1970
23 January 1970
Chaff mill now on full time basis at Mudgee
Mudgee’s new chaff mill, run by Russell Produce and Milling, is producing up to fifteen tons of high quality chaff a day.
All the hay used has been produced locally and has found a ready market, managing director of the Company (Mr. Don Russell) said yesterday.
The first train load of chaff to be exported from Mudgee was sent to Sydney recently.
It contained 300 bags of oaten chaff, destined for use at leading coastal horse studs.
Mr. Russell said that some modifications and adjustments had had to be made to the big chaff-cutting machine, but that it was now operating satisfactorily.
This is the Company’s first year in producing white chaff, and it is envisaged that the programme under way will eventually require hundreds of tons of both oaten and wheaten hay.
Mr. Russell said: “The product is considered of a premium quality by those who have bought it to date.
“We’ve had no trouble getting rid of what we have produced so far.
“Local merchants have found that it compares more than favourably with any they have imported.”
The chaff mill is now on full time production of lucerne chaff.
“This should be of interest to local producers of lucerne, as we anticipate a requirement of a minimum of fifty tons a week of good quality lucerne hay.
“We expect to purchase all this hay locally.
“Our company will guarantee an outlet for hay in this district, in its baled form, to be used in the chaff mill.
Mr. Russell added that plans are now being made to introduce an entirely new concept in the handling of hay in bulk on an “Ex-acre” basis.
This will involve the farmer in no other activity than to “grow it and mow it,” Mr. Russell said.
“By this method, we should end up with an even fancier lucerne chaff.
“It should bring back to Mudgee its reputation as producing some of the finest lucerne grown anywhere in New South Wales.”
The establishment of the chaff cutter at the company’s headquarters in Sydney Road is the first step in developing a wide range of milling equipment1
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