City student raves about working ‘unbelievable’ harvest season

Crops have broken records on the Gall family’s Goorambat property, offering Melbourne student Nick Symon an unforgettable first taste of the grains industry.

University of Melbourne agriculture student Nick Symon with Sam Gall on the Gall family’s grain and pulse property at Goorambat. Picture: Zoe Phillips

UNIVERSITY of Melbourne agriculture student Nick Symon is finishing his first season working the grains harvest in what has been a bumper year for croppers across parts of southeast Australia.

While border closures and remote study arrangements triggered by COVID-19 have caused angst for farmers and students, for Nick it has meant he could complete exams while also getting experience in the paddock from October to December, filling a vacancy in the Gall family’s harvest workforce.

“I’m really enjoying the hands-on farm work,” said Nick, who grew up in Melbourne. “I think 2020 is a season that will be spoken about for years to come.”

Sam and Jack Gall grow grains and pulses with their uncle and father at Goorambat, near Benalla. In October, Nick and the Galls started contract harvesting in northern NSW, moving their way south to finish on the Galls’ 4000ha property near Benalla, where they are nearly done with a wheat crop.

Sam said the crop season on the Goorambat property had been “unbelievable” with wheat yielding 5.5 tonnes per hectare and canola three tonnes per hectare.

“Everything across the board has been outstanding,” he said.

“Nick was pretty dedicated to the work … I will lock him in for next year now I have him trained up.”

MORE

HORTI INDUSTRY CALLS ON STUDENTS FOR HARVEST HELP

EXPERIENCED PILOT WORKS HEADER FOR MALLEE GRAIN GROWERS

FACEBOOK GROUP CONNECTS PILOTS AND GRAIN GROWERS