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18
|
April/May
- 2017
| 19
| YOUNG GROWER PROFILE |
HOW DID YOU FIRST BECOME INVOLVED IN THE
POTATO INDUSTRY?
I’ve been involved in the industry all my life. My family was growing
potatoes long before I became involved in the business, and we’ve
continued to grow them ever since.
WHAT DOES YOUR ROLE IN THE BUSINESS INVOLVE,
AND WHAT ARE YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES?
My Dad, older brother Arvin and I share all roles and responsibilities
in relation to planting, growing and harvesting potatoes.
NAME:
Chris Gallagher
AGE:
26
LOCATION:
Waubra, Victoria
WORKS:
GTRA (Gallagher Trading)
GROWS:
Potatoes, lambs, beef, cattle,
wheat, canola, pyrethrum
IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT AREAS OF RESEARCH ARE
IMPORTANT TO THE POTATO INDUSTRY AND YOUR BUSINESS?
Disease control is the most prevalent issue for us at the moment.
WHAT NEW INNOVATIONS, RESEARCH AND/OR PRACTICES
HAS YOUR BUSINESS IMPLEMENTED RECENTLY?
While still considering innovation, our business has taken a
more conservative approach to potato production by keeping
employment and input costs to a minimum.
WHERE DO YOU SEE OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH
IN THE AUSTRALIAN POTATO INDUSTRY, AND WHAT IS
YOUR VISION OF THE AUSTRALIAN POTATO INDUSTRY
IN THE FUTURE?
I think finding ways to compete better with imported
potato prices could provide opportunities for growth on
Australian farms.
With the growing population, I think it’s possible that
demand could go up over time, which will hopefully increase
potato prices and farm productivity.
HOW DO YOU THINK MORE YOUNG PEOPLE COULD BE
ENCOURAGED TO STUDY AND TAKE UP JOBS IN THE
POTATO INDUSTRY?
Young people could possibly be encouraged to become involved
in growing potatoes if there was some form of financial assistance
to help overcome the initial high infrastructure costs.
WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN FIVE YEARS?
It’s hard to say, but I’d like to think that we will be in a similar
position to now in regards to growing potatoes. While we can
continue to make a profit from them, it’ll keep the business
more diverse.
MAINTAINING A PROFITABLE, DIVERSE GROWING OPERATION
WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU FACE WORKING
IN THE INDUSTRY, AND HOW DO YOU OVERCOME THEM?
The biggest challenge for us is remaining profitable while
maintaining our machinery in order to keep costs minimal.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT WORKING IN
THE POTATO INDUSTRY AND HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN
YOUR ENTHUSIASM?
What I enjoy most about the industry is the diversity it brings
to our farm and the alternative financial opportunity at an
otherwise low-income time of year.
WHERE DO YOU RECEIVE YOUR ON-FARM PRACTICE
ADVICE AND INFORMATION FROM?
The majority of on-farm advice and information I’ve received
has been from Dad, with some of the more recent and technical
information coming from David Ryan of Independent Agronomy.
Photography by Luka Kauzlaric.
What I enjoy most about the industry is the diversity it brings to
our farm and the alternative financial opportunity at an otherwise
low-income time of year.