National Agriculture Day - November 20

 There are almost 88,000 farm businesses in Australia today and things are looking bright. Strong consumer demand for genuine free range eggs has generated a big increase in the number of people thinking about starting their own free range egg business. A good starting point is reading an eBook on starting a free range farm available from us at Freeranger Eggs. Detailed information is available about things like shed requirements, food safety, egg packaging and labelling. When deciding to set up a free range egg farm, take  time to plan  properly, think about low cost options and check your options, Find out the zoning of the land and talk to your local Council planning department about their requirements. It’s also worth contacting the State Department of Agriculture. Prepare your own planning application, rather than employ a consultant.

Contact us at freeranger@dcsi.net.au

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Our eBook costs $245 Once payment is made, the eBook will be emailed as a Portable Document File (PDF). send payment to our  Bendigo Bank account.P &A Westwood BSB 633 000 Account 153356233

Poultry welfare claims

 Big, corporate egg producers often try to justify intensive production systems by suggesting that cage-free or free range flocks have lower welfare standards than their cage or barn systems. At a recent industry gathering, a US professor claimed that hens outdoors face increased exposure to multiple ectoparasites including red mites and lice. She said that the complex environments and greater contact with wild birds in these systems create ideal conditions for parasites to establish and spread, causing significant economic losses and welfare problems for producers. She says the outdoor hens are being exposed to a wider range of ectoparasites. with greater contact with wild birds, give parasites a chance to establish themselves. What she and the big producers ignore is that crowded conditions for hens, or any animals is far more likely to create parasite or infection problems. Sunlight is a great sanitiser and an open air lifestyle has its own health benefits.

Freeranger Farm at the heart of massive wildlife and bushland linkages

 Friends of the Earth Melbourne has announced that 2,155 hectares of land has been added to the Brataualung Forest Park in the Strzelecki Ranges. The land was promised by the State Government back in 2008 as part of a deal to link existing reserves at Gunyah Gunyah to Tarra Bulga National Park. The Governor of Victoria signed the gazettal of land into law on the 8th of October 2026. This a major part of the wildlife corridor stretching down to Westernport. The wildlife corridor mapped in the Regional Sand Extraction Strategy , Lang Lang to Grantville. Which was gazetted in 1995 is an essential part of this biolink. Key movers in the success were identified as Susi Zent from Friends of Gippsland Bush and Anne Westwood from Trust for Nature, Friends of Bass Valley Bush and Freeranger Eggs, Grantville.

The Freeranger property provides the only link between the Grantville Narure Conservation Reserve and the Bass River – a vital part of the regional corridor. Bass Coast Shire Council has been a major hurdle in the protection of native vegetation and wildlife because Councillors have a complete lack of understanding of these issues. They did not bother to read the sand Extraction Strategy so they don't realise that it is a powerful tool to protect native vegetation in the vital wildlife corridor. It was the result of huge community input as well as consultations with industry and Government Departments. Research produced full flora and fauna species lists for the interest area. Correspondence with the Shire revealed that councillors deluded themselves into believing the sand strategy enables sand extraction when it actually enables the protection of the woodland wildlife corridor. Bass Coast Councillors have ignored the sand extraction strategy even though it was required to be incorporated into the Shire Planning Scheme.

daylight saving farce tomorrow - dumb politicians

 Clocks return to daylight saving at 3am tomorrow when we say hello to daylight saving time. There's no hope of politicians putting an end to the farce of fiddling with our clocks. The changes impact on farmers and their animals for no good reason.