preparing for our scuba diving adventure! First we had to put a suit to protect us from the coral and other creatures. On top of that we added a wet suit to help keep us warm. Followed that with a weight belt that our instructor put on us. After this we entered the area where we would be strapped into our vest and tanks and add our masks and flippers. Once we were outfitted with our equipment it was down to the platform to pass our skills test.

The skills test was easily the hardest part of the whole experience. We held on to a rail with three other members of our group.our first skill after we started to breathe with the regulator was how to empty our mask if it filled up with water. Next we learned two different ways to empty our mouths if we got water in them. Once we completed this we were ready to start our decent.

We then moved on to our ropes where we would slowly lower ourselves to the bottom. Every few hand lengths we would hold our nose and blow our so we would help our ears adjust. When we reached the bottom of the rope is when I finally felt relaxed and things started to get easier. We then linked arms to start exploring. Once we got closer to the reef we were able to free ourselves from each other to swim. While we were under got to see and touch many types of fish and we also got to see and feel a huge clam.

We were under for 30 minutes and traveled to a depth of 7.8 meters.

Day 8: Cairns

Today was an early morning as we boarded a flight to Cains, a tropical area where we would spend the rest of our trip. Once we landed we were off to Tjapukui to learn about the aboriginal culture. During this we learned about their weaponry, medicines, and their lifestyle in general. However, by far the best part was being taught how to throw the boomerang and a Spear. During these demonstrations we got to participate in each event. Once our tour concluded it was off dinner at Tha Fish and shopping around town.

Day 7: Sydney

Today we toured the local university at Wagga Wagga. Here we got to see their beef unit where the vet students were monitoring a group of cows they had done c sections on. Next we got to see their vet building and how it functions. Finally we stopped at their sheep unit and seen how their sheep dogs work.

Once this was completed it was on the bus for the ride to Sydney. Once we were checked in we were off to shop for an hour before we boarded the boat for a dinner cruise. One the cruise we got to see the opera house lit up and also the harbor bridge.

Day 6: Wagga Wagga

After breakfast at the motel we were off to the Wagga Wagga Sale Yards. Which is the equivalent to the local sale barns in America. However, sales in Australia work completely different. To sale at the auction you have to sell through a agent who will receive commission. These sale yards sell cattle every Monday and average about 2800 head, and sheep every Thursday selling over 10000.

Once this tour concluded we went across the road to the Cargill - Teys abattoir. This was an interesting tour because we were able to compare it to the JBS tour we received earlier in the week. In this plant we had to put on more protection gear. It included rubber boots, white pants with a long sleeve white shirt, a hair net, safety glasses, ear plugs, a face mask, and a hard hat. This company really takes their safety seriously. Once in we split into two groups. The first group got to tour the plant first and the second got a background on their feedlot. In the plant we got the see the boning room which was a lot more Americanized compared to JBS. In addition to this, we got to see their value added room and their what they to with their variety meats. However, we did not get to see the killing floor or go anywhere near it like we did at JBS. And another difference was the the tour lasted only 20 minutes when the JBS tour lasted a couple hours.

When then moved on to the town of Temora where we ate lunch and shopped before moving on to the Teys feedlot.

Day 5: Australian sheep, emu's, and cattle

We woke up this morning to an extremely foggy Albury, New South Wales. After breakfast we loaded up and headed to a merino and white Suffolk farm called Trigger Vale. Where they run over 2400 head of sheep. This is a very educated operation who is dedicated in producing the right kind of sheep for their environment and operation. Andrew who is in a partnership with his wife Mandi had unique experience where he got to spend six months traveling the world to learn different things that he is passionate about in the agriculture industry and share what he learned with fellow Australian farmers.

One of the exciting points of our trip is getting to visit with an emu farmer, which is what we were able to do over lunch. This afternoon we met with the owners of Marrocka, Ian and Marilyn Marston. There farm was beautifully located in the hills, where they raised approximately 200 emus. These emu are marketed for their leather, feathers, meat, and most importantly their oil. The emu oil is store as fat on the emus back so when the emus are processed they take out that section and any other fat.

After learning about the Australian flightless bird, we enjoyed lunch on their patio with the family. We got to enjoy a traditional Australian barbie of steak, sausages, salad, and potatoes.

After enjoying their view from their patio it was on to the Spry family's shorthorn stud. This Shorthorn Stud produces some of the best shorthorn cattle I have personally seen. Their cattle are a stouter made, easier doing, more structurally correct kind that would greatly benefit American producers. All their cattle are grass fed which is certainly impressive with the amount of condition they carry. When compared to American cattle specifically the shorthorn breed its amazing how different breeds in other countries can do with different farming practices.

When the tour was over we had a "barn party" with the spry family, for the second time today we had steak. We concluded the evening visiting with the family and conversing in the barn.