Lessons in farm to plate

By Zoe McMaugh

Apr 29, 2022

A special program designed to teach students where food and fibre comes from is being undertaken at Mayrung Public School.

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At the end of term two, students were treated to a ‘farm to paddock’ project focusing on how rice gets from the farm, to the supermarket shelves and part of a staple diet.

In coming weeks, the program will showcase cotton farming.

The program, which includes visits to local farms, has been coordinated by local ricegrower and Mayrung P&C member Stephen Ball.

Mr Ball said the rice day was well received by the students, who got to hear from some of the most knowledgable people in the industry.

“We wanted to show the students how rice is harvested by taking them to a local crop, and watching the header go through. They were also taught about the process afterwards.

“Peter McDonnell from SunRice helped explain how the rice goes from the plant, gets milled and then packed and then put on supermarket shelves and other rice goodies.”

Supported by the Ricegrowers Association of Australia, the program also included a visit to ricegrower Graeme Barker’s property.

“Students and teachers watched the header in action,” RGA Landcare coordinator Janet Manzin said.

“(Graeme) arrived with the header and explained to the children the how the rice is grown and how it is harvested. They were pretty impressed with the harvester.

“We then went to where the crop hadn’t been harvested and Peter talked to them about the growing cycle from sowing to harvesting and about what happens when the rice is delivered to SunRice.

“The kids had lots of fun running in the rice and were fascinated by how the husk comes off the grain.

“RGA is always happy to be involved with educating children on the importance of rice growing and its benefits to our community.”

Mayrung School principal Julie Eason said the students were very engaged and asked lots of questions.

Mrs Eason said importantly, this special program also highlights the importance of the agricultural industry to the community.

“Our students here at Mayrung Public School are learning about food production in the area and how local farmers in the Deniliquin locality play an important part in the provision of food sources not only for Australia but internationally,” she said.

Local farmer Stephen Ball organised the visit to the rice farm, which is a pre-cursor to a two-day event which will occur in the latter half of the year.

“Thank you to Peter McDonnell from SunRice who showed samples of some rice varieties and explained the different stages of milling.”