Stuart Barden in Transit

2011-09-27T22:54:00.001+10:00

Report sent

2009-09-23T09:58:00.002+10:00

Well it is 1am and I have finished my report. Currently staying with friends right in the center of England who happen to both be teachers which has been wonderful. They have spent hours reading my report and helping me with editing ect.
Really should go to sleep although I am pretty pumped about finishing.
Looking forward to Annie,Hannah, James and Grace arriving,only 56 hours or so (but who's counting) until they arrive at Heathrow. It has been over two months since I left and I am happy that this time of travelling is coming to an end.
I am planning on putting my presentation together tomorrow so I am ready to present my findings at the Nuffield spring tour on our return to Sydney. That way when Annie and the kids arrive I can give them 100% attention.
I have been watching the weather on the net and it all looks fairly sad regarding rainfall,probably a good thing I am not there.

Last Day in Canada

2009-09-20T03:58:00.002+10:00

It's my last day in Canada today (Saturday), I am flying out to the UK this evening and on to stay with friends around "Ashby". My plan is to bunker down there for the next five days and complete my report. I am possibly half way with it now and with a concerted push I aim, no I will have it completed by Friday the 25th of September.
Canada is a great country and they have built good infrastructure to support business here. They don't appear to be the poor trade relation to the US that Australia has become,and actively resist the US from shaping their country.

My new Canadian friend Steve in Barley

2009-09-19T08:28:00.004+10:00

This photo is of Steve in a barley crop, Steve felt it should yield about 80 bushels per acre.Their is 45 bushels of barley per Tonne and so it was a nice crop.

2009-09-18T00:33:00.002+10:00

This green machine was chewing away at what appeared to be a very nice crop. (click to enlarge)

I was on the road heading to Saskatoon when I saw this fellow.

In Saskatoon I visited four researchers at the university and had some great discussions.

Last evening I travelled a couple of hours west and ended up in a tiny town called "Wilkie" where I was very happy to find what I think is the only motel and managed to get the second last room available. Today I will keep heading west and end up in Alberta where I plan to stay with my new Nuffield friends Steve and Vanessa.

South West Saskatchewan

2009-09-16T00:38:00.003+10:00

Spent an interesting day yesterday meeting with three different researchers in "Swift Current" then moved on to a small town called "Shaunavon".
I am meeting up with some local farmers here who I am told are very innovative and so I am looking forward to catching up with them later this morning.
Harvest is in full swing around this area, it seems that almost every field has an oil well in it pumping away.

Canadian Grain trains

2009-09-13T11:51:00.003+10:00

This 1.6km long train was making its way through the Rocky Mountains.

There's something you don't see in Australia, grain wagons owned and operated by their Government.

The infrastructure in Canada is unbelievable,after travelling through Kenya and then arriving here the contrast could not be greater.

Canada as a whole appears to be going ahead,the people here are very friendly and are very similar to Aussies in their attitudes.

New Hard Drive Installed

2009-09-12T13:13:00.002+10:00

After a couple of days without my computer I was starting to like the simplicity of life. My laptop displayed the "Blue screen of death" as it is known and so a new hard drive it was. The very helpful computer shop managed to clone my old drive and so now I have 4 times my original capacity. This afternoon I drove from Lethbridge to Swift Current where I plan to meet with three researchers on Monday all going well.
The old girl lives another day. (I am talking about my laptop)
I have also I hope, overcome my issues with getting emails out,(and no it is not the outgoing server settings).

Canada

2009-09-07T14:52:00.001+10:00

Had a great day today, I piloted another Cessna here in Canada, that is Kenya, Tanzania and Canada that I have had a go at flying.Simple stuff when you don't have to take off or land although it was a great experience. We looked over the country side and it was interesting to see the crops from the air. Our host Steve had organized for a friend of his to take us up.

We also visited a Hudite community and talked about what they are up to on their farm. We also met with another two farmers and spent a number of hours talking about all things agricultural.

Harvest is just getting going over here,there are windrowers cutting canola down every where and we saw a number of headers harvesting wheat.

Monday tomorrow and so back into my study topic proper.

Arrived in Calgary

2009-09-05T23:41:00.002+10:00

I spent the past 36hours in Transit, Flew Nairobi/Heathrow spent 11hours in London.I took the tube into Knights bridge and walked around central london for about 5 hours and then back to Heathrow where I continued on to Calgary which takes about 9 hours of flying time.
Today we head out and meet up with a leading Canadian agronomist who is a Nuffield scholar.
I am very much looking forward to Canada as I am confident there is much to learn here.Although the growing conditions are very different here I am sure there will be lessons to be learnt.

Last day in Kenya

2009-09-03T16:51:00.002+10:00

It is the last day in Kenya today, I fly out this evening to Canada where I will meet up with fellow scholar Ben for two or three days before continuing on my own. Currently waiting on a phone call to fine tune a meeting here in Nairobi later this morning. I have been staying at the Muthaiga Country Club which is a beautiful place to stay.

Nairobi

2009-09-02T05:42:00.002+10:00

Two meetings today that were particularly interesting and worthwhile, tomorrow catching up with an Aussie fellow in the morning. Only two days left here and then on to Calgary,I am planning on catching up with a fellow this weekend in Canada whom I am sure will be very interesting in regards to my topic.

Different pets

2009-09-01T01:11:00.002+10:00

For anyone waiting on emails I am having trouble getting them out.I am working on this and hope to overcome this inconvenience shortly. Two days to go here in Kenya then onto Canada.Learning lots,meeting vast amounts of people although being away from home is starting to be hard work now. Interesting meetings planned for tomorrow.

Arusha Airport

2009-08-30T13:59:00.002+10:00

My mode of transport, my hosts fly most places,if you have ever been in TZ or Kenya you will understand why. Some roads are OK although most are pretty average.

It took us 25minutes to fly to my hosts farm south of Arusha and to drive it would take 3 and a half to four hours.

Fresh Lion prints 10meters from my hut

2009-08-30T13:49:00.003+10:00

I have been staying on a grain farm carved out of the Tanzanian bush for the past couple of days and have not had the Internet,so sorry about the lack of updates

I stayed in Arusha in TZ overnight and this morning I catch a shuttle bus back into Kenya.

I have learnt a great deal here in Tanzania over the pass two or so days and my hosts were outstanding people.

Number one lesson is don't go out side at night, this lion was roaming around our camp overnight and you could see his tracks along the roads.

The Negotiator

2009-08-30T13:41:00.002+10:00

I was very tempted to stop and buy something from this fellow,unfortunately we had to keep moving,this photo in at the border crossing between Kenya and Tanzania.

Back in Kenya

2009-08-26T15:43:00.002+10:00

What a couple of days, Cameron and I started one day (5.30am) with a researcher in the Negev desert then train to Tel Av iv, then flight to Turkey, change planes arriving at 1am in Nairobi. I stayed for 6 hours at the airport until daylight (while trying to find my luggage) then had a meeting at 11am then finally to my hotel at 1pm. Big day,I needed a sleep.

Today I have had a sleep and am just about to be picked up by my driver for the day, his name is Alladin. We will travel south from Nairobi ending up at a farm in southern Kenya where tomorrow I will get a lift into Tanzania. I am meeting a couple of people down there then back into Kenya. I hope to have internet access although this is Kenya so you just dont know.

I can't understand Hebrew

2009-08-24T02:33:00.004+10:00

These fellows are researchers and farmers, they don't mind a beer in the middle of the day, I managed to only have to have one beer through out the day which was a challenge to negotiate. Mr Tubby wasn't as successful.

Statue of a Light Horseman

2009-08-21T22:45:00.002+10:00

Beautiful Words on Aussie Soldiers graves in Be-er Sheeva

2009-08-21T22:31:00.003+10:00

Light Horsemen charge

2009-08-21T22:25:00.002+10:00

Abraham's well

2009-08-21T22:10:00.003+10:00

Abraham's Well, being Friday here in Israel it is the start of the weekend and so the gates were locked. after climbing a wall I could partially see what is said to be Abraham's Well.

Interestingly it would have been one of the first things the light horsemen would have come to in Be-er Sheeva (as it is now known). It is worth having a think about what God made as a oath to Abraham about. It was in essence that Abraham would be the father of a great nation. Enter the revitalization of that plan when Be-er Sheeva was reclaimed from the Turkish in 1917. The plot thickens.

A mixed fleet, Camel & Tractor

2009-08-21T05:03:00.004+10:00

This is a farm owned by a Bedwin (an Arab) He has four wives and 27 children.

We spent the day with a fellow named Eli who is a researcher at the Volcani Center ( Ag research organization). We drove through this Bedwins farm.

We saw lots of different things including a tour of a Netafim factory who make drip irrigation systems. They have the most incredible machines manufacturing drip irrigation parts as well as Dripper's that get built on the inside of poly pipe.

It has to be seen to be believed. There are some very clever people in the world.

Cave where Aussie soldiers took cover

2009-08-21T04:50:00.002+10:00

This cave is just under a position on a hill that our Aussie infantry used to shell Be-er Sheva to give the light horse cover. We found some shells and other things in the dirt. This cave was used to shelter from the return shelling from the Turks who were dug in in Be-er Sheva.

It is man made and started life as a place for Shepard's to hold their flocks at night. There is a ledge that is outside the picture up about 8 feet that the Shepard's would sleep on.

Frankinsence and Myrrh

2009-08-20T02:05:00.002+10:00

This is Elaine who showed us her garden of Eden,

this plant is Frankinsence and this tree is five years old.

We crushed some leaves and could smell the aroma.

Desert Plants

2009-08-20T01:51:00.002+10:00

This mulch is under a Neem tree,these are very hardy trees.

The Neem builds its own mulch through dropping leaves troughout he year. It is however not deciduous.

We spent most of the day with Dr. Elaine Solowey who is an amazing source of information on anything to do with native desrt plants.

Driving in Israel with background music

2009-08-20T01:29:00.003+10:00

Light Horsemen display

2009-08-17T17:59:00.002+10:00

We were fortunate to have a look at a room at the Ben Gorian Institute at Sede Boqer.
Our prime ministers wife (Theresa Ryne) was also here in April as seen on the bottom right of the visitors book.
It is not easy to find this place which might explain the few Aussie visitors over time.
The display showed artifacts from the charge of the light horse on Beer Sheeva

Bay watch Dead Sea Style

2009-08-17T14:34:00.002+10:00

I hope there isn't a exchange program with Aust and these fellows. The were flat out playing cards.

Although with the buoyancy you would have to try really hard to drown.

I went from Mt Kenya at 9000ft to the dead sea which is the lowest point on earth at around 400meters below below sea level.

Are we on the right side of that wall

2009-08-15T23:17:00.003+10:00

Well, it was really Cameron's fault as he gave me the map; First mistake.
After being waved through armed checkpoints we thought that was odd they only seem interested in the people going the other way.
OK, now Cameron reads the map and makes the finding that we are in the West Bank,oops.
We then realized that the wall in the photo was not the great wall of china.
Next came the realization that although it was easy to get in, getting out may not be so easy.
This proved correct, after 20 minutes of getting the third degree from checkpoint guards armed with Automatic weapons.
They checked our car Bonnet, boot under the seats then had a sniffer dog slobber all over the car before they gave us our passports back. I am a bit of a prankster although I managed to show restraint as Israelis are a bit low on the humor front.

Dead sea dip

2009-08-15T23:06:00.002+10:00

So much to see

2009-08-15T23:04:00.000+10:00

Biggest slush puppy machine

2009-08-15T04:23:00.002+10:00

This machine produces around 15 tonnes of what they call liquid ice. It is similar to the consistency to slush puppy ice.
They produce around 200 tonnes of fish per year from their fish farm in the middle of the Negev desert.
Pictured is Cameron Tubby and Amit who kindly showed us their operation.

First Prime minister of Israel

2009-08-15T04:17:00.002+10:00

This is Ben Gorion and his wife's graves. Ben Gorion was the first Prime Minister of Israel

Date Palms

2009-08-14T04:35:00.002+10:00

These date palms are just about ready to harvest, They were very tasty.
The area where we were today has a annual rainfall of 15mm per year,yes that's not a typo 15mm. By the way the Palms are irrigated with sewerage water.

Israel & Jordon

2009-08-14T04:30:00.002+10:00

This photo is of me in a crop of Caster oil plants,they are doing a trial using the oil from the crushed seed for bio diesil.

In the background you can see a mountain that is in Jordon.

Did'nt think I would see these two flags together

2009-08-14T04:15:00.000+10:00

In Transit In Zurich

2009-08-12T16:24:00.002+10:00

I am currently sitting in Zurich after a 9 hour flight from Nairobi, waiting for my flight to Israel . I will arrive in Tel Aviv mid afternoon and then find my way to Beer-Sheva by train the bus.I will meet up with Cameron Tubby a fellow scholar from Aus and we will travel together for about 12 days.
Flying in just on daylight I could see clearly what may have been the Swiss Alps, Snow capped.

Noah's bridge

2009-08-12T16:16:00.003+10:00

Sunflower Trial

2009-08-12T16:14:00.003+10:00

Jonti and I checking out the root development of a trial block of sunflowers.

View from the air

2009-08-12T16:10:00.001+10:00

Clifford,one of our farmer hosts flew us across country to our next host and on the way we flew over some high rainfall areas.
It is an amazing patchwork to see.

Impala Running

2009-08-12T16:07:00.000+10:00

World Trade Center

2009-08-12T16:04:00.002+10:00

This photo of the world trade center was taken overlooking the rift valley. I couldn't resist doing a deal with this fellow.

If you click on the photo then you will see the valley in the background.

Hippos in the wild

2009-08-10T22:09:00.000+10:00

Mount Kenya

2009-08-10T22:00:00.004+10:00

The photo is of a farm we visited ,the harvesters are working at around 8500feet and I was on a hill that was another 1000ft higher. Just outside the photo to the left is Mt Kenya which is 17,000 feet above see level. For all the farmers the wheat crop was yielding around 4.5t Ha.

Rocking What????

2009-08-09T19:38:00.002+10:00

Kenya

2009-08-09T19:33:00.004+10:00

A couple of locals having a chat on the side of the road, bow and arrow at the ready, if you double click on any photos they will enlarge.

Kenya

2009-08-09T19:02:00.003+10:00

We have been travelling between different farmers whom have all shown us the most amazing hospitality. We have talked through the different issues they are faced with at length and I have been very impressed with their activity in the community.

Kenya is a great country and the people are very friendly.

The Picture is of myself and Jonti Barclay who has organized much of our Kenyan trip standing in one of his crops.

Kenya what a place

2009-08-05T02:26:00.003+10:00

The photo shows us taking off from a grass airstrip on one of our hosts farms.

The Zebras are very polite and moved off the strip when we took off along with a couple of Buffalo.

We have had very limited Internet access over the past three days or so.

The farmers we have met have all been wonderful and to see inside Kenya with the locals is a real privilege.

Arrived in Nairobi

2009-07-31T15:21:00.000+10:00

Arrived in Nairobi

We arrived in Nairobi mid afternoon and then met up with our host’s driver named Daniel.
It took around one and half hours to travel from the airport to the “Muthaiga Country Club” where we stayed overnight.
The number of people and state of Nairobi was a shock, to see such poverty was above my expectations. Lots to think about
It is a beautiful place and thanks to one of our host for organizing such a nice place to have a good night sleep.
Our driver Daniel has arrived this morning to take us to some a farmers property and so we will see what the day brings.

In Transit In Johannesburg

2009-07-30T17:15:00.002+10:00

Derek, Ben and I are here in Johannesburg at the airport waiting for our connection to Nairobi. We are looking forward to Kenya and can’t wait to see what we may learn. I can'nt seen to get emails out which is frustrating.

WA Wheat Belt

2009-07-30T17:13:00.000+10:00

We visited Mike Kirkman who farms 130 east of Geraldton. His property is the last grain growing property before the station country starts to the east.
It was fantastic to spend five or six hours talking through his thoughts and approach to various business and agronomy issues.
We then traveled south where we had a great tour of the Wongan Hills research station where we had a look at various trials thanks. (thank you Bruce).
Later that same day we meet up with David Fulwood, a previous scholar just north of Cunderdin and spent a couple of hours talking and looking over his cropping operation.
It was good to catch up with a Nuffield brother.

Stage two about to launch

2009-07-23T17:56:00.002+10:00

Only 36 hours until I leave for the second leg of my Nuffield study. It is starting to hit home regarding just how long I will be gone this time.
First stop is WA then onto Kenya.
I will do my best to keep this blog up to date and hope that you find it interesting.

The Final Goodbye

2009-04-05T17:26:00.003+10:00

After 45 days travelling the world and 100 plus meetings we finished up saying goodbye to four of the team in San Francisco.We flew out Friday night and skiped Saturday landing in Sydney on Sunday morning and then ariving in Dubbo in the early afternoon.

I have had the great honour to travel with nine very different characters that all made our trip a great success for all involved.

There were mixed feelings on parting as we have become good friends and although we were all excited to be heading home there was also a realisation that we had just experiened a once in a lifetime trip.I would like to thank my brothers in farming for their friendship whilst travelling as well as GRDC who are sponsoring my Nuffield Scholarship. Thanks also to Jim Geltch as he works day and night, and appears to know someone of influence in almost every country in the world. This made stage one of our studies a great success from our group's point of veiw. The further time goes on,the more and more aware I am of the incredible opportunity I have been given.

Thanks also to my darlings at home (Annie, Hannah, James and Grace) plus good old reliable Dad and Mum who helped Annie. Not to forget my business partners as well as Nils and Sarah who have picked up the ball while I have been away. Also to you who have been following this blog I hope this blog has painted a picture of our journey that has been interesting to you.

I will be leaving again in late July to complete my individual study and so I will leave this blog live so that it can be added to during those ten weeks.

Capitol of California

2009-04-04T01:26:00.002+11:00

The team leaving the capitol building in Sacramento after meeting with Assemblyman Jim Nielsen.

Only in America

2009-04-03T06:58:00.002+11:00

2009-04-03T02:57:00.002+11:00

The mountains on the eastern side of California.

You can enlarge any photos on this blog by left clicking on the photo.

Sunny California

2009-04-01T16:37:00.003+11:00

We have had two days here now looking at various agribusinesses. Some of the more interesting were a tomatoes paste plant and today we had ours eyes opened when we meet with Gary Lindley who is a district manager for J.G Boswell who are the company who own Auscott in Australia.
He showed us around his section that he looks after, 24,000 acres of irrigation which is part of 100,000 acres at Corcoran in California.
Tomorrow we are meeting with some Rabo bank people first thing and then onto a couple of other appointments.

The Photos show me beside a bale of Pima Cotton, J.G.Boswell are only growing Pima now at Corcoran and will also grow around 15,000 acres of tomatoes this year.

Water is a problem here as well as in Australia and they are only planting around half of their irrigatable area in 09 due to water shortages.

The other Photo is of their cotton pickers, I asked Gary how many were in the row and he said they have 60 of their own and most of them were there lined up in the yard.

One useless peice of information is that Charles Manson the serial killer is in a prison that is over the fence from the tomatoes crop behind where the cotton pickers are.

Fresno in California

2009-03-30T17:16:00.002+11:00

Some of the team waiting in the LA airport, in transit between Mexico and the US.

We have four appointments tomorrow here in Fresno.

Monster Wheat Head

2009-03-29T09:56:00.000+11:00

Mexico, Obregon Day Two

2009-03-29T09:39:00.005+11:00

We had a great day yesterday at Cimmyt (Obregon).We traveled around their trial site over the day and looked at various trials whilst different researchers talked us through what they are trying to achieve and what they are finding.
Over the day we visited around 7 different programs on the research station, to see the intricacy of the research was amazing and we all wrote notes furiously throughout the day.
One researcher alone had 2600 lines in his section of trials.
We had a fantastic day of what was for a wheat grower “A Paradise”
We had dinner at a local restaurant and I took the when in Mexico approach to dinning, I ordered the “Guts Tortillas” as well as a cactus dish that had a literal cactus leaves as the base. Both I can recommend.
Mexico is a fabulous place and the people we meet were brilliant.
We left Obregon this morning at 6am and drove to Hermosillo where we flew out of Mexico into LA (USA)where we are currently waiting to connect to Sacramento in around an hour or so.
We have only a week to go and I am looking forward to coming home to see my darlings. (Not the cows but rather Annie, Hannah, James and Grace)

The video is of a potatoe lifter,there was about 100 mexican workers in that field picking up the potatoes,these potatoes were for seed for next season.

Mexico

2009-03-28T02:01:00.005+11:00

We left CIMMYT (Mexico City) at 4am yesterday morning and traveled by bus to the air port where we flew to “Obregon” in the North West part of Mexico.
We meet with an association in Obregon who represent seven different unions of farmers, we had some great discussion with them and the traveled out to a local farming operation who grow large areas of potatoes.
We then traveled to another farm where we meet Hon who owned the farm, we saw a durum crop that looks like yielding 8 or 9 t per ha and the best chickpea crop I have ever seen. He expected a yield of around 3.5t ha, they were a Kabuli type.
We then ended up at a local restaurant at around 3pm for a late lunch and had a fantastic afternoon of eating and talking about Mexican agriculture.
This was the first time I have had lunch and when finished it is dark; we left there at around 8pm and made our way back to our accommodation.
We are heading out to CIMMYT’s Obregon operation this morning and have great expectation about what we may learn

CIMMYT Photos

2009-03-26T10:30:00.003+11:00

Below is "The Hoff" looking at grain in the seed vault.

Above is Huixia Wa,a resercher with GM wheat growing in Agar.

Mexico

2009-03-26T10:18:00.004+11:00

Left is a photo of seed from the plants that the modern varieties of maize were bred from.

We have had a great day here at CIMMYT, we were given a thorough rundown on CIMMYT’s operation. I and the others were impressed with their mandate to assist the poorest people the world over to grow enough food to eat.
We were shown their seed vault which is the largest most comprehensive wheat and Maize seed vault in the world, it preserves the Germ plasm of wheat and maize right back to the original plants.
We then had a run down on their GM program and were privy to GM wheat plants growing in their lab.

Morning in Mexico

2009-03-26T01:40:00.002+11:00

Sunrise at CIMMYT on the left, we are staying in Uni style rooms at the research centre , although very tired I was up early as this is what I have been looking forward to seeing.
We will meet with researchers over the day.

Washington DC

2009-03-26T01:29:00.002+11:00

Left is Our Team on Capitol Hill

We had six meetings throughout the day including one with the chief Economist from the USDA, whom we had a very frank discussion with on a number of topics. He is also the chief negotiator for the US on Doha at present.
We also meet with a number of House Agricultural Committee members on Capitol Hill.
We raced from the last meeting to the airport and then flew down to Mexico City then by bus out to Cimmyt’s research centre where we all fell into bed around midnight.

Washington DC

2009-03-24T12:07:00.002+11:00

Here we are in Washington DC, we flew in around 11am from Nova Scotia then we had appointments with AML (Australian Meat and Livestock, US office) and another meeting at the NZ Embassy.
We were on the way back to our hotel in a Taxi and Joe Biden the US Vice President drove past with about 20 police and security vehicles all around him. The police pushed all the oncoming traffic away from the centre of the road and we waited for the motorcade to pass. The taxi driver took it in his stride and said Joe Biden lives just a mile or so from where we saw him. (that is the only reason I knew who it was ie the taxi driver) I cannot imagine the carry on for Obama after seeing the Vice President in transit.

Sunday at the Snow

2009-03-24T11:12:00.007+11:00

Anyone who knows me will know that I often get my ambitions mixed up with my abilities. In lesson number 1882236237 I have observed that one hour after finishing your first ever skiing lesson that it is unwise to try and break the speed barrier down a none learners ski slope (or should I say cliff) The footage shows the carnage.

Please note the camera man uses some #*&^%%$ ie turn your sound off.

No Internet for two days

2009-03-24T10:55:00.003+11:00

The Photo on the Left is our team recieving a run down from the "Wild blueberry producers association's" CEO on their organization.

Over the past two days we have had a feast of information, we visited an area called “The Valley” where we meet with 10 different farmers/processors over two days whom not one of which were in the same business.
The diversity within this area is amazing, there are operations producing many different things, like a strawberry plant (not the fruit) producer, a vegetable grower, specialist onion producer, a herb grower who also packs and markets his own produce, plus others, all of which are good business people from what we saw.

Nova Scotia Day two

2009-03-20T13:24:00.004+11:00

Below is Ph.D. student Rob Kinley with the artificial rumens (Artificial cow stomachs) they are using in their reserch into using algae to add to dairy rations to produce higher levels of LCn-3FA in their milk. (as in Omega 3 long chain fatty acids,like fish contain)

We started the day with a visit to the "Wild Blueberry Producers association of Nova Scotia" where we were given a rundown on the growing and marketing of the regional crop that is specific to northern America.
We then visited a Market called “Masstown Market” where the owner Eric Jennings gave us a run down on the business which he started as an outlet for his farm grown produce from a small shed which now employs 100 staff over the summer and 70 in the winter and has grown into a very impressive business.
We had lunch at their business and then onto the Nova Scotia Agricultural College which we would call a University in Aus. We meet with four researchers over the afternoon that showed us some fascinating work they are doing.
Alec Jack (AKA Lord Jack) then gave a presentation to a group of students and faculty and did a great job.
We then headed back to our farm billets for dinner before meeting at a local hall at 7pm for three of our team to give presentations to a collection of local farmers.
Once again James, Ben and big Dave did a fine job and served Australia well as ambassadors.

This is not Rio

2009-03-19T11:24:00.004+11:00

Yesterday Breakfast in Rio today snow in nova Scotia.

9000km + later and we are all V tired,good day planned tomorrow,back to agriculture.

I am staying with a Dairy farming family tonight,very nice people.

They showed me their fully housed dairy system (ie 12 months inside the sheds).Great to see and have explained.

It is a balmy moment so I am told as it is 2 degrees,it was -14 yesterday,that may explain the frozen dams everywhere.

Breakfast in Rio

2009-03-18T00:41:00.003+11:00

7 nights in Rio

2009-03-17T10:26:00.003+11:00

7 Nights in Rio
Well 36 hours anyway, we have had almost a day here in Rio de Janeiro and have had a good day.
We hired a guide who showed us around all day, we have got until tomorrow here and then we fly to Halifax in Canada for the next leg.

A Good Sunday

2009-03-17T09:39:00.003+11:00

This morning we traveled from a city called Ribeirao Preto an hour or so to visit a farm. We arrived at a family farm to a great welcome from our host’s who had prepared the most elaborate morning tea that I have ever seen. Photo on the left
We then spent three hours or so going through the farms operation, they grow Sugar cane, Coffee, seed potatoes, Maize, grass pasture, grass seed production, dairy as well as one of the most impressive moonshine operations I have seen.(not that I have ever seen another)
They made their own brews which they bottle and sell. One brew made from pears had similarities to metho, although I consumed the sample with gusto so as to not dishonor our host’s.
They have 850 acres on the farm where they live; there is six families’s living on the farm.
We then had lunch with their entire family which was like a big Sunday lunch back in Aus which was greatly appreciated by us all. It was the closest thing to being around a family that we have had since we have left New Zealand. Farmers are similar in hospitality the world over.
Sr Oscar and his wife treated us like kings and tried to fatten us up over a six or so hour period.
We then traveled a hour or so back to Ribeirao Preto where we flew out bound for Rio de Janeiro landing at around 9pm.
We then had one of the craziest taxi rides I have ever had with our driver seeming to miss other cars by only fractions.
When we arrived at out Hotel I congratulated the driver on his excellent driving to which he confidently replied “I am not a driver, I am a Pilot” how true.
It is now 11pm and time for a sleep.

The Photos below are of sr Oscar and his Larikin wife who showed us great hospitality and the other is of me near one of the waterfall's on their properties.

2009-03-17T09:26:00.002+11:00

2009-03-14T10:41:00.005+11:00

Above is Alec Jack (otherwise Known as Lord Jack) Left is Myself on the edge of a corn field

It has been two days since leaving the capitol Brasilia, we are traveling by bus now heading south and have spent some longer stints on board.
We have visited Coffee plantations, a coffee distribution company, dairy, sugar cane farm as well as getting a run down on site at a sugar mill re the process behind ethanol.
We were received at a farm owned by Jonadan Ma who gave us an outline of their business, very diverse with an on farm factory producing Soy products. This man is a very impressive operator and we were fortunate to have some of his time.
We have been driving through hundreds of km's of country side as green as you could imagine with soy bean, corn, cane and cattle every where.
We are staying tonight at Hoteis Oasis although I am unsure of which town/City we are in.
Goodnight

The capitol Brasília

2009-03-12T12:03:00.003+11:00

THE PHOTO ON THE LEFT IS IN SAO PAULO OF THE HOMELESS. Note if you click on any photos on the blog then they should expand to full screen.

Brasilia which is the capitol of Brazil is planned out much like Canberra. It is basically a governance city with around 2million residents.
We started the day lost in a bus with a driver that could not speak English and so after about 45 minutes of driving around Brasilia we arrived at the offices of an organization that represents agriculture in Brazil from an industry point of view.
We then moved on to “Embrapas” who are the CSIRO of Brazil. We had talks with people there as well as well as looking at a process for producing diesel from plant oils that is different to how Bio diesel is produced.
After Lunch we moved on to the Brazilian parliament where we met advisers to the government on agriculture.
Our meeting was held in a room where all Brazils agricultural policies are thrashed out.
We spent three solid hours discussing economic and environmental issues along with great discussions on the future of the “Amazon”.
One interesting number was that the average ethanol yield per ha from sugarcane is approx 7400litres per hectare. The Energy output from sugarcane to ethanol is approximately 1 to 9 and for wheat it is only about 1 to 2.2 so we were told.
In Brazil approximately 50% of sugarcane is used for sugar and the other is used to produce ethanol.
After the discussions we were then allowed to have an after hours look at the parliament chambers in action. It was around 6.30pm and there was still debate going on in both houses. We were given great access to a parliament that is governing approximately 180million people which was a great privilege.

Just flew in from Sao Paulo into Brasilia

2009-03-10T14:53:00.004+11:00

Just arrived at our hotel and it is now just about 1am local time.We are meeting various people tomorrow in Brasilia. We are having dinner at the residence of the Australian ambassador to Brazil,Neil Mules tomorrow evening (or should I say today). I have included two photos of the markets in Sao Paulo that covers 70 hectares.It is vast.

Everyone is very tired.

Brazil

2009-03-10T14:44:00.002+11:00

It is now Sunday morning we have just landed in the Brazilian city of “Sao Paulo” from London via Frankfurt after a 14 hour plane journey. Sao Paulo has a population of around 20 million plus, it is hard to get your head around this place.

Monday morning, Left is a photo of us at an Austrade breifing in Sao Paulo,one of Rabo banks people also spoke to us.They painted the picture of how business is done in Brazil.The taxation system is close to non understandable and there is a great deal of red tape.

France and Brussels

2009-03-09T00:48:00.008+11:00

Photo above is of six Nuffield scholars all from different countries laying flowers at Menin Gate.

We arrived in Lille in France on the Euro star train on Wednesday evening. David Cussons and I had dinner at a small local restaurant. The opportunity was there to have a go at some snails and let’s just say that they were not the finest dinning experience I have ever had.
The following morning we got on a bus and headed north. We visited Fromelles and visited the site of the dig where the 250 or so Aussie soldiers are buried in a mass grave.
We had an ex English military man talk us through the afternoon, powerful stuff.
We visited the exact location of one famous battle where there is now a statue called “The Cobbers”. I have included a photo of the all the Australians at this statue.

James Hassall was able to locate his grandfather’s brothers grave during the afternoon just on the southern side of the Belgium border.
We then went on and visited a place named “Tyne Cot” where there are some 11,000 graves; all except for two are of Allied forces, with only two of German soldiers.
We then had dinner is a town/city called ‘Ieper” where we joined around 500 people for the sounding of the last post as the clock stuck 8pm at the “Menin Gates”. It is done every day of the year in remembrance of the hundreds of thousands of men and women whom died in the war particularly those who were never found and buried.

We arrived in Brussels on Thursday evening on the bus and then the following day had a full day being briefed by commissioners and others of the EC.

Interesting day with lots of food for thought, far too much to touch on here.

Back in London, we traveled from Brussels to London this morning (Saturday)At this moment I am in a internet Café waiting for my washing to dry at an laundry mat and so I should go as we are all meeting at 3pm to travel to the airport as we are flying to Brazil later this evening.

2009-03-04T18:15:00.001+11:00

Amazing days

Further to Monday, did I mention that we all personally meet HRH the Duke of Gloucester (i.e. the queen’s first cousin) at the reception in the penthouse of NZ house here in London.
One of our Aussies was deep in conversation with someone else an turned around and not knowing who HRH was shook his hand and said “ Hello I’m Tom what is you name “ this caused many smirks on the Aussies and NZ scholars faces.

Yesterday, (Tuesday) we started the day at Australia house, for anyone who hasn’t been there it is a very impressive building, it was evidently a “Statement” building to show the mother country that we could stand on our own.
The Australian High Commissioner addressed us followed buy two UK Government people whom spoke and then took questions on such topics as Carbon and related topics.

We then walked to the Liberal club, which is yet another incredible building where we had lunch in the smoking room followed by a panel of four guests who facilitated an interesting afternoon of debate on big picture topics.
Followed by Prof Vivian Moses who spoke to us on the science behind GM.

We then walked around the corner at around 5pm to the farmers club where we spent about an hour having a drink and chat about the day.

We then walked down to the Thames where we got on a boat for a dinner cruise; we traveled the Thames whilst dinner was served for about 2 and half hours.

It was raining and to watch the rain fall whilst going under London Bridge was something else.

It is currently 5.50am and we are leaving this hotel this morning and traveling to Kent to visiting farms for the day after which we are getting on the Euro star and traveling to France arriving this evening.

Talk about overload of the senses, being the home of Nuffield we have been given access to people and places in London that I couldn’t imagine.

Quick note

2009-03-03T18:43:00.002+11:00

I don't know what happened to the other posts,they appear to have vanished.Yesterday we had a great day.
We had a tour of the house of Lords and of the house Commons.We then had a meting in one of the commiteee rooms with Professor John Bessant who spoke to use regarding "Meeting the innovation challenge,we then had lunch with Baroness Byford.

We then walked to NewZealand House for a panel discussion on Global Agricultural trade followed by a reception.

watching the clock

2009-03-02T15:48:00.003+11:00

Its currently 4.47 AM and I am wide awake.We had a good day yesterday (Sunday) we started with a get together of the European scholars and all the Aussies and the three from NZ.
We then travelled to a rugby game between London Irish and Leicester,it was a great game and I even think the Victorians and those from WA secretly enjoyed themselves.
We all started to fade late in the day and after dinner in a local pub we were early in bed.
I am annoyed that I am not asleep although hopefuly I will get another hour before we need to get up.
I mentioned in a previous post that James Hassall (the Hoff) was posting a NZ run down although it is not up on his blog yet. I will check it out at breakfast.
Today is an exciting day,we spend a large part of the day at the House of Lords and then move on to a reception by the high commissioner of New Zealand to welcome the 2009Scholars.
The Duke of Gloucester will also be in attendance,he is the patron of the Nuffield Farming Scolarships Trust.
Anyway best to try and get another hours sleep

The adventure continues

2009-02-28T02:33:00.003+11:00

Just flown in from NZ to Bangkok,two hours here and then off to London. NZ beautiful and met many great agriculturalist's. Lots of go ahead people in NZ it appears.
James Hassall also now known as "The Hoff" wrote some detailed notes on the plane and is posting them as I write this. Please go to his blog and have a look as he has given a great rundown on our days in NZ. His Blog address is http://jhassall.blogspot.com
We have all had very limited internet access in the pass couple of days

DAY ONE

2009-02-23T20:00:00.003+11:00

Friday the 20th of Feb 09.
Our group of nine Nuffield scholars meet in Canberra where we had 13 different briefings from various organizations including the Mexican Embassy, US Embassy, Aus Trade, Dept of Climate change plus many others.

Excellent day lots of great information that primed our thinking prior to leaving Oz.

We were then fortunate to have dinner with Neil Inall, Rural Journalist at the National Press Club that evening.

Travelling to NZ tomorrow.