The 5 C's

So far Brazil has been all about the 5 things starting with the letter C. Coffee, Corn, Cattle, Chickens and Cane (Sugar). Yesterday we spent the morning at Daterra coffee farm. A large coffee producer with a great business model that really looked after their staff and produce. Today we visited a sugar cane mill and inspected some cane plantings. Imagine sowing and harvesting 14000 acres by hand. Then off to a chicken farm. Reasonably big (killing 200 000 birds a day) making them only the 44th? in size in the country. They use 600t of corn each day and 200t of Soy meal. We are all blown away by the scale of things here. Good to see another country competing on a free market though as we do. No subsidies like US and UK. Hopefully see some Soya beans harvesting tomorrow on our way up to Brazilia.

The Brazilian Bus

We have travelled over 1000 kms in the last 2 days in this machine. As soon as we got in at the airport we knew we were in for a rough ride. We found it very difficult to translate to the driver who spoke no English that his suspension was stuffed. Upon further investigation we discovered a busted airbag. Then tonight after wondering why we were getting some minor road rage from the other motorists, we realized he had no low beams on the headlights. I think we have seen the last of it tonight and getting a change over tomorrow otherwise we will be off to the chiropractor for 7 back crunches later in the week.

On a positive note we have seen some amazing countryside on our pilgrimage up to Goianna. Lots of crops, cattle and coffee. Will keep u posted

Sao Paulo

Am currently in Brazil and apparently so is my luggage however I have not seen it for a few days. I have told them to hold it at the airport and will pick it up next week. Language is a bit of a barrier here as my Portuguese is very limited.
This is salted fish. Not that keen but I suppose I will try it. Seems to be popular over here but so is steak. Food is fairly cheap.

We are loving the fruit over here especially after being in the US were it is not part of their diet. Went to the market yesterday and taste tested some exotic fruits I have not had before.

Looks like hard work but this is a common sight

The Domino effect! Sao Paulo has nearly 20 million people. To help with peak hour traffic they restrict you to 4 days a week driving based on your number plate.

Pyramids

Sightseeing this afternoon - Apparently they have pyramids in Mexico. Although I have not been to Egypt they were impressive.

View from the top of the first one we climbed.
We have not done any work or not even anything physical for nearly a month now. We were all puffing by the time we got to the top. (Actually we did go Ten pin bowling yesterday).
Told you helmets were optional!
Team photo at the top. Conquered Mexico - Brazil here we come.

CIMMYT Mexico

Have spent the last few days in Mexico and have quite enjoyed it. Most of our activities have been based around the CIMMYT organistaion (International wheat and corn breeding) in Obregon and Mexico city. The boys that dont grow crops are over it but for the 5 grain growers we have seen and learnt a lot.

CIMMYT have over 200ha of trials. Most of the worlds wheats are bred here and then adapted to other countries.
Transport is casual in Mexico, but you do have to wear a seat belt if you are sitting in the front. Saw lots of funny things and managed to catch this one with the camera. I think motorbike helmets and baby seats are optional too.
Grazing goats in the 'long paddock' beside the road. They have to keep them off the lucerne in the background.

The Rock

All the other boys took a photo of this, so I did too. Downtown San Fransico. They have Melbourne trams here too.

The Rock - Alcatraz. Did not have time to go out there but it looks impressive from the shore.
They love them that much in the US we cant get away from them.

Last day in California today. Staying in San Fransisco tonight Have actually had our first chance to do some sight seeing this afternoon. Walked down and checked out Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge. Have had a great week here in California, off to Mexico tomorrow for a couple of days.

Salinas California

Have spent the last couple of days driving around the Fresno and Salinas Valleys in California. Unbelievable scale and diversity. Most farms we have visited are 5000 acres +, all irrigated. But although everything looks great they are not without their issues. Water being No. 1. Other problems such as markets, land prices, average farmers age, all common to us back in oz and right across the world. These pictures are from JG Boswells farm. They farm over 100 000 acres, all irrigated, producing 10% of California's tomatoes and over 50 000 acres of cotton. Also went to a 6000 cow dairy. Like I said - Everything is big in America.

Most people over here say they are 'Green Farmers'. Cant work out if they mean the environment or the colour of their tractors. Good time to buy shares in John Deere.

Central Valley

Have had a day touring around the central valley around Fresno. Massive farms on a huge scale. Hardly a tree or hill to be seen, just acres and acres of crops, lucerne, horticulture and vineyards. It was good to see. In only a 200ml rainfall zone and with pretty much unlimited water and cheap labour it is the perfect place to grow food. Driving around we saw raised beds, centre pivots, almonds, onions, carrots, lettuce, tomatoes, water projects, cereal crops, dairy farms, a feed lot and oranges. Pretty much you name it, they grow it.

Fresno California

Have arrived in Fresno tonight. Good to see some leaves on the trees for a change. Went to the Chicago Board of Trade this morning. Pretty much just a big casino for people that set the world market for wheat, corn, soya beans, livestock and other commodities. Very hectic for the first 5 minutes and then settles down pretty quick. Most trading now done electronically. Have changed time zones and daylight savings a couple of times the last few days but looking forward to seeing all the irrigation this week.

Chicago

We have arrived in Chicago after finishing up at the contempary scholars conference in Washington. It was a great week and we have all made some excellent contacts as we embark on our own studies throughout the course of the year. Highlight for the week included the visits to an Amish farm (no photos allowed), New Holland and a mushroom farm. We have recruited a couple of extras to the dream team for the week, and head off to California tomorrow. Going to the Chicago Board of Trade in the morning.

The Battlefield

The scholars conference has left DC and we are currently in Gettysburg Pennsylvania. The states Department of Agriculture has been extremely supportive of us and are fantastic hosts. We had a day on the Gettysburg battlefield (a defining moment in the US civil war) and spoke leadership with President Lincoln.

We went and saw a massive 24oo cow shedded dairy and met one of the worlds most innovative farmers. Many of the issues we have at home are common right around the world eg. land prices, farmers age and opportunities for young people to get into farming are limited

Mr President

Have spent the last couple of days in Washington DC. All the 54 scholars from around the world (Canada, UK, France, New Zealand) along with a few additions have been breifed on issues such as world trade, feeding the worlds growing population and future farming. Had a tour around Capitol Hill the White house and some of the other monuments around town. Very impressive. One thing about America - Everything is big

Off to Washington

Heading off Washington this morning after our week in Wales. The week has been great. We have been well looked after, everything has flown smoothly and we haven't has a dust up yet. The hire cars even made it back unscathed. We have seen many aspects of Welsh agriculture - the old and the new, got an overview of the politics and production and saw right down the supply chain.

Going to the ice hockey tonight and looking forward to catching up with all the other scholars

Spent most of the day at a University talking organics, climate change, farm surveys (ABARE equivalent), oat and grass breeders and the Farmers Union (VFF equiv).

Checked out some sheep specially bred for Welsh conditions. A previous Welsh scholar has set up a genetics company and was working with both the hill and lowland farmers basically selling them a package deal.

Aberystywth

Have spent the night in Aberystywth on the coast of Wales. Yesterday started off with a visit to Dunbia Abbitors - one of the largest sheep processors in Wales. Then visited a boutique lamb producer that supplied the abbitors in a paddock to plate type system.

Last call was a stockfeed manufacturer/lamb feedlot. Two brothers started Pencefn stock feed in Tregon. Very innovative, entreprenuirial and passoniate.

Cardiff

Arrived at Heathrow at 6:30am yesterday in shorts and a T-Shirt and it was 3⁰C. We rugged up, hired some cars and headed off for Wales. With Dave navigating and me driving we ended up at a 230 cow organic dairy farm in Chepstow. Then visited Esk Castle, which is owned by a 2008 Welsh scholars family. After wearing the same clothes and not showering or being to bed for nearly 48hrs, 8 smelly, tired scholars arrived in Cardiff were we spent the night. Marty (from Innisfail) saw his first frost this morning. It’s St David’s day today. Meetings with National Farmers Union, University of Wales Institute and going to check out Millennium Stadium.