THE Merrett family has been farming for six generations and they are determined to continue that tradition well into the 21st century and beyond.

The family comprises Ewan and Sharon Merrett, their sons - Russell (with his wife Krystal and their son Byron), Mark, 12, and Joseph, nine - and Ewan's parents Peter and Bet.

    AT A GLANCE
  • Who: Merrett family
  • What: sheep and crops
  • Why: six generations and counting
  • Where: Kaniva, Victoria

Merrett pioneers arrived in the west Wimmera in the 1850s and today the family farms 1130ha at Dinyarrak, 35km northwest of Kaniva, plus a 1500ha grazing block further north, near Telopea Downs.

They run the farm like a business, with monthly meetings, allowing everyone to share in the decision-making.

A flock of 1000 first-cross ewes is joined to terminal sires and a further 1200 Merino ewes are joined to Border Leicesters to produce first-cross ewes.

Cropping includes 240ha of wheat and 240ha of barley, with canola and vetch used as break crops.

Last year, they completed a FarmPlan21 course run by the Department of Primary Industries, the Wimmera Catchment Management Authority and Longerenong College, and are now busy mapping and implementing more new ideas for the farm business.

FarmPlan21 covers whole-farm planning, management and GPS mapping.

"It helped us to see where we need to put laneways and shelter belts and it was really helpful with goal setting," Russell said.

"We also now question what we do, not just do it because we always did it that way."

Their flock consisted of solely of self-replacing Merino ewes until an improvement in lamb prices during the 1990s prompted the change to more-lucrative prime lambs.

They turn off 1600 prime lambs and about 600 first-cross ewe lambs annually.

"Sheep keep us going because cropping is so up and down," Russell said.

"Even if it is a drought we have still got lambs to sell."

Drought is no stranger, especially in the past 15 years, when the long-term 450mm annual rainfall has fallen to 300mm. While rainfall is sporadic, ground water ensures a secure supply.

Pastures include 285ha of lucerne, with summer-active lucerne providing green feed until autumn and then hosting barley crops during winter.

Russell returned to the farm in recent years after completing an apprenticeship in a clay-spreading business.

Clay spreading, which is used on sandy soil to improve water-holding capacity and fertility, has been applied to 280ha on the Telopea Downs block.

To help with the stock management in drier months, seven containment areas have been developed for housing sheep when the need arises.

FarmPlan21 has also prompted plans for more shelter belts on the grazing block.

Another major issue is grain marketing. Ewan said the old days of taking grain to the silo and selling it were almost over.

"We store as much grain as we can on farm but the big challenge is increasing the storage," he said.

In 2008, the family warehoused barley, only to be hit by warehousing costs and falling grain prices.

This year, they decided to invest in silos, reasoning this was a more productive use of funds.

FarmPlan21 and the discussion and planning that came with it have helped in making such decisions.

Ewan said the farm planning course also encouraged them to look outside their business for new ideas.

"You are always keeping your ear to the ground for the next thing that might work," he said.

The mapping program also gave them a different perspective on their paddocks, with the help of 12-year-old Mark's IT skills.

Sharon said the family had been farming the home block since 1972 without a proper shearing shed.

"Now we have a plan to possibly relocate one," Sharon said.

Laneways are also a priority for the next five years.

"We are starting to see where we can improve our efficiency," Sharon said.

Krystal, who has an accounting background, has helped initiate monthly planning meetings and document minutes and a list of goals.

Ewan and Sharon expect to pass the baton to Russell, Krystal and Mark within 10 years.

"It will be a larger property with more shelterbelts and better laneways, with healthy soils and quality sheep feed," Ewan said.

  • The Merrett family will be on hand at the Department of Primary Industries and Wimmera CMA FarmPlan21 display at Wimmera Machinery Field Days, next Tuesday to Thursday, March 2-4.